Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!

Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered! Who Is This Kid? Tannell kept up his perfect record against Drew in jump balls, tipping the ball into his own backcourt first. Under Zhang Yu's direction, the Bulldogs were playing a modified 2–3 zone. 2:9. Moore hurried over, picked up the ball, and dribbled into the frontcourt. The Bulldogs had already set up their defense. Indiana State took possession, but Moore dribbled around on the perimeter for a long time and still couldn't get past the Bulldogs' zone. He couldn't drive inside, and Kerr was tightly guarded by Curry, with no room to shoot. Moore glared at Zhang Yu, no longer looking down on him like he had before the game. 2:3. The Bulldogs took the lead. Drew grabbed the rebound and, remembering Zhang Yu's instructions, immediately passed to Curry. "Is he not going to change his strategy?" A tomahawk dunk! As Indiana State's leading scorer, Moore was an explosive athlete with exceptional driving ability. Graves had no chance of stopping him. Under Zhang Yu's direction, the Bulldogs were playing a modified 2–3 zone. But even McKenna knew they couldn't let Curry keep shooting threes. He shouted, Zhang Yu had only dared to put the team in a zone because he was confident in the plan. So far, it was working very well. Even if he set them up this way, the other players had no complaints, and Curry didn't have the stamina to keep handling the ball at such a high intensity for that long. Curry stayed close to Kerr; everyone else was responsible for a designated area on defense. But even McKenna knew they couldn't let Curry keep shooting threes. He shouted, "If they send help, be ready to pass. Kerr and Adam, spread out beyond the three-point line. Trent, set a screen for Kerr. Got it?" "If they keep playing zone, they won't be able to cover the free-throw line. Tannell, you'll get open looks there, so don't be afraid to shoot." When the ballhandler entered a player's defensive area, that player would step up aggressively to defend. 2:11. After all, he was only a freshman who had just entered the NCAA. He hadn't yet been tested in real games, and his skills, mentality, and athleticism were all still raw. Under Zhang Yu's direction, the Bulldogs were playing a modified 2–3 zone. "Is he not going to change his strategy?" Clang! "Stephen, keep playing like that!" The players all nodded, and McKenna continued, Curry stayed close to Kerr; everyone else was responsible for a designated area on defense. Moore moved to the top of the key, where Graves stepped up to guard him. His chance to go one-on-one against Curry had vanished. Indiana State took possession. Just as Stevens had said, McKenna still hadn't adjusted, leaving Indiana State unable to get anything going on offense. McKenna frowned. This kid was way too quick to shoot—and he was making them! This time, the ball swished through the net, leaving Tannell, who had been waiting to grab the rebound, shrugging. It was no wonder. Curry was a freshman who had never played in the NCAA before. McKenna didn't know what he could do and hadn't paid much attention to him, only telling Moore to keep an eye on him. Zhang Yu watched Mike Green miss another shot and frowned. But there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't have Curry handle the ball for the entire game, could he? Yet Curry wasn't worried in the slightest. He dribbled through a series of changes of direction and easily blew past Graves. Arnold caught the ball and had a brief opening. Indiana State attacked, but the Bulldogs' zone still stifled them. They could only pass around the perimeter until Kerr finally got a pass from Moore and, bothered by Curry, had to force up a shot. The three missed. Zhang Yu stood at the sidelines, his expression calm. He had expected this. 2:3. The Bulldogs took the lead. The players all nodded, and McKenna continued, After all, he was only a freshman who had just entered the NCAA. He hadn't yet been tested in real games, and his skills, mentality, and athleticism were all still raw. McKenna frowned. This kid was way too quick to shoot—and he was making them! So much for team basketball. How could he let a freshman handle the ball the whole time? Did he even know how to coach? He remembered clearly that last season, when Zhang Yu was an assistant coach, he had often come up with the right adjustments before Rickert had even figured out the opposing team's strategy—or while Rickert was still hesitating. Zhang Yu had helped the team turn things around time and again. After landing, Moore pounded his chest and roared at the sky, drawing a storm of boos from the home crowd. As Indiana State's leading scorer, Moore was an explosive athlete with exceptional driving ability. Graves had no chance of stopping him. But Moore's drive was delayed just long enough for Curry to seize the opening and confidently launch a three. He remembered clearly that last season, when Zhang Yu was an assistant coach, he had often come up with the right adjustments before Rickert had even figured out the opposing team's strategy—or while Rickert was still hesitating. Zhang Yu had helped the team turn things around time and again. Everything was going just as he had expected. When Curry ran another pick-and-roll with Drew, Tannell came all the way out to the three-point line, leaving Curry no opening to shoot. Tannell kept up his perfect record against Drew in jump balls, tipping the ball into his own backcourt first. Moore was slowed by Mike Green, and Graves caught up from behind, leaving him no choice but to pass to Arnold, who was being guarded by Mike Green. Moore stretched out desperately from beneath Drew to bother him, but Drew held the ball high and ignored him, sinking a hook shot. McKenna shook his head at the sidelines, while Zhang Yu folded his arms and smiled. But once Moore got past the first line of defense, Mike Green immediately came over from the left to help. That was his area to defend. But there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't have Curry handle the ball for the entire game, could he? He hurriedly called a timeout, belatedly grabbed his clipboard, and talked at length: Moore was slowed by Mike Green, and Graves caught up from behind, leaving him no choice but to pass to Arnold, who was being guarded by Mike Green. Arnold glanced around, then passed the ball back to Moore. Swish! "Tannell, move up to the free-throw line. Moore, when they double-team you, look to pass to Tannell." But they didn't dare talk back to their coach, so they silently took the blame. The Bulldogs took possession. Curry had vanished on defense, but now he had the ball in his hands. Moore stood in front of him, looking lazy, without even raising a hand. Arnold caught the ball and had a brief opening. McKenna shook his head at the sidelines, while Zhang Yu folded his arms and smiled. Indiana State attacked, still held in check by the Bulldogs' tight zone. They could only move the ball around the perimeter, but this time Moore was feeling it, and his long-range three went in. "Tannell, move up to the free-throw line. Moore, when they double-team you, look to pass to Tannell." He hesitated, though, and didn't shoot the three right away. Mike Green got back in front of him in time. Moore instantly took off, leaving Drew and Curry behind him. He charged into the paint, leaped from just inside the free-throw line, and hammered the ball into the basket with his right hand! Zhang Yu stood at the sidelines, his expression calm. He had expected this. Kid, you're lucky this time. With fifteen minutes left in the game, the score stood at 24:32, the Bulldogs up by eight. McKenna finally realized they were going to lose if they kept playing like this! Arnold glanced around, then passed the ball back to Moore. "Stephen, keep playing like that!" Tannell and Woz exchanged glances. Shoot without hesitation? That baby-faced kid had been launching them from a step beyond the three-point line! 2:3. The Bulldogs took the lead. Drew set a solid screen, keeping Moore behind him and giving Curry a brief opening. Curry pulled the ball to his right and launched a three. Moore tried to drive again, but, just as before, Mike Green and Graves trapped him and shut him down. After the basket, Curry backpedaled, waving both arms, his mouthguard between his teeth as the crowd roared. He hurriedly called a timeout, belatedly grabbed his clipboard, and talked at length: Everything was going just as he had expected. A tomahawk dunk! Fans who hadn't watched the preseason games turned to the people beside them and asked, McKenna shook his head at the sidelines, while Zhang Yu folded his arms and smiled. A tomahawk dunk! He wanted to pass inside, but Drew and Campbell had completely sealed off the passing lanes. Kid, you're lucky this time. Under Zhang Yu's direction, the Bulldogs were playing a modified 2–3 zone. 2:9. Curry patted his chest, pointed one finger toward the sky, and smiled. Bulldogs ball. Curry, who had been invisible on defense, now had the ball in his hands. Moore stood in front of him, looking lazy, without even raising a hand. Is he not going to change his strategy? So much for team basketball. How could he let a freshman handle the ball the whole time? Did he even know how to coach? Finally, he hurriedly shot from beyond the three-point line, and Indiana State's first possession ended with a miss. When the ballhandler entered a player's defensive area, that player would step up aggressively to defend. 2:9. Curry waved for Drew to come up and set a screen. Tannell stayed in the paint and didn't follow him out. As Indiana State's leading scorer, Moore was an explosive athlete with exceptional driving ability. Graves had no chance of stopping him. Zhang Yu watched Mike Green miss another shot and frowned. "If they send help, be ready to pass. Kerr and Adam, spread out beyond the three-point line. Trent, set a screen for Kerr. Got it?" At the sidelines, Zhang Yu remained calm. He had expected this. McKenna shook his head at the sidelines, while Zhang Yu folded his arms and smiled. McKenna's face had turned green. How had the team's defense been torn apart? That number 30 had only made a few threes, and it had completely wrecked McKenna's pregame plan. Moore moved to the top of the key, where Graves stepped up to guard him. His chance to go one-on-one against Curry had vanished. Everything was going just as he had expected. Curry waved for Drew to come up and set a screen. Tannell stayed in the paint and didn't follow him out. But there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't have Curry handle the ball for the entire game, could he? Clang! Moore was slowed by Mike Green, and Graves caught up from behind, leaving him no choice but to pass to Arnold, who was being guarded by Mike Green. Arnold glanced around, then passed the ball back to Moore. Swish! "Tannell, move up to the free-throw line. Moore, when they double-team you, look to pass to Tannell." The Bulldogs took possession. Curry, who had been invisible on defense, now had the ball in his hands. Moore stood in front of him, looking lazy, without even raising a hand. Arnold caught the ball and had a brief opening. McKenna shook his head at the sidelines, while Zhang Yu folded his arms and smiled. Indiana State attacked, still held in check by the Bulldogs' tight zone. They could only move the ball around the perimeter, but this time Moore was feeling it, and his long-range three went in. "Tannell, move up to the free-throw line. Moore, when they double-team you, look to pass to Tannell." But Moore hesitated and didn't shoot the three right away. Mike Green got back in front of him in time. Curry smiled faintly. Instead of forcing up a three, he dribbled toward the right wing, and when Drew cut into the paint, he passed him the ball. Zhang Yu had only dared to put the team in a zone because he was confident in the plan. So far, it was working very well. At the sidelines, Zhang Yu remained calm. He had expected this. "Stephen Curry, our starting point guard!" the fans proudly answered, then returned to their frenzied cheering. But this meant Indiana State could defend more easily. McKenna had planned for this kind of situation, and the Bulldogs' other players were nowhere near Curry's level. The team's offensive efficiency fell sharply. Fortunately, Curry had built up a lead earlier, keeping the margin from shrinking. Bulldogs ball. Curry, who had been invisible on defense, now had the ball in his hands. Moore stood in front of him, looking lazy, without even raising a hand. After all, he was only a freshman who had just entered the NCAA. He hadn't yet been tested in real games, and his skills, mentality, and athleticism were all still raw. Curry shook his head, looking a little self-critical. Zhang Yu saw him, clapped his hands, and called out, "But there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't have Curry handle the ball for the entire game, could he?" "You think everyone can adjust as quickly as you can?" Stevens shook his head with a laugh. As Indiana State's leading scorer, Moore was an explosive athlete with exceptional driving ability. Graves had no chance of stopping him. "That number 30 has already scored 13 points. We need to step up our defense on him and stop giving him easy looks, especially from three!" "This number 30 has already scored 13 points. We need to step up our defense on him and stop giving him easy looks, especially from three!" The two stands at the end of the court read 2:0. It was no wonder. Curry was a freshman who had never played in the NCAA before. McKenna didn't know what he could do and hadn't paid much attention to him, only telling Moore to keep an eye on him. Campbell hurried to the top of the key, but he wasn't as broad as Drew, and his screen wasn't as solid. Moore used his explosiveness to slip past him. But he hesitated and didn't shoot the three right away. Mike Green got back in front of him in time. Curry smiled faintly. Instead of forcing up a three, he dribbled toward the right wing, and when Drew cut into the paint, he passed him the ball. "If they keep playing zone, they won't be able to cover the free-throw line. Tannell, you'll get open looks there, so don't be afraid to shoot." Clang! McKenna's face had turned green. How had the team's defense been torn apart? That number 30 had only made a few threes, and it had completely wrecked McKenna's pregame plan. "That number 30 has already scored 13 points. We need to step up our defense on him and stop giving him easy looks, especially from three!" McKenna shook his head at the sidelines, while Zhang Yu folded his arms and smiled. A tomahawk dunk! He wanted to pass inside, but Drew and Campbell had completely sealed off the passing lanes. Kid, you're lucky this time. Under Zhang Yu's direction, the Bulldogs were playing a modified 2–3 zone. 2:9. Curry patted his chest, pointed one finger toward the sky, and smiled.