Chapter 42: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered! - The Warrior Godfather

Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered! Chapter 42: Changing the Lineup

At that moment, Florida still had its star lineup on the court: the "Four Youngsters" alongside Humphrey. That was the lineup that gave them the confidence to sweep through the NCAA. How could Zhang Yu dare to pull out a big man and put in a swingman?

The score kept seesawing: 50–52.

"Fuck!" Noah couldn't help muttering under his breath.

Drew didn't force it. Without looking back, he passed the ball toward the weak-side wing, then charged to the basket to grab the rebound.

But compared with the start of the game, the Bulldogs' lineup had changed.

52–55.

After puzzling over it for a moment, Donovan shook his head and laughed. Why get hung up on it? Their opponent had made a blunder; he should press the advantage.

At that moment, Florida still had its star lineup on the court: the "Four Youngsters" alongside Humphrey. That was the lineup that gave them the confidence to sweep through the NCAA.

Zhang Yu took Campbell out and put Julian Becko in.

The timeout ended, and Florida's players headed back onto the court, fired up and ready to go.

The Bulldogs came back on offense. Curry ran a pick-and-roll, with Drew setting the screen. Noah stepped up to the three-point line, denying him room to shoot.

Zhang Yu smiled faintly. Fortunately, Donovan had called a timeout at the right moment.

Meanwhile, Curry was taking fewer shots for the Bulldogs. After drawing help defense, he was passing more often to his teammates. As the game wore on, the other Bulldogs gradually found their rhythm, knocking down open shots one after another.

On the change of possession, Horford again backed Julian Becko down in the post. He missed the shot, but drew a foul on Julian Becko, then made both free throws.

On Florida's next possession, Horford easily powered past Julian Becko, who had moved up to power forward, and sank a hook shot from the post.

Horford hadn't gotten a break all half. He kept going one-on-one on offense, while on defense he had to chase Julian Becko around the court. He hadn't even had a chance to take it easy.

After seeing Curry go without a rest in the second half, Donovan showed surprise for the second time.

69–72.

50–52. The score kept seesawing.

"Donovan's forgotten that Horford's greatest value lies in his all-around game: playmaking, shooting, defense, and post play... He's a jack-of-all-trades, not a low-post bruiser."

"Next time, if they keep playing single coverage, give the ball to Al and let him handle it. Everyone else, spread out and be ready to catch and shoot... If they collapse into the paint, Al, step outside the lane and handle the ball up high. Corey and Li, be ready to cut at any moment. If there's no opening, then take the ball to the basket yourself. Got it?"

Horford hadn't gotten a break all half. He kept going one-on-one on offense, while on defense he had to chase Julian Becko around the court. He hadn't even had a chance to take it easy.

He glanced at Zhang Yu, puzzled. The young man sat there calmly, completely unruffled by the score tightening.

In the minutes that followed, Horford shouldered the burden of Florida's offense. He kept backing Julian Becko down in the post and was rarely double-teamed, so he scored at a high rate.

There was only 1:32 left in the game, and each possession could take as long as 35 seconds. Florida had only two more chances to attack. Donovan didn't dare save his timeouts any longer. If he didn't use one now, it might be too late.

"Phew... I'm fine, Coach." Horford managed a strained smile.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

The head referee blew his whistle again.

How could Zhang Yu dare to pull out a big man and put in a swingman?

Zhang Yu smiled faintly. Fortunately, Donovan had called a timeout at the right moment.

Curry passed to Drew as he cut to the basket. Drew caught the ball, turned, and went up for a shot, but Horford rotated over at just the right moment, holding his position and leaving Drew stuck between going forward and retreating.

On the change of possession, Horford again backed Julian Becko down in the post. He missed the shot, but drew a foul on Julian Becko, then made both free throws.

"Don't feel any pressure. Go for it!" Donovan encouraged his player.

Donovan patted him on the shoulder and picked up the clipboard. "Julian's a small forward, but he's only three centimeters shorter. Guarding him will be tough, but it's not impossible. Old-school coaches are just too simple-minded. They see a mismatched lineup and rush to attack it... Height isn't everything!"

Butler already couldn't guard Al and Joakim. Wouldn't that make their paint defense even more like paper?

Fortunately, Donovan had called a timeout at the right moment.

The Bulldogs went on offense. Curry got past Brewer, drew help defense in the paint, and passed to the unguarded AJ Graves. Graves caught the ball and shot at once. The three-pointer bounced off the rim!

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

Donovan couldn't understand Zhang Yu's decision. In his basketball philosophy, the team that controlled the paint controlled the game. He would never use a lineup like that.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

But it was too late. Curry came up from the baseline to the wing, used Mike Green's screen to shake off Horford completely, caught Drew's pass, and sank the three!

After puzzling over it for a moment, Donovan shook his head and laughed. Why get hung up on it? Their opponent had made a blunder; he should press the advantage.

Swish! Curry passed to Drew as he cut to the basket. Drew caught the ball, turned, and went up for a shot, but Horford rotated over at just the right moment, holding his position and leaving Drew stuck between going forward and retreating.

On Florida's next possession, Horford easily powered past Julian Becko, who had moved up to power forward, and sank a hook shot from the post.

The ball went in, and Curry headed back on defense, gasping for breath. His legs felt as heavy as lead.

"..."

The players exchanged glances. They wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words.

Now, Curry felt he was at the limit of his stamina. He'd managed to shake off Horford's pursuit just now only because sheer willpower had kept his legs moving.

He signaled to the players on the court. Taurian Green, who had been watching the coach closely, ran over to Horford and whispered something in his ear.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

After seeing Curry go without a rest in the second half, Donovan showed surprise for the second time.

Although his teammates had stepped up in the second half and taken some of the burden off him, their help was only a drop in the bucket. They still needed him to create opportunities with the ball; his teammates were only there to finish the plays.

On Florida's next possession, Horford easily powered past Julian Becko, who had moved up to power forward, and sank a hook shot from the post.

In the minutes that followed, Horford shouldered the burden of Florida's offense. He kept backing Julian Becko down in the post and was rarely double-teamed, so he scored at a high rate.

After puzzling over it for a moment, Donovan shook his head and laughed. Why get hung up on it? Their opponent had made a blunder; he should press the advantage.

How could Zhang Yu dare to pull out a big man and put in a swingman?

"Phew... I'm fine, Coach." Horford managed a strained smile.

On the change of possession, Horford again backed Julian Becko down in the post. He missed the shot, but drew a foul on Julian Becko, then made both free throws.

Donovan had Horford's biggest strength all wrong. Horford's value lay in his versatility—playmaking, shooting, defense, post play... He was a jack-of-all-trades, not a low-post bruiser.

Drew didn't force it. Without looking back, he passed the ball toward the weak-side wing, then charged to the basket to grab the rebound.

The players all nodded.

"Julian's a small forward, but he's only three centimeters shorter. Guarding him will be tough, but it's not impossible. Old-school coaches are just too simple-minded. They see a mismatched lineup and rush to attack it... Height isn't everything!"

On the change of possession, Horford again backed Julian Becko down in the post. He missed the shot, but drew a foul on Julian Becko, then made both free throws.

Donovan smiled faintly. Since you've shown me a weakness, don't blame me for exploiting it.

Drew squeezed past Horford and got to the basket, but had no chance to grab the rebound. The ball went through the net cleanly and dropped into his hands.

52–52. For the first time since tip-off, the teams were tied.

"Donovan's forgotten that Horford's greatest value lies in his all-around game: playmaking, shooting, defense, and post play... He's a jack-of-all-trades, not a low-post bruiser."

Drew didn't force it. Without looking back, he passed the ball toward the weak-side wing, then charged to the basket to grab the rebound.

The players all nodded.

Drew squeezed past Horford and got to the basket, but had no chance to grab the rebound. The ball went through the net cleanly and dropped into his hands.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

Donovan smiled faintly. Since you've shown me a weakness, don't blame me for exploiting it.

Julian Becko followed Zhang Yu's instructions and waited beyond the three-point line. He caught Drew's pass and shot at once.

52–52. For the first time since tip-off, the teams were tied.

69–72.

This was Horford's way of defending: he appeared in the right place at the right time.

The players all nodded.

In the minutes that followed, Horford shouldered the burden of Florida's offense. He kept backing Julian Becko down in the post and was rarely double-teamed, so he scored at a high rate.

Donovan shook his head and laughed. Why get hung up on it? Their opponent had made a blunder; he should press the advantage.

He'd never blocked a shot with brute force or made a steal out of nowhere, yet he could keep opponents out of the paint through positioning and snuff out any threat to the basket before it could take shape.

Drew squeezed past Horford and got to the basket, but had no chance to grab the rebound. The ball went through the net cleanly and dropped into his hands.

After puzzling over it for a moment, Donovan shook his head and laughed. Why get hung up on it? Their opponent had made a blunder; he should press the advantage.

How could Zhang Yu dare to pull out a big man and put in a swingman?

"Phew... I'm fine, Coach." Horford managed a strained smile.

In this kind of back-and-forth battle, the score kept seesawing. With two minutes left in the game, the teams were tied at 69–69.

Donovan smiled faintly. Since you've shown me a weakness, don't blame me for exploiting it.

Drew didn't force it. Without looking back, he passed the ball toward the weak-side wing, then charged to the basket to grab the rebound.

In this kind of back-and-forth battle, the score kept seesawing. With two minutes left in the game, the teams were tied at 69–69.

Donovan had Horford's biggest strength all wrong. Horford's value lay in his versatility—playmaking, shooting, defense, post play... He was a jack-of-all-trades, not a low-post bruiser.

Drew didn't force it. Without looking back, he passed the ball toward the weak-side wing, then charged to the basket to grab the rebound.

The players all nodded.

Drew didn't force it. Without looking back, he passed the ball toward the weak-side wing, then charged to the basket to grab the rebound.

Zhang Yu took Campbell out and put Julian Becko in.

As the inside man, Horford naturally used more energy. Now it was draining away even faster, and he was nearing empty.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

Drew squeezed past Horford and got to the basket, but had no chance to grab the rebound. The ball went through the net cleanly and dropped into his hands.

Donovan shook his head and laughed. He didn't know that Horford was exhausted too.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

On Florida's next possession, Horford easily powered past Julian Becko, who had moved up to power forward, and sank a hook shot from the post.

The players all nodded.

In the minutes that followed, Horford shouldered the burden of Florida's offense. He kept backing Julian Becko down in the post and was rarely double-teamed, so he scored at a high rate.

The referee came over.

On Florida's next possession, Horford easily powered past Julian Becko, who had moved up to power forward, and sank a hook shot from the post.

The head referee blew his whistle again.

But compared with the start of the game, the Bulldogs' lineup had changed.

Julian Becko followed Zhang Yu's instructions and waited beyond the three-point line. He caught Drew's pass and shot at once.

52–52. For the first time since tip-off, the teams were tied.

69–72.

Butler already couldn't guard Al and Joakim. Wouldn't that make their paint defense even more like paper?

Horford hadn't gotten a break all half. He kept going one-on-one on offense, while on defense he had to chase Julian Becko around the court. He hadn't even had a chance to take it easy.

Drew squeezed past Horford and got to the basket, but had no chance to grab the rebound. The ball went through the net cleanly and dropped into his hands.

"Florida called a timeout."

In this kind of back-and-forth battle, the score kept seesawing. With two minutes left in the game, the teams were tied at 69–69.

"Phew... I'm fine, Coach." Horford managed a strained smile.

As the inside man, Horford naturally used more energy. Now it was draining away even faster, and he was nearing empty.

52–55.

As the inside man, Horford naturally used more energy. Now it was draining away even faster, and he was nearing empty.

Donovan patted him on the shoulder and picked up the clipboard.

He signaled to the players on the court. Taurian Green, who had been watching the coach closely, ran over to Horford and whispered something in his ear.

He glanced at Zhang Yu, puzzled. The young man sat there calmly, completely unruffled by the score tightening.

"Ronan, I didn't expect the small lineup to work this well. Donovan's really committed to feeding Horford in the post!" Stevens said in surprise, looking up at the scoreboard.

After seeing Curry go without a rest in the second half, Donovan showed surprise for the second time.

Donovan couldn't understand Zhang Yu's decision. In his basketball philosophy, the team that controlled the paint controlled the game. He would never use a lineup like that.

69–72.

In this kind of back-and-forth battle, the score kept seesawing. With two minutes left in the game, the teams were tied at 69–69.

Zhang Yu smiled faintly.

"???" They looked at the referee in confusion.

"Al, can you keep going?" Donovan asked with concern.