Trash Talk Ultimate Art: Guiding an Expert!!!

Up to this point, in less than a half of play, Zhou Ze had already grabbed 2 offensive rebounds, setting a new career high.

Of course, it was not because Zhou Ze's rebounding awareness or instincts had improved. It was simply pure luck—the ball kept bouncing to spots favorable to him.

Affected by major injuries and age, Webber's physical gifts were clearly suppressed when facing Zhou Ze, who was stronger, faster, and more powerfully built than him.

Moreover, although Zhou Ze's nose for rebounds had not improved, his rebounding technique had progressed by the day through his one-on-one battles with Kobe. With his average jumping speed, Zhou Ze would try to initiate physical contact before taking off.

He used his weight and strength advantage to prevent his opponent from jumping at the first opportunity.

"Clang!"

Kobe, who had bricked another shot, stared at his hands and gritted his teeth. "Shit!"

"Kobe, you're going to knock the rim crooked." As Kobe hurried back on defense, Zhou Ze could not help but roast him.

"Shut up, rookie." Kobe rolled his eyes and laughed as he cursed.

Allen Iverson, who noticed the exchange, froze for a moment.

What an arrogant rookie!

Even compared to me in my rookie season, he's no less cocky.

But what truly surprised Allen Iverson was Kobe's response.

Kobe had not actually gotten angry.

Although Allen Iverson had the height of a point guard, he played like a shooting guard and spent a large portion of his possessions attacking off the ball.

That left Parker, who was guarding him, running himself ragged.

But after the game entered the second quarter, Allen Iverson's scoring efficiency began to plummet.

That's right.

Kobe stepped in.

As someone who had made the All-Defensive First Team multiple times, even when his shot was off, Kobe could still fall back on his defense.

Kobe's help defense and double teams made it difficult for Allen Iverson to receive the ball. Even when he did get it, he could only force difficult shots or pass it out.

On the Lakers' side, Zhou Ze was once again assigned to defend former All-Star power forward Chris Webber one-on-one.

Webber consequently received a great deal of the ball.

After being stripped by Zhou Ze on the previous possession, Webber caught the ball at the high post this time and prepared to use his signature move—facing up to attack.

At that moment, Kwame Brown, one of the twin towers on the court, wanted to come over to help. After all, even a wrecked ship still had three pounds of nails.

A Webber who could drive, pass, and shoot was probably not someone Zhou Ze could easily guard alone.

"No need!"

"No need!"

"I can handle him by myself."

As Zhou Ze crouched low and spread his arms, he signaled for his teammates not to come help.

Clearly, this provoked Chris Webber.

As an interior player, Webber followed a quick between-the-legs dribble with a crossover drive. Though he no longer possessed the explosiveness of his prime, his movements remained smooth as he slipped past Zhou Ze's right shoulder.

In the next instant, he had gained half a step on Zhou Ze.

Just as Webber was about to break through to the basket, he suddenly came to a sharp stop, leaned back slightly, and made a shooting fake.

But to Webber's astonishment, Zhou Ze did not bite and jump.

That makes no sense!

I watched this rookie's game footage. He used to get faked into the air so easily.

But now, he seemed to have fixed that bad habit.

Webber could not figure it out.

Meanwhile, Kobe, standing beyond the three-point line, revealed a faint smile. I made that little bastard pay his tuition countless times.

Unable to create a timing advantage, Webber could only pass the ball out. His teammate caught it, shot, and bricked it.

Kwame Brown snatched the rebound forcefully.

"Rookie, you're just lucky. If it were the 2000-01 version of me, I'd force a poster dunk over you." Webber said angrily after repeatedly getting shut down in front of Zhou Ze.

"Bro, the 2000-01 version of you would definitely destroy me."

"After all, I was only fourteen back then."

Zhou Ze said with a perfectly serious expression.

Chris Webber was so angry that his chest heaved violently.

Over the remainder of the second quarter and the first half of the third, Chris Webber faced up against Zhou Ze at the high post a total of 12 times.

In 12 matchups.

The first two ended in a steal and a forced pass.

On the third, Webber made a contested jumper.

On the fourth, Webber faced up and drove hard, drawing a defensive foul from Zhou Ze.

The fifth through ninth all ended in clanks.

On the tenth, he made a contested jumper.

On the eleventh, Zhou Ze stole the ball.

On the twelfth, another steal.

"Man, I told you already—you should shoot from deeper in the post. Even though you don't have the strength to back me down."

"And don't rush so much. You can use your footwork to throw off my balance, even though I probably won't jump."

"You've got too many moves in that face-up drive. You should simplify it and cut out the unnecessary motions. That's the only way to improve your driving efficiency."

With a serious expression, Zhou Ze began instructing Chris Webber, the former All-Star known for his flashy offense.

Webber's face looked extremely grim.

This rookie in front of him didn't understand post offense at all. He was nothing more than a softie who could only shoot threes, yet he was putting on airs and lecturing him.

That was right.

Zhou Ze had used the "Trash Talk Ultimate Art"—Guiding an Expert.

During their previous head-to-head matchups, Zhou Ze had deliberately taunted him, once again stressing that he could guard him one-on-one. That move had provoked Chris Webber, but not by much.

But after Zhou Ze used Guiding an Expert this time, Webber completely lost it.

It was like online commenters earning 3,000 a month teaching a tycoon worth tens or hundreds of billions in the auto or phone industry how to leverage his massive traffic to sell snacks and the like.

To avoid being disturbed by Guiding an Expert, one needed a strong heart and broad vision.

Clearly, the emotional Chris Webber possessed neither.

Provoked by Guiding an Expert, Chris Webber's offense became impatient, and he handed Zhou Ze two consecutive steals.

After his scheme succeeded, Zhou Ze still wouldn't stop talking, continuing to guide the expert.

The Philadelphia 76ers' head coach finally couldn't stand it any longer. After calling a timeout, he planted the former All-Star power forward on the bench.

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