Chapter 24: Jordan-Like Game Winner
Ding!
As the whistle sounded, Li Zhen patted his chest, took a deep breath, and walked onto the court with determination.
In truth, he had no certainty of making the game-winning shot. It was well-known that Bruce Li's shooting proficiency was not high, especially recently with the added bulk due to his enlarged palm.
But he pressed forward, resolute.
Most of the time, Li Zhen was an obedient son, a clever student, a gentle friend, and a willing team player.
But he had his obsessions. Since childhood, whenever a game-deciding shot presented itself, he would unflinchingly take it.
Just like when he resolutely transferred from Harvard to Stanford against his parents' staunch opposition.
"You're already doomed," Brooks walked up to Li Zhen, maintaining his haughty demeanor. "God won't let a team, abandoned even by its coach, enter the Tournament." (T/N: LMAO Imagine hearing this when hooping)
"I don't believe in God," Li Zhen turned his head and told Brooks.
Brooks sneered, "Arrogant."
Just then, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in Li Zhen's mind: "Detected contemptuous emotion. Would you like to expend 1 point of talent energy to activate the previous host's body memory mode?"
Li Zhen was initially hesitant, but then remembered: this could very well be the Jordan mode. (T/N: And he took it personally)
He pondered for half a second on this 'teach a man to fish or give him a fish' dilemma, ultimately choosing to spend the hard-earned 1 point of talent energy to activate the Jordan mode.
As this thought formed in his mind, he instantly felt a warm stream descending from the top of his head, enveloping his body.
Then, Li Zhen experienced a state he had never felt before. He felt energized, as if he could do anything.
Uh... this state seemed to only last for a minute.
"Hurry, make the shot!"
Li Zhen swiftly ran to the sideline, taking the basketball from Scott.
As he received the ball, the countdown began. Stanford players, following Jamie Lin's isolation play, started moving, giving the wide three-point arc position to Li Zhen for the final shot.
In Jamie Lin's tactical plan, when Li Zhen had dribbled for about 10 seconds, he would quickly cut in from the arc. At this moment, Scott and Benson would set screens to shield him, allowing him to use his speed to directly score in the paint.
It was a pretty good arrangement.
However, Oregon seemed to have anticipated this. Their two big men were tightly marking Scott and Benson, denying them any room for maneuver.
This caused Coach Jamie Lin, standing on the sideline, to furrow his brows. He watched Li Zhen with great concern: could he still penetrate into the paint and score under these circumstances?
On the other side, Oregon's head coach wore a mocking smile. This seasoned academic was calm and confident. One game was enough for him to see through Stanford's tricks: their players either lacked ball-handling skills or shooting ability.
In his view, in the last 22 seconds, as long as they kept player No. 10 out of the free-throw line area, they would succeed.
So, he instructed his big men to closely follow the Stanford players attempting to set screens. He also had Hairston ready to intercept at the free-throw line. He believed that with his brilliantly designed defense, Stanford couldn't possibly pull off the game-winner.
The two coaches had different thoughts.
But time was ticking away, second by second.
In the entire arena, in the breathless silence, all the players were intensely focused: victory or defeat hung in the balance.
On Time Warner's broadcast room, Johnny Watson had been incessantly counting down.
As he counted down to the tenth second, Li Zhen remained completely calm, executing unpredictable crossovers in front of his defender.
He seemed completely unhurried.
However, Coach Jamie Lin on the sidelines was anxiously clenching his fist, his knuckles making a cracking sound. What was Bruce doing? Time was running out. Did he intend to resolve the match with one shot? Or had he forgotten about the time?
Just as he was debating whether to sound an alert, a sudden surge of determination washed over Li Zhen.
Li Zhen suddenly took a step, his stride akin to a cheetah's pounce, incredibly swift, giving the impression of an innate mastery.
Brooks was almost left a half-step behind in this instant, hurriedly turning to chase.
But he was already half a beat too slow.
At this moment, Hairston quickly released Thompson, moving in for the help defense.
He attempted to physically lock down Li Zhen directly.
Yet, right in front of him, Li Zhen abruptly came to a sharp stop, then swiftly changed direction, his figure shifting from the left lane to the right, continuing his drive towards the interior.
Hairston quickly leaned in to defend, but just as he took a step...
Bruce executed a sharp stop, swiftly pulling the basketball from in front of him, adjusting his hips, executing a step-back, and rising into a graceful fadeaway jump shot! (T/N: Search in YT, Jordan game winner vs Jazz)
The entire sequence flowed seamlessly, like water flowing through clouds. At the moment Li Zhen released the shot, Hairston had just completed his defensive adjustment.
The beautifully executed step-back fadeaway shot left the fans in the arena unable to contain their exclamations of astonishment.
When the basketball reached its apex, the lights behind the backboard turned red, and the electronic buzzer sounded urgently.
And Li Zhen... at this very moment, he actually raised both hands high.
Swish!
The basketball pierced through the net with pinpoint accuracy in less than half a second!
The scoreboard was updated almost simultaneously.
79:78!
Game-winning shot successful!!!
The Stanford arena erupted in an instant, waves of excitement surged like a volcanic eruption, and the voices from all directions seemed to surge up from the depths of the earth!
This shot was incredibly satisfying!
A perfect game-winning shot!
Arrogant Oregon Ducks, your Tournament journey has come to a complete end.
The victorious hero Bruce Li was thrown high into the sky, and the Stanford players couldn't contain their victorious emotions any longer.
They had achieved this legendary victory in the most unexpected way.
At the same time, the proud Brooks hung his head low, just like their coach... their expressions went from disbelief to desolation. In the end, they walked away dejectedly from this joyful ocean.
"Oregon actually lost???" Johnny Watson sat in the broadcast studio, extremely disheartened. This completely exceeded his preconceived notions. He had always thought Oregon had the game in the bag.
But tonight, the little-known No. 10 player from Stanford emerged as the biggest winner.
His name would be talked about throughout the California region because of this game.
Meanwhile, Time Warner Cable replayed Li Zhen's game-winning shot.
This once again prompted a cry of astonishment from Kareem, and a chorus of admiration from countless viewers in front of their televisions.
This shot uncontrollably reminded them of one person, bringing to mind the No. 23 from the Bulls who once ruled the 90s.
"Bruce's game-winning shot is remarkably similar to the one Michael Jordan made against the Jazz back in the day. I've never seen anyone imitate Michael Jordan to this extent, it's like he was carved from the same mold."
Kareem exclaimed.
His awe was in perfect alignment with the television audience.
The slow-motion replay clearly proved... this was indeed a Jordan-like game-winner.
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