Capítulo 1305: Chapter 528: Roll Call! Roll Call!_2

Zhang Yang’s eyes widened like a husky upon hearing the news.

He was merely responding to a reporter’s question, making the kind of reply a professional player should, engaging in some banter with Harden and the newly acquainted Curry. This was a win-win situation for the media, the league, and the players… Of course, he had some personal feelings involved, but isn’t that what interviews are about?

And then the City Hall issues a response? Even supporting his nonsense claim? How magical is this?

He opened the search engine on his phone to look up what kind of person the current mayor of New York is… Bloomberg, the boss of the world’s largest financial media, a true businessman, a marketing expert, the face of Wall Street.

He sighed, truly worthy of Big Apple City, always bringing him an unprecedented away game experience.

…

At 7:40 PM, in Madison Square Garden, the visiting team entered.

As Zhang Yang entered the court, the on-site fans cheered like mad.

Curry stood behind Harden, staring intently at Zhang Yang.

He had already heard that Zhang Yang was more popular here than in Charlotte. When he mentioned this to his teammates, they seemed used to it. Although he was unhappy, he had mentally prepared himself, but seeing it happen with his own eyes, his emotions surged and he couldn’t control them.

He never received such cheers! And while he’s just a rookie and could let it pass, even Harden and David Lee, the two faces of the team, had never been treated like this!

Zhang Yang enjoyed the fervent atmosphere of the basketball holy land and glanced at Curry behind Harden.

The little schoolboy seemed to be acting obediently, not stealing the spotlight from his big brother Harden, but that undisguised hostility in his eyes, others might not notice, but Zhang San could feel it as soon as he entered.

Sure enough, the Curry on the court was very different from the reserved schoolboy playing with him the other night.

No, it should be said that Curry has always been an ambitious, intensely self-confident player; otherwise, he wouldn’t have that kind of playstyle in the future.

However, Curry here is already quite flamboyant in his play.

When preparing yesterday, Zhang Yang saw in the scouting report that Curry attempts 7.2 three-pointers per game, ranking second in the league, higher than Ray Allen, Granger, Aaron Brooks, and only lower than his own average of 8 three-point attempts! Ray Allen, Granger, and Brooks only attempt 6.3, 6.2, 6.4 respectively!

In the past two seasons, he was the only one with a gap-leading three-point attempts, but now there’s someone else.

Curry averages 2.6 three-pointers per game, third in the league, just below Zhang San’s 3.3 and Ray Allen’s 2.8!

In his memory, Curry’s early career didn’t have such high three-point attempts and makes, it was from the 12-13 season that it suddenly soared, from an average of just over two made three-pointers to over three, then over five…

But among this season’s top three shooters, Curry has the lowest shooting percentage.

At this moment, the big screen displayed the main players’ statistics from the two teams.

Zhang Yang, 16 games, averaged 29.8 points (second in the league), 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.1 blocks, 51.1% shooting, 41% three-point shooting, 88.6% free throw percentage.

Curry, 18 games, averaged 15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 44.6% shooting, 36.1% three-point shooting, 93.4% free throw percentage.

Ray Allen over there, Zhang Yang remembered his three-point shooting percentage was 44%, ranking first among the top ten three-point shooters.

Initially, Zhang Yang thought it was due to different team environments, but upon further thought, it didn’t make sense. Both old Nelson and D’Antoni play fast-paced offenses, D’Antoni can’t be crazier than old Nelson.

Originally, Curry in the Warriors seemed to average 17+, and that was with Ellis averaging 25 points per game and Maggette averaging 20 by his side.

Here, Curry’s outside partner is Harden, a sophomore Harden averaging 17.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists so far this season, Nick’s top scorer David Lee averaging 19.6 points, both scoring and attempts far less than Ellis and Maggette, yet Curry only averages 15.5 points.

In terms of attempts, Curry is clearly not the player D’Antoni is focusing on developing. The more physically talented, technically skilled, and high basketball IQ Harden is the core of D’Antoni’s tactics. Curry’s playstyle is not something D’Antoni would orchestrate.

Reading the scouting report yesterday, Zhang Yang pondered and deeply suspected that Curry was influenced by him, Zhang San, during his college days.

After all, playing in the same state, almost every home game was broadcast locally by a Time Warner cable agent. He played this way, succeeded in the NBA, and Curry, aiming for the NBA, followed suit.

And Curry started taking risks too early, without nearly the abilities he developed three years later in his fourth year of college. Zhang San only dared to play recklessly after his three-point ability exceeded 90, and the schoolboy dared to throw like this right upon entering the NBA! Therefore, he shot such a three-point percentage.

What impact will this have on Curry’s career? Zhang Yang was very interested in that.

Pre-match preparation time passed quickly, and the two teams’ starters took to the court.

Bobcats: Felton, Zhang Yang, Hill, Millsap, Okafor.

Knicks: Curry, Harden, McGrady, Wilson Chandler, David Lee.

McGrady has only played 9 games this season, and tonight is his 10th. Since he can play, D’Antoni gave him a chance as a starter. Their rotation is quite flexible anyway, he can be subbed out later.

McGrady, who just turned 30 in May, is no longer the player he once was, but remains unsatisfied, still playing in a core style. If he doesn’t get the ball, he just stands on the sideline, averaging 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists over 9 games, with 0 steals so far, can’t even snatch them, shooting percentage only 38%, three-point percentage 25%, already a burden. If not for D’Antoni’s soft personality, he would’ve been benched like Kemp, Francis, and Eddie Curry back in the day.

At 8:00 PM, the game where the Bobcats visit the Knicks commenced.

Okafor outperformed David Lee, winning the jump ball, and the Bobcats had the first possession!

Felton pushed to the frontcourt, and without reaching the three-point line, passed it to Zhang Yang.

Harden, guarding Zhang Yang up front, was taken aback—was the third brother really going to take him head-on? What an honor!

Eh, why was there someone else next to him? Wait, Felton, why are you standing next to me? I admit I have great defensive talent, I’m a defensive genius.

But! Does Zhang San need a pick to deal with me?

Zhang Yang used Felton’s screen to laterally move to the top arc on the right, and as Felton split, he immediately moved to the left 45-degree angle, Curry had already switched to Zhang Yang, leaving Harden to follow Felton.

Curry, on his end, was very proactive in defending the pick-and-switch, quickly sticking to Zhang Yang, afraid the opponent might take a shot after the screen.

But to his surprise, after using the screen, Zhang Yang merely managed the ball sideways, and as Felton and Harden cleared out, a slightly puzzled Curry saw Zhang Yang begin to move and quickly focused on defense, as it was his first time facing off against Zhang Yang!

Zhang Yang advanced in a steamroll manner!

Curry tried his best to resist, though his static strength for a point guard was pretty good, especially his core strength outstanding, but against the weight and strength-first Zhang Yang, a swingman, he couldn’t hold!

However, he didn’t give up, retreating with all his might, trying to stay with him… then saw Zhang Yang pull back beyond the three-point line! He wanted to rush back, but his body was already recoiling!

Zhang Yang found himself open after the step-back, took aim, jumped, and shot a three-pointer… swish!

The crowd cheered wildly, completely disregarding Curry’s feelings. For over a month now, they quite liked Curry, some even preferred him over Harden because he resembled that man.

But when that man personally stepped onto this court, no one cared about the schoolboy anymore…