67: 66.

The Counterattack of Zhang San 67: 66.

The Counterattack of Zhang San But Zhang Yang’s heartache didn’t come from Harden himself, they were at least the same height.

The real reason for the heartache was DeRozan, this guy is 196 now!

Previously, hanging out with DeRozan every day, Zhang Yang didn’t feel much about DeRozan getting taller, he got used to it.

But when he saw DeRozan standing next to Harden, clearly towering over him, Zhang Yang felt terrible, as it meant that DeRozan was also that much taller than him.

It wasn’t just Zhang Yang who felt heartache, Erha saw that DeRozan was still so much taller than him, and his mood exploded even more.

In the past year, he had grown 7 centimeters, yet the height difference with DeRozan had not only not shrunk but had increased by 1 centimeter!

That just wasn’t fair!

A man fears not being tall enough and fears even more that his brothers will be taller than himself.

Seeing that Harden was also full of jealousy, Zhang Yang felt a lot better.

During lunch, Harden chattered about his half-season experience of making it to the main team.

The coaching staff at Lynwood High School had made a rare correct decision; after Harden went to the main team, he performed better than in the reserve team, with more opportunities for wing catch-and-shoots and better space for driving to the hoop, averaging 13.2 points per game.

Although it seemed similar to his time in the reserve team, the strength of the opponents was not on the same level, and his scoring was of a completely different value.

Being able to average 13 points in the main team games at 14, Harden had also become a key player the Lynwood High School coaching staff planned to focus on developing.

Zhang Yang and DeRozan were happy for Harden after hearing this.

In the afternoon, the three brothers played video games for two hours, and once the sun wasn’t so harsh, they went to the park to play basketball, starting with a few rounds of one-on-one.

Harden couldn’t beat DeRozan, which was to be expected, and couldn’t beat Zhang Yang either, which he had also accepted, having lost more than he won half a year ago.

But when Harden saw Zhang Yang and DeRozan playing toe-to-toe…

No!

He, Erha, had to strive harder!

It had been less than a year, right?

DeRozan was now only able to narrowly win against Zhang San by relying on more accurate shooting, and Erha had never felt such an urge to become stronger!

While resting and drinking water after the one-on-one, Zhang Yang asked, “James, didn’t you buy the Spurs’ footage to learn the Euro step?

Haven’t mastered it yet?

But your step-back is pretty good, teach me!”

Harden: “At first, I did want to learn the Euro step, but that’s too difficult, couldn’t figure it out, so I tried Ginobili’s step-back jumper from the footage, and that was easier…

You teach me the Euro step, I’ll teach you the step-back!”

Zhang Yang remembered then, Ginobili had the step-back!

Not learning it, big loss!

But it seemed like Ginobili didn’t consider his step-back jumper a mid-range technique…

Seeing that Erha and Zhang San seemed to be leaving him out of their ‘private feast’, DeRozan immediately expressed his desire to join them.

If DeRozan couldn’t beat Zhang San in one-on-one anymore, he also started to panic!

The three of them taught each other, with DeRozan teaching pull-up jump shots, Harden teaching step-backs, and Zhang Yang teaching the Euro step.

DeRozan tried the Euro step again but indeed didn’t like it, couldn’t get the feel for it, but the step-back felt very good when he tried it.

The step-back jumper, although also rhythm-dependent, relied more on reflex and physical ability.

Harden tried both moves…

DeRozan’s heart of domination was strengthened.

Harden’s talent was too good, his terrifying strength allowed him to complete pull-up stops and quick direction changes easily, along with inherent rhythm, both pull-up jumpers and the Euro step felt great for him.

Zhang Yang also felt the pressure, having already surpassed Harden, he naturally didn’t want to be overtaken again.

The trio started their summer training mode of mutually competitive learning.

June 6th, Zhang Yang’s 16th birthday.

Jarett Young and Tyson Roy, together with Harden and DeRozan, pitched in to order a birthday cake for Zhang Yang.

Thanks to his outstanding football prowess, Tyson Roy smoothly moved on to the University of Southern California after graduating from California High School; Jarett Young got great results in the ACT exam in February, secured a recommendation letter from the leadership of California High School, and received an admission notice for the sports medicine program at the University of California.

If he couldn’t become an athlete, he still wanted to work in the related field.

Two very good friends who took great care of him have a bright future, and Zhang Yang was also very happy when he heard this news; he hoped they would have a good life ahead.

Miller, Keith, Charlie Monroe, Allen Kanter, and Aboya, five teammates from the reserve team, also came over from Compton.

Except for Sam Smith who joined midway and wasn’t that familiar, two backcourt teammates he didn’t get along with, and Tatum who had gone to St.

Louis to be with his brother, all the others came.

Andre Kyle, the classmate who chatted with Zhang Yang the most and often borrowed his study notes, also brought his girlfriend.

By noon, big brother Hip drove his sports car to Hidden Mountain.

Zhang Yang hadn’t realized before that he already had so many friends… he was very happy.

Yang Jing saw that so many of her son’s classmates had come from other cities and was also very happy, but at the same time felt emotional, “Chen, it was right for Yangyang to go out and make his mark.

We protected him too well in the past.

Although he didn’t turn out bad in those years, he also didn’t have many friends.

Jarett and Tyson were the ones who actively took him out to play.

Now Yangyang has finally learned to make friends.”

Zhang Chen: “Yangyang was still young back then, it was right to protect him during his adolescence.”

Thinking it over, Yang Jing agreed and, looking at her son who was now 16, she felt a bit sad; she knew that the time they would see each other each year would definitely get less and less… The good thing was she had practiced the trumpet!

…

After a day off for his birthday, on the 7th, the Compton trio formally resumed studying, training, challenging each other, and occasionally going fishing in the afternoon.

This time Harden decided to stay at Hidden Mountain for good.

Originally, even if DeRozan was at Hidden Mountain, Harden’s mother wouldn’t have agreed to let Harden stay too long, but after learning about Zhang Yang’s academic achievements from DeRozan’s mother, she consented.

They had clear directions, clear goals, heavy enough team burdens, sufficient motivation, and were eagerly competing with each other…

As time passed day by day, a new month arrived, and on July 2nd, Zhang Yang played one-on-one against DeRozan in the park.

Zhang Yang drove to the basket.

DeRozan retreated as he defended, and then, seizing the opportunity, he moved up to make contact… but he hit air!

Zhang Yang pulled off a Euro step, jumping behind to DeRozan’s right.

It was too late for DeRozan to turn around and block; Zhang Yang jumped and made the layup.

10 to 8, Zhang Yang defeated DeRozan and won this round of one-on-one!

In the past three months, Zhang Yang had improved very quickly, faster than during the competition season; he had reached the phase that the coaching staff had mentioned when they discussed focusing on polishing his fundamentals — a stage where after improving the fundamentals to a certain point, his strength surged dramatically.

A month ago, DeRozan could still dominate him in one-on-one, but now they were truly trading wins and losses.

The defeated DeRozan showed no emotional fluctuation on his face.

Over the past year, he had been living closely with Zhang Yang, watched him transition from clumsy play to using the Euro step to toy with opponents’ inside players.

To be honest, even he felt threatened by the speed of Zhang Yang’s improvement.

He had only thought about it before; he never expected to actually be surpassed.

Instead of being discouraged by the setback, he worked even harder.

Zhang San was only a year older than him and was only a bit stronger; he had time to catch up!

He picked up the ball from the sideline and went to the next half-court to play that song from the East…

Harden, on the other hand, said excitedly, “Jack, you’re so cool!

You won against DeMar again!”

He too was hit hard, but now he had a new expectation — if Zhang San could surpass DeRozan, could he?

The thought of him leading DeRozan on the court one day… The mere thought excited him.

Zhang Yang: “What’s the big deal?

Wait for me to train for another two and a half years, don some overalls, comb a center part, and then you’ll see how strong I really am.”

Harden: “Overalls?

For playing basketball?

Combing a center part?

Will that really make you stronger?

I’ll give it a try!”