Chapter 115: Wolf and Tiger (Part III)

"It's alright. Don't be so eager next time; just stay in position for defense and leave the rest to us."

As Guangdong Provincial Youth Team point guard Zhao Yongji prepared for his free throw, Hawul walked over to Turgun and patted the little guy on the shoulder to offer some comfort.

Wang Lei’s team might have lacked the individual ability and experience of other squads, but it had to be acknowledged that the team atmosphere was excellent. Everyone understood that contributing to a teammate's success was ultimately a gain for themselves, so whenever someone ran into trouble, most of the others were there to help.

Just like with Turgun moments ago: the others hadn't retreated into position in time, but Turgun had alertly stepped up to defend. Even though he ended up giving up an "and-one," no one blamed him. On the contrary, they comforted him, knowing full well what he meant to the team and that they couldn't afford for him to pick up more fouls.

The game resumed. Turgun settled his emotions and brought the ball up to the front court, with Zhao Yongji still defending him tightly.

It was another screen-and-roll from Cai Aihong, but this time, Zhao Yongji chose to navigate around the screen. Yet, at that exact moment, Turgun—who had seemed a bit frustrated just a moment ago—expressed his defiance with a crisp, clean three-pointer. He wasn't about to be bullied so easily.

The screen-and-roll tactic featuring Cai Aihong, Hawul, and Turgun had long been the core offense for the Frontier Provincial Youth Team. No one dared to underestimate this play, simple as it was.

Cai Aihong's mid-range shooting and movement, Hawul’s rolls and cuts, combined with Turgun’s almost excessively accurate three-pointers—these formed the heart of their offense. Sometimes, the simplest and most direct approach is the most effective. There was no denying that Zhao Yongji’s defense was diligent, but when faced with such execution, there was little he could do. When an opponent is that accurate, how can you defend against it?

Though the crowd was small, they were all dedicated supporters—staff members from their respective provinces participating in the National Games, and parents who had traveled thousands of miles to Jinghai to cheer for their children.

The two sides' head-on, aggressive playing styles and the score kept the game intense right from the opening tip.

The Guangdong Provincial Youth Team was indeed looking to innovate this game. After studying the tapes of the Frontier Youth Team, their head coach felt that sticking to a static approach would lead to defeat. That was why he had instructed his players to take the initiative, strike first to gain an advantage, and only then revert to the team’s established systems.

The two teams traded blows in a lively exchange. Neither side played particularly tight defense, focusing instead on outscoring one another. However, by comparison, the Guangdong team, with their proactive adjustments, held a slight edge in absolute talent. Their defense was more disciplined, and their offense was more rational; they didn't just blindly pursue fast breaks and speed, but incorporated strong post-play and inside-out coordination.

Less than five minutes in, the Guangdong Provincial Youth Team led the Frontier Youth Team 14-9.

Hong Kai possessed decent physical gifts. Although he was shorter than Hawul, he was experienced and selfless in his play. He didn't just force shots, but used his footwork to repeatedly isolate Hawul, putting on an impressive performance.

For the Frontier side, aside from Turgun and Cai Aihong, no one else had contributed to the scoreboard. Hawul played with great heart, but it had to be said that his offensive impact on the team was limited.

Wang Lei called the first timeout. After the first five minutes, he understood the opponent’s intent and realized his team’s flaws. If they continued like this, the gap would only widen. The Frontier team relied too heavily on Turgun and Cai Aihong. That wasn't a problem in itself, but if the others couldn't get going, the game would become impossible to play.

"What are your thoughts on how to play the next stretch?"

On the bench, Wang Lei didn't state his intentions immediately. Instead, he always guided his players to think for themselves.

"We're playing too simply. They aren't double-teaming Turgun or Old Cai; they're just limiting everyone else's movement. We need to be more aggressive, and our defense needs to be tougher."

As team captain, Wang Zhaohui had a good grasp of the big picture. He was a player who thought about the game. Although his raw talent was limited, Wang Lei felt this namesake of his had the potential to become a coach, as in the player attribute charts he designed, Wang Zhaohui's leadership was already at the top tier for his age group.

"Hmm, I agree. The captain is right. The rest of us need to attack more. If we have more scoring threats, they’ll have a harder time defending us." Cai Aihong supported Wang Zhaohui’s opinion.

"You're all right. Their intent is to limit the others and wait for Turgun and Cai Aihong’s shooting touch to cool off. But for the rest of the game, my view is that we should keep playing this way. Turgun and Cai Aihong, feel free to be even bolder. Since they’re sticking to single coverage, then play with abandon. Force them to double-team you, force them to abandon their defensive strategy—only then will the others find enough good opportunities."

Wang Lei shared his opinion, but he didn't command them to follow it strictly. He preferred guiding them to think. After all, how the game played out on the court was something the players had to feel and create for themselves.

"Everyone knows Turgun’s touch won't just disappear so easily. The key is for him to control his emotions, maintain his rhythm, and put immense pressure on them. Cai Aihong, you need to showcase your ability as well to draw the defense. As for the rest, you need to be more proactive. On defense, don't hesitate to switch things up—zone, man-to-man, swap them around. As for how to switch, try experimenting with it yourselves."

Wang Lei’s coaching style had always been this way. He wanted every player he cultivated to have their own perspective, rather than just being laborers who listened to the coach and put in effort.

The timeout ended. The Frontier Youth Team had possession. After Turgun brought the ball across mid-court, he used a series of crossovers to shake off Zhao Yongji and decisively pulled up for a three. The ball found the net again. Zhao Yongji gritted his teeth; this white-haired kid was truly something else.

The Guangdong Provincial Youth Team continued with their offensive and defensive strategies, but they soon realized the rhythm of the game was slipping out of their control. Turgun’s outside shooting became increasingly unbridled, Cai Aihong’s movement became more extreme, and the pace of the entire game began to accelerate rapidly.