Chapter Ninety-Nine: You Taught Me This Move Too

“CLANG!”

As a three-pointer launched from well beyond half court crashed hard against the rim, Giannis Antetokounmpo shook his head, looking far from pleased.

That brought the second quarter between the Bucks and the Magic to an end as well, with Milwaukee trailing by eight at halftime on the road.

“Fifty-four to forty-six. Thanks to Giannis’s efforts, the visitors have cut the deficit to single digits!”

As the players filed into the locker rooms, the announcers by the court began their constant chatter.

“For Milwaukee, the Greek marvel, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has already poured in 18 points by halftime, along with five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks!”

“And let’s not forget he also had a steal,” the other announcer added.

“Exactly. That came right at the start of the first quarter, and it set up a top-five highlight play from Giannis here in Amway Center.”

Of course the announcers would not forget the Freak’s monstrous alley-oop slam, but he went on to say, “Still, the young man from Orlando doesn’t look any less impressive.”

“Michael Wu has also been excellent in the first half. After scoring 18 in his last game, he already has 12 points today, plus two rebounds and two assists!”

Glancing at the stat sheet, the announcer continued, “This second-round rookie is getting on track, and he’s only getting better.”

“Coach Frank Vogel will surely give Michael even more responsibility in the locker room. I’m very much looking forward to his duel with Giannis in the second half!”

Just as the announcer said, in the home locker room at that moment, Magic head coach Frank Vogel was explaining to his players where they had fallen short in the first half.

After covering the shortcomings, Vogel of course did not forget to offer praise, and the first name he singled out was Wu Rui.

“Michael, you were the one who contributed the most off the bench in the first half,” Vogel said, pointing at the sweat-soaked Wu Rui. “I need you to keep that up in the second half. Also, how’s that little assignment I gave you going? Have you been ‘studying’ Giannis and Jabari’s arsenal?”

“Coach Frank, they really are full of talent. Their arsenals are so varied that no ordinary player could possibly master them!” Wu Rui sighed. “Unfortunately, I still learned a little.”

“You little punk, next time finish your sentence in one breath!”

Vogel rolled his eyes at him.

“Remember what you said. During halftime, they’re definitely going to make you a major focus of their film study. In the second half, their defense on you will be highly targeted. You have to bring out something new!”

What Vogel said was exactly what Bucks head coach Jason Kidd was thinking as well. Back in the locker room, the young coach lashed out at his team, describing their first-half performance as a disaster.

“Boys, I don’t want to see this disaster repeated in the second half!”

With that, Kidd turned to his leader.

“Giannis, you were very good in the latter part of the second quarter, but when you’re facing Michael Wu, you’re still coming up short in a lot of ways.”

“How did you handle the job I asked you to do against the bench?”

“Coach, Michael Wu will regret matching up with me in the second half,” the Greek Freak did not answer directly, but said with swagger, “Unless he doesn’t play!”

In both locker rooms, the two coaches had made their plans for the second half with absolute care. This battle was far from over.

As the fans in the arena gradually returned to their seats, the players from both teams began to emerge from the tunnel. The second half between the Magic and the Bucks was about to begin.

For Orlando, Coach Vogel went straight to Wu Rui and inserted him into the starting lineup for the third quarter. Patting Wu Rui on the shoulder, Vogel said loudly, “Show me what you’ve got, Michael!”

“No problem, sir.”

Wu Rui answered with a snap of his fingers. He tucked the hem of his jersey into his shorts, looked at the other four teammates walking in front of him, and took a deep breath.

If the coach was right, and the other team had started to focus their defense on him, could he still shine the way he had in the first half?

Wu Rui was a little uncertain, because he knew exactly where his weaknesses were, and he knew how easy it was for opponents to target him now.

But the moment he stepped onto the court, Wu Rui closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again.

If the coach had sent him in, that meant the coach believed he could solve this problem.

If even the coach believed that, then what reason did he have to be afraid?

At the thought of that, fighting spirit blazed again in Wu Rui’s eyes. Across from him, the Bucks’ 6-foot-11 leader strode forward at an unhurried pace, chin high, chest out, looking down at Wu Rui from above.

“Come on, Giannis. Pretend the first half was just a warm-up.” Seeing the utterly unfriendly look in his opponent’s eyes, Wu Rui grinned. “I won’t show any mercy in the second half!”

“Mercy?”

The Greek Freak was amused by Wu Rui’s words as well.

“I think you already gave everything you had in the first half.”

“If that was your full effort, then I’m sorry, because you’re really weak.”

With that, the Greek Freak dropped his shoulder, lowered his defensive stance, and pressed tightly against Wu Rui, giving him no room at all.

Having carefully studied every one of Wu Rui’s offensive possessions from the bench, Giannis understood perfectly well that he could not allow this Chinese rookie even the slightest space to make a move.

Wu Rui sneered, and then, as his teammate’s screen arrived, the familiar action came again. It was the same old play call, but this time Giannis took one long stride and cleanly blew up the screen, getting right back into Wu Rui’s face!

“Michael Wu couldn’t shake Giannis’s defense! My goodness, Serge Ibaka is an elite screener, but Giannis still destroyed the Orlando Magic’s pick-and-roll on that possession!”

What had just happened on the floor drew cries of surprise from the announcers.

With the screen blown up, Payton was momentarily stunned as well. But Wu Rui showed no sign of giving up on the play. He pinned the Greek Freak behind him with his body, extended his right hand, and called for the ball from Payton!

“I said it already. In the first half, I was only warming up.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the pass from Payton arrived. Wu Rui caught it, turned directly, and raised both arms, as if he were about to shoot!

“What are you thinking?”

Almost at the same instant, Giannis exploded upward. Wu Rui was actually trying to pull off a sudden cold-blooded shot right in front of him, as if his defense meant nothing at all!

But the next moment, Giannis, still in the air, froze.

Because in front of him, Wu Rui had not shot at all. It was only a pump fake.

And that move felt strangely familiar.

Only when Giannis began to descend did Wu Rui raise his arms again, and, just as he had done countless times in practice, he calmly sent the ball through the net.

Swish!

The ball dropped cleanly through the rim. Wu Rui lifted his right arm high and grinned at the Greek Freak, who had been lifted into the air by the fake.

“That move? You taught me that one too.”