"I wasn't planning on going all out at first... but now that you mention it, I feel I must be responsible to Michael and show my full strength," Carter said, stroking his chin, his gaze gradually sharpening.
"That's the spirit!" He Xi Meng affirmed. "We need to give those old guys on the other side a show of force, then they'll understand what respect is!"
"I like that!" Rasheed Wallace, Stackhouse, and Artest said in unison.
One never knew if His Airness had done it intentionally, but among the youngsters invited, not one was a pushover!
Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Artest… each had a hotter temper than the last!
In comparison, Brad Miller and Carter were considered more mild-mannered!
But Brad Miller was still a strong man who dared to fight Shaquille O'Neal on the court, and Carter had never known fear, daring to confront anyone. It was just that, as the team leader, Carter couldn't act rashly, knowing when to be calm and when to be fiery.
The whistle blew, and the sole referee on the court, Shirley, excitedly blew the horn to start the game.
Everyone was itching for action, all prepared to show off their muscles in front of His Airness. 138 Reading Network.
Seeing Artest's involuntary grin, He Xi Meng quickly pulled him aside and cautioned him, "Ron! When you get on the court, whether on offense or defense, watch your elbows..."
"Why? If I don't use my elbows, how can I contest?" Artest asked, puzzled.
"You can use your body without your elbows! Primarily, your strength is too explosive… and they're a bunch of old guys. I'm worried you might break their ribs with one elbow..."
"You don't say!" Artest wore an expression of "I'm not very educated, don't lie to me." "Are these old guys really as fragile as you say?"
"In short, you can increase your defensive intensity, but you have to control your movements, especially, try not to use your elbows as much as possible..."
Artest frowned and reluctantly agreed. If it weren't for He Xi Meng having entered the league a few years before him, Artest would have paid no mind to He Xi Meng, a Chinese player.
With the most important matter addressed, the game began.
This was a practice match, so there was no jump ball. Out of respect for the elders, He Xi Meng directly ceded the first possession to the opposing Worshi team.
The Worshi team was not polite; after getting the ball, Payton began to advance. After crossing half-court, he passed it to His Airness.
His Airness called for Pippen and Oakley to run a triangle offense.
Rasheed Wallace, Artest, and Stackhouse surrounded the three former Bulls players.
After His Airness got open, he faced Artest's switch and scored the first two points with a clean mid-range jump shot.
Judging from the very first offensive possession, His Airness seemed to be in excellent form. Indeed, if his condition were poor, His Airness probably wouldn't have dared to invite this group of new and old stars to his estate for a scrimmage.
It was He Xi Meng's team's turn to attack.
He Xi Meng instructed Carter to target Brad Miller first! To test the opponent's defensive focus. If Brad Miller could draw Ewing out, Carter would drive in directly. If Ewing didn't come out, Carter would pass the ball to Brad Miller and have him take a three-pointer first!
He Xi Meng guessed: Ewing wouldn't come out!
As expected, Ewing dared not come to the high post! In the low post, Ewing was still a formidable beast near the basket; but in the high post, the slow-footed Ewing was like a vulnerable turret, an easy target for anyone to drive against.
On this possession, Carter could have also chosen a pull-up jumper and forced the issue against Ewing, but he still followed He Xi Meng's tactical arrangement, passing the ball back to Brad Miller on the perimeter.
Brad Miller caught the ball and shot, sinking a three-pointer!
On the Worshi team's second offensive possession, He Xi Meng didn't need to guess; it would still be centered around His Airness. After all, everyone's main purpose was to accompany His Airness in practice.
On this play, His Airness did not opt for a quick play. Instead, he had his teammates spread out and then single-handedly guarded Stackhouse.
After making the familiar fadeaway jumper, His Airness couldn't help but remind his junior disciple, "Jerry, you need to be more aggressive on defense! You can't let opponents catch the ball and shoot so comfortably..."
Stackhouse nodded repeatedly, "Okay, next possession, I'll defend more fiercely..."
On He Xi Meng's second offensive possession, Stackhouse couldn't wait for Carter and Brad Miller to execute their play. He immediately called for the ball and signaled his teammates to spread out, preparing to take on His Airness himself.
Huh? He Xi Meng knew Stackhouse had a temper and wasn't easily managed, but he hadn't expected him to be so disrespectful, disrupting his strategy from the get-go and wanting to go one-on-one with His Airness?
From the sidelines, He Xi Meng frowned. This was the kind of player he would either discipline harshly or let go of early when he was coaching.
But this was just a practice match, and if Stackhouse truly defied He Xi Meng's orders, He Xi Meng seemed to have no way to force him to comply. He could only hope that the aging but still capable His Airness could teach his rebellious junior disciple a lesson.
Stackhouse had just been scorched by His Airness's fadeaway jumper. Stackhouse believed he was also skilled in this area!
Therefore, instead of using his speed to blow past His Airness, he had his teammates space the floor and chose to back down his defender...
Then, an awkward situation unfolded!
Although His Airness was older and his footwork had slowed, his core strength had not diminished at all. On the contrary, since retiring, His Airness had maintained a considerable training regimen, and the 10 kilograms he had gained had largely transformed into muscle. Thus, His Airness's core strength had not decreased but increased, pinning Stackhouse in place, forcing him to pass the ball back to Carter, hoping to work through Carter and attack again.
But Carter wasn't about to coddle Stackhouse. Upon receiving the ball, he immediately called for Brad Miller, intending to continue their play.
As a result, Artest stepped up to set a screen for Carter, helping him fend off Payton's entanglement. However, Pippen switched on defense, forming a double-team with Ewing in the paint...
Carter, prioritizing organization, passed the ball to Artest, who had cut down the middle after the pick-and-roll.
Artest's surprise attack was successful. He caught the ball, turned, and drove into the paint, shouldering off Payton, intending to complete a layup. Unexpectedly, His Airness came from the flank and, on tiptoe, blocked Artest's layup from behind!
Artest landed, bewildered, not understanding how His Airness had blocked him with such a low-to-the-ground move.
"Young man, you underestimate our defensive anticipation..."