Following muscle memory to the training hall, Duncan paused as soon as he entered.
Because after taking out the newspaper he had personally clipped from his pocket...
No matter how much Duncan compared, the slightly chubby Wake Forest No. 10 on the newspaper could not be the same person as the guy currently practicing on the court.
"Did Wake Forest build a new training facility in the last two years?" Duncan muttered to himself.
At this moment, Qin Yue, who had been practicing hard, also noticed the figure standing at the door.
He gave a slight smile and said, "Excuse me, is this the Devil's Deacon Team's basketball training hall?"
Upon hearing this, although he felt the other party was being mysterious, Qin Yue still politely answered, "Yes, senior."
Seeing this, Duncan patted his forehead and asked, "Do you know Qin?"
If it were someone else, Qin Yue would certainly think the person was teasing him.
But remembering he was the leader of the four power forwards, the "Dazed Beast," Qin Yue pointed at himself and said, "That's me, senior."
"You're him?"
Walking up closer to Qin Yue, Duncan compared him again with the newspaper, "But you don't look like him at all."
Qin Yue sighed deeply and used his finger to point out the newspaper's publication date to Duncan, "Senior, if I'm not mistaken, this newspaper was published on November 5th, right?"
Duncan nodded warmly.
"That was me two months ago. Now I've lost over ten kilograms since then, so it's understandable that you didn't recognize me."
In fact, at that moment, Qin Yue wanted to complain....
Even though he did look like a different person after losing weight, Duncan had no reason not to recognize him.
"Alright, seems like you didn't find this joke funny." After patting Qin Yue on the shoulder, Duncan said.
At this moment.....
Qin Yue realized that he had indeed been teased.
Teased by Duncan with his unique and utterly humorless cold joke.
"You guys are doing well this season."
In the training hall, after stretching a bit, Duncan began to scrutinize Qin Yue with another kind of look.
At that moment, Qin Yue felt as if a fierce beast was staring him down.
If it were Duncan's old rival O'Neal, he certainly wouldn't be unfamiliar with such a gaze.
This is Tim Duncan.
Universally recognized as the leader of the four power forwards.
He always preferred to keep a low profile, only unsheathing his sword when he deemed necessary. Then, before you knew it, he was preparing for the next round.
"Very good, just like the rumors—a natural big frame and a pair of arms that can intimidate Duke."
However, before Qin Yue could snap out of his previous state, Duncan immediately switched gears, began appraising him up and down, and complimented his physique repeatedly.
Then, with Qin Yue looking completely befuddled, Duncan smugly said, "No wonder you're my junior."
At that moment, Qin Yue roughly understood why O'Neal struggled to deal with Duncan.
Because apart from having an imaginative mind, Duncan's way of expressing himself was also unusual.
In short, if you didn't understand him, he would definitely keep you on the brink of a meltdown.
"Let's have a quick match. Because I have a game the day after tomorrow, let's make sure neither of us goes too hard," Duncan said to Qin Yue, constantly changing his style.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yue, who had been passive since Duncan entered, asked back, "A match with us?"
"A match."
Shrugging off his jacket and picking up the basketball from the floor, Duncan said to Qin Yue, "I'll play, you defend."
On the court, although his mind was in a fog, the moment Duncan backed up to him, Qin Yue's muscles instinctively responded.
In the paint, Duncan turned, then bounced the ball off the board, scoring.
"Any insights?" Duncan asked, turning to look at Qin Yue.
At that moment, with Duncan's sudden question, Qin Yue's mind instantly replayed the memory just now.
This is Qin Yue's instinct for basketball.
"Your rhythm is different from others." A few seconds later, Qin Yue replied.
Duncan seemed very satisfied with Qin Yue's answer, so he said, "Again."
After a pause, Duncan added, "This time, you can use more strength."
"But senior, you have a game the day after tomorrow..."
"No problem, at worst I'll take a rest. 'Pop' can't control me."
On the court, with respect over politeness, Qin Yue used all his strength to defend against Duncan this time.
However, the result did not change at all.
Inside, Duncan turned, then bounced the ball off the board, scoring.
"Any insights this time?" Duncan asked.
After mentally deconstructing Duncan's move frame by frame, Qin Yue said, "Still the rhythm, you seem to have preempted my defense."
This time, Duncan was a bit displeased.
But the reason for his displeasure wasn't Qin Yue's lack of insight but rather, "Why do they call you Charles Barkley's successor?
Your insight is clearly as high as mine, and you're even my junior."
Duncan was very angry.
In his view, those clueless journalists almost led his junior astray.
"Let's go again. This time, based on the previous two, defend with all your strength."
On the court, with Qin Yue's full-force defense, during Duncan's third post-up, there was a slight change in the situation.
In the low post, after Duncan spun to the outside, he bounced the ball off the board, scoring.
"What's different this time compared to before?" Duncan asked.
Qin Yue thought for a long while and said, "Rhythm, rhythm, you tricked me with the rhythm of your shoulder."
Duncan nodded, and then tapped Qin Yue on the shoulder, back, and buttocks.
"In post play, these are the areas you can use to lure your opponent.
If you face some straightforward defenders, even a look can work.
Post play isn't that complicated. As long as you grasp the essence of rhythm, you'll pick it up quickly.
Now, let's go again."
On the court, they defended another round.
This time, Qin Yue quickly answered, "Also, make good use of body observation, because when we back against the defender, our vision is often obstructed."
Duncan smiled slightly, "Do you like swimming?"
Qin Yue replied, "It's okay."
Upon hearing this, Duncan explained with an analogy, "When swimming, if you start drowning, your instincts will keep trying to bring you to the surface.
Because drowning feels awful, it's extremely painful.
And post play is like making the defender drown.
And just when he tries to come up for air, push him back down."
Seeing this, Qin Yue suddenly realized, "That's why you can always anticipate my defense."
"Now, it's your turn to post up against me."
After a few rounds, although Qin Yue was still far from mastering the technique, to Duncan, the potential Qin Yue showed today was unlike anything he had ever seen.
Duncan understood that he only taught Qin Yue the theory, but to put this theory into practice...
Apart from having a sharp mind, Qin Yue also needs a certain level of anticipation, reaction, observation, strength, and agility.
The last two, Duncan had already felt beforehand when posting up against Qin Yue.
But the first three...
Those aren't things you can easily teach.
Especially anticipation and observation.
Some NBA players, even with years of match experience, may not surpass Qin Yue at this moment in Duncan's eyes.
This session wasn't intense; it was mainly about inspiring Qin Yue's thinking through post-up training that lasted three hours.
After three hours, stretching, Duncan said to Qin Yue, "I suggest you don't rush into the NBA; it's best to hone your skills in college for another year.
With your understanding, college can provide you a bigger stage to realize your potential."
Looking at Duncan, Qin Yue smiled, "I was planning to play another year in college."
Duncan nodded with satisfaction, "Skip is a good coach, but when it comes to training the inside line, especially low-post offensive skills, he's not as good as Dave." (Note ①)
After a pause, Duncan added, "Your strength and confrontation are already at an NBA level, but I hope in college, you don't rely excessively on your talent.
Because in the NBA, there are many who are stronger, taller, and faster than you."
On this day, at the end of their meeting, Duncan also shared a joke with Qin Yue.
"My first college game performance was terrible, which led the team to lose to a weaker opponent.
At the time, Dave came over and asked me, 'Hey, Tim, what's going on here?', you know what I answered him?"
"I told Dave, it's a good thing, because it shows I have great potential to tap."
This time, Qin Yue was amused by Duncan's joke.
"Senior, good luck with your game the day after tomorrow."
"And good luck with your college career."
Leaving the training gym, recalling the interesting junior he met, Duncan found Skip Prosser around a corner and said, "He is as you said, full of potential."
Upon hearing this, Prosser gratefully said, "Thank you, Tim, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to mentor this kid."
"I had long wanted to come back to Wake Forest for a look, especially since this time it was such an enjoyable afternoon; it was a very nice experience." Duncan said with a smile.
On this occasion, Duncan's visit to his alma mater was not only because the Devil's Deacon Team had impressive new season results but also because he had recently received a call from Prosser.
On the call, Prosser earnestly expressed his hope for Duncan to find time to mentor Qin Yue individually, and Duncan came without hesitation.
No reason needed.
Or rather, don't ask why.
Because Wake Forest is also Duncan's "roots."
For most NBA players, "roots" are always above all else.
Having "roots," no matter where you go, you will not be forgotten.
For example, North Carolina and Chicago are Jordan's "roots."
For example, the Lakers are Kobe's "roots."
For example, the Supersonic is Payton's "roots," but the Thunder is not.
This lifetime, Duncan and Qin Yue share the same "roots."
So, Duncan wanted to see this junior of his.
This day, Duncan saw it.
And he was satisfied.
That's all there is to it.
...
Note ①: Dave Odom, Duncan's college coach, and also the former head coach of the Devil's Deacon Team at the time in the book's timeline.
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