The pre-tryout warm-up game was scheduled in Los Angeles, against a group of NBA undrafted players and prospects. Standing on the court, Lin Mo felt the "distortion" of the system panel for the first time—the flickering "opponent speed rating A-" on the screen was far less suffocating than the actual confrontation when a guard named特雷 (Trey) pressed up against him.
Trey's first step was 0.3 seconds faster than the system's prediction, stealing Lin Mo's ball on the first offensive possession. During the fast-break dunk, Trey deliberately paused for half a second in front of him: "From China? Didn't your system tell you I'm good at picking with my left hand?"
Amidst the boos, Lin Mo's nails dug into his palm. The system frantically popped up analysis: [Trey's center of gravity leans right, recommend left突破 (drive)], but as soon as he started, Trey slid over as if he'd known in advance—it turned out the opponent had been studying his habits too!
When substituted in the second quarter, Lin Mo's jersey was soaked, with the stat sheet stuck at 2 points and 2 turnovers. The Lakers scout on the sidelines shook his head at his tablet, drawing a circle next to "defensive liability." He suddenly thought of Gobert's shoulder in the finals, forcing himself to close the system and focus on Trey's feet: every time he changed direction, his right foot would grind half a circle on the ground first.
When he re-entered the game, he deliberately slowed his dribble rhythm, waiting for the moment Trey's right foot ground down before suddenly pulling the ball in the opposite direction! Trey stumbled past him, and as Lin Mo scored the layup, he heard the system chime: [Independent prediction successful, "rhythm deception" proficiency +1%].
With 30 seconds left in the game, the score was tied at 78-78. Lin Mo brought the ball upcourt, and Trey pressed up again. This time, he didn't look at the system or Trey's feet, only remembering the one-armed teenager practicing jump shots, always saying, "The ball should follow your eyes." He looked up at the basket, and just as Trey jumped to block, he flicked his wrist, passing to the corner—a three-pointer went in!
The scout's pen paused. Panting, Lin Mo saw the system panel flash: [Scout attention +5%, compatibility 15.2%], but what mattered more was that during that pass, he'd completely forgotten about the system.