Chapter 67: Defensive Thabeet

Conference room in USC's leased training facility in Detroit, Michigan.

A group of USC players and coaches are watching the replay of the University of Connecticut Huskies in the conference room.

Lian Dao and DeMar are very familiar with this team, because Lian Dao and DeMar had watched their first match in March Madness before.

Very powerful, whether it is outside or inside.

At that time, DeMar also joked that if USC reached the final four, he really wanted to play against the University of Connecticut Huskies.

DeMar didn't expect that one of his jokes at that time would come true.

Their opponent in the semifinals will actually be the University of Connecticut Huskies.

The UConn Huskies are strong inside and out, with Hashim Thabeet on the inside and Kemba Walker and A.J. Price on the outside.

There are also some powerful players such as Jeff Adrian and Jerome Dyson.

It can be said that many people in this game are not optimistic about the University of Southern California, thinking that the University of Southern California will fall in the offense of the University of Connecticut Huskies.

After watching the game video, the pressure on USC's side mainly comes from center Vucevic.

Because Vucevic is the starting center, he will face Hashim Thabeet directly.

Now Vucevic does not have an advantage against Hashem Thabeet, with a height of 221 cm and a weight of 119 kg.

This season, Thabeet averaged 13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.27 blocks per game.

Looking at Thabeet's performance throughout the season, he is dominant on the defensive end. On January 31, facing the Providence Friars, he scored a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. The statistics shocked the United States.

In the Sweet 16 contest with powerful center Jajuan Johnson, Thabeet also showed his heroic qualities, scoring 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

At the National Championships, Thabeet further demonstrated the role of his basket barrier.

On March 27, in the match against Purdue, Thabeet scored 15 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks for the No. 1 seed Connecticut. Du shot only 29.3%, 12 of 41 from the field.

So this game is a great test for Vucevic.

"How can I guard him?" Tim asked, looking at Vucevic and Gibson.

The two looked at Thabeet in the video, shook their heads first, and then said.

"We will do our best!"

A smile crept across Tim's face.

"Sickle, it's up to you to defend Hashem Thabeet this game."

Tim looked into Lian Dao's eyes and said.

Lian Dao nodded slowly, in fact, he had already had a premonition.

Tim was a little surprised to see Lian Dao agreeing so readily. He wanted to explain to Lian Dao why he needed him to defend Thabeet.

In the end, before he could explain, Lian Dao nodded in agreement.

Thabeet is indeed almost invincible inside the NCAA, but it is only almost.

He still has shortcomings, because he only came into contact with basketball in 2005, and he was late in contact with basketball. Some of his steps around the basket are blunt, and confrontation under the basket has always been his drawback.

If it is an ordinary center, he has the advantages of length and flexibility to take advantage of.

But when it comes to stocky centers, Hashim will be limited.

In the last life, when the University of Connecticut Huskies played against the Michigan State University Spartans in the semifinals, he was limited by the stocky Golan Sutton.

Lian Dao and Golan Sutton are about the same height, but not as heavy as Golan Sutton, but Lian Dao has the advantages of strength and wingspan that Golan Sutton does not have.

Moreover, Lian Dao is more flexible than Golan Sutton.

Lian Dao actually wanted to talk to Tim.

But he didn't expect that Tim would have seen Thabeet's problem long ago. In fact, he knew it when he thought about it.

Most coaches can find this problem, but it is very difficult to solve it. The first is that many insiders in the NCAA are not flexible enough to fight with flexible bodies.

Rarely does a small forward with the physical gifts of Lian Dao have the strength advantage over a center.

After determining Hashem, who is the most difficult to defend, the next step is easy to say.

The trickiest thing right now is their perimeter player, A.J. Price.

That's right, A.J. Price, not Kemba Walker.

Because as a freshman, Kemba Walker is still leveling on the bench.

Moreover, Kemba Walker and A.J. Price overlap, and whoever believes that Daniel Hackett can't handle it.

At this moment, Tim looked back at Daniel Hackett.

Daniel Hackett was a little embarrassed by Tim's look, and he shook his head hastily.

Tim also knew he couldn't defend, but he just wanted to see Daniel Hackett's attitude.

"DeMar, the defense of the opposing point guard is up to you, Daniel, you go to guard their shooting guard Craig Osterley."

"In the next game, we will play mobile defense."

In the next time, the University of Southern California will continue to train tactics.

…

"Sickle, why did you agree to Tim to defend Thabeet? Although your confrontation is stronger than him, his height is really too tall. With a height of 221cm, your strength will not be reflected."

DeMar was very puzzled by Lian Dao's direct promise to Tim to defend inside.

"Do not you trust me?"

"Of course I believe you, but that's not the same thing."

Demar anxiously explained Lian Dao's rhetorical question.

"We have no choice but to limit Thabeet so we can win this game."

"But our outside line is also an advantage. We can use offense to win."

Lian Dao shook his head when he heard Demar's words. Demar thought things too simply.

"Once they strengthen their defense once our hand feeling drops, if we can't restrain Thabeet and suppress the rebounds, then it is very likely that we will lose this game."

Lian Dao didn't want to go inside to defend Thabeet either. On the outside, he could suppress the UConn Huskies' small forward both defensively and in scoring.

But there is no way, Vucevic can't prevent Thabeet, this junior veteran, both in terms of physical fitness and experience, can crush the current Vucevic.

In fact, Thabeet's talent is not bad, but the Grizzlies in history were too anxious, and the Grizzlies at that time did not have Thabeet's growth environment at all.

The existence of Gasol has already occupied a lot of possessions, and there is also a Ahmad Haddadi at the center position, which makes Thabeet not much playing time at all.

Later, after being sent to the Development League, Thabeet lost the opportunity to grow up.

And Thabeet's decentralization is also the highest among the NBA's decentralized players!

"Also, don't underestimate me. Since I agree, I'm sure I can defend Thabeet!"

Lian Dao patted DeMar on the shoulder.

"Thabeet's spin prediction is higher than mine, and I want to beat him to get a higher prediction!"

"At the same time, I also want to try what level my defense has reached!"

"The previous match against Griffin, because it was a preseason game, was actually not Griffin's strongest state, and of course it was not my strongest state at that time. And now I have reached the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, everyone I won’t hide it, so I want to see my real defensive strength!”

DeMar is no longer serious at this time.

"Come on! For the NCAA championship!"