Chapter 70

"Ball handling?!!!"

As Chen Mu's offensive move appeared, everyone was shocked, even his teammates exchanged glances, unsure of what Chen Mu was up to.

"The Chinese kid is dribbling, he actually dares to dribble in front of the hacker!"

The commentator exclaimed in surprise, shaking his head in confusion: "His dribbling skills are very poor, facing a defensive expert like Shawn with such a slow reaction speed, this is just asking for trouble!"

Marion did not expect that Chen Mu, who had finally gotten a one-on-one opportunity, would choose to start his attack with dribbling. However, his body reacted immediately, and he quickly extended his long arms to try to steal the ball.

Just as Marion reached out to steal the ball, Chen Mu suddenly turned around, not moving towards the basket, but running towards the three-point line.

"Heavens! What is the Chinese kid thinking?!"

The commentator was completely stunned. Although he knew that Chen Mu had made significant progress in mid-range shooting and had reached a high level in passing since joining the 76ers, such an unconventional offensive approach was completely unexpected.

However, Marion had already seen Chen Mu's game footage. In previous games, Chen Mu had used this move before, choosing to dribble outward when facing a close defender, then turning around to take a mid-range shot.

If his shooting touch was good, Chen Mu could use this move to score some long two-pointers.

Trying this move again?

Marion did not hesitate, quickly following with his steps, still tightly sticking to Chen Mu's back, not giving him any offensive opportunities.

As long as you dare to turn around and face the basket, I will immediately try to steal the ball!

Marion thought to himself.

However, Chen Mu's actions were always unpredictable.

"Slap"

Just as Marion stuck to his defense, Chen Mu suddenly held the ball with both hands, passing it between his legs. The basketball hit the ground and shot through the space between Chen Mu and Marion, heading straight for the basket.

Under the basket, Iguodala was in position, ready to run the circle as per the previous strategy. He did not expect Chen Mu to pass the ball at this moment. After a brief moment of surprise, he quickly reacted and scored a layup before Diaw could catch up.

"This...?!!!"

All the fans in the arena were shocked. The Chinese kid's offensive choice was too unconventional. This series of moves was almost like those of a guard.

If not for his poor dribbling skills, it would be like Nash or Kidd-level point guards using their movement to create space and then delivering a decisive assist!

"I see...!"

At the baseline three-point line, Allen Iverson's eyes lit up. He looked at Chen Mu, who was smirking as he retreated, and couldn't help but smile.

"Instead of using the set play, he chose to change the strategy. This Chinese kid has a basketball IQ that is truly remarkable!"

Indeed, according to the 76ers' offensive pattern, after the inside player received the ball, whether it was Chen Mu or Webber in the post, the outside players would start running around.

Iverson would drop to the corner, Iguodala would cut along the baseline, the inside player without the ball would provide a screen, and Korver would move up to the high post to look for a shooting opportunity.

This set play became one of the 76ers' signature offensive strategies after Chen Mu developed his passing ability, becoming the third most used offensive option besides Iverson's one-on-one plays.

Chen Mu used this to his advantage, knowing that his face-up attack would be completely shut down by Marion, he chose to avoid the confrontation and opted for an unconventional outside dribble.

At this moment, the outside players were still running according to the set play, especially Iguodala, who started sprinting to the baseline the moment Chen Mu received the ball.

Everyone knew, even the Suns players and the experienced fans in the stands, that Iguodala's cut was just a decoy. The real move was when Iguodala and the inside player provided a screen, and Korver moved up to the other corner.

Due to the screen, a local 2-on-1 situation would appear on either the strong or weak side, forcing the defender Bell to choose between letting Iguodala or Korver go, and focusing on one of them.

This play was simple and effective, and after multiple uses, it had become a set play in the players' minds:

Iguodala would never get the ball under the basket.

Chen Mu used this small set play to make an incredibly precise between-the-legs pass, changing the course of the play and ending it mid-way!

"Most tactical changes happen after the basic movements are completed, when the first opportunity is not good. But Chen Mu used this to his advantage, forcing his teammates to take a shot mid-way, similar to a tennis player suddenly moving to the net to intercept a shot, catching the opponent off guard!"

Mr. Su nodded repeatedly, looking at Chen Mu with even more anticipation, muttering to himself: "This Chen Mu is truly a remarkable talent...!"

The Suns' offense continued with a high pick-and-roll, Diaw providing the screen, and Nash breaking through.

This time, Webber started early, blocking Nash's shooting path. Nash was about to make a bounce pass but was surprised to see a yellow-skinned figure blocking his passing lane.

Behind Chen Mu, Diaw and Marion were both running towards the inside. In theory, one of them would be left open, allowing Nash to pass the ball.

However, Chen Mu did not follow either of them. Instead, he moved forward, blocking Nash's left passing lane with Webber.

Under the basket, Marion and Diaw, following the set play, both ran towards the basket. This natural choice became awkward as they both found themselves in the same position:

Their running paths overlapped!

Iguodala also moved in from the strong side. If Nash chose to lob a pass for an alley-oop, it might be intercepted by Iguodala.

Nash had no choice but to pass the ball to Bell at the baseline, running to the weak side and loudly reminding Marion and Diaw that they were running into each other.

Back outside the three-second zone, Marion looked at Chen Mu with an incredulous expression, as if the rookie in front of him was not the person he knew.

The defensive choice just now was too unconventional...!

From Chen Mu's face, Marion could not detect any flaws, unsure if the kid had lost his mind, leaving him open, or if his confidence and skill led him to make such a choice.

Unconventional, this was the strange feeling Chen Mu gave Marion.

Bell tried to take a shot from the baseline three-point line but missed. Chen Mu grabbed the rebound and turned to dribble with one hand.

Marion immediately positioned himself between Chen Mu and the fast-breaking Iverson, ready to jump and intercept Chen Mu's long pass.

But Chen Mu had no intention of making a long pass. Instead, he passed the ball to Iguodala beside him and started running to set up an offensive play.

"This kid's choices have suddenly become..."

Marion thought for a moment, tightly following Chen Mu's steps in defense, finally finding the right word.

"Suddenly much more spontaneous!"

Previously, Chen Mu tried to keep every offensive and defensive move on the court as reasonable as possible, making the best judgment based on the situation.

But after facing Marion, a player with even higher mobility, and the free-flowing Suns, he realized that the so-called "reasonable" choices might not always be the best.

"Maybe sometimes I should be more spontaneous, letting my body make the choices, which might lead to better results...!"

Chen Mu thought to himself.

That's why he suddenly chose to dribble outward, then changed his mind and made a between-the-legs pass.

That's why he chose to double-team Nash after he broke through the screen, leaving the two players behind him open.

That's why he chose to pass to a teammate beside him instead of making a long pass for a fast break, setting up a half-court offense.

All these choices were made by Chen Mu's body in an instant.

Actually, these choices seemed spontaneous, but even Chen Mu himself did not realize that his ability to make these choices was due to his deep understanding of basketball tactics, which had become ingrained in his body, allowing him to act without much thought.

This level of skill is not difficult to achieve. Any player who has undergone long-term professional training can do it to some extent. The tactical movements, how each step changes, and the resulting outcomes can be memorized by the body, without the need for conscious thought.

But could a rookie who had only been in the league for a few months and played only 20-30 NBA games reach such a level...?

The answer might only be known by Chen Mu himself, who brought a wealth of basketball knowledge from his original world.

The 76ers' offense resumed, and the ball was passed back to Chen Mu.

With Marion closely guarding him from behind, Chen Mu felt Marion's positioning and found a slightly looser path in the center, so he dribbled and turned towards the center.

Marion's long arms extended, trying to poke the ball away from Chen Mu. Just as his fingers were about to touch the ball, the orange ball suddenly disappeared.

"Swish"

By the time Marion realized what happened, Chen Mu had already made a mid-range shot and was smirking as he retreated.

"Without the skills to attack with the ball, can you still influence my defense with your shooting and passing?"

Marion shook his head slightly, muttering to himself: "How many people would choose to jump and take a mid-range shot just as they are about to face the basket? This kid..."

"Could it be that he saw my hand about to touch the ball and instantly decided to take a mid-range shot...?"

Marion's shock had not yet subsided. The Suns' offense was a bit rushed, and James Jones took a hurried shot from the perimeter, which missed the rim.

Chen Mu leaped to grab the rebound. Marion quickly moved in to pressure him, extending his long arms to block the passing lane between Chen Mu and Iguodala.

But Chen Mu started to dribble and attack...!

Approaching the mid-court line, Nash moved in to pressure Chen Mu. Chen Mu stumbled and passed the ball to Iverson, who had already reached the front court, then continued to charge towards the inside.

Iverson understood and, before Nash could get back to defend, suddenly lobbed the ball high.

Seeing the orange ball in front of him, Chen Mu had no杂念, allowing his body to take over. He jumped, raised his hands high, caught the ball in the air, and then...

"Bang!"

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