Strong Offense And Defense Chapter 24

Translator: Re

Editor: Mims

“What? You want to vomit? But every one of my girlfriends like it when I lift them!” Carlo revealed a surprised expression. 

“… Every girlfriend? Just how many girlfriends do you have?” 

Carlo looked stunned and seemed to really be thinking about this question.

“Forget it! Carlo, I'm not your girlfriend, so don't carry me like this! Your shoulders are pushing against my stomach!” 

“Then… how about I let you sit on my shoulder?” 

In Nie Chuan's mind emerged the scene of him sitting on top of Carlo's shoulder and going to the zoo to see the monkeys. 

“Wait! That's not even the point!” Nie Chuan was speechless. 

“The point is that today we have to teach you strategies and tactics in addition to your role as a point guard!” 

“We? Who else will be there other than you?” 

“Me and Ewing as well as Montenegro! Ewing is our shooting guard. After we lost our previous point guard, Coach Gordon tried to put others in the position but the team's mobility and ability to organize an offense was greatly reduced. In last year's league, we just made it into the quarter-finals before we were completely defeated by our opponent.” 

Carlo had a look of loss. 

Nie Chuan then understood that Carlo, Ewing, and Montenegro will teach Nie Chuan together because they sincerely hope that Ni Chuan will be able to integrate into the team as quickly as possible and grow to match them. 

These kind of expectations made Nie Chuan feel pride and, at the same time, deep pressure. 

“What about Reece? Will he also be going?” 

“Reece?" Carlo slipped his hands into his pockets and shook his head. “Can you imagine this guy teaching others? He wouldn't teach anyone no matter how good or bad!” 

Nie Chuan opened his mouth, who said that Reece wouldn't teach? 

Then who was the one that accompanied him during practice Sunday? 

“In your team… did Reece really never teach anyone?” Nie Chuan expressed deep suspicion. 

Carlo's lips curled into a smile. “If that guy is to teach anyone, he'd definitely beat them to the point of not being able to lift their head.” 

Nie Chuan choked… he did indeed have such an experience. 

“Enough nonsense, let's go!” Carlo raised his arm and resisted the impulse to carry Nie Chuan on his shoulder. 

When Nie Chuan followed Carlo to the school's outdoor basketball court, Ewing and Montenegro were already waiting there. 

“How were you guys so slow?” Ewing asked discontentedly as he chewed his gum. 

Probably due to how Ewing had relentlessly scolded Nie Chuan during his last confrontation with Montenegro, Nie Chuan is now a little afraid of him. 

“Hey, chewing so much gum, be careful about cancer,” Carlo said while raising his chin. 

“Don't worry, I'd still be able to live longer than you even if I got cancer!” 

With that, Ewing ran up to Nie Chuan and put his arm on Nie Chuan's shoulder. Although he is the shortest out of Carlo and Reece, he is estimated to be 183 cm at first glance. Nie Chuan knew that his combat power is definitely not as good as Ewing's, so he was under pressure. 

“There's no way that idiot Carlo can teach you well. At least I did pretty good in my cla.s.ses last semester! Come, let me tell you about the so-called point guard first. When you were in high school, did you play basketball in China?” 

“Mmm, I played.” 

“What position did you play?” 

Nie Chuan shook his head. “I didn't play a fixed position.” 

He originally thought that Ewing would scold him again, but Ewing merely nodded as if it was a matter of course. “In high school, it's fine as long as you're happy when playing basketball since there isn't as much exposure; but the college league is not the same. Although many people are eager to prove themselves in the league and catch the eye of an NBA team, the point guard is the most low-key position of them all because he is the last scorer in the team. When his teammate has a better opportunity to score on the court than him, he will hand the ball over. But even if it's low-key, it has a low-key luxury. An excellent point guard is not only a strong backup outside the three-point line, but a sharp edge to cut into the enemy's field.” 

Towards the responsibilities of a point guard, Nie Chuan was still able to comprehend since it wasn't too hard to understand what Ewing was saying.

But when it comes to basic cooperation methods and explanations of tactics, Nie Chuan has some difficulty in understanding. 

His English is considered high level amongst Chinese international students but when it comes to basketball terminology, his English is just not enough. 

Fortunately, when it comes to cut pa.s.s coordination and long-distance fast breaks, Ewing will direct Carlo and Montenegro to demonstrate for Nie Chuan. Although Nie Chuan already knows these things, it is still very important to systematically go through them again with Ewing.

When it comes to the single center attack, the double center attack, and the moving attack, even though Ewing had carefully drawn pictures on the ground and even had Carlo and Montenegro run around on the court and stand in position, Nie Chuan still tilted his head with the look of somebody who couldn't understand. It was especially so when Ewing mentioned who pa.s.ses the ball to whom, who will cover, who will follow, and who will turn to attack or pa.s.s the ball — Nie Chuan completely entered the state of a plane.

And that plane has no idea where it's flying to. 

Ewing smacked his head, obviously very distressed. Nie Chuan worried that he would lose his temper. 

But unexpectedly, Ewing had no complaints against Nie Chuan. Instead, he constantly changed his way of explaining and even the speed of his speech slowed down. This made Nie Chuan somewhat moved. He thought Ewing was an impatient guy, but in fact, he was very easy to get along with. 

“Hey – Ewing, didn't you say you're the one with the highest IQ among us? Why does Allen still look like he doesn't completely understand? These offensive tactics are actually used pretty often in our team!” Carlo came over.

Ewing violently knocked his head. “I can help Allen understand a little while you can only make Allen completely not understand, so my IQ can at least crush yours! Do you have any objections?” 

“… No… no objections…” 

“Good.” With that, Ewing took out his phone and dialed a number, but the subject of his correspondence surprised everyone. “Reece… Are you still busy?” 

Carlo rushed over to listen and Nie Chuan also perked his ears. 

“En, my seminar isn't over yet. What's the matter?” 

“Oh…we're teaching Allen offensive tactics! The first half went very smoothly but the second half involves the players' displacement and cooperation. If may be okay if you can combine the explanation with the video of a game but it would be pretty difficult to specifically pick out representative team play from so many games." Ewing's voice was very respectful towards Reece. "But if someone can explain it to Allen in Chinese, wouldn't he be able to understand faster?” 

Carlo nodded vigorously on the side. 

Nie Chuan became nervous. Ewing wants Reece to teach Nie Chuan, but is Reece willing? 

“My seminar won't end until very late today. You tell Nie Chuan to come to my room at eight.” 

Ewing's eyes immediately brightened. "You're willing to teach Allen?" 

“Isn't there a practice match this weekend?” 

“Haha, yeah!” 

“Then that's that.” 

Without waiting for Ewing to say another word, Reece hangs up the phone. 

“Allen! You're so lucky! Reece is actually willing to teach you personally!” Ewing excitedly gave Nie Chuan a bear hug. 

Carlo looked at Nie Chuan in surprised as he said, “I was waiting for Ewing to be rejected! Why would Reece agree? I don't think he's ever taught anyone before!” 

Ewing turned around and hit Carlo in the head again. “Of course he'd refuse an unreliable idiot like you!” 

Montenegro, who has been standing not far away, came up to Nie Chuan and told him very seriously, “Allen, Reece doesn't like when others are late. Remember to be on time.” 

“Oh! Ok!” 

“No need to be afraid, I will personally escort you!” said Carlo. 

“……I'm not afraid……” 

So that night, Nie Chuan and Zhou Bin went to Reece's dorm after eating dinner in a restaurant. 

The condition of Reece's apartment is much better than that of his and Zhou Bin's.

Nie Chuan arrived outside the door of Reece's room. There was a nervousness similar to the one he felt in high school when he didn't do well on a test and had to meet with the teacher. He breathed out and circled a few times in front of Reece's room before finally having the determination to knock on the door, but before his fingers even touched it, the door opened. 

Reece's slender figure appeared in front of Nie Chuan's eyes. Wearing a T-shirt and slacks, he held a mug containing coffee in his hand. The steam from the coffee rose up, causing Reece's eyes to appear softer. 

It was like a scene out of a movie poster. 

Reece lowered his head and looked at Nie Chuan. “Why were you walking around in circles at the door?” 

“H-how did you know?” 

“I saw your shadow through the gap under the door.”

Reece turned and let Nie Chuan in. 

Nie Chuan saw the sofa as soon as he entered. At the moment, he can imagine how Reece had been sitting on the sofa, slowly sipping his coffee while watching his shadow moving under the door. 

This is really 囧… 

(T/N: basically he's saying it's really embarra.s.sing, I just thought the 囧 face conveyed the meaning better xD)

Reece's room is very tidy. 

In his suite, there are two rooms and a living room. Compared to his and Zhou Bin's room, it is a lot more advanced. It paid more attention to personal privacy; of course, the price is definitely not cheap either. 

The living room is both clean and neat. There were no stinky socks, discs, or snack wrappers scattered about like in the boys' dormitory. 

This made Nie Chuan secretly suspect that Reece is a Virgo.

“That… will your roommate come back?” 

“I don't have a roommate yet.” Reece turned and sat casually at the coffee table in front of the sofa. His legs naturally extended out, his calf leaning relaxedly against Nie Chuan's leg. 

Nie Chuan originally wanted to move his legs, but that act would make it seem as if he disliked Reece, so he could only sit there with his legs stiff.

Re: sending Nie Chuan to Reece's room is like sending a lamb into a tiger's den… 

MadMadamMims: LOL at NC thinking Reece is a Virgo Bc the man is clean! Hilarious!

Re (Virgo and not neat): … :')