NBA: Warrior godfather.

Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a chunin or jonnin.

patreon.com/Chuga320 (More 30 chapters)

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The next afternoon, at the St. Louis Stadium.

This place had turned into a sky-blue ocean with only a small black area, like a reef standing stubbornly amid the huge waves.

This scene must have been familiar to Butler fans, as it was exactly the same when the Bulldogs faced Kentucky State in the second round.

It was already 7:45 in the evening, and the game was about to begin. The crowd was alive with cheers from Florida University, which were overwhelming.

A dark horse is just a dark horse, after all. Until they win the championship, most fans will look at Butler with scrutiny rather than genuine support.

On the Florida University bench, the players gathered in a circle, listening to Donovan's final instructions:

"Butler has only one core, and that's Stephen Curry. Taurean and Corey, he's your responsibility. As long as we can contain him, we'll win. Remember, you must guard Curry closely. His three-point shooting is very accurate... Joakim, if he drives to the inside, you know what to do."

"Don't worry, coach," Noah responded loudly.

Donovan looked at Noah's relaxed expression, glanced around, and found that everyone else was the same—they didn't seem worried about the upcoming game. He reminded them with some concern:

"Don't be careless. Have you forgotten about George Mason University last year? They made it to the Final Four!"

The players' smiles faded, and Donovan continued to emphasize:

"Which schools did they beat along the way? Michigan State led by Shannon Brown, North Carolina with Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, and Rayshawn Terry, and finally UConn with Rudy Gay, Josh Boone, and Hilton Armstrong! Which of these schools isn't a powerhouse? But they all lost to George Mason!"

"Boys, anything is possible in March Madness. You must focus all your attention on the game and never underestimate your opponent. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison.

Donovan nodded with satisfaction. He knew that his players might still underestimate Butler, but as long as they stayed focused, he had absolute confidence in the team's strength.

With the "Four Youngsters" on his side, he wasn't afraid of even Greg Oden, let alone Stephen Curry!

Donovan then asked the players to make their final preparations, and he walked over to the scorer's table to shake hands with Liam Gonzales.

Looking at the young Colombian man in front of him, Donovan suddenly felt a bit jealous.

When he was 23 years old, he was still warming the bench for the Knicks, but Liam had already started coaching an NCAA team.

"Coach Gonzales, I hope we can work together to present a wonderful game for the fans," Donovan said politely, hiding his true thoughts.

"I'm afraid that's difficult. Butler is no match for Florida," Liam's humble attitude made Donovan feel more comfortable.

The two smiled at each other, then separated, and Liam slowly strolled back to the bench.

The Bulldogs' players all looked relaxed, except for Curry, who was sitting there, tying his shoelaces with a serious expression.

"Stephen, are you nervous?" Liam asked as he approached Curry.

Curry paused while tying his shoelaces, then tightened them forcefully. He looked up:

"There's just one thing I'm not sure I can do."

"Do you remember what I told you the day you came to Butler for a tryout?" Liam said with a smile.

"Um... which one?"

"You can do everything." Liam looked directly into Curry's eyes and said slowly.

Curry took a deep breath and nodded with determination: "Coach, I got it!"

After that, players from both teams took to the court, and Drew and Noah stood at the center line, ready for the jump ball.

Both teams played with their usual starting lineups in this game.

For Butler, the lineup was: center Drew, power forward Campbell, small forward Mike Green, shooting guard AJ Graves, and point guard Curry.

For Florida University, it was: center Noah, power forward Horford, small forward Brewer, shooting guard Humphrey, and point guard Taurean Green.

"Beep—"

The referee blew the whistle and tossed the basketball into the air, and the game officially began!

Since the start of the tournament, Drew had never won a jump ball. His talent in this area was lacking.

This time was no different. Noah tipped the ball to Horford, who then passed it to Taurean Green.

Although Taurean Green is only 1.83 meters tall, he has incredible athletic ability. After taking the ball, he quickly advanced from the backcourt to the frontcourt.

The Bulldogs were prepared and positioned themselves to prevent their opponents from speeding up.

Liam had reminded them before the game that Florida's starting five had exceptionally strong athletic abilities, and fast breaks were one of their preferred scoring methods.

Taurean Green looked up to assess the situation and saw no gaps in the opponent's defense. He signaled with his hand, and Horford immediately moved to the top of the arc to set a screen, blocking Curry behind him.

Taurean Green maneuvered around from the other side, and Campbell stood at the free throw line waiting for him. However, Taurean Green didn't opt for a drive himself; he passed the ball to Horford.

This is what sets Florida University's pick-and-roll tactics apart from other teams. The pick-and-roll is usually focused on the guard. The Bulldogs are a typical example, with Curry freely choosing his offensive method after the pick-and-roll.

But at Florida University, after the pick-and-roll, Horford often holds the ball in the high post to assist, and Taurean Green operates more like a forward than a point guard.

While Horford was assessing the situation, Curry quickly switched back to Campbell. But at the moment they switched defenses, Horford suddenly drove inside.

Campbell was caught off guard and couldn't keep up, allowing Horford to blow past him, forcing Drew to come over and help defend.

Horford took three steps, leaned towards Drew, and passed the ball to Noah on the other side of the basket. After receiving the ball, Noah raised his right hand high like he was igniting a flame in the sky!

After landing, Noah roared passionately, instantly electrifying the entire St. Louis Arena. The cheers of tens of thousands of fans reverberated throughout the stadium for the first time since the game started!

Florida University had struck the first blow against the Bulldogs.

Campbell patted his head in frustration, but only after Curry comforted him did he regain his composure.

Although he was only a freshman, Curry, who grew up around NBA arenas, understood the rhythm of the game very well and was already showing leadership qualities.

The possession changed, and the Bulldogs attacked. Curry advanced with the ball, and Taurean Green pressed up at half court, almost sticking to Curry, giving him no room to shoot.

Taurean Green wasn't afraid of being beaten off the dribble by Curry because he had teammates behind him ready to help on defense at any moment.

Donovan nodded with satisfaction on the sidelines. This was exactly the effect he wanted. As long as they could lock down Curry, Butler would not be a problem!

End of this chapter

Note: This novel as you see I changed the name and nationality, as such is more complicated translate it I hope you support.

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