webnovel

El Contusione =Devilish Blade

Yes.

When the team is doing well, the 'French Sports Car' Parker will take advantage of the situation to harvest points in the game. When the team is struggling, 'Big Fundamental' Duncan stands out to score and stabilize the situation. And when the team is in a dire situation, Manu Ginobili turns into a deity, wielding a bewitched blade to slash through the demons – this is a representation of the 'GDP' playing style over the years, corresponding to the offensive styles of Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili.

But it's not absolute...

Tonight, their opponent is the Suns, who are on an 18-game winning streak.

It's the team with the super rookie Carlos, who hit 13 three-pointers, scored 65 points, and performed a steal and fast-break that sealed the game. The Spurs are in a dire situation.

To defeat such an opponent.

Even 'El Contusione' Ginobili might not be able to do it.

"Heh, all this talk of 'French Sports Car' in good times, 'Steady Buddha' in adversity, and 'Devilish Blade' in desperate times is nonsense, just idle chit-chat after a meal," someone scoffs.

"You can't be serious, can you? Do people really believe that at this critical moment, Ginobili can turn into the 'Devilish Blade,' turn the tide, and slash through the demons?!"

"Stop joking!"

"It's impossible, this year the Suns will surely melt the Spurs and claim the top spot in the West!"

"Hmph, it's not that simple!"

"That's right, you know that only by winning can you claim the top spot. Therefore, our Spurs are currently the number one team in the West, the strongest team in the conference. Tonight... victory will surely be ours."

"Heheh—"

"Er..." During the timeout...

In the stands, the fierce debate between fans of both sides is unyielding, and amidst the noisy atmosphere of the arena, the timeout ends.

The game resumes...

A 14-point difference.

Spurs with the ball...

Ginobili holds the ball at the top of the arc, looking as if he might really turn into a heavenly god, wielding a bewitched blade to slash through the demons, but then he lobs the ball down to Duncan in the post.

"Thud!"

Duncan solidly backs down Frye, with physical contests, adding footwork, to create space from Frye, and moves for a little hook shot inside the free-throw line.

An opportunity shot.

"Clang!"

But it's a miss.

The rebound?!

Frye bends his knees to jump and grab it, but before his palm touches the ball, a large hand beats him to it, slapping the ball into the basket.

Who is it?!

Frye catches a glimpse – it's Ginobili.

An assertive put-back dunk from Ginobili!

"Wow—"

"He actually completed a put-back dunk over Frye's head, Manu's play was too powerful."

On defense to offense...

Nash pushes the ball forward, passes to Carlos for the offense, but Jefferson closes in directly, and on one side Parker also presses, trying to steal the ball from Carlos.

"Whoosh!"

Carlos breaks through, finding Curry at the left arc.

"Stomp!"

Ginobili flashes out, marking Curry, Curry decides to go solo, dribbling between his legs to find rhythm, a behind-the-back change of hands, and dashes to the right wing.

Then...

As soon as he sees Ginobili follow, he executes an even larger left-side behind-the-back dribble, shifting his entire body to the left.

Instantly creating space from Ginobili, leaving him trailing.

"Whoosh!"

Curry gathers the ball, goes for the three-pointer.

This open three-pointer, Curry shoots with full confidence. But... just as the ball leaves his hands, suddenly a large hand stretches out, blocking the shot.

It's none other than Ginobili.

"Wow-Manu, after being shaken by Curry, actually comes from behind to block him, this block is divine," exclaims Jon Barry, quite astonished.

And more...

This block is a strip, allowing Ginobili to swipe it from behind Curry, sending the ball flying backwards. He then leaps and snatches it.

"Swoosh!"

He steals and rushes forward...

"Boom!"

A coast-to-coast layup, finished with a one-handed slam dunk, completes the counterattack.

"Hehehe, the 'Devilish Blade' scores 4 points in a row, is he starting to make his move?"

"Carlos tears through the defense and drives to the basket. In mid-air, Jefferson contests, seems off-balance, hangs and lofts a high shot. The level of difficulty is so high.

Bang!

It actually goes in.

The Spurs respond with a fast break, Manu gets the ball and pushes forward, wow-Manu goes for a direct pass, a laser-like straight pass that crosses the court, slicing through Nash and Frye, and finds Blair up front.

Catches and lays it up, hits the backboard and scores. Such a high-difficulty pass, Manu really dares to make it, but once successful, it's a good pass, it's a highlight-reel assist."

"Parker circles out, receives the ball at the top of the left arc, going one-on-one with Curry? No, he passes to the free-throw line, Manu catches and cuts without the ball, Nash defends and catches up.

But Manu doesn't slow down.

Wow—

There it is, Manu's Euro step, left and right, shaking off Nash, starts a layup on the right, a back-facing scoop shot off the board. Bang! Hits it again!"

"It's Manu again, flashes out at the top, accelerates horizontally for a breakthrough, Carter keeps up on defense, wow-Manu suddenly pulls up and gathers, drifting sideways.

Facing Carter's leaping block, he launches a difficult three-pointer. This shot?! Bang! Hits again, the 'Devilish Blade' has descended, cutting through the demons."

"Oh, my, god, still Manu, accelerating on a drive to the left, using his speed, he creates half a body's space from Nash, gathers at the left side of the paint, and goes up for the layup.

This shot?!

Unbelievable! Charging at the hoop, the explosive 'Devilish Blade' does a twisty move, over Frye and Carter, both hands pressing down over four, completes a ferocious dunk!"

"Oh!! Still the 'Devilish Blade,' he defends against Carlos, causing Carlos's layup to fail, Duncan grabs the rebound and passes to Manu, the Spurs push the counter.

At the top...

Is Manu going for three?

No, a sudden pass, a powerful base-drive pass, the ball like a scalpel, eerily and swiftly passes through Carter and Curry, straight to Tim underneath. Bang! Tim catches the ball, and with Frye still a bit dazed, easily lays it in off the frame."

The thrilling game has Jon Barry also surging with excitement in his commentary.

"Beep beep!"

On the court...

The Suns call for a timeout.

Back at the commentary desk...

An excited Jon Barry caught up in the game, Mark Jackson, however, frowns and says: "The 'Devilish Blade' slashes through the demons in a 'one-flow' crazy counterattack by Manu.

Not only have the Spurs recovered a 14-point deficit. But... they now lead by 7 points, however, the time left for the Suns is just 58.5 seconds. A huge crisis for the Suns!"

Next chapter