Is the Brain Useful?

When Brooks rapidly advanced to the frontcourt with the ball, Li Zhen immediately stepped up to defend.

He spread his arms wide, working hard to establish his defensive position.

But Brooks was unfazed; he believed Li Zhen was just wasting his efforts.

The first-half showdown had already proven that, aside from being a bit faster in a straight line, Li Zhen's physical attributes such as explosiveness, coordination, and lateral movement were inferior to his own.

So... what's the difference between him guarding and being guarded by a paper cutout?

Brooks initiated his attack, suddenly shifting his body to the left, using his usual move.

However... this time, Li Zhen was prepared. After being taken advantage of by Brooks a few times in the first half, he had gained some experience and chose to take a half-step diagonal sidestep.

When Brooks changed direction back to the right, Li Zhen moved with him, directly blocking Brooks' path.

This caught Brooks somewhat off guard.

But he quickly adjusted his dribbling posture and took a step back with composure. Just as Li Zhen hadn't fully closed in, he suddenly made a diving motion forward.

Li Zhen quickly pulled back.

At that moment, Brooks swiftly pulled up for a jump shot. Li Zhen's attempt to block was a tad too late - Brooks' explosiveness and agility were indeed superior.

Swoosh!

As the basketball swished through the net, a triumphant smile curled on Brooks' lips, and he glanced at Li Zhen.

It was as if a superior species was looking down at an inferior one.

"Even if you defend with all your might, it still has no effect on me. Talent is talent. God favors the Black man." (T/N: F*CK, WHY?!)

Brooks proclaimed arrogantly.

His words dripped with pride; he believed that all of Li Zhen's efforts were in vain, because talent determined everything.

Li Zhen didn't respond; he simply turned and received the basketball, then dribbled swiftly forward.

When he sprinted to the top of the three-point line, the Oregon players assumed he would continue with a pick-and-roll, penetrating into the paint. As a result, the defense awkwardly converged towards him, including Maarty Leunen inside the paint.

However, at that very moment.

Li Zhen suddenly changed direction with the ball. While no one knew what he was doing, he forcefully slammed the basketball toward the hoop... By the time Brooks' gaze shifted, Scott had already grabbed the basketball, and with a powerful leap, slammed it into the basket.

In that dunk, defender Leunen's gaze was even fixed on Li Zhen's profile; he hadn't expected Li Zhen to suddenly pass the ball.

Simultaneously, Coach Altman's furious cursing had already reached from the sidelines. He couldn't tolerate Leunen repeatedly slacking off.

Altman's crude and vulgar invectives left Leunen looking frustrated and angry.

He vented all his resentment on Li Zhen. Throughout this game, Li Zhen had made him uncomfortable; he always skillfully evaded his defense, turning the area he was supposed to guard into an open playground. As a staunch defender, he had to show Li Zhen a thing or two.

Meanwhile, Li Zhen was responding to Brooks' remarks from the previous play, "God loves everyone. He gave you better talent, but He gave me the best brain. Did you see that dunk just now? I can still influence the game in my own way."

Li Zhen always spoke with a smile, as gentle as if giving an academic presentation.

Brooks was never one for academics; he detested Li Zhen's mild-mannered and logically structured tone.

Moreover, this was a basketball court, this was my domain, who's this unknown pawn acting all high and mighty?

So, back at the half-court line, he used a quick change of direction to shake off Li Zhen's defense, then executed a beautiful jump stop jump shot in a high-speed breakthrough.

When the basketball went in, Brooks immediately retorted, "Are you talking trash to me? Remember, this isn't a test, your brain is just for show."

Saying this, he even patted his own head.

As if emphasizing: Is this thing useful?

Li Zhen maintained a smile; he liked Brooks' performance.

But his liking was certainly different from Johnny Watson, the commentator from Warner TV.

After Brooks scored two consecutive goals, Wilson enthusiastically exclaimed "Great shot!" and began to praise, "Brooks is truly too powerful. His continuous high-difficulty shots allow audiences across California to appreciate his unparalleled shooting ability. He needs to head to the NBA soon, the NCAA stage can't contain his talent anymore."

He showered Brooks with words of praise.

Meanwhile, in the gap between his words, Kareem lightly added, "Just now, Oregon's shooting guards, number two and number three, were both in advantageous attacking positions. Brooks took two shots at the wrong time. If this continues, it's easy to demoralize other players. Besides, I think Brooks is trying to outdo Bruce!"

Outdo? Did I hear that right?

Watson felt like he was going crazy.

"Why would Brooks want to outdo Bruce? They're not even in the same league." He asked in a rather helpless tone.

He even started to wonder if Kareem was becoming senile from dementia: Clearly, Brooks has been continuously attacking Bruce Li, making it obvious he's dominating, yet he actually said they were trying to outdo each other. This was completely turning things upside down.

Meanwhile, on the court, Li Zhen once again delivered an outstanding performance.

This time, he didn't directly pass the basketball into the paint from the perimeter. Instead, he used a pick-and-roll from Frank Benson, dribbling into the paint.

Leunen, who had been holding back his frustration, quickly went in for the defensive help. But just as he was about to make body contact, Li Zhen suddenly came to a quick stop, and once again made a shooting motion. Instinctively, Leunen leaped forward to block, and at the same time, Li Zhen passed the ball hand-to-hand to Frank Benson, who had quickly cut in from the left.

Benson immediately jumped to make the shot. Leunen, who had lost his position, hurriedly went in for the defense.

But it was too late, he committed a foul.

And it was an "and one."

This left Maarty Leunen furious, he even swung his fist fiercely to vent his anger.

He was very angry, he felt deeply humiliated by how Li Zhen had repeatedly toyed with him tonight.

He had to give this guy a harsh lesson.

He gritted his teeth and watched Li Zhen's figure, silently vowing.

At this moment, Li Zhen was still smiling as he 'discussed' with Brooks, "I believe on the basketball court, the brain is definitely not just for show. Just now I proved... playing with the brain can also help the team."

Brooks gave a cold laugh.

After Frank Benson made the free throw.

He once again advanced with the ball and, on top of Li Zhen's head, scored another jump shot after a sudden stop.

"Your so-called help is just relying on teammates, while I... am scoring directly over your head. Stop arguing with me, your mouth can never bring you victory."

Brooks' tone was even a little impatient.

This made Li Zhen think that his plan was about to succeed.

So, he decided to personally score this round, pushing Brooks onto the path of 'desiring victory at all costs'.

Only by dividing Oregon's trident in the attack, would Stanford have a chance to win.

But at this moment, Li Zhen didn't know that Leunen had been waiting inside the paint with red eyes, in his enraged state, he was capable of anything.