WebNovels

Chapter 34 - Beasley Defeat

Being a projected top pick, Michael Beasley was not about to be "jinxed" by a rookie so easily. His occasional missed bank shot was just a statistical anomaly.

Through the rest of the game, he maintained solid shooting efficiency, even when Coach Holland deployed the 3–2 zone defense, it didn't stop him from scoring.

However, Kansas State paid a bigger price.

With Haywood off the floor, Beasley struggled to control the paint. Though nearly eight centimeters taller than Snoopy, he lacked advantage in both vertical leap and raw strength, and Snoopy's positioning skills surpassed his own.

Under these circumstances, UCLA gained the upper hand on the boards.

Moreover, Snoopy's presence in the paint freed Westbrook and Bryant to attack the basket more comfortably.

As one side rose, the other fell. The score slowly closed, and by halftime, UCLA had taken the lead:

41–39.

"After the game, pull the rebound stats. I want to see the most direct comparison," Pat Riley said, standing up and leaving early.

As a hardened NBA coach, he had already anticipated the flow of the game. With Kansas State losing paint control, he doubted Frank Martin could mount any meaningful comeback.

Beasley remained the most dazzling player on the floor, still capable of scoring from all angles, but his ineffectiveness under the basket was equally obvious.

Miami needed a power forward who could synergize with Dwyane Wade in the paint. From what Riley had seen, Beasley was more suited to the small forward role.

He exhaled deeply as he entered his car, realizing this draft year would be unusually challenging. Only three players truly stood out: Beasley, O.J. Mayo, and Derrick Rose of Memphis, but Miami didn't need another guard; they already had Wade.

"If Beasley had Snoopy's rebounding ability…" Riley sighed, settling in for the ride back to Miami.

Meanwhile, on the broadcast:

"UCLA's No. 10 is continuing to grow, he could become an NCAA rebounding monster. Look at his first-half stats: 9 rebounds in only 12 minutes, including 5 offensive boards. Makes you think of Charles Barkley or Dennis Rodman, both small-statured rebound leaders," Chatford praised.

"Most importantly," he continued, "his matchup with Beasley has been almost even. Although he scores less, Beasley lost plenty of boards, and UCLA leveraged Snoopy's rebounds to run a more efficient offense. Snoopy is the key to UCLA's lead."

"No, no, no, that's not right," Reggie Miller interjected: "He's not that exceptional. He grabbed three offensive rebounds in one possession, those rebound stats aren't really meaningful."

"Too many flash-in-the-pan players in the NCAA," he added.

Chatford whispered, curious: "Reggie, do you have a problem with No. 10?"

Miller's eyes darted away, he noticed Snoopy being gently embraced and kissed on the forehead by Jennifer Lawrence.

"Yes, I dislike him. Look at him on the bench, kissing his girlfriend. My God… is this still the UCLA Bruins? If John Wooden were here, he'd smack him with his cane!"

Miller sounded anguished, but viewers loved it.

Jennifer Lawrence wrapped her arms around Snoopy, laughing and chatting, exuding beauty and sweetness.

"Boy meets girl, handsome and charming, who cares about your grumpy opinion?" Chatford teased Miller: "Didn't you date girls back in your UCLA days?"

"Oh… that girl's Jennifer Lawrence. I've seen her in The Bill Engvall Show, she's a minor star, very pretty, unlike Lindsay Lohan. She never turned herself into a skeletal mess…" Miller said excitedly, recognizing her name.

The live broadcast suddenly made her appear like a rising Hollywood star.

"So… what's your point?" Chatford quipped: "Teaching your junior how to date a small-time celebrity? Better teach him how to reduce divorce costs to 5% instead. Michael Jordan could learn a thing or two from you."

One line, two jabs, Chatford delivered his trademark roast.

Miller, a fan of dating models, had his own reasons to challenge MJ. In his divorce, he cleverly minimized costs, spending only $5 million despite a net worth in the hundreds of millions.

Choosing to move on, Miller shifted focus back to the draft reports. Names were discussed from #1 onward to the end of the first round, Snoopy's name didn't appear, and even Westbrook was absent.

Yet after this game, Westbrook's stock would likely soar into the lottery.

The second half began.

Frank Martin reluctantly returned Haywood to the floor. Yet Haywood was not an imposing center, and in rebounding, he even trailed Beasley.

UCLA, meanwhile, had established its offensive rhythm. Westbrook's drives, Kevin Love's mid-range shots, Bryant's cuts, and Bruni's perimeter threes, all activated by Snoopy's dominance on the boards.

Beasley and Walker attempted to assert their pace, but without board control, their isolation plays became inefficient.

Beep!

The final buzzer sounded.

UCLA defeated Kansas State 79–64 in the South Region's first elimination game.

Postgame, Westbrook, 21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, spoke to ESPN:

"…The game started tense; we were reactive on both ends. But when Snoopy joined, we gained more defensive fast-break opportunities. We found our rhythm in transition and gradually took the lead to win."

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