First Quarter: Iron Cage
Under the arena's dome lights, Gobert's shadow stretched across the court like a prehistoric beast. At the tip-off, the French point guard's pass sliced through the air, finding the low post – Lin Mo dove for a steal, only to be knocked aside by Gobert's turning back muscles. He watched helplessly as the hook shot fell.
"Snap!" The (crisp sound) of the ball hitting the rim brought the taste of blood to Lin Mo's lips. The system finally spoke, cold and clinical: [System Notification: Gobert's post strength overwhelms; (suggest avoiding direct confrontation).]But where to hide? France's zone defense shredded China's drives.
After the first quarter, the scoreboard read 19-24 – China trailed by 5. Lin Mo's palm was scraped raw, sweat stinging the wound. On the bench, he stared at his stats: 0 points, 1 assist, 3 turnovers – the most humiliating start with the system's "help."
Second Quarter: Cracks Form
"Stop staring at the stats!" Coach Wang pressed an ice pack to his forehead, the tactical paper beneath it damp. "Think about how you found Davis' left shoulder flaw!"
Returning to the court, Lin Mo forced himself to ignore the system, focusing only on Gobert's shoulder – sure enough, his left shoulder dipped half an inch before every hook shot. Lin Mo fronted him, slamming his shoulder into Gobert's dipping left side the moment he caught the ball!
"Snap!" The ball slipped free! Stumbling, Lin Mo stole it, but instead of finishing the fast break, he passed to a cutting center – the rim rattled with a dunk. The system panel flickered: [Team Trust +1%, Compatibility +0.1% (13.1%).]
Gobert seethed, his post moves turning vicious. Lin Mo feigned a mistake, luring a spin – the ref's whistle blew: Flagrant foul! At the free-throw line, Gobert's trembling wrist revealed the secret (the pre-scouted "free throw weakness"). After making one of two, Lin Mo wiped sweat with a smile: So I can find flaws without the system's prompts.
By the end of the 2nd quarter, China led by 1 point. Lin Mo's jersey clung to his back, the pain of his wound mixing with euphoria – The system isn't the only set of eyes; my own observations are the sharpest blade.