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Chapter 7: First game Part 3
🕑 Added 2025-04-20 10:54:48 +0000 UTCThe Oklahoma Sooners' basketball court quickly fell silent as Stephen Curry, the Southern District's scoring champion, took over the game. In a span of just a few possessions, he had drained two audacious three-pointers and sliced through the defense for a dazzling layup, scoring eight consecutive points.
"This is refreshing to watch! Remember, back in March, the underdog Wildcats shocked the tournament by knocking out multiple top-seeded teams, with Curry scoring over 30 points in three straight games. His energy is different," Reggie Miller commented from the broadcast booth, clearly impressed.
Perhaps due to his reputation as a three-point specialist, Miller had some respect for Curry's style of play.
Kevin Durant, watching from the stands, preferred Curry's movement-heavy, unselfish approach. "I don't know why," he mused, "but I just like this style of play. Isolation basketball gets exhausting—it's too reliant on luck sometimes."
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook had become a full-blown Griffin fan. The moment Griffin touched the ball, Westbrook was on his feet, shouting, "Dunk! Dunk!"
.........
With ten minutes left in the first half, McKillop called his first timeout. The scoreboard read 19-24—Davidson trailed by five.
Anthony Beasley, panting heavily, struggled to keep up with Griffin's relentless physicality. He had given everything to hold his ground, but battling Griffin was proving to be an impossible task.
On the other side, Oklahoma's head coach, Jeff Kapoor, used the timeout to reinforce a simple strategy: "If Blake has position in the paint, let it fly. I trust his rebounding ability. The Wildcats' interior isn't on our level."
Kapoor had noticed Davidson's defensive scheme. Whenever Griffin got the ball, they sent double teams, making it tough for him to go one-on-one. But instead of forcing the issue, Kapoor wanted Griffin to exploit his dominance on the boards.
Davidson's small forward, McMillan, took a shot, but his aim was far from Curry's level. The ball clanked off the rim.
Anthony Beasley leaped, desperately trying to secure the rebound. But Griffin's athleticism was on a different plane. He soared above Beasley, not just because of height but sheer bounce.
"That's Blake's seventh rebound tonight! He's completely owning the paint!" Reggie Miller exclaimed.
Oklahoma pushed in transition, their shooter launching a quick three.
Miss.
Curry rushed back, ready to ignite a counterattack, but in Davidson's restricted area, Griffin loomed like a colossus. He leaped high, snatching the rebound over Beasley's outstretched arms.
"That's just nasty!"
Griffin threw the ball out to Rush, who immediately pulled up for another three.
Clank.
Beasley gritted his teeth, but before he could react—Griffin was back in the air.
Another offensive rebound.
With each second, Griffin's vertical dominance became clearer. He had no intentions of slowing down. He found Rush again, who—despite the crowd's anticipation—missed once more.
The home crowd groaned, but Griffin was undeterred. He jumped yet again, overpowering Beasley for the third straight board.
This time, Griffin didn't pass.
He gathered himself, exploded off two feet, and—BOOM!
A thunderous dunk.
The entire basket shook as Griffin hung from the rim.
"OH MY GOD! That's 12 points and 10 rebounds already!" Reggie Miller's voice cracked with excitement. "It's only been 11 minutes!"
The Oklahoma crowd erupted, chanting "BLAKE! BLAKE! BLAKE!" The sheer dominance had turned the arena into a frenzy.
.........
McKillop wasn't surprised—he knew Griffin would be a problem. He had game-planned for this exact scenario. But watching Beasley's confidence crumble was concerning. Davidson's players were all upperclassmen, with Beasley excelling academically. He was tough, but getting dunked on repeatedly could break anyone.
McKillop and his assistant coach Jennings exchanged a look. It was time.
"Lin, get warm."
With 6:57 left in the first half, Lin Yi prepared for his NCAA debut.
Beasley walked to the bench, shoulders slumped. He had played 13 minutes, scored zero points, and grabbed only two rebounds—a brutal stat line, made worse by being on the receiving end of three straight putbacks.
As Lin Yi checked in, he patted Beasley on the shoulder. "You fought hard. Let me take it from here."
Beasley sighed. "Lin, Blake is strong..."
Lin Yi nodded.
He already knew.
Though future debates would place James Harden and Curry ahead of Griffin in the 2009 NBA Draft, at this moment in time, no one dared to question Blake Griffin's status as the number-one pick. If the Clippers had to redo the draft ten times, they'd still pick Griffin every single time.
After all, if you hadn't been dunked on by Blake Griffin, had you really played against the Clippers?
Just ask Pau Gasol.
Lin Yi was taller than Griffin, but muscle-wise, they weren't even in the same league. Griffin was a tank.
"The Wildcats are making a substitution," Reggie Miller observed. "Their backup center, a seven-footer from China. Huh, China really produces a lot of big men."
.......
The score was 29-37.
If not for Curry's deep threes and timely free throws, this game would've been over already.
Lin Yi jogged over to Curry, giving him a light jab to the shoulder. "Control your fouls, man."
Curry grinned, but he nodded. He had already picked up two fouls—one more, and McKillop would have no choice but to bench him.
Lin Yi clapped his hands. "Let's run our pick-and-roll."
Curry's eyes lit up. He trusted Lin Yi's perimeter game. After all, the guy had trained his three-point shot every day.
Even Del Curry, watching from the stands, focused on Lin Yi.
"So, this is Stephen's roommate? The one who suddenly grew 35cm?"
Lin Yi looked thin. Could he really hold up against Griffin's physicality?
Then again, Del had once doubted his own son's ability to handle contact.
He remembered when Duke and North Carolina had dismissed Stephen as too weak, only offering him walk-on spots.
Now?
Stephen Curry was carving up the NCAA.
And maybe—just maybe—his roommate was about to do the same.
