Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 672 - 232: Earthquake Strikes, Training "Jordan" (6K - Included!)

Chapter 672: Chapter 232: Earthquake Strikes, Training "Jordan" (6K Chapter Included!)

Last year, when the Warriors traded for Jamison, Qin Yue had already considered whether including the team’s 2011 first-round pick in that deal was worth it.

Because, as someone who had gone through it, Qin Yue knew very well...

That at the end of the first round in 2011, there was a player whose style perfectly matched the Warriors.

Yes, that player was Jimmy Butler.

Before the draft, Butler had played four full years in college, standing 198 cm tall barefoot with a wingspan of 201 cm.

Although his standing vertical and running vertical reached 81 cm and 99 cm respectively, among the superhumans in the NBA...

Butler’s talent wasn’t what you’d call extraordinary, at the very least it could be described as lacking highlights.

After all, in the NBA, any dynamic talent analyzed without considering static talent is meaningless.

For example, Stephen Curry. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

It’s worth noting that back in the draft, Curry’s standing vertical and running vertical also reached 84 cm and 90 cm respectively.

But in the high-intensity NBA games...

Usually, Curry struggles to pull off dunks even in fast-break scenarios, and those completed are at best barely considered dunks.

The so-called "Golden State LaVine" mostly exists only in Curry’s imagination.

It’s the same for Butler.

Due to his subpar static talent, even though Butler’s sprinting and jumping scores rank among the top of his class, considering he spent four years in college, his potential was already pretty apparent...

Frankly speaking, if 2011 hadn’t been a "weak draft year."

A player like Butler falling to the second round would have been expected.

So, here’s the question...

How did such an unremarkable Butler become the tough, capable Big Jiba in Qin Yue’s memory?

The answer is, Butler possessed three talents that scouts overlooked before the draft.

One is his ball-handling coordination.

Another is his body control.

And the third is his basketball IQ.

Qin Yue had watched Butler play in future games.

He knew very well how slick of a dribbler this left-handed penetrating swingman was.

Indeed, in the basketball world, many skills can be mastered with hard work.

But if a player is inherently lacking in ball-handling coordination, no matter how hard they work, they’re destined to struggle to become a great penetrator.

As for body control, it’s a major reason Butler can become a master at drawing fouls in future games.

In future NBA games, the skill of drawing fouls can typically be divided into two schools.

One is the "flopping" style represented by Harden.

The other is the "amplifying" style exemplified by Butler.

Unlike fans who dislike Harden’s "one-point rain."

In this life, as a player competing in the NBA, Qin Yue believes that benefiting from the rules is a reflection of Harden’s own strength.

However...

Compared to the more straightforward "flopping" style, what’s all about Butler’s "amplifying" style?

Simply put, when finishing for the team on the court, Butler often uses his body control to initiate contact, and during the contact, through some exaggerated body movements, he amplifies the defensive player’s actions.

This is an extremely challenging technique.

Because anyone who has played basketball knows that in the process of grappling with a defender, even a subtle contact can potentially lead to a failed finish.

But with his strong body control, Butler not only transforms into "Fatele."

Moreover, even in those moments when he doesn’t get the foul calls, Butler rarely complains to the referees.

This makes Butler, in future NBA seasons, a player of relatively lower profile but always favored by referees.

After all, put yourself in the referee’s shoes: would you really prefer a player who keeps gesturing and complaining whenever you don’t blow the whistle?

Having just led the team to a successful title defense this season, Qin Yue has already personally felt the league’s attempts to balance things by targeting the Warriors.

So, having a Fatele who can earn a lot of free throws for the Warriors as he grows is exactly what they need.

Finally...

The basketball IQ that Qin Yue values most.

This determines Butler’s seamless compatibility with the current Warriors team.

He can play off the ball.

And he can serve as an on-court ball-handler to distribute possessions for the team.

Coupled with his inherent "fighting spirit" attribute and always having a high-defensive posture.

In Qin Yue’s eyes, how could such a Big Jiba not be captivating?

Of course...

Looking back at the Warriors’ championship run from last season, no matter how many times history repeats itself, Qin Yue still would’ve agreed to that trade involving Jamison with the Knights.

Since the Western Conference Semifinals, only Qin Yue knew the kind of offensive environment an energized Jamison created for him on the court.

Maybe in Cleveland, Jamison was just a "CBA teammate."

But in Oakland, being able to play alongside Qin Yue, Jamison is undeniably a star forward.

Yet...

Given that the Kings provided Qin Yue another chance to acquire Butler, how could Qin Yue possibly pass it up?

In Qin Yue’s opinion, Butler’s only flaw at the moment is needing one or two seasons to gain experience and adapt to the NBA’s level of competition.