Chapter 2: The Crude Talent System
After entering college, Allen Iverson developed an intense aversion to three-point shots, a sentiment closely tied to the presence of Lee Yu and Ray Allen.
During several encounters in his freshman year, many games inexplicably slipped away in the second half.
The score stood at 60 to 52 when Lee Yu nailed a fast-break three-pointer, sending the crowd at Madison Square Garden into a roaring frenzy.
Haunted by painful memories, Iverson received the inbounds pass and sought to accelerate, but coach John Thompson bellowed from the sidelines, signaling everyone to hold steady.
With 3 minutes and 40 seconds remaining, Georgetown still led by eight points. If they could secure a reliable two-point play on this possession, the lead would return to double digits.
“Defense! Defense! Defense!”
Now it was the Connecticut fans’ turn to shout loudly, their hopes for a comeback reignited.
Iverson carefully controlled the tempo, dribbling steadily past midcourt with his right hand.
On the court, Connecticut’s junior guard Dorante Marshall and Lee Yu pressed aggressively in the backcourt, while the other three players maintained positions in a bottom-line zone defense.
Ray Allen, visibly anxious, repeatedly shouted warnings to his interior teammates to watch Iverson’s drives, a persistent problem they had failed to solve all evening.
Lee Yu, who guarded Iverson’s right hand closely, kept his balance, refraining from reckless challenges but occasionally reaching out to disrupt the dribble rhythm.
Noticing his teammates tightly covered and unable to receive a pass, Iverson shielded the ball while signaling center Jerome Williams to step out for support.
Sensing an impending high-low play aimed at a strong post move, Lee Yu quickly turned and loudly instructed his teammates:
“Double-team the post!”
With a swift lob pass, Georgetown’s center Osta Tiger caught the ball just as Kirk King, guarding the free-throw line, abandoned his mark to sprint toward the paint.
Under the double-team of Travis Knight and Kirk King, the burly Osta Tiger fought fiercely to protect the ball.
Though 7 feet tall, Travis Knight was a slender white big man, but at this moment he displayed a steely defensive resolve—he craved the championship intensely.
Their aggressive trap nearly forced a turnover, but when the ball returned to Jerome Williams’ hands, Connecticut fans sighed in disappointment.
Georgetown’s ball movement was deliberate, aimed at burning down the clock. When the shot clock neared 30 seconds, Iverson received the ball again at the top of the key.
Without any unnecessary fakes, Iverson slightly raised his center of gravity, then suddenly powered through a shoulder drive.
Faced with this low, fast, and relentless attack, Lee Yu cursed the devilish talent under his breath, scrambling to slide backward and left.
Iverson breezed past Lee in one step, penetrating the paint where Travis Knight immediately came to help.
With two defenders hanging on him, Iverson jumped hard, faking a shot but instead delivering a near handoff to Osta Tiger beneath the basket.
The latter caught the pass and went up for a layup, only to be met by Ray Allen, who had already sprinted into the paint and soared high for a thunderous block from behind the rim!
“Oh!”
The still-celebrating Georgetown crowd gasped in shock as the ball bounced off the rim. Ray Allen grabbed possession and quickly threw the ball downcourt.
Lee Yu dashed toward the opponent’s half, scooping the ball with his left hand, while Iverson, relying on his blazing speed, closed in from the side.
Iverson applied relentless physical pressure, tugging and wrestling as both charged toward the basket, with teammates from both sides frantically chasing behind.
Inside the paint, Lee Yu used his body to shove Iverson aside, then swiftly stepped forward, grabbing the ball single-handed with his left and leaning in for a floater.
Iverson, having lost his defensive position, used his explosive quickness to arrive first, crashing into Lee and raising his right hand for a block attempt.
Both leapt midair, losing balance and crashing down near the right side of the rim. The ball bounced twice on the rim before rolling off.
Lee Yu, lying on the floor, cursed the devilish talent again. Just then Ray Allen grabbed the rebound and was swarmed by Georgetown players.
Scrambling to his feet, Lee Yu shoved Iverson aside and sprinted toward the left wing beyond the three-point line.
Iverson, just rising, stumbled but recovered quickly, pressing hard on defense once more.
Seeing Lee Yu move to the three-point line, Ray Allen immediately launched a powerful pass. Sensing danger, Iverson leapt high before Lee could catch the ball.
At the same time, Lee Yu caught the pass on the left wing, spun quickly without adjusting, and released the shot immediately!
“Swish!” The three-pointer dropped cleanly.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden erupted as Connecticut’s fans screamed ecstatically, their cheers mingling with the joyful shouts of the visiting supporters.
“Champions? Dream on!”
Iverson’s face darkened as he heard Lee’s loud taunt, losing composure. The two exchanged polite curses repeatedly.
Coach John Thompson called for the final timeout, his face grim. The score was now 60 to 55, the gap narrowed to five points.
With 2 minutes and 56 seconds remaining, Coach Jim Calhoun squatted at the sidelines, shouting instructions:
“Shoot decisively! Time isn’t on our side. We need quick points—trust your shot!”
Noticing the coach’s gaze, Ray Allen nodded firmly; the break had lasted less than two minutes.
Before returning to the court, Calhoun patted Lee Yu on the shoulder, silently urging him to unleash his shot.
The chaotic noise at Madison Square Garden revealed that Georgetown’s fans were beginning to panic.
Back on the floor, under Iverson’s control, Georgetown executed their tactics meticulously but ground slowly for another 30 seconds...
Despite constant defensive pressure, no clear scoring chance emerged.
Finally, Osta Tiger powerfully rose on the left low post but was contested by Travis Knight; the ball again bounced off the rim.
Knight quickly secured the rebound and passed to Lee Yu.
With 2 minutes and 21 seconds left, time was slipping away.
Growing desperate, Iverson fiercely pressed, applying a tight body check.
Under intense defense, Lee Yu performed a cross between the legs dribble, switched to his right hand, accelerated, spun swiftly, and dribbled past midcourt with a bent posture.
At the left wing beyond the three-point line, Lee Yu shielded the ball while Ray Allen promptly moved out near the baseline on the right side.
A screen set by center Travis Knight at the free-throw line successfully delayed Victor Page’s pursuit.
At the top of the key, Ray Allen caught Lee’s cross-court pass and without hesitation fired a jump shot!
“Swish!” Another three-pointer!
The Connecticut crowd went wild, erupting in cheers, while Coach Calhoun leapt up, pumping his fists repeatedly in celebration.
The score was now 60 to 58, with 2 minutes and 7 seconds remaining.
Georgetown’s players appeared stunned, watching Ray Allen and Lee Yu high-five and roar in triumph, all eyes turning to their coach.
John Thompson finally abandoned rigid tactics, signaling a play to get the ball to Iverson...
In the next three possessions, Iverson’s step-back jump shot rimmed out, Ray Allen’s driving floater missed, and Iverson’s layup attempt also bounced off the rim.
A scramble ensued under the basket; Kirk King finally secured a difficult defensive rebound.
With 46 seconds left, Connecticut was still down by two points. Georgetown fans stood, roaring:
“Defense! Defense! Defense!”
The arena was electric as Iverson clapped to rally his teammates.
Dribbling quickly past midcourt, Lee Yu did not waste time; he wanted to score swiftly.
Using a zipper screen to free Ray Allen, who received the ball near the free-throw line, Allen was immediately double-teamed.
Lee Yu caught the ball again at the top of the key, used a screen on the left elbow to free Allen once more, who finally found an opening.
Upon receiving the pass, Allen smoothly released a left-handed floater, driving past Victor Page.
George Butler immediately came to help defend the paint, joined by Osta Tiger sliding over.
With the double-team closing in, Allen passed quickly to the left corner, where Dorante Marshall stood wide open.
Marshall, a junior guard named to the All-Big East team last season, hesitated for a moment.
George Butler lunged again, and the open shot vanished in an instant...
After circling around, with only 5 seconds left on the shot clock, Lee Yu received the ball once more on the left wing.
As he caught it, Iverson closed in, applying tight body defense. Lee lowered his center of gravity, released the ball with his left hand while swiftly dribbling behind his back.
Switching to his right, he pushed off laterally, twisting his body with Iverson’s arm still on him, and forced a jump shot beyond the three-point line!
The buzzer sounded as the ball arced high and gracefully dropped through the net!
“Oh!!”
The Connecticut fans leapt from their seats, cheering wildly; the cheerleaders beneath the basket embraced and shouted with joy.
The once-celebrating Georgetown fans clutched their heads in disbelief, while Coach Calhoun nearly burst onto the court in excitement, then calmed himself to shout for the team to retreat on defense.
The score was now 60 to 61, with only 11 seconds left—Connecticut had finally taken the lead.
Both Lee Yu and Iverson, off balance, scrambled to their feet. Iverson received the inbounds pass, and Lee immediately closed in to guard him.
Iverson’s smile had vanished; gritting his teeth, he held the ball in his right hand and accelerated fiercely, still full of energy in the final moments of the game...
In less than six seconds, he crossed half court, approached the right wing beyond the three-point line, and executed a sudden stop.
Under Lee Yu’s tight defense on his right, Iverson dribbled swiftly between his legs.
Switching to his left hand, he exploded sideways, then abruptly stopped and accelerated again, leaving Lee half a step behind.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden rose to their feet, shouting involuntarily, many expecting the famed Iverson to save the day at the last moment...
Approaching the free-throw line, the shot clock nearly expired. Iverson halted and then drifted left before smoothly launching a fadeaway jumper.
A smile briefly crossed Iverson’s face at the release, but the ball brushed off Lee Yu’s outstretched right fingertips as he leapt from the side.
The smile froze as the buzzer sounded; the ball bounced once on the front rim and rolled out...
“Ah!!”
The Connecticut fans erupted in a wild roar, jumping and shouting in their seats.
Across the court, Georgetown fans stood stunned, eyes fixed on the scoreboard—had the championship slipped away from their grasp?
“Fuck, where’s your championship now?”
Lee Yu, who had been frustrated all game, laughed and taunted Iverson.
Just as Iverson regained his senses, Lee’s jeer pushed him over the edge. He cursed loudly and lunged forward.
“Fuck you, squid!”
In the scuffle that followed, Iverson, disadvantaged in height, took two hard punches from Lee Yu, his head swimming as he staggered back and fell.
Osta Tiger, seeing Iverson down, rushed to his aid.
Meanwhile, the celebrating Connecticut players noticed the altercation and quickly swarmed around Lee Yu.
Before some fans could react, the players were locked in a brawl.
The New York visiting fans went wild, shouting and tossing their drinks onto the court.
Shouts, cheers, and the sharp whistle of referees echoed throughout Madison Square Garden...
This highly anticipated Big East Championship game ended with both teams retreating in disarray.
Yet, the Connecticut players left the court with triumphant smiles, while Georgetown’s faces were long, their star Allen Iverson cursing as he strode toward the tunnel, flipping off the Connecticut bench.
“What a thrilling championship game. I wonder how far Connecticut can go this year.”
“I liked Lee’s performance tonight—24 minutes, 5 of 9 shooting, 3 of 5 from three, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and only 1 turnover. Scouts with biases should watch this game; basketball transcends race.”
Sean McDonald, who hadn’t followed Lee’s games closely, was quick to voice his support.
Deer Vital, a seasoned college basketball analyst, understood the difference between NCAA and NBA. The bald commentator sighed:
“Basketball requires more than talent. I hope all great players get a fair chance to compete.”
Back in the locker room, Lee Yu was receiving cheers from his teammates.
Dorante Marshall, who had just missed a crucial play, had tears in his eyes. The handsome junior embraced Lee, apologizing profusely:
“Lee! It’s all my fault! We almost lost the championship!”
Lee Yu shrugged it off. Picking up the ball doesn’t affect the stats, but losing means stats mean nothing:
“Hey, don’t mind that. We got the championship! That’s what matters most!”
The team erupted again at Lee’s words. As they iced injuries and packed up, Lee eagerly pulled up the control panel of the system he had been using for years.
This was the first meaningful championship he had won, and he held great expectations.
Though the crude dial on the panel was hard to read, Lee focused his mind and the dial spun rapidly before a prompt appeared:
“[Allen Iverson’s Exceptional Basketball Sense].”
Lee Yu’s face twisted in confusion, struggling to maintain composure. The reward sounded impressive but seemed no different from before. He couldn’t help but mutter:
“That’s it?!”