the zones...

After 15 minutes of break. The game resumed.

Heywerd received the ball and passed him because of a switch. Nearly a call because a flop but the ref let them play.

Rome got a switch. He can only cursed and call the next person to rotate help defense even if it's his fault to run.

Nothing he can do because the anti screen was late.

Heywerd took the mismatch and scored again Nicki.

And 1 too.

2 - 3

Simple as that.

Simmons lob to Nicki down low.

Double team and throw it outside.

Cassele shoot a three.

Miss.

Nicki took the rebound.

Rome out of possession.

Put back.

4-3.

This style of scoring back and forth made the arena boil with cheers and excitement.

This is what the audience wants. A thriller wire to wire game.

Not blowouts.

Rome only scored another 3 shots but 2 treys and one Skyhook of the elbow. Already 10 points at the half time.

45-43 is the score. Butler leads.

"Ro, u enter middle of 3."

"No problem coach." Rome reading the stats and can see the shot selection of the other jerseys.

John is an old timer.

He watched the 87 Celtics and a lot of their game is echoed by that team.

With Rome coming in, it was like there's Melo on the team.

Rule changer because the utilization of Rome can be two ways.

One on one and team basketball.

But John wants Rome to understand that if his number is called, he will score for the team, not for himself.

Rome have been slowed down this time because of the screens and intentional tricks like moving screen and hand checks.

Start of 3rd quarter, Bulter scored 5 consecutive. It ballooned the lead to 7.

Nicki chipped off 2 points but Butler will give him hard time to score.

Physicality is intense. Playoffs bball.

Purples already on Rome's ribs if he checks himself.

The momentum of the game shifted to Butler.

"Boy ur kissing my ass. haha. Rome Smith is drinking his coffee at this time haha"

"U dont know his bench routine? He has have to have his coffee. His team mates revealed that Rome even brings his coffee maker to practices and games. Haha. Weird routine."

Nonsense coffee routine.

37- 45.

The Trojans are silent and praying Rome finishes his coffee soonest possible time. haha

3 minutes to play in the 3rd.

Rome entered the game again.

Boom boom boom

Face up. Jab jab jab.

Blowing Heywerd after he took the bait to pass and went to the other side.

U know, fake left go right.

"Swish"

Long 2 only. But the difference decreased.

Heywerd turned his back to him and leaned on the right.

Rome had seen films of 4's and 5's in the post. He thinks he is ready.

Rome backed up like pulling a chair off of him.

Heywerd felt it, so he moved his pivot and clipped Rome to shove him away to the create space.

But a big hand covered his face.

Steal!

Swipe.

Nickie got it and throws it to Simmons that got possessed by an Arabian horse.

"nice steal."

"A little bit more guys. Defense."

"Defense!" The bench screaming.

The next possessions of Butler were all crisps passes and cutters because of the size of USC.

Pick and rolls made Rome lag behind him defense against Heywerd.

The anti screen makes him stumble but he is stable and overpowers the screen that's why he got called 2 fouls.

Fourth quarter.

Butler still leads. 55- 49.

"Rome. Go to work." His number called finally.

"Yes sir." Rome drinks gatorade and his heart is pounding.

And for the first time, he felt excitement of playing the game.

He breathe evenly.

He found Abby at the court side that taught him possibly the game because she will explain the videos and give advise to him.

Minus Luck, Rome needs advise for the moves because the defense will not let him score irregardless of luck or bad luck.

"This might be fun." He told himself.

"Lets win this guys!!!"

"Together!"

"Together."

Nicki oustide to in bound.

Simmons received it and passed it to Rome on the logo.

Rome held the ball on his waist and signaled them to calm down.

He motioned his hands for them to slow and calm..then what he did made the people scream and held their breath.

Rome shoot it.

Then he turned and celebrated already by making treys in his hand.

"AHhhhhh!!!!!!!" He flexed.

SPLASH!

SPLASH TIME!!!

The USC fans shouted like crazy. This is what they are waiting for.

The energizer shot.

Butler quickened the pace.

But failed to connect due to pass interference.

The play is still on Rome. So the ball went to him again.

Automatic two steps sway from the arc.

SPLASH!!!!

In the zone.

The game is tied just like that.

Rome stepped on like he is Godzilla and pounded his chest twice. Haha

Butler called time out.

Rome running like crazy in the court.

Wearing out Heywerd as he criss cross and cuts every position. He is a 4 not a 2 or 3 but runs anyway.

He will always bump into hard screens and Rome will just catch and shoot or oblige him to dance or watch the ball up high in the sky.