Chapter 36: The Unexpected Show

Kostic, standing at a towering 2.13 meters, was a classic international center. However, under Coach Frank's strategy, he was slotted into the starting power forward position, utilizing his refined skills and impressive offensive prowess. Facing Millsap, who was noticeably shorter, Kostic felt invincible, assuming this would be an easy matchup.

Back-to-back, he made a swift turn, mimicking his previous play. Millsap, smaller in stature, looked outmatched. Kostic barely needed to jump as he went for the easy layup.

But just as the ball left his hand, a shadow surged from the side.

"Boom!"

A towering arm swatted the ball with force, smashing it against the backboard.

A pegboard block!

The entire arena gasped in disbelief.

Commentators Scott and Keith sat in stunned silence, their words caught in their throats.

The man who had executed that block? Millsap—standing at just 1.99 meters, had rejected the 2.13-meter Kostic!

Yao Ming swiftly snatched the rebound, and the Nets' offense was thwarted.

The crowd, still processing what had happened, finally caught up when the replay flashed on the big screen. Unlike his earlier steal, this time Millsap had anticipated Kostic's every move. He didn't gamble—this block was all skill.

Kostic had underestimated Millsap. The rookie's calculated movements left him wide open for that jaw-dropping swat.

"That had to be luck," Scott remarked, trying to shake off the growing tension. He couldn't believe Millsap had made such an impact in just two possessions.

The fans shared Scott's skepticism. They assumed Kostic simply underestimated the rookie, allowing Millsap to take advantage. But soon, they would realize it wasn't just a fluke.

The Rockets returned to offense, with Yao Ming directing from the free throw line. The Nets, still unshaken in their confidence, dared Millsap to shoot again. To them, the rookie posed no real threat.

Yao Ming, however, trusted Andrew's decision to start Millsap. He passed the ball once more to the young forward.

Scott's voice oozed with sarcasm. "They're trusting the rookie again? Haven't they learned their lesson?"

Millsap caught the ball, his movements smooth and fast. This time, he shot with precision and confidence. The ball barely touched the net as it sailed cleanly through the hoop.

Millsap's third attempt—nothing but net!

The arena erupted in surprise.

Scott's smirk disappeared, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.

On the court, the Nets were equally stunned. How could this be the same rookie? Kostic's underestimation was proving costly.

Andrew, seated calmly on the bench, smiled slightly. He had faith in Millsap's talent. With a clear head, hitting those mid-range shots was easy for him.

The Nets shifted gears. Kidd, the mastermind on the court, directed the offense, signaling his big men to set a pick-and-roll, aiming to create space for Jefferson and Carter. But to his surprise, the Rockets switched to a 3-2 zone defense, completely ignoring the pick-and-roll play.

Kidd glanced at Andrew, who sat unbothered, seemingly in control of the entire game. Kidd had seen many coaches, but Andrew's calmness in this situation was unnerving.

With no interior options, the Nets were forced to attempt a three-pointer. Kidd passed the ball to Jefferson, who took a wide-open shot.

"Boom!"

The ball clanged off the rim.

Despite Jefferson's athletic prowess, his three-point shooting had always been a weak point. In fact, only Carter had a reliable shot from deep in the Nets' lineup, and Andrew had tactically exploited that.

Yao Ming snagged another rebound, and the Rockets quickly transitioned to offense. The same play unfolded, but this time the Nets didn't dare leave Millsap open.

As Kostic stepped out to guard Millsap, Collins was left to defend the paint alone. The space inside was wide open.

Yao Ming pulled Collins toward the free throw line, and at that moment, McGrady broke free from Jefferson's defense. Yao's instincts kicked in, delivering a lightning-quick pass.

McGrady soared through the air, catching the pass and slamming it into the basket with a thunderous dunk.

"Boom!"

The arena reverberated with the sound of McGrady's slam, sending shockwaves through the crowd. After landing, McGrady swung on the rim, roaring in triumph. The swagger in his eyes was unmistakable—he was back.

Years of back injuries had slowed him down, but in this moment, McGrady felt like the superstar he once was during his time with the Magic.

The Nets' response was dismal. Carter tried to break through for a layup, but Yao Ming's towering presence forced a miss.

Millsap grabbed the rebound and handed it to McGrady, igniting a fast break.

Scott, still reeling from Millsap's block, sat up straight in anticipation. The Nets' defense scrambled to stop McGrady, with Carter and Kidd closing in for a double team.

But McGrady was unfazed. He flicked the ball back to Millsap, who followed closely behind.

Scott's eyes were locked on the court, his heart racing. If Millsap scored again, it would be an embarrassment after all the mocking commentary.

As Millsap prepared to shoot, Carter lunged forward with his exceptional speed, trying to stop the rookie. The pride of the Nets wasn't going to let a rookie embarrass him on his home court.

But Millsap had a surprise in store.

With a swift fake, Millsap pulled the ball back, leaving Carter flying past him. In a single fluid motion, Millsap pivoted, breezing past the superstar for a clear path to the hoop.

"Boom!"

Millsap dunked with authority, sending the crowd into shocked silence.

Even Scott, nursing his bruised ego, couldn't find the words. The rookie, who had been the butt of his jokes all night, had just schooled Vince Carter.

The 6-0 run forced the Nets to call a timeout.

As Millsap jogged back to the bench, he high-fived McGrady. He couldn't help but glance at Andrew, who had just stood up, nodding in approval.

While others marveled at Millsap's transformation, only Millsap knew the truth. These new moves—the shot fakes, the footwork—were all taught to him by Andrew.