"Defense! Defense! Defense!"
The UCLA fans in the arena started cheering for their home team. By the Final Four, UCLA's supporters were numerous, and the basketball school atmosphere was definitely in full swing.
Kayce observed Oklahoma University's first possession on the court. It was still a pick-and-roll, then a pass to Griffin cutting to the basket, who went straight up against his defender and scored.
"This is really simple and crude, but it actually works," Kayce thought to himself.
Coach Ben shouted from the sidelines, "Good defense, no problem, keep it up!" He knew the team's interior defense couldn't stop Griffin's offense, but he believed Griffin couldn't defeat the team.
Collison brought the ball over half-court. After Holiday received a hand-off, all his teammates had already moved to the perimeter. Seeing Kayce come off an off-ball screen, he immediately passed the ball.
Kayce saw the defender in front of him, didn't call for a screen, but instead put the ball down and immediately started continuous dribbling between his legs. Suddenly, he made a crossover, the defender lost his balance, and Kayce pulled up for a sudden stop-and-pop jump shot.
"Swish" - the mid-range two-pointer went in steadily.
After the shot left his hands, Kayce knew it would go in. This shooting feeling was amazing!
The combination of the [Ankle Breaker] + [Rhythm Shooter] + [Hot Zone Hunter] badges gave him a mid-range shooting percentage of nearly 65% from around the free-throw line.
"Beautiful mid-range shot! It looks like Kayce is continuing his hot streak!" Reggie Miller offered his praise.
Oklahoma University's offense still started with a pick-and-roll. Due to an excessive fear of Griffin, the defenders over-helped, leading to defensive breakdowns. After a series of passes, a three-point opportunity arose.
"Swish" - the open three-pointer went in.
Kayce's interior teammate signaled that it was his fault. This was the drawing power of an excellent interior player. In 2009, big men were the league's trend and the cornerstone of teams.
However, UCLA wasn't flustered. They continued their previous strategy: everyone moved up, creating space. Kayce received the ball, immediately made a crossover step, accelerated with his left-hand dribble to drive, and facing the help defense, dished it out to Collison on the perimeter.
The latter received the ball, first faked out his defender, then hit another mid-range shot.
UCLA's drives were difficult to defend. Collison, Holiday, and Kayce were all capable of driving and passing. As long as they weren't bricking shots, the team's offense wouldn't have problems.
Just like that, both sides went back and forth. Nine minutes into the first half, the two teams were still tied, 20-20. UCLA called a timeout.
"You're doing great, but for the rest of the first half, we need to give them more physical contact. When Griffin receives the ball, you can double-team him more, but you must pay attention to rebounding."
"Kayce, on offense, attack Griffin more. We need to wear him down on both ends. You'll handle the offense, right?"
"No problem, they can't guard me," Kayce replied calmly.
"Let's go, boys, show what you're made of! We need to build a lead in the first half!" Coach Ben loudly encouraged his players.
UCLA's offense wasn't overly simple. Kayce loudly called out to his teammates, "Patience, we have time!"
After a series of drives and passes didn't create a good opportunity, Kayce directly called for the ball in the low post.
Collison lobbed it to Kayce. Facing his defender, Kayce first used a triple-threat to shift his opponent's weight, then directly backed him down twice with a turnaround fake. This shooting motion directly faked out the defender.
A beautiful up-and-under move, and a scoop shot for two points.
"Wow!!!" This beautiful footwork directly made the crowd erupt in cheers.
"Beautiful footwork! Kayce's technical moves are already very mature. His talent is too good!" Kenny Smith also started praising Kayce's shot.
Oklahoma University's ball-handler clearly felt UCLA's pressure. This physical contact led to poor passing quality. After a series of passes, Griffin didn't get the ball in his offensive zone.
Helpless, he could only dribble two steps and try to force his way in, but the help defender immediately arrived, and he ended up with a missed floater.
Kayce secured the rebound and immediately accelerated, driving straight to the opponent's basket. Taking advantage of Griffin being a step slow on defense, he went up with his defender on his back and scored a layup.
"Beep" - the whistle blew for an additional free throw, and an "and one."
"I thought you guys almost stopped me," Kayce shrugged his shoulders, feigning helplessness at the free-throw line, then sank the shot.
"Hey, kid, don't get too ahead of yourself!" Oklahoma University's role player immediately became annoyed.
Kayce heard the opponent's words and, while retreating, spread his hands, indicating that the role player wasn't worthy of his words.
"It seems Kayce said something at the free-throw line. There was some back-and-forth, but I like that kind of performance."
Kenny Smith enjoyed the drama, and if a fight broke out, he might even cheer it on.
Oklahoma University's role players' mentality clearly changed. They took turns guarding Kayce, with little effect. The only thing commendable was that they controlled Kayce's three-point shots.
Currently, Kayce was 7-for-9, mostly on mid-range shots and drives.
The change in mentality manifested as a bit of impatience on offense. On a not-so-good opportunity, a role player took an outside three-pointer.
"Clank" - it bricked. UCLA had been boxing out, but Griffin snatched the rebound over everyone's heads with his excellent vertical leap and went straight up strongly!
"Slam!" - a powerful dunk, plus an additional free throw.
"Don't rush, keep moving," Griffin immediately signaled his teammates to stay patient after scoring.
"Ah!!!" The Oklahoma University fans in the arena roared with excitement; that dunk was too fierce.
"Truly excellent athleticism, his second-jump explosiveness is too strong," Reggie Miller also marveled at Griffin's raw power.
UCLA wasn't bothered. They knew this would happen before the game. Collison still unhurriedly brought the ball over half-court and ran a play.
When Kayce popped out to receive the ball, he immediately signaled his teammate to come set a screen for him. He wanted to attack Griffin with the ball.
When Griffin switched onto him, Kayce first slowly dribbled to the 45-degree angle of the three-point line. After switching to his right hand, he immediately sped up his dribbling rhythm. After continuous dribbling between his legs, he suddenly accelerated with his left hand to drive.
Griffin immediately stuck close to Kayce's body. At this point, Kayce directly pulled back for a step-back to the three-point line, leaning back slightly with the momentum to shoot.
"Swish" - the ball went cleanly through the net. Kayce raised both hands, signaling the fans to cheer.
"Oh!!!" The UCLA fans were completely hyped; that shot was too cool.
Griffin looked at the cheering crowd, and his inner feeling was: "How did that go in?" At the same time, he felt a burst of anger. Kayce specifically chose to attack him; this was too disrespectful.
Oklahoma University attacked. After a pick-and-roll, Griffin got the ball in a good position, but as soon as he put the ball down, Collison immediately abandoned his man and went straight for the steal, knocking the ball away.
A long pass to Holiday resulted in another fast-break two points. Griffin started complaining to the referee about a foul.
"They hit my arm!" But the referee signaled to play on.
Kayce immediately knew the opponent was starting to lose their composure. He clapped his hands and signaled his teammates to intensify their efforts.
With two minutes left in the first half, the physical contact between the two sides became more frequent, and the number of free throws increased.
After Griffin received the ball, he immediately made a spin move into a hook shot, but Kayce fouled him from behind, disrupting the shot.
"Bro, you won't make it, just like you can't guard me," Kayce loudly chattered while Griffin was shooting free throws.
As a result, Griffin's temper flared, and he indeed missed. Kayce secured the rebound. For the last possession of the first half, he wanted to run down the clock.
With 10 seconds left, Kayce again signaled his teammate to come set a screen, still attacking Griffin.
Outside the three-point line, he first used continuous crossovers, then suddenly paused for a pump fake. Griffin was immediately faked out. Kayce immediately accelerated towards the basket, going up against the help defender who came over, and took flight.
His body straightened, his arm pulled back, and he delivered a powerful one-handed tomahawk dunk.
"Clank" - the ball slammed directly into the hoop.
Kayce showed off his muscles to the UCLA fans.
"Ah!!!" The crowd completely erupted, cheering wildly.
The first half ended after Kayce's dunk, 38-30, UCLA leading by 8 points.