NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 239 Learning Passing Techniques

After finalizing Art Mayor's contract, Jia Fei began planning special training.

His focus this summer is on breaking double teams. As for back-to-the-basket techniques and catch-and-shoot three-pointers, he'll work on those too, but they're not his top priority.

This Eastern Conference Finals made Jia Fei realize the bitterness of being heavily guarded as a star player. Basketball is ultimately a team sport, a 5-on-5 game, and opponents won't really give you that many one-on-one opportunities.

Double-teaming isn't unsportsmanlike; if you're skilled, use precise passing to break the double-team and create open shots for your teammates. If you can't, don't blame the opponent for relentlessly double-teaming you.

During the regular season, Jia Fei also faced double teams, but not as frequently, and the intensity and targeting were not as significant. The Heat's double-team rotations in the playoffs were the strongest he has ever faced in his career, and he still hasn't been able to break through such a double team.

But if he can't crack the code, he can't go any further. He has very high expectations for himself; he doesn't just want to be an ordinary All-Star.

As a superstar, even a historical superstar, and an outside player, there's no one who can't break double teams. Jia Fei dislikes the "Running Man" style of eight-step layups, dislikes his shortcuts and team-ups, dislikes his smooth-talking and calculating nature, but he has never denied his abilities. This guy's passing ability and playmaking vision are historical; in these aspects, neither Durant nor the Los Angeles shooting enthusiasts can compare to him.

But Jia Fei certainly won't learn how to break double teams from him. He's not the only one in the league who can pass the ball and pass the ball around; there are many other playmaking masters out there.

"Master of Organization!" These four words immediately brought three people to Jia Fei's mind: one was the 58mm gunner on the wrecked ship in Los Angeles, another was Jason Kidd, the "Unbeatable Kid," and the third was Steve Nash, the "Undefendable Nash."

Jia Fei, who was in the 58mm gun, had no connection with him and could not establish a relationship with him. Kidd and Nash also had no contact.

Nash and Jafi weren't very close, but he and Yao Ming shared the same agent and were both players under Bill Duffy's management, so Nash could reach him through Yao Ming's connections.

Without hesitation, Jia Fei immediately called Yao Ming, asking him to make an introduction so that the old monk could give him some pointers on the technique.

Without hesitation, Yao Ming helped Jia Fei contact Nash. In less than half a day, he told Jia Fei that everything was arranged and even gave Jia Fei Nash's private phone number.

Jia Fei was overjoyed; this was fantastic! Steve Nash's passing skills were both dazzling and accurate. His partnership with Amar'e Stoudemire during their time with the Suns is still fondly remembered by fans.

Back then, on China Sports Channel, the announcers passionately commentated, accompanied by exciting background music: "Welcome to today's top five plays! First play: Nash of the Suns sets the stage, and Stoudemire, the little tyrant, cleaves the mountain!"

In terms of offensive passing, ball-handling, and shooting abilities alone, Nash is among the top point guards in NBA history. Kidd's passing ability wasn't worse than Nash's, but his shooting was far inferior. A point guard without a shot is in a very difficult position in today's league. Of course, Kidd developed a shot later in his career, but it was just that—a shot. Compared to Nash, it's like comparing a running man's jump shot to a blacksmith's jump shot—they're not even in the same league.

Nash's biggest problem was his poor defense. This wasn't just due to his lack of physicality and athleticism; his defensive effort was also very low. Of course, if other positions on the Suns had been better defensively, they could have covered for him, but neither Stoudemire nor Diaw were truly effective defenders; they were primarily offensive players. The only truly effective defenders on that Suns team were Marion and Raja Bell, but those two alone couldn't carry the team's defense. A team's defense needs to be a system, requiring a defensive anchor in the paint, like Duncan on the Spurs, Garnett on the Timberwolves, Gao Yuanyuan on the Pacers, Yao Ming on the Rockets, Ben Wallace on the Pistons, and White Bear on the Grizzlies.

Another important reason for the Suns' poor defense is D'Antoni. He's an offensive mastermind, but his defense is completely unpredictable and dependent on luck.

Nash is currently in Los Angeles, and Jia Fei told Art Mayok about it.

“Wherever you go, I’ll go too!” Art Mayork replied without hesitation.

“Alright, let’s go together!” Jia Fei said.

After tidying up a bit, Jia Fei drove to the mall to buy gifts. The two of them took the gifts and boarded a plane to Los Angeles on July 8th.

Jia Fei was certainly no stranger to Los Angeles, and he was even more excited about meeting Nash to learn his skills.

Nash's luck has indeed been bad. He unfortunately failed to win a championship with the Suns, and his later arrival with the Lakers to form the "Big Four" didn't yield good results either. In fact, the coach and tactics best suited him were D'Antoni and the run-and-gun offense. He wasn't suited to playing as an off-ball shooter alongside Timberwolves; he needed the ball to be effective. And now he's old and injured; even if given the ball, he can't play as well.

On March 14th of this year, Nash announced that his season was over due to injury, and he has been recovering in Los Angeles ever since.

After arriving in Los Angeles, Jia Fei and Art Mayork took a taxi to Nash's house, following the address Yao Ming had given them.

Nash's villa in Los Angeles isn't particularly extravagant, but it's still much, much bigger than the small apartment where Jia Fei and Art Mayok live.

After the doorbell was rang, the Nash family's nanny came to open the door.

When Jia Fei and Art Mayok went inside, what they saw made them burst out laughing. They never expected that Nash, the Son of the Wind, would be dressed as a maid and playing with the children in his family.

In fact, Nash's twin daughters are almost 10 years old, while his son is not even 4 years old, but these children still love to play, as if they will never grow up.

This scene was so heartwarming that even a tender moment flashed in the eyes of Art Mayork, a tough guy.

"You're here!" Nash saw Jia Fei and Art Mayork, put down the toys in his hand, and smiled sheepishly: "There are a lot of kids in the family, what can I do?"

"No, no, we were being presumptuous!" Jia Fei took the gifts from his hands. "These are gifts for Lola, Bella, and Matteo!"

"Thank you!" Nash was surprised that Jia Fei could accurately name his children even though it was the first time he had met them. It seemed that this young man was really dedicated.

The three children were excited to receive their gifts and happily went to open them.

Nash took off his maid outfit and led Jia Fei and the others to the living room.