"Increase sprint speed from 64 to 79 and lateral speed from 72 to 79!"
[Done. Points remaining: 3448]
"Increase Dexterity from 60 to 69".
[Done. Points remaining: 2548]
"Increase Ball handling from 78 to 79".
[Done. Points remaining: 1548]
[Reminder: Due to the growth of basic physical skills, breakthrough skills automatically increased from 62 to 78 and defensive skills has increased from 76 to 80]
After spending a substantial amount of points, Lian Dao finally received some good news.
"Now that breakthrough is at 78, it's wise to push it to 79."
"Increase breakthrough to 79."
[Host, your breakthrough skill is on the brink of advancing. With continued training, you can reach 79 soon. Would the host like to spend 1000 points to instantly advance it?]
Since breakthrough can be improved through training in a short time, Lian Dao opted not to spend 1000 points for the instant upgrade, which could take nearly 15 games to accumulate—quite precious!
"No, I'll pass."
"Increase Bounce from 60 to 69".
[Done. Points remaining: 648]
[Reminder: Due to the growth of physical basic talent skills, rebounding skill automatically upgraded from 60 to 74. Finishing increased from 60 to 66]
Surveying his options, Lian Dao found 648 points insufficient for any more upgrades, so he allocated them all to Stamina and Finishing.
"Increase Stamina from 66 to 69".
"Increase Finishing from 66 to 69]".
[Done. Points remaining: 48]
"Alright!"
Lian Dao exhaled deeply, relieved to have completed his upgrades. Despite his points returning to their pre-upgrade levels overnight, the transformative changes in his physique left him feeling thoroughly satisfied.
He couldn't wait to see his improved stats.
"Status"
---------------
Host: Lian Dao
Position: Small Forward
Evaluation: 74 (B) NBA bench player strength, capable of starting for weaker teams.
Points: 48
Currently included jerseys: 2
Birthday: 1990.12.15
Height: 204cm (205cm)
Wingspan: 223cm
Weight: 98kg
Bounce: 60 → 69 (80)
Strength: 85 (94)
Sprint speed: 64 → 79 (89)
Lateral speed: 72 → 79 (91)
Dexterity: 60 → 69 (86)
Stamina: 66 → 69 (89)
Field of view: 86 (93)
Basketball IQ: 98
Skill Evaluation:
Ball handling: 78 → 79 (84)
Passing: 79 (84)
Breakthrough: 62 → 78 (86)
Finishing: 60 → 69 (87)
Mid-range shooting: 69 (85)
Three-point shooting: 90 (97)
Rebounding: 60 → 74 (89)
Defense: 76 → 80 (89)
Injury resistance: 93
---------------
Reviewing his updated stats, Lian Dao felt a surge of satisfaction. The system's evaluation had risen from B to B+, marking a significant achievement.
...
Time soon came to the playoffs in the Parker Ten League, with the following roster announced:
1. USC Trojans (16W, 2L)
2. University of Washington Huskies (12W, 6L)
3. UCLA Bruins (11W, 7L)
4. Cal Golden Bears (9W, 9L)
5. Arizona Sun Devils (9W, 9L)
6. Arizona Wildcats (8W, 10L)
7. Washington State Cougars (7W, 11L)
8. Stanford Cardinals (5W,13L)
Originally, the Oregon State Beavers were poised for the eighth spot, but they missed out due to a surprising upset loss to Stanford, despite Stanford having a poorer season record.
Such upsets highlighted the significance of each game and the unpredictable nature of playoffs. The format adhered to single-elimination rules, starting with the quarterfinals where the top-ranked team faced the eighth-ranked team, followed by the semifinals and finals.
Beyond determining the league champion, playoffs significantly influenced seedings for March Madness. Typically, only teams within the top 64 rankings were considered, unless a lower-ranked team upset expectations and secured the league title. However, this was uncommon due to the league's competitive nature and emphasis on strength.
League playoffs also decided the top eight seed teams in the NCAA divisions (Midwest, East, South, West), granting them advantages against weaker opponents in the early rounds of March Madness.
USC, finishing atop the league standings, entered the playoffs with home-court advantage and optimal timing.
As the season concluded, Lian Dao's impressive statistics were revealed:
Averaged 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 13.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Shot 52.3% from the field, with an exceptional 57.6% from three-point range. Led the Parker Ten League with 147 three-pointers made in the season. Achieved a free throw percentage of 72.4%.
Lian Dao's outstanding performance earned accolades from Los Angeles Sports Weekly as "the man with the scope" and "USC magician." His season highlight included scoring 42 points in a single game against Washington State Cougars, setting a league record.
Although narrowly missing a triple-double in the regular season, Lian Dao remained optimistic about future opportunities in the ongoing playoffs and beyond.