Entering the zone, with the attribute bonus from [Daqiu Daige Qiu] (Balling with the Ball), this fast-moving basketball appeared as slow as a turtle to Tang Long's eyes. His large hand followed, swatting at the ball.
"My God, Kobe's pass was actually intercepted by Tang Long?!"
An exclamation erupted from the fans at the scene.
What made the fans even more ecstatic was that after Tang Long stole the ball, he broke through with it himself.
There were two Lakers players still near the three-point line, closer to the basket, and in excellent defensive positions. Just as they were preparing to retreat, they saw a whirlwind dash past them!
"Clang!"
Tang Long leaped from the free-throw line for a spectacular tomahawk dunk!
"Oh my, is this guy possessed by a superhero?! He's too fierce!"
Cavaliers fans stood up and applauded. The play was truly brilliant, reminding them of Jordan's spectacular dunks from yesteryear!
35-21.
"Well done, teach them a lesson like this."
LeBron James rushed over to high-five Tang Long, while the Lakers players wore grim expressions.
It was evident that the Cavaliers players' fighting spirit had been reignited!
This Tang Long fellow was too troublesome.
Kobe glanced at Tang Long and decided that if Tang Long got the ball in the paint, he would also join the fray, absolutely unwilling to let this guy continuously close the score gap.
He had to teach him a lesson!
The Lakers initiated their offense again. Kobe opted for isolation, driving to the free-throw line, stopping abruptly near the restricted area.
Tang Long, who had charged forward, was moving too fast. Just as he had rushed out, Kobe, facing him, shot the ball, attempting to draw a foul.
A triumphant smile was already appearing on Kobe's lips, but what happened next was something even Kobe couldn't quite handle. Tang Long actually managed to stop his momentum.
Kobe, having shot in haste, wasn't confident of making the shot. He agilely twisted his waist and passed the ball to Vujacic on the baseline.
A three-pointer.
"Ouch!"
Lakers fans gasped. The shot missed again. Drew Gooden, behind Tang Long, secured the rebound and then tossed it to LeBron James.
LeBron initiated a fast break down the baseline. Facing Odom's defense, he decisively pulled back for a jump shot.
Odom reacted quickly too. The moment LeBron jumped, he also raised his hand to contest the shot.
LeBron wasn't afraid of interference; he often took difficult shots against defenders.
The next second, LeBron didn't disappoint his teammates. The ball, shot over Odom's outstretched hand, swished through the net.
35-23.
The score difference was being gradually chipped away. Kobe stopped passing, drove to the Cavaliers' half, faked out Larry Hughes, and shot from the top of the arc!
37-23.
The Lakers thought this basket would stabilize the situation, but then LeBron immediately responded with a three-pointer.
37-26.
Kobe, unwilling to be outdone, scored another two-pointer.
Pavlovic answered with another three-pointer.
The score became 39-29.
The Lakers' lead was now ten points.
With just over half of the second quarter gone, the Cavaliers had gone on a 15-4 run against the Lakers.
Phil Jackson couldn't sit still any longer and quickly called a timeout.
With the absence of the big man Gasol in the paint, the Lakers were playing very passively against Tang Long's bombardment.
The perimeter players he had sent in also failed to produce the desired effect for Coach Jackson. He had no choice but to send Gasol and Fisher back onto the court.
With Gasol's return, the Lakers' precarious inside presence stabilized somewhat. However, the Cavaliers' momentum had already built up, and Larry Hughes even dared to make a move when attacking the Lakers.
Drew Gooden, who had been overlooked, quietly scored consecutive baskets in the left and right elbow areas.
The Lakers still wanted to replicate their first-quarter strategy, spreading the floor to let Kobe isolate and draw the attention of the entire Cavaliers team.
Kobe drove and scored, drawing Tang Long away from the basket, and Gasol followed up with a layup.
This time, the Lakers intended to repeat their trick.
As Tang Long was drawn out, Kobe made a brilliant pass. Gasol received the ball and was completely unguarded.
It was a perfect opportunity for him under the basket.
Gasol, with the ball in both hands, lunged towards the rim like a cannonball!
But immediately after, Gasol felt a mountain descending upon him!
It not only rejected his dunk but also slammed him directly onto the floor, his backside making intimate contact with the hardwood.
The arena fell silent. The fans stared bewilderedly at Gasol sitting on the floor, then watched Tang Long, who was already sprinting for a fast break after the block. The transition from silence to roaring enthusiasm happened almost in a single breath!
Cavaliers fans and the bench shouted Tang Long's name.
It was too miraculous! From a block to a fast break, and then a solo fast-break layup.
In a daze, people realized that this Tang Long guy seemed to be capable of anything!
This wasn't Tang Long's first solo fast-break basket, but this particular play delivered an unprecedented shock!
Tang Long, like a swift gust of wind, was unstoppable in the frontcourt. He single-handedly completed the scoring play with incredible speed.
Gasol got up from the floor, his expression somber and heavy.
This was Staples Center, and Tang Long had blocked his shot, yet he was receiving such thunderous cheers?
Were there any mole fans in the audience?
"Gasol is furious, this is a rare sight!"
The commentator exclaimed, and the camera focused on Gasol's face. The usually gentle Gasol had transformed into an enraged lion!
Tang Long wasn't afraid of Gasol's anger; in fact, he welcomed it even more. It allowed him to precisely control the rhythm of the game.
In the paint, he was the absolute king!
Even Gasol wouldn't stand a chance!
Even when the ball reached Gasol's hands, Tang Long actively moved to confront him, even using taunts to provoke Gasol into a one-on-one duel.
This clearly had a miraculous effect.
The Cavaliers went on a 31-15 run in the second quarter.
At the end of the first half, the Lakers trailed 49-46, with the lead reduced to a mere three points.
...
"What an incredible game. The Lakers played very well in the first quarter, and the Cavaliers played even better in the second. This NBA Finals is a textbook example!"
In the Dragon Country broadcast booth, Yang Yi's face was slightly flushed with excitement.
He had tried his best to control himself, but the inner thrill was still hard to conceal.
Trailing by twenty-one points, on the Lakers' home court, they had thought the game's outcome was already decided. They hadn't expected Tang Long to step up in the second quarter.
"If the Cavaliers can come back and win this game, then there's no one who can challenge Tang Long for the position of the league's number one center!"
Coach Zhang rarely praised a player so openly, but at this moment, he was not stingy with his admiration for Tang Long.
"We initially thought Mike Brown would be the first to make a substitution, but unexpectedly, it was the Zen Master who made a tactical adjustment after taking the lead."
"It's not necessarily wrong," Coach Zhang said slowly. "Coach Jackson's intention was to bring in Vujacic and Ariza to give the Lakers' perimeter more scoring opportunities."
"After all, Vujacic performed exceptionally well last game, so it wouldn't make sense not to play him. This is the difference between role players and superstars! Their performance is not stable enough. In critical moments, they need to break through and deliver crucial plays, and role players often can't meet such high demands!"