Chapter 4 Halfway through the fourth quarter, both sides were struggling, and even Tang Long felt his stamina waning.
The game was tense, with neither side able to gain an advantage.
Two minutes passed with neither team scoring.
Beep!
After Varejão missed a three-pointer, the referee blew his whistle.
Phil Jackson called a timeout.
With just over three minutes left in the game, the score remained tied at 100-100.
Phil Jackson hoped to give his players a rest and strategize.
...
"The game has reached this point, and both teams are gritting their teeth. It's clear that the players are running on fumes. Whoever cracks first will likely see the other team seal the victory."
"As we often say, it's not just about winning, but about pride. This pride is crucial."
Zhang Zhi replied, "If the Lakers win this game, their momentum will be extraordinary. Although the Cavaliers still hold a lead in games, if they lose this momentum, it will be hard to stop the Lakers from winning the championship."
Yu Jia looked at Zhang Zhi and asked, "We can see that Phil Jackson has called a timeout. What changes do you think the Lakers will make, Zhang Zhi?"
"The Lakers might make a substitution. Fisher is clearly struggling to keep up on the court, with Kobe carrying the team. Fisher's contribution on the court isn't significant. The Zen Master might bring in a shooter."
"Vujacic?"
"Possibly. Vujacic has had excellent performances before. Bringing in Vujacic to shoot might be surprisingly effective."
"I, on the other hand, think the Zen Master won't substitute but will focus on the inside game."
Yang Yi interjected, "In the fourth quarter, the Lakers regained their lead precisely because Gasol isolated Tang Long inside. Bringing in a shooter at this point is too uncertain. It's better to play inside, as scoring is guaranteed. Besides, Gasol has already proven he can isolate Tang Long."
"Yang Yi, you believe the Lakers will consistently play through their bigs from now on?"
Yang Yi nodded, "Not only will they play inside, but the entire team might serve Gasol."
"The game is about to resume, and it's just as Yang Yi predicted. The Lakers haven't made any personnel changes. They're going on a fast break..."
The Lakers initiated a fast break. Beyond exceptional talent, a superstar's understanding of the game is a crucial factor.
Kobe certainly knew his shooting percentages, and the Cavaliers knew them too. Kobe couldn't make every shot.
However, allowing Kobe to shoot freely would be suicidal. Therefore, every time Kobe attempted to drive to the basket, he was met with a double-team.
Previously, Odom would be positioned in the mid-range, and Kobe would draw attention before passing to him.
Now, Kobe drove to the free-throw line and faced a double-team. The ball went to Fisher, who tapped it to Gasol. Gasol isolated Tang Long, and Tang Long withstood Gasol's pressure.
Unexpectedly, Gasol spun with the ball and executed a hook shot, which went in.
100-102.
The Lakers had taken the lead again.
"That play was absolutely brilliant. Tang didn't expect Gasol to have such a nimble side. If the Cavaliers lose this game, many fans will likely believe this very play defeated them."
The Lakers' commentators lavished praise on Gasol's basket.
On the sidelines, Mike Brown clutched his head, his expression resembling doubt.
It was too thrilling.
Trailing, leading, trailing again, and then fighting back!
Crucially, Tang Long failed to defend Gasol on this play. Besides worrying about losing the game, he was also concerned about how this might affect Tang Long's mindset.
Mike Brown underestimated Tang Long's resilience.
After being scored on by Gasol, Tang Long received a pass from his teammate upon returning to the Cavaliers' basket. He made no adjustments.
[Unrestricted Shot]
This was one of Aomine Daiki's signature moves.
His stamina was reduced by 20%, but he already had the template bonus.
Entering the Zone, he leaped high over Gasol, his fingers brushing the rim.
Bang!
The ball circled the rim, and everyone held their breath, afraid their own breathing might alter its course.
Fortunately, the ball finally dropped in.
Tang Long breathed a sigh of relief.
In the past, when entering the Zone, such situations never occurred. It seemed the reduction in stamina also affected template skills, confirming his suspicion.
"LeBron, should we go for a full-court press?"
"Can we?"
LeBron looked at Tang Long with a hint of doubt.
They could have pressed before, but that was based on Tang Long's stable defense in the backcourt.
Now, with a full-court press, it would be too easy for the opponent to break through.
"Trust me, it'll be fine."
"Alright!"
The Cavaliers changed their strategy. Gooden and Joe Smith remained on the half-court to disrupt the Lakers' advance.
The ball was inbounded with difficulty and reached Kobe. The frontcourt was suddenly wide open. Kobe took two steps and entered the Cavaliers' half. Only at the free-throw line did LeBron step up to block him.
One on two, Kobe had a bold idea.
He would drive past LeBron and dunk over Tang Long.
With a surge of intent, Kobe drove past LeBron with a simple crossover and, catching the bouncing ball, headed straight for the rim.
[Divine Block]
Tang Long met Kobe without hesitation.
To his surprise, Kobe switched hands mid-air. If Tang Long had swatted down, he would have missed the ball and been called for a foul.
Kobe's movements were too fast. With reduced stamina, he had to anticipate the direction of Kobe's shot.
If he guessed right, it would be a great block!
If he guessed wrong, he would foul Kobe.
Damn it, he had to go all out!
Tang Long gritted his teeth, twisting his body in mid-air, and with lightning speed, his hand slammed towards the other side.
"Oh my god, Tang is fired up! He blocked Kobe!"
Cheers erupted from the fans at the Quicken Loans Arena.
The moment his hand made solid contact with the ball, Tang Long could no longer contain his excitement.
The frustration he had suppressed all quarter was unleashed with this block.
And this was only half of it.
LeBron sprinted towards the ball and saved it just as it was about to go out of bounds.
Tang Long caught the ball and quickly drove towards the Lakers' basket. From the center of the three-point line, as the defender closed in, he took the shot.
103-102.
The Cavaliers had taken the lead again.
"Well done."
The cheers from the Quicken Loans Arena almost pierced the sky.
This basket fully ignited Tang Long's fighting spirit. The Lakers initiated their next offense. Gasol attempted his previous move, isolating Tang Long. This time, Tang Long gathered his strength and gave him no opportunity, cleanly blocking the shot!
The Cavaliers launched a fast break.
A fluid play between LeBron and Drew Gooden, with the former hitting a three-pointer from the baseline.
The score instantly became 106-102.
...