"Did the Lakers get too comfortable letting the Cavaliers have two games and now they can't tell the difference between a king and a prince?"
"Still talking about the 'world's number one center,' it's nauseating. What happened? Didn't he just get taught a lesson?"
"If we win this one, we'll be stable back home!"
"Who says we can't win a championship without Shaq? Look at us now, dominating the Cavaliers on their home court."
"These two quarters show that our Lakers' roster strength is still superior to the Cavaliers."
"Kobe's off-ball movement has increased significantly this game. When a superstar gets serious, they're unstoppable."
At this moment, Lakers fans were already envisioning sweeping the Cavaliers in the following games, and many were starting to mock the Cavaliers.
Of course, there was also plenty of mockery directed at Tang Long.
Very few fans engaged in rational discussion.
Cavaliers fans, on the other hand, were mostly complaining about the bench players, especially Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, whose performance had been particularly poor. Many fans were already criticizing them.
Naturally, there were also posts attacking the head coach.
"Mike Brown is really incompetent. No in-game adjustments, no strategy. The team's struggles this season all fall on him."
"I've never heard of a team that plays their starters constantly without any rest. Now that a few players are exhausted, how can they even play?"
"The bench has barely touched the ball in the playoffs. Now when they get on the court, they're just a liability!"
"Don't let this turn into the game against the Hawks. We were up 2-0 and almost blew it. And the Lakers are not the Hawks; if we miss this chance, it'll be hard to get another one like it."
"The game isn't over yet, there's still a chance. Besides, we're still leading. You'd think we were down 3-1 to the Lakers the way you're talking."
"Yeah, if you're so smart, why isn't the Cavaliers' coach you?"
"We celebrate victories together, and we endure losses together. I'm not like you guys; championship fans can go elsewhere!"
The ticket theory was also prevalent at this time.
For instance, some fans posted that the league, for the sake of ratings and selling more tickets, would surely let the Lakers win.
Some fans believed this narrative, especially when referee calls were controversial.
...
"You guys aren't good enough. You haven't touched a ball in a week, you've probably forgotten how to play. You should go back and practice more."
Jordan Farmar drove to the basket. Although Big Z had a good position and attempted to block, Jordan Farmar still managed to score with his agile drive.
59-76.
The Cavaliers were now trailing by seventeen points.
After scoring, Jordan Farmar didn't forget to mock Big Z during the defensive transition. Big Z was instantly enraged: "Kid, what are you talking about?"
"Saying you're clumsy and foolish. Is it not allowed to speak the truth?"
"Hey... you better show some respect!"
LeBron immediately rushed over to defend his teammate, and Lakers players also came to Jordan Farmar's aid.
"Everyone, stop!"
The referee ran over to separate the two, giving Jordan Farmar a foul and Big Z a foul as well.
The Cavaliers players were extremely dissatisfied with the referee's calls. It was clearly Jordan Farmar who initiated the provocation, yet the penalty was split equally. This directly ignited the anger of the Cavaliers players!
"Calm down, everyone, calm down!"
Mike Brown shouted from the sidelines, but the players were already heated, all confronting the referees to demand an explanation.
"LeBron, calm down, be calm!"
Tang Long rushed out from the bench and stopped LeBron. If LeBron led the charge now, his teammates would have to follow.
"Tang, let me go. I'm going to teach this guy a lesson today. His mouth is too foul."
"LeBron, haven't you realized that Jordan Farmar is deliberately trying to provoke you? If you really get into a conflict with the Lakers, won't that play right into their hands?"
"Then I should congratulate him, because his plan has succeeded!"
LeBron's temper was flaring, and he was somewhat overcome. No one could persuade him; he was determined to teach Jordan Farmar a lesson. Tang Long could only hold him back and try to appease him.
At this moment, Jordan Farmar was still taunting them from the side: "Did I say something wrong? Your players are just not good enough, the Cavaliers are just not good enough. If you're so capable, then win the game!"
"Tang, I'm going to teach him a lesson today!"
LeBron broke free from Tang Long's grasp and charged towards Jordan Farmar.
Fortunately, Tang Long reacted quickly. Just as the two were about to clash, Tang Long managed to restrain LeBron.
"LeBron, what happens on the court, we win back on the court."
Tang Long stared at LeBron and said in a deep voice, "I am part of the Cavaliers, and Big Z is my teammate. This jerk mocking Big Z is mocking all of us, so of course, we have to teach him a lesson, but not with violence! How about this, let Big Z continue to play center, you and I will play power forward and small forward respectively, and we'll win this game together!"
"Okay! I'll listen to you!"
LeBron nodded heavily, then turned to make a throat-slitting gesture at the provocative Jordan Farmar, but he stopped himself hard.
Making that gesture could lead to a suspension, and doing so now would be irresponsible.
"Coach Brown, let me and Big Z play together, I'll play power forward, LeBron at small forward, Larry at point guard, and Pavlovic as the shooter. We must win this game."
LeBron stood beside Tang Long.
Seeing Tang Long so serious and full of fighting spirit for once.
And then looking at his teammates, each one was clenching their fists, their eyes filled with the determination to fight the enemy to the end!
He hadn't seen this fighting spirit in a long time!
"Okay."
This time, Mike Brown didn't contradict Tang Long and readily agreed to his suggestion.
Tang Long and Big Z on the court at the same time stunned not only the commentators but also the audience. They were taken aback for a moment.
What did this mean?
A double center lineup?
"Am I seeing things? Tang and Big Z are on the court at the same time. Are the Cavaliers going to play two centers? This is madness!"
The commentators were already questioning Mike Brown's substitution adjustment.
"Big Z's speed is slow, and with Tang Long coming in, the Cavaliers' paint will be crowded. I don't know if they can defend Jordan Farmar, but with these two on the court, their speed will be limited, putting them at a disadvantage. I really don't know what Coach Mike is thinking!"
The fans were also disappointed. Mike Brown's peculiar move was simply inconceivable.
A few extreme fans, seeing the score falling behind and Mike Brown making such a foolish move, simply left the arena.
It was truly absurd.
Unlike others, Big Z's heart was churning.
When Tang Long requested to play, he thought he would be subbed out. Although the championship was important, the inability to personally avenge himself after being so ridiculed was an indescribable disappointment for Big Z.
But he never expected Tang Long to keep him on the court as well!