Guo Qiang's expression grew increasingly grim.
The timeout had been a waste.
More critically, if the team played poorly without Tang Long and Yao Ming, and then faced strong European opponents with both of them restricted, their offense and defense would be crippled.
Guo Qiang couldn't help but shout from the sidelines, "Can you guys play with more intensity? Don't give the opponent too many scoring opportunities."
Jonas glanced at him. Although he couldn't hear what Guo Qiang was shouting, the angry expression clearly indicated it wasn't pleasant.
He didn't have much of an issue with it, though. Players did need a bit of pressure, especially the bench players who knew they weren't starters and sometimes played without urgency.
"Jonas, shouldn't we put Tang Long in?"
It was the second quarter. Even if Yao Ming wasn't playing, Tang Long should at least be on the court. Not having either of their core players in was like playing a joke.
Jonas considered it, then shook his head. "Let's wait and see."
Guo Qiang was exasperated.
Still waiting?
During that brief moment of observation, Angolan player Gomes sank another three-pointer.
The offense in the second quarter was stagnant, and the defense wasn't applying pressure.
Past the halfway mark of the second quarter, the Dragon Country team's total score hadn't exceeded five points. Fortunately, apart from Gomes's brilliant performance, the other Angolan players were also starting to falter, preventing the score from getting too far ahead.
"We still need to break their momentum," Guo Qiang whispered in Jonas's ear.
Jonas looked at him. "Beating Angola is simple, but can you break the momentum of strong European teams?"
"At least we need to ensure a smooth win in this game, and then we can adjust slowly."
"Or maybe you should do it?" Jonas shot Guo Qiang an annoyed look. "Guo, you need to think long-term. Don't you want the team to defeat those strong European teams?"
"Of course, I do." Guo Qiang didn't voice the rest of his thought: if they lost the next game after failing to win this one, who would take responsibility? He was a foreign coach, earning dollars. He was the local team coach and wanted to continue in the basketball circle.
"Tang, prepare to go in."
Guo Qiang breathed a sigh of relief. At least Jonas wasn't being too stubborn.
This time, Jonas had Tang Long play center. After Tang Long came on, the passive situation improved. Gomes, thinking he could dunk over Tang Long, attempted it.
"Are the Dragon Country people that tough?"
*Bang!*
Gomes's voice seemed to still echo in the air as Tang Long swatted the ball away with a single palm.
"Dragon Country people are naturally tough!"
Tang Long's arrogant expression instantly ignited the crowd, sending the home fans into a frenzy. Of course, people disliked arrogant individuals, but if that person was one of their own, it was a different story.
Following that, Tang Long drew a foul in the paint and made both free throws.
On defense, after being embarrassed once, Gomes decided to adopt the same strategy he used against Yao Ming: utilizing the center's inability to come out of the three-second area to shoot. He thought he had been careless earlier and would now teach this guy that size wasn't everything, agility was key.
As Gomes jumped, Tang Long's palm, as large as a fan, swung over.
Another block.
"Did you think I was the NBA's block king for nothing?"
Gomes's face turned dark. Yet, Tang Long's displayed combat power was overwhelming, like an anchor stabilizing the sea. It was extremely difficult to score against Tang Long. Throughout the season, when playing the 1-3-1 zone, Tang Long single-handedly guarded the three-second area. Even NBA stars struggled against Tang Long's impenetrable defense, let alone a weak team like Angola.
With Tang Long on the court, the Dragon Country team regained the initiative, forcing the opponent to shoot from farther out. A peculiar scene unfolded on the court. The three-second area was eerily empty. This should have been the prime spot for scoring. However, Angolan players rarely drove to the basket. If they did, it was only to draw defenders, and as soon as Tang Long moved, they'd pass to teammates running outside.
Leveraging Tang Long's advantage on the court, the Dragon Country team took the lead, ending the first half with a score of 40-32 against Angola. The fans chanted Tang Long's name, and he waved back in acknowledgment.
Huh?
As Tang Long waved, he spotted a woman wearing a hat and sunglasses in the third row. She was trying to be discreet, and perhaps wouldn't have been recognized if she hadn't drawn attention to herself by being there. "This guy understands marketing," Tang Long mused.
"Tang, sometimes you shouldn't appear so strong. You need to give the opponent a chance to break through," Jonas called out. Tang Long shifted his gaze from the oddly dressed individual and looked at Jonas curiously. Shouldn't defense be impenetrable? Why give the opponent an opportunity?
Seeing Tang Long's puzzled expression, Jonas looked at Guo Qiang. Guo Qiang rolled his eyes helplessly. "It's like this, if you were a player..."
"No need for 'if.' I am a player." Guo Qiang was stunned. The example indeed didn't seem appropriate.
"Imagine you're driving to the basket and suddenly realize the opposing center is Yao Ming..."
Tang Long interrupted again. "Team Captain Guo, why would I only discover the opposing center is Yao Ming when I'm driving to the basket? Is my brother Yao sitting down?"
"Your comprehension skills..." Guo Qiang's exasperated expression had the Dragon Country players roaring with laughter. They had never seen Guo Qiang so flustered. Only Tang Long could achieve that. Anyone else would have earned a scolding from Guo Qiang.
"It's like this: when you face Yao Ming, you might be hesitant to drive inside, preferring to shoot from the perimeter because you know Yao Ming can block your shot at any moment."
"Not really," Tang Long thought seriously for a moment, then looked at Yao Ming. "Brother Yao, when we matched up, was I hesitant to drive inside?"
"Be quiet. Team Captain Guo wants you to understand the point." Yao Ming was also speechless. He looked at Guo Qiang helplessly. If you're going to use an example, pick someone else. Using himself isn't helpful; it lacks relatability.
"I was just nervous watching the game and trying to lighten the mood," Tang Long said seriously. "I understand what the coaching staff means. It's about making the opponent feel they have a chance, then they'll try to drive inside, and I'll block their shot. In short, it's to make them think my reputation as the top shot blocker is just talk, to encourage them to attack the basket."
"Exactly! The core idea is to make them believe there's still an opportunity at the basket and they're willing to try! This way, you can force them to attack the paint, and then you can use that opportunity to block their shots!"