"Did you forget what I told you about preventing fast breaks?"
"We were playing so well earlier, what happened?"
"Yi, draw more double teams, then pass to open teammates!"
"Try to take outside shots, reduce mid-range and close-range attempts!"
"Tang's presence in the paint is too overwhelming. Our team excels at shooting, let's use that to beat them!"
"Go out there and give it your all!"
All the Bucks players nodded, eager to go.
Except for Browless, who had been listening for a long time, the coach had no intention of substituting him. Was he going to remain on the bench?
Browless's eyes darkened; jealousy had contorted his face.
After outlining the tactics, Chris Koveiak looked up at the scoreboard.
37:28
The lead had dwindled to single digits. The Cavaliers' explosiveness was immense, always managing to close the gap in a short period.
The timeout ended quickly, and both teams returned to the court.
Williams brought the ball up, signaling for the team to execute play number one.
Bogut set a screen, first for Michael Redd, and then immediately for Yi Jianlian. Two consecutive off-ball screens caused some confusion in the Cavaliers' defense.
Yi Jianlian seized the opportunity for an open shot from the perimeter, caught the ball, and shot from beyond the three-point line.
"Swish!"
A crisp sound of the ball hitting the net, the shot was easily made.
39:28
The score difference was back in double digits.
Yi Jianlian clenched his right fist in celebration.
Possession changed hands, and Larry Hughes in the frontcourt signaled for the players to spread out; he intended to go one-on-one.
Larry Hughes was also a player who excelled at driving to the basket, and with his decent physical attributes, he was confident he could drive past this 1.85-meter guard.
James looked displeased but said nothing, moving to the baseline corner.
Larry Hughes faked a crossover with his left hand and a pump fake, trying to get Williams off his feet.
To his surprise, Williams was unfazed by his shot and stood his ground like his feet were rooted to the floor.
Larry Hughes felt awkward and was forced to drive hard from the right.
Williams's defense was solid, staying close to Larry Hughes and applying pressure.
Larry Hughes drove to the basket and was forced into a difficult layup.
The ball rolled around the rim and finally bounced out.
Yi Jianlian firmly established his position, ready to secure the rebound.
Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared from behind him and snatched the rebound right over Yi Jianlian's head with force.
A sky-hook rebound!
There was no need to guess who it was!
Tang Long powerfully secured the rebound, then took off for a second jump, slamming the ball home with a powerful dunk!
Yi Jianlian took a moment to regain his senses. The rebound, which was within his reach, was stolen?
This was Yi Jianlian's first direct confrontation with Tang Long since entering the NBA.
He knew Tang Long was formidable, but he hadn't expected him to be this terrifying!
His fingertips had already touched the ball, yet it was snatched away by Tang Long.
He didn't even have time to react.
The subsequent second jump was also astonishing. Usually, a player's second jump wouldn't reach the same height as their first.
But Tang Long's second jump seemed even higher than his first!
This guy was truly a freak!
Yi Jianlian looked closely at Tang Long. This little guy who had followed him a year ago had transformed into this tall and imposing figure!
His skill level had completely surpassed his own!
"Incredible! Tang Long grabbed the rebound directly over Ah Lian's head and took off for a powerful two-handed dunk!"
"That strength! That vertical leap! He's on a completely different level from Ah Lian!"
"This is too exaggerated. Ah Lian is already a standout in his home country, but the gap between him and Tang Long is this vast?"
"Tang Long is really showing no mercy to Ah Lian!"
"Hahaha, isn't the greatest respect on the court giving your all? Tang Long is showing Ah Lian plenty of respect!"
"That's true. If Tang Long held back, it would likely offend many people!"
"You have to give it your all on the court, that's how it should be done!"
"But honestly, both Tang Long and Ah Lian have performed exceptionally well in this game!"
"It seems our country, Long Guo, lacks not good prospects, but a complete youth training system."
"If professional training were provided at a young age, our basketball level would surely be much stronger."
"Let's hope for more outstanding athletes from Long Guo in the future!"
After their exclamations, Zhang Weiping and Su Qun couldn't help but sigh, discussing the future of Long Guo basketball.
However, with players like Tang Long, Yao Ming, and Yi Jianlian leading the way, the path ahead would undoubtedly be smoother.
The fans were also incredibly excited!
"Is this Tang Long's physique? I think he's simply a monster!"
"This is terrifying. With this kind of solid physical confrontation, I don't think even Shaq would be able to handle him!"
"Shaq is old now, he definitely couldn't withstand the current Tang Long."
"Just look at that signature sky-hook rebound; it's not a move any ordinary player can pull off."
"This Long Guo derby today is fantastic, I love watching games like this the most!"
"..."
Back on the court.
Williams again brought the ball up. Upon reaching the frontcourt, he noticed Yi Jianlian actively requesting the ball.
Without a word, Williams passed the ball into Yi Jianlian's hands.
Since Yi was on the perimeter, Tang Long couldn't easily double-team him.
Unexpectedly, Yi Jianlian beckoned to Tang Long, signaling him to come and defend.
Tang Long chuckled and, of course, didn't refuse, immediately switching with Drew Gooden.
Yi Jianlian's move ignited the fans' excitement.
"Yi! Go for it! Single him out!"
"Show the Cavaliers what we're capable of!"
"He dunked on you just now, now you drive and score!"
"Stop the Cavaliers' winning streak, defeat them!"
Facing Tang Long, Yi Jianlian smiled and said, "Tang Long, it's been over a year. Let me show you my current strength."
Tang Long made a "please" gesture and focused entirely on his defense.
Yi Jianlian feigned a move to the left and then faked a drive to the right.
However, Tang Long didn't fall for the fake and maintained his defensive position firmly.
Yi Jianlian found himself in an awkward spot; he couldn't drive effectively, nor could he get into a rhythm for a shot.
He had no choice but to force a dribble and pull up for a three-pointer.
Despite Yi Jianlian's outstanding height and wingspan, Tang Long's burst of speed was simply too fast.
The moment Yi Jianlian released the ball, Tang Long's large hand had already covered it.
He swatted the ball away directly!
Yi Jianlian had anticipated that the one-on-one wouldn't succeed and said with a wry smile, "Your physical abilities are too explosive! I've never seen anyone as outrageous as you!"
Tang Long patted Yi Jianlian's back and consoled him.
"Just keep training hard; it will pay off!"
If all else failed, he would look for a jersey for him. Combined with Yi Jianlian's own diligence, his progress would be rapid.
Yi Jianlian nodded heavily, determination in his eyes!