After ending their showdown with the Magic, the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to seven games.
Topping the Eastern Conference!
Second were the Boston Celtics, having lost only two games.
Third were the Detroit Pistons. Though lacking any particularly standout stars, they maximized their team-based basketball!
Every player did their job, so it wasn't surprising they secured third in the East.
In the Western Conference, the New Orleans Hornets held the top spot. The Hornets were playing exceptionally well this season, with Chris Paul leading the team alongside players like Boozer, achieving an impressive record and temporarily surpassing the Spurs.
San Antonio ranked second, with their GDP trio—Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker—forming a formidable unit.
Following their game against the Magic, the Cavaliers were set to face the Chicago Bulls.
Since DeAndre Jordan's move to the Cavaliers, the Bulls' performance had plummeted.
During the offseason, they had traded Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes to the Cleveland Cavaliers, bolstering their team's strength.
Last season, the Bulls' record had placed them sixth in the East. This season, however, they had fallen dramatically, winning only three regular-season games thus far.
Before the game, nearly all media outlets predicted they wouldn't be able to stop the Cavaliers' winning streak from reaching eight.
This weak team had no hope unless they pulled off an earth-shattering upset.
Especially with LeBron James and Tang Long in such explosive form!
And so it turned out. The Cavaliers secured the victory 103:81 without breaking a sweat.
Tang Long, playing only three quarters, recorded 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
He continued his streak of exceptionally large double-double performances!
LeBron James also sat out the fourth quarter, finishing with 33 points and 10 rebounds.
The "LeBron-Tang" duo combined for 62 points!
After defeating the Bulls and achieving their eighth consecutive win, all media attention shifted to the Cavaliers' next opponent.
The Denver Nuggets!
Fans had placed high expectations on the Nuggets since Allen Iverson's transfer to Denver!
Hailed as the NBA's greatest small player, he single-handedly challenged the dominant OK combination in the 2000-01 playoffs!
Arrogant and unwilling to yield, Iverson was synonymous with defiance!
Although Iverson had passed his prime by the time he joined the Nuggets, he still possessed terrifying skill.
Last season, he averaged 25 points and 7.2 assists, typical point-forward stats!
He formed a golden backcourt duo with Carmelo Anthony!
Last season, the two combined for an average of fifty-five points per game.
Such a backcourt pairing would produce top-tier numbers on any team.
In addition, power forward Kenyon Martin was known for his explosive athleticism.
He could be considered a weaker version of Dwight Howard, possessing immense strength but a crude playing style.
Compared to Tang Long, he was hardly worth mentioning. However, Kenyon Martin played power forward and would match up against Drew Gooden.
It was uncertain if Drew Gooden could withstand him.
Even with his rough technique, Kenyon Martin's physical strength would be a handful for Drew Gooden.
The Nuggets also boasted the notoriously streaky J.R. Smith.
He would later become LeBron James's loyal bodyguard, winning a championship alongside him!
Currently, J.R. had not yet reached his full potential and was coming off the bench as a sixth man.
However, his skill was not to be underestimated.
The Nuggets' perimeter game was arguably top-tier in the league, the opposite of the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers excelled with their centers and small forwards; the LeBron-Tang combination made their frontcourt and interior play impenetrable.
Larry Hughes and Aleksandar Pavlović, however, were somewhat lacking.
They possessed the caliber of starters for a weak team or rotation players for a strong one.
Because of this, the upcoming game promised to be exciting.
The media dubbed it a battle between the perimeter and the interior.
[Cavaliers Face the Golden Duo! Tang Long is in Trouble!]
[Top Backcourt Pairing! The Golden Duo vs. the LeBron-Tang Combination!]
[Who Can Stop the Cavaliers' Streak? The Denver Nuggets Have the Answer!]
[Will the Answer Tell Tang Long That Interior Grinding Is Useless!]
Many media outlets made predictions, with roughly half believing the Cavaliers would extend their streak and the other half expecting the Nuggets to halt it.
"Winning streaks are very difficult to achieve. Setting aside the Nuggets' strength, a team cannot win forever. They will get tired, their form will fluctuate, and they will lose games."
"Moreover, the Nuggets' strength should not be underestimated!"
"I disagree with your point of view. The Cavaliers are playing with great momentum. Their leaders, LeBron and Tang Long, are determined to win this game. I believe almost no team can defeat this current Cavaliers squad!"
"..."
The media debated endlessly, neither side convincing the other, but this only fueled more interest.
Many fans from other teams paid attention to this matchup.
Numerous famous players also joined the discussion.
Foremost among them was the basketball god, Michael Jordan.
"Although Tang defeated my old team in the last game, I have high regard for his abilities. This league is still dominated by the interior play, and a good big man can determine the outcome of a game!"
However, Jordan's arch-rival, Isiah Thomas, quickly stepped in to refute.
"Some people have forgotten their playing days. Have there not been many teams that won championships with a perimeter player as the core? Why do you assume a good big man can dictate the flow of the game? I say a good perimeter player can dominate the opponent, especially a player like AI!"
The "Smiling Assassin" and the "Basketball God" had always been at odds, and their bickering continued even after retirement.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich also weighed in on the matter.
"The Cavaliers have been on a tremendous roll recently, and we will face them soon. I've also watched China Tang's recent games; his performance has indeed been outstanding. If Admiral Robinson were still here, he might have been able to stop him!"
Without directly stating his opinion, his words carried his sentiment.
Both the Basketball God and the legendary coach Popovich favored Tang Long!
External discussions had little impact on the players, who remained focused on their training.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was game day.
Cleveland, Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavaliers hosted the Nuggets.
The arena was packed, a sea of deep crimson.
The Nuggets wore their white and gold jerseys, while the Cavaliers sported their home crimson.
Both teams' players were ready in their locker rooms and headed for the player's tunnel.
Reporters swarmed them, surrounding the Nuggets' players.
"Allen! China Tang has been getting a lot of attention recently. What do you think of this player?"
Iverson smiled, not sparing his praise: "He's a very good interior player. I feel he's a bit like Shaq. I'm looking forward to our matchup!"
This was clearly not the answer the reporters were looking for; they wanted to stir up controversy.
"Many media outlets believe you can stop the Cavaliers' winning streak. What are your thoughts?"
Iverson chuckled: "You must be interviewing me for the first time. I give the same answer to every reporter who asks me this question. I will absolutely do my best to fight for a victory. China Tang is a very talented player, but I will show him what the NBA is all about!"