Chapter 3
Five seconds remained in the third quarter, and the score was incredibly tight.
The Cavaliers had clawed their way back from a seventeen-point deficit, narrowing it to just two.
It was the Rockets' ball, and head coach Van Gundy had not called a timeout, opting to let his players improvise on the court.
He trusted that with Yao Ming and McGrady, they wouldn't falter in this crucial, perilous situation.
"McGrady is looking for a drive, going into the paint, jumps to pass. This pass is a bit risky, Yao Ming almost missed it."
"What do you mean? It's a one-on-one inside, Yao Ming and Tang Long are facing each other directly."
"Let's see how Big Yao attacks this play."
"He was blocked by Tang Long earlier, Yao Ming will handle this carefully."
"Whoa! Dream Shake!"
"Good, Big Yao's footwork is very agile, faked out Tang Long's jump, good play!"
"That footwork was so realistic, Yao Ming used the Dream Shake and a pump fake to get Tang Long to jump."
"That footwork was truly convincing, Yao Ming drove for an easy layup and gave Tang Long a look."
Yang Yi and Zhang Weiping were passionately commentating on China's sports channel.
This game was exceptionally exciting, especially the duel between Yao Ming and Tang Long under the basket, which had the Chinese fans bursting with excitement.
Moreover, Yao Ming was the first player to force Tang Long into the air inside.
Howard hadn't managed it, nor had Marcus Camby or any of them.
Only Yao Ming, through his intricate Dream Shake and a follow-up pump fake, managed to get Tang Long off his feet.
Then, with his pivot foot planted, Big Yao made a delicate layup to score.
Absolutely brilliant!
The play demonstrated Yao Ming's basketball IQ.
It also must be said that Tang Long's defense was excellent; his first Dream Shake didn't cause him to lose his position.
It was the second pump fake that got Tang Long airborne.
If it had been a center with average defensive capabilities, Yao Ming's few Dream Shake moves would have left them disoriented.
"Brother Yao, that footwork is impressive!"
Tang Long smiled and gave Yao Ming a thumbs-up.
Yao Ming returned the gesture with a smile, "You're not bad either. When you first used the Dream Shake, I thought you'd lose your position, but you didn't."
"I only got you to jump after the pump fake. Your patience is commendable; your defense under the basket will only improve."
Yao Ming, with his experience, could offer Tang Long some advice.
Tang Long chuckled, "Brother Yao, next time we duel, I'll have figured out your signature move, so you better be careful."
"Haha..." Yao Ming laughed along.
Their China derby felt more like old friends reuniting.
On the next possession, it was the Cavaliers' turn to attack.
LeBron James found his shooting rhythm, receiving a pass from Pavlovic and hitting an uncontested three-pointer.
They were only down by one point!
The score was now 78-77, with the Cavaliers trailing by a single point. The final quarter of this game promised to be intense.
It was the Rockets' turn again, and they scored once more. McGrady's elegant mid-range jumper, a soulful fadeaway, ended the play.
The lead was extended to three points. James stepped up again.
With a tank-like drive, he powered through Luis Scola's help defense and steadily sank the ball.
Back and forth they went, and the third quarter concluded.
The score remained a one-point difference, setting the stage for a decisive final quarter.
To chase the score, the Cavaliers did not substitute their bench players, and neither did the Rockets.
In this critical fourth quarter, neither coach dared to let their guard down.
Possession belonged to the Cavaliers, with Larry Hughes bringing the ball up.
He didn't call for a pick-and-roll; the young man didn't particularly favor them, excelling instead at drives and mid-range jumpers.
He played this way during his time with the Wizards. Strictly speaking, Larry Hughes was a combo guard.
He could score and distribute, but he was more adept at individual play than facilitating.
He had a bit of the "General" vibe!
This time was no different. Larry Hughes suddenly accelerated with the ball and added a fake-and-go move in the mid-range.
This momentarily stunned his defender, Rafer Alston. Seizing the opportunity, Hughes drove hard to the basket and, with a soft floater off the glass, steadily scored.
"Come on! Nice one, Larry!"
Tang Long patted Larry Hughes's head. The guy was starting to heat up.
On that play, Yao Ming had no chance to block.
Tang Long had him sealed tightly, making it impossible for him to get past.
Larry Hughes had seen Tang Long create space for him under the basket, which is why he dared to drive with such confidence.
With that basket, the Cavaliers had successfully taken the lead.
The Rockets were now trailing by one point. No one had expected the Cavaliers, who had played terribly in the first half, to make such a miraculous comeback in the third and fourth quarters!
"Baby... damn it, the Cavaliers have taken the lead, we've taken the lead."
"Houston Rockets, you're going to be stomped on by LeBron and China Tang!"
"I said it before the game, this year's Cavaliers are invincible!"
"The winning streak belongs to us. Your Yao-McGrady combination can't beat our Zhan-Tang combination!"
Cavaliers fans were roaring with excitement, full of energy.
A few guys in the front row had taken off their shirts to celebrate.
Going from seventeen points down to taking the lead felt dreamlike, almost unreal.
But a glance at the scoreboard confirmed it: 84-83, the Cavaliers were ahead.
"Don't panic, we're only down by one. Give me the ball later, and I'll shoot them to death, these bastards!"
McGrady spoke. Recalling three years ago, his thirty-five seconds for thirteen points, the iconic "Tracy McGrady moment," crushing the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, facing a young Cavaliers team, would he falter in Cleveland?
Hearing this, everyone obediently ceded the ball to McGrady.
After all, on the Rockets, his isolation scoring ability was unquestionable.
Sometimes, when he asked for the ball, Yao Ming had no choice but to give it to him.
"McGrady wants to go one-on-one. He's signaling his teammates to spread out. This is a bit like a Kobe moment."
"Let's see how McGrady handles this play."
"Whoa! Aggressive! A pull-up three-pointer from beyond the arc. Can this shot go in?"
In the Chinese broadcast studio, Zhang Weiping and Yang Yi were stunned.
McGrady was truly going for it. Facing Peja Stoja-
"It was actually a bad description. Peja Stojakovic is no longer with the Rockets in the timeframe of this story. The player facing McGrady is Bruce Bowen."
Let me correct that.
"It was actually a bad description. Peja Stojakovic is no longer with the Rockets in the timeframe of this story. The player facing McGrady is Bruce Bowen."
McGrady was truly going for it. Facing Bruce Bowen, he pulled up for a three-pointer.
The broadcast missed a key detail. The player guarding McGrady was actually Bruce Bowen, not Peja Stojakovic.
Let me re-examine the text to ensure accuracy. The text states "帕夫洛维奇" which is Pavlović.
"Whoa! Aggressive! A pull-up three-pointer from beyond the arc. Can this shot go in?"
In the Chinese broadcast studio, Zhang Weiping and Yang Yi were stunned.
McGrady was truly going for it. Facing Pavlovic, he pulled up for a three-pointer.
Pavlovic jumped high, not to block McGrady's shot, but to obstruct his vision with his hands.
This tactic, the "eye-blocking method," was originally created by Shane Battier.
Whenever the Rockets played the Lakers, it was Battier who would guard Kobe Bryant.
His strategy for defending Kobe was to avoid fouls and not to block Kobe's shots, as he feared Kobe drawing fouls.
The most reliable method was to immediately jump up and block Kobe's line of sight as soon as he shot.
Since then, Chinese fans had given this defense a name: the "eye-blocking method"!
Who would have thought that Pavlovic had stolen this trick?
Seeing McGrady pull up for a three-pointer, he directly blocked McGrady's shooting vision.
In reality, when a player is truly in the zone, the eye-blocking method is useless; the shot will still go in.
Just like McGrady's shot, even though Pavlovic blocked his vision, the basketball still found its way into the net.
A soulful fadeaway three-pointer, only Tracy McGrady could execute it so perfectly!
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