"Fight back!"
Tang Long blocked Wade's dunk and successfully regained possession.
He passed the ball to point guard Larry Hughes, who advanced the ball quickly and, in coordination with James, easily scored.
An alley-oop dunk, James's specialty.
Back and forth, the Cavaliers led the Heat 4-0.
"Damn it, how could this happen? Why is this the result? What's going on with our Dwyane?"
The Miami fans were unwilling to accept it. Wade being blocked wasn't just a matter of pride, but also of team momentum.
"Tang... you little guy, I admit I underestimated you. Your defense is very good. You're the first big man to block me at the start of the game!"
Wade stood up and mumbled to Tang Long.
"It's okay, Dwyane. You'll get used to it."
Tang Long's expression was calm, his tone indifferent, and his words almost made Wade furious.
What did he mean by "you'll get used to it"?
Could it be interpreted as, you're planning to block me often?
"Damn you!!"
Wade was speechless. He found this tall guy very much a bully.
Offense to defense transition, it was the Heat's possession again.
This time they scored, Jason Williams got a mid-range jump shot opportunity and decisively hit it.
Then, the Cavaliers went for a low-post offense.
After Tang Long positioned himself, he called for the ball from his teammates.
Larry Hughes passed the ball to Tang Long. He was matched up against Joel Anthony in the post, and Tang Long played him like it was a game.
He initiated his post-up game, rhythmically pushed Joel Anthony away, and then turned for a hook shot, the entire move fluid and seamless.
This offensive move, keen fans would notice, is frequently used by Yao Ming.
At this moment, Tang Long unleashed Yao Ming's signature move.
"Oh my god! Am I seeing this right? That China Tang just used an offensive move exactly like Yao's!"
On the commentary booth, the commentator on the left was utterly astonished.
This Chinese kid is impressive, imitating Yao right from the start, and his hook shot is quite accurate.
Joel Anthony could only watch. Tang Long's height and reach were something he simply couldn't defend.
"This kid definitely has something. His soft offense is good, but against the Wizards last game, he seemed to rely more on hard offense!"
"Tonight, playing against us, he's switched to soft offense. This guy, I have to say, is a basketball genius!"
Wade watched from the sidelines, marveling at Tang Long's offensive versatility.
"Tang, that turnaround hook shot, you learned it from Yao, didn't you?"
During the transition back on defense, Joel Anthony's voice reached his ears.
Tang Long looked at him and said, "Joel, you can think of it that way."
"You damn guy, why aren't you daring to dunk on me? You know I'm not Haywood. If you dare to dunk directly on me, I'll make you regret it!"
Joel Anthony started trash-talking Tang Long.
In the NBA, trash talk is a cultural symbol.
It doesn't represent profanity; trash talk is simply a means to win.
Almost all veteran stars engage in trash talk.
Tang Long couldn't help but chuckle at this: "Joel, I'm giving you face. Why don't you appreciate it?"
"Oh really, Tang? You're giving me face?"
"Of course!"
"Come on, you're just a rookie in the league, you've only had one great game!"
Joel Anthony's words had a hidden meaning, as if to say: Kid, you've only had one brilliant performance, not worth bragging about.
Tang Long smiled faintly: "Since you want me to dunk on you, then I'll satisfy you next possession!"
He had never encountered such a request before!
Tang Long was going to satisfy Joel Anthony by dunking on him the next time the Cavaliers had possession.
"Hey! Tang, what did Joel say to you?"
James walked over, looking at Tang Long.
"He said that facing him is different from facing Haywood, and if I dare to dunk in the paint, he'll make me regret it."
James chuckled, "Arrogant guy. His defense is mediocre. I'll drive and kick to you later, and you can teach this arrogant guy a lesson for us."
"LeBron, you don't need to remind me. I'll make him look bad."
Having fused with Atsushi Murasakibara, and with the "Hammer of Destruction" skill still available in his skill slot!
Dunking on a third-rate player like Joel Anthony in the post would be incredibly easy.
As the Heat scored, it was the Cavaliers' turn to offense.
Larry Hughes brought the ball to the top of the arc and passed it to James. James drove and kicked, not forcing a shot himself, and passed the ball to Tang Long.
After all, James was very emotionally intelligent and knew how to create better chemistry with his teammates.
Tang Long, receiving the ball, signaled for James to clear space. He was going to teach Joel Anthony a lesson in the post.
"The request you just made is rare. You want me to dunk on you, so I have to oblige!"
With his teammates clearing the space, Tang Long gave Joel Anthony a powerful push, almost sending him flying.
Having fused with Atsushi Murasakibara, his power and weight were immense. Joel Anthony was simply no match for Tang Long.
Originally, Tang Long wanted to try out Murasakibara's "Hammer of Destruction" skill, but upon seeing how frail Joel Anthony was, he decided against it.
Forget it, I'll spare him for now!
He turned and powerfully slammed the ball through the hoop, scoring steadily!
"Joel, guarding me is easy!"
After a powerful dunk, Tang Long playfully wagged his little finger at Joel Anthony.
The message was clear: you can't defend me.
However, the referee had sharp eyes and immediately called a technical foul on Tang Long.
Only one player in the league was allowed to wag his little finger at an opponent on the court without penalty, and that was Dikembe Mutombo from Africa.
When the "African Mountain" wagged his little finger, the league didn't penalize him, considering it a friendly greeting from the African people.
But when players from other countries and regions wagged their little fingers, it was considered an insult.
So, when the referee saw Tang Long wagging his little finger, he immediately called him for a technical foul.
"Hahaha... China Tang got a lesson from the referee. He actually wagged his little finger at Joel at the American Airlines Arena. Was he insulting Joel?"
The on-site commentator grinned.
Tang Long was speechless. He considered arguing with the referee but decided against it.
The more he argued with the referee, the less clear it would become, and he might even be targeted by the referee.
"Damn you, Tang, I remember you!"
Joel Anthony was almost driven mad. He was dominated in the post by Tang Long, and then Tang Long wagged his little finger at him?
Unbearable!
After switching sides, Joel Anthony got angry. Receiving a pass from Jason Williams, he also tried to force his way through Tang Long in the paint.
However, his crude post-up technique posed no threat to Tang Long.
"My dear Joel, low-post offense isn't like that. Your rhythm is off. Do you want me to teach you how to score?"
"Smack!"
While taunting Joel, Tang Long reached in with one hand and stole the ball directly from him.
His post-up game was so rough that he would easily get stripped after receiving the ball, as he was lost in thought on the court.
Tang Long's long arms reached around Joel Anthony's lower back and snatched the basketball away!
...