Chapter 18: Team Trust and Strategy
At this point, the University of Oklahoma decided to double-team Lian Dao once again. This time, Willie Warren and Tony Crocker were tasked with this defensive assignment. Warren, known for his agility, focused on disrupting Lian Dao's three-point shooting while also cutting off passing lanes.
However, Lian Dao, undeterred by the tight defense, dribbled aggressively. As Warren closed in, Lian Dao executed a slick behind-the-back dribble that bounced the ball through Warren's legs, landing perfectly into DeRozan's waiting hands in the corner. Without hesitation, DeRozan sunk a quick shot.
On the defensive end, Wilkinson's foul trouble forced him to play conservatively under the basket, allowing Gibson to step up defensively. When Blake Griffin passed to Taylor Griffin, Lian Dao moved swiftly to help defend. Taylor then passed to Tony Crocker, who nailed a three-pointer from the outside.
Wilkinson's mounting fouls disrupted USC's interior defense. When Wilkinson fouled Blake Griffin on a low-post turnaround, Blake capitalized by making both free throws.
Seeing Wilkinson pick up his fourth foul, Tim reacted by restraining any timeout and keeping Wilkinson on the court, gesturing to Lian Dao with a pointed finger.
Understanding the signal, Lian Dao signaled his teammates for the next play. Daniel Hackett assumed control of the ball handling, while Lian Dao and DeRozan maneuvered off the ball. The play relied on Gibson and Wilkinson executing a pick-and-roll.
Executing flawlessly, Lian Dao used his teammates' screens to create space near the 45-degree mark beyond the three-point line. Daniel delivered the ball precisely.
On the other end, Oklahoma's Willie Warren ran to the three-point line.
Undeterred, Lian Dao swiftly passed the ball to DeRozan, who cut to the baseline and dunked fiercely.
Simultaneously, USC tightened their defense on the perimeter, preventing Oklahoma from exploiting fast break opportunities. With a combination of fluid offense and stout defense, USC surged before halftime, outscoring Oklahoma 26-15 in a decisive run.
The halftime score stood at 49-32 in favor of USC, establishing a commanding 17-point lead.
In the first half, Lian Dao put up an impressive stat line with 17 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 turnover, making him the highest scorer of the half. Blake Griffin also had a strong performance with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist. DeRozan, after finding his rhythm, added 9 points and 2 rebounds, while Captain Gibson contributed 6 points and 5 rebounds.
As Lian Dao left the court, he felt a cramp in his legs, a clear sign of physical exhaustion. Panting heavily, he quickly sat on the bench and began pressing acupuncture points on his legs to relieve the fatigue. This was his first time playing an entire first half, a considerable challenge given his physical fitness rating of only 64.
For the second half, Lian Dao and Wilkinson started on the bench, while DeRozan took the court. The University of Oklahoma, aware of Lian Dao's fatigue, kept their starters on the floor. Coach Jeff Capel aimed to capitalize on Lian Dao's absence and close the scoring gap.
His strategy proved effective. Without Lian Dao, USC's perimeter defense weakened, and their offensive organization became chaotic. Oklahoma took advantage, hitting three-pointers consistently. Even with the NCAA's 35-second shot clock, a 17-point lead can quickly diminish in the face of accurate three-point shooting.
Tim, USC's coach, faced a significant dilemma. While strengthening defense against three-pointers could help, the bigger issue was USC's crumbling interior defense. Leonard Washington, stepping in for Wilkinson, struggled against Blake Griffin. At 2.05 meters, Washington couldn't contain Griffin, who dominated the paint and repeatedly converted 2+1 opportunities.
Tim's frustration grew as Washington failed to foul effectively, allowing Griffin to score and draw the foul. In just over four minutes, Oklahoma outscored USC 17-7, narrowing the gap to a mere 7 points with a total score of 49-56.
Finally, when the ball was dead, Tim replaced Leonard Washington with Wilkinson. Despite Wilkinson's four fouls, there was no choice—USC had no other available center.
Watching his teammates struggle as Oklahoma closed the gap, Lian Dao grew increasingly anxious. This game had been hard-fought, and he didn't want to surrender the victory. He approached Tim with determination.
"Coach, I've rested. Let me play," Lian Dao urged.
Tim shook his head, eyeing Lian Dao's still-fatigued legs. "Coach, I can do it. My leg is fine. We can definitely overturn this wrecked ship," Lian Dao pleaded, growing desperate.
"Sickle, you need to trust your teammates. You're a team. Besides, this is just a preseason game; it doesn't have a significant impact on the entire season," Tim said, noting the fatigue evident in Oklahoma's players as well. Lian Dao's persistence, however, was making him a bit irritable.
Tim admired Lian Dao's fierce competitive spirit. This kind of passion often drove players to greatness. However, Tim also understood the bigger picture. A preseason game couldn't outweigh the importance of his players' health, a principle he held firmly.
"Sickle, your stamina hasn't recovered enough for you to play. If you go out now, you risk getting injured. Compared to your health, this game doesn't mean much at all," Tim explained.
Lian Dao, touched by Tim's concern, sat back on the bench without further protest. He watched the game intently, analyzing every offensive and defensive move. Outwardly calm, he felt a warm sense of gratitude inside.
Tim wasn't Lian Dao's first basketball coach. During four years of high school, he had joined two different teams. The first coach had indefinitely benched him out of distrust. The second gave him a chance only because the team was desperate for players in his senior year. Tim was the third head coach Lian Dao had encountered since coming to the United States, and the only one who truly believed in him. Tim never sidelined him due to his race and prioritized his players' health above all else.
This compassion deeply moved Lian Dao, who had grown accustomed to skepticism and ridicule.
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