Chapter 70: Lian Dao vs. Thabeet
The lineups for both teams were as expected from their previous starting lineups. With just a few minutes left before the game started, UConn's Hall of Fame head coach, Jim Calhoun, observed the USC lineup with a smile. He noted that Lian Dao was playing as a small forward, which aligned with his strategy to focus on inside tactics.
Jim Calhoun's plan was simple: get the ball to Hasheem Thabeet as often as possible. He was confident that if USC switched to a 2-3 zone defense, his team could capitalize by feeding their talented outside shooters. UConn had a reputation for developing exceptional shooters, so he wasn't concerned about their ability to score from the perimeter.
After briefing his players, the game began.
"Beep!" The referee's whistle signaled the start of the game. Hasheem Thabeet, using his height advantage, tipped the ball back to his half of the court, one of the few times Nikola Vučević failed to secure the tip-off.
Lian Dao quickly moved into the restricted area. Thabeet, seeing Lian Dao inside, was initially surprised but quickly dismissed him. Upon closer proximity, Thabeet noticed that although Lian Dao was shorter, he was far more muscular than he appeared on video.
There were differing opinions about Thabeet's potential in the NBA. Some believed that the Memphis Grizzlies' crowded frontcourt stunted his development, while others thought he simply wasn't suited for the NBA, labeling him a draft bust.
This matchup was also a first for Lian Dao against Thabeet, and he was eager to test the UConn center's strength. Lian Dao initially exerted sixty percent of his strength, engaging in an off-ball tussle. Although he didn't immediately push Thabeet back, the effort caused Thabeet to struggle slightly.
Sensing an opportunity, Lian Dao increased his strength by another twenty percent. This additional pressure caused Thabeet's footing to falter. Realizing Thabeet's limits, Lian Dao employed his full strength to push Thabeet out of the paint.
Given the height difference, if both players were in the paint simultaneously, Lian Dao would be at a significant disadvantage in terms of blocking and defending. Allowing Thabeet to receive the ball inside would spell defensive trouble. By pushing Thabeet out of the paint, Lian Dao could effectively neutralize the UConn center's advantage and open up more defensive opportunities.
This strategy mirrored Chuck Hayes' defense against Amar'e Stoudemire, where strength and agility were key. With sufficient strength and a flexible defense, Lian Dao believed he could manage Thabeet's physical presence and mitigate his impact.
AJ Price noticed a problem as he found himself guarded by DeMar DeRozan. Facing DeMar, who was taller, stronger, and equally fast, Price struggled to find a good opportunity to attack. Consequently, he passed the ball to Hasheem Thabeet, who was leaning against Lian Dao.
Upon receiving the ball, Thabeet attempted to turn and attack the basket but quickly realized that Lian Dao had completely blocked his turning route. Forced to change his approach, Thabeet tried to play with his back to the basket. However, he found that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't overpower Lian Dao.
Thabeet also noticed that Lian Dao matched his every move, denying him any opportunity to get inside. With no clear path to attack, Thabeet decided to pass the ball back outside to reset the play. Unfortunately, his passing skills were lacking and AJ Price, shadowed closely by DeMar, was unable to get free for a pass.
During Thabeet's moment of hesitation, Lian Dao seized the opportunity and quickly snatched the ball from him, pulling Thabeet down in the process.
"Oh, at this time, Hashim looks like a child being robbed, completely powerless to fight back," exclaimed Jeff Van Gundy, impressed by Lian Dao's quick steal.
After the steal, Lian Dao immediately passed the ball to DeMar, who was sprinting down the court alongside Gibson. Since Gibson was guarding the opponent's small forward on the perimeter, he was also well-positioned for the fast break. The only UConn player able to return quickly was AJ Price.
As DeMar raced down the court neck and neck with Price, he executed a no-look pass back to Gibson, who received it and finished with a powerful dunk.
Jim Calhoun was shocked by USC's swift defensive counterattack. It wasn't just the play itself but Lian Dao's strength and ability to neutralize Thabeet inside that caught him off guard. Although he considered calling a timeout, Calhoun decided against it. The game had just started, and an early timeout could adversely affect his team's morale.
Calhoun hoped that Thabeet could adjust and break through Lian Dao's defense in the next attack. However, he soon realized he was overly optimistic. On the next possession, Thabeet tried to shake off Lian Dao and get into the paint to receive the ball, but no matter how he moved, Lian Dao stayed with him, preventing any chance of an easy entry pass.
Seeing that Hasheem Thabeet had no opportunity to score, AJ Price decided to take a shot from the outside despite DeMar DeRozan's close defense. Due to DeMar's interference, AJ had to release the ball at a high arc.
"Clang!"
As expected, the shot clanged off the rim.
Thabeet tried to turn around and grab the rebound, but he found himself unable to jump. Lian Dao's close proximity and physical entanglement kept Thabeet grounded. It was impossible for him to leap.
Nikola Vučević easily snatched the rebound over Jeff Adrien.
Although USC defended successfully for two consecutive possessions, a fast break wasn't feasible this time because Vučević was slower in transition. Lian Dao received the ball and reorganized the offense from the outside.
UConn didn't send Thabeet to defend Lian Dao, fearing it would leave their interior defense wide open. Instead, power forward Jeff Adrien and small forward Jerome Dyson were assigned to guard him, immediately double-teaming him as a mark of Jim Calhoun's respect for Lian Dao's abilities.
Calhoun wished someone could guard Lian Dao one-on-one, but the conditions didn't allow for it. Neither Adrien (201cm) nor Dyson (190cm) had the capability to defend Lian Dao alone. If either tried, Lian Dao would easily shoot over them from beyond the arc.
Facing the double-team, Lian Dao passed the ball to Gibson outside the three-point line. Thabeet scrambled to defend Gibson, but Gibson quickly passed to Vučević under the basket, who finished with an easy dunk.
4:0.
The early score was lopsided, unsettling Jim Calhoun. He needed an outside player who could score, so he called an immediate timeout.
This season, UConn's lineup resembled the Orlando Magic during Dwight Howard's tenure, relying heavily on their shooters. If USC could effectively limit Thabeet, they'd have half the game won. The other half depended on containing UConn's shooters. If UConn found their rhythm from the perimeter, USC's chances of winning would significantly diminish.
Jim Calhoun knew he had to adjust UConn's strategy to focus on their outside game to relieve the pressure inside.
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