Chapter 80: Closing the Gap
In the first 5 minutes, Lian Dao took the ball outside, immediately challenged by Danny Green who stuck close. Undeterred, Lian Dao used a quick change of direction to burst through North Carolina's defense.
He accelerated, passed, received the ball back, and soared up for a powerful dunk! Even with Tyler Hansbrough and Vucevic in the paint, Lian Dao's speed caught them off guard.
Hansbrough, standing at 206cm, couldn't believe Lian Dao's audacity to attack inside. He could only stretch his arm out in a desperate attempt to stop him.
But Lian Dao, known for dunking over taller opponents like 221cm Thabeet, slammed the ball home with one hand, shaking the entire basket!
USC fans erupted, waving flags and chanting "The Tyrant Comes!"
After his dunk, Lian Dao thumped his chest and pointed to the roaring crowd, showing a rare moment of swagger and determination.
"Although I missed Sickle's dunk over Thabeet live, this shows he can match NBA centers in strength," commented Barkley.
Kenny Smith agreed, noting Lian Dao's improved dribbling and smoother, more efficient breakthroughs. "His agility has definitely improved," he observed.
Meanwhile, CCTV commentator Zhang Lili marveled at Lian Dao's physical prowess, especially his large hands almost engulfing the basketball. "With more support, Lian Dao could lead his teammates at critical moments," Zhang remarked.
After 10 minutes, the score was tight at 22:21. Southern California relied heavily on Lian Dao's surprise scoring bursts to maintain their edge, but struggled to find a consistent secondary scoring option after his missed shot.
After the game began, USC heavily relied on Lian Dao to drive their offense, while North Carolina leaned on Tyler Hansbrough to keep the score close.
Hansbrough displayed his versatility in NCAA play, showcasing a wide array of offensive skills including mid-range jumpers, hooks, rebounds, and even occasional three-pointers. His agility posed a challenge for Vucevic, who struggled to match Hansbrough's flexibility despite being larger.
Observing Hansbrough's effectiveness, Tim called a timeout to adjust USC's lineup. He substituted Vucevic with Dwight at the third position, shifting Lian Dao to the fifth.
Lian Dao's move to the fifth position notably weakened USC's perimeter defense. However, at this point, their main focus was on containing Taylor Hansbrough.
Danny Green adjusted his approach after Lian Dao missed two consecutive three-point attempts. Recognizing Lian Dao's threat, Green focused on defending against his drives rather than his shooting.
Coach Roy Williams trusted Green's ability and assigned him to guard Lian Dao solo.
Lian Dao adapted by initiating more pick-and-roll plays with Gibson, taking shots whenever he found openings or when North Carolina adjusted their defense. Despite Green's efforts to disrupt Lian Dao's shots, he couldn't reach Lian Dao's shooting range due to his height disadvantage.
North Carolina remained defensively passive, struggling to contain Lian Dao's unpredictable three-point shots.
Green, drawing from Battier's tactics against Kobe Bryant, employed a sight-impairing defense tactic on Lian Dao. Surprised by this approach, Lian Dao missed a three-pointer for the first time.
Lian Dao quickly adjusted by pre-aiming his shots, relying on muscle memory and shooting instincts.
Eventually, Lian Dao successfully countered Green's tactic and regained his shooting rhythm.
The University of North Carolina started to struggle as Lian Dao intensified his defense, neutralizing Hansbrough's effectiveness. Hansbrough's shorter wingspan compared to Lian Dao's contributed to him missing two shots under Lian Dao's pressure. His shooting stability faltered against Lian Dao's oppressive defense.
This scenario highlights why Hansbrough's NBA prospects were uncertain. In the NBA, such high-intensity defensive matchups are common. Without consistent scoring ability under such pressure, players often struggle to maintain their place in the league.
Hansbrough's NCAA record of being selected to the All-American and All-Division teams for four consecutive years was remarkable. Despite this, NBA success typically requires exceptional physical attributes, elite shooting skills, or technical prowess.
Southern California capitalized on this period, extending their lead.
The score stood at 35:27, an 8-point difference that signaled a precarious situation for North Carolina.
With this pressing situation, Roy Williams, unable to tolerate the growing deficit, called a timeout to regroup and adjust his team's tactics.
"Next, the University of North Carolina will definitely strengthen their perimeter attack. Dwight, Daniel, DeMar, be vigilant against their outside shots. Let's go! Leave no regrets from this game!"
Tim emphasized their upcoming defensive strategy, then prepared a comforting bowl of steaming chicken soup. It was meant to boost the team's morale, especially for those feeling the pressure.
After the timeout, the University of North Carolina indeed intensified their offensive efforts from the three-point line. Ty Lawson capitalized with a three-pointer off a teammate's screen, followed by Wayne Ellington sinking another.
In a swift turn, the 8-point gap narrowed to just two points.
At this critical juncture, USC felt a bit unsettled, a consequence of their relative lack of experience in high-stakes games, where psychological pressure tends to mount as the game progresses.
"Don't panic! Give me the ball!" Lian Dao urgently signaled to Daniel from beyond the three-point line.
Realizing Daniel's intention to pass, Danny Green swiftly intercepted the ball before Lian Dao could receive it.
The ball quickly found its way to Ty Lawson, streaking down the court.
Lian Dao's face paled as he hurriedly surged to catch up with Lawson.
Despite his efforts, Lian Dao couldn't match Lawson's speed, watching helplessly as Lawson scored a layup.
35:35.
The University of North Carolina had tied the score.
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