Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Perfect Dunk
Wade Dong swiftly grabbed the ball that Green had stolen.
He didn't forget to praise Green, "Well done!"
This kind of stubborn player needed to be educated this way. First, you give them a beating, then you give them a sweet treat, and they will follow you more loyally.
Sure enough, Green, still a rookie, felt a bit proud after hearing Wade Dong's praise.
Meanwhile, Wade Dong, after securing the ball, quickly launched a fast break. When he reached the basket, he glanced back at James, who was chasing him.
"Slam!"
Then, Wade Dong leaped up and forcefully dunked the ball into the basket.
The Suns were always known for their offensive prowess, and their run-and-gun tactics were still in use this season.
However, at this moment, the Suns' lineup on the court—Wade Dong, Tucker, Green, Gortat... these four players seemed to form a defensive wall.
With Wade Dong's superb scoring ability, the score was gradually closing in.
"This lineup..."
Coach Gentry watched the game from the sidelines.
This was the first time that Wade Dong, Tucker, Green, Gortat, and Nash were all on the court together. Coach Gentry suddenly realized that this lineup could be used as a regular rotation.
Offense and defense balanced, this lineup was perfect for turning the tide when the team was behind.
The first half ended.
57:62!!!
The Suns were only down by five points.
Wade Dong, after entering the game, led the team to close the gap from 15 points to 5 points.
...
In the Suns' locker room.
Wade Dong finally smiled at Green, "Keep up this momentum, and you can make a name for yourself in the league."
"And you too."
After praising Green, Wade Dong turned to Middleton, "You also need to show us your progress."
For rookies like Green and Middleton, being able to play significant minutes at the start of the season showed that the team valued them. They also knew that sometimes who played and who didn't depended on what Wade Dong said, even more than Coach Gentry.
So, when Wade Dong scolded them, it was for their own good.
Just as Coach Gentry said, those who don't care about you won't bother to scold you.
However, in the Suns, from the preseason to now, the one who got scolded the most was not Green, but Bynum, because Wade Dong didn't like his childish behavior.
"Let's all work hard in the second half and take down the Heat in one go."
...
The second half began.
The Suns brought back their starting lineup: Nash, Wade Dong, Dudley, Gortat, and Bynum.
First, Bynum and Nash executed a pick-and-roll, with Bynum catching Nash's pass at the three-point line and hitting a three-pointer.
Then, the Heat missed a shot, and Wade Dong grabbed the rebound and immediately hit a chase-down three-pointer.
63:62!!!
In less than a minute into the third quarter, the Suns had taken the lead.
"Defend! Defend! Defend!"
The atmosphere in the US Airways Center was electrifying. After being suppressed by the Heat in the first half, the Suns finally turned the tide at the start of the third quarter.
Next, Wade blocked Wade's layup, the ball spun around the rim and came out, and Gortat grabbed the rebound and passed it to Nash.
It had to be said that Wade Dong's scolding had a significant effect on the team's defensive attitude.
If it weren't for Coach Gentry's motivational talks, Wade Dong wouldn't have scolded his teammates. When the teammates were angry but didn't dare to speak up, the team's morale would be low. But after drinking Coach Gentry's motivational "chicken soup," the teammates who were scolded by Wade Dong felt that it was the team leader's way of pushing them, and they played even harder.
Bynum and Nash executed another pick-and-roll, scoring from mid-range.
Then, after a defensive stop, Wade Dong hit another three-pointer!
11:0!!!
At the start of the third quarter, the Suns went on an 11:0 run against the Heat!
Coach Spoelstra quickly called a timeout to adjust the strategy.
...
"Wade Dong's three-point killing power is too strong. When he gets the ball, surround him and don't let him shoot threes. Even if he drives to the basket, don't let him shoot threes."
"Defend quickly!"
"I can't believe it, even Bynum is shooting threes from the three-point line!"
Coach Spoelstra shouted, laying out his strategy on the whiteboard!
Throughout NBA history, there have been many famous three-point shooters, like Bird, Miller, and now Allen on the Heat. But before Wade Dong, three-pointers were just one of the scoring methods. No one expected that in Wade Dong's hands, three-pointers would become as deadly as nuclear weapons.
...
After the timeout!
The Heat strengthened their defense against Wade Dong, not allowing him to easily catch the ball beyond the three-point line.
This change in defense strategy was most evident in the fact that Wade Dong's shots were now worth two points instead of three.
After James hit two three-pointers, the Heat closed the gap.
The score remained close throughout the third quarter and into the fourth quarter. When Wade Dong was resting, the two teams were still neck and neck.
With 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
97:95!!!
The Suns led the Heat by just two points.
Wade Dong replaced McGrady, and Nash replaced Dragic. The current Suns lineup was: Wade Dong, Nash, Tucker, Gortat, and Bynum.
James and Wade were also back on the court.
James started to defend Wade Dong one-on-one, putting considerable pressure on him.
In the Olympic final, Coach Gentry had James and Kobe double-team Wade Dong because, besides Wade Dong, China didn't have any other players who could score.
As for Wade Dong's explosive fourth quarter, that was due to the "Lucky Potion."
Of course, no one knew about the "Lucky Potion." After the game, the US men's basketball team discussed that match, and Kobe once said that the terrifying fourth quarter was like God wearing the number 7 jersey.
This kind of performance had a lot of luck involved, and Wade Dong couldn't always perform at that level.
This statement was true. Wade Dong was unlikely to encounter such intense defense again, and consuming hundreds of talent points in one game was too costly.
At this moment, Nash passed the ball from the three-point line to Gortat in the paint.
Wade Dong immediately cut in!
James stuck tightly to Wade Dong on defense, not relaxing even when Wade Dong was off the ball.
Gortat received the pass from Nash and faked out Bosh with a dream shake, but just as he was about to put the ball in the basket, Wade came to help on defense.
And Wade Dong had just crossed the free-throw line.
Gortat didn't have the courage to go one-on-one against Wade, and with the shot clock winding down, he quickly passed the ball to Wade Dong.
Then, the fans witnessed an unforgettable moment!
Wade Dong took one step from the free-throw line, received the ball from Gortat, and leaped into the air. James and Wade both jumped up to block him!
But Wade Dong had no space to shoot.
The fans saw Wade Dong glide through the air for three or four meters, switching the ball from his right hand to his left to avoid Wade's block, and then dunked the ball into the basket.
"Wow!!!"
The US Airways Center erupted at that moment!
All the fans stood up from their seats. This dunk was extremely difficult, requiring perfect timing, explosive power, and strength.
Without exaggeration!
Even in a dunk contest, this dunk would score a perfect 10.
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