Chapitre 153: Wang Chao vs. Kobe – A Jaw-Dropping Scoring Battle
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This year's All-Star Game was held in Houston, home of the Rockets. Although McGrady didn't receive as many votes as his teammate Yao Ming, his playing style was better suited to the All-Star Game. With graceful pull-up jumpers and fast, spectacular dunks, McGrady turned the Western Conference's All-Star game into his own showcase.
McGrady scored 36 points, hitting 15 of 26 shots, a notable performance in the All-Star Game over the past decade. Unfortunately, despite his stellar performance, McGrady didn't win the All-Star MVP trophy.
That honor went to LeBron James, who scored 29 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists. Kobe Bryant was not playing aggressively in the All-Star game, giving McGrady the chance to shine. Similarly, Wang Chao didn't push himself in the Eastern Conference game, allowing James to dominate possession.
While LeBron's performance was slightly less impressive than McGrady's in terms of stats, the Eastern Conference's victory gave him the edge for the MVP award. James' joy, however, was somewhat dampened.
This wasn't the first time one of the 2003 rookies had won the All-Star MVP trophy—Wang Chao had done it last year. James' MVP this time felt a little less valuable, as it came only after Wang Chao made it clear that he wasn't going to seriously compete for the title. With Wang's close relationships with Eastern Conference starters like Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, it would have been hard for James to take control of the game if Wang had wanted to.
But in the end, James won the All-Star MVP, an award that every NBA superstar craves as part of their legacy. Of course, the regular season MVP and Finals MVP are considered more prestigious, but for now, James isn't in contention for those.
Although James' individual stats are excellent—averaging over 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game—the Cavaliers' overall record is only mediocre. They trail behind Wang Chao's Bulls, sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a questionable chance of reaching 50 wins by season's end.
In contrast, Wang Chao has led the Bulls to a better record, despite the team undergoing major changes in the offseason. The Bulls traded away nearly half of their starting lineup to acquire Wang, forcing the team to rely on a second-round pick, Monta Ellis, as the starting guard. Despite the unfavorable lineup, Wang Chao, averaging 34 points per game, helped the Bulls rack up win after win.
Wang's efforts haven't gone unnoticed. He ranks second on ESPN's MVP power rankings, only trailing Steve Nash, who tops the list. For Wang, who is leading a team for the first time, this is an impressive achievement.
While Wang's main rival for MVP is Nash, James' main competitor is Kobe Bryant. Kobe's scoring numbers are comparable to Wang's, but the Lakers' record is weaker, which is a disadvantage for Kobe. Without Shaquille O'Neal and Wang on his side, Kobe now bears the full weight of leading the Lakers, and their subpar record has led to questions about his leadership.
After the All-Star break, the league entered its final sprint. The remaining 30 games in March and April would be critical for teams vying for a playoff spot.
At the beginning of March, the Bulls and Cavaliers faced off for the third time, this time on Chicago's home court. The Cavaliers, hungry for a win, were well-prepared, making adjustments to their lineup to counter the Bulls.
Cleveland started Anderson Varejão, a blue-collar center known for his defense and flopping tactics, to guard Monta Ellis. Ellis, who had dominated the Cavaliers in the first two meetings, struggled this time. Varejão drew offensive fouls on Ellis, causing him to underperform, scoring just 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
The Cavaliers capitalized on Ellis' struggles, building a double-digit lead midway through the game, seemingly on their way to revenge. But Wang Chao wasn't about to let his team go down without a fight.
Taking over in the third quarter, Wang scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, bringing the Bulls within 5 points. He continued his dominant performance in the fourth quarter, and with just one minute left, the Bulls tied the game.
In the final minute, James drew a foul and made one of two free throws, giving Cleveland a 1-point lead. On the next possession, James guarded Wang Chao, while the Cavaliers' defense prepared to double-team him. Despite this, Wang broke through James' defense and nailed a mid-range jumper, putting the Bulls ahead by 1.
With 20 seconds left, the Cavaliers had one last chance. Surprisingly, James passed the ball instead of taking the shot himself. Ronald Murray missed the three-point attempt, and the Bulls won the game.
The home crowd in Chicago was stunned—why had James passed up the opportunity? Many fans and analysts would question this decision in the future, but this was part of James' unselfish style.
Wang Chao, who finished with 44 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists, had outdueled James, who posted a triple-double of 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. While Ellis' struggles were concerning, the Bulls had now won all three regular-season matchups against Cleveland.
But the March schedule was packed, and more challenges awaited the Bulls. With teams fighting for playoff spots, the intensity of the games increased. Meanwhile, Wang Chao and Kobe Bryant engaged in a fierce battle for the league's scoring title.
Kobe began taking more shots, aiming to repeat his scoring dominance from earlier in the season. Wang wasn't backing down, increasing his shot attempts as well. This thrilling scoring duel captivated fans across the league.
Kobe scored 50+ points in a game, and Wang Chao responded with multiple 40+ point performances. The battle for the scoring title became a highlight of the season, leaving even Allen Iverson, third in scoring, feeling overwhelmed. Iverson had hoped to add another scoring title to his collection but was now watching Wang and Kobe outpace him, both averaging over 34.5 points per game.
Even Kobe was shocked at how Wang Chao continued to keep up with him. While Wang might be slightly weaker overall, his offensive game was on par with Kobe's.
Wang used a smart, energy-conserving playstyle, relying on pick-and-rolls and minimizing his defensive responsibilities, leaving that work to Tyson Chandler. By focusing solely on scoring, Wang Chao was able to keep up with Kobe in their scoring battle.
Additionally, Wang Chao's system rewards and motivations played a crucial role in maintaining his performance.
End of this chapter
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