Capítulo 119: Lian Dao VS Wade
Both sides lined up for the tip-off, and Jermaine O'Neal used his height advantage to beat David Lee, giving the Heat the first possession. Mario Chalmers secured the ball and the Knicks immediately retreated into their defensive formation.
Chalmers passed the ball to Dwyane Wade beyond the three-point line. Despite losing some of his speed after past injuries, Wade remained a formidable opponent, especially for Wilson Chandler, who struggled to keep up. With a burst of acceleration, Wade blew past Chandler's defense, prompting Lian Dao to step in.
Wade, eager to teach the rookie a lesson, attempted to blow by Lian Dao with a quick change of pace. But Lian Dao anticipated the move, keeping Wade's driving lane locked down. Sensing the challenge, Wade shifted gears, executing rapid crossovers and direction changes to shake off Lian Dao.
But Lian Dao was ready.
"Snapped!"
With a perfectly timed reach, Lian Dao stole the ball cleanly from Wade. Despite Wade's long wingspan and reputation for tough defense, Lian Dao's even longer reach gave him the edge. Lian Dao immediately took off down the court, his speed unmatched by most, with only Wade managing to keep pace.
As Wade tried to pressure him, Lian Dao pulled off a quick spin move without losing any momentum, leaving Wade behind. With the path to the basket wide open, Lian Dao exploded off the ground, executing a breathtaking 180-degree reverse dunk with both hands.
The arena was stunned. The speed, agility, and sheer athleticism Lian Dao displayed left fans in awe. Even Wade, known as "The Flash," was matched stride for stride by the rookie. The smoothness of Lian Dao's spin move, combined with the precision required for such a high-flying dunk, showcased his extraordinary body control and coordination. The move also placed immense strain on his knees and ankles, highlighting his exceptional physical conditioning.
For the fans who came to see Lian Dao, the spectacular dunk was worth every penny. The shock quickly turned into boos from the Miami crowd, but Lian Dao was unfazed. He welcomed the reaction.
To him, the louder the boos, the better the performance. In his mind, only those who posed a real threat to their opponents earned such a response.
The Knicks took an early 2-0 lead.
Lian Dao and Wilson Chandler switched defensive assignments, with Lian Dao now taking on the responsibility of guarding Dwyane Wade.
Wade, still stung by the earlier steal and dunk by the rookie, felt a surge of embarrassment. Being outplayed by a newcomer, even one as hyped as the No. 1 pick, was a blow to his pride. Determined to redeem himself, Wade signaled to Mario Chalmers for the ball as soon as they crossed half-court. Chalmers, recognizing the urgency in Wade's request, wasted no time in passing it over.
As Wade received the ball, Michael Beasley moved in to set a pick-and-roll, but Wade quickly waved him off. The Finals MVP, last season's scoring leader, and a five-time All-Star didn't need a screen to take on a rookie. In Wade's mind, relying on a pick-and-roll against someone who had just entered the league would be beneath him, something that could dent his image among his peers—especially the other members of the "Four Heroes."
Wade shot a disapproving look at Beasley, who was left baffled and unsure of what he had done wrong. Coach Spoelstra, watching from the sidelines, noticed Wade deviating from the playbook but chose to stay silent. He didn't believe that Lian Dao, despite his earlier success, could genuinely pose a challenge to Wade.
Lian Dao, on the other hand, was laser-focused on Wade, studying his every move. He knew the previous steal had involved some degree of luck. Wade's unfamiliarity with Lian Dao, combined with his underestimation of the rookie, had worked in Lian Dao's favor. Wade likely didn't think much of him, seeing Lian Dao as just another fresh face in the league—a face that might be handsome but certainly not a threat.
Wade's mindset was clear: he was going to teach this rookie a lesson, reminding him and everyone else that he was the most skilled—and, in his opinion, the most handsome—of the "Four Heroes." Lian Dao could sense Wade's resolve and knew this one-on-one would be a test of his defensive mettle.
But this time, after being caught off guard by Lian Dao earlier, Wade got serious. He exploded into a quick burst of speed, attempting to break through Lian Dao's right side. Lian Dao stayed close, mirroring Wade's every move.
Suddenly, Wade stopped on a dime, pulling off a swift between-the-legs dribble, and pivoted to fake Lian Dao out of position. But Lian Dao, anticipating the move, adjusted instantly to cut off Wade's path. Just as Wade was about to complete a signature step-back move, Lian Dao's hand shot out, disrupting the ball's trajectory.
In a split second, Wade realized his mistake—the ball wasn't in his hands anymore. Lian Dao had anticipated the move perfectly, swiping the ball clean.
Without hesitation, Lian Dao launched a fast break. But this time, Wade wasn't the only one chasing him down; Michael Beasley was also in pursuit.
Lian Dao approached the three-point line and, in a stunning display of court vision, flicked the ball behind his head without looking. The pass sailed perfectly into the hands of David Lee, who was trailing just behind. Seeing Beasley closing in, David Lee didn't stop; instead, he immediately sent a sharp pass to the right side of the basket.
Lian Dao, who had cut to the basket, leaped into the air. He caught the pass mid-flight and, with a powerful slam, threw the ball down through the hoop—right over Wade, who had just jumped to contest the shot.
"Boom!"
The referee's whistle blew, signaling a foul on Wade as the crowd gasped.
"2+1!"
The arena fell into a stunned silence. The Knicks had just executed a flawless, fast-paced play, capped by Lian Dao dunking over one of the league's top shooting guards. It was hard to believe that Lian Dao had only been with the Knicks for a short time; their chemistry was already off the charts.
The silence in the crowd was quickly replaced by a deafening roar of boos. Miami fans were not going to let a rookie, no matter how impressive, have his moment without a fight. But Lian Dao reveled in the hostility—there was no greater satisfaction than quieting the opposing crowd, even if just for a moment.
"Facing one of the best shooting guards in the NBA, Lian Dao has made quite the statement with two steals!" Director Zhang's excitement was evident.
"Wade might have underestimated Lian Dao. He waved off Michael Beasley to go one-on-one, but he couldn't break through the rookie's defense!" another commentator analyzed.
...
As Lian Dao prepared for his free throw, Jermaine O'Neal approached Wade with a smirk. "Hey, Dwayne, what's going on? You got picked twice by a rookie."
Wade, visibly frustrated, snapped, "Shut up, I've got this!" His pride stung, Wade's anger was evident, but so was his determination. He wasn't going to let this rookie show him up.
Jermaine O'Neal just shrugged, backing off. Meanwhile, Wade's gaze fixed on Lian Dao, burning with renewed intensity.
Lian Dao's free throw was smooth and on target, further solidifying his impact early in the game.
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