บท 84: Final Moments
Seeing the situation deteriorate, Tim swiftly called a timeout. Lian Dao took a moment to calm himself on the sidelines. Tim decided to substitute Dwight in for Lian Dao, indicating he recognized the need for a strategic adjustment.
As Lian Dao watched from the bench, Southern California's offense seemed more fluid with Dwight on the court. The ball movement improved, and the team shifted the playmaking back to Daniel. DeMar hit a mid-range shot against Wayne Ellington's defense, and Gibson successfully scored inside against Dean Thompson.
Despite the offensive success, Danny Green responded by sinking two three-pointers from the perimeter, reducing USC's lead to nine points. Dwight's scoring and defensive capabilities, while solid, didn't quite match Lian Dao's impact on the game.
The University of North Carolina capitalized on USC's relative weakness in perimeter defense, consistently making outside shots and mid-range jumpers. As the game approached the final five minutes, North Carolina managed to close the gap, trailing by only five points.
Tim was anxious and called another timeout.
"How about it, can you break the deadlock?" Tim asked, his eyes locked on Lian Dao.
Lian Dao nodded vigorously. He understood the problem now and was ready to correct it.
Back on the court, Danny Green approached Lian Dao, taunting him, "Boy, your scoring ends here!"
Lian Dao shot back without a hint of emotion, "Oh, you still want more? And by the way, you're still behind!"
Danny Green's face flushed with anger. He wasn't used to being outplayed, and Lian Dao's performance in this game had exceeded his expectations. Lian Dao's calm confidence only fueled his frustration.
Ignoring Green, Lian Dao ran to the three-point line to receive a pass from Daniel. North Carolina immediately sent two defenders to shadow him. DeRozan, seeing an opportunity, accelerated and used Gibson's screen to create space. Lian Dao, with his impressive wingspan, passed the ball over the defense to DeRozan.
Simultaneously, Gibson and Vucevic moved to the free throw line, setting up the "elevator door" screen for Lian Dao. The North Carolina defense, anticipating a return pass to Lian Dao, focused their attention on him.
But instead, DeRozan seized the open lane and drove to the basket for a powerful dunk. The North Carolina defense, fixated on Lian Dao, was caught off guard by DeRozan's sudden attack.
Lian Dao and DeMar exchanged enthusiastic high-fives as they ran back to defend. Lian Dao's realization was clear: trust in your teammates and avoid over-relying on individual play.
With two offensive cores in Lian Dao and DeRozan, double-teaming was far less effective against USC. The strategy adjustment disrupted North Carolina's defense and shifted the momentum back in USC's favor.
In response, USC initiated a full-court press defense. Ty Lawson struggled to shake off Daniel's persistent coverage, finally getting the ball to the top of the key only to face a high double-team.
With 3 minutes and 45 seconds remaining, USC's defense intensified, cutting off North Carolina's passing lanes and employing a high-post double-team tactic against their point guard. Despite North Carolina's experience, they struggled to find a solution against USC's relentless pressure. Ty Lawson, running out of time, attempted a hurried pass to Tyler Hansbrough, but DeMar anticipated it perfectly and made a crucial steal.
Lian Dao took off like a wild horse, sprinting to the frontcourt. Danny Green and Wayne Ellington pursued him from both sides. Undeterred by their defense, Lian Dao executed a smooth spin move, evading Danny Green's physical pressure. He then received a pass from DeMar beyond the three-point line, taking just one dribble inside the arc before making a three-step layup.
In desperation, Danny Green grabbed Lian Dao's jersey, trying to halt his progress. However, Lian Dao's powerful explosiveness yanked Green to the ground. Lian Dao soared for a dunk, but Wayne Ellington, standing only 193 cm tall, attempted to block it. He faced Lian Dao's ferocious dunk head-on.
A shadow loomed over Ellington as Lian Dao leapt. The arena echoed with the sound of the whistle and the thunderous impact as Lian Dao completed the dunk. Ellington was sent flying, his back crashing into the padded stanchion. Despite the foam padding, the collision left him clutching his chest, struggling for breath as his teammates helped him up.
"2+1!" the referee signaled, confirming the and-one play.
The crowd erupted into stunned cheers as Lian Dao's dunk electrified the stadium.
"The Tyrant Comes!" "The Tyrant Comes!" "The Tyrant Comes!" echoed through the arena, drowning out all other noise.
Even Larry Bird couldn't help but be impressed, his eyes lighting up at the display of athleticism.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan, observing from the sidelines, pondered over Lian Dao's performance with keen interest.
On the court, the referees reviewed the play on replay, determining it was a double foul.
Upon review, it was revealed that Danny Green committed his first foul on Lian Dao.
This marked Danny Green's fifth foul, a critical blow for Roy Williams and the University of North Carolina, depleting their defensive core on the perimeter.
With Lian Dao sinking the subsequent free throw, USC extended their lead to 89-81.
Now, with just 2 minutes and 58 seconds remaining in the game, USC held an 8-point advantage.
At this critical juncture, Roy Williams had no choice but to call a timeout. Double-teaming Lian Dao had failed, and with Danny Green off the court, they needed to reorganize their defensive strategy while urgently seeking points from their outside players.
With the game hanging in the balance, both teams had exhausted their strategies. Now, it boiled down to sheer determination.
If Southern California could maintain their 8-point lead, victory in this year's championship would be theirs. Conversely, any slip-up could lead to a devastating comeback by their opponents.
Roy Williams opted to deploy Bobby Frazier and Dean Thompson to double-team Lian Dao, while Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson would focus on DeMar. Meanwhile, Tyler Hansbrough took on the responsibility of marking Gibson.
Roy Williams concentrated all his defensive efforts on USC's trident, leaving the other two players less guarded.
Tim, on the other hand, kept his strategy simple: "Maintain this lead, and the championship is ours!" With Southern California ahead by 8 points, Tim emphasized avoiding mistakes to secure victory.
In the final minutes, the intensity between the two teams reached its peak.
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