Chương 368: Chapter 368: Suns vs. Trail Blazers
Aldridge also walked over to greet Wade Dong.
The passes Wade Dong gave to Aldridge during the All-Star Weekend were still memorable for him.
That feeling was so incredible...
After the All-Star Game, Aldridge casually reminded Lillard to watch more of Wade Dong's game footage and learn from his passing skills.
"Welcome home, Gortat."
"Welcome home, Frye."
Ten minutes before the game, the arena's big screen displayed a welcome message for Gortat and Frye, even though they had played for the Suns in the previous game.
Then, the starting lineups for both teams were shown on the screen.
The starting lineups for this game were:
Suns: Wade Dong, Curry, Thompson, Durant, and Green.
Trail Blazers: Aldridge, Lillard, Matthews, Batum, and Gortat.
The Trail Blazers' starting center was supposed to be Lopez, who had been performing well this season, averaging 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, a decent center.
However, the Suns' backup center, Gortat, was now starting for the Trail Blazers. Coach Stotts was indeed bold.
"Buzz!"
The game began with the referee's whistle.
Gortat and Durant stood in the center circle for the jump ball.
Durant joked to Gortat, "It feels like an intra-squad scrimmage."
"Hmm..."
Durant's joke didn't make Gortat laugh; instead, he maintained a serious expression.
Playing his first game for the Trail Blazers and starting as the center, Gortat had to perform well to prove he deserved the starting spot; otherwise, he might find himself back on the bench in the next game.
"Swish!"
Gortat tapped the ball to Lillard.
During team practices, they sometimes played more formally, allowing Gortat and Durant to jump for the ball. Their success rate was roughly 64%, with Gortat winning 60% of the time.
Lillard dribbled the ball up the court.
Matthews, Batum, Aldridge, and Gortat were all capable scorers, so the Suns employed a more conventional 2-3 zone defense.
Facing Curry's defense, Lillard passed the ball to Gortat in the paint.
After receiving the pass, Gortat was defended by Green. He used his Dream Shake to create space from Green and made a hook shot.
"Swish!"
The ball swished through the net.
Suns 2, Trail Blazers 0!
The Suns' powerful lineup allowed many players to grow, but they rarely had the chance to prove themselves.
An inappropriate analogy: The glow of fireflies pales in comparison to the moon's radiance.
Wade Dong's brilliance often overshadowed other players, but these players, especially role players, developed quickly alongside him. However, the world's attention was primarily on Wade Dong.
The Suns were on offense.
Wade Dong dribbled up the court and passed to Curry, who then passed to Thompson. Thompson took a three-point shot.
"Gooo..."
Batum's defense disrupted the shot, and it hit the rim.
"Go for the rebound!"
As soon as Thompson released the ball, Wade Dong shouted to remind his teammates.
Gortat reacted faster than Green and quickly boxed out, securing the defensive rebound.
During Suns games, Wade Dong often used Chinese phrases like 'go for the rebound', 'pass', and 'defense' to communicate with his teammates and confuse opponents.
So when Gortat heard Wade Dong say 'go for the rebound', he immediately boxed out under the basket.
"With Gortat and Frye, we might be able to beat the Suns!"
Seeing Gortat's excellent defensive rebound, Coach Stotts suddenly felt more confident.
After securing the rebound, Gortat passed the ball to Lillard, who dribbled up the court. He pulled up for a three-pointer just inside the three-point line!
Defending Lillard, Curry was caught off guard and could only watch as Lillard released the shot.
"Swish!"
The ball swished through the net.
Trail Blazers 5, Suns 0!
After hitting the three-pointer, Lillard clenched his right fist and pumped it vigorously.
The Suns' usual strategy was for Wade Dong to minimize his shot attempts in the first three minutes of the first quarter, letting his teammates take the lead. Only when they struggled would Wade Dong take over.
After the Trail Blazers scored five points...
Durant isolated Aldridge in the mid-range and made a jump shot.
Then, Matthews' shot was blocked by Wade Dong, who grabbed the rebound and finished with a fast-break dunk!
Trail Blazers 5, Suns 4!
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The US Airways Center erupted with chants of 'MVP'.
"Hero ball."
Seeing Wade Dong complete the block and fast-break dunk on his own, Coach Stotts scoffed and thought, "We play team basketball."
Although it was his first game with the team, Gortat seamlessly fit into the Trail Blazers' system.
This was the confidence that players gained from playing for the Suns. It was like a struggling student in an advanced class suddenly becoming an excellent student in a regular class.
Additionally, Gortat's understanding of Green made it difficult for the Suns to score in the paint during the first quarter.
Trail Blazers 13, Suns 12!
The Suns still trailed by one point.
"Timeout!"
Gentry called a timeout at this moment.
The Suns had already played two games against the Trail Blazers this season, and this was their last regular-season meeting. The Suns had won both previous matchups.
"Whiteside, replace Green. Carter, replace Thompson."
Gentry made substitutions and showed the tactical board, "The Trail Blazers' ball movement is excellent, but their playmaker is Lillard. In a moment, Brother Dong and Curry will switch positions, and Brother Dong will defend Lillard. You just play your game, Carter. Aldridge isn't your match."
McCollum and Barton, who were nearby, looked confused by Coach Gentry's tactics... They seemed too crude!
...
After the timeout, Whiteside replaced Green, making it harder for the Trail Blazers to attack the basket as they had in the first five minutes.
The Suns also adjusted their offensive tactics, reducing ball movement. Wade Dong, Durant, and Curry entered an isolation mode, and whenever they faced double teams, they quickly passed the ball.
In less than three minutes, Curry hit a three-pointer, Durant made two mid-range shots, and Wade Dong scored seven points.
Trail Blazers 22, Suns 28!
The Suns suddenly led by six points.
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