Chương 369: Chapter 369: Wade Dong's Protagonist Aura
From leading to trailing by six points, the Suns went on a mini scoring run.
During this time, Wade Dong, Durant, and Curry didn't miss a single shot, prompting Coach Stotts to call a timeout to re-strategize their defense.
He also used this timeout to disrupt the Suns' offensive rhythm.
"Wade Dong and Curry often receive the ball beyond the three-point line. Batum, you need to provide help defense when they get the ball. Matthews, when Curry receives the ball, cut along the baseline... If Curry is double-teamed and passes to Durant, and if Aldridge is out of position, you can quickly rotate to help. Gortat, you're doing a great job on defense, keep it up!"
Coach Stotts didn't mention what to do when Curry passed to Wade Dong, as he believed it was almost impossible to defend Wade Dong once he had the ball.
Before the game, Coach Stotts had talked to Gortat and Frye, as they were the most knowledgeable about the Suns' playstyle, having won two championships with the team. He hoped to find a way to counter the Suns through them.
However, Gortat and Frye only shared some of Gentry's standard tactical instructions with Stotts.
These tactics were obvious to Stotts just by watching game footage. As for the Suns' secret signals, Gortat and Frye didn't reveal them.
Why were the Suns so strong?
Gortat's explanation was that Wade Dong was too powerful, and he had Durant and Curry as his right and left hands.
The role players also performed admirably, and veterans like Carter and McGrady were on the bench, ready to step up when needed, even if they were playing a more relaxed style of basketball.
...
After the timeout, Aldridge hit a mid-range jumper off a pass from Matthews.
Aldridge had a soft shooting touch and was a decent mid-range shooter, although he couldn't match Durant's all-around skills.
Whether it was Matthews or Lillard passing the ball, there were two scenarios: either the receiver was open, or the passer was forced to pass due to tight defense. However, Wade Dong's passes were different; they were guided by a comprehensive understanding of the court, and he would deliver the ball precisely when the receiver was ready to shoot.
Receiving a pass from Wade Dong, one didn't even need to adjust their shooting form; they could shoot right away.
It was no wonder the Suns had the highest field goal percentage in the league. After briefly teaming up with Wade Dong during the All-Star Weekend, Aldridge realized the vast difference between an ordinary point guard and an elite one.
The Suns were on offense.
Wade Dong missed a mid-range jumper, and Gortat grabbed the defensive rebound.
Lillard received the ball and dribbled up the court. Seeing Batum in the corner ready to receive the pass, he whipped the ball to him.
"Swish!"
Batum hit a corner three-pointer.
Trail Blazers 27, Suns 28!
The Trail Blazers narrowed the gap to just one point.
...
With nine minutes left in the first quarter, the Suns made substitutions, giving rest to Wade Dong, Curry, and Durant, who had played for nine minutes. Tucker, McGrady, and McCollum checked in.
"Can I play?"
McCollum was surprised to hear Coach Gentry call his name.
He was a benchwarmer on the Trail Blazers, and now, after joining the stronger Suns, he was getting playing time in the first quarter.
"Of course you can play!"
Coach Gentry encouraged him, "Go out there and prove yourself."
"Thank you, Coach!"
"Thank you, Brother Dong!"
McCollum felt great being valued. He felt like his heart was blooming, and after the game, he was determined to post a tweet about it.
"You're welcome~"
Wade Dong wasn't sure why McCollum was thanking him, but he said, "When you're on the court, set a screen for McGrady. After the screen, quickly run to the corner."
The first sentence was directed at McCollum, and the second was for McGrady. Wade Dong knew McCollum's strengths: he was quick to release the ball after receiving a pass and could adjust his body in mid-air to find the best shooting angle.
...
The Suns now had a full bench lineup: McGrady, Carter, Whiteside, Tucker, and McCollum.
The Trail Blazers didn't dare to match the Suns' bench with their own, so Coach Stotts only made a few substitutions, replacing Aldridge with Frye, Lopez with Gortat, and Matthews with Williams. Lillard and Batum remained on the court.
Gortat's performance in the first quarter had been a pleasant surprise for Coach Stotts. In nine minutes, he had 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Perhaps it was because Gortat was familiar with the Suns, but regardless, his performance made Coach Stotts feel like the trade was a huge success.
The bench players took the court.
McGrady dribbled up the court, and McCollum set a screen for him. After the screen, McCollum quickly ran to the corner for a three-pointer.
McGrady also had the option for a pull-up jumper after the screen.
However, seeing McCollum wide open in the corner, McGrady remembered Wade Dong's instructions and opted for a long pass to McCollum.
McCollum caught the pass and immediately jumped, adjusting his shooting form in mid-air before releasing the three-pointer.
"Swish!"
The ball swished through the net.
Trail Blazers 29, Suns 33!
McCollum was a rookie, and in the Trail Blazers, he was almost invisible. Even after being traded to the stronger Suns, his former teammates still ignored him.
His sudden three-pointer surprised the Trail Blazers players.
The Trail Blazers were on offense, and Lillard drove to the basket after a crossover move, breaking through Carter's defense.
But as he went up for the layup, Whiteside rotated over and swatted Lillard's shot away.
McGrady got the ball and dribbled up the court to organize the offense.
McCollum set another screen for McGrady and then ran to the corner.
The same tactic!
McGrady passed to McCollum again, and McCollum hit another three-pointer!
"Swish!"
Trail Blazers 29, Suns 36!
"What the..."
Coach Stotts almost dropped his tactical board and shouted, "Don't leave players open on defense!"
He was puzzled because McCollum hadn't played like this in Portland. Why was he suddenly a different player after joining the Suns?
"Any player who plays alongside Brother Dong will become stronger."
Gortat muttered, knowing why McCollum had suddenly improved. It was because he was playing alongside Wade Dong.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực