Chapter 807: 344. Arms Opened in Advance_2
In the first quarter, when the Eastern Team’s second lineup faced the Western Team’s second lineup, they could barely hold their ground. In five to six minutes, they only lost by two points. This ti, the Eastern Team is clearly at a disadvantage!
The Jas-Wade pick-and-roll initiates the offense, Zhang Yang’s positioning acts as a distraction, Jamison supports from the wing, Okafor screens, attacks the basket, and fights for rebounds—this attack is already very strong. In the latter half, Bosh replaced Okafor and the coordination was also very good.
But the opposing five’s offensive firepower is even fiercer, considered among the strongest in all-star history. Duncan replaced Gasol, coordinated well, caught the ball for a shot at a 45-degree angle, and supported interchangeably; when those five were discussing, he sat quietly by, not speaking, but rembered how to coordinate.
By the end of the second quarter, the Eastern Team scored 23 points in the last 7 minutes, averaging more than 3 points per minute, showing high offensive efficiency. Still, the lead was reduced by a full 5 points as the Western Team scored 28 points in 7 minutes, averaging 4 points per minute!
74 to 78, the Western Team narrowed the gap to 4 points!
With 31 seconds left in the first half, it’s the Eastern Team’s turn to attack, Jas advances past the half-court and passes the ball to Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang faces Kobe’s defense, attempts to break through, but fails to shake off the opponent. As he reaches the free-throw line, he feels the mont is right, decisively stops and jumps, taking a mid-range shot over Kobe’s defense…
Hits!
80 to 74, the difference expands again to over 5 points!
Off-ball movent warms up his touch, mainly relying on feel during high-post single possessions to score, forming a positive loop in Zhang Yang’s personal offense tonight.
But turning around, for the last play of the half, Kobe faces Jas’s defense, steps back and hits a three-pointer.
After halfti, the Western Team chased the score to 77 to 80, cutting the gap down to 3 points!
Entering halfti break, Zhang Yang looks at the scoreboard and clicks his tongue: “Only scored 9 points in the first 4 and a half minutes, got 31 points in the next 7 and a half minutes, filled the hole Chris dug, really impressive.”
Wade responds next to him: “Yeah, luckily you scored those two shots just now, otherwise we would have been overtaken.”
Zhang Yang: “The 9-point lead we worked hard to achieve earlier is more important.”
Wade: “Right, it’s also our chance, the opposing side only has the advantage with this 6-man triangle offense lineup. We hold the advantage over their other arrangents. This 6-man isn’t likely to play the entire second half, Allen and Kobe have that capability, but if the others go all out, it plays to our advantage. I doubt Jackson would be that foolish.
Against the triangle offense, leave it to and LeBron. To gain the upper hand, we’ll need you and Chauncey’s efforts.”
Zhang Yang: “Do you want to wear out? I need to coordinate with you and LeBron and also focus on scoring?”
Wade: “Haha, you’re the youngest MVP in history; enduring a bit more is as it should be…”
Despite the Western Team’s targeted defense on Zhang Yang, he still managed to score 10 points in the second quarter: a three-pointer in the first 4 and a half minutes, an off-ball entry for a 2 1, a long two-pointer from Jas’s pass, and a mid-range shot, going 4 for 6 in the quarter.
Zhang Yang’s scoring conditions, no matter how poor, were better than those at his club.
Zhang Yang’s personal score has already risen to 27 points, confidently aiming for a historical record. If the Eastern Team wins, Zhang Yang’s chances of contesting for AMVP are notably higher than Wade’s with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.
But Wade knows clearly that to vie for AMVP, they must first win. So, no need to fuss over who has the bigger chance to win AMVP; they have to work together to defeat the opponent first.
Seeing the two walking cheerfully toward the player’s tunnel, Jas, following them, doesn’t quite understand—aren’t they rivals? Weren’t they not familiar at all before? How, after competing for half a quarter, did their relationship beco this good?
Besides, with the current dangerous situation, the opponent has a lineup that they can’t quite challenge, and yet these two can calmly analyze and even smile?
Earlier, as the opposing side was furiously catching up, he was already growing impatient.
Luckily, Wade was leading and Zhang Yang was responding from the outside. The two managed to stabilize the ga, whereas if Jas led, in that pressure-resistant stage, he would have collapsed.
This highlights the difference between Zhang Yang, Wade, and Jas; the forr two have experienced success in playoffs, often in coback situations, making this pressure trivial for them. Jas, however, hasn’t broken through the second round of playoffs and tends to be the one being reversed due to his strong lower-bound but insufficient upper-bound elevating ability.
…
After halfti, the Eastern and Western Teams already have clear strategies and a better understanding of their opponents. Coaches and players now have a clear role division in terms of who is the main attacker, who the support, and who coordinates.
After the halfti break, the two teams continue their battle.
Zhang Yang and Wade believe the Western Team’s only advantage is the triangle offense lineup, and the Western side thinks the sa.
Thus as the second half begins, Iverson, Roy, Kobe, Duncan, and Stoudemire aggressively attack, trying to establish an advantage early.
However, the Eastern Team had already anticipated this during the halfti break and prepared. The Jas-Wade duo leads the team, with Bosh and Rasheed Wallace supporting from the wings, Zhang Yang guarding the back, attacking instead of defending, and countering the Western Team’s offense.
After aligning roles with Zhang Yang, Wade truly ignores personal statistics and the AMVP competition, doing what’s needed whether it’s shooting, passing, or doing the dirty work with screens—completely imrsed in the clash of endurance.
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