Before the game began, Tang Long had specifically studied Nash and O'Neal. The Phoenix Suns, known as "Lob City," owed their reputation to Nash's speed, vision, and court awareness.
Nash's tactical prowess was undeniably top-tier in the league. To not employ defensive tactics against such a player would be akin to letting a tiger descend from the mountain unchecked.
"Ok... I understand."
The Cavaliers changed their strategy, assigning Larry Hughes to mark Nash.
Despite this, Nash's elegant and tricky passes remained difficult to defend against.
As soon as the ball crossed their half of the court, Nash deliberately drew Larry Hughes forward to pressure him.
He then used the space created by Larry Hughes' movement to pass the ball directly to O'Neal under the basket.
With a physique as massive as a mountain, Tang Long felt pressure and an inability to budge him for the first time!
After receiving the ball, O'Neal forcefully pushed Tang Long aside and then turned for a hook shot.
The ball went in.
"Nice one, kid. I was going to dunk that, but you pushed me so much I could only manage a hook shot. Didn't realize you had it in you."
Tang Long couldn't help but chuckle. Shaquille always found a way to stir things up.
Mike D'Antoni stood by the sideline, arms crossed, smugly gesturing to Mike Brown.
The appeal of this run-and-gun offense in the league was not only due to Nash's perfect fit with his strategy but also because Mike D'Antoni was a coach with considerable skill.
His expression at that moment seemed to convey to Mike Brown that his players were inferior and that when it came to centers, you had to look at their O'Neal.
Tang Long didn't notice the coaches' unspoken rivalry, but being shoved aside by O'Neal, while earning his admiration, also fueled his desire to go head-to-head with O'Neal!
Soon, the ball crossed half-court.
Tang Long came out to set a screen for LeBron. Nash, with his sharp eyes and quick feet, judged the planned play the moment Tang Long emerged and positioned himself to cut off the driving lane.
LeBron attempted to drive hard past Tang Long for a layup, only to find Nash standing beside him.
"Damn you, Steve, are you trying to provoke me?"
Unable to drive, LeBron had no choice but to attempt a pull-up jumper.
Swish.
The ball landed firmly in the net.
It was only LeBron who could take a shot under such circumstances, let alone make it.
The two teams traded blows for several possessions. In the first quarter, both sides had unusually good shooting hands; everything they threw up went in, and the score difference was only five points.
Tang Long really wanted to guard O'Neal one-on-one. After all, being able to face off against the former league's top center would be an incredibly satisfying experience.
Soon, Tang Long got his opportunity.
Nash passed the ball to Grant Hill. Facing the defense of Pavlovic, Hill could only pass it to Marion.
Just as Marion was about to shoot, the ball was swiped away by Drew Gooden.
The Cavaliers immediately launched a fast break.
Nash and the others retreated very quickly. By the time Gooden reached the basket, Stoudemire and Grant Hill had already converged, double-teaming him!
Drew Gooden felt he had no sure chance of scoring. Catching sight of Tang Long also rushing towards the basket, he flicked his wrist, and the ball zipped through the double-team, landing directly in Tang Long's hands.
The pace of the offenses was so rapid it was dizzying. Just moments ago, Nash had the ball, and in the blink of an eye, it was Tang Long soaring for a dunk.
Boom!!
A powerful slam dunk released the frustration Tang Long had felt from not scoring for a while.
"Well done, Tang."
Gooden patted Tang Long's shoulder, looking very pleased.
"Your pass was great."
They high-fived each other. The pass was perfect, and the jump and dunk were executed seamlessly!
Having scored, their defense had to be even more aggressive, otherwise, it would just become a scoring contest. After all, D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense prioritized offense, often at the expense of defense.
Returning to their own half, O'Neal had also positioned himself.
His massive frame settled under the basket, exuding an aura of an impenetrable fortress!
Nash still controlled the ball.
Ten seconds.
Fifteen seconds.
Just as people thought time was rapidly running out, Nash suddenly decided to shoot. He exploded forward. Larry Hughes followed closely, but Nash changed direction again, shaking off Larry Hughes and driving all the way to the basket!
It was a two-on-one situation, with only Tang Long defending under the basket.
And right beside him was the behemoth Shaquille O'Neal.
Tang Long directly abandoned guarding O'Neal and moved to cut off Nash.
But Nash, with another change of direction, managed to shake off even Tang Long.
Clank.
Fortunately, Nash missed his shot this time. As O'Neal moved to grab the rebound, Tang Long had already leaped high into the air, tipping the ball to LeBron.
As soon as LeBron got the ball, he sprinted towards the opponent's half.
In the blink of an eye, he was under the opponent's basket. The cheers of the fans were still in the air, and the flow of the game had already shifted!
Nash was also stunned, not expecting the Cavaliers' offense to be this fast.
But then he breathed a sigh of relief.
Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were already guarding the basket, making a breakthrough unlikely.
However, as he turned to retreat, he felt a whirlwind pass by him.
Nash was utterly shocked as Tang Long had arrived.
After his driving lanes were cut off, LeBron passed the ball to the rapidly approaching Tang Long.
"So fast? Is this guy still a center?"
Tang Long soared through the air like a great roc. The ball from LeBron reached his chest, and Tang Long, surpassing LeBron and the defending Marion, fiercely drove towards the basket.
"This is too crazy!"
Mike Brown watched the airborne Tang Long with his mouth agape.
Honestly, while this kind of play was satisfying, doing it all the time would be unbearable, not just for the opposing players but for him as the head coach.
"Is he going to dunk over three people?"
Shaun rolled the microphone, watching the elegant and dashing Tang Long on the court with excitement.
As Tang Long flew over the heads of LeBron and Marion, the Cavaliers' fans were on the verge of standing up, not yet fully risen.
Everyone held their breath, as if afraid to blink and miss such a spectacular dunk!
Stoudemire had already jumped.
He absolutely could not allow Tang Long to put on such a blatant one-man show in Phoenix.
"Ah."
The Phoenix fans also held their breath, silently cheering for Stoudemire in their hearts.
"You have to stop him!" Tang Long transformed into an arc, like an unstoppable axe, flying directly over Stoudemire.
Clang!!
A spectacular tomahawk dunk erupted. The Cavaliers' fans went wild, many shouting Tang Long's name. Even the Phoenix fans couldn't help but applaud!
This dunk was a perfect replication of Vince Carter's "dunk of death" from 2000!