This guy is too cunning.
Popovich's anger at such a mistake during crucial scoring moments is understandable.
With only 50 seconds left, it's the Spurs' possession.
Tang Long observes the Spurs players' positioning. Matt Bonner is still on the court, having quietly slipped to the corner. Parker and Tim Duncan are running a pick-and-roll at the 45-degree angle, clearly designed to draw the Cavaliers' attention.
Moreover, Matt Bonner is currently hot, so the Spurs are naturally more inclined to let him shoot threes.
Tang Long's eyebrows lift slightly.
He now has two options: block Matt Bonner, which would easily allow Parker to drive in, or not block Bonner, risking him making a three-pointer given his current hot hand.
After a brief hesitation, Tang Long makes up his mind.
He'd rather concede a two-point basket than let Matt Bonner easily sink a three.
He slowly moves two steps from the paint towards the corner, entering his blocking range, and pretends to focus on Parker and Duncan in the frontcourt.
As expected, Parker makes a sudden drive, drawing Drew Gooden to defend. Larry Hughes then comes to help defend Parker but is blocked by Duncan's screen. At this moment, Parker, like lightning in the dark, suddenly charges towards the basket.
Tang Long feigns a block. Parker, in mid-air, spins the ball behind his back, passing it at an extremely tricky angle to Matt Bonner in the corner.
Matt Bonner reaches out to catch the ball but finds a massive shadow rushing towards him.
Matt Bonner is startled, but for professional athletes, muscle memory often kicks in. Seeing someone coming to block, Matt Bonner subconsciously steps over the three-point line and prepares to catch and shoot.
He intends to draw a foul from Tang Long.
However, as soon as he raises his hands, he sees the ball batted away by a shadow and sent to the frontcourt.
It's a steal!
Matt Bonner's heart tightens. He then sees LeBron James already driving towards the Spurs' basket with the ball.
Oberto is forced to commit a foul, grabbing LeBron James.
LeBron makes both free throws.
The Cavaliers' lead extends to six points again.
Spurs fans cover their foreheads in frustration. If Matt Bonner had caught the ball just then, they might have been trailing by only one point.
But with only 40 seconds left in the game, if they continue to go for two-pointers, it will be too difficult to catch up. They have to resort to fouling and letting Matt Bonner shoot threes.
Beep!
Popovich calls a timeout, clearly to set up a new strategy.
Mike Brown says nothing, simply telling his players to widen their defensive range and adopting a 1-2-2 defensive formation, determined to prevent the Spurs from shooting from the perimeter.
After outlining the strategy, Mike Brown glances at his starting five: "There are only forty seconds left. The opponent will definitely employ a defensive strategy, but Popovich will certainly not foul LeBron or Tang."
He then looks at Drew Gooden: "You have the worst free-throw shooting among us, so the Spurs will definitely foul you. During frontcourt offense, you should screen more for LeBron and Tang. When shooting free throws, pass to Tang Long or LeBron. Better yet, just pass to Tang, and LeBron will handle the frontcourt offense."
Drew Gooden's expression is now incredibly complex.
Even though he's still on the court, Mike Brown's brutal honesty makes Drew Gooden feel the necessity of practicing his free throws.
In fact, things unfold much as Mike Brown predicted. After the players return to the court, the Spurs' Finley and Bowen switch defensive assignments.
Bowen is now guarding Drew Gooden, likely because Bowen commits fewer fouls, making him the target for fouling Drew Gooden. Meanwhile, Oberto and Duncan are responsible for screening Parker.
Tang Long has a hunch that the Spurs would still prefer to get the ball to Matt Bonner and use him to shoot threes.
"Larry Hughes, you're on Matt Bonner now. Don't let him get the ball easily."
"Don't worry."
Larry Hughes abandons his help defense role and becomes a full-on man-to-man defender.
Seeing his strategy being deciphered by Tang Long, Popovich shouts from the sideline. Oberto goes to set a screen for Matt Bonner, and Tang Long once again charges out to block Matt Bonner.
However, the Spurs are ultimately a team that relies on collective effort. Once their strategy is figured out, they immediately adjust. Matt Bonner draws the attention, and then the ball is passed back to Parker.
Parker shoots a three-pointer from the 45-degree angle.
Clang!
The ball hits the rim. Tang Long is pulled out, leaving the baseline for Pavlovic and Duncan to fight for the rebound.
Naturally, the rebound falls into Duncan's hands.
Two points.
The Spurs have clawed back two points. With less than thirty seconds left, the Cavaliers still lead by four.
Drew Gooden takes the free throw. The ball arcs beautifully and lands directly in LeBron James's hands. Finley and Bowen charge towards LeBron almost simultaneously.
Clearly, if they can steal the ball, they will. If not, they're prepared to foul.
But LeBron is clearly unwilling to fall into their foul-trap. He throws a long pass forward.
The ball is fast and powerful, seemingly cutting through the air with a whistling sound.
Cavaliers fans gasp. This pass seems to be a bit too long.
A turnover at this point would clearly give the Spurs a chance to tie the game.
Spurs fans hold their breath, waiting for their team to steal the ball and score, so they can release all the pent-up frustration with a roar of cheers.
Suddenly, as both sets of fans suppress their cheers, Tang Long, as swift as the afterimage of the Flash, sprints to the Spurs' basket.
At this moment, the ball sails directly over the heads of the players.
Tang Long leaps high, his body unfolding in mid-air, like an eagle spreading its wings across the sky!
Boom!
Tang Long catches the ball, spins 360 degrees in the air like a soaring eagle, and slams the ball ferociously into the hoop!
"Tang, that was incredible."
"Oh my god, that dunk was simply spectacular."
Cavaliers fans roar Tang Long's name. Despite being on the road, their cheers now drown out the home crowd of Spurs fans.
"This play was absolutely beautiful. I never expected to see such a spectacular dunk so close to the end of the game!"
This is Yang Yi's countless praise for Tang Long.
But every time Tang Long performs impressively, Yang Yi never skimps on his admiration.
"Looking at the replay, it's clear the Spurs were planning to foul. But LeBron and Tang Long have such perfect chemistry. Seeing Tang Long launch his sprint, he passed him the ball without hesitation, leading to Tang Long's amazing dunk!"
"With this incredibly powerful dunk, Tang Long is definitely going to be featured in tomorrow's top five plays!!"