"10 points, I didn't keep track today."
Tang Long was telling the truth; the game had been too intense.
The run-and-gun tactic was extremely draining, especially for a center like Tang Long.
"What about you?"
Tang Long looked at James.
"Pretty much the same."
As they were speaking, Nash had already brought the ball up the court.
"Damn, they're not giving us any breathing room at all."
Tang Long cursed, then quickly got into position, preventing Barbosa from breaking through.
*Beep.*
Fortunately, after Nash made a mid-range shot, the first quarter ended.
The score was 33-30, with the Cavaliers trailing by three points.
"The opponent's bench will definitely continue their first-quarter play. D'Antoni might even leave a couple of starters on the court. We can't let them dictate the pace; we have to stick to our own rhythm."
Mike Brown scanned the team. "At the start of the second quarter, Gooden and Pavlovic will stay on the court. Big Z, D'Antoni is clever enough to sub out O'Neal early. O'Neal will definitely play at the start of the second quarter, so you need to protect the boards."
Big Z nodded seriously.
Mike Brown's thoughts were correct, but just as he said, D'Antoni was a cunning old fox.
Everyone expected him to put O'Neal on the court, but he sent out Nash and Barbosa instead.
Big Z was frustrated.
His movements were already a beat slow, and now facing quick, agile guards, he was sweating from running back and forth. More importantly, he couldn't defend Barbosa.
Soon, led by Nash, Phoenix had built a seven-point lead, 45-38.
"Swish!"
Nash hit another three-pointer, making the score 48-38.
Even Mike Brown was getting anxious. It had been less than three minutes into the second quarter; should he bring in the starters now?
Perhaps, substitute Tang in first?
That guy seemed to have an endless supply of energy.
Mike Brown looked at Tang Long.
When he sensed Mike Brown looking his way, Tang Long knew what the coach was thinking.
"Coach Brown, you can sub me in."
Mike Brown nodded and called a timeout.
Tang Long replaced Big Z. In the past, Big Z might have been unhappy when Tang Long subbed him out, but today was different.
Big Z patted Tang Long's shoulder. "It's up to you. These guys are too fast."
"Don't worry, watch me handle them."
A sly curve appeared on Tang Long's lips.
Nash clearly hesitated when Tang Long appeared on the court at this moment.
Especially Barbosa, who twitched his face upon seeing Tang Long back in the game.
Tang Long wasn't just fast; his blocking technique was also different from other centers.
This made Barbosa worry every time he drove to the basket, wondering if Tang Long would block him.
Afraid of what?
He's just a center, right?
Besides, he played a full quarter and only rested for two or three minutes; his stamina couldn't be this good all game.
Barbosa cursed, as if cheering himself on.
After Varejão made a hook shot, Barbosa brought the ball up.
But as he drove to the basket, seeing Tang Long's silhouette, he hesitated.
This hesitation cost him his opportunity to shoot.
Barbosa didn't force a shot over Tang Long and passed the ball to Nash at the forty-five-degree angle. Nash glanced at Gibson's position and drove to the basket with an acceleration.
Gibson instinctively reached out to steal Nash's ball.
*Beep!*
The referee's whistle blew.
Gibson fouled, and the ball went out of bounds.
Nash inbounded the ball to Barbosa, who jumped from the free-throw line.
"You can't block me from this far away."
*Clang.*
Tang Long couldn't block him from that distance, but the further the shot, the lower Barbosa's accuracy.
Tang Long grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Gibson. Gibson lacked offensive space in the half-court, so Tang Long came from the baseline to set a pick.
Under Tang Long's screen, Gibson successfully drove to the basket.
Two points.
"Daniel, well done."
Tang Long gave Gibson a thumbs-up. At this moment, Nash was bringing the ball up again. This time, Barbosa set a screen for Nash. After getting past the defender, Nash took a mid-range shot.
Two points.
It seemed both teams had started running pick-and-rolls, trading baskets.
*Beep.*
The referee blew his whistle.
The Suns substituted in Stoudemire and Marion.
Seeing this, Mike Brown immediately substituted in all of the Cavaliers' starters.
Marion had played ordinarily in the first quarter, virtually non-existent for most of the game. He made a mid-range shot as soon as the second quarter started.
"I underestimated him."
"It's just two points," James comforted Tang Long. "Besides, Nash hasn't rested yet. D'Antoni will probably substitute him out in a few minutes. Without Nash leading the run-and-gun, they're like a toothless tiger."
James thought so.
Mike Brown thought so too.
Even the Phoenix fans believed it.
But what happened next was astonishing.
O'Neal and Grant Hill subbed in for Nash and Barbosa. Now there were three big men on the court. Marion was a bit slow, which favored half-court offense.
Combined with the explosive Stoudemire, D'Antoni had his team playing half-court offense.
At this point, O'Neal was drawing Tang Long's attention in the paint, while Gibson was left to guard Stoudemire one-on-one, significantly increasing the defensive difficulty.
Soon, Stoudemire faked out Gibson and completed a classic dunk.
"Who would have thought that after Nash left, their scoring ability would increase?"
James glanced at the opponent's zone defense. Clearly, due to Stoudemire and O'Neal being on the court simultaneously, the team had two big men, and their defense had switched to a zone.
"Not many opportunities inside."
"No, it should be us running the run-and-gun now."
James looked at Tang Long, puzzled.
Even Larry Hughes, holding the ball and preparing to cross half-court, slowed down.
Tang Long shook his head. "D'Antoni wants Nash to rest and then continue attacking our basket, but he sent out two tall players. Isn't this giving us an opportunity?"
James thought for a moment and instantly understood Tang Long's meaning.
"Guys, what are we waiting for? Let's run!"
Larry Hughes sprinted to the basket with lightning speed. After crossing the three-point line, he accelerated again.
Now Stoudemire had to come over to stop Larry Hughes. But as he rushed over, Larry Hughes retreated, passing the ball past him.
Tang Long was already standing at the free-throw line waiting to receive the pass.
Stoudemire, realizing he had been tricked, ran back to defend Tang Long. O'Neal, who was in the paint, also moved forward to block Tang Long's shot!