"This guy has some skills."
James picked up the basketball and tossed it to Tang Long. Tang Long, holding the ball, didn't rush to make a play. Instead, he glanced at Lewis.
Lewis's height and ability in the league were undeniable. The key was that he also possessed a beautiful three-point shot. If you defended the inside, you couldn't stop the outside, which caused a lot of teams headaches.
At this moment, Mike Brown shouted from the sidelines, "Drew, you guard Lewis. Pavlovic, watch out for their pick-and-rolls."
Tang Long felt that Mike Brown's adjustments were fine and proceeded to inbound the ball.
Howard had already positioned himself in a favorable spot, waiting for Tang Long.
After several encounters with Tang Long, the Magic knew that Howard alone defending Tang Long was a tough task. So, after Tang Long drove inside, Howard, instead of holding his advantageous position, switched to an on-ball defense.
Tang Long was stunned.
When did this guy become so humble?
"Howard, where's your pride as the league's number one center?"
"Not letting you get the ball is the best defense."
Tang Long blinked.
Could this really be Howard?
However, on-ball defense meant reduced control over the rebounds. When the Cavaliers missed their outside shots, Tang Long easily grabbed the rebound. Howard had no choice but to defend from the side.
This was clearly an easy situation to commit a foul.
After two consecutive plays, Tang Long drew two fouls on Howard. The Magic had to call a timeout and substituted in Gortat.
The Magic players all had their unique strengths. Gortat's screens and picks were among the best in the league. However, his scoring ability on the Magic was rather average, averaging only 3 points per game.
"It's unbelievable that Tang Long drew two fouls on Howard in the first quarter. It's so dramatic! This makes it very difficult for the Magic to penetrate the paint defended by Tang Long, giving the Cavaliers a relatively easier time."
In the broadcast booth, Yang Yi couldn't hide his delight.
Howard, the only Magic player who could contend with Tang Long in the paint, had been taken out. This meant Howard would play more cautiously in the second and third quarters, implying that the Cavaliers' offense in the frontcourt would be much smoother.
"We still can't let our guard down. Gortat is a player with distinct characteristics. If he sets a screen for Lewis, Lewis can change the momentum of the game. He's not called a hundred-million-dollar player for nothing."
While there are players who are overpaid for their performance, they are generally those with exceptional talent who are wasting it. Without talent, one can't command a high salary.
"What's more, there's another Magic player who cannot be overlooked. Turkoglu is the Magic's metronome, a player with immense intelligence. Even if Howard is on the bench temporarily, Turkoglu can orchestrate more offensive schemes. Therefore, the Cavaliers still need to limit Turkoglu's impact."
Yang Yi nodded. "Since Lewis joined the Magic, their roles have become very clear. Lewis handles three-pointers and quick drives. On the perimeter, there's Nelson. Howard plays in the paint. Now, with a lack of inside presence, the Magic will rely more on pick-and-rolls and Lewis to initiate their offense. In this regard, James will have to shoulder more defensive responsibilities."
"That's not necessarily true."
Yang Yi looked at Coach Zhang, puzzled. "Does Coach Zhang have a different perspective?"
Coach Zhang chuckled. "For a player like James, even his best defensive effort cannot compare to his offense. Unless someone intentionally provokes James, but as we saw earlier, the Magic have adopted a low-profile approach. In this situation, it's difficult for James to exert too much willpower on defense. It's not that he doesn't want to, but rather he feels it's unnecessary."
"Take the previous play, for example. If it were Larry Hughes, he would have continued to chase even after being penetrated. But James didn't pursue much, probably thinking, 'I'll give you two points, and then I'll hit you with a three-pointer.'"
Yang Yi couldn't help but laugh. "Perhaps that's indeed a possibility."
"However, the Cavaliers are clearly in control of the game. After Howard went to the bench in the first quarter, the Cavaliers' inside pressure immediately eased. This allows Tang Long to dedicate more energy to offense. If I recall correctly, Tang Long already has 6 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds. Gortat is not Howard, after all, and can't provide much support in the frontcourt."
Indeed, that was the case.
After Lewis's drive to the basket was stopped by Drew Gooden, he passed the ball to Turkoglu, who then passed it to Nelson. Nelson missed his shot. Gortat had a better position, but the rebound still went to Tang Long.
If it had been Howard, Tang Long might not have been able to secure the rebound 100%. It was an evenly matched situation.
Following that, the Cavaliers launched an attack. Larry Hughes brought the ball past half-court. When everyone expected him to pass, Larry Hughes decisively shot, but the ball hit the rim.
This time, Gortat battled with Tang Long for the rebound. He managed to grab the ball, but as soon as he landed, Tang Long precisely swatted the ball away. The ball was knocked out by Tang Long again.
Immediately after, Tang Long leaped up.
Given the distance and his abilities, he could have dunked. However, Tang Long chose not to, opting for a shot instead.
Gortat, who had the ball stolen from him, became extremely frustrated. Looking at Tang Long, who was so close, he couldn't let this guy shoot so easily. In his anger, he swiped at the ball.
*Beep.*
The referee's whistle blew.
Gortat was called for a shooting foul. A 2+1.
"Damn it."
Gortat couldn't help but curse. After the referee's call, Gortat suddenly realized that this guy had done it intentionally. This made Gortat very angry, and he cracked his knuckles.
He came from a family of boxers and had trained in boxing since childhood. If not for the league's rules, he would have challenged Tang Long right then and there.
Tang Long shrugged, clearly unconcerned, and leisurely walked to the free-throw line.
He made the free throw.
Following that, Lewis hit a three-pointer. The Magic's outside shooting was scorching hot in the first quarter. Lewis hit a three, Nelson hit a three. The score was tight initially. By the end of the first quarter, both teams had scored 22 points.
"In the second quarter, Howard probably won't come out at the beginning, so Big Z will play first, and James will lead the team."
Mike Brown took out his tactical board and began drawing up the plays.
"James, you'll guard Lewis in the second quarter. Of course, if you can't stop the hundred-million-dollar player, it's understandable. After all, Lewis's individual ability is outstanding, and it's expected that you might not be able to stop him."
James's eyes widened.
He knew this was a mind game from Mike Brown. But any tactic that works is a good tactic. Mike Brown's mind game ignited James's fighting spirit.