If Tang Long had previously been like a small mountain, appearing imposing and mighty, yet inviting conquest, then at this moment, Tang Long had transformed into a surging, boundless ocean.
"If you're not satisfied, you can come at me again."
A dismissive curve flickered across Tang Long's lips; he clearly held Gortat in low regard.
Just then, the referee's whistle blew once more.
Tang Long and Gortat both received another technical foul, followed by two free throws each. The fans were now roaring their support for their respective teams, and, of course, the sounds of mutual jeering were unavoidable.
However, this was the Cavaliers' home court, so naturally, the Cavaliers' cheers were louder.
After both sides shot their free throws, the Cavaliers launched an offense. LeBron James drove into the paint and, instead of going for a layup, drew everyone's attention before lobbing the ball into the air.
Boom.
Tang Long delivered a spectacular one-handed dunk, once again sending the Quicken Loans Arena crowd to their feet in a frenzy.
Of course.
This offensive style was also what the Magic excelled at.
Clearly, the Cavaliers intended to use this method to defeat the Magic.
Since entering the "zone," Tang Long's abilities had been greatly enhanced. When the ball reached his hands, a quick change of direction saw him storming to the basket, followed by a dunk.
The Magic ran a pick-and-roll, but Jameer Nelson's shot was blocked by LeBron James, and the Cavaliers immediately initiated a fast break.
After being hit by a scoring streak from the Cavaliers, Stan Van Gundy quickly called a timeout.
In the blink of an eye, the score difference had widened to eleven points. If the starters didn't come back on, there would be no point in playing this game.
However, once the starters returned, Hedo Turkoglu reorganized the offense. But barely past half-court, Cavaliers defenders were already pressing him. Turkoglu lacked good passing options and could only pass to the man beside him, Al Harrington. Facing LeBron James's defense, Harrington attempted to drive but was forced back.
With no other recourse, Harrington had to pass the ball back to Turkoglu.
Even the most skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients. Unable to drive in and with no good opportunities, Turkoglu could only attempt to do it himself.
As he began to dribble, Larry Hughes's hand lunged out. In a moment of inattention, the ball was stolen by Larry Hughes.
Immediately afterward, Dwight Howard saw a figure flash past him. By the time Howard reacted, Tang Long was already past half-court.
Larry Hughes, cooperating perfectly, tossed the ball off the backboard. The ball bounced back from the glass, and Tang Long, accelerating and jumping, was like a launched rocket, not only outrunning the Magic players but also snatching the ball and throwing it into the hoop like a ferocious leopard.
It was Tang Long again, another ferocious dunk!
The backboard itself seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
The Magic players only arrived back at half-court at this point, looking at each other in disbelief.
Tang Long today was like he had a cheat code activated. Not only was his defense in the paint as impenetrable as a bronze wall and iron fortress, but his offensive performance was like a cannonball.
Dwight Howard had truly witnessed the terrifying side of Tang Long.
"Yang Yi, do you see it? Tang Long is incredibly active on offense in this game. In previous quarters, Tang Long rarely dunked, but today he's exceptionally energetic, almost always opting for a dunk when he has the ball."
The Cavaliers were now leading by over ten points, and Yang Yi was in a more relaxed state. The Cavaliers had essentially secured this game. The minor incident earlier had clearly only served to further ignite Tang Long's performance.
"It seems the saying circulating in the NBA, 'Don't provoke Tang Long,' is not without basis. After this game, teams facing the Magic will clearly not be as boastful as they were before."
"It looks like it won't be long before Tang Long might develop a reputation as a 'villain' in the NBA," commentator Zhang chuckled and chimed in. "But the Cavaliers' coordination is incredibly默契 (mòqì - tacit understanding/chemistry). Just like Larry Hughes's assist earlier, if he didn't have absolute confidence in Tang Long, he wouldn't have dared to make that move."
"The Cavaliers used to have less coordination, but their playing style has changed significantly this year. It's like LeBron... it's a steal! The Cavaliers stole the ball again!"
The two commentators were discussing the Cavaliers' and Tang Long's performance this season when, during Lewis's drive, LeBron James directly stole the ball.
Fortunately, this time the Magic players retreated to defend in time. By the time LeBron James crossed the three-point line, three Magic players had already arrived.
LeBron James pulled up for a jump shot.
The ball went slightly wide, hitting the rim.
A figure leaped again. Tang Long and Dwight Howard jumped almost simultaneously. Their rising bodies met in mid-air, and Howard deliberately bumped Tang Long with his arm.
Tang Long couldn't adjust his posture in mid-air. He grabbed the ball, but his entire body was falling backward.
Beeeep.
The referee blew his whistle.
Howard was called for a foul.
Tang Long was already close to the ground, his body almost parallel to it. He gathered all his strength with both hands and threw the ball up.
The ball grazed the rim and rolled in steadily.
"Awesome!"
The Cavaliers fans cheered wildly.
Howard was dumbfounded.
Could that shot actually go in?
Standing by the free-throw line, looking at Tang Long, who was intently focused on the basket, preparing to shoot his free throw, Howard felt for the first time that there was a tangible gap between them.
A three-point play.
Tang Long made the free throw.
Van Gundy called another timeout. However, after the timeout, Tang Long played even more ferociously, giving the Magic no opportunities to score. Consequently, while the two teams had been fiercely competing in the first two quarters, now, not only was defense failing, but offense was also stalled.
Soon, the Cavaliers' lead had extended to twenty points, with only a few minutes left in the game. At this point, Mike Brown used his substitution allowance, subbing Tang Long and LeBron James out of the game. After all, the playoffs were a long process, and they needed to conserve their energy.
After Tang Long and LeBron James left the court, the reserve players, Big Z and Varejão, showed no signs of letting up.
This made it incredibly difficult for the Magic players. In the entire fourth quarter, the Magic only scored fourteen points, while the Cavaliers scored twenty-six.
Beeeep.
The referee blew the final whistle, signaling the end of the game.
The Cavaliers defeated the Magic 91-72 on their home court.
Tang Long personally grabbed twelve rebounds and dished out nine assists, narrowly missing a quadruple-double.
As soon as the game ended, countless reporters, microphones in hand, surrounded Tang Long. "Tang, can you tell us what happened between you and Gortat?"
"This guy not only lacks skill, but his character is also problematic. I suggest the league review the replay and make a fair ruling."
"Tang, are you saying the league is unfair?"
Catherine looked at Tang Long with a triumphant expression.
He knew very well what Tang Long intended to express, but this lacked sensational news value and offered no benefit to her. How could she allow such a situation?