"Yunas, did you see Tang Long's offense just now?" Guo Qiang looked at Yunas.
Yunas's eyes were wide open, staring incredulously at the replay. Tang Long's one-man fast break. The play wasn't just about skillful dribbling; it was also about speed, something even most forwards couldn't match. Yunas was stunned! Tang Long had used his super-fast dribble before, but usually only near the opponent's basket. Such explosive power in a short burst was something few centers could achieve. From blocking a shot to stealing the ball, then breaking out of a defensive trap in his own half, and finishing with a layup in just a few seconds – that was truly extraordinary! Especially considering Tang Long was a center. The national team was considering switching Tang Long to power forward but lacked confidence. Now, Guo Qiang felt reassured. This performance was arguably even more impressive than what a natural power forward could deliver!
"Guo, if Tang can integrate with the team sooner, I believe we can definitely win a medal at the Olympics, perhaps even a silver." This was Yunas's wildest dream. Winning the championship? Who dared to imagine that! Winning the Olympic gold from the Dream Team would make him the greatest coach ever. Yunas didn't dare to entertain such ambitious fantasies! Guo Qiang didn't either.
At the same time, Old Guo looked at Yunas with a troubled expression and said, "Yunas, Tang Long is playing in the finals right now. Asking him to come back would disrupt the team's performance." He was a foreign coach, paid to do a job, and he'd be the one taking the blame if things went wrong.
"I've said what I needed to say. If you don't want to go all out for results, you can't blame me," Yunas said, handing over the roster for the next friendly match. "These are the players." Guo Qiang took the list and, seeing no changes from before, began informing the players of their upcoming roles. As for Yunas's suggestion about Tang Long returning, Guo Qiang dismissed it. Da Zhi's professional career could have been brilliant, but international competitions had hindered his advancement! The Basketball Association had received plenty of criticism for that. Moreover, a superstar like Tang Long wasn't a pushover; he couldn't be manipulated by just anyone. After distributing the roster, Guo Qiang rushed back to the television. The game was too exciting; watching only replays would be a major regret in life!
...
Tang Long's unstoppable one-man fast break had clearly made the Lakers pay more attention to his offense. In the next possession, as soon as Tang Long got the ball, he was immediately double-teamed by Gasol and Odom, effectively limiting his play in the paint. The Cavaliers struggled in the second quarter. Kobe Bryant, instead of isolating with the ball, began focusing on facilitating and playing defense. Defending him one-on-one was impossible; he could shoot as soon as he received the ball. If they double-teamed him without the ball, it was a waste of defensive resources, putting more pressure on their defense. The Lakers ran a play, and Kobe hit a jump shot at the free-throw line, scoring two more points.
"If this continues, we'll be on the defensive. I think we need to change our defensive lineup as well," James looked at Tang Long, seemingly seeking his agreement. Tang Long also felt that their current 1-3-1 defensive scheme was a bit of a waste at this moment, especially with the difficulties inside. Originally, when Kobe had the ball, his defensive focus would have been easier, but now that Kobe was facilitating, Tang Long found it hard to cope in the paint.
"Let's switch to a zone defense. It has its advantages, and maybe this setup will make Kobe more willing to shoot."
"Coach Brown hasn't signaled us to change the defensive formation," Larry Hughes said, glancing at Mike Brown on the sidelines. Not following the coach's instructions could lead to trouble if they lost, even if they won.
"Coach Brown always says we are soldiers on the battlefield; the specific changes are up to us to decide," Tang Long said. Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden looked hesitant, and Sasha Pavlovic opened his mouth, then closed it.
"Let's switch. If Coach Brown questions it, I'll take responsibility," Tang Long stepped up at the crucial moment.
"How can that be? The decision to change the defensive formation was also made with my suggestion," Tang Long looked at James. James grinned, looking at Tang Long with a smile.
"Alright." Tang Long nodded slightly. This was true brotherhood. The Cavaliers adjusted their strategy, tightening their defense. Although Kobe continued to facilitate, having more players under the basket reduced the defensive coverage. As soon as Kobe got the ball, someone would immediately defend him, directly limiting the Lakers' success rate in playing inside. Kobe had to pass the ball to Odom. Odom wanted to shoot from the elbow, but Tang Long was already there. He leaped high, spreading his arms, forcing Odom's shooting motion to contort. The hurried shot naturally had no good result. The ball hit the backboard and fell, and Gasol battled Tang Long for the rebound under the basket, but Tang Long shoved him aside as he jumped. The Cavaliers' offense. James drove strongly, successfully breaking past Sasha Vujačić. As Odom came to help, he stepped back and shot. The ball went in!
"Odom, you're too slow. Did you spend all your energy on Kardashian?"
"F***, what are you talking about?" Ever since he got involved with Kardashian, Odom had been under immense pressure. He earned a lot, but in Kardashian's eyes, he was a country bumpkin, so half his money went to her. Naturally, many players in the league would mock him about it. Odom was generally mild-tempered and didn't lose his temper easily, but anyone mentioning Kardashian would make him sensitive.
"Hey, LeBron, that's going too far," Kobe stepped up and pushed James, but without much force. Clearly, Kobe had his own thoughts about Odom and Kardashian.
"Kobe, your eyes have betrayed you. You must have some thoughts about Odom spending his energy on women too. It's understandable, Kardashian's..."
"LeBron, joking is fine, but don't talk nonsense." Kobe glared at James, knowing what he was about to say. Although Kardashian's hips were exaggerated, as men, they were naturally curious about whether such large hips held some special allure! Odom's face turned green with anger. His teammates also looked incredibly awkward, their thoughts clearly aligning.
"I'm warning you, no funny business, or I won't be polite!" The more Odom said this, the more the scene became suggestive.