Mike Brown, with a single substitution, benched all five of the Cavaliers' main players, fielding the reserves instead.
His reasoning was that if they couldn't secure this game, he wanted to give the starters some rest and allow the reserves to get a feel for the ball, helping them develop a rhythm.
"This game is so frustrating, pure garbage."
"Thanks a lot!"
The starting five wore grim expressions. While they knew playing the Lakers on the road would be tough, the initial 2-0 lead had fostered a sense of pride. Losing now, inevitably, left them feeling unhappy.
Tang Long watched the Cavaliers' reserves play at a sluggish pace with a cold expression, his brow furrowing deeper.
Everyone expected to lose this game to the Lakers anyway, and with a fifteen-point deficit, most weren't playing with full effort.
Sometimes Tang Long couldn't understand it. Even in garbage time, it was still an opportunity to perform. If they played well, they might even compete for a starting position, yet some players didn't see it that way.
He looked at Mike Brown again, contemplating suggesting he return to the court. After a moment's hesitation, he sighed.
Mike Brown certainly wouldn't allow it. Such an action would not only antagonize the reserve players but also destabilize the locker room.
Soon, the Lakers also fielded their entire reserve unit.
It was now a battle of the benches.
As the referee's whistle blew, the game ended. The Lakers won at home 91-81 against the Cavaliers, bringing the series score to 1-2.
In this game, Kobe scored 36 points, and Vujacic contributed 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, a very impressive performance.
For the Cavaliers, LeBron James scored 25 points, and Tang Long had 17 points and 15 rebounds, marking one of his worst performances of the season.
Lakers players excitedly embraced each other, their faces beaming with exhilaration.
Odom, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds, after hugging his teammates, deliberately stepped back a bit, ready for the reporters to interview him.
"This 'China Tang,' I see he's just ordinary. Victory ultimately belongs to us Lakers!"
"Earlier, on the road, we were too careless and let the Cavaliers seize an opportunity. From now on, the Lakers will sweep the Cavaliers."
Odom tiptoed, stretching his neck. He saw a throng of reporters and cameramen rushing in from outside the court. He could no longer contain the lines he had rehearsed in his mind.
"Hello, my reporter friends..."
Before he could finish speaking, Odom saw all the reporters swarm towards the Cavaliers' side.
What was the meaning of this?
We were the ones who won!
Why weren't you interviewing the victors and instead heading for the Cavaliers?
Odom's composure crumbled, feeling like he'd been doused by a torrential rain in winter.
The Cavaliers players were in a bad mood and didn't accept interviews with reporters as enthusiastically as usual.
They had already exchanged pleasantries, and everyone assumed the reporters would tactfully interview the Lakers. However, unexpectedly, all the reporters swarmed over to the Cavaliers.
"Mike, there are rumors outside that you and Tang have irreconcilable differences. Is this true?"
"Coach Mike, there are reports on Twitter claiming you're about to be fired. Is this true?"
"The Cavaliers have always performed very consistently and rarely found themselves in such a passive position. This game is vastly different from the Cavaliers' usual performance. Coach Mike, is it true that you intentionally lost this game to send a message to management because you know you're about to be fired?"
"Mike, I'm an ESPN correspondent. What's your beef with Tang? Is it that Tang doesn't follow your instructions?"
Mike Brown had rarely seen reporters so frantic, especially with almost all the on-site reporters rushing over, shoving microphones in his face for impolite interviews.
What kind of outrageous questions were these?
Losing one game and he was already facing dismissal.
Moreover, this was the Lakers' home court, and losing was within reason. How could it be linked to him being fired?
Besides, sometimes losing was part of the strategy. After all, the finals had a long seven games. He was the head coach; he had to consider the overall picture.
And when did he and Tang have differences?
"Where did you all hear this news?"
At first, Mike Brown genuinely thought Gilbert had made some foolish decision and was startled.
There weren't no precedents in the sports world. A head coach, fresh off a win and celebrating on the team bus, could be fired by the owner's order.
Upon hearing about the conflict with Tang Long, Mike Brown breathed a sigh of relief.
This was clearly fake news!
When it came to managing player relationships, Mike Brown believed he was second to none among coaches, perhaps even doing better than most.
At this point, a reporter produced a tweet and handed it to Mike Brown.
Mike Brown glanced at it and almost flew into a rage, wanting to smash the reporter's phone.
This news was too preposterous, and what's more, it was published while he was still coaching the team. Wasn't this disruptive to team morale?
"You've all been duped. This is clearly fake news. After so many years in this profession, don't you have the ability to discern this?"
"But Mike, everyone is saying this, and major Chinese websites are also reporting it."
If others cited Chinese news, reporters would have scoffed.
However, since Tang Long was China's most popular star, if he had leaked this to the media, then all the major media outlets would undoubtedly report on it, and it wouldn't be unusual for the US side to not receive the news.
"China?" Mike Brown gestured to Tang Long, "Tang, come here."
"Coach Brown, at a time like this, shouldn't we avoid doing interviews together? I think LeBron is more suitable."
"Get lost. I think Tang is getting a bit arrogant. You should lecture him more on life's lessons, so he doesn't become so conceited."
"You two, shut up."
Mike Brown rolled his eyes at them helplessly and handed the reporter's phone to Tang Long.
"Tang, take a look."
Tang Long took it and almost spat out his water. This was too ridiculous.
"Tang, what are they saying? Quickly translate it for me. Is it my fans sending me supportive messages?"
"Supportive my foot. This is a leak saying we have differences with Coach Mike, so Brown should be fired."
"No way, these guys have too much imagination."
Watching the three of them teasing and joking, seemingly getting along well, the reporters were also bewildered.
A reporter tentatively held up a microphone and asked, "Tang, so your relationship with Coach Mike?"
"Our relationship is very good. You've all been fooled by fake news."
As Tang Long spoke, he clicked on the news from a major portal website.
These guys were worried it might be fake news, yet they wanted traffic, so they reported it in a reposting format.
Coupled with some ambiguous wording, it easily led the casual readers astray.
Looking at the person who reposted on the portal website, Tang Long exclaimed, "Good heavens."
This brother, 'Dong Ge Lan' (literally "Understands Basketball"), was too good at fabricating stories, and what's more, he made them sound plausible!