CCTV-5 broadcast booth in Long Country.
Zhang Weiping and Su Qun were commentating on the match. Since Tang Long gained fame with the Cavaliers, CCTV-5 had not missed a single Cavaliers game.
Every game of Tang Long was worth watching!
In Long Country, Tang Long's fanbase was growing rapidly.
It was even almost on par with Yao Ming!
Unlike Yao Ming's playing style, Yao Ming relied more on his outstanding post-up skills and soft touch to score, performing quite steadily.
Tang Long was different. His style of play was explosive, with most of his points coming from his powerful physique, much like Shaquille O'Neal at his peak!
On defense, he often utilized his terrifying quickness to block shots, making his playstyle naturally more eye-catching!
As a result, countless fans were glued to their televisions watching this live broadcast.
After Tang Long once again completed a thunderous two-handed dunk amidst a double-team, the studio's text message interaction platform exploded!
"My God! Tang Long is simply a chaotic demon king! He's too terrifying!"
"I always thought Asians' physical abilities couldn't compare to Black people, but now I see I was wrong. No one has better physicality than Tang Long!"
"I suddenly look forward to Tang Long playing against Da Yao. A Long Country Derby! A battle between static and dynamic talent!"
"I could watch this play a hundred times and still not get tired of it. I hope you can broadcast all the Cavaliers' games!"
"I genuinely pity the Nuggets' Marcus Camby, he's been through so much!"
"I'm a Nuggets fan, and honestly, Marcus Camby is a pretty good center, but unfortunately, he's not facing a person, but a demon king!"
"..."
Tang Long, far away in Hua Qi Country, was unaware that he had acquired a new nickname in Long Country.
Chaotic Demon King!
This nickname perfectly suited Tang Long's temperament: explosive physique, ferocious playing style!
And he wasn't exactly mild-tempered either; anyone who dared to clash with him on the court would be met with immediate confrontation!
Realizing Tang Long's terrifying strength and fan base, the Long Country Basketball Association also began to consider him.
If such a player teamed up with Yao Ming to form a twin tower, Long Country's interior presence would be practically invincible!
Although Tang Long was scouted for the NBA during the World Championships, his contact with the Basketball Association had been minimal.
One reason was that many other players still needed nurturing, and another was the belief that Tang Long's potential had reached its peak, with players like Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and Wang Dazhi already in the domestic league!
No one had expected Tang Long to make such a stunning debut with the Cavaliers, almost like a completely different person!
Perhaps it was time to consider a plan to bring him back.
Back on the court, Nuggets head coach George Karl was forced to call a timeout to regroup and rearrange their tactics.
"Coach, the double-teams are useless!"
Marcus Camby's gaze was almost mournful. He was truly fed up with guarding Tang Long.
George Karl had no choice but to pat Marcus Camby's shoulder.
"It's okay, you're defending well. Just keep doing what you're doing!"
"We need to continue with the double-teams. If we can't get a steal, at least limit him and reduce his shooting percentage!"
"On offense, I want us to reduce the one-on-one plays. Other players should help AI with screens and try to prevent him from being trapped in double-teams!"
This was just a short timeout, and time quickly ran out. George Karl put away his clipboard and signaled his players to return to the court.
The Nuggets had possession, and it was still Iverson with the ball.
Larry Hughes and Aleksandar Pavlović had already tasted success from the double-teams. As soon as Iverson crossed half-court, they immediately double-teamed him.
JR Smith and Kenyon Martin quickly moved up to set screens.
Iverson broke through the chaos and drove straight to the basket.
Drawing Tang Long's defense, he passed behind his back to an open Marcus Camby under the basket.
The latter, perhaps dazed by Tang Long, missed the layup off the glass.
Tang Long's long arms reached up and easily grabbed the rebound.
The Nuggets players were surprised that such an easy shot missed and were slow to get back on defense. LeBron James smelled an opportunity for a fast break and sprinted towards the frontcourt.
Tang Long, as if telepathically linked, threw the ball with his right hand, accurately into LeBron James's hands.
The latter then delivered a tomahawk dunk!
"The LeBron-Tang connection is back! This is Cleveland's favorite offensive play!"
"China Tang grabbed the rebound and threw it to LeBron on the fast break, who then finished with a tomahawk dunk! It's textbook!"
"The Nuggets made another mistake! The score difference is now five points. I don't think the Cavaliers will give them any more chances!"
The game's momentum unfolded just as Joe Tait had predicted. The Nuggets failed to score on their next possession.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were firing on all cylinders. Tang Long drew the double-team and passed to Pavlović on the perimeter, who drained a three-pointer.
From the moment the Cavaliers' role players regained their confidence and hit an open three-pointer, the game was essentially over.
The Nuggets' shooting touch seemed to have vanished. Both JR Smith and Iverson missed crucial shots that could have tied the game, only to watch the rebounds be collected by Tang Long once again.
By the end of the third quarter, the score was 87:78, with the difference on the verge of double digits.
George Karl had no great solutions, only managing to motivate his players to fight and strive!
However, it had little effect. Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Tang Long and LeBron James led the Cavaliers on another scoring run!
The lead stretched to fifteen points.
Mike Brown proactively brought in his reserves. George Karl, after a symbolic struggle, also substituted his entire lineup with reserves.
The game officially entered garbage time.
In the end, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Denver Nuggets at home with a score of 111:99.
In this era, 111 points were quite rare, especially since the game started as an offensive shootout where neither team could defend effectively.
After the game, Nuggets head coach George Karl shook hands and hugged Mike Brown.
"Mike, I truly envy you for having such a talented young center! I'll treat you to a meal sometime, and please share some of your experience. I'd love to have a 'China Tang' too!"
Mike Brown laughed heartily and honestly replied, "Tang isn't a player we cultivated. I don't know what happened, but he suddenly became so good. Perhaps he worked hard during the offseason!"
George Karl pouted, secretly cursing the guy for not revealing his secrets.
After the game, the Nuggets and Cavaliers players hugged each other in acknowledgment. They fought fiercely on the court but were good friends off it.
Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, in particular, chatted for a while.
"LeBron, where did you find such a powerful young center? I checked, and he only signed a mid-level contract worth over ten million!"
"I'd take several centers like him if I could!"
LeBron laughed heartily and pretended to be mysterious, "This explosive player was specifically brought over from Long Country. Don't even think about him!"
Carmelo Anthony shrugged, indicating it was fine if he didn't know.
"Wait, we'll meet again, and I'll defeat you!"
"We look forward to your revenge!"
As they finished their conversation and were about to leave, they suddenly saw Tang Long approaching.
Carmelo, not one to hold a grudge, proactively greeted him, "Tang, my good brother, do you know any good hot pot restaurants in Cleveland?"
Having acknowledged Tang Long's strength, his address even changed to "brother."
Tang Long, of course, wasn't one to hold grudges either. He smiled at Carmelo and said, "Carmelo, of course, I know. How about I treat you to one another day?"