The Charlotte Bobcats have had an average season so far, currently ranking third to last in the Eastern Conference.
However, with the owner in attendance for this game, they were certainly motivated to give it their all.
The point guard, Raymond Felton, is a small guard at 185 cm.
He is very strong physically, and his drives to the basket give many point guards a headache.
His shooting ability is quite average, and his court-organizing skills are also lacking.
His defense, however, is commendable.
The shooting guard is Jason Richardson.
Known as a "springy" wing, he was a former Slam Dunk Contest champion. He played for the Golden State Warriors in his early years and has now been traded to the Bobcats.
He possesses an accurate three-point shot and explosive athleticism, making him the team's primary scorer.
His weakness lies in his poor ball-handling offense, making him ineffective in isolation plays.
The small forward is Gerald Wallace, nicknamed "King of the Bobcats!"
He excels in blocks, steals, and help defense. He's a Pippen-type player, often cleaning up messes for his teammates.
His weakness is his slightly inferior offensive ability.
The power forward is Nazr Mohammed, a typical "blue-collar" player who is fierce in rebounding.
His most distinctive characteristic is that he grabs more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds.
The center is Emeka Okafor.
He is a player similar to Ben Wallace, with an aggressive offense and tough defense.
His rebounding ability is also outstanding, averaging over 10 rebounds per game.
He even has a reliable pull-up mid-range jumper from the paint.
This Bobcats roster looks quite good on paper, but when they play together, they become a mess.
Simply put, they lack chemistry and struggle to execute effective tactics.
The two teams have no prior history, so there's no need for pleasantries; the game begins directly.
"Chongyang Television, Chongyang Television!"
"This is the Sports Channel!"
"..."
"The Charlotte Bobcats' starting lineup is Felton, Richardson, Wallace, Mohammed, and Okafor."
"On the bench, they also have rookie Dudley, who was just picked up in the draft this season. He's a power forward with a very good shooting ability; I wonder if he'll have an exceptional performance today?"
"After all, Michael is here. If he plays well, he might get special attention."
"The Cavaliers' lineup remains unchanged: Larry Hughes, Pavlovic, James, Drew Gooden, and Tang Long."
"After their comeback win against the Lakers in the previous game, they achieved their fourteenth consecutive win this season, currently holding the top spot in the league."
"The Cavaliers' team winning streak record continues to grow!"
"Interestingly, Hollywood's popular actress Miss Scarlett is also here to watch Tang Long's game. They were rumored to be dating after the last game. And tonight, Miss Scarlett is once again appearing at the Charlotte Arena; the meaning behind this is for you to interpret!"
"The game officially starts. Tang Long wins the opening tip-off again, continuing his streak!"
Zhang Weiping appears on the live broadcast precisely on time. He has now become Tang Long's dedicated commentator.
Whenever Tang Long plays, he is always present to provide commentary.
On the court, Tang Long passes the ball to Larry Hughes, letting him bring it up the court.
While Felton is strong, he is slightly outmatched by "Old Fish" (Larry Hughes).
Larry Hughes has no major problem dealing with him.
Upon reaching the frontcourt, Tang Long still calls for the ball in the low post. Larry Hughes doesn't hesitate and immediately throws a lob pass inside.
Okafor establishes good post position and simultaneously extends his left hand forward to disrupt Tang Long's dribble.
This is a textbook defensive stance, showcasing Okafor's defensive fundamentals.
After all, he's known as a center in the same mold as Ben Wallace; his defense is unquestionable.
Unfortunately, he's facing Tang Long!
As Tang Long back-downs and spins, he exerts force backward, his powerful core strength nearly making Okafor lose his balance.
The left hand that was initially extended to disrupt the dribble can only be used to maintain balance.
After backing him down, Tang Long executes a quick turn and finishes with a powerful two-handed dunk!
"Peng!!!"
It's brute force from the outset.
After completing the powerful slam, Tang Long performs a bicep curl motion, showcasing his exaggerated muscles to Jordan by the sidelines.
Jordan laughs heartily and extends his thumb and pinky finger, making a "six" gesture.
The meaning is naturally "I have six championships, and you have nothing yet."
"Tang Long dunks for two points, an unapologetic low-post isolation play right off the bat, truly fearsome!"
"After the dunk, Tang Long makes eye contact with Jordan, as if saying to him, 'I've dominated your team!'"
"But for trash talk, you still have to look at the 'old gangster'; that championship taunt leaves Tang Long speechless."
"He truly lives up to his reputation as the league's most notorious trash-talker; even in retirement, his skills remain undiminished."
Zhang Weiping watches the interaction between Jordan and Tang Long with a smile.
On the sidelines, although Jordan has bested Tang Long in trash talk, it's merely a show of bravado.
At the same time, Jordan is silently comparing Tang Long to other centers.
With this kind of strength and explosiveness, Jordan can't imagine who else could match it.
Hakeem Olajuwon, the best of the "Twin Towers" (actually referring to the "Four Great Centers"), also possessed formidable physical prowess, but he relied more on his "Dream Shake" that floored countless opponents.
He turned many centers into "jumping jacks."
Jordan wonders if a skill-based player like Olajuwon could gain an advantage against Tang Long.
As for the "Gargoyle" Ewing and "The Admiral" Robinson, their physical conditioning is likely inferior to Tang Long's, making it difficult to completely contain him.
And peak Shaq, his playing style is very similar to Tang Long's.
Who is more explosive would likely be a draw.
After comparing them, Jordan realizes that none of the centers he's faced could definitively win against Tang Long.
This level of athleticism makes Jordan a little envious.
On the court, possession shifts to the Bobcats. They are in high spirits tonight.
Richardson calls for the ball, preparing for an isolation drive.
Every shooting guard's idol is Jordan, and Richardson naturally wants to put on a show in front of his idol.
Despite his weaker ball-handling offense, Richardson uses his absolute speed advantage to blow past Pavlovic.
He drives into the paint, fakes a step, and prepares to take off for a dunk!
His motion is fluid and explosive. Just then, Jordan by the sideline covers his eyes.
Doesn't this guy understand his opponent?
With Tang Long guarding the paint for the Cavaliers, he dares to attempt such a dunk?
As expected, in the next second, Tang Long appears directly above the ball and fiercely blocks Richardson's shot!
The force of the block sends Richardson stumbling back several steps, almost knocking him over.
Tang Long then leaps again, easily securing the rebound.
A block and a rebound acquired!
James has already keenly spotted the fast-break opportunity. Receiving a long pass from Tang Long, he unleashes his signature move!
The tomahawk slam!
4:0.
Tang Long's offense and defense at the start showcase his dominance.
Richardson's face turns ashen. He sheepishly looks away.
He wanted to show off in front of Jordan, but instead, he got "served a pizza."
It's a classic case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice!
Jordan shakes his head silently. This guy has good athleticism, but he just doesn't use his brain!