Chapter 108: Bitter Battle
Chris. Paul looked at the timer on the rebound, and he took the baseline and immediately started running, hoping to get as close to the basket as possible.
Yiyang naturally didn't let Paul get a chance so easily, and he adopted a full-court pressing defensive strategy against Paul according to Carlisle's arrangement. If someone else were pressing on Paul, it would be tantamount to suicide. But Yiyang's speed will not suffer when he is close to Paul.
Paul managed to get past half time despite the huge distraction, but time was running out. There was no way, the No. 3 Hornets had to pull onions on dry land and force a shot.
Yiyang's interference was very timely, although he couldn't finish the cap directly. But Paul's ultra-long-range three-point shot under serious interference also directly turned into a hollow outside the basket. In the next second, the red light on the rebound turned on, and the electronic beep resounded throughout the court.
At the end of the third quarter, 72-70, the Hornets still led by two points after a not-so-smooth third quarter. But everyone knows that this is not a lead at all. If the game is extended by another 24 seconds, the Mavericks have a good chance of tying the score.
ESPN's on-site cameraman immediately focused on Yiyang, whose outstanding performance in the second half of the third quarter was one of the keys to the Mavericks' ability to salvage the situation at this moment.
Chris. Paul's defence is still excellent, but he can't keep a clean sheet as straight away as he did before. Yiyang frequently scored points and passed the ball in the third quarter with a breakthrough method, leading the Mavericks to play the most efficient offensive frenzy in the whole game.
Although Italy's Belinelli's two consecutive three-pointers and Paul's tenacious fighting spirit allowed the Hornets to hold on to the lead in the end. But their leading position is actually already in the wind and rain.
"Well done! I knew you could! After Yiyang walked off the court, the first person to catch up was not Carlisle, but the old Kidd who taught Yiyang on the right path.
Kidd knows that what Yiyang lacks most now is actually experience. If you are willing to share your experience with him, then Yiyang's weakness will instantly become much smaller.
Chris. Paul definitely deeply understands this, Yiyang is completely different from the stinky boy who didn't score a point in the first quarter of the game. Now he knows when to score and when to pass. When to break through, when to shoot.
Although in terms of data, Yiyang still can't be compared with Paul. But Paul also had to admit that it was becoming more and more difficult for him to prevent Yiyang.
After the Mavericks mascot performance, the fans in the stadium burst into loud cheers. Of course, they weren't cheering for the mascot's performance, but for the upcoming fourth-quarter showdown.
Jason. Kidd, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Paul's opponent made another substitution. Paul, who had barely rested in the first three quarters, was exhausted by this time, but he still had to accept the impact of the opposing two.
Willie. Green has been voted by Barkley as the best player of the game because of his "help" Yiyang. In other words, Monty. Williams is also unlikely to keep Green on the court. Chris. Paul's playing time in the fourth quarter probably won't be reduced much.
Dragging his tired footsteps, Kidd forced a breakthrough again. Paul was tempted to use his superb steals to stop Kidd, but how could an experienced Kidd make such a mistake.
His calm break sent Paul back in the way, and in the end, Kidd used a breakaway ball to help Nowitzki hit a mid-range shot. The score was levelled and the two sides were back on the same page.
In the next few minutes of the game, the Mavericks were very solid on both offensive and defensive ends, and the Hornets, under the leadership of Paul, were also steady and did not continue to let the difference be stretched.
Carlisle is not in a hurry, now as long as the Mavericks can stabilize the situation, it will be considered a complete task. As for the responsibility for killing the game...... Carlisle looked at Yiyang and left it to someone younger and more impactful to complete.
Yiyang waited on the bench for a long time, and even Deshawn. Stevens was on the court, but Yiyang was still next to Carlisle. But this guy didn't say anything and didn't complain. If you change into a suit, people may think that this expressionless Chinese is an assistant coach.
For Vignarie, who watched the game in the early hours of the morning, the wonderful game in the fourth quarter almost made her fall asleep on the couch. After all, the only attraction in this girl's eyes is Yiyang.
Chris. Paul's insane counterattack exacerbated his physical exertion. Kidd's efforts paid off, and after halfway through the fourth quarter, Paul's shooting percentage dropped significantly. After a few more minutes, Paul's breakthrough was not as sharp as before.
At this point, there were only 3 minutes left before the end of the game, and the Mavericks still had a 3-point lead. In David. After West hit another shot and "The King of Fighters" took control of the ball, Carlisle jerked to his feet and called a timeout!
Everyone knows the purpose of Carlisle's pause, impact, and now as long as the Mavericks add some more impact, they can crush the weakened Hornets in one fell swoop! Who is the most impactful man on the Mavericks' lineup? There is no doubt that it is Yiyang!
"Also! For the last three minutes, I'll keep you on the pitch! If we lose today, in the next game, I'll reduce your playing time! Carlisle patted Yiyang on the shoulder solemnly, but Yiyang was not frightened by Carlisle's "threat". He just nodded silently, and everything looked almost any different from usual.
A panting Kidd sat on the bench and drank Gatorade frantically, the veteran defender having done everything he could to win the game. Similarly, Chris. Paul's condition was not much better. The only difference is that the Mavericks have Yiyang shouldering the responsibility on Kidd's shoulders. And Paul, he had to do it himself!
The game restarted with the Mavericks replacing all of their starters, with the exception of Kidd. The Hornets also started four starts, with Stojakovic replacing Belinelli.
In the first goal of the opening game, Yiyang used a lightning breakthrough to cause Paul's foul. Paul really wants to follow Yiyang, but Yiyang is now full of energy, and "Queen Bee" is exhausted.
Yiyang didn't make the mistake of missing a free throw in the third quarter, he hit two free throws steadily, and the Mavericks' advantage was consolidated again.
Switching to the Hornets offense, Paul called Okafor to block and dismantle, but broke through to the side that didn't cover. Unexpectedly, Yiyang actually moved sideways in time to block Wasp No. 3. Paul's breakthrough didn't succeed again!
Now, Paul's speed is not as terrifying as it used to be. As long as Yiyang reacts in time, he can complete the blocking immediately!
As a point guard with a great sense of the big picture, Paul is not obsessed with playing alone with Yiyang. Seeing that the opportunity was gone, Paul directly started a pass and threw the ball into the hands of Stojakovic.
The legendary shooter from Europe shot straight away, but the simple intent was easily spotted by the experienced Stevens.
Stevens managed to interfere, and the Hornets missed a three-point attempt. Yiyang took over the basketball, and the Mavericks ran wild again!
Yiyang suddenly hit the ground with a strong pass in the process of advancing, sending the ball to Stevens. Stevens is a defensive No. 2 who is usually less consistent in his shooting. So, Stojakovic didn't press it up.
But Yiyang's ball was so comfortable that Stevens couldn't help but want to try it. Stojakovic clearly didn't expect Stevens to start shooting, and by the time he blocked it, DeSean had already made a shot!
The basketball slammed into the basket, and it could be seen that DeSean's hand was indeed not soft. But after a few bounces in the circle, the basketball obediently fell into the net, and the Mavericks scored another three points! Yiyang also got his ninth assist in this game!
The bout was on the verge of collapse, and an impatient Ariza scrambled into the bottom corner. The basketball came out of the frame and almost hit. But the referee doesn't sympathize with you just because the basketball is just a fraction of a hit.
The Wasps, who had once again failed to harvest their grains, quickly retreated, but they were still no faster than the yellow lightning in Dallas. Yiyang showed his impact to the fullest, and this is the reason why Carlisle sent him on the field at the last moment.
Angry David. West directly dragged Yiyang, who had already jumped, down, although it was understandable to stop Yiyang with a foul on this ball, but Monty. Williams, the young manager, hugged his head in frustration. Because, this is already West's sixth foul in this game!
After West's six fouls "graduated", the Hornets had to use white forward Jason Brown. Smith replaced West, which meant the Hornets lost an important offensive stronghold.
Yiyang was in a quiet environment, still with two free throws and two hits. Every time Yiyang hits a shot, it seems to be stabbing Paul in the chest with a sharp knife.
In the final minute, the Hornets trailed by eight points. Everyone on the Mavericks' bench stood on the sidelines, ready to celebrate the victory.
At the last moment, Paul showed his terrifying side in front of Yiyang. This guy turned on the personal attack mode, and used a variety of difficult ways to hit and shoot continuously on Yiyang's head!
Facing the defense chasing three points, hit! Pull-up jump shot, hit! A layup with a completely twisted body that also hits!
Yiyang knows that the gap between himself and Paul cannot be bridged by Kidd in a few words. But Yiyang's excellent organization didn't let the Mavericks' scoring stagnate.
Although Paul's last-minute performance made everyone scared their mouths, in the last second, after Paul missed the three-point shot against Yiyang's defense, the New Orleans Hornets, who have won 8 in a row, lost by 3 points in Dallas!
95-98, the Dallas Mavericks, breaking the Hornets' unbeaten record this season!
After the game, Yiyang breathed a big sigh of relief, and his heart was beating wildly. With 16 points and 10 assists, Yiyang's statistics are not as good as Paul's 26 points and 9 assists. But anyway, this guy has successfully completed his mission.
Yiyang looked at his teammates who came up, and he was already physically and mentally exhausted, and he snuggled directly into the group of big men. I was not killed by Paul, and I persevered to the end......