nycdaug Chapter 517, Part 1: The King's Time!
Chapter 517, Part 1: The King's Time!
With a whistle, the referee blew his whistle, pointed at Zeng Fanbo, and gestured to the scorer's table that Zeng Fanbo had committed a foul.
Zeng Fanbo also raised his hand high, like a student who had made a mistake.
But Murray could see clearly that the Chinese kid had a smug look on his face.
Murray looked exasperated.
If he sensed that the Chinese player was about to foul him, he would pass the ball out beforehand.
Wang Xiucheng turned around and bumped fists with Zeng Fanbo.
Nash, standing on the sidelines, also applauded, clearly satisfied with Zeng Fanbo's decisive foul.
The next moment, Nash looked at Malone on the other side.
Do you think you're the only one who will commit a foul?
Zeng Fanbo's appearance not only replaced Claxton, giving the Nets another three-point shooting option, but also meant that the Nets could resort to fouling tactics in the final minute if necessary.
The Nuggets believed that giving Wang Xiucheng free throws was more worthwhile than giving him three-pointers, so they fouled him.
The Nets, naturally, could choose to foul in order to give Wang Xiucheng offensive time and opportunities to shoot three-pointers.
Tactics are a two-way street.
As for who actually had the advantage, we can only find out after the game is over and a review is conducted.
Murray went to the free-throw line, received the ball, and prepared to shoot.
Fans outside the baseline were dancing wildly, trying to distract Murray from his free throws.
Two fans even took off their shirts, revealing the cartoons drawn on their large bellies.
Several beautiful cheerleaders were making sexy and provocative gestures towards Murray.
But Murray was unaffected and made both free throws.
The Nets still hold a one-point lead at 26-25.
But the Nets retained possession of the ball.
beep!
The referee blew the whistle, and Nash called a timeout.
Durant and Westbrook both stood on the sidelines, reaching out to give high-fives to the players on the court.
Nash took the tactical board and started drawing on it before Wang Xiucheng and the others even sat down.
"You'll serve in a bit," Nash said, pointing to Zeng Fanbo standing next to him.
Zeng Fanbo took a sip of the water handed to him by the uniformed staff and nodded.
"Everyone should screen for Wang so he can receive the ball, but it doesn't have to be you who shoots. If someone else has an opportunity, they can pass the ball. 14 seconds is enough..."
With 14 seconds left in the game, Nash called a timeout not only to arrange tactics but also to make substitutions.
Zeng Fanbo completed his task well, leaving Wang Xiucheng with 14 seconds.
If the Nets can score two points in those 14 seconds, then this tactic will be considered a success.
If we can score three points, then this tactic will be successful.
With a beep, the pause ended.
Wang Xiucheng, Durant, Westbrook, Zeng Fanbo, and Seth Curry were the five players who entered the game.
All five of them can shoot three-pointers.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets also deployed five perimeter defenders, with a very clear objective: to defend the Nets' three-pointers.
Zeng Fanbo stood outside the sideline, received the ball from the referee, and held it high above his head.
The referee started the timer.
The Nets and Nuggets players were all standing at the top of the key, and the moment the referee blew the whistle, everyone sprang into action.
Durant and Westbrook executed a coordinated close-range maneuver, blocking Murray from behind.
Wang Xiucheng strode to the backcourt and received the ball from Zeng Fanbo.
At this moment, Malone shouted at the referee, "Moving screen!"
The referee simply ignored it.
Zeng Fanbo returned to the court immediately after serving, and without caring who was closest to him, he immediately stood behind him.
Durant saw that Zeng Fanbo had set a screen, so he immediately went around to the three-point line.
Suddenly, there was no one in front of Durant; Porter Jr., who was guarding him, was blocked by Zeng Fanbo.
Durant turned his head, stretched out his hand, and Wang Xiucheng passed the basketball to him.
Durant received the ball and raised it to shoot.
Little Porter had already bypassed Zeng Fanbo and pounced on him.
Durant didn't actually jump; instead, he dribbled the ball to the side and then jumped again.
Just then, Gordon abandoned Westbrook and rushed over.
Durant had already jumped up. Looking at the aggressive Gordon, Durant ultimately didn't shoot the ball, but instead passed it to the side on the spot.
The basketball slammed onto the floor with a thud.
Wang Xiucheng, unaware of what had happened, had already shielded Murray behind him and ran to the top of the arc, catching the basketball and jumping with the ball.
However, the basketball still didn't go through this time.
Wang Xiucheng's one foot remained firmly planted on the ground.
However, this movement caused Murray behind him to sway.
Murray reached out to cut the ball, but found that Wang Xiucheng did not jump. So his hand, which was originally meant to cut the ball, ended up hitting Wang Xiucheng's arm.
At this moment, Wang Xiucheng finally jumped up and threw the basketball.
As the basketball left his hands, Wang Xiucheng shouted "Ah!" loudly.
Wang Xiucheng, who had fallen to the side, kept his eyes fixed on the basketball.
Everyone in the stadium stood watching the ball, eager to know the final result.
Some children even covered their eyes to watch, leaving only a small gap between their hands.
Bang!
Swish!
Finally, the basketball hit the rim and bounced up.
But in the end, the basketball still went into the basket.
Three-pointer scored!
call!
Instantly, cheers and whistles erupted from the crowd.
That ball went in!
29:25.
and……
With a whistle, the referee blew his whistle and pointed at Murray.
Murray committed a foul, Wang Xiucheng's three-pointer was valid, and he needs to make the free throw.
Instantly, the entire stadium erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Many female fans shouted Wang Xiucheng's name loudly, shaking their bodies wildly.
Wang Xiucheng didn't wait for Durant and the others to come and help him up; instead, he nimbly flipped himself up and stood up.
The next moment, Wang Xiucheng turned around, looked in one direction, and then reached out and tapped his wrist.
Lin Yun'er's cheeks flushed red. At that moment, she seemed to hear Wang Xiucheng whispering to her.
Although Lin Yun'er knew that Wang Xiucheng might not be able to see it, she still stood up like the other fans, stretched out her wrist with the couple's watch on it, and tapped her wrist with her other hand.
"So handsome!" Quan Youli, standing next to Lin Yun'er, shouted with sparkling eyes, just like the other female fans.
Lin Yun'er nodded subconsciously. Yes, so handsome!
At this moment, not only Lin Yun'er, but many people were clapping, cheering, or tapping their wrists like Wang Xiucheng.
Therefore, no one would find Lin Yun'er's action strange.
Lillard stood up again, nodding and pointing to his wrist.
He seemed quite satisfied with Wang Xiucheng's shot and his imitation of his own movements.
Wang Xiucheng looked at Lin Yun'er. Although the distance was relatively far and the lights in the stands were dim, he still saw Lin Yun'er smiling.
But the next moment, when Wang Xiucheng saw Lillard stand up and tap his wrist, Wang Xiucheng immediately calmed down.
That's why they say veteran players know when to cool down the younger players.
With 3 seconds left in the game, Wang Xiucheng turned around, high-fived Durant and a few others, and stood at the free-throw line, ready to shoot.