Chapter 646: Curry Is Too Green
Both sides went all out in the 1st quarter, attacking back and forth while holding almost nothing back.
Both teams understood the importance of a strong start. Gaining an early advantage meant seizing the initiative.
A large part of China's winning streak in this World Championship had come from their excellent starts.
Team USA had always been the same way. They had dominated international competition for years, so starting strong was almost a natural habit for them.
Durant scored 14 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in the 1st quarter, fully unleashing his offensive potential.
Chen Yan had 11 points and 3 assists. Yao Ming added 6 points and 4 rebounds.
Yi Jianlian, China's 2nd leading scorer in this World Championship, only managed 2 points. Defending Durant consumed most of his attention, which greatly affected his offensive performance.
What frustrated Yi Jianlian the most was that he had spent so much energy and still could not stop Durant.
Jonas saw all of this.
For the rest of the game, he planned to have other players take turns guarding Durant, trying to free Yi Jianlian as much as possible. Otherwise, Yi would probably have a very difficult night.
The 1st quarter ended 26 to 23, with Team USA leading by 3 points.
In the 2nd quarter, Jonas kept Chen Yan on the court.
The other Chinese players had not found their rhythm yet, so Jonas did not dare take Chen Yan out. If Dream Team 9 suddenly went on a scoring run, China would be completely forced onto the defensive.
Yao Ming went to rest.
His age and injuries were factors, and even in a crucial stage like the final, Jonas did not dare overuse him.
That was what a responsible coach should do.
China's backcourt consisted of Liu Wei and Chen Yan, with Zhou Peng at small forward, while Wang Zhizhi and Su Wei formed the interior.
Team USA sent out Stephen Curry, Gordon, Granger, Odom, and Love.
This was a small lineup. The tallest player, Love, was only 208 cm.
It seemed Coach K was preparing to increase the pace in the 2nd quarter.
If China missed a shot, Dream Team 9 had 3 or 4 players who could immediately sprint into transition. Love, as the primary outlet passer, had excellent long pass ability, which was exactly why Coach K placed him in this lineup.
Love did not disappoint Coach K.
At the start of the 2nd quarter, he delivered consecutive accurate long passes, 1st assisting Granger for a 2 handed dunk, then assisting Curry on a 3 pointer.
Team USA executed its planned tactics and unleashed a 7 to 0 run, quickly extending the lead to double digits.
Team USA played well during this stretch, but that was also built on China's poor performance.
On offense, China went cold.
On defense, Wang Zhizhi and Su Wei lacked mobility and could not keep up with Dream Team 9's pace.
The score became 33 to 23.
To avoid the situation worsening, Jonas called timeout.
After the timeout, he brought in Sun Dasheng and Yi Jianlian.
This move increased China's mobility and strengthened the interior defense.
Chen Yan remained on the court, and Jonas instructed him to handle the ball more and look for isolation opportunities.
Having an ace like Chen Yan was exactly for moments when the offense became stagnant.
Jonas did not dare keep the bench lineup on the court too long.
It was not that he refused to give the reserves a chance to perform.
The gap was simply too large.
China's reserves regularly lost by more than 30 points in internal scrimmages against the starters. They were not on the same level.
By contrast, the gap between Team USA's starters and reserves was much smaller. Sometimes, when the reserves were in good form, they could even beat the starters.
That was the reality.
For China to win this game, the starters would definitely have to play longer and spend more energy.
"Team USA has increased the pace during this stretch," Kenny Smith said with a hint of concern. "That is not good news for China. Team USA has always been dangerous when they run. Since Dream Team 1, that has been their tradition. When they get rolling in transition, they hit like a storm."
Barkley's comment was more direct.
"Let's see how Chen Yan handles it after the timeout."
Yao Ming continued watching from the sideline.
Every fan had their eyes fixed on Chen Yan.
Chen Yan dribbled past half court, and Sun Dasheng voluntarily came up to set a screen for him.
Since Sun Dasheng was not an interior player, the screen quality was not high.
Wang Zhizhi immediately came over to set a 2nd screen.
Chen Yan liked running pick and roll with players like Wang Zhizhi.
Wang had range, which could effectively create driving space for Chen Yan.
Wang Zhizhi drifted out to the perimeter, and Love switched onto Chen Yan.
Chen Yan drove all the way toward the baseline, then suddenly spun back, faking a move toward the 3 point line.
Immediately after, he turned again, lowered his center of gravity, and slipped directly under Love's arm.
Love's athleticism was average.
In Chen Yan's eyes, he was just a big, soft target.
Chen Yan was very confident he could beat him off the dribble.
After breaking through from the baseline, Chen Yan easily laid the ball in for 2 points.
He barely jumped on this play, finishing the offense in the most energy saving way possible.
33 to 25.
Chen Yan scored his 13th point.
Seeing Chen Yan score again, Durant grew a little restless on the bench and signaled that he wanted to enter the game.
Durant's goal tonight was not only to win.
He wanted to win beautifully.
So, how could he win beautifully?
For a scorer like him, there was only 1 answer.
Surpass Chen Yan in single game scoring.
Team USA head coach Coach K waved his hand at Durant, signaling that he understood Durant's eagerness, but he should not rush.
Coach K had his own plan.
It was not Durant's time to return yet.
In Dream Team 9, Coach K's word was law.
He had absolute authority, and every star had to obey him.
2 years earlier at the Olympics, even players of Kobe and James's level were no exception, let alone Durant.
Dream Team 9 inbounded quickly.
Curry brought the ball across half court and passed to Gordon.
Gordon used a screen to move laterally to the free throw line, then pulled up for a jumper.
Yi Jianlian rushed out from the paint to contest.
The shot missed.
Wang Zhizhi grabbed the rebound and immediately threw a long pass.
Wang Zhizhi's basketball IQ was very high. Before securing the rebound, he had already spotted Chen Yan.
Wang thought the pass might be a bit too strong.
But for Chen Yan, it was perfect.
It gave him enough room to accelerate and sprint.
Curry was chasing from the wing, but Chen Yan did not even look at him.
At this stage, Curry was still thin and lanky, completely insufficient on defense.
Chen Yan received the ball and continued accelerating, leaning into Curry as he gained speed.
1 small step before the free throw line, Chen Yan gathered the ball and took off, ignoring Curry completely.
It was dominant.
Curry followed for 1 step before deciding to give up.
Chen Yan's speed had fully activated. If Curry continued forcing the contest, he would definitely give up an and 1, or even get posterized.
That would be embarrassing.
"Boom!"
Chen Yan completed a one handed slam dunk.
"Ah!"
After landing, Chen Yan roared toward the camera.
Curry watched but did not dare say a word.
On one hand, that was because of his personality.
On the other hand, Chen Yan was Curry's idol, and Curry respected him.
However, respect was one thing.
On the court, it was still a battle to the death.
Curry prepared to answer with a 3 pointer, and Chen Yan personally defended him on this possession.
Curry used 2 consecutive behind the back dribbles, but he still could not create enough shooting space.
He then added another behind the back dribble into a step back, preparing to shoot a 3 pointer from even deeper.
However, Chen Yan had already anticipated Curry's idea.
The reason was simple.
Chen Yan himself often looked for shooting opportunities from 1 step beyond the 3 point line, so he naturally understood Curry's intention.
Chen Yan closed in.
Curry's rhythm became slightly disrupted, and his mind went a little blank.
He quickly gathered the ball, trying to release the 3 pointer before Chen Yan could extend his hand.
Curry's release was quick.
But Chen Yan rose even faster.
"Slap!"
A frontal block.
At this stage, Curry was still too green.
.....
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