Chapter 166 Playing With a Fixed Rhythm! Three-Pointers, Dunks, Etc.?
Whether it was intentional or not.
After Jiang Chen entered the game in the second quarter, he sank 3 of 4 three-pointers, scoring 9 consecutive points.
During this stretch, Terry only managed one three-pointer, tallying 3 points.
This surge allowed the Lakers to re-establish a 10-point lead.
Mavericks offense.
Terry didn't initiate the attack with the ball but moved off-ball. Following a series of passes, he found an open look for a three-pointer in the corner and shot immediately upon receiving the pass.
Unfortunately for him, the three-pointer missed this time, clanking off the rim.
Odom secured the rebound and passed it to Jiang Chen, who swiftly dribbled across half-court and launched another three-pointer over his defender.
The combination of [Midorima Shintarō's super high arc three-pointer] + [Sakurai Ryo's speedy shot] skills rendered the Mavericks' substitute defenders helpless.
They could only watch as Jiang Chen rained three-pointer after three-pointer over their outstretched hands.
Swish.
Once again, the ball sailed through the net.
The arena fell silent once more, a collective shiver running down the spines of the audience.
He showcased his dunks in the first quarter and now his three-pointers in the second. Did this Chinese rookie possess such a deliberate and effective rhythm in his gameplay?
"Another three-pointer. Jiang Chen is truly on fire!"
"If he continues this pace, will he break his career high for three-pointers made in a single game tonight?"
Mike Breen wondered aloud, his anticipation building.
"Terry's provocative gesture seems to have completely ignited Jiang Chen's competitive spirit. The Mavericks should brace themselves for a three-point barrage."
Van Gundy commented, fully aware that this was likely just the beginning.
Sidelines.
When Jiang Chen hit the first three-pointer, Carlisle didn't take it too seriously and even gestured for the bench players to remain calm.
However, as the second and third three-pointers swished through the net, Carlisle's expression grew increasingly solemn, and he appeared slightly agitated.
By the time Jiang Chen sank his fourth three-pointer, Carlisle was silently cursing under his breath.
This Terry, who does he think he can mess with?
Why did he choose to provoke Jiang Chen?
The main point was that all the shots this Chinese player was taking were three-pointers, which was truly unbelievable.
Beep!
Carlisle called a timeout, hastily rearranging the defensive strategy with a primary focus on containing Jiang Chen's three-point shooting.
Subsequently, he substituted in four of the main players: Nowitzki, Josh Howard, White, and Kidd.
Only Dampier remained on the court.
Dampier: "...???"
The second-best center in the Western Conference was just sitting on the bench...
With Terry, the players currently on the Mavericks' court could be considered their strongest lineup.
Carlisle understood this perfectly.
If the Lakers widened the gap further in the remaining minutes of the first half, it would be an uphill battle to recover in the second half.
On the Lakers' side, the starting lineup also returned to the court.
The Mavericks initiated the attack.
After Howard received the basketball, he drove towards the basket and shot over Odom's defense.
Bang!
The ball bounced off the rim.
This player had very distinct characteristics.
He possessed strong individual offensive and defensive abilities, but he simply couldn't pass the ball, averaging a mere 1.6 assists per game throughout his career.
As long as the basketball was in his hands, there were only two likely outcomes: a shot or a turnover.
Despite this, the benevolent Cuban had still offered him a lucrative contract.
However, after Josh Howard secured the big contract, he began to exhibit arrogance and frequently neglected his responsibilities.
Not only did he host an all-night birthday party at home during a critical juncture in the playoffs, leading to a poor performance in the subsequent game, but he also admitted to using marijuana during the offseason.
This caused his competitive form to decline rapidly.
Eventually, Cuban couldn't tolerate it any longer and traded him to the Wizards.
From that point on, Howard led a nomadic existence, moving from one team to another, ultimately retiring in relative obscurity.
Returning to the present game.
Gasol secured the defensive rebound.
After Kobe dribbled across half-court, he directed his teammates to execute the elevator doors play.
Jiang Chen easily found a shooting opportunity beyond the three-point line and launched another three-pointer after receiving a pass from Kobe.
Swish.
Another one in.
This marked his fifth three-pointer in the second quarter.
"Man, pass me the ball! I have to answer with a three-pointer of my own."
Terry said to Kidd with a serious expression.
Seeing the score differential widening, he hoped to salvage the situation with his hot shooting.
After all, he had made four three-pointers with exceptional efficiency in this quarter.
Kidd nodded, dribbled across half-court, and delivered the basketball to Terry in time as he found an open space.
Terry caught the ball and shot.
But his shooting touch seemed to have deserted him, and he missed the three-pointer again.
The Lakers countered, and Jiang Chen's three-pointer also missed.
Kobe crashed the boards, grabbed the offensive rebound, and made a quick tip-in.
Mavericks offense.
Terry, having lost his shooting touch, no longer attempted three-pointers so readily. His earlier overflowing confidence gradually waned, and he became more cautious in his shot selection.
Instead, Josh Howard went all out and made two consecutive mid-range shots to help the Mavericks stay afloat.
Lakers side.
Jiang Chen continued to do exactly as he had declared, persistently shooting three-pointers from beyond the arc, eliciting gasps from the spectators.
By the end of the half, some viewers had even switched their allegiance and started cheering for Jiang Chen.
Halftime arrived.
69:56.
The Lakers held a 13-point lead.
Jiang Chen had scored 21 points with 7 three-pointers in the quarter.
Terry had made four three-pointers and then went cold.
Entering the second half of the game.
The Mavericks continued with their starting lineup from the first half.
Dampier was back on the court.
After spending the entire second quarter on the bench, Dampier appeared much more subdued and no longer as flamboyant as he had been in the first quarter.
But Jiang Chen had no intention of letting Dampier off the hook.
The Lakers' first offensive possession of the second half.
Jiang Chen drove into the restricted area once again and completed a dunk directly over Dampier's head.
Even though Dampier committed a significant foul, yanking Jiang Chen in mid-air, he couldn't prevent the dunk.
The entire arena fell silent yet again.
This was the umpteenth time that Jiang Chen had effectively silenced the crowd.
What surprised the audience the most was the rhythmic nature of this Chinese player's game!
After the relentless three-point barrage in the second quarter, the dunks had resumed in the third!
The key was that he was consistently dunking over Dampier.
How much animosity and resentment was there?
The most bewildered individual was undoubtedly Dampier.
Recalling Jiang Chen's words from the first quarter, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Would Jiang Chen dunk on me again?
Being dunked on 5 times in a single game, was that even a record?
What a humiliation!
It was only two or three minutes into the Lakers' offensive possession.
When Jiang Chen dribbled the ball into the restricted area, despair washed over Dampier's face, tinged with a hint of viciousness!
Regardless of the outcome, Dampier charged forward without hesitation, like a warrior on a suicide mission.
Since we can't avoid it, let the storm rage even harder!
He vowed that he would make Jiang Chen pay the price this time. Even if it jeopardized his career, he would not allow this Chinese player to bully him like this again!