After the timeout, Coach K, desperate for solutions, sent Rose and Westbrook to partner in the backcourt, attempting to solve the Chinese Team's impenetrable zone defense by speeding up for transition offense.
Facing the Chinese Team's "three-tower" lineup of Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and Qin Yue, this was indeed a theoretically viable strategy.
But in theory, remains theory, as the United States team, which lost a significant number of defensive rebounds in the latter half of the first quarter, couldn't execute the fast break they aimed for.
In the United States team's paint area, with Howard facing Yao Ming in front, Yi Jianlian behind, and Qin Yue looming overhead like a Celestial God Descending, the question arises: even if Howard could summon the spirit of O'Neal, how could he take on three defenders at once?
