No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 831 - 354. The little giant sat down and couldn’t get up again.

Chapter 831: 354. The little giant sat down and couldn’t get up again.

Watching Zhang Yang fall out of bounds, hearing the fans’ sighs, Yao Ming spat out, "Damn it."

Really dared to shoot!

He fought hard to guard the paint, while his teammates were pressing on the outside, initially limiting Zhang Yang to 8 points in the third quarter, just like the second quarter. Although the field goal percentage was higher, 3 out of 6, Zhang Yang didn’t get a chance to shoot a three, which was already quite good.

Although the point difference narrowed to 3 points at one point, it was pulled back to 7, but at least they won the quarter by 1 point.

The Bobcats in the third quarter are one of the best in the league. Without considering the net score, just looking at scoring, they average 28.1 points in the third quarter, ranking first in the league.

Being able to surpass the Bobcats in this quarter, even if the point difference didn’t narrow much, Yao Ming felt it was worth it, fighting hard on both offense and defense, obtaining 9 points while preventing the opponents from scoring much in the paint.

In the end, Zhang Yang, who hadn’t had a three-point opportunity all quarter, forced a shot over Luol Deng who had just covered, and made it!

In the last few seconds, the Bulls launched a long ball, Duhon attempted a sneak attack, but the veteran Hill was prepared, retreated first, and Duhon’s pull-up jumper outside the free-throw line missed, ending the third quarter.

Zhang Yang scored 11 points in a single quarter, adding to the 21 in the first quarter and 8 in the second, totaling 40 points in three quarters!

Leading the Bobcats to enter the final quarter with a 101 to 91 lead over the Bulls!

It’s not over yet...

During the break, Skiles swapped out Yao Ming, who played the whole third quarter earning 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, for rest and sent in the combination of Hinrich, Duhon, Luol Deng, Ben Wallace, and Aaron Gray, preparing to play a fast rotation defense to continue wearing down the Bobcats.

The Bulls were actually running a war of attrition strategy from the beginning, with results all along, not as evident in the first half since Zhang Yang scored 21 in the first quarter and attracted a lot of defensive attention in the second. But it became effective in the third quarter, limiting the Bobcats to just 26 points in the first 11 minutes and 40 seconds, much lower than the first two quarters and the season average, only to have Zhang Yang sink an irrational three at the end, surpassing the season average.

Skiles’ defensive strategy was conservative, but for the powerful Bulls team, it was the most suitable choice, playing king’s way basketball, similar to the championship Spurs under Duncan.

For a team with peak Yao Ming and a prime Duncan, delicate tactical coordination and flashy in-game tactics often pale compared to solid hard play, focusing on sheer force.

On the other side, Carlisle sent out the entire starting lineup.

Back from the break, the Bobcats attacked.

Felton received the ball and pushed it to the frontcourt. As soon as he reached the left of the arc, he saw Zhang Yang waving from the baseline, and passed it to him when Zhang Yang slowed down.

Zhang Yang caught the ball one step inside the three-point line, stepped out, reached the right arc beyond the three-point line, turned around, and shot a three over Luol Deng...

Seeing Zhang Yang’s smooth motion and fluent exertion, Luol Deng knew this ball was gone again.

Luol Deng stood firm and then turned his head just in time to see the ball fall into the basket.

Deng Englai: Catching me to bully, huh?

Why don’t you shoot like that when facing Sefolosha? Just bullying me because my burst to defend was slow?

Also, what happened to playing tactics once you pose a threat?

Zhang San: I am the tactic!

After a brief emotional breakdown, Luol Deng refocused on the game.

Let Sefolosha guard Zhang Yang... it works better off the ball, but since the third quarter, the Bulls haven’t let Sefolosha guard him. In the second half, based on past encounters, Zhang Yang would ramp up isolation plays, and sophomore Sefolosha couldn’t withstand Zhang Yang’s post-ups.

Luol Deng’s defense, at least, could force Zhang Yang to play off the ball. If Zhang Yang held the ball and drove to the basket, Luol Deng would be happy, for the giants, Big Ben, one of them would handle the bad boy.

Now the Bulls attacked, Duhon and Aaron Gray initiated a pick and roll, breaking into the paint, Hinrich caught the ball on the right side, faced with supplementary defense, and passed again...

Luol Deng moved from the left 45-degree angle around to the right 45-degree angle, using Ben Wallace’s off-ball screen to shake off Mike Miller, caught Hinrich’s direct pass, shot a three from the right 45-degree angle... too strong!

He put all his strength into paying Zhang Yang back, but couldn’t control the force, hitting the far side of the rim!

Zhang Yang grabbed the defensive rebound on the baseline, pushed the fast break... couldn’t finish, as the Bulls’ lineup was quick.

He passed the ball to Felton at mid-circle, Felton pushed to the left arc, and passed back to Zhang Yang at the right arc.

Duhon saw Zhang Yang catch the ball and take a step back. He charged at Zhang Yang directly, joining Luol Deng in a double-team.

Zhang Yang stepped back, jumped... and flung it left!

Felton coordinated seamlessly, pulling away to the left sideline, caught the ball for a three-pointer... in again!

Skiles quickly called a timeout.

Only 43 seconds into the final quarter, the Bobcats halted their opponents!

Seeing the players on the court flock to Felton, Carlisle excitedly high-fived his colleagues.

Carlisle: "Giving Jack tactical autonomy was definitely the right call!"

Vincent: "We’ve been rigorously practicing tactics, insisting on executing them during games, and making sure the players remember how to play tactically, how to adapt with Jack, that’s the key."

Carlisle: "You can’t seem to go a day without disagreeing with me, can you?"

Vincent: "No need to be polite, it’s what I should do."

Coach: How to deal with wanting to stab a brother in the back twice?

The Bobcats’ coach and players were excited, thrilled, but the substitute bench on the other side was different.

Skiles was not feeling good at all.

Up to now, for most of the time, the Bulls and Bobcats have been playing back and forth.

During the first half, the Bobcats led by 7 points amidst the back-and-forth, relying on the information gap of their tactical play. Their tactical cooperation details and on-site tactical adaptation were all new to the Bulls.

Especially in the first quarter, the Bobcats performed perfectly; anyone who came was hammered.

The Bulls were only 7 points behind in regular time, maintaining a high possibility of a comeback; the players’ performance and the coaches’ on-site adaptation were all done well.

However, from the third quarter 11:45 to the final 0:43, less than 1 minute, Zhang Yang and Felton hit 3 consecutive three-pointers, directly widening the point gap to 16 points! The score was 107 to 91!

Skiles was really knocked silly this time.

That troublesome kid seriously doesn’t play by the rules!

...

Yao Ming sat down to rest and didn’t get up again.

This season, Yao Ming has encountered such a situation before.

After scoring 20 points in three quarters, dominating the opponent to a clear lead, at the start of the final quarter, the teammates’ high-speed rotation pressing defense collapsed the opponent. Yao Ming sat down to rest, and after resting the game was won. Initially, he wasn’t used to it, but by now, he was already accustomed; this season, he’s clocked out early in at least seven or eight games in three quarters.

But tonight’s situation, he still wasn’t accustomed to, completely different from usual, this time they were the ones being collapsed!

After the Bobcats hit 3 consecutive three-pointers across quarters, extending the point gap to 16 points, Skiles didn’t rashly put Yao Ming back early. Yao played the entire third quarter and had to rest in the final quarter; it’s only the regular season. Even if the opponent is the strongest competitor in the East, the Bobcats, he adhered to this rotation plan. The playoffs are only three weeks away, and there’s no room for risk of Yao Ming getting injured, to prevent any accidents.

Yet while Yao rested, Hinrich and Luol Deng fought desperately with the team. In the remaining time, they only played back and forth with the Bobcats. When Hinrich stole and made a 2+1 breakthrough, leading a team wave of 9 to 3 reducing the gap to 8 points, the game time was already down to 35 seconds.

They never managed to regain hope for a comeback. When there were only two minutes left, still trailing by 14 points, Skiles had basically given up by then. The opponents had already subbed out Felton, Zhang Yang, Brad Miller, and Okafor, leaving Jarett Jack, Mike Miller, Hill, alongside Pietrus and Perkins to play garbage time.

Yes, the 9 to 3 wave led by Hinrich was achieved during garbage time; he was unwilling, just didn’t want to give up.

Actually, earlier, halfway through the fourth quarter, Skiles had already chosen to let Yao Ming, who had scored 11 in the first quarter, 6 in the second, 9 in the third, totaling 26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks in three quarters, clock off. Zhang Yang and Felton scored 9 points in 58 seconds, killing the Bulls’ chance of a comeback.

In the last 35 seconds, the Bulls did not score again. At this point, trailing by 8 points, there was absolutely no hope unless someone on their team turned into a hot-handed McGrady.

Jarett Jack made a mid-range shot in the final moments, pulling the point gap back to double digits.

At 11:21 PM, the final whistle blew.

First quarter 21 points, second quarter 8 points, third quarter 11 points, final quarter 12 points, Zhang Yang played 44 minutes the whole game, shooting 19 of 32, including 5 of 9 from three-point range, and 9 of 10 from free throws, crazily scoring 52 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks!

Felton shot 9 of 16, including 4 of 6 from three-point range, plus 3 of 4 from free throws, efficiently getting 25 points and 5 assists.

With the double guns’ efficient and powerful offensive firepower, the Bobcats won the Bulls by 10 points with a score of 131 to 121!

Refusing to become the stepping stone for the Bulls to achieve 60 wins and raising their record to 53 wins and 19 losses!

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