Chapter 375: There's a Lot More You Don't Know
China opened with a 6 to 0 burst, and for a few glorious seconds, Wukesong sounded like it might crack in half.
Dream 8 barely blinked.
These were veterans of pressure, superstars who lived in late May and June. A 6 point hole in the first minute was nothing more than a reminder to wake up.
On Team USA's next trip, Kobe curled off a screen, got into the lane, and then snapped a sudden pass from near the free throw line.
Carmelo Anthony caught it on the perimeter and fired without hesitation.
Swish.
3 to 6.
Without a defensive 3 seconds rule, the paint stayed crowded, and pure downhill power lost some of its edge. But shooters, especially shooters with Anthony's quick trigger, became even more valuable. It was a big reason he could start on a roster this loaded. Team USA needed spacing as much as they needed star power.
…
China's ball again.
This time, Team USA sprang a full court press.
Liu Wei turned his back to the defender and spun repeatedly, protecting the ball while inching forward. Under the pressure, simply reaching half court felt like climbing a wall.
Chen Yan dropped back to mid court to receive, but Kobe read it instantly and stepped into the passing lane, cutting off the clean outlet.
Liu Wei had no choice. He swung it to Zhu Fangyu on the far side.
The moment the ball left his hands, LeBron James exploded.
The pass was telegraphed, and LeBron saw it the way predators see movement.
Slap.
He stole it clean, took 2 long strides, and the next part was pure LeBron.
Boom.
A tomahawk dunk that shook the rim and lit up Team USA's bench. White towels whipped through the air like surrender flags in reverse.
5 to 6.
Whether it was the NBA or international play, LeBron's dunks always felt like a statement, not just points.
…
China's possession again, and the press stayed on.
Team USA's conditioning was on another level, and they could turn defense into offense without burning out.
This time Liu Wei made the quick decision, 1 dribble in the backcourt, then a firm pass to Yi Jianlian at the high post.
Yi caught, pivoted, and immediately hit Chen Yan.
Under this kind of pressure, even crossing half court was work for China.
Jonas had considered starting Chen Yan at point guard. It would have cleaned up the ball handling and kept the offense from looking like a survival drill.
But it would also drain Chen Yan's legs, and China needed his scoring too much to spend his energy just bringing the ball up.
Chen Yan held it a step outside the arc.
Yao Ming slid up toward the high post again.
Kobe, with his experience, tracked the movement in his peripheral vision and preemptively shifted to fight over the screen. He refused to let Chen Yan get comfortable using Yao as a launch pad.
Against most guards, that would have stalled the possession.
With Chen Yan, it only changed the shape of the attack.
He did not pause. He did not reset.
He pushed the dribble forward and accelerated, a slightly risky burst, but sharp.
He gained a half step on Kobe.
It was a small detail, but in elite basketball, a half step is oxygen.
Howard stepped up to cut him off. Kobe chased from behind.
Walled in front, hunted from the back.
Chen Yan kept moving and hit a crossover Euro step in one flowing sequence, sliding through the narrowing gap like he had a map of it.
Then he lifted into a soft runner.
Classic floater.
Swish.
5 to 8.
2 assists, 2 scores, China's first 8 points all ran through Chen Yan.
There was no alternative. This team did not have a Nash. Chen Yan had to be the engine and the blade at the same time.
The camera caught him in close up as he backpedaled.
Jersey number 4.
In international play, numbers were limited to 4 through 15, so he chose the closest thing he could find to his favorite number, 0.
No symbolism, just practicality.
…
Team USA answered.
Kobe attacked casually, got into the paint, then turned and kicked the ball to LeBron.
LeBron sold a shot fake, then detonated.
He knifed into the lane, and as Yao rotated over, LeBron lofted the ball high.
Howard rose from a standstill and finished the alley oop with authority.
7 to 8.
Dream 8 had not been together long enough for endless sets and layered actions. Early on, they lived off talent, speed, and instincts.
…
China's possession.
Liu Wei crossed half court and swung it to Zhu Fangyu outside the arc.
No clean look. Zhu moved it again, feeding Chen Yan near the free throw line.
Chen Yan did not call for Yao to screen.
The pick and roll was deadly, but if they ran it every trip, Yao would be breathing fire by the second quarter.
Chen Yan palmed the ball with 1 hand, turned his body sideways to shield Kobe, then suddenly drove.
He wanted to rip open the defense with speed alone.
Kobe cut him off early, stepping into the lane like a door slammed shut.
Chen Yan pulled it back with a behind the back dribble, then burst again.
As he battled Kobe, he scanned the floor.
Howard was planted near the rim. Anthony was hovering on the edge of the paint. With Yao and Yi inside, the lane was crowded to the point of claustrophobia.
International basketball was harder to drive in. Chen Yan had heard the stories.
Now he felt the truth.
With 12 seconds on the shot clock, Chen Yan lowered his center of gravity and began backing Kobe down from the left elbow area.
Bang.
Bang.
The sound of muscle colliding brought back memories of the Western Conference Finals. The same kind of fight, the same kind of airless space.
Kobe was stronger. Chen Yan could not move him easily.
But Chen Yan's bag was deep.
Post ups were not just brute force for him. They were options, counters, variations.
Bang.
On the next bump, he used the contact's momentum, spun, and faded.
One Leg Fadeaway.
Kobe read it and stepped forward early, left hand rising to contest.
His timing was perfect.
What he did not anticipate was the raised leg, the subtle threat that made defenders hesitate just enough to avoid taking a painful hit.
It was not dirty, but it was real, and it forced a decision.
Even Kobe paused, a fraction of a second.
That fraction was all Chen Yan needed.
Swish.
7 to 10.
The arena roared again.
"Wow, that was a One Leg Shot, that shot is incredibly tough!"
"Great look, Chen Yan has scored 6 straight points to open the game, he came in ready!"
As they ran back, Kobe moved up beside him, eyes narrowed.
The 2 had played each other plenty last season, and Chen Yan had never pulled that move out in a game.
Kobe looked genuinely confused.
"You can do that too?"
Chen Yan's lips curled into a small, sharp smile.
"There's plenty you don't know."
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