Chapter 377: Put Howard on a Poster
When the 1st quarter ended with the score tied, the reaction across the country was immediate.
"A tie after 1 quarter."
"Against Team USA."
"We were not even down."
"It does not matter how this ends, if they keep playing with this kind of heart, I am satisfied."
"Go, go."
For most fans, that 24 to 24 felt unreal. Nobody had expected China to stand toe to toe with the Dream Team, even for 10 minutes.
With that electricity still in the air, the 2nd quarter began.
China's lineup opened the period with Sun Dasheng, Wang Shipeng, Zhu Fangyu, Yi Jianlian, and Wang Zhizhi.
Jonas mixed starters with reserves on purpose. He wanted Yao Ming and Chen Yan, the 2 pillars, to breathe. He knew the real war was still waiting later.
Team USA's group featured Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard.
It was also a blend of starters and bench pieces, but the difference was brutal. China's bench was a bench. Team USA's bench looked like an All Star weekend flyer.
Zhu hit a 3 right away to get China on the board first.
On the other end, Deron missed a 3, but LeBron rose from behind and ripped the offensive rebound away from Wang Zhizhi.
Without Yao, China's rebounding protection dipped immediately. Yi and Wang Zhizhi were not natural rebound cleaners, and Team USA punished every loose ball.
Over the next 1 minute and 30 seconds, China went cold.
Team USA jumped on it, turning the drought into a quick run and stretching the lead to 6.
On the bench, Chen Yan's jaw tightened. The offense was getting messy, and in several possessions, China struggled just to cross half court.
Wang Shipeng was not a true ball handler. Under Wade's pressure, the weakness became loud. Wade stripped him clean, then went coast to coast for a solo dunk.
Sun Dasheng's fundamentals were steadier, but asking him to carry all the organizing, all the handling, and all the pressure was still too much.
Chen Yan stood up first.
Yao Ming's expression matched his.
They both looked at Jonas at the same time.
Jonas wanted them to rest longer, but the game would not wait. Without those 2 on the floor, China looked like a different team.
After a brief pause, Jonas nodded.
The 2 stars pulled off their warmups, peeled away the long pants, and walked toward the scorer's table.
The arena surged.
"Yao and Chen are checking in."
"They should have been in earlier."
"With Yao, the boards are safer."
"Without Chen, the guards cannot be trusted to bring it up."
Even the broadcast booth could not hide the same thought.
"Alright," the commentator said, voice rising. "Chen Yan and Yao Ming are standing by, ready to enter."
"The last stretch has not been good on either end," the analyst added. "Let's see what kind of change these 2 can bring once they step back on the floor."
On the court, Howard bullied his way inside against Yi and drew a foul. Jonas used the stoppage to sub.
Yao and Chen checked in together, replacing Yi Jianlian and Wang Shipeng.
Howard, unusually steady, made both free throws.
35 to 27.
Team USA led by 8.
Zhu inbounded to Chen Yan from the baseline.
With this group, Chen and Sun Dasheng would share point guard duties, but everybody in the building knew who the steering wheel belonged to.
Wade picked up Chen full court.
Chen did not rush. He walked the ball across half court like he was carrying a tray, calm, balanced, eyes up.
The moment he crossed, Wade turned up the heat.
Wade had barely played in the 1st quarter, his legs were fresh, and he came in hunting. He pressed with contact, reaching and swiping, trying to create chaos.
That style worked against China's other guards.
It did not work on Chen Yan.
If anything, it exposed Wade.
Chen extended his dribble and paused.
Wade saw the opening and reached in.
And in the exact moment Wade committed, he realized the trap was his.
Chen snapped into a behind the back dribble and blew past him in 1 clean motion.
From the stands, it looked like instinct, like a reflex, like Chen's body had already chosen the answer before Wade finished the question.
Chen switched the ball to his right hand and hit the accelerator.
Wade turned and chased, full sprint.
But how do you run down a man who is already gone?
Chen attacked the rim.
Howard left Yao Ming and slid over from the wing to help.
Howard's mobility was elite for a center.
It still was not enough.
By the time Howard reached the restricted area, Chen Yan was already in the air.
Not just jumping high, jumping fast, launching with a violent first step that turned the contest into a late decision.
Howard looked up at a man already above him and made his choice.
He dipped his head.
Boom.
The rim screamed.
Chen Yan finished a 1 handed dunk straight over Howard, the kind that made the backboard feel insulted.
When he landed, he clenched his fist and roared.
The sound in Wukesong swallowed him whole.
He had dunked on big men before.
This one was different.
This one was in a China jersey, on China's floor, with the whole country watching.
The crowd went wild.
"He just took off."
"That is Finals MVP athleticism."
"Dribble past, finish at the rim, all in 1 motion."
"So explosive."
"1 second he is accelerating, the next he is hanging on the rim."
Someone in the stands laughed loud enough for the microphone to catch it.
"Howard ducked like he was shy."
"Hahaha, Chen Yan turned the big man into a drama heroine."
On Team USA's bench, Kobe snapped his towel and barked out at Howard.
"Why did you move? You gotta meet him. You cannot let him do that."
Howard just shook his head and jogged into the front court, unbothered.
To him, it was a dunk. A smart business decision. Chen had already left the ground, and forcing a contest could have turned into an and 1.
To Kobe, it was philosophy.
Even if it cost you 1, you did not give up the rim for free.
They had different basketball religions.
So they spoke different languages.
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