He Xi Meng found himself in front of the backsides of Rasheed Wallace and Dale Davis, both scrambling to get back on defense and establish a presence under the basket before He Xi Meng could drive.
The entire Trail Blazers defensive line had been shattered by He Xi Meng alone.
But had He Xi Meng said he was going to charge the basket?
Seeing that Rasheed Wallace and Dale Davis had no intention of stopping him, He Xi Meng immediately came to an abrupt stop and pulled up for a jump shot, a step inside the free-throw line.
This wasn't He Xi Meng's usual shooting spot, but did not being accustomed to it mean he couldn't make the shot?
This position, even closer than the free-throw line, was merely a matter of adjusting muscle exertion for a shooter of He Xi Meng's caliber, not an issue of familiarity.
In comparison, rhythm was more important.
In a rapid drive, the sudden stop, the sudden pull-up, the crucial key was rhythm. If the rhythm was right, any shot could go in; if the rhythm was off, even a layup under the basket might roll out…
From the block to his current position, He Xi Meng had driven past two Trail Blazers players, reaching an extreme momentum. He could either take off and directly challenge Rasheed Wallace and Dale Davis, charging the basket, or he could choose to avoid the enemy's锋芒 with a pull-up jump shot!
He Xi Meng had played a little crazy in his chase-down defense just now, and now, of course, he chose the latter!
And so, to the astonished eyes of Rasheed Wallace and Dale Davis, He Xi Meng stopped abruptly and shot, sinking it steadily, giving them no chance to block.
"Shit! I should have known this kid wouldn't just rush in blindly..."
Rasheed Wallace clenched his fist angrily under the basket, the helplessness of this defense making him very uncomfortable.
After taking the jump shot, He Xi Meng turned and headed back on defense without looking back. There was no celebratory gesture. He had just committed a turnover, and this shot was merely to make up for it. It just… consumed a lot of stamina…
"Well done!"
Duncan was waiting near mid-court, intending to give He Xi Meng a celebratory head pat, but He Xi Meng subtly shifted a step, narrowly dodging Duncan's gesture. Duncan had to change it to a high-five.
"I'm talking about that block!" Duncan added, "That block was timed perfectly! You have a lot of talent on defense..."
"Stop it!"
He Xi Meng quickly stopped Duncan from digging a hole. "That last play was just an accident! It was just a reactive response after I was stolen from..."
Duncan said nothing, tilted his head, and glared at He Xi Meng with a faint smile on his face.
Duncan's expression clearly indicated "I don't believe you!"
"Believe it or not!"
He Xi Meng didn't argue with Duncan, turned and got into position, and reminded Duncan, "The opponent might attack David's spot repeatedly. Be ready to help David with some help defense! Rasheed is hard to guard!"
"You mean that afro kid?" Duncan pointed at number 30, Rasheed Wallace, who was walking by.
He Xi Meng was speechless: "You idiot, are you trying to provoke him?"
Hearing Duncan asking He Xi Meng, Rasheed Wallace immediately stopped and asked, "Are you looking for trouble with me, kid?"
Facing the fierce Rasheed Wallace, Duncan was unfazed.
"Xi Meng said you're a tough guy to guard, so I'm supposed to help David contain you!"
"Xi Meng's right! Believe me, David can't do it, and neither can you!"
"I want to try!"
"You'll only humiliate yourself!"
"David, let's switch!"
Duncan completely ignored Rasheed Wallace's warning and directly switched with David Robinson.
He Xi Meng held his forehead, sighing inwardly, "These hot-tempered big men, each one is more individualistic than the last, and harder to manage..."
"Damon, give me the ball!"
After Duncan and David completed the switch, Rasheed Wallace also unhesitatingly took the ball from Amar'e Stoudemire.
In the early 21st century, the league not only had the 'Big Four Shooting Guards,' but also the 'Big Four Power Forwards'!
Dirk Nowitzki wasn't qualified for the top four at the time. The top four were actually Duncan, Webber, Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace!
However, Rasheed Wallace often played center out of necessity for his team. But strictly speaking, Rasheed Wallace was a power forward, and a top-tier one at that.
On this play, Rasheed Wallace received the ball at the edge of the paint, signaled for his teammates to clear out.
Facing Duncan, he posted up twice, turned directly to the baseline, extended his arm, and shot, hitting the glass for the score!
"Whoa!" Wasn't that Duncan's signature move?
Rasheed Wallace might look like a rough guy, but he was also subtly crafty. For his first possession, he imitated Duncan's favorite and most skillful post-up, turn-around, bank shot!
The only difference, perhaps, was that Rasheed Wallace's arm was extended straighter when he shot, his release point was higher, and it was naturally harder to block!
Duncan stared blankly as Rasheed Wallace made the shot, then turned and took the ball from He Xi Meng!
Dale Davis was supposed to be the primary defender on Duncan, with Rasheed Wallace providing help defense.
But the two clearly had a competitive streak. During the defensive transition, Rasheed Wallace directly told Dale Davis, "Let's switch!"
Dale Davis had no objection to the switch; after all, he occasionally played center. But when Dale Davis tried to follow Coach Cheeks' strategy and come up to help Rasheed Wallace guard Duncan, he was immediately yelled at by the "Screaming Tyrant."
"Get out of here! I don't need help defense! Let me guard him one-on-one!"
"But the coach said we have to double-team Tim..."
"I don't care who said it, right now, let me deal with him alone! Don't you understand?"
"Okay, okay..."
Seeing Rasheed Wallace on the verge of losing control, Dale Davis decisively gave up. He would rather offend Coach Cheeks than offend Rasheed Wallace. The endless stream of complaints from Rasheed was truly unbearable…
So, the best approach was to not provoke him!
Since he said no help defense, then no help defense it was! As for Coach Cheeks… if you have the guts, tell the Screaming Tyrant yourself…
Rasheed Wallace got his one-on-one defense on Duncan as he wished!
"Everyone says you're the best power forward in the league! Before your injury, I admit you were..."
The implication from Rasheed Wallace was that he questioned whether Duncan could still maintain the invincible state he had in the previous two seasons.
Duncan remained silent, but he clearly understood Rasheed Wallace's meaning.
This possession, he couldn't pass!