Today, the Marousi Stadium is packed with over 2,000 Chinese fans!
It is said that to cheer for the Chinese team in this game! Chinese fans from several surrounding countries of Greece spontaneously organized themselves, carrying red flags and arriving at the Marousi Stadium to cheer for the Chinese men's basketball team!
Outside the stadium, their identities are diverse. Some are businessmen, some are international students, and some are staff from overseas embassies. But inside the stadium, in the stands, they have only one identity: Chinese fans!
Today, they all have the five-star red flag printed on their cheeks, each holding a small red flag in their hands. In the stands, there is also a huge red flag, almost large enough to cover a quarter of the Chinese fan formation. Before the game started, the large red flag had already been unfurled once in the stands, and it was exceptionally vibrant as it was passed hand to hand among the fans…
The Chinese team is certainly not the strongest team on this planet, but Chinese fans are definitely the most lovable fans on this planet!
Although, due to their strength, the Chinese team often disappoints its fans. But disappointment is disappointment, scolding is scolding, when a game truly arrives, there isn't a Chinese fan who doesn't want to be there to cheer them on…
He Xi Meng, in the past, was also one of these fans.
Now, He Xi Meng fights for China, and also fights for these Chinese fans!
After making this three-point shot, He Xi Meng patted the five-star red flag on his left chest of his jersey, then pointed to the stands where Chinese fans were cheering for him in unison, exuding dominance…
Hawkins had suffered a significant disadvantage in the first offensive possession. He dared not be reckless in the second, and honestly passed the ball to the team's leading scorer, Jimmy Oliver!
Although Jimmy Oliver is the leading scorer for this American team, he has only averaged 15 points per game in the World Championship so far, far less than the core players of other teams. To put it nicely, this is a testament to the American team's all-around strength! However, the United States has never been a team-oriented team, so this exposes the biggest problem with the current American team: the lack of an absolute core!
A team without an absolute core may not necessarily be weak in terms of overall strength, but once they face a strong opponent, they are prone to losing their composure in critical moments.
Why did the American team stumble all the way, coming close to defeat several times, because when someone needed to step up and score, no one could carry that responsibility…
After receiving the ball, Jimmy Oliver faked a shot, intending to shake off Liu Yudong. Liu Yudong remained unfazed. Jimmy Oliver then drove to the basket, attempting to drive past Liu Yudong to score in the paint.
But Jimmy Oliver clearly underestimated Liu Yudong's physical strength! Among this Chinese team, Liu Yudong's core strength ranks among the best. At least at the small forward position, Liu Yudong fears no one!
If needed, Liu Yudong could even play power forward in the low post… It was predictable that Jimmy Oliver could not completely get rid of Liu Yudong. He forced up a layup, and although it was not blocked by Liu Yudong, the ball veered off course and bounced off the rim.
Brad Miller attempted to secure the rebound, but Da Ba（Wang Zhizhi） locked him down! Da Ba would rather not get the rebound himself than let Brad Miller get the ball. Da Zhi（Wang Zhizhi） then outmuscled the American team's 2.06m power forward, David Wood, and firmly secured the rebound!
The advantage of having twin towers lies precisely here! As long as the two cooperate well, they can achieve an effect of 1+1 greater than 2.
After grabbing the rebound, Da Zhi's vision was immediately obstructed. He couldn't pass to He Xi Meng and was forced to pause briefly, waiting for He Xi Meng to come up and receive the ball.
Although the fast break opportunity was missed, He Xi Meng was not impatient. In a battle of experts, one cannot be anxious about every single move. After steadily pushing the ball past half-court, He Xi Meng still called for Da Zhi to set a screen. A big man with outside shooting ability is every point guard's favorite!
Because such big men can help the guards clear out the opponent's interior defense, creating mismatches, and also allow them to gauge the opponent's defensive focus.
Facing Da Zhi's high pick-and-roll, the American team clearly defended against the drive but not the shot, attempting to maintain a tight interior defense and refusing to spread their defense too wide.
He Xi Meng saw through the American team's strategy at a glance. He directed Da Zhi to the wing three-point line and then began to double-team David Wood, feigning a crossover to drive through the middle.
On the American side, Hawkins had not strayed far. He anticipated that with He Xi Meng's ability, he would surely exploit the size mismatch against David Wood and drive directly into the paint for a score. Therefore, Hawkins was constantly ready to provide help defense for He Xi Meng.
If He Xi Meng drove to the right corner, Hawkins would not need to rotate, as Oliver, guarding the right side, would collapse and double-team. If He Xi Meng crossed over to the middle… like on this play, Hawkins decisively abandoned Da Zhi and retreated to a spot just inside the free-throw line, intending to form a trap with David Wood. However, He Xi Meng was waiting for Hawkins' collapse…
With a beautiful behind-the-back pass, He Xi Meng delivered the ball to Da Zhi, who was outside the three-point line. He simultaneously turned and set a screen, blocking Hawkins' close-out defense!
Da Zhi, with virtually no defender, hand down, shot, and made a three-pointer from the top of the arc!
This shot was as easy for Da Zhi as if he were practicing three-point shots!
"Beautiful!" He Xi Meng unhesitatingly gave Da Zhi a thumbs-up as they retreated on defense.
Da Zhi was also in a great mood and surprisingly offered He Xi Meng a smile.
The Chinese team made two consecutive three-pointers to start the game, achieving a dream opening.
Whether it was the Chinese fans at the venue or those watching on television, they couldn't contain their excitement, cheering and leaping with joy.
Even the head coach, Zhang Bing, who had a stern and serious expression when He Xi Meng made the transition three-pointer, couldn't help but punch the air with his fist when Da Zhi also made a three-pointer…
In Zhang Bing's mind, it wasn't surprising for He Xi Meng to make a three-pointer against the Americans, but it was difficult for Da Zhi to make a three-pointer against them… Overall, this was also a sign of a lack of confidence. Even though they had reached the Final Four, Zhang Bing still lacked confidence in his Chinese team…
The American team, having been scored on twice in a row by the Chinese team, was a little dazed! Although they had predicted He Xi Meng would be strong, they hadn't expected that under He Xi Meng's leadership, the other Chinese players would become so difficult to deal with…
On the American team's third offensive possession, Hawkins also called for a pick-and-roll, using David Wood's screen to create a mismatch against Da Zhi! He then used his speed to drive into the paint. Facing Da Ba's help defense, he hung in the air to evade and finally helped the American team score their first points of the game!