stonecrandall Chapter 142 God's 101st Pass!
Chapter 142 God's 101st Pass!
Chapter 142 God's 101st Pass!
"As for a surprise, I'm not sure. I don't know if what I prepared counts as a surprise." Lin Tian spread his hands. At this moment, he thought of that story again, so he smiled and began to tell it.
"I've heard that there are a hundred ways to pass the ball in the world. Stockton only knows three of them, but he has perfected them! While Magic Johnson hasn't perfected any one of the passing techniques, he knows all 100 ways to pass the ball."
"And me, I'll make the 101st pass! In the game the day after tomorrow, everyone will see my 101st pass, and I believe everyone will love it!"
Lin Tian's words surprised Su Qun, who was into pen holders.
romantic!
The ultimate in romance!
Su Qun realized for the first time that Lin Tian was such a romantic person.
As a writer, he quickly conceived the outline and overall structure of an entire article!
Even though Lin Tian only said one sentence, Su Qun believed that this article would definitely become a nationwide sensation! The sales of this issue of "Basketball Pioneer" would surely surge again!
Let's just use Lin Tian's quote for the title!
The 101st Pass from God!
Next, Lin Tian greeted the Chinese fans, left the broadcast booth, and then found Theron. He decisively ignored Barkley and others' attempts to get him to join in the fun, and left Quicken Loans Arena with Theron.
They have a lot of important things to do tonight!
In this wretched place like Cleveland, Lin Tian and Theron's business will likely take up the entire next day. At the very least, Lin Tian will definitely not be attending the three-point contest or dunk contest tomorrow night.
Lin Tian has absolutely no interest in Kobe Bryant, the worst dunker in history!
As for the three-point contest? What's so interesting about it? If they had a few defenders in front of the shooters and the shooters could shoot right in front of them, that would be a bit more interesting.
Instead of wasting time looking at those things, Lin Tian would rather enjoy the Cleveland night view with Theron!
At first, Theron didn't really want to watch it.
"This is Glass, Lin! People outside will see us!"
"Even in a run-down place like Cleveland, five-star hotels have one-way windows! We can see outside, but they can't see us!"
.........
Lin Tian and Theron weren't so heartless as to stay in the hotel for a full 48 hours. The next morning, they went out of the hotel and strolled around the streets of Cleveland for a while.
How short is "a little while"?
Before they even reached the newsstand less than 200 feet from the hotel entrance, Theron gasped, "Lin, it's so cold."
"It is indeed a bit cold, let's go back and put on another layer of clothing."
This process took more than an hour!
When the two left the hotel again, they did not change their clothes.
"We think we forgot to bring the clothes we bought." This time, just as the two of them stepped out of the hotel, a gust of wind blew in their faces, and Lin Tian remembered that they had forgotten something important. So the two of them turned around at the same time and went back to the room.
Then, for the third time...
Well, there won't be a third time. Theron is too tired and has fallen asleep. Let's talk about it again when she wakes up.
Over the next two days and one night, Jordan was both happy and angry.
The good news is that none of the 20-plus All-Stars in Cleveland who wanted to recruit Lin Tian were able to get through to him by phone. This guy has completely disappeared since he left with that girl.
Jordan thought: Lin listened to me!
And then... Jordan got angry again.
Well, Jordan couldn't get through to Lin Tian either. He finally realized that he was no different from those people!
The Joker was actually myself!
When Lin Tian reappeared in front of all the stars, it was already 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Next was the roundtable interview meeting, followed by the stars' entrance ceremony, and then the All-Star Game, the main course that fans all over the world had been looking forward to for a long time!
Lin Tian participated in the interviews and NBA caravan activities on time, and also interacted with fans. Under Riley's guidance, the Eastern Conference players quickly completed their warm-up.
After the warm-up, it was already 6 p.m., and there was only about an hour left before the All-Star Game started. Of course, the league wouldn't let the fans feel bored or uninterested during this hour.
Because before the competition starts, there will be a lot of rap, music, dance and other various programs interspersed throughout the event. The All-Star event is a huge show!
This is why many people who aren't actually basketball fans are still willing to watch an All-Star game.
Just treat it like going to a concert or some other show; you're sure to find happiness this night!
As various programs were presented one after another, the host kept narrating and encouraging the fans, eliciting waves of crazy and passionate cheers. Finally, the All-Star players from the East and West began to enter the arena!
Actually, this time of year is also the best time to test a player's popularity! The cheers and shouts from the fans when a player enters the arena are a great indicator of how popular that player is in the league!
Therefore, at each year's All-Star Game, apart from the host country that year, whoever gets the loudest and wildest cheers and shouts is the most popular and most popular star!
In the past decade of All-Star games, whenever Jordan participated, he would receive the loudest, longest, and most frenzied cheers!
After all, he is the league's top player and number one superstar!
But this time, things are a little different.
As is customary, the host introduces the All-Star players by first the away team and then the home team, and first the substitutes and then the starters.
Therefore, after all the players from the West and the substitutes from the East were introduced, it was time for the East's starting lineup. Ewing, Hill, and Pippen appeared one after another, each receiving a huge cheer...
It was Lin Tian's turn.
"Let's welcome, 23 years old, 191 cm tall, 85 kg, point guard, from the Chicago Bulls, Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin... Lin Tian!"
The moment the host finished speaking, the entire quick loan center exploded!
The crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers, shouts, and thunderous applause. The fans even spontaneously started a wave. The cheers for Lin Tian from the fans at the Quicken Loans Arena were louder and lasted longer than the combined cheers of the first three starting players!
Then, the chaotic and frenzied cheers condensed into a single sentence.
"Cleveland needs the forest!"
"Cleveland needs the forest!"
"Cleveland needs the forest!"
These words made Jordan's face turn extremely ugly in an instant, and the same ugly expression was that of Trier Brandon, the Eastern Conference All-Star reserve.
He is from Cleveland and is the Cavaliers' starting point guard.
The behavior of the Cleveland fans deeply stung him.
This feeling is like a man who has worked hard all day and is happily returning home to celebrate his wife's birthday, only to suddenly see his wife screaming in pain while leaning on the table, with Lin Tian standing behind her with a lewd grin on his face.
What a shame!
What a shame!
Finally, after a pause, the host interrupted the fans' celebration and began to introduce the night's main character, who is also the undisputed king of the league and always receives the loudest cheers in previous years: Michael Jordan!
Then, the scene fell silent.
Aside from a few scattered applause and cheers, the fans at Quicken Loans Arena didn't offer Jordan much cheering or shouting.
They didn't give me any face at all.
"Fuck!" The petty Jordan rolled his eyes, cursed, walked up, waved casually, and retreated back into the team.
He knew, of course, that this was done intentionally by Cleveland fans.
Whether it was to recruit Lin Tian or to sow discord between Jordan and Lin Tian, the Cleveland fans held their tongues and refused to cheer or shout for Jordan.
The two sides have a long history of rivalry. Back in the late 80s, the Cleveland Cavaliers, known for their "Four Little Dragons," were completely defeated by Jordan. Throughout his career, Jordan eliminated the Cavaliers four times, and the Cavaliers never won against them.
Not only did they never win, they also became the backdrop for Jordan's "The Shoot".
Larry Nance, Mark Price, Brad Doherty...
These players, who can be called great in Cleveland's history, all fell to Jordan's feet. Forget about winning a championship; because of Jordan and the Bulls, they never even made it to the Finals.
At other times, Cleveland fans might have been willing to give Jordan some face, but now, with the opportunity, the excuse, and the pretext, why not settle scores and grievances?
"Michael, you're quite popular here." Lin Tian continued to tease Jordan on stage.
"You're not quite right, Lin. He's not popular anywhere except Chicago," Ewing said, shaking his head and adding insult to injury.
"Shut up, Patrick. You're just trying to get revenge because you lost $10 to me last night, right? And nobody welcomes me? If I told your boss that my only request for going to New York is to get rid of you, you idiot, do you think he'd agree or refuse?"
Jordan said: "I can't out-argue Lin Tian, but I can at least out-argue you, Ewing?"
Right now, the five Eastern Conference All-Star starters are standing on a high platform, so no one else can hear them. Hill never participates in these trash-talking sessions; he won't.
Pippen couldn't possibly turn around and stab Jordan in the back in this situation.
For Jordan, as long as he ignores Lin Tian, it's a one-on-one battle between him and Ewing!
Do you think I can't out-argue you?
Jordan's plan was incredibly successful!
But Ewing wasn't stupid, or rather, Ewing wasn't that stupid!
Knowing he couldn't out-argue Jordan, Ewing chose to change his battleground.
"Lin! Give him a piece of your mind! Let him experience the power of the future heart of New York!"
I'm not going to confront you head-on!
Jordan's lips twitched again, unable to hold back.
FUXX!
Are you sending me another Minotaur?
I'll go back and check the schedule to figure out when to play the Knicks again.
I'll beat you to death!
Lin Tian, of course, did not fall for Ewing's provocations.
Not only did he not fall for it, he pretended not to hear it and turned to chat with Hill about music.
Hey, I don't give face to anyone!
Lin Tian's reaction finally allowed Jordan to vent his anger. He said to Ewing, "I don't know if Lin is the future core of New York, but when you can't play anymore, you will definitely be kicked out of New York!"
"By the way, have you decided where you'll be at the end of your career? New Yorkers will throw you out like trash. Which do you prefer? Toronto? Vancouver? Or Minnesota?"
"What, you weren't kicked out of the Chicago Cubs? Oh, sorry, I forgot, you weren't kicked out, because the Cubs never wanted you in the first place, you didn't even have a chance to be kicked out! You were playing baseball in the second division."
"So, in the two years I was away, did you win a championship? Oh dear, sorry, did I hit a nerve? I heard you and Starks are pretty close? Seriously, if my teammate went 2-for-18 in the Finals, I'd definitely kill him!"
……
The verbal sparring between Jordan and Ewing continued until all the pre-All-Star break and programs were completed, at which point they finally stopped exchanging insults.
Judging from their expressions, they both clearly felt they had won.
"Alright guys, relax. Tonight's the All-Star Game, just show what you're best at. Play freely and have fun." Riley clapped his hands with a smile. He was quite experienced in coaching the All-Star Game, and he was incredibly relaxed at the moment.
"Tactics? Just play for fun. Lin, you're the point guard, so just play according to the assignments. You guys are all top stars, just play with your gut feeling!"
"By the way, if anyone wants to play a little longer or doesn't want to play for too long, feel free to let me know, and I'll arrange your playing time accordingly. Alright, go have fun and enjoy yourself."
Following Riley's incredibly casual arrangement, the ten starting players from both sides finally took to the field!
The highly anticipated NBA All-Star Game has officially begun!
"Here he comes! Finally!" Su Qun's voice echoed through the television screen once again: "I think all the fans, like me, are incredibly excited for Lin Tian's performance tonight! Not only because this is the first time a Chinese player has stood on the NBA All-Star stage, but also because of what Lin Tian said during the Rising Stars Challenge!"
"What exactly is this 101st type of pass he mentioned?"
Song Shixiong followed up, "It's worth mentioning that Lin Tian is an All-Star starter tonight! That's a huge honor! NBA All-Star players are the 10 most popular players in the world, chosen by fans worldwide through voting. In other words, Lin Tian is currently one of the 10 most popular NBA players in the world!"
"Besides, most of our domestic fans didn't participate in the vote." Su Qun hadn't forgotten what he promised Lin Tian, and said with a smile, "Even without considering the huge number of fans in our country, Lin already has a huge appeal worldwide! If our fans participated in the vote..."
"Lin Tian will most likely be the All-Star vote leader next season!"
"So, how can we participate in the All-Star voting?" Song Shixiong immediately asked. There were some things that he, as the host of Huaxia Sports, couldn't say, but Su Qun, as a guest, could say without any problem.
Just as Su Qun and Song Shixiong were explaining how to vote for Lin Tian in preparation for next year's All-Star Game, Olajuwon and Ewing, two old rivals, stood on the center circle at the same time. With the referee's whistle and the shouts of the fans, the two jumped at the same time!
"Snapped!"
After a crisp sound, the basketball was snatched by Ewing and slapped into Lin Tian's hand.
Lin Tian casually dribbled the basketball after receiving it, raised one hand, and made a gesture that seemed to suggest not rushing and slowing down the pace to launch a series of attacks.
Then, in the blink of an eye, just as the basketball bounced off the floor and before he could catch it again, Lin Tian suddenly pushed his left hand forward!
"Snapped!"
Lin Tian's left hand struck the basketball, and the orange basketball instantly transformed into an orange lightning bolt, traversing most of the court and flying directly to the Western team's basket!
"boom!"
Then, a loud bang was heard!
Grant Hill made a fast break, caught Lin Tian's pass, and completed a one-handed gliding dunk!
"Too fast! That pass is incredibly fast!" Su Qun shouted excitedly. "In the blink of an eye, it traverses the entire field and pierces through the entire defense! That's Lin Tian! His unpredictable technique, lightning-fast passes, and overwhelming momentum—Lin Tian's passes are like an incomparably sharp spear, capable of piercing through any defense!"
"Will this be his 101st pass?"
Song Shixiong immediately followed up, "Grant Hill also demonstrated his outstanding physical abilities in this play—superb speed and explosive athleticism! His teamwork with Lin Tian was flawless!"
The Western team didn't adopt the fast-paced, whirlwind offensive style of the Eastern team. Instead, they slowly advanced to the frontcourt, allowing Olajuwon to post up against Ewing. Olajuwon then showcased his Dream Shake, shaking off Ewing and easily slamming home a dunk!
Turning around, Lin Tian didn't find a fast break opportunity. Instead, he gestured to Ewing at the top of the arc to set a screen. The two blocked each other and then ran towards the basket at the same time.
After hesitating, Hakeem Olajuwon chose to follow Lin Tian.
Lin Tian immediately tossed the ball high into the air with one hand and threw it towards the other side of the basket!
"boom!"
Another earth-shattering explosion!
This time, Ewing came down from the sky, grabbed the basketball with both hands, and violently smashed it into the rim!
"Beautiful pass! Great shot!"
Su Qun roared excitedly again, and Lin Tian made two brilliant passes at the start, shining throughout the entire field!
Then Payton from the West pulled up from mid-range and made a mid-range shot. This time, Lin Tian found an opportunity. At the same time as Payton made the shot, he quickly moved to the baseline and then sent the ball out from the baseline in a flash!
"Whoosh!"
Almost all the players on both sides only felt a gust of wind whistling past their ears, and they didn't have time to react at all. All they could do was turn around and glance back.
All they saw was Jordan, who had somehow gotten to the Western Conference's three-point line, catch the ball, and leap up to dunk it with one hand!
A classic Bulls-style quick attack with a first pass!
In three consecutive attacks, the East team ended each one with a powerful dunk, and each dunk was more spectacular than the last. Lin Tian's passes were also more and more unexpected!
Even without recruiting Lin Tian, just those three passes alone would be enough to set the entire Quick Loan Center ablaze!
As Lin Tian made consecutive passes, Riley's eyes lit up on the sidelines!
Even if he killed Tim Hardaway with those few moves, Hardaway wouldn't be able to escape!
Ultimately, Hardaway wasn't a point guard known for passing and organizing the team; his strengths lay in individual offense and dribbling.
Simply put... he and Mourning aren't a particularly good match; if these two want to work together, they both need to make some sacrifices.
And what about Lin Tian? Not only is his passing much better than Hardaway's, but even in terms of individual offense, can Hardaway really compare to Lin Tian?
Once again, Riley regretted his decision before last year's deadline. Why did he have to rush to sign Hardaway? It would have been so much better to wait another year!
Even though the Heat are currently second in the Eastern Conference and have a high probability of breaking their franchise record for most wins, Riley still regrets it!
Because he knew very well that although Hardaway was excellent, he was still a little short of being the team's second option in the championship race.
As Riley continued to envision the game, both teams played with increasing ease, with one brilliant moment after another and one amazing offensive play after another, leaving the fans breathless and cheering!
The competition is getting more and more exciting!
Five minutes into the first quarter, Riley glanced at his watch and then waved his hand, ordering five players in and five out of the game!
The starting five were all substituted off to rest, and in their place came the host team, Trier Brandon, Miller, Vin Baker, Webber, and Leitner.
"Anfernee, if I remember correctly, you haven't played a single regular season game since your comeback," Riley said slowly, looking at Hardaway who sat back on the bench with a disappointed expression because he hadn't been called up. "If you ask me, you shouldn't have come. Young man, your health is the most important thing!"
"The All-Star Game is just a show, after all. If you get injured because of it, the league will lose a brilliant superstar! But since you're here, just play for five or six minutes today, get a sweat out, okay?"
"Honestly, I don't know what your coach was thinking. How could he let you come? In your situation, if this were Miami, let alone the All-Star Game, I wouldn't let you play, not even in the playoffs!"
At this moment, Riley was acting like a loving father, so kind and approachable. If someone didn't know him, they might really think that Riley was a head coach who prioritized player health!
As for why Riley did this...
This year's big-name free agents aren't just Lin Tian! Hardaway is also in a contract year. Although after letting O'Neal go, unless the Magic's management is completely brain-dead, they won't let Hardaway go for nothing. They will definitely match all of Hardaway's contracts.
However, nothing in this world is absolute.
How could a normal person keep walking back and forth on O'Neal's baseline and eventually force him to leave?
Who knows, maybe the Magic's management will pull another idiotic stunt and send some good news to Miami?
The essence of "divine calculation" is to plan ahead!
Sitting on the bench, Lin Tian chatted casually with his teammates, and every now and then he would turn around and joke with Theron sitting behind him. When the big screen panned to their bench, the Eastern Conference substitutes would act silly and make a joke.
It's an All-Star game, so being relaxed is the most important thing!
In the first half of the first quarter, Lin Tian was not the highest scorer, or rather, he only took one 3-pointer and made it. Although he only scored 3 points, Lin Tian delivered 6 assists in just 5 minutes of play, which was incredibly efficient!
Meanwhile, each of his six assists was spectacular, drawing screams and cheers from the quick loan center!
Lin Tian's playing style is perfect for the All-Star Game!
"Lin Tian's six passes were truly works of art! Absolutely brilliant! Honestly, I could watch Lin Tian pass for a whole day and night without getting tired of it!" Su Qun exclaimed again during a break in the game. "His passes are so imaginative, always surprising! He always manages to get the ball to his teammates in ways you wouldn't expect!"
Song Shixiong laughed and said, "I'm getting more and more curious about what Lin Tian's so-called 101st pass is. Although his six passes so far have all been brilliant, I still believe that, given Lin Tian's personality and creativity, these six passes are just appetizers! The real main course is still a long way off!"
Su Qun and Song Shixiong's words represent the sentiments of the vast majority of fans. They genuinely hope that Lin Tian can play more and have more time to shine! At least 90% of the Chinese fans watching this All-Star game are here specifically to see Lin Tian!
They were also incredibly excited about the 101st type of pass that Lin Tian mentioned!
It wasn't just ordinary fans; many professional basketball players were also watching this game!
"Da Liu, what kind of pass do you think Lin Tian will make? The 101st pass, it sounds amazing!" Yao Ming looked at the TV in front of him, holding a bowl of rice in his hand, eating while watching TV.
Liu Wei, who was still dribbling the ball behind him, said, "How would I know? According to Su Qun, he hasn't used that move yet! Anyway, my imagination isn't enough; I can't think of any other amazing way he could pass the ball."
"How many ways do you know to pass the ball?" Yao Ming asked, noticing that Lin Tian wouldn't be playing for a while.
He lay back and said, "There are 20 kinds that don't exist."
"You're so childish." Liu Wei rolled his eyes, but still said, "I only know one move, which is to pass the ball to you! That's enough! We still need to help the Shanghai team win a championship! Then we'll go play in the NBA together!"
……
At Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, the first quarter has ended with the score at 35-30.
West team, currently leading by 5 points!
In the final two minutes of the first quarter, Riley once again made a five-in-five substitution, bringing on Hardaway and Rice, who had not played.
Because there were two guards, Lin Tian did not play for the remainder of the first quarter. He was called back onto the court by Riley five minutes into the second quarter.
This time, Lin Tian was paired with Pippen, Hill, Webber, and Ewing.
"Lin Tian is back!" Upon seeing Lin Tian appear, Su Qun immediately perked up, his voice noticeably louder. Clearly, this veteran reporter was completely captivated by Lin Tian's words! He wanted to see if Lin Tian could produce a truly stunning pass!
Like Su Qun, fans across China also share the same expectations. For them, Lin Tian's words three days ago are like an incredibly exciting movie trailer!
And now, they are the people who have bought movie tickets, full of anticipation, and eager to see the full movie!
The trailer has already built up a lot of suspense and anticipation; now it's all up to Lin Tian!
Lin Tian didn't remain silent for long after returning to the court.
As soon as he entered the game, he spotted Hill cutting to the basket from the top of the arc and delivered a high lob pass directly to the top of the rim. Hill caught the ball with both hands after pulling up and finished with another alley-oop dunk!
Lin Tian's seventh assist!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant pass! Hill's movement and his posture after jumping were equally perfect!" Song Shixiong immediately gave Lin Tian's pass a very high evaluation, but everyone could also feel that there was still a hint of regret in Song Shixiong's tone.
This shot, like the previous ones, was brilliant and beautiful, but it was still missing something.
Less than 20 seconds later, Lin Tian called out to Webber at the top of the arc. The two set a screen and broke down the three-point line. As Lin Tian made a quick breakthrough, Webber followed up behind. Then, Lin Tian suddenly dribbled the ball behind him with a crossover, allowing Webber to easily get the ball.
After receiving the ball, Webber didn't stop, but instead of immediately pulling up for a dunk, he suddenly made a one-handed behind-the-back pass, passing the ball to Pippen who was cutting in from the baseline!
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Pippen delivered another thunderous dunk!
After the ball went in, Su Qun immediately cheered!
"What a brilliant combination! Both of their consecutive passes were incredibly creative! Webber and Lin Tian! These two are definitely the most stylish players in their respective positions! Together, they might just keep creating unexpected surprises for us!"
This play was like opening Pandora's box; for the remainder of the second quarter, the game completely became the stage for Lin Tian and Webber!
These two players have mastered all sorts of two-man plays, including pick-and-roll, cuts, handoffs, and drive-and-kicks! Both have excellent court vision, exquisite passing skills, and are incredibly balanced with both hands. No matter which hand they use to pass the ball, it's always fast, accurate, and powerful!
The most exciting play of the first half came from a combination between these two players!
After a handoff between Lin Tian and Webber, Lin Tian made an open cut towards the basket, while Webber delivered a bounce pass to Lin Tian near the free-throw line. Webber then quickly cut inside to the vicinity of the three-second zone, where Lin Tian made a behind-the-back pass to Webber.
After receiving the ball, Webber did not rush to attack. Instead, he turned his back to Garnett and waited for less than two seconds before suddenly making a behind-the-back pass, throwing the basketball over his head and behind him!
The basketball swept past Garnett, who was caught off guard, and landed precisely in Lin Tian's hands as he made another cut to the basket!
"boom!"
Then, with a loud bang, Lin Tian took the ball and jumped up, folding his hands and slamming it down for another 2 points!
This round sounds complicated, but in fact, from the hand-off between the two, it only took less than 5 seconds. The two completed 3 passes, which was so smooth and efficient. Although they had never played together before and were complete strangers, they just knew what the other was going to do and which direction the other would go!
tacit agreement!
The tacit understanding developed naturally without any adjustment or rehearsal!
Perhaps it was because of their excellent teamwork that even though the Eastern Conference made numerous substitutions in the latter part of the second quarter, Lin Tian and Webber remained on the court the entire time!
At the end of the first half, the score was temporarily set at 61-60.
The Western team still holds a 1-point advantage!
Lin Tian played 12 minutes in the first half, scoring 9 points and 13 assists. He also became the first player in All-Star history to have 13 assists in a half!
Webber, who has a great chemistry with Lin Tian, played 11 minutes in the first half and scored 7 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists!
Even though the Eastern Conference team is still down by one point, Lin Tian and Webber are definitely the two brightest stars on the court!
"A match made in heaven! Seeing their performance and teamwork, that's the first word that popped into my head!" At the end of the first half, Su Qun couldn't help but exclaim, "I truly never imagined basketball could be played like this! So exciting! So spectacular!"
"I've watched some of the Los Angeles Lakers' 'Showtime' games from the late 80s, but honestly, none of them compare to what Lin Tian and Webber showed us in those few minutes!" Song Shixiong nodded in agreement, giving it high praise: "Yes, some people will definitely say that this is just the All-Star game, just an exhibition game."
"Some people might say this is just an exhibition game, and it's normal for any kind of teamwork to happen in this kind of game. But the Lakers are a real dynasty team. They have won five NBA championships and were the strongest team in the 80s."
"But what I want to say is that Lin Tian and Webber had never played together before today! They relied on their understanding of basketball and those flashes of inspiration to put on such a wonderful game!"
"What if they actually trained and competed together? Would they deliver an even more spectacular performance?"
"So, Mr. Song means he hopes Lin Tian will join the Washington Bullets next season?" Su Qun asked with a smile. "Do you think the partnership between Lin Tian and Webber is something to look forward to?"
"Isn't it something to look forward to?" Song Shixiong said with a smile. "To be honest, I don't know much about the NBA's salary rules, but based on the games broadcast this season... if Lin Tian listens to me, and my opinion counts, then I hope Lin Tian joins the Washington Bullets!"
"I'm not quite like Teacher Song; I'm not thinking that far ahead right now," Su Qun said. "Right now, I just want to know if Lin Tian's 101st pass will appear tonight! Although the first half of the game and the teamwork were already very exciting, I finally understand the true meaning of an idiom now."
"Greed knows no bounds! I'm now incredibly eager to see if Lin Tian will unleash all his skills, and whether we'll see even more spectacular passes from him in the second half!"
If Su Qun were to ask Lin Tian the same question directly, Lin Tian would undoubtedly tell Su Qun: Yes! Just wait and see!
In the second half, the two sides switched sides and the starting players, chosen by the ten fans, continued to take the field!
Unlike the first half, in the second half, especially when the score is close and neither side can pull ahead, both coaches will definitely tighten their rotations and won't put as many players on the field.
No matter how insignificant the show is, no coach wants to lose! If there's a chance, then you have to win!
This is the real meaning of what people often say: play for fun in the first three quarters, and play like crazy in the fourth quarter!
For all the Chinese fans who were looking forward to Lin Tian, Lin Tian didn't keep them waiting too long!
The moment everyone has been waiting for is coming soon!
Three minutes into the third quarter, Payton missed a three-pointer, and Ewing grabbed the rebound and passed it directly to Lin Tian.
Lin Tian dribbled the ball and advanced quickly! But although he was rushing very fast, he did not push his speed to the limit. Instead, he kept an eye on his teammates' positions as he advanced.
Out of fear of Lin Tian's shooting and speed, Payton didn't dare to stick too close on defense. He kept retreating, and kept retreating! He retreated all the way into the Western Conference's three-second zone!
"Kid! Aren't you going to make a move? Are you out shopping?!" Seeing that Lin Tian was still looking calm and collected, Payton finally couldn't help but taunt him, unleashing his signature trash talk at Lin Tian.
But just as he opened his mouth, Lin Tian finally moved!
He held the basketball in his left hand and passed it from behind to his right!
To Lin Tian's right was Michael Jordan, who was quickly following up!
"Kid, I knew it!" Peyton shouted triumphantly and lunged towards Lin Tian's right side!
He had anticipated that Lin Tian would use a behind-the-back pass to find Jordan, so he was well prepared!
He's now 9% confident he can intercept the ball!
But just as Payton lunged forward, his eyes widened in disbelief.
The basketball didn't appear!
Not only did it not appear, it also appeared to Lin Tian's left, where Hill was following along!
Young Hill caught the basketball that Lin Tian passed to him, pulled it up, and charged toward the basket.
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Hill completed another gliding dunk!
But this time... there were no cheers or shouts at the scene.
Instead, there were bursts of whispering among themselves!
"How did the ball get over there? Didn't Lin pass it from behind?"
"I clearly saw Lin pass the basketball with his left hand! Why did the basketball change its trajectory in the air?"
"Impossible! How could this be!"
Su Qun's eyes widened in disbelief. He asked, "Was Lin Tian enchanting this basketball? Why is it flying to the left?"
"Could it be that Lin Tian changed the direction of force with his wrist halfway through the flight, causing the basketball to fly to the other side?" Song Shixiong, who hadn't seen the ball clearly either, offered a guess.
At least 95% of the fans watching this game worldwide did not see how the basketball changed direction in the air and flew to the other side.
Fortunately, the Spanish team requested a timeout at this moment, and the big screen and broadcasters immediately showed a slow-motion replay of the ball!
Again and again and again...
After the ball was replayed three times from three different angles, Su Qun finally shouted excitedly!
"Elbow! It's the elbow! Lin Tian used his elbow!"
(End of this chapter)