Though everyone knew Wang Yi made 45% of his backcourt three-pointers, this was the Finals. How many people would dare try something like that?
But remembering what Wang Yi had said earlier, Paul knew Wang Yi wanted to go at Holiday, so he passed him the ball.
Paul had already dribbled almost to half court, while Wang Yi was still back at the free-throw line.
And more than six seconds had already ticked off the shot clock.
When Paul passed the ball back to Wang Yi, head coach De'Anthony, standing on the sideline, couldn't help shouting, "Oh, damn it! Why'd you pass it back? He's going to get an eight-second violation!"
Commentator Van Gundy saw what happened and shook his head repeatedly.
"Oh, damn it. Paul shouldn't have made that mistake, even if Wang Yi was calling for the ball in the backcourt. There's no time to dribble it up the court now. And if Wang Yi shoots, Holiday's right in front of him, defending tightly. Even if he fakes Holiday out and then shoots, he probably won't have time."
Holiday shook his head, trying to clear it, and when he saw Wang Yi with the ball, he immediately spread his legs and guarded him closely.
Wang Yi didn't dribble forward at all. Instead, he did something nobody had expected.
He dribbled backward several steps, creating some distance between himself and Holiday.
Then, using a motion that had nothing to do with basketball, he grabbed the ball in one hand and launched it toward the frontcourt like a football quarterback throwing a long pass.
And he wasn't passing it to anyone in the frontcourt. He threw it straight at the basket.
"Oh, no—"
Seeing Wang Yi fool around like that, De'Anthony looked ready to blow a fuse.
He grabbed his