Back on offense, the Los Angeles Lakers were ready this time, watching for Wang Yi to pass to Bond.
But Wang Yi didn't pass to anyone else. He sent the ball straight to Rose in the mid-range.
Rose had a brief opening to shoot.
Arthur was already moving toward him, though. If Rose took the shot, King Arthur would definitely try to block it.
Usually, Rose would take a moment to steady himself or pass the ball back out.
But today, after catching Wang Yi's pass, Rose felt for an instant as if the ball fit perfectly in his hands.
He felt much more confident, too.
So even when he saw Bond rushing at him, he went straight up for the shot.
As he released the ball, though, he leaned back dramatically, his body nearly at a 45-degree angle to the floor.
Arthur rushed over with all his might, but because of Rose's lean, his fingertips still fell just short of the ball—by less than a centimeter.
That tiny gap was all it took. The ball slipped past Arthur's fingers and glided into the basket like a loach slipping into the water.
After making the shot, Rose stared at his hand in surprise.
He'd never felt anything like it before. It was as if, once the ball reached his hands, he was bound to make the shot.
Over the next few minutes, Wang Yi passed to every player on the court.
Whether it was Danny, Bond, or Rose, they all felt something strange when they received a pass from Wang Yi.
They just felt certain they would make the shot, so as soon as they got the ball, they confidently took it.
And every one of them made an astonishingly high percentage of their shots.
Wang Yi also passed the