Wang Yi didn't go for a layup on the fast break. He didn't pull up for a midrange shot, either, or take a three from behind the arc.
Instead, the moment he crossed the half-court line, he launched the ball.
It sailed into the basket with pinpoint accuracy, as if its trajectory had been programmed in advance.
Wang Yi turned and trash-talked the Pelicans' group of shooters as they chased after him.
"Know why I took that shot from the center circle?"
"Because of the Wang Yi Rule!"
The Pelicans' shooters all shuddered at his words.
Wang Yi's backcourt threes had once been so terrifying that opponents had no way to defend them. Whenever he started launching backcourt threes, the other team was helpless.
So, to limit Wang Yi's impact, the league had introduced a rule:
During the first three quarters, players couldn't attempt a backcourt three until the final 30 seconds.
In the fourth quarter, they could only attempt one during the final two minutes.
It was called the Wang Yi Rule.
By bringing it up now, Wang Yi meant to intimidate the entire group of three-point shooters.
You claim to be the best three-point shooting team in the league, huh?
You're all great at shooting threes, huh?
I can make the league change its rules because of my threes.
Can you?
With that one shot, Wang Yi had once again claimed an overwhelming psychological advantage.
Over the next few possessions, the Pelicans did shoot the ball well from three.
Over the course of half a quarter,
their four shooters went five-for-eight from beyond the arc.
Against any other team, the Pelicans would have blown them away with that kind of shooting in a single quarter.
But Wang Yi was even more absurd.
In that same stretch, he went