After Wang Yi sank his third ultra-long-range midcourt three-pointer, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham hurriedly called a timeout.
Although Arthur had answered every one of Wang Yi's attacks, those three consecutive ultra-long-range threes from near midcourt had dealt the Lakers' morale a devastating blow.
You make a two, and they make a three;
You make another two, and they make another three.
No matter what you did, it seemed they always answered with a three.
If they let Wang Yi keep shooting, the entire Lakers team would lose all confidence.
During the timeout, Ham addressed the Lakers. "Whenever Wang gets the ball beyond the three-point line, we double-team him. We absolutely cannot let him shoot another three. As for the other Kings players, we can afford to give them a little space."
King Arthur felt a little unhappy hearing that. After all, he was the one guarding Wang Yi.
Now the coach wanted someone else to help him double-team Wang Yi. Wasn't that basically saying he couldn't stop Wang Yi on his own?
But King Arthur had grown a lot by now. He wasn't as willful as he used to be.
If that was what the coach wanted, then that was what they would do.
Over on the Kings' side, head coach De'Anthony asked Wang Yi, "Should we double-team Arthur?"
Wang Yi shook his head. "No. I'll guard him one-on-one on the perimeter. Once he gets inside, Bond can help defend him before he goes up for a layup. Tures can also provide help defense, of course."
De'Anthony thought it over, then asked Wang Yi:
"King Arthur's playing extremely well today. If we don't double-team him, he could keep attacking the paint and scoring. And I'm certain they'll double-team you on the perimeter. If things keep going like this..."
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