Crucial Three-Pointer

Many people say James only passes the blame in crucial moments.

They consciously ignore that he has the most game-winning shots in playoff history.

He's just a different type of player than Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Jordan and Kobe Bryant focused more on their own scoring, taking the last shot themselves without question.

James, however, is more well-rounded.

For the last shot, he'd pass the ball to the teammate with the best opportunity at that moment.

Of course, if the best opportunity happened to be his, he wouldn't hesitate either.

At this moment, seeing Wang Yi's hot hand, he decided to give this crucial shot to Wang Yi.

Wang Yi stood tall, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Good!"

He only said this one word.

But everyone could feel the desire for battle contained within that single word.

Back on the court, the Lakers inbounded the ball.

James brought the ball across half-court.

At this time, the Lakers were only down by 2 points.

So they could choose to go for two or three points.

As James had instructed, Wang Yi stayed in the corner, not running for a play.

Seeing this, the Clippers' head coach breathed a slight sigh of relief.

As expected, Vogel wouldn't give the crucial shot to a ten-day contract player.

Or perhaps, this ten-day contract player couldn't handle the immense psychological pressure and didn't dare to shoot himself.

That's why he wasn't running any plays.

Thinking this, he yelled loudly from the sideline to George, who was guarding Wang Yi:

"Watch for the double-team on the inside! Watch the inside!"

James's three-point shooting was off today.

Based on his understanding of him, Tyronn Lue was certain James would drive to the basket.

George nodded.

He had been eliminated by James before.

This time, no matter what, he couldn't let James make another crucial shot.

At this moment, the defender guarding James was the robot Leonard.

After a change of direction, James created half a step of separation from Leonard.

Then, using his body to push Leonard aside, he drove forcefully towards the inside.

At this point, even though two players were waiting for James inside, George, still worried, rushed over to double-team.

Just as George lunged towards James, James made a precise pass, sailing over George's shoulders and towards Wang Yi.

George's heart sank.

He quickly turned and lunged towards Wang Yi again.

However, it was too late.

By the time Wang Yi caught the ball, George was already four meters away.

Wang Yi caught and shot.

Without the slightest hesitation.

The basketball traced a high arc, descending towards the hoop.

All eyes were fixed on the orange sphere.

The Clippers players and fans alike held their breath.

Wang Yi's three-point shooting today had been too intimidating.

At this crucial moment, for this crucial shot, they couldn't help but have their hearts in their mouths.

Under the gaze of nearly twenty thousand spectators, the basketball finally dropped above the rim.

BANG--

A heavy clank echoed.

The ball hit the front of the rim and bounced high.

"Oh--"

The nearly 20,000 spectators at the scene all let out a sigh of regret.

The Clippers players, head coach, and their fans all breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed this Lakers' number 1 player's mental fortitude ultimately wasn't up to par.

At such a crucial moment, he missed this shot, perhaps the most pivotal one of the entire game.

All the Lakers fans who witnessed this scene were already cursing in their hearts.

Why pass the ball to him?

The commentator's voice was extremely fast, speaking excitedly:

"Oh no, why pass the ball to him?"

"Undeniably, Wang's performance tonight was outstanding. But he has never played even a single second in a clutch moment in his career, and simply cannot handle such immense psychological pressure."

"LeBron made a terrible passing choice!"

"I wonder if LeBron will regret this."

In the Tencent NBA direct broadcast room, the two commentators also expressed some regret.

Wang Meng: "Wang Yi missed the three-pointer, what a shame!"

Su Qun also shook his head: "If he had made that shot, it would have proven he's a big-hearted player. It's crucial for him to secure a guaranteed contract later."

At this moment, the bullet comments were completely silent.

Because after this shot bounced out, the game wasn't over yet.

In this suffocatingly tense moment, even the haters weren't in the mood to jump out and flame Wang Yi.

At the scene.

After the ball bounced high, four Clippers players crowded the paint, intending to grab the rebound.

Meanwhile, apart from LeBron, all other Lakers players were beyond the three-point line, too far to contest the rebound.

Soon, the rebound was secured by the Clippers' Coach Rondo.

He intended to dribble.

However, before he could even put the ball down, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from the side.

They directly wrapped around the basketball and with a strong pull!

The ball was snatched right out of Rondo's hands.

A steal!

This person was none other than Caruso—Los Angeles's only Emperor Ka!

The situation changed dramatically in an instant.

The four Clippers players surrounded Caruso like he was a zongzi.

He caught sight of Wang Yi, who was still standing in the left corner.

Without time to think, Caruso took a big step directly towards the baseline.

Creating space for a pass.

While in the air, he threw the ball to Wang Yi.

When the fans at the scene saw Caruso pass to Wang Yi again, they almost all shouted in their hearts.

"NONONONONO—"

The commentator's voice was also extremely fast:

"Caruso with the steal, passes to Wang!"

"Wang just missed, he won't shoot again this time, who will he pass to?"

"LeBron is open on the perimeter, pass the ball, there's still plenty of time on the shot clock, pass to LeBron to reorganize the offense..."

However, Wang Yi paid no attention to any of this.

With a wide-open look right in front of him, if he didn't shoot, wouldn't he be wasting such a great opportunity?

As for psychological pressure?

Don't make me laugh.

For someone who craves battle, he has no idea what psychological pressure is.

At this moment, George had already come up to defend him again.

But after receiving the ball, Wang Yi still didn't hesitate in the slightest.

His eyes were filled with determination!

He bent his knees, rose on his toes!

Jumped, raised his arm!

Put your power in it, flick your wrist!

Shoot!!!

The entire motion was fluid, seamless, and executed in one go.

George lunged out with incredible speed this time.

However, due to the distance, he could only watch helplessly as the basketball sailed past his fingertips.

The hearts of the entire audience leaped into their throats once more.

Even the live commentators were shouting repeatedly:

"NO NO NO NO NO--"

The basketball sliced through the air.

The entire Staples Center Arena fell silent.

Everyone held their breath.

All eyes were focused on the basketball.

Following the basketball as it flew through the air.

At a certain moment.

Swish!

As the satisfying sound of the ball brushing against the net echoed.

A splash of white erupted from the center of the hoop.

Three-pointer made!!!

"WHOOSH------"

Staples Center instantly erupted in thunderous cheers.

The commentators' continuous "NOs" instantly turned into "YESes"!

"NO NO NO NO NO--YES!!!"