Birdman Anderson added,
"As the player with the highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the Entire League, Haliburton had gone four minutes without a single assist and already turned the ball over four times. That had never happened to him before. And even with the Bellringer helping him out, he still couldn't escape Wang Yi's punishment. Wang Yi wasn't just a lock—he was a cage, trapping Haliburton completely."
Drexler, the Glide, said, "That's a perfect way to put it. Wang Yi was like an iron cage, enclosing Haliburton completely. Even when it looked like Wang Yi was some distance away, he'd already predicted Haliburton's passing lanes perfectly, leaving him nowhere to pass and no chance to shoot."
"This kind of defense takes more than natural static Talent and dynamic Talent. It also takes brains. His mind is like a precision instrument, constantly predicting everything happening on the court, including Haliburton's passing lanes."
"So with Wang Yi giving it his all on defense today, Haliburton is going to have a very rough time."
On the sidelines, in the Pacers' Resting Area,
As the Pacers players came off the court, Coach Carlisle didn't ask anyone else what had happened. He went straight to Bruce Pete. "What's going on? Didn't I tell you to draw his attention?"
Bruce Pete looked displeased. "Coach, I'm doing everything I can, but you saw it yourself. That guy just ignores me."
Carlisle's brows drew together. "That's impossible. With his personality, after all the things you've posted on social media, provoking him before the game and talking trash to him throughout it, how could he ignore you? Turn it up another notch! You have to get all of his attention on you. Don't let him keep hounding Haliburton. Understand?"
The Bellringer frowned and nodded, then said, "But, Coach, that guy