After Wang Yi caught the ball, he could easily have launched a backcourt three-pointer.
Even if he didn't take the backcourt three, he could have used his dribbling to get past Knecht and head upcourt for a shot.
After all, although Knecht was a strong defender, Wang Yi's ball-handling was in a league of its own.
Getting past Knecht one-on-one would have been easy as could be.
On the sideline, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal watched excitedly and shouted:
"Wang's got the ball! He's going to take the backcourt three!"
"No, no, look at him—he's going to drive upcourt!"
But what happened next was something no one had expected.
Wang Yi neither took the backcourt three nor tried to dribble past his man and charge upcourt.
After catching the ball, he simply stopped where he was.
He stood there and watched as Knecht came right up to him.
Then he held the ball in his right hand and reached it behind his back to keep Knecht from stealing it.
Knecht tensed up, afraid Wang Yi was about to make a move.
He didn't dare reach for the ball recklessly. If Wang Yi got past him and scored, he'd be in big trouble.
So when he faced Wang Yi, he bent his knees slightly and spread his arms, guarding against both a drive and a backcourt three.
But Wang Yi showed no sign of shooting. He simply kept holding the ball in one hand behind his back.
Then he looked at Knecht with a smile.
The moment Knecht saw that smile, a cold sweat broke out.
On many previous occasions, Wang Yi had flashed a strange smile at his defender just before hitting a game-winner.
Could today be another one of those times?!
At the same time, the countdown on the