Raptors Head Coach Dako realized that double-teaming X couldn't stop him from passing the ball with ease—and even making some beautiful, dazzling passes.
He hurriedly cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted from the sideline, telling his players to play man-to-man defense.
That was how you learned a lesson for good.
Wang Yi waved at Tagore and Zhang Yu. "Play man-to-man."
Those two took Wang Yi's words more seriously than their coach's orders.
When they came back on defense, they double-teamed Wang Yi, and he used exactly the same solution as X.
He spotted Dauding slipping toward the baseline, then whipped his right hand and sent the ball between opposing Shooting Guard Shane Battier's legs.
Even though Shane Battier's defensive instincts told him what Wang Yi was about to do, and he had already brought his feet together to try to stop the pass, he was still a step too late.
The ball had already bounced through his legs before he could close them.
It went straight into Dauding's hands near the baseline.
Dauding caught it and slammed it home.
The Trail Blazers took possession and went on offense.
This time, Tagore stuck to X like glue, keeping him from getting the ball.
But that did nothing to stop the Trail Blazers' offense. After their Shooting Guard, Battier, dribbled across half court, he passed to Yang Hanson at the top of the three-point arc.
Yang Hanson had plenty of options for what to do with the ball.
He first tried a shot.
The Raptors didn't send Charlie Hannum out to defend him. Instead, they had Dauding guard Yang Hanson.
Dauding didn't lose out to Yang Hanson in speed—in fact, he even had the edge—but he was at a disadvantage in strength and height.
Yang Hanson muscled him left and