Since Baturu had no mid- or long-range game, the Pick and Roll between Zhang Jiacheng and Baturu wasn't all that effective. Against other teams' starting lineups, they struggled to make it work. But against the bench, their Pick and Roll looked surprisingly sharp.
So they kept racking up points.
The Hornets' second unit wasn't as efficient on offense as the Raptors'.
As a result, over the final five minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second—a total of nine minutes—the Raptors stretched their lead from 11 points to 17.
Coach Charles Li felt the situation was getting difficult.
The lead was too big. He needed to bring in the full starting lineup as soon as possible.
So even though it was supposed to be Second Ball's rest period, he kept him on the court. The full main lineup came in after only four minutes of the second quarter.
In other words, Second Ball would play the entire first and second quarters.
As for the Raptors, everyone else had already rested. Only Big Lock Rock and Mad Tiger Tagore hadn't.
Coach Dako glanced at the score and decided to give the two of them a few minutes off.
The Raptors' lineup was now Wang Yi, Zhang Jiacheng, Zhang Yu, A. Nikola, and Dauding.
It was a one-big, four-small lineup.
They were definitely at a disadvantage against the opposing starters, but with a sizable lead, holding on with this lineup for two or three minutes shouldn't be a problem.
The Hornets opened with the ball.
To protect Wang Yi, the Raptors stuck with their 2-3 Zone Defense.
They still gave the other team a chance to shoot a three.
This time, Second Ball hit one from the right wing, cutting the lead to 14.
The Raptors came