Toyota Center (named on October 6, 2003)
Li Chen saw that this game's S-rank Skill was actually called [Slam Dunk King].
[Slam Dunk King: Increases the host's chance of successfully dunking over a defender by 80%. After a successful dunk, team morale rises by 20%, and momentum is boosted for 2 minutes.]
It was a great skill, but he couldn't bring himself to dunk over Yao Ming!
As his thoughts wandered, the referee's whistle sounded.
Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming prepared to jump for the ball.
Wang Zhizhi lost the tip to Yao Ming.
Francis of the Rockets dribbled up the court.
The Clippers stuck with their familiar 2-3 Zone Defense today.
Francis had just become the Western Conference's All-Star starting point guard that year, and he was an outstanding player.
With his dazzling dribbling, he feinted once, then twice, and sent Andre Miller off balance.
Francis drove with the ball.
Li Chen quickly stepped up to help. Francis tried to get past him the same way he had just beaten Miller.
But Li Chen had honed his defense against Kobe. His Defensive Ability was no ordinary thing. Although it hadn't been officially rated, his defense was already second-team caliber.
Francis simply couldn't get past him.
Only then did Francis realize Li Chen hadn't earned his reputation for nothing.
He stopped trying to take Li Chen on and lobbed the ball straight to Yao Ming in the low post.
As soon as Yao Ming caught it, Wang Zhizhi pressed up against him, applying pressure.
Yao Ming backed toward the basket with the ball, then made a half-spin and shot a little hook.
The ball bounced twice off the inside of the rim before dropping through the net.
The Rockets scored first, taking a 2–0 lead.
"Beautiful! Da Yao played that