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Prince nodded, feeling quite disdainful.It was said that Wang Chong was the strongest rookie of the 2003 class. Was that really true?
Prince had already played against both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. To him, the stronger James was the toughest to deal with—his physical strength was too much to handle. Anthony, on the other hand, was also strong, especially with his back-to-the-basket plays, which were always a headache.
Wang Chong, though possessing an accurate mid-range shot, seemed to have a very simple offensive game. From analyzing lots of game footage, Prince felt he could develop specific defensive strategies to shut him down.
In the first half, with his passing lanes cut off, Wang Chong was almost invisible, reinforcing Prince's sense of superiority.
To Prince, Wang Chong's success could be attributed to having the "OK" duo of O'Neal and Kobe Bryant on his team. Their presence attracted much of the defense's focus, allowing Wang Chong more space to operate.
Typically, a defender with Prince's skills would be assigned to guard the opponent's perimeter threat, which on the Lakers was Kobe Bryant. However, coach Larry Brown was wary of Wang Chong's ability to lead during the regular season and tasked Prince with guarding him to prevent any surprises.
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The 15-minute halftime break flew by, and both teams returned to the court.
As the game resumed, the Lakers had possession from the baseline.
Larry Brown had just sat down when he noticed the Lakers' lineup, and immediately his brows furrowed.
Both O'Neal and Kobe were on the bench.
What was going on? Didn't Phil Jackson understand the risks of having both core players off the court simultaneously? Even if they needed rest, they should take turns, ensuring at least one was always on the floor.
"Could it be...?"
Brown's gaze shifted to Wang Chong, who was now standing at a 45-degree angle on the right-wing three-point line, scanning the court.
The next two minutes could very well determine the outcome of this game—and the entire series. Wang Chong had to prove himself to the coach!
As Fisher dribbled across half-court, he intended to pass to Wang Chong.
But Prince, seemingly anticipating the move, quickly blocked the passing lane.
In a typical situation, Fisher would have looked to pass to Kobe or O'Neal.
But this time was different. Fisher, instead of rushing the pass, held his position, waiting.
Wang Chong made his move.
He cut around Prince, accelerating toward Fisher. Prince hesitated, momentarily stunned by Wang Chong's sudden initiative to get the ball. But he quickly recovered, increasing his pace to catch up.
Wang Chong received a hand-off from Fisher. It was his first time touching the ball from the outside after more than ten minutes of play.
Prince wasted no time, pressing Wang Chong hard with a relentless physical defense.
Wang Chong, though, didn't panic. Having worked on his dribbling and strengthened his skills throughout the season, his handle was more than ready for the challenge. His dribbling rating had climbed to an 88, allowing him to comfortably control the ball despite Prince's pressure.
Using his body to protect the ball and maintain control, Wang Chong didn't let Prince's close defense rattle him. He waited for the right moment, using his agility to escape Prince's grip with a sudden turn.
"So fast!"
Prince was caught off guard by Wang Chong's explosive burst of speed. He scrambled to keep up, but Wang Chong was already cutting toward the basket.
In a blink, Wang Chong was within a step of the free-throw line, entering the restricted zone when a dark figure—Ben Wallace—stepped in front of him with a fierce glare.
Wallace, known for his shot-blocking prowess and defensive agility, positioned himself to stop Wang Chong's drive.
For most players, seeing Wallace ready to contest might have been a deterrent. But Wang Chong was different.
To him, Wallace seemed small.
Standing at 2.10 meters (about 6'10"), Wang Chong didn't feel threatened by Wallace, who was shorter and not as physically imposing.
Wang Chong knew better than to challenge Wallace directly at the rim. Instead, he stopped a step inside the free-throw line and elevated for a jumper.
Wallace reacted quickly, trying to block the shot, but he couldn't even contest it properly. Wang Chong's height and release point were too much for Wallace to reach.
"Swish!"
Though just outside his hot zone, Wang Chong's mid-range shot, with a rating of 95, went in smoothly.
Phil Jackson, watching from the sidelines, let out a small sigh of relief. Wang Chong had proven to be reliable, just like he had been during the regular season.
On the other side, Prince felt embarrassed.
He had just boasted during halftime about shutting Wang Chong down, and now, the rookie had just scored on him.
In the next possession, Prince backed off a bit, choosing not to press as closely. He had learned from the previous exchange that Wang Chong was more skilled than he had initially thought. Instead, he opted for a more conservative defensive stance.
But for Wang Chong, Prince's adjusted defense didn't pose much of a challenge.
Prince was in his second year in the league, and while he was a solid defender, he wasn't in his prime yet. His experience wasn't enough to deal with a player like Wang Chong, who had a superior overall rating and multiple skills at his disposal.
In the next possession, Wang Chong calmly dribbled left and right, forcing Prince to retreat into a safer defensive position. But this was precisely Wang Chong's plan.
As soon as Prince backed off, Wang Chong stepped back for a jumper. With the distance now widened between them, Prince couldn't contest the shot in time.
"Swish!"
Another clean basket.
On the bench, O'Neal and his teammates erupted in celebration, waving towels every time Wang Chong scored.
Phil Jackson, too, was smiling now.
He had taken a risk by giving Wang Chong two minutes during the Finals, but the rookie didn't disappoint. Wang Chong only needed 1 minute and 40 seconds to change the game's momentum.
After Larry Brown called a timeout, Phil Jackson addressed Wang Chong first, congratulating him.
"Well done, King!"
Then, turning to the team, he laid out a plan.
"In the third quarter, we're going to use Wang Chong as the primary option, running pick-and-rolls with Payton to disrupt their defense. If the Pistons adjust, we'll feed Shaq in the paint!"
The Lakers' players nodded in agreement, except for Kobe, who remained quiet with a frustrated expression.
Kobe had shot poorly in the first half and didn't appreciate the new game plan. In his mind, he just needed more shots to find his rhythm. The Black Mamba wasn't one to back down.
When the timeout ended, the Pistons switched their defensive strategy. Rasheed Wallace was now guarding Wang Chong instead of Prince.
Wang Chong's previous advantages in height, wingspan, and weight were no longer as effective. Rasheed Wallace was an experienced veteran with size and toughness, known for his physical play and trash-talking.
The moment Rasheed faced Wang Chong, he didn't hesitate to trash-talk:
"Hey rookie, don't think you're scoring on me like you did with Prince. I'll show you how a real defender plays!"
End of Chapter
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