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Wang Chong led the Bulls with 44 points, securing a 3-0 lead in the series against the Cavaliers and giving the Bulls a match point. LeBron James, in his first-ever playoff appearance, was on the verge of being swept.
Despite James' 41 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, he couldn't find a way to save his team. His bold declarations prior to the series had now become a source of mockery. Confused and frustrated, LeBron wondered how far he would have to go to secure a win for Cleveland.
The result of Game 3 was the main headline across all sports media the next morning. This series between the Bulls and Cavaliers had garnered the most attention of the eight first-round matchups, yet the outcome was the most surprising. Who would have predicted that the fourth and fifth seeds in the Eastern Conference—two teams with nearly identical records—would see such a lopsided contest?
While the top-seeded Pistons and Spurs in the East and West had faltered, each dropping a game to lower-seeded opponents, the Bulls had pulled off a perfect 3-0. In Game 3, Wang Chong's 44-point effort turned the tide, outshining James, who had slightly better stats in the first two games.
In this game, the Cavaliers finally ramped up the intensity, forcing Wang Chong to exert himself fully. But even so, the news for the Cavs wasn't good. Wang Chong's dominance in the second half, including a key game-winning three-pointer, proved decisive.
On the other side, James made some questionable choices in the final quarter. He passed up a three-pointer and settled for a two-point shot in a critical moment. Earlier, he had missed one of two free throws, allowing Wang Chong to put the game out of reach with his clutch shot.
Without James' 41 points, the Cavaliers wouldn't have stood a chance, but the comparison was inevitable. While both players were their teams' focal points, Wang Chong stepped up when it mattered most, hitting the game-winner, whereas James faltered.
In his third year in the NBA, LeBron had won Rookie of the Year but had consistently fallen short compared to Wang Chong. While Wang Chong had already won an NBA championship, an All-Star MVP, and even an Olympic MVP, James could only watch as his peer continued to shine.
Now, in their first playoff battle, James was staring down a 0-3 deficit, facing the very real possibility of being swept by Wang Chong in his first playoff series—a black mark on his early career.
This fourth game could seal James' and the Cavaliers' fate. If Cleveland were swept, it would leave a lasting stain on LeBron's career, and every future comparison with Wang Chong would resurface this failure. James was determined to avoid a sweep, but it wasn't something he could control alone.
*April 30 – Game 4 of the First-Round Series at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland*
The arena was silent. With less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers trailed 97-85, down by 12 points. While a five-minute window could offer hope, the home crowd had already given up. Despite the game still ongoing, many Cavs fans had left early, unwilling to watch their team lose. The stands were nearly empty.
On the court, the Cavaliers launched one final assault under LeBron's leadership, forcing the Bulls into turnovers and trimming the lead by six points. James had spearheaded this comeback, scoring six straight points. But once the ball was in Wang Chong's hands, Cleveland's hopes dimmed.
Wang Chong's offensive moves were simple—backing down James, dribbling for position, and calmly hitting a mid-range jumper. There were no flashy moves, but his shot was lethal, erasing all of Cleveland's progress in an instant. Time ticked away, and with no options left, the Cavaliers surrendered.
The final score: 106-96. The Bulls won by 10 points and swept the series 4-0.
James recorded an impressive triple-double with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, shooting 56.5% from the field. Yet, it wasn't enough to stop the Bulls' dominance. Wang Chong finished with 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Though the game wasn't easy, it felt satisfying for Chicago.
The loss wasn't due to James' lack of effort. He earned 14 free throws, a sizable amount, but the Bulls adjusted their strategy after the previous game. Tyson Chandler managed his fouls wisely, often letting James have easy layups rather than risking fouling him. However, beyond James, no other Cavaliers player could make a significant impact. This was the main reason Cleveland fell 4-0 in the series.
Although James' stats were comparable to Wang Chong's, the crucial difference lay in their scoring efficiency during key moments. Wang Chong consistently outperformed James when the game was on the line, particularly in Game 3. Scoring when it counts is not the same as scoring earlier in the game, and Wang Chong's ability to rise in clutch situations ultimately sealed the series.
With the Cavaliers swept 4-0, the results of the other playoff matchups were coming into focus:
In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons eliminated the Bucks 4-1, the Heat defeated the Pacers 4-2, the Nets ousted the Wizards 4-2, and the Bulls swept the Cavaliers 4-0. The second round would pit the top-seeded Pistons against the Bulls and the second-seeded Heat against the third-seeded Nets.
Despite Wang Chong's brilliance, many analysts favored the Pistons in their matchup against the Bulls. Detroit had won over 60 games and were a powerhouse, while the Bulls were still an up-and-coming team.
But Wang Chong believed the Pistons were beatable. While their defense was formidable, their offensive system heavily relied on the individual talents of guards Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, supported by Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince. Ben Wallace, their center, was a defensive powerhouse but limited offensively, much like Chicago's Tyson Chandler.
More importantly, Ben Wallace, despite being listed at 6'9", struggled against stretch bigs who could shoot from outside, like Dirk Nowitzki. In 22 career matchups against Wallace, Nowitzki averaged 22.6 points and 9 rebounds, both above his career averages. This suggested that Wang Chong, with his versatile offensive game, could exploit similar weaknesses in Wallace's defense.
While defeating the Pistons was far from certain, Wang Chong knew he could be the X-factor. If the Bulls had any chance of toppling Detroit, it would rest on his shoulders.
End of this chapter
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