Chapter 98: Are You Deliberately Targeting Me?

During the training camp, Wade Dong had basically figured out his national team teammates.

When Wang Xin came on, he was much more effective against Pau Gasol in the paint than Guo Qi. He wouldn't be easily fooled by Gasol's fake moves.

With Yi Nan added to the mix, the Chinese men's basketball team's frontcourt was no longer significantly weaker.

This frontcourt combination played until the end of the first half. After being taken off in the first quarter, Guo Qi did not get another chance to play.

47:43!!!

At the end of the first half, the Chinese men's basketball team led the XB men's basketball team by 4 points.

This was something most people hadn't predicted.

The Chinese men's basketball team scored a total of 47 points, with Wade Dong scoring 23 points, Yi Nan 9 points, Wang Xin 5 points, Zhu Gui 6 points, Wang Dapeng 3 points, and Chen Jiang 1 point.

No other players scored, but due to Wade Dong's presence, his teammates got some easy scoring opportunities. Besides Wade Dong, almost all the other players' points came from open shots.

...

In the live broadcast room.

Yu Jia, "After Wade Dong joined the national team, he greatly improved the team's strength."

Coach Zhang, "No one on the Olympic court can stop Wade Dong, but what surprised me is that the national team's defense has significantly improved this year."

Yu Jia, "I interviewed Wade Dong once. He said he joined the Olympics to win the championship."

Coach Zhang, "If we win this game against the XB men's basketball team, the Chinese men's basketball team will basically secure a spot in the semifinals this year."

Yu Jia, "That would be historic."

...

During the halftime break, Guo Qi sat on the sidelines, sulking.

But Wade Dong didn't have time to deal with him. This game was very important. The XB men's basketball team was their strongest opponent before facing the US team and was a test for the national team.

In the second half, the XB men's basketball team would definitely fight back. In the first half, Wade Dong was guarded by Fernandez, which was almost no pressure for him, but Wade Dong couldn't let Fernandez go.

This was similar to the strategy of "Tian Ji Horse Racing."

Top horses against their middle horses, middle horses against their lower horses, and lower horses against their top horses.

But anyone who could stand on the Olympic court was not weak. For example, Chen Jiang was the weakest offensive player in the national team's starting lineup, but if he was left completely open, he could shoot the lights out.

So in the first half, Wade Dong kept helping his teammates on defense, but he couldn't completely ignore Fernandez.

The second half was about to start. Wade Dong looked around at his teammates and said, "Yi Nan, Wang Xin, Zhu Gui, Chen Jiang, let's start the third quarter."

"Who do you think you are to arrange tactics for the head coach?"

Guo Qi muttered when he heard that he wasn't in the lineup.

He had been taken off after two defensive lapses in the first quarter and hadn't played since.

He thought he would have a chance to perform well in the second half, but it seemed that Wade Dong had no intention of letting him play. This made Guo Qi unhappy. Although he wasn't as good as Wade Dong, he believed he was better than the other players on the national team. Why wasn't he allowed to play?

"Wade Dong..."

Yi Nan tugged at Wade Dong, worried that he might get angry at Guo Qi's comment.

However, Wade Dong just glanced at Guo Qi and didn't say anything. He walked straight onto the court.

Deng Hua also didn't say anything. He thought Wade Dong's approach was correct.

...

"Beep!!!"

The referee blew the whistle, and the second half began.

Pau and Marc Gasol looked at each other and said, "The coach was right. The Chinese team continues to use Wang Xin and hasn't let the young Guo Qi play."

Guo Qi was young, tall, and energetic, which were his strengths, but his lack of big-game experience was his weakness. Players like Pau and Marc Gasol were not just physical players. Defending them required experience, and the Chinese men's basketball team had figured this out.

"Come on, brothers!"

Wade Dong dribbled the ball and said, "Let's pull away the score in one go."

Fernandez defended Wade Dong, but facing a single defender, Wade Dong stepped back and shot a three-pointer.

"Swish!!!"

The ball went straight through the net, effortlessly.

This was a move from Doncic, and Wade Dong executed it perfectly. Of course, at this time, no one knew who Doncic was. Everyone thought this killer move was unique to Wade Dong.

50:43!

The lead was extended to 7 points.

On the other end, Pau Gasol responded with a mid-range shot.

The Chinese men's basketball team attacked. Wang Xin couldn't find a scoring opportunity in the paint and passed the ball back to Wade Dong.

Snake-like dribble!

Wade Dong twisted his entire body, evading three defenders, and scored on a layup.

...

The live broadcast room erupted.

Yu Jia, "Snake-like dribble! Oh wow~ That's Ginobili's move!"

Coach Zhang, "Wow! Incredible!"

Yu Jia, "This layup is even more impressive than Ginobili's."

...

In the second half, the XB men's basketball team changed their strategy.

But the Chinese men's basketball team didn't back down. With Yi Nan and Wang Xin guarding the paint, Pau and Marc Gasol couldn't score easily.

Wade Dong unleashed his full offensive potential and entered solo mode.

Able to score both inside and outside, Wade Dong's solo play gave the XB men's basketball team a hard time, and the lead gradually widened.

The third quarter ended.

79:61!

The Chinese men's basketball team led by 18 points.

This was something no one had expected. Originally, people thought the Chinese men's basketball team would have a tough battle against the XB men's basketball team, but when the Chinese men's basketball team strengthened their defense and didn't let the XB men's basketball team score easily, the scales of victory began to tip in favor of the Chinese men's basketball team.

The Chinese men's basketball team scored a total of 32 points in the third quarter, with Wade Dong scoring 21 points alone. Adding his first-half points, Wade Dong had already scored 45 points, which was the highest scoring record for the Chinese men's basketball team in the Olympics in the past 20 years.

The fourth quarter began.

Guo Qi finally got a chance to play because Wang Xin needed to rest. Wang Xin, as a veteran about to retire, had played for two and a half quarters and was starting to run out of energy.

At this point, the Chinese men's basketball team on the court consisted of Wade Dong, Guo Qi, Wang Dapeng, Ding Hui, and Chen Jiang.

Before the game, Wade Dong reminded Guo Qi again, "If you slack off because of the big lead, you can get off the court."

"Are you deliberately targeting me?!"

Guo Qi glared at Wade Dong. He was on the verge of exploding.

He felt that Wade Dong was just trying to get back at him because when Wade Dong first joined the national team, Guo Qi had provoked him and even challenged him to a one-on-one.

"Just play well, who would deliberately target you?"

Wang Dapeng, worried about a conflict between Guo Qi and Wade Dong, quickly pulled Guo Qi aside.

Wade Dong smiled slightly, "He's really an immature kid."

Wade Dong wouldn't deliberately target him. This kid had talent, but his attitude was immature. Wade Dong didn't want his temper to cost them the game.