Chapter 326: Love's Breakdown

This was the second game after the one against the Rockets. 

Before the game, Alvin Gentry merely said that Wade Dong might play in this game...

This was another smoke screen.

The Timberwolves couldn't predict Wade Dong's appearance, and although they knew they couldn't win with or without him, the fans felt differently. They had been watching Wade Dong warm up and seeing his name on the starting lineup, so they were relieved.

The starting lineups for both teams were:

Suns: Wade Dong, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

Timberwolves: Kevin Love, Kevin Martin, Nikola Peković, Ricky Rubio, and Corey Brewer.

Wade Dong was currently third on the scoring leaderboard and second on the rebounding leaderboard. If you only considered points and rebounds, Kevin Love's stats were more impressive than Wade Dong's.

...

"Beep!!!"

With the referee's whistle, the game began.

Kevin Durant and Kevin Love jumped for the tip-off. Love tapped the ball to Rubio.

Rubio dribbled to the frontcourt and waited for the Timberwolves players to get into position before passing to Love.

In this game, the Timberwolves' strategy was clear: they wanted to play a slow-paced game and not let the Suns dictate the tempo.

Love, facing Durant's defense, passed the ball to Martin!

Martin faked a move, got past Green, and drove to the basket. Wade Dong had already rotated for help defense, and Martin passed the ball to Love, who made a mid-range shot. 

Score: 2:0!!!

The Timberwolves took the lead.

Alvin Gentry, sitting on the sidelines, said, "The Timberwolves' tactics are clear, but they won't be able to maintain this pace for even half a quarter. We'll take over the rhythm of the game."

This was Gentry's confidence.

Before the game, he had studied the Timberwolves' tactics and understood their game rhythm.

Then Durant received a pass from Wade Dong and drove past Peković's defense for a mid-range jumper.

This was the Timberwolves' second offensive possession. Love missed his shot, and the Suns got the rebound. Curry dribbled the ball up the court and passed to Wade Dong.

Wade Dong, with the ball, smiled and said to Love, "Hello, scoring champion."

Love was momentarily flustered by Wade Dong's words. If a role player had said this to him, Love would have responded by making a three-pointer over them to prove himself. But his defender was Wade Dong.

Wade Dong was the previous season's scoring champion, and this season, he wasn't ranked first on the scoring leaderboard only because he took fewer shots.

Love hesitated, then decided to pass the ball to Rubio. 

Unfortunately, just as he released the ball, Wade Dong stole it, and the ball ended up behind Love.

Wade Dong rushed to grab the ball, turned, and dribbled to the frontcourt for a fast-break dunk.

Score: 2:6!!!

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The Timberwolves' home arena erupted in cheers for Wade Dong.

This completely threw off the new 'Wolf King,' Kevin Love. In the next Timberwolves possession, as Love received the ball, Wade Dong said, "Beat us and prove you're not just a stat-padder!"

Wade Dong's words were meant to encourage Love, but they shattered his confidence.

Love didn't dare take the shot himself and passed to Peković instead. However, Durant was defending Peković, so Peković had to pass to Brewer.

Brewer missed the layup, and Wade Dong grabbed the rebound.

Wade Dong passed the ball to Curry, then ran to the frontcourt. He called for the ball under the basket, received the pass from Curry, and used the Dream Shake to fake out Love again, making an easy layup.

Score: 2:8!!!

As they returned to defense, Wade Dong said to Love, "Can you be serious on defense?"

"What the hell..."

Love's confidence was completely shattered. When his teammate passed him the ball, he immediately called a timeout.

...

In the Chinese live broadcast room.

Yu Jia, "Love calling this timeout is a bit unexpected."

Coach Zhang, "He did the right thing by calling the timeout. Love is being dominated by Wade Dong on both offense and defense."

Yu Jia, "So, Love called the timeout to adjust?"

Coach Zhang, "I think so."

...

Less than three minutes into the first quarter, a Timberwolves player called a timeout, surprising even Alvin Gentry.

"Dong Ge, what did you say to Love just now?" Gentry asked as soon as Wade Dong came off the court.

Wade Dong shrugged, "I didn't say anything..."

"Come on..."

Gentry smiled, "You must have shattered Love's confidence."

Wade Dong had been in the league for two years, and in a previous player vote for the biggest trash talker, players like Kevin Garnett were left out, and those who had played against Wade Dong unanimously chose him.

Wade Dong did use trash talk on the court, saying things like, "Your grandma's legs," "F**k your ancestors," and "F**k you, grandpa..."

But all the players felt that Wade Dong's trash talk, even in Chinese, which they didn't understand, wasn't a big deal. What really got to them were the swear-free taunts.

Russell Westbrook had once said privately, "Wade Dong's 'Have you ever had a quadruple-double?' completely shattered my confidence."

Now, with Love facing Wade Dong, and Love being the scoring champion this season, it would have been abnormal for Wade Dong not to say a few words. In just a few sentences, Wade Dong had shattered Love's confidence.

Otherwise, Love wouldn't have called the timeout on his own.

...

After the timeout, the Timberwolves had the ball. Rubio missed a mid-range shot, and under the basket, Love and Wade Dong fought for the rebound.

Wade Dong, with his strength advantage, easily pushed Love away and grabbed the rebound, saying to Love, "Can't you even grab a rebound?"

Love, "....."

After getting the rebound, Wade Dong passed the ball to Curry.

Curry dribbled to the frontcourt and passed to Wade Dong, who was posting up under the basket. Wade Dong used the Dream Shake again to fake out Love and made another layup.

Score: 2:10!!!

Apart from the opening basket, the Timberwolves hadn't scored a single point.

After scoring, Wade Dong didn't forget to taunt Love, "Can't you even play defense?"

Love, "....."

Wade Dong had completely shattered Love's confidence.