Chapter 132: I'll Keep You Company

Although Bynum suffered a major injury in his rookie season, his height and long arms gave him an advantage in jump balls.

In the first three regular-season games, Bynum had always been the first to jump for the ball, and this time he tipped it to Nash.

Nash brought the ball to the frontcourt, and before the Heat players could get into position, he faked out Chalmers and hit a mid-range pull-up jumper.

"Swish!!!"

The ball went cleanly through the net.

0:2!!!

The visiting Suns took an early two-point lead.

"You're just like those rookies," Wade Dong teased Nash as they ran back on defense. "As soon as someone talks to you, you explode."

"Heh, heh!" Nash chuckled.

Chalmers brought the ball to the frontcourt and passed it to Wade.

Wade loved playing against the Suns or the Lakers because these two teams had Wade Dong and Kobe, whom Wade considered the two strongest shooting guards in the league.

Known as the Flash, Wade's change of direction and speed were almost unmatched.

It could be said that in the league, Wade's first step after a change of direction was the fastest.

In the Finals, Wade Dong played the power forward position, which often put Wade against Iverson. So, in this game, Wade specifically requested to guard Wade Dong.

"Spread out! Spread out!" Wade signaled to his teammates not to come and screen, as he wanted to go one-on-one against Wade Dong.

"Heh..." Wade Dong smiled and prepared to defend.

Wade dribbled towards Wade Dong, faked left, and then accelerated past him with a quick step, driving to the basket and finishing with a Euro step layup.

"That was really fast~"

Most players, when changing direction, have a moment of hesitation when switching hands.

No wonder Wade was called the "Flash"; his change of direction was not only without hesitation but also accelerated. The league's fastest first step was not an exaggeration.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The American Airlines Arena crowd chanted "MVP."

Wade looked at Wade Dong with a hint of pride, "See that? With this move, I've always been one of the top three shooting guards in the league."

"Impressive," Wade Dong smiled.

Then he exchanged...

Wade's change of direction dribbling skill package!

Wade's Euro step skill package!

These top-level players' moves, like Wade's drives, Curry's threes, Harden's step-backs, and future moves like Doncic's step-backs and Trae Young's floaters, were often studied and imitated by fans.

However, due to limitations in talent and understanding of the moves, most attempts ended up as poor imitations.

But Wade Dong had maxed-out talent, and the system's skill packages not only provided the moves but also the understanding, shooting touch, and change of direction speed. This was why Wade Dong's learned moves were always enhanced versions.

Wade Dong brought the ball up, and his teammates automatically spread out, not coming to set screens.

The Suns players were used to Wade Dong's style of play and would only come to set screens when he signaled.

"I want to guard Wade Dong alone!" Wade signaled to his teammates not to help on defense.

Change of direction, acceleration, crossover, Euro step, dunk!

Wade Dong's moves were almost identical to Wade's, except Wade Dong's first step was even faster! And he finished with a dunk instead of a layup.

"Is this your league-dominating move?" Wade Dong backed away, spreading his hands and shrugging at Wade. "I can do it too, idol."

"How is that possible...?" Wade's teammates, who knew him well, were shocked. The Flash's lightning-fast drive was his signature move, and even James struggled to use it effectively. How could Wade Dong do it, and even faster?

...

Zhang Coach, "Oh wow! Wade Dong used the same move to score on Wade."

Yu Jia, "With top-tier dynamic talent and superb learning ability, it seems like there's no move Wade Dong can't do."

Zhang Coach, "After all, he's a player who can go from point guard to coach."

During the Olympics, fans joked that Wade Dong was the only player who could play all six positions at an elite level.

Other players might dabble, but Wade Dong truly excelled in every position.

When Nash was injured, Wade Dong played point guard and averaged a triple-double. In the playoffs, when the team needed him, he played power forward. The most memorable moment was during the Olympics against Team USA, when Wade Dong sat on the bench in a suit, holding a clipboard and calling plays.

...

Wade's competitive spirit was fully ignited.

However, it wasn't easy for him to drive past Wade Dong again because Wade Dong had figured out his change of direction.

But it also wasn't easy for Wade Dong to use the Euro step against Wade, even though he was slightly faster. Wade was intimately familiar with this move.

It was like a game of cat and mouse, where each knew the other's tricks.

Some said that even with James joining, the Heat was still Wade's team.

In the first quarter, which lasted 12 minutes, it seemed like eight players were watching Wade and Wade Dong go one-on-one for nine minutes.

The first quarter ended.

23:30!!!

The Heat trailed the Suns by 7 points.

Wade shot 9-for-5 for 12 points, while Wade Dong shot 9-for-8 for 16 points.

Whether in terms of score or shooting percentage, Wade Dong won the nine-minute duel.

At the start of the second quarter, Wade Dong sat on the bench to rest.

The Suns on the court were Dragic, Tucker, McGrady, Green, and Bynum.

Although Iverson and Hill had left the team this season, the Suns' bench depth had improved. So, at the start of the second quarter, the Suns' reserves, led by McGrady and Dragic, continued to extend the lead.

26:38!!!

Two minutes into the second quarter, the Heat trailed by 12 points, and Spoelstra couldn't sit still anymore.

He brought James and Bosh back into the game, leaving Wade on the bench.

James came out firing on all cylinders!

He repeatedly attacked the Suns' interior, and his three-point shooting had improved significantly over the summer.

In previous seasons, James's three-point shooting percentage had never exceeded 40%, but in the first three games of this season, he shot 17-for-11 from three, averaging 5.6 three-point attempts and making 3.6 per game, with a shooting percentage of 64%.

Inside and outside scoring!

James scored 11 points in two minutes, cutting the deficit to 5 points.

Wade Dong took off his warm-up jacket and walked to the scorer's table, ready to check back into the game.