Chapter 300: Carter: Dunk, Dunk, Dunk

With 2:47 remaining in the first quarter, the score was 27-23, with the Suns leading by 4 points.

The Suns' bench lineup, without a clear point guard, had a defensive strategy designed by Coach Gentry, with Tracy McGrady orchestrating the offense.

Even without Wade Dong, this bench lineup's defensive capability was not inferior to the starters. Tucker and Gortat were solid defenders, and the veteran McGrady and Carter also had their defensive prowess.

McGrady dribbled the ball into the frontcourt, using Gortat's screen to get past Marshall and pass the ball to Carter.

Carter caught the ball and took a step before soaring high into the air!

"What the...??"

The players on the bench all stood up in disbelief at this sight.

"Bang!!!" ✦

Carter soared over Howard for a powerful dunk!

29-23!!!

"Wow!!!"

Wade Dong leaned back in surprise, his face filled with astonishment.

"Wow~~~"

The home crowd erupted with cheers, chanting, "Carter! Carter! Carter!"

After the dunk, Carter, with his arms close to his body and forearms extended, strutted back while swinging his hips like a duck, a signature celebration move of his.

This dunk left Curry in a daze. Previously, only Wade Dong had given him a run for his money in Phoenix, but now Carter was here, and Curry's status as the city's dunk king seemed threatened.

"Amazing, amazing~"

Durant and Curry, sitting on the bench, enthusiastically waved their towels.

...

TNT Broadcast Studio.

Barkley: "Oh, wow! Old Carter with another dunk?"

Shaquille O'Neal: "Mark Cuban is going to report Carter. He barely dunked more than five times last season, and now, in his first game with the Suns, he dunks over Howard!"

Charles Barkley: "The Suns are a magical team that makes every player better."

Shaquille O'Neal: "But there are some who have been with the Suns for years and have never won a championship."

Charles Barkley: "..."

...

The Lakers had the ball.

Howard, facing a double-team from Tucker and Gortat in the paint, had no room to shoot and passed the ball to Farmar outside the three-point line.

Farmar took the shot!

"Swish!!!"

Carter blocked this attempt, and Frye dove to save the ball from going out of bounds.

McGrady received the ball and immediately pushed for a fast break, pulling up for a mid-range jumper.

"Swish!!!"

The ball hit the rim and bounced in.

31-23!!!

The Lakers were now down by 8 points.

Mike D'Antoni didn't call a timeout, waiting for the end of the first quarter.

The score at the end of the first quarter was 35-26, with the Lakers trailing by 9 points.

...

"The Suns are even more unstoppable than last season!"

"A team without a short boss!"

"I'm not optimistic about the Suns. Wade Dong, Durant, and Curry are all ball-dominant players, and their compatibility will definitely be an issue."

"The Suns don't have a traditional point guard after Nash's retirement."

...

After the first quarter, fans were discussing the Suns. Some were die-hard fans, while others were more analytical, each with their own opinions.

During the timeout, Coach Gentry said, "In the second quarter, Wade, replace Frye. Everyone else stays on the court. Blah blah blah..."

"Got it!"

Wade Dong nodded. If Nash hadn't retired, he would have led the bench unit. Now, with Nash's retirement, Wade Dong had to take on more responsibility as the primary point guard.

With Durant, Wade Dong, Curry, and Thompson on the same team, sacrifices had to be made.

In Coach Gentry's mind, if sacrifices were necessary, Wade Dong would be the last one to make them. The tactical core of the Suns would always be Wade Dong.

...

The second quarter began.

The Lakers brought in Harden to lead the bench unit alongside Howard.

Harden hadn't performed well in the first quarter, going 1 for 6 with 2 points, 1 assist, and 1 rebound. It seemed he hadn't fully adjusted from the off-season.

The Lakers had the ball.

Harden dribbled and organized the offense, with Wade Dong defending him.

Harden first took a probing step, then dribbled behind his back and stepped back beyond the three-point line, raising his hand as if to shoot.

Wade Dong remained unmoved!

Seeing Wade Dong's composure, Harden hesitated to take the three-point shot.

He was all too aware of Wade Dong's shot-blocking ability... Just one step away from Wade Dong, and his fake didn't create enough separation. If he took the three-point shot now, there was a 70% chance it would be blocked by Wade Dong.

Wade Dong didn't use the 'Death Coil' defense, but he forced Harden to pass the ball.

"Whoosh~~~"

Harden passed the ball to Meeks.

Meeks caught the ball and immediately took a three-pointer.

"Swish!!!"

35-29!!!

This three-pointer stopped the Lakers' slide.

Kobe shouted, "Good job, Meeks! That's the way to take the shot!"

"Listen..."

Wade Dong said to Harden, "Kobe is calling you out."

Harden: "Emmm..."

Harden felt frustrated inside. He hadn't adjusted his form yet, and now he was facing Wade Dong. How was he supposed to play?

Wade Dong dribbled into the frontcourt.

He crossed over Harden with one step, then flicked his wrist, causing the ball to disappear from his hand. Before Howard could react, Carter had already received Wade Dong's pass under the basket and dunked it!

Another dunk!!!

"Carter! Carter! Carter!"

The home crowd went wild! At this moment, 'Half-Man, Half-Amazing' Carter seemed to have returned. Since his injury, Carter had changed his playing style, transforming from a high-flying dunker to a three-point shooter. In the past two seasons, it was rare to see Carter dunk.

But today, in less than five minutes on the court, Carter had already delivered two dunks.

One was off an assist from his 'little brother' McGrady, and the other from Wade Dong.

"Ugh... I feel like crying~~~"

Many veteran fans were Carter's supporters.

Although Carter didn't jump as high as before and his dunks weren't as explosive, seeing the old Carter take flight again brought tears to their eyes.

"Beautiful dunk!"

After the dunk, Carter, while returning to defense, gave Wade Dong a high-five.

"Don't lose your defensive position!"

Wade Dong, while defending Harden, reminded Tucker, "Go help Gortat defend Howard!"

As seen earlier, allowing Meeks to take an open three-pointer was a mistake that wouldn't be repeated. After Harden passed the ball to Meeks, Meeks dribbled twice but couldn't shake McGrady's defense, so he had to pass it back to Harden.

"Don't pass..."

Mike D'Antoni immediately shouted a reminder upon seeing Meeks' intention to pass.

But it was too late. Wade Dong sliced the ball away with a quick swipe... While Wade Dong was defending Harden, passing the ball back to him was a terrible decision.

After the steal, Wade Dong dribbled straight to the basket.

Knowing that Wade Dong was a world-class sprinter, the Lakers players gave up on defense and watched him go.

But Carter followed!

"Whoosh~"

Wade Dong noticed Carter's pursuit and, upon reaching the three-second zone, tossed the ball into the air.

"Clang!!!"

Carter jumped, caught the ball, and executed a powerful dunk!

"I'm the dunk king too!"

After the dunk, Carter roared to the sky.