Chapter 147: I'm Not a Stats Padding Player
Yu Jia, "Wade Dong blocked Garnett's dunk!"
Coach Zhang, "A player like Wade Dong wants to challenge the league's superstars."
Yu Jia, "Now that Coach Zhang has said that, I understand why the Suns changed their lineup."
...
Although the Suns' first play on both defense and offense was good, the sudden change in lineup still cost them.
Just like Dragic's first pass almost resulted in a turnover, the Suns players couldn't quickly adapt to this change.
Their defense was penetrated by the Celtics, and their offense was not smooth.
Five minutes into the first quarter.
11:17!!!
The Suns were down by 6 points.
The US Airways Center was filled with boos, as the fans didn't understand this change in lineup.
Of course, no one would guess that this change was proposed by Wade Dong, and everyone blamed Gentry for the early deficit.
"Timeout!"
Gentry called a timeout.
It was rare for the Suns to call a timeout so early in the game this season.
Gentry laid out the tactics, "McGrady replaces Dragic, Gortat replaces Bynum, Green replaces Middleton. On offense, prioritize the pick-and-roll between Gortat and Nash. If the tactics don't work, give the ball to McGrady or Wade Dong for isolation. On defense, also put pressure on the Celtics' perimeter."
"Green, you guard Pierce. Don't let Pierce score easily."
The double point guard lineup didn't work, so Gentry immediately adjusted the lineup, but still kept Wade Dong at the power forward position.
Wade Dong had already gotten three blocks, and it looked like he was aiming for 10 blocks in this game... Since Wade Dong wanted to be the blocks leader, Coach Gentry had to go along with his crazy idea.
"Come on! Get the score back for me."
Coach Gentry encouraged the players again, and the timeout ended.
Veteran McGrady usually played in the second and fourth quarters, but he was brought in during the first quarter because the Suns had no one else to play the shooting guard position, and Middleton was still a bit inexperienced.
Last season, during the playoffs, Wade Dong played the power forward position because the shooting guard position was filled by Iverson. However, McGrady's condition was clearly not as good as Iverson's, and Coach Gentry was also worried that McGrady's fragile body might get injured during the regular season, which would be a loss.
"You only entered the league in April this year."
Facing Wade Dong's defense, Garnett started trash-talking again, "Even if you've won the Finals MVP, you're still a rookie!"
Wade Dong retorted, "Have you won the Finals MVP?"
Garnett: "!!!"
Trash-talking was something Garnett was good at, but being countered like this was rare. Wade Dong's "Have you won the Finals MVP?" left Garnett speechless.
"I've won the regular season MVP!"
Garnett stubbornly mocked, "That's not an honor a rookie can get."
"Old Iron, that's reasonable."
Wade Dong pointed to Nash, who was dribbling the ball, "Look at that guy, he's won two regular season MVPs."
Garnett: "!!!"
"Just play the game, don't keep trash-talking."
Wade Dong said, then made a quick cut to avoid Garnett's defense, received a pass from Nash, and made a fadeaway jump shot!
"Swish!!!"
Although Garnett tried hard to block, the ball still went in.
13:17!!!
The Suns started to catch up.
When the Celtics were on offense, Green stuck to Pierce like glue, not giving him any easy scoring opportunities.
After two unsuccessful offensive attempts!
The Suns tied the score. Although it was a temporary change in lineup, the Suns adapted in less than a quarter.
Garnett was matched up against Wade Dong, and Pierce against Green. The Celtics' two main scorers couldn't get comfortable shots, so the offensive responsibility fell to Rondo.
"This is really an opportunity."
When Rondo started to attack, Wade Dong was secretly pleased.
Rondo's shooting was unstable, and his main offensive method was to drive to the basket. So, Wade Dong didn't hesitate to exchange: Rondo's offensive skill package!
Exchanging this skill package wasn't to use Rondo's offensive methods, but to understand Rondo's offensive habits.
"Slap!!!"
"Slap!!!"
"Slap!!!"
Wade Dong already had the blocking skills of Olajuwon, Mutombo, Jordan, and others. After understanding Rondo's offensive habits, it was like constantly sending him blocks.
...
The first half of the game ended.
56:47!!!
The Suns led the Celtics by 9 points, and Wade Dong's halftime stats were 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 9 blocks!
In the Suns' locker room.
The stat sheet was passed around among the players, and they couldn't believe that Wade Dong had gotten 9 blocks in the first half!
"Brother Dong is amazing!"
Green and Middleton shook their heads in amazement.
They were new to the league and originally thought the gap between them and NBA players wasn't that big. But after seeing Wade Dong, they always felt like they were playing with a god.
It seemed like there was nothing Wade Dong couldn't do.
Wade Dong could play the shooting guard position, the power forward position, and everyone knew Wade Dong had a keen sense for rebounds. But if Wade Dong became the assist leader, everyone could understand. However, becoming the blocks and rebounds leader was something that a player under 2 meters, mainly playing the shooting guard position, couldn't achieve.
But looking at Wade Dong's performance, he was really going for the blocks leader title.
The Suns were leading in the score, so the Celtics' chances of a comeback in the second half were slim. Coach Gentry was in a good mood and joked with Wade Dong, "Brother Dong, you have two choices now!"
"What choices?"
Wade Dong tilted his head and looked at Coach Gentry.
The locker room also quieted down, as everyone wanted to hear what the coach had to say.
Coach Gentry smiled, "The first choice is, we change the lineup again, you play the point guard position in the second half, and then get another quadruple-double. The second choice is, you continue to play the power forward position in the second half. The league's single-game blocks record is 17, and you have a chance to break the historical record."
"Wow~~~"
Coach Gentry said this casually, but the other players still gasped.
A quadruple-double? Breaking the single-game blocks record?
Either of these achievements would be amazing, but Coach Gentry made it sound so easy.
"Make a choice."
Coach Gentry finished speaking, and everyone looked at Wade Dong.
Wade Dong thought for a moment, then said seriously, "I said, I'm not a stats padding player!"
"Damn!!!"
"Cough, cough!"
Coach Gentry coughed loudly, "If it weren't for your temporary change in lineup that almost cost us the lead in the first quarter, I would have believed you."