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Chapter 221 - 120. Dueling Wade!_2

Chapter 221: 120. Dueling Wade!_2

Zhang Yang had just scored when Wade called for an isolation play, interpreting it as Wade wanting to return the favor.

Felton didn’t see it coming, and spurred on by the cheers of the fans, he defended with all his might... He stepped back, but was still beaten by Wade’s move.

So fast! Wade’s first step, the strongest in the league!

Felton reacted quickly enough, immediately retreating instead of chasing after; he tried his best to remain between Wade and the basket, increasing the difficulty of Wade’s shot.

Those two games defending James weren’t in vain!

At 218 centimeters, Brezec, along with Okafor who had shrunk to the left side of the three-second zone, as well as the stocky Felton and Gerald Wallace who had crept in from the baseline... Even Wade felt his scalp tingle at the sight of these four closing in under the basket.

But he was no ordinary number one draft pick...

Wade stopped abruptly at the right elbow, shot a mid-range jumper... and scored!

Last season, in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Wallaces, he couldn’t penetrate the three-second zone, nor could he score from outside of it, which dragged down O’Neal. During the off-season, Wade relentlessly practiced his pull-up jumper, and managed to develop one of the league’s best short-range pull-up shots, achieving a field goal percentage of 48.1% to date this season, second only to Kobe’s 49.4%!

After scoring, Wade tilted his chin up at Zhang Yang!

The fans of the Bobcats were right on the money; Wade did want to respond to Zhang Yang’s recent basket, but not for the so-called ’battle of the leading players’ or ’number three player rivalry’; he simply wanted to challenge Zhang Yang.

As long as Zhang Yang squared off with him, in his eyes it meant that it was Miami Heat’s time to dominate.

The previously quiet fans once again erupted with noise, shouting "Jack" loudly.

They didn’t know what Wade was thinking, but even if they did, it wouldn’t matter; their North Carolina talent was finally being marked by a superstar guard!

Zhang Yang was thrilled. Without overthinking it, he continued to move to the right high post against Payton to receive the ball after advancing to the frontcourt.

The fans’ cheers rose again!

Zhang Yang had just caught Felton’s bounce pass when Payton stuck to him like glue.

Zhang Yang couldn’t get his moves going, he took a step out towards the far end, turned around, and Payton immediately closed up on him.

Zhang Yang felt he couldn’t raise the ball to shoot; if he did, it would get stolen! Is this the ’Glove’?

He didn’t keep retreating; instead, he dribbled with his left hand, pushing towards Payton who was pressing up... and at the moment of near collision, he pulled the ball left and turned!

Payton quickly spun around to catch up, but it was already too late.

Mourning had already retreated into the no-charge zone, spreading his arms wide, his solid frame like a mountain, full of deterrence.

The elated Zhang Yang didn’t care about that, he snatched up the ball a step outside the no-charge zone and took a quick shot... the ball sailed over the hand of Mourning who was attempting a block, tracing a beautiful arc before dropping into the basket!

The crowd exploded! The fans went wild with cheers! Their North Carolina genius had answered Wade’s response!

Seeing the ball go in, Zhang Yang turned and tilted his chin up at Wade in response.

Wade clapped his hands, impressed. He really didn’t see that one coming.

Just now, Payton’s defense was very good, and if Zhang Yang hadn’t taken advantage of the split-second gap in Payton’s defense when he pressed forward, he surely wouldn’t have broken through.

Mourning’s interference was quick and well positioned; if Zhang Yang’s quick shot had been a fraction of a second slower, he would have been hit by Mourning’s notorious block.

One can only conclude that a genius is a genius, seizing that fleeting opportunity without hesitation.

Wade also sighed at the relentless passage of time; Payton’s momentary lapse when he pressed up to cover Zhang Yang’s shot was a sign of age, a decline in physical condition; he could no longer burst into lateral movement as he did in his youth.

When it was the Heat’s turn to attack, Wade continued to drive!

Gerald Wallace prepared to collapse, Brezec positioned himself under the basket, Okafor drew into the left side edge of the three-second zone, and Felton retreated under... the Bobcats’ four-man trap was set in anticipation!

At that moment, Wade’s best option was to pass to the right sideline or, alternatively, to jump and pass to Haslem on the left side of the three-second zone.

But he didn’t pass! He faced Gerald Wallace, pulled up for a jump shot... and added a fadeaway... but missed!

The shot was weak, hitting the outer rim of the basket!

Seeing the ball bounce towards Gerald Wallace, Wade landed and immediately turned to defend.

As he expected, Zhang Yang was fast breaking!

The Bobcats’ fast-break squad coordinated smoothly; just as Gerald Wallace grabbed the ball, Felton circled around to receive the pass, and after Wallace passed, he dashed down quickly, drawing in the defense. Felton brought the ball out beyond the three-point line before passing...

When Zhang Yang received the ball, Wade had already caught up to him, exhibiting astonishing speed!

Zhang Yang dribbled in towards the free-throw line, starting his Euro step!

Wade rushed to cover the anticipated spot.

Attempting a Euro step in front of him was like showing off to Guan Yu or trying to show an ax to Lu Ban—foolhardy!

His prediction was right; on Zhang Yang’s first step, he was perfectly positioned between Zhang Yang and the basket.

After a brief block, Wade immediately moved to the next spot, not daring to pause for even a moment—he knew how fast Zhang Yang’s stepping could be... Huh? Where is he?

Wade looked to the side only to see Zhang Yang already going up for a layup... and it went in!

Zhang Yang, after landing his first step, hadn’t continued to quickly change direction; it was as if he hit a pause button, and after Wade’s rapid lateral movement, Zhang Yang took a step towards the basket and went straight for the layup!

Zhang Yang, filled with excitement, turned and ran back to the backcourt, leaping to chest bump the approaching Gerald Wallace in celebration.

He had incorporated the rhythm change from a post-up move into his Euro step! The move was effective!