Chapter 535: Three Gives Birth to All Things
If LeBron James used to outperform Yang Mo in passing, now Yang Mo has him way ahead. Yang Mo's only weakness now is his mid-range shooting, and LeBron James isn't necessarily much more consistent there. Therefore, Yang Mo's status as the NBA's best player is undeniable, and no one, including LeBron James, wants to resist.
The Knicks easily scored at the start of the game, but this didn't throw the Heat into a panic. They had already studied the Knicks' tactics in detail. They were no strangers to Yang Mo's incredible passing skills, having seen them many times in video highlights.
Back in half court, Mario Chalmers passed the ball directly to LeBron James, and Wilt Chandler quickly stepped up to defend. Chandler, in a sense, was a knockoff, impoverished version of James. How could a knockoff face the genuine article? James quickly blew past him, then sprinted into the paint and passed the ball back to a running Dwyane Wade for an easy layup.
This is the greatness of the Heat, they have two sharp knives. When these two sharp knives stab into the opponent's restricted area at the same time, it is difficult to defend.
drop!
Yang Mo didn't hesitate. Even though the game had only been going on for less than a minute, he resolutely called a timeout. Returning to the sidelines, he announced, "Wilt Chandler, you sit down. Jeffries, you play. Ronnie Brewer, you play too. You have to keep a close eye on Dwyane Wade. Tyson, your job is to save layups in the paint. Don't let them get away with anything. As for Amare, I don't have high hopes for your defense, but at least don't let them get layups right under your nose..." Yang Mo quickly assigned the defensive tasks.
For the current Knicks, offense isn't the problem; the challenge is organizing their defense effectively. To be fair, Yang Mo isn't particularly adept at deploying defensive tactics. Fortunately, however, each of his current coaches is a master tactician skilled in team defense, able to provide comprehensive advice.
Soon, the whistle sounded and the game continued.
Yang Mo continued to hold the ball and slowly advanced. He wasn't particularly interested in a fast break. This wasn't because the Knicks couldn't run fast breaks these days; on the contrary, once they started running, they were even more terrifying than a run-and-gun team. However, Yang Mo was now practicing a team half-court offense.
Coming to the frontcourt, Yang Mo faked two shots outside the three-point line before sprinting straight into the restricted area. He easily attracted a double-team when he reached the restricted area. Then, he only needed to toss the ball lightly, and Stoudemire would soar into the air like a bomber and slam the basketball into the basket.
This was an incredibly easy task for Yang Mo. It was even easier for Stoudemire. That was why he loved playing with Yang Mo.
The Knicks scored again, and the Miami Heat were powerless to stop them. In fact, they didn't even try. Back in half court, James initiated the offense, followed by Wade. Although the Knicks' defense was becoming more challenging, it didn't stop them from scoring, as they still had a third scoring option: Chris Bosh. After receiving the pass from James, Bosh easily slid the ball into the net, as his defender, Stoudemire, had already moved to defend Wade.
When a team boasts three All-Stars, two of whom are top-five players, then... that team is practically impossible to defend. This can even be explained by Taoist philosophy: One begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things. Three top-tier players capable of launching an offense at any moment can truly unlock tens of thousands of playbooks. Each can be the initiator, each the finisher. Opponents simply don't know which one to defend unless they can deploy all eight players simultaneously.
But Yang Mo wasn't one to give in, nor was he one to accept the status quo. He wanted to use the Big Three as a touchstone; only such a powerful test could hone their strongest defense. So, he quickly made the necessary adjustments: "Ronnie, guard Mario Chalmers for a moment. I'll take care of Wade."
After Yang Mo finished setting up his defense, he immediately launched another attack. He scored easily again, but this time he hit the three-pointer himself. After his fake shot, Mario Chalmers was completely lost and retreated, intending to defend Yang Mo's drive. Instead, Yang Mo took the shot himself.
This was Yang Mo's terrifying nature. If you defended a shot, he'd break through. If you defended a break, he'd shoot. If you double-teamed him, he'd pass. He was simply invincible.
There are not many people in the league today who have such comprehensive skills, and he is the only one who can possess such abnormal physical fitness.
If this person is not the best player in the league today, then who is?
After hitting a three-pointer, some cheers subconsciously rang out in the American Airlines Center. Although the three-pointer went through their net, the shooter was Super Yang, their city hero. They couldn't suppress the sound in their throats, just like they couldn't suppress their love for Yang Mo.
Yang Mo waved vigorously at the fans' cheers, blowing kisses. He loved these adorable fans. But he didn't like the Heat. So, back at half court, he went all out on Dwyane Wade. He gave his all, focusing on his former boss, Dwyane Wade.
Facing Yang Mo's aggressive defense, Wade had to give up some of his offensive energy. He no longer had the energy or the ability to engage in a fierce head-on confrontation with Yang Mo. The reality was just as he'd feared; Yang Mo had effortlessly surpassed him. But he didn't feel the same panic he'd felt before. Instead, he felt it was natural, even a touch of regret. He wondered, if Yang Mo hadn't left the Heat, wouldn't someone else be suffering right now?
He had no desire to match up against Yang Mo, as Yang Mo was superior to him in both speed and strength, and his defense was also extremely oppressive. If he tried to force a score, the price would be horrific. At his age, he didn't want to pay such a heavy price, so... as he restrained himself, the Heat's relentless attack began to falter and stagnate .
Bang!
Soon, the results were immediate. LeBron James' mid-range shot missed, and Chandler easily grabbed the rebound and passed it to Yang Mo.
Yang Mo took the basketball and waved his arms excitedly: yes!
That's what he wants.
