Chapter 410: Beating the Suns is Cool

Why was he so anxious to call a timeout? 

Since Durant joined the Suns, Wade Dong rarely showed such aggression at the start of a game, but today was different. Wade Dong chose to go one-on-one on the first play, then stole the ball from Lillard. In less than a minute, Wade Dong scored four points, something that hadn't happened in a long time.

Such an unusual performance.

Stotts had reason to suspect that Wade Dong had prior knowledge of his tactical arrangements.

However, it was just a guess, and he didn't suspect Gortat or Frye of leaking tactics... These two players had high professional ethics and wouldn't do such a thing.

"Lillard, you're a very tough player, and we all believe in your ability."

Stotts first comforted Lillard, then said, "But the player you're up against is Wade Dong, the Suns' best defender and the hardest to play against!"

In other words, Lillard was just unlucky.

For example, in a game against the Warriors, Lillard was up against Dragic, which was easier.

Lillard's expression was unpleasant, but he didn't argue with Stotts. No matter how proud he was, he wouldn't think he was better than Wade Dong.

Stotts continued, "One of us has to step up, and that person can only be you, Aldridge! Compared to Wade Dong, Durant is easier to play against..."

...

The timeout ended.

Matthews missed a three-pointer.

As the ball bounced off the rim, Aldridge rushed in from the baseline, pushed Durant away in mid-air, and completed a one-handed putback dunk!

4:2!!!

Peak Aldridge was a top player in the league, not to be underestimated.

After Wade Dong scored another mid-range shot, Aldridge responded with a three-pointer.

6:5!!!

"Dong Ge guessed it again."

Gentry unscrewed his thermos and blew off the tea leaves on the rim.

When Stotts called a timeout, Wade Dong had said that Aldridge was about to explode. If Aldridge didn't explode... he could clock out after the third quarter.

Aldridge, who had scored five points in a row, seemed unwilling to give Wade Dong an early opportunity to clock out.

The first quarter became a showcase for Wade Dong and Aldridge.

Today, Aldridge played very aggressively, and on two occasions, he drove to the basket against Durant and scored.

End of the first quarter.

29:27!!!

The Trail Blazers trailed the Suns by only two points. Wade Dong scored 17 points in the first quarter, while Aldridge scored 19 points, two more than Wade Dong.

"Well played!"

Despite trailing by two points, Stotts couldn't help but praise his players. "I feel the championship spirit in you. Come on, let's win this game."

The Trail Blazers managed to keep the score close, not just because of Aldridge's outburst. 

Lillard, Gortat, Batum, and Matthews all performed well. They constantly troubled the Suns on defense and were very active in their offensive positioning, not relying solely on Aldridge's one-on-one play.

If Aldridge were to play one-on-one while the other four watched, he wouldn't be able to score a single point.

...

"Swish!!!"

As Aldridge made his seventh three-pointer of the game, his score reached 51 points.

91:88!!!

With seven minutes left in the game, the Trail Blazers still trailed the Suns by three points.

Gentry prepared to substitute Wade Dong and Durant.

Before going in, Wade Dong told Durant, "I'll defend Aldridge."

"Okay."

Durant nodded.

It wasn't that Durant was dominated by Aldridge; his defense was already good. But Aldridge almost played the best game of his career, like a god-slayer.

The game had reached a point where Aldridge was undoubtedly the Trail Blazers' offensive core. Wade Dong only switched to defend Durant in the last seven minutes because of Lillard.

Lillard had been completely shut down by Wade Dong... There was no need to worry about Lillard exploding.

After Wade Dong came in, when the ball was passed to Aldridge, he suddenly realized that his defender had become Wade Dong.

"No one can stop me today..."

After receiving the ball, Aldridge turned around and shot a fadeaway jumper, still thinking, "Wade Dong's height and wingspan are inferior to Durant's... He can't block this shot!"

"Slap!"

Contrary to his expectations, Wade Dong swatted Aldridge's shot away.

Blocking shots required not only height and wingspan but also excellent jumping ability and anticipation, both of which Wade Dong excelled in... Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the block king.

"How is this possible?!"

Aldridge couldn't believe he was blocked by Wade Dong.

Curry had already grabbed the ball and was on a fast break, and as Durant passed by Aldridge, he quietly reminded him, "The guy who just defended you was the block king."

Aldridge, "..."

With 51 points in less than three and a half quarters, Aldridge was a bit carried away.

"Fuck! Random changes, why isn't the Suns' rhythm disrupted at all?!"

Stotts saw Aldridge getting blocked by Wade Dong and Curry going on a fast break, and he was so angry that he threw the tactical board to the ground.

"Beep!!!"

Just as Curry had made a layup, the referee's whistle sounded.

Everyone was puzzled, and then they realized that the referee had given the Trail Blazers' head coach, Stotts, a technical foul, probably because of the tactical board-throwing incident.

"What a big deal~ Is it necessary to throw the tactical board?"

Gentry calmly sipped his tea, not understanding why Stotts was so angry.

Wade Dong's block on Aldridge became the turning point of the game.

...

"Beep!!!"

As the referee blew the whistle, the game ended.

109:101!!!

The Suns once again defeated the Trail Blazers at home, with a 2:0 lead in the series.

Game stats:

Wade Dong: 47 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks.

Curry: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks.

Durant: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.

Aldridge: 57 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.

Lillard: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks.

...

The Suns used an eight-man rotation today, with only Yi Nan, Whiteside, and Carter getting playing time besides the starting five.

Aldridge's performance tonight was worthy of the game's MVP, but unfortunately, they lost. If they had won, this game would have been Aldridge's deification.

Please, with 57 points and 13 rebounds, if they had also beaten the Suns, that would have been cool, right?