The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 70 Fear Strikes
Tang Bei arrived at the locker room and received bad news: Kendall Gill had suffered an injury and would be sidelined for at least a week.

John Newman was injured and hasn't returned yet, and Larry Johnson's eye socket hasn't recovered and he can't play either. Now that their starting shooting guard is injured, the Hornets' roster is severely weakened and they are in a situation of being short-handed.

"Tang, tonight is a back-to-back game. I'm giving you unlimited shot attempts. Win if you can, and it's okay if you can't," head coach Bristol told him.

"it is good."

He nodded.

In the away team's locker room, Reggie Miller was on tenterhooks. Even after his teammates arrived, he cautiously peered into the doorway.

“Reggie, he didn’t chase after us, don’t worry,” Schramf reassured him.

Reggie Miller breathed a sigh of relief, then boasted smugly, "Guys, I'm not afraid of him, but we're not in the same league. If we were evenly matched, I could beat him to a pulp."

"hehe!"

The Pacers burst into laughter, their laughter tinged with obvious sarcasm and mockery.

"it is true!"

"Reggie Miller said angrily."

At 7:30, both sides announced their starting lineups.

Pacers: Rick Smits, Dale Davis, Detlef Schrempf, Reggie Miller, Poole Richardson
Hornets: Tang Bei, Kenny Gatson, J.R. Reid, David Wingate, Muggsy Bogues

This game was not broadcast nationally, only on regional television, and the commentators were Leon Mitchell and Luther Tangulas.

After the live broadcast began, Leon Mitchell gave a few opening remarks, and then said, "Let's look at the Pacers' situation. Last season they were sixth in the East, and they are currently 5-6, which is not as good as last season."

They average 107.8 points per game, showing strong offensive capabilities. They allow an average of 106 points per game, their defense is similar to ours.

Luther Tangulas continued, "We're currently averaging 113.5 points per game, the best in the league, but it's steadily declining. We're allowing 106.2 points per game."

Mitchell nodded and said, "Our defense isn't very good yet, but because of Tang, it's much better than last season."

Tangulas said, "Tonight's game is going to be a back-and-forth offensive battle, with both our defense and the Pacers' defense being average."

Mitchell said with some concern, "With Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill both injured, plus important rotation player John Newman, our offensive firepower is too weak, and our chances of winning are slim."

In the players' tunnel, Reggie Miller hid behind four teammates. Fortunately, there was a team of security personnel nearby, so he wasn't too scared.

"Hey!"

Suddenly, Tang Bei shouted loudly from behind, like a thunderclap.

"what!"

Reggie Miller gasped in fright, her face turning pale.

"Ha ha!"

Tang Bei laughed loudly.

"This bastard!"

Reggie Miller muttered angrily.

"Now, welcome our star center, the heavyweight center from China! The NBA's number one behemoth! The strongest and most physically imposing player currently active..."

"Severe! Terrifying!"

"Tang! Bei!"

When it was Tang Bei's turn to appear, the MC, Hosm Tom, gave an exceptionally enthusiastic welcome speech.

"WOW!"

The stadium erupted in cheers, the packed stadium seemed to be lifted off its roof by the shouts, a stark contrast to Tang Bei's debut ceremony.

Tang Bei's vanity was greatly satisfied by appearing in this welcoming ceremony, and he ran out of the players' tunnel with a smile on his face.

After starting on the field, Eric Fleischer came to Tang Bei's side and said:
"With Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill all out, this period will be a test of your leadership skills. You need to perform well, which is very important for you."

"Team leadership skills?"

The meaning of this word is very simple. Tang Bei understands that a snake cannot function without a head. If he cannot step forward at this moment, then being a boss, a leader, or a core member will be irrelevant to him.

"it is good."

He nodded vigorously.

After the warm-up, head coach Bristol said to Tang Bei, "Tang, our lineup is incomplete, you will definitely be double-teamed, you need to learn to share the ball."

"Share the ball?"

"Yes, when you're double-teamed, you need to see your teammate's open space and then pass the ball to him."

"Well, okay, I see."

After warming up, when Tang Bei returned to the bench, he saw Dell Curry playing with a little boy who looked about two or three years old. The boy was carrying a small backpack, and there was a woman next to him.

“Dale, are these your family members?” he asked casually.

“Don, this is my wife Sonia, and our eldest son Stephen,” Dale Curry introduced.

"Hello," he greeted. "Hello, Tang," Sonia waved.

Little Curry waved cutely, but remained silent shyly.

At eight o'clock, the competition begins.

Tang Bei jumped for the ball with Rick Schmitz, who is 224 cm tall. Although the opponent is taller than him, his jumping ability and speed are far inferior to his, and his reaction speed is also inferior to his.

The wasps attack.

Kenny Gattuso had only one main task on offense: to create space under the basket for Tang Bei. He moved to the right wing and drew away the opponent's power forward, Dale Davis.

Tang Bei, positioned low on the left wing, immediately advanced inwards while simultaneously calling for the ball.

There's no skill involved; there's no need for any Tai Chi turns. Schmitz weighs only 113 kilograms and is 224 centimeters tall—he's practically a bamboo pole.

With overwhelming power, he squeezed into the restricted area in just one second, only a little over a meter away from the basket.

However, at this moment, Rick Schmitz decisively abandoned the top defense and began a close-marking harassment defense that involved side defense and flanking maneuvers.

Tang Bei immediately pushed the ball outwards, trapping the defender on the outside and gaining space under the basket.

Over the past three weeks of the regular season, starting point guard Muggsy Bogues has become increasingly familiar with Tang Bei's abilities and characteristics. Upon seeing this, he immediately lobbed the ball directly towards the basket.

At this moment, Dale Davis made a full-fledged defensive run back to the basket.

Schmitz, on the other side, jumped with all his might, but couldn't reach the ball.

The next instant, facing Tang Bei on the right wing, he leaped into the air under the basket, caught the ball with both hands, and slammed it towards the rim.

"boom!"

With a loud thud, the massive basketball hoop sank sharply downwards.

"Alley oop!"

The passionate shouts of the on-site host, Hossm Tom, immediately resounded throughout every corner of Charlotte Arena.

"WOW!"

Led by the MC, the crowd of fans instantly raised their arms, and the cheers in Charlotte Arena surged like a tsunami.

"A very beautiful aerial relay!"

Commentator Mitchell exclaimed excitedly, "Don has won over Charlotte fans in less than a month."

Tangulas said, "As far as I know, Tang's jersey sales are now second in the team, second only to the old lady."

"brush!"

At that moment, Reggie Miller pulled up for a jump shot and made a mid-range jumper.

“Oh, how many pieces?” Mitchell asked.

Tanglas recalled for a moment and said, "Tang's cumulative sales have reached 1,000 pieces. Grandma's jersey sales this season have exceeded 50,000, ranking 11th in the entire league."

Mitchell said, "The older woman is still very popular."

"ball!"

Tang Bei entered the paint again, and Rick Schmitz's physical strength was several levels below, making him unable to stand firm.

Bogut was still two big steps away from the top of the key. He pulled to the left, temporarily shaking off his defender, and then lobbed the ball toward the basket again.

Dale Davis only followed the ball to the right midfield position this time, then immediately retreated to defend the basket, forming a double team under the basket before the ball arrived.

The ball has arrived.

Tang Bei soared into the air like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, using his superhuman leap to grab the ball amidst a double-team. The moment he landed, he executed a Tai Chi spin, suddenly turning around and leaping into the air.

Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis, who were of similar weight, were knocked over by Tang Bei's fierce turn, as if they had been hit by a tornado at the same time.

"boom!"

Tang Bei's powerful slam dunk caused the basketball hoop to sag nearly a foot, wobbling precariously as if it were about to collapse.

"Crack, click, click..."

Zhang Heli was so excited he was trembling, and his fingers were shaking as he pressed the shutter.

"yeah!"

The host, Hossm Tom, excitedly raised his arms and shouted, "Fear is coming! Extreme fear is coming!"

"WOW!"

A tremendous roar echoed through Charlotte Arena, creating a tsunami-like shockwave that swept outwards in waves.

"That damn rookie! Damn it..."

Looking at the chaotic scene under the basket, Reggie Miller cursed inwardly.

Undeniably, he felt immense pressure; Tang Bei's extremely ferocious and brutal fighting style deeply shocked him.

(End of this chapter)