Champion Creed-Chapter 1151 - 365: The Most Embarrassing Moment in Dream Team History, and the Greatest Moment of the Courtโs Number One
Short rotations ensure the integrity of tactics, but also reduce the variety of tactical changes. ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐๐ท๐๐ญ.๐ธ๐ฐ๐
The current lineup canโt restrain Roger, nor can it make any headway on the offensive end.
Since thatโs the case, why not try someone else?
"What do you mean impossible? I know you admire Roger and Carmelo, so do I, but that doesnโt mean we have to fear him." Wade answered.
"Itโs not a matter of fear or not, can we even get a minute of playing time?"
Anthonyโs response reached Larry Johnsonโs ears. He glanced at the three from the 03 generation, then paused the game after Roger made two free throws.
At this point, the Dream Team was already trailing by 16 points, Duncan was on the verge of fouling out, everything pointed to one conclusion: the myth of the Dream Team was about to end!
Many U.S. fans in the audience were already booing.
Bob Costas even dubbed tonight as: "The night of disgrace for the United States!"
This is almost as incredible as Cui Yongxi surpassing Bronny James in total NBA points.
During the timeout, Larry Brown walked in front of the three from the 03 generation, LeBron James was eager to try.
Thereโs still a chance, catching up 16 points in one and a half quarters is not impossible.
As long as he gets on the court, heโll give his all on defense, heโll fight for every rebound.
No matter what, his career cannot endure another disgrace!
He has already been beaten beyond recognition by Roger, trampled upon by Michael Jordan, and now to experience the teamโs first defeat in the Olympics?
No, he canโt let this happen!
Larry Brown and LeBron James locked eyes for several seconds, then patted Wade on the shoulder: "Kid, let me see what you can do on defense."
James: ???
Larry Brownโs choice wasnโt difficult; Carmelo Anthony led the team into the playoffs, Dwayne Wade even reached the conference semifinals in his rookie season, and had a game-winning shot in the playoffs.
LeBron? Just a young guy who got eliminated by a 41-year-old Michael.
Larry Brown put Wade on to defend Roger, and after sitting down, Roy Williams asked: "Why not try LeBron? Heโs energetic and has the fighting spirit. Defending Roger might be effective. Without Tim protecting the rim, we need to exert enough pressure on Roger from the outside."
"Come on," Larry Brown waved his hand, "he couldnโt even stop a 41-year-old Michael."
If forced to use newbies, Larry Brown would rather use players who have played college basketball, played in the playoffs.
Wade confidently took to the court, nodding to his teammate Yao Ming.
Roger saw Wade too, and laughed maliciously: "Coach Larry actually sent a rookie as a scapegoat."
"No, Iโm here to finish you off!" Wade was excited, fully embodying what it means to be fearless as a young calf.
"Yeah, yeah, thatโs what the old man always says when sending youngsters to die on the battlefield."
After the timeout, the Dream Teamโs lineup was changed to AI, Marbury, Wade, Boozer, and Brad Miller.
The outside line was at a criminally low height.
On the first offensive after the timeout, AI attempted a three-pointer but his shooting touch had long been exhausted in the confrontation, the basketball hit the rim again, another disappointing round for the U.S. fans.
But immediately after came something that excited the Americans, Wade successfully stole the ball from Roger on their first face-off and used his incredible speed to quickly push forward and complete a counter-attack slam dunk!
No doubt, young Wadeโs speed caught even Roger off guard.
When he suddenly rushed up to steal the ball just now, Roger didnโt have time to react at all.
Could Dwayne Wade become the Dream Teamโs savior?
Obviously not, because the true savior wouldnโt allow it.
Stealing the ball from Roger and completing a dunk was Wadeโs last highlight while defending Roger. Afterward, Roger repeatedly bypassed the self-sacrificing Wade thanks to his rich experience, easily scoring from mid-range.
Marburyโs help defense awareness was lacking, AIโs help defense was active but too short to interfere with Rogerโs mid-range shots.
Therefore, not only did Wade fail to restrain Roger, but he also made Rogerโs scoring easier.
With Duncan absent from the inside, Yao Ming played more freely as well.
The point difference widened, the agitated Dream Team began blindly shooting threes, but AI and Marbury were dazed, struggling to find their touch, and Wadeโs three-point shooting at this stage was not a threat either.
Larry Brown felt as if a giant hand was gripping his throat, he was about to suffocate.
By the sixth minute of the fourth quarter, when Yao Ming made a signature behind-the-head pass to assist Du Feng cutting along the baseline for a two-handed dunk, expanding the lead to 23 points, the camera cut to the Dream Teamโs bench.
Tim Duncan knelt directly on the ground, while other players draped in towels stared blankly at the court. Their expressions were like those in disaster movies witnessing a monster.
This was the most embarrassing moment in the history of the Dream Team, of course, it was also another glorious moment in the career of the number one in basketball!
The once undefeated Dream Team, the beautiful myth of Olympic invincibility, ultimately couldnโt escape Rogerโs destruction.
"This is the fate of American basketball," Bob Costas shook his head, "Roger has dominated the basketball world, the number one in the world of basketball shown the arrogant Dream Team his true strength."
A minute later, Del Harris replaced all the starters.
The most unbelievable moment in basketball history unfolded in Athens, the Dream Team was actually pushed into garbage time!
The team that always sent opponents to garbage time finally experienced the pain of having their dignity trampled tonight.
Walking off the court, Roger held stats of 41 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 blockโthe first 40+10 in Olympic history.
Walking off, Roger happened to run into James who finally got on the court, James avoided Rogerโs gaze, but Roger still called out to him.
"Hey LeBron, I really envy that you donโt have to shower, you can go to the party all nice and neat.
Unlike me, my hairstyleโs all messed up."
LeBron James looked at the number 14, for the first time doubting: Can I really take over the torch from him?
He seemed to not intend to pass the torch to anyone.
He would keep everyone else in the dark.
In endless darkness.
