Chapter 849 Entering the Finals!
Tang Tian's series of scores further strengthened the Spanish team's strategy of double-teaming.
But after excessive double-teaming, Yi Jianlian and Zhou Peng successively seized opportunities to score.
The 10-point advantage established by the Spanish team was instantly overtaken.
The two teams were in a stalemate again.
This stalemate lasted until two minutes before the end. The two teams tied 85 to 83, and the Chinese team had a weak lead of 2 points.
At this time, any goal may determine the outcome, and any goal is priceless.
The Spanish team has the ball, the team attack in the frontcourt, and Mirotic's three-point shot from the outside.
The entire audience held their breath.
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the frame and Mirotic failed to seize the key ball opportunity.
However, Gasol's judgment on the rebound was more accurate, and he got the offensive rebound after blocking Yi Jianlian.
Mirotic took advantage of Zhou Qi's distraction and quickly cut to the basket.
Gasol passed the ball hand-to-hand, and Mirotic received the ball and scored directly for a layup!
He scored his 24th point of the game and helped the Spanish team tie the score!
There was disappointment on the faces of the Chinese fans at the scene. On social media, fans who followed the game also complained about Zhou Qi.
Zhou Qi was the team's starter in the first game of the Olympic Games. Now he has not only become a substitute, but also cannot contribute when the team needs him.
Not every Chinese can become Tang Tian. The emergence of Tang Tian has improved Zhou Qi's ranking, but they still have a long way to go.
Tang Tian didn't say anything at this time, but just reminded Zhou Qi to pay attention to his defensive position.
The person who benefited the most from this Olympics was Zhou Qi. Tang Tian guided him many times during the competition.
Within a minute and a half, many fans stood up, and they could already feel the smell of gunpowder smoke in the air.
Fernandez's confidence did not really give the Spanish team an advantage, and now both sides still have equal chances to advance.
Tang Tian's sudden score and Zhao Jiwei's outside three-point opportunity.
However, he didn't really take the shot. Instead, he returned the ball to Tang Tian after the defense arrived.
Tang Tian caught the ball and turned around, but Fernandez made a good save.
"Uh-huh!"
However, Tang Tian still threw the ball in despite the defense!
Excellent personal ability!
The Chinese team takes the lead again!
The fans at the scene and the fans in front of the TV were breathing heavily.
This game cannot be decided until the last moment.
Gasol pulled Yi Jianlian out, and Mirotic attacked Zhou Qi under the basket. Zhou Qi was obviously unable to withstand the difference in confrontation, so he knocked Zhou Qi away for a layup.
But Zhou Qi used all his strength to shoot the ball. After the confrontation, his center of gravity was a little unstable, and the ball missed the basket and slipped out!
Butter hands at critical moments!
With 30 seconds left in the game, Yi Jianlian grabbed a defensive rebound, and Tang Tian reached out to call a timeout as he advanced past halftime.
The international arena is different from the NBA. There are only three timeouts in the second half. Counting the previous two, this is the last one.
In other words, this is the final pause.
After the timeout, Tang Tian held the ball from outside the three-point line to press the clock.
When there were about 15 seconds left before the end of the game, he called on Yi Jianlian to pick and roll in the high post.
He used the pick-and-roll to break through, deceived Gasol with a fake return move, rushed to the basket in three slow steps, confronted Mirotic and then took the shot.
"Uh-huh!"
With a crisp sound, Tang Tian successfully sent the ball into the basket!
The most crucial goal!
The scene exploded with cheers!
Michael Tang!
The Chinese team has a 4-point lead!
There were only the last 10 seconds left in the game, and the Spanish team, which was trailing by 4 points, had almost no hope of winning.
Scariolo called a timeout.
Although the situation is extremely unfavorable, no one will give up until the last second in this four-year competition, which is completely different in advance and retreat.
"When defending against 3-pointers, I should give up 2 points. If the opponent scores 2 points, quickly pass the ball to me in the backcourt."
Tang Tian took the tactical board and quickly arranged tactics. He was more skilled as a coach than as a player.
After the timeout, the Spanish team played outside tactics.
Scariolo knew Tang Tian's free throw ability, so he chose to take a gamble.
But his thoughts were completely understood by Tang Tian, and there was no chance in the continuous pick-and-roll.
With only a few seconds left in the attack time, Fernandez forced a three-pointer against Zhou Qi.
The chance of shooting this ball was not good, so he increased the arc.
"boom!"
But he underestimated Zhou Qi's wingspan, and his shot was directly blocked!
Zhou Qi also used this ball to clear his name! He may still need time to grow, but his talent is not bad!
After the ball was blocked, its trajectory changed and fell directly into Yi Jianlian's hands. Yi Jianlian hugged the ball tightly, and the game lost suspense!
The final whistle sounded, and Yi Jianlian still hugged the basketball tightly and did not let go.
The scene was filled with deafening cheers from Chinese fans.
Across the ocean, tens of millions of fans were jumping excitedly in front of the TV.
Won! The Chinese team really won!
It's no longer the group stage that Fernandez said he didn't care about, it's the knockout stage!
The Chinese team eliminated the Spanish team in the semi-finals and reached the Olympic finals historically!
They have already guaranteed a silver medal!
The members of the Chinese team celebrated excitedly on the court. Tang Tian saw Yi Jianlian still holding the ball tightly and went over to pat him on the shoulder.
Only then did he notice that Yi Jianlian's eye circles were a little red.
Yao Ming asked Tang Tian to put the 13 jersey on the Olympic podium. It was a kind of spiritual sustenance for him.
But Yi Jianlian was really fighting. After being blackmailed by Lian Mei and Yi Di by countless people, he was under greater psychological pressure than anyone else.
Now that he has done it, the emotional touch is completely incomprehensible to others.
Tang Tian patted him on the shoulder and gave him a few words of encouragement. Then he put down the backboard and went with Tang Tian to welcome the victory in front of him.
They really did it!
In the other half, the players of the Spanish team were in a very depressed mood.
Just like the confidence Fernandez showed before the game, they thought this was their best chance to win the championship.
But in the end, they fell at the gate of the final, and they lost to the Chinese team, a team that defeated them four years ago!
After the game, they left the field without participating in the handshake ceremony.
Again and again, the gap between the two teams was finally forged.
In the stands, Vignali was a little excited and waved vigorously to Tang Tian. Moore was also cheering for Tang Tian, a junior at UConn.
Not far away from them, the American men's basketball team members who came to watch the game also seemed very happy.
Their loss to the Chinese team in the group stage put them under unprecedented doubt, and there is no better way to prove themselves than by winning the knockout round against the Chinese team.
Durant's eyes were also full of fighting spirit.
In the past, in the Thunder, no one would encourage him or push him. He had to compete with himself, but now Green is by his side, constantly motivating him.
He is no longer afraid of Tang Tian like he was in the group stage.
Green is right, the Chinese team only has Tang Tian, and he has so many strong teammates, he needs to face Tang Tian head-on.
Even if he can't beat the US team, he can still win. If the US team wins, he will win, not to mention that he may not be able to beat Tang Tian in the international arena!