Chapter Ninety-Three: Breaking the Slow Pace

"Hey, Giannis, looks like you're in great shape today."

After Antetokounmpo landed from a soaring tomahawk dunk, veteran Jason Terry grinned beside him. "There's another young guy on this court today with physical gifts as impressive as yours."

"I know him, Jason," Antetokounmpo replied, stretching his limbs. "Michael Wu, a Chinese-American second-round pick, who posterized Rudy Gobert."

"Honestly, I'd love to go up against him, but he's just a substitute."

Giannis, himself a foreign newcomer, was well-acquainted with the backgrounds of other non-American rookies, and naturally, he had Michael Wu's details at his fingertips.

"Giannis, if you tear up their starters, Michael Wu will definitely get his chance," another explosive young player grabbed the ball, took two huge strides, and slammed it home with one hand. Landing, he shook his head. "Last game, that kid put on a show. The opposition will surely see him as their hope to reverse the slump."

"Jabari, my brother, even if you hadn't said it, I was going to demolish their starters," Antetokounmpo slapped hands with his teammate. "No, I'll tear apart their whole team, starters and bench alike!"

As both sides warmed up and the players grew lively, the game was about to begin.

The Milwaukee Bucks, visiting Amway Arena tonight, had made moves over the summer. After the once-promising guard O.J. Mayo was expelled for violating league policy, they acted decisively, trading with the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire the seasoned Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova.

Retaining their core roster, they also picked up veteran Jason Terry from the free agent market. Though the Jet's fuel tank was nearly empty, there were still a few drops left.

On the sidelines, the commentator introduced the Bucks' situation as both teams' starters took to the court.

For the Bucks, the starting backcourt consisted of Matthew Dellavedova, the summer acquisition, and Tony Snell.

"Milwaukee's original starting shooting guard, Khris Middleton, is out for most of the regular season due to injury. For the Bucks, that's a significant challenge."

Next, the Bucks' forwards walked onto the court—unsurprisingly, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, with John Henson starting at center.

"They could have started the more offensively-minded center, Greg Monroe, but Monroe's athleticism clearly doesn't fit today's league trends. Coach Jason Kidd's decision is understandable."

Looking at the big center sitting on the bench, the commentator could only sigh.

The NBA's pace grows ever faster, with small-ball in vogue. Centers like Monroe, who rely on scoring in the paint, are no longer favored.

Of course, that's also because Monroe's inside presence isn't quite dominant enough; if the Bucks had a Shaquille O'Neal, he'd be an undisputed starter, no questions asked.

On the Magic's side, after two consecutive home wins, Coach Vogel made no changes to his starting lineup: Vucevic, Ibaka, Jeff Green, Fournier, and Elfrid Payton.

Vogel believed that pairing Aaron Gordon and Michael Wu off the bench—a four and a three—could bring unexpected results, offering both offensive and defensive flexibility.

The two centers stepped to midcourt. The referee tossed the ball, and the game officially began!

True to form, Vucevic disappointed none of his familiar supporters, losing the opening jump ball, so the Bucks claimed first possession.

Dellavedova patiently organized the offense, handing the ball to the Greek Freak at small forward.

"Giannis stands over two meters eleven tall. Next to him, Jeff Green looks like a dwarf!"

Seeing this matchup, even the commentator couldn't help but laugh. "Look at Jeff's pitiful stance—Giannis will devour him!"

Indeed, as the commentator predicted, Jeff Green, who could usually play either the three or the four, immediately seemed a size smaller next to Antetokounmpo. The physical disparity, especially in strength, made Green exceedingly uncomfortable.

When one spot gets overpowered, the whole defensive system is affected; the Magic's other players could only shrink in, trying to prevent Giannis from blowing past Green and storming the paint.

If you let such a monster build momentum, it's like a tank charging in for a brutal dunk!

Giannis was long past the age of reckless isolation. Seeing the defense shift, he glanced out of the corner of his eye and smoothly passed to a teammate who had slipped into an open spot beyond the arc.

Dellavedova caught the ball, fired a three, the basketball traced a beautiful arc, bounced off the front rim, and sprang out.

The Magic secured the rebound. Elfrid Payton didn't push for a fast break but steadied the tempo, advancing slowly.

This was Magic coach Frank Vogel's pre-game strategy. If they tried to play fast against a team as athletic as the Bucks, it would be suicide; they had to control the pace.

Unfortunately, slowing the game resulted in cold shooting hands; the Magic's opening possession, cheered on by the home crowd, bounced off the rim, and John Henson grabbed the board firmly.

The Bucks came back; Giannis caught the ball and launched a three, trying to speed up the game, but after the ball clanged off the rim, the Magic again slowed things down, bringing the tempo under control.

Back and forth, neither team could break the deadlock. Three minutes into the first quarter, Fournier finally, using an Ibaka screen and a handoff, sank a three-pointer!

"Finally, a basket! The Orlando Magic, playing at home, are clearly more familiar with these rims!" The commentator was jolted awake by the shot. "This game is as sluggish as their previous matchup against the Dallas Mavericks—quite the dull affair."

"Yes, that's all because the Magic are dictating the pace. The game's tempo is very slow," another commentator observed keenly. "Milwaukee needs someone who can break this slow rhythm, just like Orlando's Michael Wu did last game!"

"Luckily for Milwaukee, they have two players like Michael Wu!"

No sooner had the commentator spoken than the Magic's tightly stretched defense finally showed a crack. The Greek Freak took two strides past Jeff Green, leaped, and hammered home a soaring dunk!

Landing, without pausing, Giannis hustled back on defense. On the Magic's next possession, Elfrid Payton's simple pass was intercepted by a pair of long arms—it was Giannis again!

He secured the ball, gave it a powerful bounce, his long legs striding mightily. Reaching the three-point line, he stopped, took a huge three-step leap, and soared for a two-handed slam!

"From midcourt to scoring, Giannis dribbled only once!" The commentator was so stunned he leapt from his seat. "Good heavens, what is talent? This—this is talent!"

On the Magic's bench, Michael Wu's eyes lit up.

So that's another way to dunk?