A European basketball team like Lithuania is strong, they are not afraid of physical confrontation, and at the same time can complete various offensive tasks assigned by the coach, and the tactical execution is very strong.

More so, Lithuania is the most basketball-loving country in the world.

Basketball in the United States is just one of the favorite sports of many Americans, but it is not the most popular.

Lithuanians love basketball, and even caused a peculiar phenomenon in the country's ratings survey: as long as there is an international basketball tournament, the ratings of the year's champion, runner-up, and third place are all Lithuanian team games.

The high level of enthusiasm has led to a significant number of participants, with the EuroBasket Federation estimating that the total number of registered and non-registered basketball players in Lithuania is 140,000, half that of Russia and one-fifth of Germany, half of whom are young players. Although the absolute number is still not very large, the average quality of Lithuanian basketball players should be higher than that of the surrounding sports powers, for one simple reason: Lithuania invests the vast majority of its sports resources in basketball. Although it has a population of less than 3 million, it has 17 basketball stadiums that can accommodate more than 1,000 people.

In September '91, Lithuania seceded from the Soviet Union, and the following year, Lithuania participated in the Barcelona Olympics.

Sabonis led the Lithuanian team to win the bronze medal against the CIS team, and at that time, Sabonis said with emotion: "In Seoul, I won the gold medal (for the Soviet Union), but this bronze medal in Barcelona is the soul of our Lithuanians." ”

During the game between Yang Di and the Lithuanian team, it was found that the overall level of these players was very high.

Although there are no particularly strong individuals, they are willing to share the ball, move the ball, and also shoot some three-pointers, and even overtake the Chinese team from the start.

At the end of the first quarter, Lithuania led China 22-19.

"Protect the rebound!"

Yang Di, Wang Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian said that these two were the inside line of Yang Di's partner at the beginning of the second quarter, and Yang Di decided to start from the outside, but he was very worried about the protection of rebounding.

Sure enough, the Lithuanian team scrambled for the fierce Yaftokas, Yannas and others to grab the rebounds in the front court, and the Lithuanian team suddenly grasped a 5-point lead.

"Don't let them bypass you easily, if he dares to come, you can let him go, he is very fierce, you have to be more fierce than him, this is a battlefield, not a practice!"

Yang Di was very angry and yelled at Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian was better, Wang Zhizhi's face was a little unbearable, and he was also holding back a fire in his heart.

After the switch between offense and defense, Yang Di held the ball outside.

The three threats made a shooting feint directly, then stepped to the right and slammed in.

At this time, the forward Yasetis, who had already been in the wheel battle of the Lithuanian team, defended him, and after Yang Di took a step in, he raised his elbow and secretly hit him in the chest in the second breakthrough.

The referee didn't see Jacsetis in pain.

Yang Di stepped on the line of the penalty area, shouted, and jumped up regardless of it.

At this time, there was still a 2.10-meter mid-point Yaftokas defending in front, and he turned his head and saw Yang Di flying, with a frightened look in his eyes.

"Oops!"

"Bang dang!"

Before he could react, a large truck-like body crashed into him, and he still staggered a few steps under the basket, and the sound above his head exploded with a shocking sound.

The audience gasped, when had they ever seen such a powerful dunk?

Yang Di clenched his fists and roared, and glared at Yaftokas when he landed, as if to say: "Grab the frontcourt rebound again, how arrogant it is!" ”

Yi Jianlian only felt a surge of hot blood surging up from his spine, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

"Defend!"

Yang Di clapped his hands, retreated, and beckoned the players of the Chinese team to step back.

At this time, the bench was already boiling, and Yao Ming was actually the most excited one, standing up and applauding and waving a towel, and like Yang Di, he yelled.

Morale suddenly soared.

Guard Gustas dribbled through and gave the ball to Gianners, who jumped up for a layup.

Yang Di flew over like a god soldier from the side, slapped the basketball in Yannas's hand with a slap, and rolled to the front court.

Sun Yue and Yi Jianlian shook their heads, their eyes turned red, and an unprecedented force erupted in their bodies, and the whole person ran forward at a speed that exceeded the usual limit of one hundred and twenty points.

Like two white lightning bolts, Sun Yue took the lead in getting the basketball, and even felt more skillful than ever in controlling the ball.

He was in the front court, passed the ball horizontally, and handed it to Yi Jianlian, who was inserted.

Yi Jianlian took a big step, held the basketball high with both hands, glided in the air, and then smashed the ball into the basket, and the whole person hung on the basket and floated forward with inertia.

In a wave of 4-0, the Chinese team chased the difference to only 1 point.

The Lithuanian team immediately called a timeout.

Yang Di hooked Yi Jianlian's shoulder and walked to the bench, "Is this how to play well, it's the same in the NBA, no one gives you encouragement, you have to encourage yourself, every NBA player will find excitement for himself, and those who are excited can beat the opponent, after all, not everyone is Tim Duncan." ”

After the pause, Yang Di hit a mid-range jumper to help the Chinese team overtake the score.

Yao Ming replaced Wang Zhizhi, Yang Di partnered with Yi Jianlian and Yao Ming, and the inside rebounds were controlled, and he was a strong shot on the outside, causing many fouls in the Lithuanian team.

At the end of the first half, the Chinese team overtook the Lithuanian team by 3 points 43-40.

In the second half of the game, the three-point shooting rate of the Lithuanian team declined, Yang Di and Yao Ming controlled the rebounds, and the offense was mainly a low-post offense of two people.

The Chinese team gave up blocking and dismantling offenses, reduced mistakes, and low-post Yang Di and Yao Ming took turns bombing, and the Lithuanian team had no way at all.

CCTV5's commentary is particularly simple: "Give the ball to Yao Ming, Yao Ming turned around in a low position, and the ball went in!" Give the ball to Yang Di, Yang Di turned around in a low position, and the ball went in again! ”

It would be much better if there was an NBA starter-level interior at this time, such as Ilgeskas, but unfortunately, Big Z did not participate in this World Championship.

Two top inside strong attacks, Lithuania is a pack, and the Chinese team has a greater chance of playing outside.

In the end, the Chinese team defeated Lithuania 81-73 and reached the quarterfinals.

Yang Di and Yao Ming teamed up to score 53 points and 22 rebounds, accounting for more than half of the points and rebounds.

Yao Ming hugged Yang Di excitedly, this World Championships is the easiest one he has played since he joined the national team.

averaged 25.9 points per game, but the scoring efficiency was not low at all, and no one dared to easily trap him. When going around, the other players of the Chinese team will give the ball to Yang Di, and Yang Di will attack from the side, and it will become a nightmare for the defensive team to go around.

"Don't be too happy, Spain and Serbia and Montenegro are not very easy to do, either of the two teams appears, we have to spend more energy than today, if it is Spain, it will be a tough battle, a key to breaking the historical record in this year's World Championships."

After the knockout round, Yang Di became more and more calm, because he didn't have any idea about whether he could defeat Spain.