Many teams employ this tactic in crucial moments.

Undeniably...

The best tactic is to hand the ball to the most reliable player at crucial moments.

......

The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.

There are 2 minutes and 17 seconds left...

Nash dribbled the ball across the backcourt, but instead of using his usual fast-paced offense, he went straight for Wei Guo.

Marion and Johnson set off off-ball screens for Wei Guo, who circled to the three-point line to receive a pass from Nash. At this point, he was still a step away from the three-point line.

"Defend!"

General Johnson roared, "This is now within the range of the Defenders!"

Although he was still a step away from the three-point line, no team in the league dared to leave Wei Guo open in that position.

Finley and Nowitzki, arguably the Mavericks' top two players, lunged at Wei Guo from the left and right. Wei Guo remained calm, raising his wrist as if to shoot a three-pointer.

Finley and Nowitzki were both recruited by the Defenders...

"Oh no!!!"

After they jumped, the two regretted it.

Wei Guo had no intention of shooting a three-pointer. As the two players were being called out, Wei Guo casually shook them off and dribbled to the basket.

Facing Dampier's help defense, Weiguo pulled up for an aerial layup!

"Whoosh!!!"

For Wei Guo, this was a very easy score.

"Beep!!!"

The referee's whistle blew.

The referee couldn't ignore Dampier's defense. Although Dampier failed to stop Wei Guo from scoring, he pulled and dragged Wei Guo during the defense, which was an obvious foul.

Dampier stood on the field, looking bewildered.

General Johnson, however, looked ashen-faced...

Only he realized that Dampier had accumulated six fouls and could no longer stay on the court. The game had reached its most critical moment, and losing a 2.11-meter tall player put the Mavericks in an even more passive position.

Wei Guo steps to the free-throw line...

Stoudemire and Marion stood on either side of the fair zone, and Dampier also came over.

"Beep!!!"

The referee blew his whistle, walked over to Dampier, and said, "You've accumulated six fouls and must leave the game now!"

"ah???"

Dampier was even more bewildered, "I've already committed six fouls?"

Stoudemire scoffed, "What do you think? You fouled Wei three times in the third quarter alone!"

It's just because the competition was too intense...

Even head coach Johnson overlooked the fact that Dampier had already fouled out and did not take any protective measures for him. It wasn't until Dampier fouled out that Johnson realized the seriousness of the problem.

......

The little incident passed just like that, but the referee still managed to pull a little trick.

Normally speaking...

Dampier fouled out but remained on the court, so he should at least receive a technical foul. However, at such a crucial moment in the game, a technical foul and free throws could be the death knell for the Mavericks.

"Whoosh!!!"

Wei Guo's punishment was accurate.

104:101!!

The Suns lead by 3 points.

......

With 1 minute and 59 seconds remaining in the game, the Mavericks called a timeout.

In that case...

Both the Mavericks and the Suns have only one timeout left in this quarter.

General Johnson gestured on the whiteboard, "The Suns will defend our three-pointers. Terry, you hold the ball at the top of the arc. Finley, you receive the ball in this position. Stackhouse runs to the three-point line to draw the defense. After Finley receives the pass, immediately pass the ball to Nowitzki who is cutting to the basket. As long as you can shake off Weiguo, Dirk, you go for the basket and get two points easily."

"The most crucial thing is the defense that follows. They will definitely let Wei Guo go one-on-one, so double-team Wei Guo. We must defend against this shot."

Basketball games are also a time for both head coaches to outwit and outmaneuver each other.

The Mavericks are still down by 3 points. The Suns will definitely focus their attention on the perimeter, allowing Nowitzki to cut to the basket and score two points. As long as the Mavericks can defend against the Suns' next attack, they still have a chance to take the lead.

This is called...

All's fair in war!

......

The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.

Terry has the ball at the top of the arc...

Stackhouse and Nowitzki are running in a crossover pattern. Stackhouse runs to the three-point line. Wei Guo hesitates for a moment. Will Finley pass the ball to Stackhouse or Nowitzki?

Wei Guo had to make a decision in a fraction of a second!

Wei Guo turned and caught up with Stackhouse, saying to Stoudemire, "Stoudemire... go to the basket and cover, don't let Nowitzki get the ball."

If Stackhouse makes a three-pointer, the Mavericks will tie the game, but if Nowitzki scores in the paint, the Mavericks will still be down by one point.

Wei Guo caught up with Stackhouse, and even if Stackhouse took the shot, he was confident he could block it—that was the best-case scenario... The next best scenario was that Nowitzki's shot under the basket was blocked by Stoudemire... The worst-case scenario was that Nowitzki scored under the basket, and the Mavericks were still down by 1 point.

Wei Guo made the right choice.

but...

Finley passed the ball to Nowitzki, who received it, circled around Stoudemire, and unleashed a stunning backheel flick!

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball went into the net.

104:103!!

The Mavericks are still down by one point.

General Johnson's tactics were only half complete; the key was the defense. If he couldn't stop Wei Guo from scoring, everything would be for nothing.

Stoudemire still serves the ball from the baseline!

Nash dribbles...

Finley and Nowitzki continued to double-team Wei Guo, preventing him from receiving the ball.

"It all depends on Nash..."

Gentry gave a meaningful smile. "The young general thought he understood me, but actually I understood him."

The audience all stood up!

Wei Guo kept running, but he couldn't shake off Nowitzki and Finley's double-team. Nowitzki, however, had a feeling that their defense was too successful... something was wrong!

Nash and Stoudemire were completely ignored...

The two simply executed a very basic pick-and-roll play. Stoudemire screened for Terry outside the three-point line, and Nash drove to the basket and easily made a layup.

106:103!!

The Suns still lead by 3 points with 1 minute and 21 seconds left in the game.

......

"Fuck!!!"

"Holy shit... Holy shit... Holy shit..."

"How could Nash be allowed to make a layup so easily?!"

"What a garbage ball you hit!"

......

The arena was filled with groans and screams. The arena didn't care about anything else; allowing Nash to score easily was simply a problem with the Mavericks' defense.

Did you really think...

Is Wei Guo the only player on the Suns capable of scoring?