“The Chinese team tried their best, but when the American team gets serious, they're terrifying. There's no team in the world that can beat them!”

“The outcome is decided. Although the Chinese team lost, they can leave Rio with their heads held high!”

“Defeat with honor. A silver medal is enough to prove the strength of this Chinese team, enough to prove Tang Tian's ability!”

“Let's congratulate the American team on winning their 19th Olympic championship! Congratulations to Dream Team XII!”

“Durant is the biggest winner! This is the first time in two years that he's beaten Tang Tian!”

“The Olympics are over, let's look forward to the new season, to the third season of the Pelicans and the Warriors! That's when Durant and Tang will have a truly fair contest!”

……

After the first half, fans online were already celebrating the American team's victory in advance.

Tang Tian and the Chinese team showed their strengths in the first half, but the disparity in strength between the two teams made the outcome a foregone conclusion.

In the locker room during halftime, the atmosphere was a bit somber due to the large deficit.

Although reaching the finals was already exceeding expectations, everyone wanted to win a gold medal.

Even winning an Olympic gold medal in a regular sport is enough to bring glory to your ancestors, let alone basketball, one of the three major sports.

If they actually won the gold medal, everyone on this team would be highly sought after and considered historical figures after returning home.

But now the gold medal was so close yet so far.

Tang Tian sat on the bench, resting and thinking about how to turn the tide.

The Chinese team's individual abilities were far behind the American team's. In this situation, tactics were no longer effective. Winning was really too difficult, even directly impossible.

Just then, the door of the locker room was pushed open, and a familiar big face filled the players' vision.

Yao Ming had come to the locker room.

Seeing Yao Ming enter, the Chinese team members got up one after another to greet him.

Yao Ming walked to Tang Tian, patted him on the shoulder and said he had worked hard, then turned his head and glanced at the others.

"I'm really envious of you."

Yao Ming's first words left everyone confused.

But Tang Tian quickly realized that Yao Ming was here to boost the team's morale.

"I've played for so many years, and I've dreamed of meeting the American team in the finals, because that would mean I had the chance to beat them and win a gold medal."

Yao Ming's next words resonated with the Chinese team members.

Yao Ming was indeed such a person. He was probably the one before Tang Tian who most wanted to beat the American team and was least afraid of them.

"So I envy you, because you're in such an opportunity. If I hadn't retired, if I could still play, I would definitely be on the court."

Tang Tian was deeply moved when he heard this.

Yao Ming was here to boost morale, but the words he spoke came from the heart.

If the men's basketball team from 2008, plus the current Tang Tian and Yi Jianlian, could really play evenly in the first half.

"But I've already retired, and now I'm even more…"

Yao Ming said, humorously patting his big belly, which made the players laugh.

Yao Ming laughed along with them, and after he finished laughing, he continued.

"But you're still on the court, you still have this opportunity."

"I won't ask you to defeat the American team, after all, I haven't done that either."

Yao Ming's words made the players laugh again.

Tang Tian also laughed along with them.

Honestly, Yao Ming's pep talk skills were quite good, especially his occasional humor, which kept people focused on listening.

"I just want to say that such opportunities may come in the future, but even if they do, it will be four years later. A lot can happen in four years. Many of you may not enter the national team again, or such opportunities may not come again. I just want to say, in the face of such an opportunity, don't let yourself have regrets."

Don't let yourself have regrets!

Yao Ming's last sentence was very sincere, and the players nodded one after another after listening, their eyes filled with renewed fighting spirit.

Being 20 points behind at halftime, it was a bit of a fantasy to talk about beating the American team now, but even if they lost, they had to lose meaningfully.

Just like in war, they would rather die standing than be deserters!

Tang Tian was also inspired.

Honestly, the gap in strength between the two teams made him realize for the first time that tactics were not effective, but Yao Ming was right.

Thinking too much is not good, just do it!

Yao Ming's arrival and speech greatly boosted the team's morale.

Tang Tian struck while the iron was hot and put forward the only tactic he could think of.

If the American team played seriously, the Chinese team basically couldn't defend, or in other words, apart from him and Yi Jianlian, the other three positions were destined to be blown out.

So Tang Tian's strategy was that he would go all out to attack, and leave all the defense to his teammates.

Defend whoever they could, and if they couldn't defend, they couldn't defend.

He had to go all out to attack, let go and attack, attack like crazy!

This was a desperate way to play, and the chances of success were very small.

But like Yao Ming said before, they had to try even if the chances were small, just to leave no regrets!

Knowing that there are tigers in the mountains, they had to go to the tiger mountain!

Knowing that it was impossible, they still had to do it!

Back from the halftime break, the Chinese fans at the scene turned their attention to the Chinese team's half.

Being 20 points behind at halftime, and the opponent was still the American team, there was basically no chance of winning.

But it was the Olympic finals, and they still had hope until the last moment.

They saw the Chinese team members coming out of the players' tunnel, and they also saw the look of determination on their faces.

It felt like they were going to fight!

Seeing this, they also became inexplicably excited. The Chinese people would never give up easily!

In contrast, the members of the American team looked more relaxed.

The Chinese team played their best in the first half and were still far behind, as long as they played normally, the Chinese team would not have many opportunities.

Durant was still joking with Green on the bench.

Although he only scored 10 points in the first half, beating Tang Tian and washing away the shame of the group stage made him feel quite good.

Back in the second half, the Chinese team's starting lineup was adjusted, with Ding Yanyuhang and Zhou Qi replacing Zhou Peng and Kelan Baike.

Ding Yanyuhang was a rising star in the CBA last season. His offense, including shooting and breakthroughs, was very good, but his defense was average.

In this kind of Chinese team that revolves around Tang Tian as a star with four shooters, 3D players like Zhai Xiaochuan, Kelan Baike, and Zhou Peng have a lot of playing time.

But he and Guo Ailun had limited playing time.

Now that they were both in the starting lineup, the Chinese team was going for an offensive rhythm.

"This is not a good choice."

The Brazilian commentator at the scene couldn't help but shake his head after seeing the Chinese team's adjustment.

Coach K also showed a smile after seeing it.

The American team has a luxurious lineup and is not afraid of going head-to-head.

There are many ways for the Chinese team to lose, and they are now choosing the easiest way to die.

It's like a soldier with a broadsword playing a charge with a soldier with a machine gun. Not only will he die, but he will die miserably.