I explained the trap, I dont know what you didnt understand
Blocking near the endline is not viable for ma long cause his bh block is not so good near the table and its risky. The weak points for every player is blocking near the endline as you said, and as close to the net with a "fading" ball with low bounce as possible (which is not a "deadly" mistake if you know how to do it). That is what ma long did and it was the 2nd best and safest option. He even added a bit of sidespin to curve the ball down.
Fast block does not work against FZD, FZD is maybe the best in the world right now in fast topspping exchanges because of his overall body strength & balance, varying the speed tempo and trajectory of block is what creates problems against him . Most of the time FZD makes mistakes when the tempo varies.
one fast block he kills it second fast block he kills it, 3rd slow block he misses, this scenarion has happened many times against ml and zjk also. Ma long knew that and constantly took advantage of it, slow blocks, wait for a FH kill, slow block again, that was the trap and ML patiently waited for BAD attack from fan to kill it back.
Thanks for the further explanation! First I wasn't sure about your point, since in my eyes, a trap is a well planned set-up, where the opponent falls for if he foolishly steps into it. FZD did make a great effort though. But now I get what you mean.
A "normal" short block is a huge risk these days, but the spinning short one can pose a threat. One has to stress that difference!
In the match point however the blocks are neither slow and passive, nor spinny, nor near the net. They were low and long and had reasonable pace. True those weren't countertopspins or spinblocks from short distance. ML went a step or two back from the table, gaining some time for himself and tried to initiate an counter-attack as soon as possible (hence the effort of getting into a FH grip).
You are right in mentioning his patience to wait for a weaker attack (one of the differences between FZD and ML, FZD doesn't know of any shot from any opponent that is out of his range to attack
)
But I assure you, that ML didn't have the time to look at the topspins of FZD and start thinking about the decision "Shall I wait another one? I don't know... Maybe this one? Yes definitely! I am so going for it! No! That one wasn't bad enough. Back to blocking it is. Hey! Is that Pär Gerell over there?! Countertopspin! YAY!"
Back from my imagination to the reality
ML played an active block as a safe option, while waiting for a suitable ball to counter (who would try to attack a shot, which is unsuitable to him?) We both agree on that. But I say, that the placement of his blocks in relation to FZD's body was what earned him the opportunity to counter attack. ML played from a few steps behind the table. He wanted to go at it with his FH, but wasn't able due to the quality of FZD's shots. So he had to block and tried to block as low and long as possible aiming right at the elbow of FZD. FZD always had to move to get his own body out of the way (Very often one or the other just gamble and try to anticipate these kind of placements and they move earlier, committing to the FH out of the BH. This time, none of them did. Were they nervous? FZD didn't get the placement of his FH-Topspins right. He couldn't force ML to move, but ML forced FZD to move. That's why the quality of FZD's shots dropped and ML was able to give it a go. Adding to that: You'll never (and by that I don't mean actually never in it's 100% literal meaning) see ML play more than two consecutive defending balls.
Cheers,
BLUE