Chapter 660: Super Competitor
It was Miami's offensive possession.
James received the ball with his back to the basket just outside the paint, and Heat head coach Spoelstra shouted for everyone to spread out.
By this point, Spoelstra also understood that the most efficient and useful tactic was superstar isolation.
The Knicks had Chen Yan.
The Heat had James and Wade.
After receiving the ball, James immediately turned, trying to slip along the baseline for an easy score.
But Kenyon Martin had already left Pau Gasol and come over to double team him.
This was Nelson's defensive adjustment.
In the final quarter, Nelson changed the Knicks defensive strategy and asked his players to double the ball handler more often.
The so called ball handlers were James and Wade.
In crucial moments, Miami's possessions would not fall into the hands of a 3rd player.
Many people only knew Nelson as a famous run and gun master, but they did not know that he also had tricks on the defensive end.
During his 11 years coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, the Bucks defense ranked 1st in the league for nearly half that time.
During his time with the Warriors, he sacrificed some defense because of the team's playing style and roster characteristics.
But that did not mean he did not understand defense.
James was trapped in a small space and could not move.
An ordinary player might have passed backward or committed a turnover.
But a player of James's caliber had extraordinary basketball IQ and vision.
He leaped between the 2 defenders and made a wide pass, sending the ball to Chalmers on the perimeter.
Chalmers accurately hit the 3 pointer.
98 to 94.
The difference was only 5 points.
James and Chalmers high fived in celebration.
That 3 pointer truly lifted Miami's morale.
Chalmers had shot 4 for 6 from beyond the arc so far. This was the result of New York's strategy of allowing long shots.
The Knicks main defensive targets were still Wade and James, so the role players around them played more comfortably.
New York offense.
Battier quickly inbounded from the baseline.
Curry received the ball and accelerated.
Chalmers tried to steal it from Curry, but he lunged too hard and was beaten by a behind the back dribble.
Clearly, Chalmers was still excited after just making that 3 pointer.
Curry slowed down and gathered the ball outside the 3 point line.
Wade quickly rushed over to cover him, and Curry passed sideways to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan took 1 dribble and immediately took off.
His strides were very long, giving people the feeling of watching a triple jumper.
He finished the possession with a 1 handed dunk.
100 to 94.
"Boom! An electric dunk!" Barkley shouted.
Kenny Smith followed, "A super competitor. Chen Yan attacks the rim and attacks his opponents like this every night."
Miami offense.
The Knicks continued their double team strategy.
Wade and Pau Gasol ran a pick and roll.
Kenyon Martin immediately left Pau Gasol to double team Wade.
After Wade split the defense, Curry and Kenyon Martin then converged on Pau Gasol.
The Knicks used their lineup's mobility advantage to double team Miami's core players again and again.
Pau Gasol used his height and broad vision to spot Chalmers on the far side.
Chalmers once again got an open 3 point opportunity.
But this time, he missed.
The basketball bounced off the rim.
Strictly speaking, Miami did not have a single elite 3 point shooter in its starting lineup.
That was the most important reason Nelson dared to boldly shrink the defense and double team the stars.
After Chen Yan grabbed the rebound, he quickly dribbled into the frontcourt.
At the left 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line, he and Curry ran a handoff play.
While passing the ball, Chen Yan screened Chalmers for Curry.
Under normal circumstances, James Jones should have switched.
But he was worried that if he switched, Chen Yan would get a shooting opportunity.
In that moment of hesitation, Curry dribbled inside the 3 point line.
Near the free throw line, Curry released a high arcing shot and scored 2 points.
Nelson's demand for Curry was simple.
Attack whenever there was an opportunity.
He did not want the entire team to rely too heavily on Chen Yan.
He wanted to add another active offensive point, and Curry had that ability.
In the next 2 possessions, Chen Yan and Curry alternately hit 3 pointers, forcing Miami to call timeout.
The lead suddenly returned to double digits, and the balance of victory once again tilted toward the Knicks.
Barkley could not help praising the scene.
"This is Chen Yan. This is the strength of a 2 time MVP. His arrival immediately made the Knicks competitive. Now they even have a chance to beat a super team like Miami."
Kenny Smith nodded. "He is not just scoring. He is activating his teammates. So far, he has already delivered 23 assists and scored 46 points."
"And 9 rebounds," Barkley added. "That is complete basketball. That is the perfect player in the eyes of countless fans."
Kenny continued, "Miami's players are all strong in 1 on 1 situations, but James and Wade overlap somewhat. Both need the ball, and both are primarily downhill attackers. When both of them are on the court, only 1 can handle while the other waits. That style can still score, but it lacks some chemistry."
Coming out of the timeout, James pulled to the corner, and Wade controlled the ball.
Wade faced Chen Yan's defense and drove hard with a change of direction.
Chen Yan turned his hips and followed.
Wade continued to accelerate.
Chen Yan stayed tight on him, and Kenyon Martin rushed out from the paint.
Wade showed no fear and crashed directly into them.
His final shot was blocked by Chen Yan, but the referee blew the whistle and called a defensive foul on Kenyon Martin.
Wade shrugged and stepped to the free throw line.
His intention on that play had been to draw a foul.
Wade calmly made both free throws.
On the other end, the Knicks still inbounded quickly, insisting on fast paced basketball to create cracks in the opponent's defense.
Chen Yan encountered a double team at the top of the arc.
A double team from that angle could not truly restrict him.
He had too many offensive options.
Chen Yan took a step back and turned his head to look at Curry beyond the 3 point line.
Miami did not dare leave Curry.
His touch was also very good tonight.
Chen Yan flicked his wrist, sending the ball in the opposite direction.
Another no look pass.
He found Battier in the corner.
Battier was completely open and shot immediately.
"Swish!"
A sweet corner 3 pointer.
Battier's skills were not comprehensive.
One could even say he was extremely specialized.
He had no ball handling ability and was a pure shooter on offense, but no one could ignore his lethality from the corner.
Many fans in front of their televisions were deeply moved by this scene.
Because of Yao Ming, they had watched Battier make 3 pointers from that position countless times.
Previously, Battier wore a Rockets jersey.
Now, he wore the Knicks uniform.
Miami offense.
Wade continued to hold the ball, while James pulled to the right side beyond the 3 point line.
This was the 1st year of Miami's Big 3.
Wade had not yet given up control, so this Heat team was not yet truly James's team.
Crucial possessions still had to be handled by Wade.
That much was obvious from these 2 possessions.
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]