Chapter 661: This Is the Only Way I Can Comfort Myself
Wade stared at Chen Yan's feet, crossing the ball between his legs.
Chen Yan pressed him tightly, but Wade's handle was sharp. The basketball remained firmly under his control.
Although Wade would not lose the ball easily, he also found it difficult to shake off Chen Yan's defense quickly.
Wade waved for a pick and roll.
He still wanted to use the screen to drive to the basket and draw a foul.
Pau Gasol moved to the high post. Kenyon Martin switched, while Chen Yan went directly around the screen and chased Wade from the side.
On this possession, the Knicks defense was very decisive.
A double team.
Using double teams to severely limit the primary ball handler was Nelson's core defensive strategy in the 4th quarter.
Wade could not pick up speed, which meant he could not use his greatest advantage. He had no choice but to pass the ball to James on the weak side.
James took 2 probing steps, then pulled up for a mid range jumper.
It went in.
This season, James's role on the Heat was more like an offensive safety net, raising the team's scoring floor.
Nelson shouted from the sideline, urging his players to initiate the fast break quickly.
Although Miami had scored on that play, Nelson was generally satisfied with New York's defense.
If Miami kept ending possessions with jumpers instead of drives, then the Knicks defensive strategy was working.
Curry dribbled to the right wing at the 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line and called for a screen.
Miami's defense relaxed slightly.
Curry accelerated and drove into the paint.
James and Pau Gasol both came over to help at the same time.
With no clear shot available, Curry smartly turned and passed the ball to Chen Yan, who was cutting in.
This was why Curry succeeded in Chen Yan's previous life.
Beyond skill and shooting ability, Curry's basketball IQ and court vision were also 1st rate.
Although his passing could not compare with organizing masters like Nash, his ball handling decisions were very reasonable, and teammates received the ball comfortably.
After catching the pass, Chen Yan completed a 2 plus 1 against James.
It was less that James fouled him, and more that Chen Yan actively sought contact.
When Chen Yan received the ball, both James and Pau Gasol had their backs to him.
The moment they turned around, Chen Yan had already accelerated and crashed into them.
After the contact, Chen Yan caught the ball with 1 hand, hung in the air, and tossed it in.
This was Chen Yan's 51st point of the game.
After James realized what had happened, he first found the sideline referee and shrugged in exasperation. Then he pulled the lead referee to the spot where he had just fouled and argued for a long time.
James currently had 4 fouls, and he wanted the foul to be assigned to Pau Gasol, who only had 2.
After the 3 referees discussed it, the lead official walked to the scorer's table and changed the ruling.
Although Chen Yan had clearly targeted James, there had indeed been physical contact with Pau Gasol.
The judgment was in the referees hands, and under the principle of home court advantage, the referee still conceded under James's pressure.
Chen Yan did not dwell on it.
He knew James was an extremely intelligent player.
Stepping to the free throw line, Chen Yan made the additional free throw.
Miami offense.
Wade had the ball again, but this time, he did not attack by himself. Instead, he organized from the top of the arc.
James set an off ball screen for James Jones, then slipped to the baseline.
Wade lobbed the ball in, and Battier failed to keep up immediately.
However, James did not turn and shoot directly. He chose the safer option and drove.
James put everything into his baseline drive.
Battier was very brave. He held his ground, braced himself, and absorbed James's wild charge.
James pulled the ball back with a change of direction, and just as he was about to make his next move, Chen Yan's double team arrived.
James passed the ball to Wade on the perimeter.
Wade gathered, rose, and shot.
The 3 pointer missed.
On the surface, this looked like a wide open opportunity for Miami.
In reality, it proved that New York's defensive strategy had worked.
Nelson's tactical intention was to force Wade and James into taking more 3 point attempts.
"This Heat team has obvious flaws," Kenny Smith said with a smile. "They have almost no stable outside shooting threat. The individual ability of their 2 superstars is outstanding, but if they cannot shoot from the outside, the opponent's defense will shrink further and further inside. Once they cannot use their greatest advantages, how do they lead the team to victory?"
Barkley laughed. "Miami's starting lineup is luxurious. They have 3 All Stars. But sometimes basketball is not about who has more stars. A lineup is like a meal. You need balance to get the best nutrition."
Barkley's analogy was funny, but it was also accurate.
The biggest problem with Miami was that its nutrition was not balanced.
The Knicks immediately launched a counterattack.
Curry passed the ball to Chen Yan on the move, and Chen Yan, without stopping, flicked it right back to Curry with 1 hand.
A very stylish pass.
Curry failed to convert.
His transition 3 pointer missed.
That miss did not affect New York's morale.
The Knicks still maintained a double digit lead.
After a few more possessions, Spoelstra subbed in Mike Miller.
Mike Miller was the most reliable 3 point shooter in Miami's lineup.
On his 2nd possession after entering, he found an opportunity and hit a wide open 3 pointer.
Mike Miller's presence changed Miami's offensive structure to a certain extent.
The Knicks double teams could no longer be as aggressive, because Miller's career 3 point percentage was above 40 percent. He was not someone who could be easily abandoned on the perimeter.
But with Mike Miller on the court, the heavy burden of defending Chen Yan fell on Wade and James.
Despite the difficulty, James and Wade did not want to lose in front of their home fans.
Although the Knicks had Chen Yan, in the eyes of outsiders, Miami was still the team with higher overall strength.
James and Wade exerted themselves in the middle of the 4th quarter, driving and scoring repeatedly. At one point, they cut the deficit to just 6 points.
With 2 minutes and 27 seconds left, the score was 119 to 113.
Miami was starting to gain momentum.
The noise in the arena continued to rise.
James and Wade celebrated in turns after scoring.
To the countless fans watching in NY, Miami's current behavior looked very much like a villain's provocation.
If this were a superhero movie, then according to the script, Chen Yan should have stepped forward to finish the game right now.
Chen Yan did not disappoint the fans.
He always seemed able to turn the script into reality.
Nelson did not call a timeout.
It was an unexpected move, but he had seen Chen Yan actively calling for the ball in the backcourt.
He knew Chen Yan had his own idea, so he chose to let him adjust by himself.
Chen Yan's idea was simple.
Dribble to 2 steps beyond the 3 point arc and pull up directly.
The game had reached a fever pitch, and Miami's formation was tight. Their defense could not possibly extend that far out.
"Swish!"
122 to 113.
Chen Yan's sudden ultra long 3 pointer disrupted Miami's rhythm.
The Heat players seemed to short circuit.
Their coordination started to break down.
With 5 seconds left on the shot clock, James hastily passed the ball from the perimeter to Miller, who took a rushed shot and missed.
Chen Yan grabbed the rebound and threw a long pass to Curry.
Curry drove straight down the court.
When he reached the right wing at the 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line, he suddenly passed the ball behind his head to Chen Yan, who was trailing him.
Chen Yan caught it 1 step beyond the 3 point line and fired a quick shot without even aiming.
The shot looked rushed.
It even looked a little wild.
But because the shooter was Chen Yan, both the Heat players and the home fans held their breath.
"Swish!"
The moment the basketball dropped through the net, Miami's home arena nearly suffocated.
With 2 ultra long 3 pointers, Chen Yan directly broke the Heat, destroying their comeback momentum.
In the final minute and change, Miami gave up resistance.
Ultimately, the Heat lost the game, 127 to 115.
Chen Yan unbelievably recorded a massive triple double with 59 points, 26 assists, and 12 rebounds.
Only by putting up such monstrous numbers could Chen Yan lead the Knicks to victory over Miami.
After the game, Heat fans could only comfort themselves with that thought.
.....
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