Chapter 703: Expressionless
Miami had the ball, and James finally responded directly to Chen Yan.
From beyond the 3 point line on the left side, James continuously moved horizontally by using screens, then suddenly launched a 3 pointer from the 45 degree angle on the right.
Kenyon Martin chose not to close out.
It was not because he had been fooled by James sudden shot, but because he believed James driving threat was far greater than his shooting threat, especially from 3 point range.
Even if James drive did not score, it could still disrupt the opponent's defense. With his vision and passing ability, he could easily create open opportunities for his teammates.
Shooting, especially 3 point shooting, had always been James weakness.
Although Chen Yan's appearance had made James understand the importance and lethality of the 3 point shot earlier, improving James outside accuracy to some extent, overall, his 3 point output still did not meet the standard of a quality shooter.
His consistency was also lacking.
This time, however, James capitalized on the opportunity.
The basketball spun rapidly, hit the back rim, and dropped in.
46 to 40.
New York offensive possession.
Chen Yan made continuous back cuts, got rid of Wade, and received the ball.
It had to be said that battling Wade on both ends of the court was extremely physically demanding.
Wade's play tonight was almost self destructive. Every action he took was aimed at exhausting Chen Yan.
So far, Wade had only 4 points and 1 rebound.
That was a significant sacrifice.
Although Chen Yan had exploded in the 1st quarter, Heat coach Spoelstra believed he would not be able to last until the 4th quarter. Perhaps his efficiency would already drop sharply by the 3rd quarter.
Before that happened, what Miami needed to do was prevent New York from extending the lead.
Chen Yan dribbled with his left hand, while Wade pressed him closely like a wolf.
Chen Yan responded calmly.
After taking a small step back, he immediately flicked the ball toward the right corner.
A pass from the top of the arc.
Curry caught the ball and naturally raised his hands, faking out Chalmers.
Then Curry drove deep inside alone.
The moment he attracted Pau Gasol's defensive attention, Curry made a behind the back pass to Kenyon Martin.
A moment to showcase his basketball IQ.
Kenyon Martin scored 2 points with a small floater under the basket.
He was definitely eating well tonight.
48 to 40.
Miami offense.
Wade continued leading Chen Yan around.
Chen Yan did not press Wade as tightly on this possession, because he had basically figured out Miami's tactical intentions.
Sure enough, Wade received the ball at the top of the arc, dribbled once, and did not attack himself.
Although there was space, he had barely attacked with the ball in this game, and his rhythm was not something he could instantly recover.
Pau Gasol received the ball 1 step inside the 3 point line, faked once, then started a post up.
Then, with a fake spin, Pau Gasol tried to be clever, attempting to draw a foul from Kenyon Martin.
The referee ignored him.
The move was too deliberate and too forced.
Pau Gasol hurriedly shot and missed.
Kenyon Martin turned around and secured the rebound.
Chen Yan received the ball and dribbled past half court.
1 step beyond the right 3 point line, Kenyon Martin stepped up to set a screen.
Miami directly let Kenyon Martin go and double teamed Chen Yan.
Chen Yan saw the double team and passed immediately without hesitation.
His current position was right beside the sideline, with a very small angle, making it difficult to attack.
Kenyon Martin received the ball and took a mid range shot.
Mid range was not Kenyon Martin's strong area, but if Chen Yan dared to pass, he dared to shoot.
The basketball circled the rim, then rolled out.
James secured the defensive rebound and immediately pushed forward.
James, like Chen Yan, loved grabbing rebounds in the backcourt and going coast to coast.
A player with his explosive impact could easily drive to the basket and create fouls if given enough space to accelerate.
New York's transition defense was very quick.
James saw that he could not penetrate, so he immediately slowed down.
James had always played rationally and intelligently.
He would not blindly attack.
Without basketball IQ and intelligence, even with James physical gifts, it would be difficult to achieve greatness. At most, he would only become an enhanced Stromile Swift.
James immediately passed the ball to Wade.
Chen Yan's defense on Wade was not too tight at the moment, so Wade received the ball relatively easily.
Wade drove and dished, and James got the ball back.
James read New York's defensive lapse and decisively drove, using his left hand to push past Battier. He stepped into the paint and scored a layup with his right hand.
48 to 42.
James finishing ability at the rim was absolutely elite.
Once he reached that position, opponents could basically only watch helplessly.
New York offense.
Chen Yan's teammates desperately set screens for him.
The more they tired themselves out, the easier it became for Chen Yan.
The biggest improvement of this Knicks team compared to the past 2 years was not their offensive or defensive ability, but their spirit.
In previous years, the Knicks were a disorganized mess.
They fought for themselves, standing on the court more for their own stats and for their next contract.
A team like that naturally lacked cohesion.
Chen Yan's arrival had brought earthshaking changes to this team.
Now, all Knicks players were tightly united around Chen Yan, and this possession was the best illustration of that.
Chen Yan ran to the wing to receive the ball, and Battier set an off ball screen.
Wade went around Battier to follow Chen Yan, but Chen Yan had already created space to receive the ball and got the pass from Curry.
After passing the ball, Curry immediately stuck to Wade and set a screen for Chen Yan.
Wade was a little frustrated and forcefully pushed Curry.
Curry, also very clever, used the momentum to fall down.
The referee's whistle blew, calling a pushing foul on Wade.
Chen Yan reached out and pulled Curry up.
As Curry got up, he winked at Chen Yan.
Wade saw everything, but he could do nothing.
This was New York's home court, and the referee's calls would definitely favor them.
Moreover, he had indeed pushed Curry in anger on that play, giving Curry the opportunity to fall.
The Knicks inbounded again.
Chen Yan received the inbound pass, dribbled between his legs repeatedly, then suddenly accelerated.
Wade successfully anticipated it and stood in Chen Yan's driving lane.
Chen Yan quickly passed the ball.
Otherwise, he might have been called for an offensive foul.
Curry took the ball, faked a shot, then subtly drove to the basket from the left.
Pau Gasol came over to help defend.
Curry made a wide scoop layup, but it was just inches off, rolling out of the rim.
Just as the home fans were still lamenting the miss, Chen Yan arrived like a divine soldier.
Boom!
He scored with a putback dunk.
50 to 42.
No one saw when Chen Yan cut in or how he did it.
Everything just happened so naturally.
So seamlessly.
Wade stood with his hands on his hips.
Rather than helpless, he looked stunned by Chen Yan's play.
He had given everything tonight, but he still could not limit Chen Yan, whose performance was even more dazzling than in the previous 2 games.
"Get your spirit up, Dwyane!" James shouted anxiously at Wade.
Then James took the ball and personally organized the offense.
The entire crowd shouted for defense.
Chen Yan's powerful dunk had ignited the passion of all the fans.
James gathered the ball 2 steps beyond the 3 point line, and Miami began passing around the perimeter.
Chalmers received the ball and passed it to Wade.
At that moment, the referee's whistle blew, calling a defensive foul on Curry.
The entire arena booed.
Curry's movement had not been that big. This did not seem like a call the home team should get.
Curry wanted to argue with the referee, but Chen Yan pulled him back.
Chen Yan had more game experience than Curry, and as his elder brother, he knew that arguing with the referee at this time would definitely be disadvantageous, so he persuaded him to stop.
Miami inbounded from the frontcourt.
Wade dribbled, and everyone spread out.
Wade's playing style was different from Chen Yan's.
He would not do so much setup.
Once he spotted an offensive lane, Wade immediately changed direction and cut along the baseline.
Chen Yan did not lose his position.
His speed was not inferior to Wade's.
However, Wade was no rookie.
He had more than 1 move on offense.
As Wade stepped forward, he dropped his shoulder and directly pushed Chen Yan away.
Kenyon Martin's help defense was timely, disrupting Wade's shot.
The ball hit the rim and bounced out.
However, Kenyon Martin's help defense left Pau Gasol open.
Pau Gasol demonstrated that while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind, gently tipping the ball in from behind Kenyon Martin.
It went in.
50 to 44.
The camera then showed close ups of James and Chen Yan.
Both men were expressionless.
For James, his team was still trailing, so his mood and expression were equally tense.
For Chen Yan, although the Knicks were leading, he still felt that the lead was not safe enough.
.....
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