LeBron's Hard-carry ability Failure?
That exaggerated?
Yes.
It's that exaggerated.
LeBron's 'Bulldozer-style' offense lacks much technical skill, relying purely on 'bug-level' physical talent.
Height, wingspan, strength, explosiveness, speed, vertical leap, hang time, and so on.
Looking across the entire league, there isn't a single player who can match all of his physical talents.
He always exploits talent gaps, doing whatever he wants.
Until Su Yan appeared.
Su Yan's strength is greater, his vertical leap is not inferior, his explosiveness is not bad, and his speed is not weak.
His height and wingspan are also similar.
Su Yan can completely keep up with LeBron. LeBron wants to overpower him with pure 'bug-level' physical talent.
No.
It won't work against Su Yan.
However... he can shoot from the perimeter. If Su Yan's center of gravity is on the drive, he can't cover both.
But.
LeBron's technique is rough, and his shooting is average.
At this crucial moment, asking him to rely purely on shooting for hard-core scoring is a bit difficult for him.
So, if he can't drive and can't shoot.
LeBron's Hard-carry ability is effectively nullified.
"This guy's talent is that good?!"
LeBron was shocked.
Although the first quarter was a tough back-and-forth, LeBron knew that Su Yan had talent beyond an ordinary Small Forward.
But.
He was still very confident in himself.
Who knew... Su Yan's talent was not only good, but good enough to stop his strongest attack at the rim.
That's too much.
In fact.
Purely on talent, Su Yan isn't yet able to completely lock down LeBron.
So why did it work?
The reason is... Su Yan's targeted defense. He only focused on LeBron's drives to the rim.
Ignoring his shooting.
The effect naturally doubled.
LeBron has technical shortcomings, and his shooting is unstable. Giving him opportunities to shoot from the perimeter was a gamble that he would miss.
And the reality?
Su Yan gambled correctly.
For several consecutive possessions, LeBron couldn't get to the basket and could only end his offense with a shot.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Frequent misses.
This was very bad.
The good news is... Varejão and Antoine aggressively crashed the Rebounding, securing all the misses.
Second-chance points.
Both Antoine and the second-in-command, Morris, were very effective tonight, converting on offense.
Even if LeBron couldn't score, he could still draw defenders, especially Su Yan, the New York Knicks' strongest defender.
That made it easier for his other teammates to attack.
Many opportunities.
Thus... the situation on the court became that Su Yan gained the upper hand in his direct confrontation with LeBron.
But the Cavaliers' strong teammates were still able to finish possessions.
"Whoosh~"
Seeing the situation improve, LeBron decisively went to Su Yan again, not to force a score.
But to keep him close, then... pass the ball to find teammates, letting Morris and Antoine crush the New York Knicks.
The effect?
Not bad, actually.
Both teams' offense could still continue, and not only that, but on the defensive end, they could put even higher pressure on Su Yan.
Fierce battle ensued again.
Of course... Su Yan's offense was definitely better.
Last minute.
The New York Knicks still held a 3-point lead, and crucially... the New York Knicks still had possession, showing their full advantage.
Curry brought the ball up.
He decisively passed the ball to Su Yan.
LeBron rushed up, and Antoine and Anthony Parker also followed immediately, instantly forming a triple-team on Su Yan.
Forcing Su Yan to pass.
Well, the pass was good.
To Wilson Chandler at the Top of the Arc on the left, completely wide open, was he going to shoot a Three-point Shot?!
No.
Wilson chose the more conservative drive to the basket.
With David Lee and Tyson protecting him under the basket, driving to the basket seemed easy.
But.
Morris didn't come over immediately.
"Whoosh~"
Wilson didn't hesitate, making a horizontal pass to Curry in the left corner, who already had his shooting form ready.
He caught the ball and immediately shot a Three-point Shot.
Very decisive.
Very confident.
"Clang!"
Unfortunately, it missed.
The Rebounding?
Su Yan wanted to rush in to grab it, but LeBron firmly boxed him out, and the two were in a standoff on the perimeter.
"Ahhh~"
Antoine roared as he rushed in, leaping in a desperate dive, like a madman, grabbing the Rebounding!
Second jump.
He made a tough put-back.
Transition offense.
Su Yan once again attracted a triple-team on the perimeter. After passing the ball, he used Wilson's screen, trying to shake off the defense and rush to catch and shoot a Three-point Shot.
This was a facade.
He seized the opportunity, accelerated sharply into the paint, and immediately signaled Curry for an alley-oop.
"Got it!"
Curry had been waiting.
After missing that good Three-point Shot opportunity just now, he played even more cautiously and patiently, prioritizing Su Yan.
Soaring into the sky.
"You can't do that over my head..."
Varejão's roar under the basket hadn't finished.
"Boom!"
Su Yan descended like a god, splitting Mount Hua, and dunked over him.
Time: 42.7 seconds.
[New York Knicks 123:120 Cavaliers].
The difference was still 3 points.
Cavaliers' possession.
Mo Williams brought the ball up. Seeing Su Yan closely guarding LeBron, he decided to step up.
Left Top of the Arc.
One-on-one against Curry, he continuously dribbled between his legs with a butterfly crossover, reading the defense. The moment he took the ball in his right hand, he suddenly accelerated, a lightning-fast first step.
He blew past Curry directly.
"What a fast first step burst."
Curry was startled and hurriedly chased after him.
"I'm here too!"
David Lee stepped out, spreading his arms to intercept Morris, who remained unfazed.
He sprinted full speed down the left wing, then executed a spin, turning like a top, and got past David Lee.
Directly attacking the basket?
No.
Tyson Chandler was guarding the basket, and Curry was also catching up.
Blocked in front, pursued from behind.
A forced attack would be very difficult.
If this shot missed, he would truly be blamed.
He couldn't afford to be blamed.
Morris, known for 'not passing,' quickly thought and chose to pull back and pass the ball to Antoine at the left Top of the Arc.
"Whoosh~"
The latter decisively took a Three-point Shot.
He wasn't very good at Three-point Shots, but the opportunity was there, and at this moment... he had to shoot.
This shot?
"Swish!"
It went in.
A hit with a touch of luck, that's... killing with a smile!!!
[New York Knicks 123:123 Cavaliers].
The Cavaliers tied the score.
Only 22.4 seconds left.
Curry quickly brought the ball up, still wanting to find Su Yan, but saw that he had no chance with three defenders surrounding him.
Attack himself?
No.
He threw a high lob to the basket, where David Lee and Tyson were playing against Varejão alone.
Many opportunities.
However... the moment Curry lobbed the ball to the basket, the Cavaliers' defense collapsed very quickly.
Antoine sprinted into the paint. While Varejão defended David Lee, he guarded Tyson.
Just apply pressure.
These role players' clutch shot ability wouldn't be very good.
Indeed... David Lee, seeing the opportunity wasn't good enough, didn't attack, but made a fake attack and passed the ball to the cutting Curry.
"Swish!"
One step inside the free-throw line, Curry stopped and shot a floater.
Did it go in?
No.
LeBron suddenly burst out from the side, swatting the ball to the frontcourt with one hand. Anthony Parker chased after it frantically.
He grabbed the ball.
Only 10.5 seconds left.
The opportunity went to the Cavaliers.
Anthony Parker couldn't create much offense, so he decisively passed the ball to LeBron, letting him take the last shot.
"Whoosh!"
Su Yan chased after him, and the two positioned themselves at the Top of the Arc.
LeBron glanced at Su Yan, narrowed his eyes, and snorted, "You won the matchup, but... I'm taking the game!!!"
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