Yes.
Yao Ming's analysis made perfect sense, and Heat head coach Spoelstra had realized the same thing.
During the break between quarters, Spoelstra stood in front of the Heat bench with his clipboard in hand.
"Everyone played extremely well in the first quarter. Everybody got going.
"That's great.
"But this is the final game. Win tonight, and we lift the championship trophy.
"We're playing well, but so are they.
"Blake is already extremely difficult to contain. If his teammates keep producing and allow him to conserve his energy, then by the time we reach the closing minutes, we'll be in serious trouble.
"So while we maintain our offense, we need to increase the defensive pressure too.
"Ideally, we shut Blake down completely. If we can't do that, then at the very least, we have to limit the Suns' other players as much as possible."
After saying that, Spoelstra looked toward the Heat Big Three.
Miami's defensive effort would depend heavily on them.
"Got it."
LeBron nodded.
"We'll turn up the defense from here. Defense wins championships. We know that."
"Absolutely."
"Right."
Wade and Bosh agreed.
Everyone on the Heat understood that the defensive intensity had to rise from this point forward.
Then the second quarter began.
The reserves opened the quarter against each other.
And with Carter playing well and attacking aggressively tonight, Phoenix had the advantage in that matchup.
On one possession, Carter accelerated from the left wing, blew past his defender, attacked the basket, and threw down a thunderous dunk.
It was his way of reminding everyone that Vince Carter still had plenty left in the tank.
"Beautiful!"
At the broadcast studio, one commentator applauded.
"What a dunk from Carter! Anyone wondering whether the old man can still play just got their answer!"
"Hahaha!"
His partner laughed.
"Carter has been really aggressive tonight, and thanks to his play, Phoenix is already up four.
"And remember, Blake only scored ten points in the first quarter. He didn't shoot much or carry much of the offensive load.
"Yet the Suns are still leading.
"If Blake reaches the second half, especially the closing stretch, with plenty left in the tank and starts taking over...
"Miami could have a very difficult time surviving 'The Emperor.'"
"Exactly!
"Right now, the momentum is gradually swinging toward Phoenix!"
As the commentators analyzed the game, play continued on the court.
"Beep! Beep!"
After only two minutes of bench play, Coach Spoelstra called timeout and immediately sent all five starters back in.
Phoenix responded by bringing its starters back as well.
However, Carter stayed on the floor in place of Nash because he was playing so well, giving Nash a little extra time to rest.
Play resumed.
The Suns led by four.
Miami possession.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Wade brought the ball across half court and reached the left wing.
He attacked Carter one-on-one, but Carter defended him with tremendous effort.
Wade saw that the opening wasn't there and passed to LeBron at the top of the arc.
LeBron faced Blake, drove, and drew George over to help.
Then he kicked the ball to Bosh on the right side.
Bosh pulled up from mid-range.
Good.
Phoenix came back the other way.
Curry brought the ball up and tried to give Carter a chance to attack Chalmers one-on-one, but Wade suddenly came over to pressure him.
Carter kicked it back out.
Curry attacked off George's screen and appeared to create enough room to shoot.
But just as he prepared to launch the three, LeBron rotated over with the help defense.
"Clang!"
Curry's contested three missed.
Frye secured the offensive rebound and passed it to Carter on the wing.
Carter was still playing well, but with Wade guarding him, he couldn't get past the defense either.
"Smack!"
Bosh grabbed the rebound.
Miami pushed the other way.
LeBron attacked straight down the middle, drew the defense, then passed to Bosh at the left elbow.
Bosh immediately swung it to Chalmers in the corner.
Chalmers was ready.
"Whoosh!"
He fired the three.
But...
"Step!"
George closed out immediately.
He couldn't block the shot, but he got enough of a contest.
"Clang!"
Miss.
The rebound?
Haslem muscled Frye aside and grabbed it.
He went right back up for the putback, but Blake rotated over and contested the shot.
The ball bounced off the rim.
"Smack!"
Carter secured the rebound.
Over the next several possessions, both teams' offensive efficiency began to drop.
More accurately, the role players on both sides started struggling.
"Hm?"
At the commentary table, Van Gundy frowned.
"Mike, have you noticed that the role players on both teams are starting to cool off?"
"I have."
Mike Breen nodded.
"Whether it's Carter and Frye for Phoenix or Chalmers and Haslem for Miami, the role players aren't producing as efficiently anymore.
"And honestly, that's completely normal.
"You can clearly feel the defensive intensity rising on both sides.
"When role players are put under this much defensive pressure, their efficiency is naturally going to fall."
"Exactly."
Van Gundy nodded.
"And honestly, this feels much more like a Game 7 of the Finals.
"This is the highest level of competition in an entire season.
"These are the playoffs. This is where superstars are supposed to take over.
"If all ten players stayed hot from beginning to end, something would almost feel missing.
"Now, if you want to win this Game 7, it comes down to the stars going head-to-head.
"Who can keep scoring efficiently under relentless defensive pressure?
"Whoever can do that will have the last laugh and walk away with the championship."
"Exactly. And that only makes the game even more exciting!"
The commentators were fired up.
And they were right.
Once the starters returned in the second quarter and both teams increased their defensive pressure, the role players on both Phoenix and Miami began to cool off.
At first, Blake continued looking to pass first.
The Heat Big Three did the same.
But by the time half the quarter had passed, the stars on both teams had realized what this game demanded.
This was Game 7 of the Finals.
This was a superstar's stage.
They had to step up and carry more of the burden.
"Beep! Beep!"
After another Spoelstra timeout, the Heat Big Three began taking control of Miami's offense.
For Phoenix, Nash checked back in while Carter went to the bench for a rest.
At the same time, the Suns placed the offense firmly in Blake's hands.
Play resumed.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
LeBron held the ball at the top of the arc with Blake guarding him.
He called for a screen, forced a switch onto George, then accelerated downhill and powered his way toward the basket.
George and Frye both challenged him.
"Swish!"
LeBron scored anyway.
But Phoenix answered immediately.
Blake caught the ball in the left low post with Bosh behind him.
He backed Bosh down with his strength, created space through contact, then turned into a fadeaway jumper.
"Swish!"
Good.
At the other end, "Flash" Wade attacked Curry one-on-one.
He blew past him, reached the rim, hung in the air, and smoothly adjusted for the layup.
But before the Heat fans could even start celebrating...
"Swish!"
Phoenix raced back the other way.
Blake caught Nash's pass on the right side above the arc and immediately rose over Chalmers for a pull-up three.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
"Wow!"
In the stands, a fan dressed as Superman jumped up and shouted excitedly:
"Neither side can stop the other!
"The offensive showdown between the 'superhero' and the 'villains'...
"is about to begin!"