No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 159 - 99. Training begins, 2012 finals (10,000 characters combined into one)_6
Chapter 159: 99. Training begins, 2012 finals (10,000 characters combined into one)_6
After the entrance ceremony, Zhang Yang paid no attention to player number 6, focusing instead on listening to the tactical instructions of Coach Budenholzer. It wasn’t his job to defend him individually. Keep it up, rookie!
This season was probably the best combination of player strength, cohesion, and team relationships among the role players since the formation of the Miami Heat’s Big Three. It indeed made them tough to beat.
The Big Three’s salaries were frighteningly low, averaging 16 million US dollars each. Just consider this—during the 08-09 season, Garnett made over 24 million, and Ray Allen and Pierce both made over 18 million. Three years had passed, and the salary cap had increased, yet the Big Three’s salaries had decreased. Their selflessness was admirable.
This season, the total salary for Miami Heat approached 75 million US dollars, with 27 million spent on role players. In an era where a role player like Tony Allen earns just over 3 million, that was quite lavish, giving them a robust roster.
However, the salaries of the Big Three were set to increase, and with the Miami Heat’s owner reluctant to pay the tax, James would likely be facing cramps in the next season.
But the most challenging aspect of the Heat was not these issues. The first four games were extremely tense, and two key factors accounted for that.
First, Miami Heat’s second lead was the league’s second-best shooting guard. Wade, acting as a deputy, had averages of 22.5 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and 1.5 blocks in the first four games of the finals.
This was like having Kobe and McGrady from before 2004 on the same team, with McGrady willing to shoot less, focus fully on defense, and wholeheartedly orchestrate the offense.
The other issue was James’s free throws, with a total of 55 attempts in the first four games.
Both issues were unsolvable; Wade as the second-best shooting guard in his prime was beyond reach in skills, and the referees’ whistles were uncontrollable as well.
Fortunately, they also had a stoic player who entered full-blood mode in the finals, averaging 19 points, 12.5 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and 2.5 blocks over four games, hammering Bosh down to an average of 11 points and six rebounds.
An unsolvable issue, just consider it a part of the opponent’s strength.
If they could manage a 2-2 tie under such circumstances, it meant they had the capability to win!
By 8 PM, the decisive battle in the finals between the Spurs and Miami Heat commenced.
Miami Heat lined up with Chalmers, Wade, James, Battier, and Bosh as starters.
Spurs lined up with Parker, Zhang Yang, Leonard, Diaw, and Duncan as starters.
The first quarter was evenly contested between the two teams.
Miami Heat started with a good touch from the outside, spacing was wide and they executed their passes and cuts well.
The Spurs also played very cohesive team basketball, easily tearing through Miami Heat’s pressing defense on the top of the arc.
By the end of the first quarter, both teams were tied at 24 points.
That night, Spurs controlled their fouls effectively in the first quarter, allowing the opponent only five free throws... and Spurs themselves didn’t get to shoot any.
Zhang Yang played 8 minutes in the first quarter, the team’s offense was smooth, and his strategy naturally involved running tactical plays. He shot 4 of 2, including 1 of 2 from three-point range, and scored 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.
This kind of regular-time ’no clear core but everyone is a core’ playing style was indeed very comfortable to play.
However, facing off against James, Zhang Yang felt something odd.
The last time he had such an experience was during a regular season game against Miami Heat, when James was still contending with Wade over who was the boss, fighting hard on every play and showing off his explosive driving capability relentlessly.
But tonight, James’s way of playing in the first quarter seemed strange to Zhang Yang.
It didn’t show up on the video, but it was noticeable in direct confrontation.
James had 2 of 5 in the first quarter, along with 3 of 4 free throws for a total of 7 points which seemed remarkable, but, facing Leonard and the substitute Danny Green, each of his drives that got past them was disrupted by Duncan.
James’s penetration seemed a bit cumbersome; he couldn’t shake off Leonard or Danny Green, lacking the quick and fierce sensation from last season.
The two baskets he managed, including the shot made under a foul, happened because Bosh and Battier both pulled out beyond the three-point line, allowing James to run against the play and cut in to receive Wade’s pass.
Once Wade cannot continue...
After the interval, the second quarter began.
Zhang Yang, along with Patrick Mills, Stephen Jackson, Duncan, and Splitter took to the court.
Although they hadn’t managed to stop Miami Heat in the first quarter, the Spurs did not stay idle. Zhang Yang, Stephen Jackson, Diaw, Blair... continuously wrestled against the opposing shooting players the entire quarter without a break.
Starting the second quarter, the Spurs tried to strengthen their wing defense, leaving Miami’s wing players unguarded, and it proved very effective!
Bosh and Mike Miller kept missing, and even when Miami Heat’s coach Spoelstra brought in the veterans Battier and Juwan Howard, it didn’t improve; halfway through the quarter, Miami Heat had only six points! fгeewebnovёl.com
The interesting part was that, despite not playing as well in the halfcourt penetration or wing cuts as in the first quarter, Miami Heat managed more free throws.
James made 1 of 4 shots, including 2 of 4 from the free-throw line, scoring 4 points.
But no worries, the Spurs’ offense continued to display stability in set plays, scoring 9 points, with Zhang Yang leading two successful counterattacks to score 4 points.
With the score at 13 to 6 by the middle of the period, leading to an official timeout, the Spurs were up by 7 points with a score of 37 to 30 against Miami Heat!
Just as the Spurs were gearing up to seize the game, Wade exploded!
Wade took over the leading role aggressively; in half the quarter, he shot 3 of 6 and made 2 of 3 from the free-throw line, scoring 8 points and leading Miami Heat to score 12 points in the latter half of the quarter.
When they truly needed someone with the ability to breach defenses, Wade stood up and delivered!
Luckily, it wasn’t a big problem, as Zhang Yang stepped up when Wade led his team to close the gap to 4 points. He hit two consecutive long two-pointers off screens, widening the lead again and stabilizing the team.
Coach Popovich watched with tears in his eyes, that’s it! The same deathly mid-range shots that killed them in ’01, ’02, ’04, and ’08. Now, he had it too!
Zhang Yang withstood the pressure from Wade’s fierce attack, as the Spurs continued their supremely stable offense from the previous period, scoring another 13 points in the half.
By halftime, the Spurs led Miami Heat 50 to 42 by 8 points!
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