basketball player

Chapter 230 228: Indy's Next Superstar

After the start of the second half of the game, the Pacers were still going down the mountain like a tiger, and their state continued to be hot.

The game had just begun, and David West beat Haslem in the paint.Since James had just finished a full quarter, he didn't play immediately at the beginning of the second half.

Therefore, West seized this opportunity and scored a goal on the head of the aging Heat captain Haslem.It seems that in the first half of the game, the fiery state of Leonard and Stephenson has "infected" everyone on the Pacers.

On the other hand, on the Heat's side, the powerful offensive firepower displayed by the Big Three in the first two games seems to have disappeared overnight.What's more, there is no James in charge yet.

Wade also struggled against a young, tall and long-armed matchup.

In fact, it was not that the Heat's players were suddenly deprived of power, but Henson's change in defensive strategy contained the Heat's offense.

With Leonard, an excellent single defender, to smash James, the rest of the Pacers can safely block the Heat's three-pointer.When James' breakthrough points failed to exert their power, the Heat's offense naturally sank.And now without James, the Pacers can resolutely implement the man-to-man defensive strategy.

Wade's ability to tear apart defenses is not as good as it used to be. Letting George defend Wade alone is enough to put tremendous pressure on "The Flash".

Of course, the focus of all this is still Leonard.Except for Henson, no one in the world could have imagined that this guy would perform so well today.If the scenes of him defending James in the first half were edited, they could be regarded as a defensive textbook.

In the third minute of the third quarter, Wade carried the Heat forward with difficulty, but the point difference was still 3 points.In other words, 8 minutes have passed, and the situation has made no progress.

After James was briefly rested, Spoelstra had to get him back on the floor.It seems that the Heat No. 6 is still full of energy, not at all like a person who has just finished a 12-minute full quarter.

However, after James played, Leonard immediately posted it "enthusiastically".Even if James didn't hold the ball, Leonard didn't give this "humanoid tank" any space.As soon as he played, James had to face Leonard's entanglement.

On James' first attack since his return, Wade has the ball on the outside and James looks for opportunities to attack off the ball.It can be seen that Spoelstra made some changes on the offensive end at halftime.

In the first half of the game, James attacked with the ball, but the Pacers gave James a lot of pressure.Now that Wade has the ball, Spoelstra undoubtedly hopes that James' scoring opportunities will be easier.

However, Leonard's defense is so tight that it is jaw-dropping.

You know, the strengthening of attributes not only makes Leonard's offense better, but also makes his defense more abnormal.

James strolled around the baseline as Bosh approached.There is no doubt that "Dragon King" wants to make an off-ball screen for James!
James first took a step sideways to the side with the cover. Seeing Leonard was about to bypass the pick-and-roll, James suddenly ran back, ready to go out to the side without the cover!

I have to admit that James is very smart.If you thought he was just a rough guy who played with his body, you'd be wrong.His back run is enough to get rid of most defenders.

However, Leonard used his "light speed reaction" to keep up with James' footsteps. A false screen and back run still failed to let James get rid of Leonard!

Helpless, James had to run back again, and finally borrowed Bosh's off-ball screen to go from the bottom line to the top of the arc, ready to meet Wade's pass.

Leonard was slightly delayed by Bosh's screen, but the chase remained active.Seeing that there was still some distance between Leonard and James, Wade passed the ball with confidence.But as soon as he passed the ball, "The Flash" realized that he had made a wrong decision.

Just when the basketball was about to fly into James' hands, Leonard suddenly accelerated and took a big step, and then stretched out his long arms, destroying the pass that was almost caught by James!
If someone else is defending James, then this is indeed a safe passing distance.But Leonard's arm is longer than others!

Wade made a misjudgment and Leonard made a successful steal!
The anxious James and Wade both rushed forward to fight, because although Leonard destroyed the pass, he did not hold the ball firmly.

However, the No. 2 rookie was unflappable and threw the basketball to Paul, who came in from his side.Leonard's reticence is more than just a personality, the guy is just as composed on the basketball court.

A mistake allowed the Pacers to seize the fast break opportunity.Paul made a solid layup, and the gap changed back to 10 points!
"That damn guy!" Spoelstra violently smashed the tactical board to the ground, and Leonard made him upset!A mere first-year rookie, why can he suddenly play so well after two games! ?

I am afraid that Spoelstra will not be able to figure this out for a lifetime.

On the next Miami offense, Wade set a screen for James from a high position.The purpose of this screen is not to let James break through, but to force Leonard to switch defenses.

But Leonard doesn't care about that at all, his ability to get out of screens is amazing.The transposition failed, and James was once again cornered by Leonard.

James dribbled the ball looking for a breakthrough opportunity, Leonard blocked James' eyes with one big hand, and looked for an opportunity to steal with the other.

Suddenly, Leonard's arm is like a poisonous snake suddenly attacking.Accurate and quick attack, shot off the basketball in James' hands!

Clean and neat, God knows how Leonard stabbed the opponent's dribble cleanly and neatly again and again.

Although it destroyed James' dribbling, because the position of the horn is too narrow, the ball still belongs to the Heat when the basketball has jumped out of bounds.James raised his hands, instead of trying to fight, but indicated that he did not touch the basketball. It seemed that he was ready to serve the sideline.

However, at the moment when the basketball went out of bounds, Leonard stretched out his unusually long arm to grab the basketball that was destined to go out of bounds from James' feet!

"The ball still belongs to the Pacers!" Mike Brin exclaimed, and James covered his head with his hands in frustration, why didn't he bend down to grab it just now! ?

After Wade, James also underestimated the power of Leonard's long arms.As players, they only know that Leonard's arms are slender, but they don't know how long they are, so they still handle the ball as usual.

Wade's pass just now and James' practice of waiting for the basketball to go out of bounds are actually not wrong.Because under normal circumstances, these two balls are impossible to lose.It's just a pity that the No. 2 they dealt with today is not "conventional" at all.

If Spoelstra can tell Wade and James that Leonard, a small forward, has a longer wingspan than Noah, a center, it is estimated that the two brothers will not make mistakes.

Leonard retrieved the ball that was destined to go out of bounds, and both sides reacted immediately.One side is desperately defending, while the other side is desperately attacking.

Leonard panicked after taking the ball, but after handing the ball to Paul, the rhythm stabilized again.

James came back for two rounds, and Leonard also destroyed the Heat's offense for two consecutive rounds.Henson couldn't help shaking his head, but it's a pity that the effect of this bonus is only 5 games.If this effect can continue to the finals, then it will be.
Although the Heat's quick retreat did not give the Pacers a chance to counterattack, Paul's steady mid-range still allowed the offense to succeed.

The point difference became 12 points, and the Heat played at home, but it was more difficult than the two away games.

In the third quarter, the Heat's offense still did not improve.Henson exhausted his two hole cards and achieved good results.

After playing 8 minutes in the third quarter, Henson replaced the rotation lineup.At this time, the live camera gave a close-up of Leonard's expressionless face.

Even after playing such a good game, Leonard didn't have any emotion on his face.He didn't know that after this game, his name would resound throughout the league.No, even if he knew he was about to become famous, he might still have this expression.

Seeing the taciturn No. [-] quietly sitting back on the bench, Mike Breen couldn't help but smile.

"No wonder, Coach Henson racked his brains to get him last summer. Kawhi Leonard, this guy is the next superstar in Indianapolis."

A huge storm has swept through Miami, it seems that the Heat will find it difficult to make effective resistance.
　Yesterday the monthly pass was over [-] again, and we will start at five o'clock today!Thank you guys!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)