The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 244 The Happiest Time

If Leonard does not take the initiative to help defend, it will not be easy to call him a foul.

But the Heat don't need to deliberately deal with him, as long as the Spurs' defense has some scruples.

James and Zhang Xiaotian succeeded successively, making Popovich terrified.

As a result, 1 minute later, Leonard was replaced again. The Heat's style of play made the Spurs dare not bet.

It was Danny Green's turn to defend Zhang Xiaotian again. In fact, Danny Green was enough before the last quarter, but now it is a bit unsafe, especially when Dior can't completely restrict James.

The Heat also used a small tactic, that is, the pick-and-roll between Zhang Xiaotian and James.

Disrupting the Spurs' defense, James forcing Danny Green, or Zhang Xiaotian shooting Diao from the outside, obviously has a higher success rate than simply playing singles with the ball.

Popovich walked up and down the sidelines. He also knew what the Spurs lacked now, but there was no way to do it. Their defense was flawed without Leonard on the court.

What the Spurs have to do now is to make up for it with offense.

But today Danny Green's offense is like a pile of shit, leaving the old man helpless.

Duncan and Ginobili also have no touch at times. They are no longer omnipotent fighters at their peak. Popovich is a little annoyed seeing this scene.

Now the most reliable offensive player is Parker. First, Ray Allen went to defend, and then Wade was replaced, but Parker was not able to restrain him.

The Heat replaced Chalmers again, and Ray Allen was not in a good state today.

Both sides are fighting for every inch of ground, and the Heat are clearly on the offensive side.

At 6 minutes and 58 seconds, James broke through and scored, and Wade seized the opportunity at the three-point line.

At 85:86, the difference between the two sides was only one point.

Popovich's eyelids twitched. This situation was so familiar to people that he immediately asked for a timeout.

Unable to wait any longer for his chance, he replaced Leonard again.

In just a few minutes, this extremely experienced coach overturned the previous judgment several times, and made conflicting decisions. It can only be said that the game was too fierce.

Sometimes it looks like the score is similar, but the control of the game is completely different between the two teams.

Why is it so difficult to win a game? Is the team not playing well, or the opponent is too strong.

Leonard couldn't sit still for a long time. This time in the finals, he was even more excited than last time.

Many times the burden of the team falls on his shoulders, but he enjoys this feeling.

It's just that losing makes him very uncomfortable, and the same is true of the fouls on his body. He is not afraid of fouls, but he is worried that he will not be able to stand on the court at the moment of deciding the game.

But as long as he's on the court, he won't flinch.

Defense requires skill, and he taught Zhang Xiaotian back then, but in these few games, his defensive skills had problems several times.

It shouldn't be, it's just that the opponent's reaction is faster than he imagined.

Facing such an opponent, whether it is on the offensive or defensive end, he needs to become stronger.

After Leonard came up, he grabbed a rebound. In the team's offense, he also assumed the role of a transfer station, and also made a breakthrough to score the ball, but his teammates missed it.

It still feels good on the court, and he can help the team win.

Just when Leonard was about to show his skills, Zhang Xiaotian grabbed the rebound and launched a counterattack. Leonard quickly returned to the defense, followed Zhang Xiaotian's footsteps, and used his long arms to prevent him from laying up.

Zhang Xiaotian didn't force it, but slid the ball back, and James took the ball and started straight away.

Leonard just subconsciously wanted to stop it. As a professional player, many times his body would move before his head made a decision.

There is nothing wrong with his awareness of assisting defense, but James is too domineering when he rushes up.

Leonard was knocked away in the air, and what was even more depressing was that the referee's whistle blew again and he fouled.

Another six offenders left the field, and he didn't play a few minutes in the fourth quarter.

There was a hint of helplessness in Popovich's serious expression, damn it, they should have a backup striker.

The game wasn't over yet, even if it would be more difficult, he consoled himself.

However, the morale of the team was still hit, and the Heat took the opportunity to overtake.

The Spurs did not surrender, and Parker used his best mid-range shot to let the Spurs lead again.

But then Bosh hit again, and the Spurs couldn't maintain the lead for even one more round.

Duncan tried to play hard at the basket, but after squeezing Bosh away, his strength was already weaker, and the ball could not be put into the basket. He may have been able to dunk last year, but now he is powerless.

The situation is getting worse for the Spurs. It's not that the Heat opened the score, but that they are getting more and more tired, and their legs seem to be filled with lead.

It was overtaken again at the end of the quarter, and the season would be over if they lost, and the pressure was overwhelming.

When there were only 2 minutes and 44 seconds left in the game, after Zhang Xiaotian hit a three-pointer, the players on the Spurs field were a little desperate and at the same time relieved.

Among them are several veteran players who have been on the battlefield for more than ten years. They shouldn't be like this.

But the few games against the Heat were really tiring.

Popovich chose to pause, and he scolded his disciple loudly, not because he was really angry, but because he wanted the players on the field to maintain their fighting spirit, even if they lost the game, they could not bow their heads.

They are the Spurs, composed and tough court fighters.

After playing again, Duncan continued to play hard. This time he got a foul, but unfortunately he only made one of two free throws.

Then they defended a possession successfully, and hope seemed to be in sight, but on offense they hit iron outside the three-point line.

The Heat seized the opportunity, James broke through and scored, and the score gap became 6 points.

The fighting spirit that had just been ignited was extinguished again. Popovich adjusted the lineup and put up four guards, hoping to bring miracles outside the three-point line.

As long as this game is won, the players' mentality of being hit will recover, and everything is possible after that.

Three points, miss...three points, still miss...

When the time was less than 1 minute, they finally hit a three-pointer.

They only need to defend one and then score a three-pointer, but things are not that simple. After 10 seconds, Zhang Xiaotian broke through and scored 2+1.

Duncan's awareness of assisting defense is completely fine, but his reaction is a bit slow, and the hero is late.

After Zhang Xiaotian made two free throws, the time was less than 24 seconds, and the Spurs could only use foul tactics.

James made two free throws and one, but then the Spurs missed a three-pointer, and the game was concluded.

103:96, Game [-] of the Finals, the Heat won their fourth win.

When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, the Heat's players hugged together immediately, whether they were the main players, the substitutes, or the coaching staff.

It's not their first title, but who cares, that's when the players are happiest.

(End of this chapter)