basketball hero

Chapter 576 A Surprising Change

The Raptors fell behind 1:2, and the relevant media began to sing bad songs again, such as "the regular season and the playoffs are completely different games!", "the playoffs are the stage for superstars!" and so on.

Ying Xiong never used social media during the playoffs except to keep in touch with his family and friends.He doesn't ask what's said about him or about his team online.He wants to concentrate on the court, rather than affect his emotions for some other people's opinions.

On May 5, Game 29 of the Raptors VS Heat series will continue at the Heat's home stadium, the American Airlines Center Arena.

The commentators for this game are still Chris Webber and Charles Barkley in the first game.

"This game is very critical. If Toronto loses again, the series will be very dangerous!" Webber said.

"Yes!" Barkley nodded. "2:2 and 1:3 are completely different situations. This game depends on what changes people like Devin can make."

In this game, the starting lineup of the Heat at home is: center - Chris Bosh, power forward - Sean Battier, small forward - LeBron James, shooting guard - Dwyane Wade, Point guard - Mario Chalmers.This starting lineup has helped them win two consecutive games in this series, and they easily defeated their opponents in both games.

The Raptors' starting lineup for the away game is: center-Along Gray, power forward-Rudy Gay, small forward-DeMar DeRozan, shooting guard-Ying Xiong, point guard-Jeremy Lin.Coach Casey was very bold. He sent center Aaron Grey, who had not been in the main rotation throughout the playoffs, and gave up Bargnani, who was demanded by the opponent on the defensive end in the previous game, in the starting lineup.

Coach Spoelstra was also surprised that Coach Casey would make such a starting lineup. He didn't expect that a fringe insider like Aaron Gray would get the chance to start in such an important game.

"Is this the Raptors' secret weapon?"

Alongre himself was excited.To be reused by the team again, as a professional player, he naturally yearns for such a big scene.

Arongel and Bosh prepare the jump ball near the middle circle, and the game is about to start.

"Along Grey is on it, and Devin's move is really unexpected!" Barkley didn't know whether to laugh or not, and his expression was very strange.

Along Gray took out the energy he had accumulated on the bench in the jump ball and beat Bosh.

Jeremy Lin dribbled the ball across half court.

Along Gray came up to pick and roll, and Jeremy Lin broke into Yingxiong with the ball.

After receiving the ball, Ying Xiong made two breakthroughs, breaking into the penalty area and passing Along Grey to the basket in seconds.

Along Gray pushed Bosh away and directly dunked with one hand!
Chalmers dribbles the ball across the half.

James comes out to catch the ball, then picks and rolls with Bosh.

To the surprise of the Heat, the opponent's center Allong Gray did not come out, but stood near the 3-second zone, ready to protect the basket and grab backboards at any time.

It was Ying Xiong and Rudy Gay who came out to defend the pick and roll.

No matter how James picks and rolls with Bosh, Ying Xiong and Gay just switch defenses.In this way, it is forcing him to play singles or let Bosh play singles.

But Bosh is in a high position, and it is not easy to single out Yingxiong and Gay who are 203cm.I saw him facing the opponent, holding the ball and breaking through with his left hand, trying to rely on the opponent to gain the advantage.But he never thought that the other party's sudden release of force made him lose his balance.

In this case, Bosh twisted the ball to Battier in the corner, and it went out of bounds...

It is not easy for Bosh to break into the first-defense Yingxiong in a one-on-one situation.

Jeremy Lin came over with a dribble, and with the help of Aaron Gray's cover, he went straight to the basket, and was blocked by James out of bounds on the layup...

"Jeremy is so sudden, I take it for granted. LeBron's defense is still very fast!" Webber commented.

"Being blocked is like not even daring to make a breakthrough, okay? I think Jeremy played much tougher than the previous two games!" Barkley said.

Ying Xiong received a throw-in from DeRozan, and after a pick-and-roll with Aaron Gray, he hit the ground to the latter in a straight line. The latter received the ball and directly attacked the frame, but Bosh and Battier jointly interfered.

But the offensive rebound that Gay grabbed was given to Yingxiong on the outside.

Ying Xiong immediately passed a pass to Jeremy Lin in the left corner, and the latter made a decisive 3-point snipe—a hit!The Heat played a small lineup. When the Raptors continued to kill the inside, they unconsciously shrunk back to protect the basket, leaving the outside line empty.

"Small lineups always have weaknesses in defending the interior, no matter how flexible their legs are, they can't protect the basket!" Barkley said.

"If two big men are crowded in the penalty area, LeBron and Dwyane will have no way to break through!" Webber said.

The Raptors had a 5:0 spurt in the opening game and stopped the game instantly!
Pause back, and the game continues.

Here James forced Gay, causing DeRozan's defensive foul!
James stood on the free throw line, made the first free throw, and missed the second free throw!
Ying Xiong accepted the rebound and pushed forward by himself.

Facing Battier's defense, Ying Xiong cooperated hand-in-hand with Jeremy Lin, and then suddenly cut inside to the basket...

Jeremy Lin's ball immediately finds Ying Xiong, who catches the ball and throws a pass to Gay, who catches the ball and makes a jump shot - also hits!
"Strike!" Barkley and Webber said in unison.

The Heat also realized why the Raptors let Aaron Gray stay at the basket. It turned out that once Bosh floated to the outside, Aaron Gray's matchup player became Wade.

Wade's 3-point shooting percentage is the lowest among all starting players. The Raptors' strategy is to strategically empty Wade and protect the basket.Of course, vacating doesn't mean completely ignoring it, but giving you a chance to make a shot. If there is a really big vacancy, players will come in rotation.

This is actually a trade-off on the defensive end. The Raptors in G2 and G3 wanted to hold down all the Heat's players so much that they didn't hold them down. They lost control inside and outside, leading to a collapse.

Today's Raptors coaching staff has fully understood: In terms of the current team's lineup configuration, it is absolutely impossible to completely suppress the James + shooter team.Therefore, it is most practical to choose the method that will cause the least harm to yourself.The Miami Heat's Janeway's breakthrough and the shooter's 3-pointer cannot be released. Then, Janeway's 3-pointer can be released appropriately, especially Wade, who has a low 3-point shooting rate and takes few shots.

James + Wade is indeed a combination of two swords, with top-notch offense and defense, but in fact, the two are present at the same time, and there is a certain overlap in functions.Both of them are top ball-handling breakthrough players, with first-class distribution, but neither is a qualified catch-and-shooter. The threat off the ball has dropped by more than one level compared to when holding the ball.This is also the fundamental reason why Coach Casey dared to let the big center stay off the court.

(End of this chapter)