Chapter 728: Chapter 728
James executes the technical foul shot.
Continuing with the Warriors’ possession, this time James breaks through attracting Korver’s help defense, then passes to Thompson on the outside.
Thompson didn’t just stand in place but used off-ball screens to run for an opportunity during James’ drive.
However, James’ pass was somewhat low, and as Thompson bent down to pick it up, Wade was already diving in to disrupt him.
His three-point shot didn’t hit the mark.
Peak Thompson’s open shots were always stable, but his forced shots depended heavily on his touch. When he found his rhythm, his outburst was strong; but tonight, from the start, it was evident his touch was average, and when that’s the case, misses happen regardless.
Nonetheless, it was a long rebound, snatched by James, and he seamlessly charged again to the basket.
Nene couldn’t keep up with James in speed, and James directly performed a tomahawk dunk.
After dunking, James excitedly roared to the sidelines with chest-pounding celebration.
Earlier in the starting lineup, his performance was as struggling as regular season. Though said to be James-Curry pick-and-roll, before the pick-and-roll he faced the entirety of Covington, and after Han defended him. He was basically just assisting Curry.
However, once reaching the substitute connection stage, it was truly his arena.
Especially since Cavaliers’ TT was moody over there, he was exceptionally comfortable.
Wade’s long-range three-point attempts missed, the first quarter concluded with the scoreboard frozen at 36 to 32.
The game entered the second quarter, teams further rotated lineups, Warriors swapped Thompson out for Pachulia.
On the Cavaliers side, Covington was also substituted out for Cunningham to rest.
Apart from this, Nene was also swapped out, and the replacement wasn’t TT, but Dedmon.
Every player has their fitting stage, previously against Bulls, Nene had a good effect on Howard, but indeed as Malone predicted his veteran legs couldn’t keep up with James in help defense.
TT’s mood was abnormal tonight again, using Dedmon was also a trial.
And this was a warning to TT, the Cavaliers didn’t completely depend on him.
Dedmon’s excitement was unprecedented, his words to Hansen before were genuine, even Nene had little chance in Malone’s tactical system, let alone him. He hadn’t debuted in the playoffs till now.
No one expected his first playoff stage appearance to be in the Finals!
For a moment, he even felt Hansen must have known something, telling him to practice with Jokic earlier.
Especially when Malone named him to play, Hansen also came over to say: "Seize this one chance."
Hansen isn’t Zhuge Liang, couldn’t have predicted TT’s mood tonight, but his words to Dedmon were real.
Most NBA fringe players, unless they are Bronny, only get one chance in the NBA.
If you seize it, another opportunity might come; if unprepared, it won’t come again.
Ultimately, fringe players are named so because replacements for them are abundant.
Starting the second quarter with Warriors attacking first.
Seeing a stranger on the Cavaliers side, James motions Pachulia for pick-and-roll.
Once the mismatch forms, he accelerates to launch inside.
Upon reaching the basket, he raises the ball to directly posterize Dedmon. Official source ıs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽
He fully disregarded the opponent.
Yet the dunk ended up failing.
Dedmon stood firm without being knocked away by James, extending a long arm to disrupt.
His physique is robust, with 2.13-meter height and 2.24-meter body talent imposing there; James clearly underestimated him this time.
The crowd responded with commotion, James somewhat lost face with this play.
James shrugged, looking towards the refs, hoping for a dignity-restoring whistle.
However, unfortunately, the refs ignored him.
The League is no longer Nike Alliance, and the Chosen One is no longer the Chosen One.
Turning back, Wade’s breakthrough attracts Pachulia’s help defense, assisting Dedmon at the basket.
Dedmon picks up the ball to dunk, but his speed is slow, allowing James to seize the moment and send it flying out of bounds.
The scene instantly filled with fans’ cheers.
The cameras focused on Malone, seemingly seeking out a trace of panic in his eyes.
But Malone appeared calm.
He put Dedmon in for defense, if he contributed offensively, he wouldn’t sit on the bench at Cavaliers.
Thus far, Dedmon’s performance meets his expectations.
Ball possession still lies with Cavaliers, Wade defuses the bomb, breaking into the paint, prompting an emergency stop, spinning away from James’ block, and sending the ball into the net.
Once again, the crowd stirred.
Wade, tonight so far, besides an unwise buzzer-beater long three, made all other shots.
His form is truly exceptional.
Moreover, he truly understands James’ defensive habits, tonight’s his second scoring in such manner before James.
James’ expression isn’t looking good.
Especially when mismatched against Dedmon on offense, signaling to clear out and sprint to the basket, once again disrupted by Dedmon’s defense, and failing to contest the rebound against Dedmon, the frustration in his face was palpable.