Chapter 731: Chapter 731
You can clearly feel that Hansen is very dissatisfied with Wade. For more chapters visıt 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
This discontent is completely understandable. After all, Wade himself had previously told Hansen about rejecting James’ invitation, and then he got knocked over and played the "Reconciliation Seal" with James. It makes one feel played for a fool.
Back in the locker room, after Malone finished explaining the tactics for the second half, it was the players’ free time. Wade sat down next to Hansen.
"Sorry, I shouldn’t have reached out my hand," he apologized after sitting down.
Hansen was amused by Wade’s words. If there was a "good guy" award among the superstars, the gap between Wade and the runner-up is as vast as the gap in strength between Jordan and James.
"DW, do you think we’re likely to win?" Hansen asked Wade in return.
After pondering for a moment, Wade shook his head.
Jokic’s performance in the first half tonight exceeded expectations, and Wade himself played well too.
But even so, the Cavaliers were only ahead of the Warriors by 7 points at halftime.
Considering the Warriors have a tradition of breaking out in the third quarter, this point gap is not at all secure.
"If that’s the case, why wouldn’t we fight to the death with our opponents?"
Hansen didn’t say much, but the meaning in his words was crystal clear.
This is the finals, the game that decides the championship. If you don’t go on the court with that kind of determination, the result is equivalent to handing the championship over to the other side.
"I understand," Wade nodded.
Hansen reached out and patted Wade on the shoulder.
He didn’t know if Wade truly understood, but he hoped he did.
Back in the second half, the Warriors opened the third quarter with a small lineup, and both sides launched an offensive battle in this quarter.
The Splash Brothers had an explosion in this quarter, hitting 8 three-pointers together.
Led by them, the Warriors scored a high of 45 points in this quarter.
However, on the Cavaliers’ side, Hansen was not outdone, personally sinking 5 three-pointers, fighting fire with fire, leading the Cavaliers to also score 40 points in this quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 98 to 96, showing a well-matched situation between the two teams.
The third quarter was so intense that the core players barely left the court, like Hansen, Jokic, the Splash Brothers, and James basically played the entire quarter.
At this point, the beginning of the fourth quarter became especially important.
Because in the case of having to expand the rotation, this segment completely tests the strength of both teams’ substitutes.
The lineup on the court at this point, for the Cavaliers: Deron, Wade, Korver, Conningham, TT;
For the Warriors: Livingston, Makao, James, West, McGee.
Up came the Cavaliers’ offense, with Deron calling TT for a pick and roll, then stopping for a mid-range shot.
The opportunity was good, but his shooting speed had dropped compared to his peak, McGee leaped out to interfere, and the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.
After the pick and roll, TT rolled down and happened to grab the offensive rebound.
However, with Livingston underneath him and McGee also collapsing to the basket, he didn’t choose to attack strongly but stayed put looking for someone to pass to.
You could clearly feel that Dedmon’s performance in that short period of the second quarter gave him a real sense of crisis.
When Wade saw TT grab the offensive rebound, he was already cutting inside. As he reached the free throw line, TT passed him the ball, and he naturally took a shot with a high floater.
McGee turned to try for a block, but Wade’s floater released at a high point, and he ultimately couldn’t succeed.
The basketball soared over his fingertips, descending after reaching its peak.
The basketball went cleanly into the net.
Wade’s floater emphasized stability.
Also, when James held the ball for a pick and roll breakthrough, Wade left Makao for help defense, teaming up with TT to halt James at the free throw line.
Because the two teams fought hard in the third quarter, players like Thompson and Green couldn’t be on the court, and this tightened the Warriors’ space on the floor.
Of course, more importantly, Wade made his stance known.
James eventually passed the ball to Makao, but Makao’s shot didn’t succeed, and TT secured the rebound.
Deron quickly advanced the ball to the frontcourt and continued the pick and roll with TT.
This time, he chose to break through to the basket, attracting double-team and then passing the ball to Conningham on the outside.
Though the Warriors’ lineup wasn’t great in offensive space, their defensive rotation was strong, and Makao was already rushing at Conningham.
Conningham moved the ball to Wade.
At this point, Wade found himself wide open.
Perhaps knowing Wade’s three-point shot wasn’t great, James, who should have been defending him, didn’t rotate to him immediately but instead shrank back inside.
Wade saw this and opted for a three-point shot.
Seeing this, James turned directly to rebound.
But with a crisp sound, Wade made the three-pointer!
Though his three-point shooting isn’t precise, leaving him that open was clearly too much!
The camera shifted to Cole on the sidelines, and Cole looked serious.
The Warriors fought fiercely in the third quarter to close the halftime gap from 7 points to 2.
Now, however, with Wade opening the fourth quarter with a personal 5-0 run, he stretched the lead back to 7.
It’s like saying the Warriors’ third quarter effort was all for nothing!
Yet he made no adjustments, not out of oversight, but because the starters were too exhausted in the third quarter, and putting them back prematurely would essentially concede the game.
Or in other words, what he worried about had already been achieved by Malone’s strategic goals.
As for the Cavaliers quickly extending the score gap in this segment, that turned out to be a "surprise" Wade brought to everyone.
The Cavaliers’ next offensive possession was critical. James didn’t call for a pick and roll this time, motioning for isolation as he stepped back a meter beyond the three-point line and launched his signature tank charge.
The Cavaliers on the court couldn’t stop this move, and TT ultimately had to forcibly drag James down to prevent him from scoring.
This time, both were much calmer than at the start. After dragging James down, TT immediately let go, and James swung his arm and walked to the free-throw line.
Then, James missed both free throws.
TT’s aggressive defense took effect.
If Celtics fans saw this scene, they would surely feel a pang of regret.
If only Towns defended like TT, maybe they’d have reached the finals.
TT grabbed another defensive rebound, Deron pushed to the frontcourt, and defensive cheers rang out from the stands.
But this time, it wasn’t about momentum, but rather a hint of panic.
Because the Warriors just couldn’t score, the lead was about to stretch into double figures!
Deron quickly advanced the ball to the frontcourt and passed it to Wade at the right 45-degree three-point line.
Because the Cavaliers pushed fast, the Warriors defenders found the nearest man, and opposite Wade stood James.
This time James defended closely, as Wade had just hit a three-pointer, he wouldn’t defend like he did before.
Wade did not hesitate, taking the ball straight inside, forcing James backward and then stepping back beyond the three-point line for the shot.
James’s physical talent was exceptional. Though he was forced back a little, he still jumped forward to contest Wade’s shot.
Wade released the shot over James.
The basketball sailed over James’s fingertips, spinning towards the hoop.
The fans could feel their hearts in their throats.
If this goes in, the lead really becomes double figures.
With a crisp sound, the fans’ hopes were dashed.
to 96, Wade scored 8 points in a row, helping the Cavaliers extend their lead to double digits!
For the well-matched teams, this lead was almost fatal.
Cole quickly called for a timeout.
Wade was extremely excited after the shot, turning around, taking strides, then raising his head to the sidelines, pursing his lips, and drawing his right hand sharply across his throat.
It appeared, Wade’s throat-cutting gesture!