บท 436: Chapter 436: A Disastrous Start
Two consecutive losses.
This was a huge blow to the Heat, completely erasing the psychological advantage they had built against the Suns during the regular season.
The scariest thing about basketball is when you give it your all, only to realize you still can't win. That's the most demoralizing feeling.
Wade Dong had been playing for over two seasons.
All the coaches and players in the league had been searching for Wade Dong's weaknesses, but they couldn't find a single flaw.
How could there be such a perfect player in the world, and he's so handsome too...
Some fans even said that Wade Dong didn't have any killer moves because all the fancy moves seemed so ordinary when he did them.
Jordan's fadeaway jumper?
Iverson's crossover?
Olajuwon's Dream Shake?
Jabbar's skyhook?
Even Irving's dribbling... Curry's three-pointers... all had traces of Wade Dong's influence.
...
After the game, on the flight back to Miami.
The cabin was quiet. The Heat players were either listening to music with their headphones or playing with their PSPs, but no one was talking.
James, Anthony, and the others were not good at lightening the mood, and although there were a few lively players on the bench, they didn't dare say a word.
The Heat's loss was a huge responsibility for the bench players.
If only two bench players could step up and help the team, it would have reduced the pressure on the starters, and they wouldn't have lost so badly!
Especially in the second game, when James and Paul were exhausted, during halftime, James had thick ice packs wrapped around both knees, a sight that would make anyone feel sorry for him.
"Sigh..."
Spoelstra also sighed.
His biggest takeaway from this game wasn't Wade Dong's 11 points in the fourth quarter to lead the team to a comeback, but that even McGrady could score over 20 points. You have to know... McGrady was on the verge of retirement two seasons ago.
The plane passed through the troposphere and began its descent.
Through the window, you could see the late-night Miami, its lights not as bright as usual.
As the plane landed, Spoelstra finally spoke, "Everyone, don't be discouraged. We only lost the away game. The next game is back at our home court. As long as we defend our home court, we still have a chance to win this game."
"Cheer up! Let's shout 'Go Heat' together!"
James began to encourage his teammates.
"Go Heat..."
"Go Heat..."
"Go Heat..."
The bench players responded half-heartedly, perhaps because they felt that cheering wouldn't help. They didn't get much playing time anyway, and even if they did, they couldn't contribute much to the team.
In this situation, if it were Gentry, he would have found a way to motivate the bench players, but Spoelstra could only sigh.
The Suns' odds of winning the championship were getting lower and lower.
The outside world was already pessimistic about the Heat, as the Suns were too strong. Every player they brought out had the ability to fight.
...
June 10th, heavy rain!
The Suns arrived at the American Airlines Arena in the evening, and fans were already starting to enter.
"Phew..."
Warrick wiped the rainwater from his face.
When they got off the team bus at the airport, there was an outdoor section, and Curry and Green had taken Warrick's umbrella and pushed him into the rain.
They entered the arena soaking wet.
In the away team's locker room, Warrick was still complaining, "Brother Dong, aren't you going to stand up for me?"
"Stand up for me!"
Wade Dong pretended to be angry and glared at Curry and Green, "You two, face the locker and stand there for 30 seconds."
"Just 30 seconds?"
Warrick was unwilling, "Brother Dong, I was just protecting your luggage, that's why I got soaked."
"Stand there for a minute."
Wade Dong added another 30 seconds to Curry and Green's punishment.
Whenever they played away games, whether it was getting on or off the plane or the team bus, Wade Dong's luggage was always carried by Warrick.
Warrick wasn't wrong about what he said earlier. Even when he was pushed into the rain, he held Wade Dong's luggage close to his chest to keep it dry, worried about getting Wade Dong's jersey and shoes wet.
"Alright, stop fooling around~"
Gentry walked over, "Everyone, get ready, it's time to enter the court! Let's not give the Heat a chance and end this year's Finals in Miami."
...
As the Suns players warmed up before the game, they became serious.
This was their team culture—all the fooling around happened off the court, but once they stepped onto the court, they had to be serious, even for a simple pre-game warm-up.
"Beep!!!"
With the referee's whistle, the 2013-14 Finals began for the third time in Miami.
"Defense!"
"Defense!"
"Defense!"
The home fans started cheering for the home team, as they also craved the championship. The Heat only had one championship, while the Suns already had two.
Durant and Bosh jumped for the tip-off.
Durant tapped the ball to Wade Dong, who passed it to Curry. Wade Dong then ran to the frontcourt.
Curry organized the offense, dribbled a few times, and then found a chance to make a bounce pass to Green, who passed it to Thompson cutting to the basket. Thompson caught the ball and went up for a layup!
"Swish!!!"
Anthony came over to help defend, blocking Thompson's layup.
Paul dribbled to the frontcourt, passed to Anthony, who drove to the basket, using his experience to draw a foul on Thompson and also making the shot.
"Don't rush..."
Wade Dong reminded Thompson.
Anthony had just gotten past Thompson, and at this moment, Green should have been there to help defend, but Thompson pulled Anthony's arm, also allowing Anthony to make the and-one.
"Swish!!!"
Anthony made the free throw.
3:0!!!
In the third game of the Finals, the Heat scored first.
The Suns attacked, and after a few passes, Curry had an open mid-range shot, but he missed. Bosh grabbed the rebound, and Wade received the pass and scored on a fast break.
5:0!!!
"What's going on today?"
Gentry muttered, feeling that his players were off their game, perhaps because the heavy rain in Miami had dampened their shooting touch.
The Suns inbounded the ball from the baseline.
Durant wanted to pass to Curry, but Curry hadn't secured the ball yet, and Paul stole it from him.
Fortunately, Wade Dong and the others hadn't run too far, and after Paul's steal, the Suns players quickly retreated to defend!
Paul passed to James, who saw Thompson defending him. He faked a shot to shake off Thompson, then leaned into Thompson and threw the ball towards the basket.
Of course, this shot wouldn't go in; James wasn't Wade Dong.
But... even though he missed, James still got three free throw attempts.
"Swish!!!"
"g~~~"
"Swish!!!"
James made two out of three free throws, and the Heat led 7:0.
"Hmm..."
Gentry stroked his chin, considering whether to call a timeout. This start to the game was disastrous.
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