Chương 27: Chapter 27: The Problem
The Rockets initially took the lead, but as the game progressed, they quickly found themselves on the back foot. Shaquille O'Neal dominated Yao Ming in the paint, pushing him around and scoring with ease. On the other end, a miscommunication from Huo during a crucial block on McGrady allowed the Heat to intercept a pass intended for Yao, leading to a swift counterattack by Dwyane Wade, who effortlessly laid the ball in.
With the Heat now up 4-0, it was clear this was just the beginning. McGrady struggled to find his rhythm, and as the Rockets faltered, O'Neal continued to bulldoze his way to the basket, drawing attention away from Haslem, who also scored unchallenged. The Heat didn't grant the Rockets any breathing room. Yao attempted a hook shot over O'Neal, only to have it swatted away by Wade. Haslem seized the rebound, positioning himself perfectly.
The Heat swiftly moved down the court again, executing a seamless pick-and-roll between Wade and Haslem that broke through the Rockets' defense like a hot knife through butter, resulting in yet another basket. Just two minutes into the game, the Rockets found themselves trailing 8-2.
On the sidelines, Van Gundy barked out defensive positions, but Andrew, standing behind him, couldn't help but frown. This was precisely the strategy he had hoped to discuss with Van Gundy earlier, but now it seemed too late for adjustments. The Rockets had previously relied on their strong interior defense, but O'Neal's physical presence magnified the shortcomings of their lineup, particularly as Huo's age slowed him down.
As the game progressed, McGrady finally managed to score, yet the Heat responded immediately with Wade and O'Neal capitalizing on their inside game, pushing the score to 12-4. Van Gundy, visibly frustrated, called a timeout.
"We need to tighten up our defense; we can't let them score so easily under the basket!" he exclaimed, scratching his bald head in exasperation as he drew up a new strategy on the tactical board. After laying out his plans, he tossed the board to Andrew.
"Zhu Wan, when we attack, go straight to the basket—no more pick-and-rolls. Yao, pull to the free-throw line. Everyone else should crash the boards; Haslem's defense is suspect. We'll exploit that," Andrew instructed, quickly making adjustments based on the game's flow.
With two coaches—one focusing on offense and the other on defense—this was turning into a spectacle worthy of the NBA.
As the timeout ended, players filtered back onto the court. Andrew turned to Van Gundy, who was still preoccupied with the game. "Jeff, considering the current situation, it might be more effective to swap Zhu Wan and Paul in for defensive strength," he suggested.
Van Gundy shot Andrew a sidelong glance, but he remained silent, retreating to his bench with a stern expression. Andrew couldn't help but smile at the older man's stubbornness and returned to his seat.
The game resumed. As Yao Ming shifted from the free-throw line to the high post, O'Neal found himself drawn away from the basket, leaving a gaping hole in the Heat's defense. Andrew's instincts were spot on; with O'Neal pulled out, the Rockets exploited the space.
Alston utilized Battier's screen, darting towards the basket for a layup that drew Haslem's attention away from McGrady, who received the ball with a beautiful glide and scored. Haslem, caught off guard, couldn't reposition in time to contest the shot.
"A brilliant offensive strategy! Shaq's slowing down, and with his age, he can't recover fast enough," exclaimed Miller, a retired player turned commentator, as he analyzed the unfolding drama on the court.
However, Miller's praise was short-lived. As soon as he turned his attention back, Wade once again broke through Huo's defense with a deft pick-and-roll, quickly dishing the ball to Posey, who sank a three-pointer, pushing the score to 15-6. The difference was almost double digits now, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric, with fans roaring as the Heat seized control.
Andrew felt the urgency; he sensed they were drifting dangerously close to Barkley's "Moment of Performance." As Brin cheered for the Heat's success, Miller glanced at the Rockets' bench, perplexed. The veteran Howard was clearly struggling, and he wondered why Van Gundy remained oblivious to the obvious.
The head coach was growing restless, unable to sit still as he watched the scoreboard flash the Heat's lead. In a moment of desperation, he pointed at Hayes on the bench, signaling for him to replace the aging Howard.
Andrew couldn't suppress a smirk. Van Gundy's reluctance to admit he was wrong, despite the glaring evidence, was classic old-school coaching. He had realized the error of his ways but was too proud to take Andrew's advice on Millsap.
As the Rockets continued their offense, O'Neal's presence loomed large, but Yao Ming executed a perfect fake, sinking a jumper from mid-range. Yao's finesse as a power center was a rarity in the NBA, and with back-to-back scores, the Rockets were finally finding their rhythm.
But on the defensive end, Huo faltered once again as Wade sliced through the defense with his explosive speed, scoring another layup. The points were still slipping away, and Van Gundy, now standing on the edge of his seat, felt the mounting pressure of the game.
Andrew watched with a mix of concern and amusement, aware that this old-school coach was finally realizing he needed to adapt—or risk being left behind.
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