Chapter 231: The Line of Victory and Defeat
From a 10-point lead to a five-point lead, the Pacers immediately replaced Paul George, who had just sat down on his ass, while Hibbert also played.
Seeing that the Pacers are going to fight hard now, the Heat also replaced James.
In the pinnacle of the East, facing the Pacers, who have strength on both offensive and defensive ends, Spoelstra did not have the same calm as before.
The Pacers want to win, and the Heat can't give them a chance.
The Pacers' defense is very good, better than the Heat, the Heat have flaws on the inside, but the Pacers are excellent on the inside and outside, and the five people on the court have basically no shortcomings on the defensive end.
So against a team like that, once you fall behind them too much, it's over.
Fortunately, their attack is not as strong, and the Heat will definitely have to shrink their defense and speed up the rotation now.
Paul George's strong point must be strangled to death.
When he returned to the court, Zhang Xiaotian clapped his palms vigorously and smiled.
In the next time, even if he reduces his attack, he will try his best to limit the opponent.
Paul George is strong, but he's not inexplicable on the offensive end.
He is more of a threat on the defensive end, but it can be said that it is a waste to target Zhang Xiaotian, because he is facing the Heat, and the Heat have a big three.
Paul George can't handle the ball to James' level, so he has to keep running and covering to catch the ball.
After Zhang Xiaotian turned on his skills, it became more difficult for him to catch the ball.
The two are on the ring, sometimes it's like wrestling.
But there is no danger of anything, they are all ruthless characters within the rules.
A minute later, Paul George got his chance and used his height to cause Zhang Xiaotian's fourth foul.
But it doesn't matter, Paul George fouled the fourth time earlier, James scored twice with Wade after coming on the court, and Zhang Xiaotian doesn't need to take care of both ends for the time being.
And under the continuous hand-to-hand combat, the first person who could not support it was Hibbert, whose height and weight were obviously the most consumed.
The older David West has no problem, but his height is not big enough to be a bigger threat at this point, and James is watching him closely.
The most dangerous for the Pacers at key moments is Paul George and David West, and Spoelstra was more worried about Zhang Xiaotian's side, but now it seems that he is doing a good job.
Paul George wanted to hold the ball and play Zhang Xiaotian alone, but he didn't succeed and was caught up and made a mistake.
The Heat quickly fought back, and Ray Allen hit two points to keep the score gap down to just three points.
Bosh also suffered from physical problems at this time, he was not good at hand-to-hand combat on the inside, and the consumption was also very large.
Ray Allen's strength is okay, but his movements have slowed down a bit due to his age.
The outside line still hasn't been played, but now the Heat will definitely not be pinning their hopes on the shooters.
The Pacers are a real opponent, and Spoelstra is not at ease if they don't defend well, and at least in the first game, he will choose the strongest set of the team's lineup.
Wade played the No. 1 position to make up for another weak point of the team.
The weak point of the interior line, relying on desperate efforts to reduce the threat, regardless of physical strength, can only be used in the final quarter, because it is impossible to hold up for that long.
But it's just the fourth quarter that is no problem, so the offense on both sides has to be solved by stars.
Only if the strong point has an absolute advantage, can the opponent's defense be shredded.
After Paul George's first three-point shot, the second time he still hit against Zhang Xiaotian.
After all, with his height and long arms, Zhang Xiaotian will not be able to keep a clean sheet against an All-Star level powerhouse even if he is extremely defensive.
At 5:07, James was blocked and missed, and David West took the opportunity to hit it, bringing the Pacers' lead to five points again.
The strength of the Pacers is really good, and Zhang Xiaotian can't be so dazzling this time.
In 4 minutes and 11 seconds, James scored 3+1, and the difference between the scores of the two sides was 1 point.
But George Hill hit again at the crucial moment, and the rest of the Pacers stepped up.
After that, even if the two sides make an appointment, you will enter and I will enter, and if you want to strike iron, you will strike iron.
At 2 minutes and 27 seconds, Zhang Xiaotian fouled Paul George again.
Paul George was the fifth foul, and Vogel took a timeout to think about it and left him on the court.
Instead, he sent Lance Stephenson down and replaced him with C.J. Watson.
This somewhat incomprehensible substitution paid off a miracle a few dozen seconds later, as C.J. Watson drew a foul on Ray Allen from beyond the three-point line and made free throws to give the Pacers a four-point lead again.
The Pacers then brought Stephenson on and the defense was suffocating again.
The average team absolutely can't support it at this time, it's almost the end and the score hasn't overtaken, but the Heat are not an ordinary team, and they haven't given up.
Wade hit a throw, Stephenson missed, but Hibbert grabbed the rebound and passed to George Hill, who came in and drew a foul and made both free throws.
It's always a little bit closer, and there is a problem with the rebound at the critical moment.
Zhang Xiaotian stood up to Paul George, not daring to take the initiative to help defense, and the opponent was at a different level.
The Heat opted for a timeout, and at this point they needed three points.
After coming on the court, James broke through with the ball and passed to Bosh, who passed to Zhang Xiaotian.
But when it arrived at Zhang Xiaotian, the ball stopped, and the hearts of the audience came to their throats.
Many anxious fans on the Internet have started scolding, stopping the ball at this time is looking for death, but many fans are looking forward to Zhang Xiaotian's performance.
Zhang Xiaotian asked for a cover, this is not in the tactics, and his teammates are also a little depressed, but at this time, he can only come over first.
Paul George reacted quickly, but Zhang Xiaotian moved faster, and he only used the cover to move sideways in one step before making a move.
After the shot, all the frustration turned into excitement, and the three-point shot was made, and the time on the calculator was 20 seconds.
The Pacers sent the ball, the Heat pressed it first, and when the ball got to Paul George, Zhang Xiaotian sent him his fifth foul.
If you don't force the opponent to make a mistake, you can only choose foul tactics.
Paul George withstood the pressure and made both free throws, 102-105.
There are 12 seconds left in the clock, and this time Zhang Xiaotian directly asked for the ball.
James hesitated for a moment, but remembered that he missed several outside shots and quickly got the upper hand, and he returned the ball to Zhang Xiaotian and made a cover by the way.
Zhang Xiaotian didn't pause, and pulled up after catching the ball.
Paul George was blocked, and he was a little slower to pounce.
Three-pointer hit, 105:105, with 6 seconds left.
Pacers coach Vogel had a very bad look, Paul George had five fouls, and they had to end the game in regulation time.
He gave a few tactical options with a straight face, the first to cover Paul George to receive the ball, 6 seconds to shoot or pass, the second to hang directly inside, and the third to the player who ran out of position.
The moment of life and death, the line between victory and defeat.