The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 359 - 191: The Strongest Cavaliers Team Since the New Century_5

Chapter 359: Chapter 191: The Strongest Cavaliers Team Since the New Century_5

"Swish!"

Following Su Wan’s "AQ," he originally thought that Su Wan would pull back to try a three-point shot again, and he followed suit. Little did he know that Su Wan would take a turnaround jump shot and smoothly put the ball through the hoop.

6-0!

Coach Mike Brown instinctively wanted to call a timeout, but seeing LeBron catch the ball smoothly, he decided to watch another round. However, seeing Artest ground LeBron once again, he had no choice but to signal for a timeout.

"Shaquille, you have to move up to a higher position more. That’s the only way the Cavaliers can win this game!"

Before LeBron could say anything, Mike Brown spoke up first.

That was exactly what LeBron wanted to express.

Honestly, at that moment, he really missed "Big Z."

Shaquille very reluctantly nodded his head.

The timeout ended and the game resumed.

With Shaquille’s help, LeBron managed to shake off Artest and charged to the basket, drawing a foul from Little O’Neal.

"Yes!"

LeBron felt satisfied with that pleasurable solo attack and walked to the free-throw line with his chest puffed out.

He made both free throws, and the Cavaliers finally got their first 2 points of the game.

By that time, almost 3 minutes of the first quarter had passed.

But once Shaquille was willing to cooperate, LeBron also began to demonstrate the power of his accelerated charge to the basket.

After all, it was already his fourth professional season as "Young James," and it was undeniable that once he could pick up speed, his impact on the basket was hard to stop when the screen was in place.

His last basket was also very technically proficient.

Why many "Little LeBrons" never became LeBron is mostly because they didn’t have packaging—no, that’s not right—it’s because they didn’t have as good a touch as LeBron.

Charging to the basket often resulted in a final layup that was too light or too heavy because they couldn’t control their strength properly.

However, his one after another relentless attacks only ensured that the Cavaliers’ scoring was more consistent than at the start, but in the next 5 minutes, the Cavaliers were still being pressured by the Pacers.

The Pacers firmly controlled the pace of the game.

And when the Pacers put on their "Small Lineup," Mike Brown had no choice but to take Shaquille O’Neal off the floor to ensure that the speed of the team’s offense and defense transition wouldn’t become a weakness. Without screens, LeBron James, confronted by Artest’s entanglement, began to struggle again.

No, this time LeBron struggled even more.

With Foster off the floor, the mobility of the "Small Lineup" was fully demonstrated.

Moreover, the "Small Lineup" now had a tactical shift, substituting Calderon for Anthony Parker, creating a five-man lineup that was all height and mobility in the "Iron Bucket Formation," making it easy to trap a player like LeBron who only knew how to breakthrough.

Just in the last 3 minutes of the first quarter, LeBron committed 3 turnovers.

His last turnover resulted from his impatient state of mind.

Handling the ball in the backcourt, he suddenly threw the ball against a teammate as he crossed midcourt. Su Wan, quick to react, caught the ball, and the Pacers instantly launched a counterattack.

Although LeBron was a "Chasing Block Master," faced with the Pacers’ rapid formation of a "numerical superiority" counterattack, he obediently stepped aside.

He didn’t want to become a "poster"...

"Boom!"

A slam dunk echoed as the first quarter ended, with the Pacers taking a comfortable 38-29 lead, establishing a 9-point advantage.

The Cavaliers’ offensive attempts were certainly not weak; if the momentum continued, they could score over a hundred points in this game.

But when it came to offensive firepower, this season’s Pacers feared no player. Just the performance in the first game, if sustained throughout, the Pacers could potentially score 150 points tonight.

Bill Walton had experienced the "crazy running" era of the Nuggets and the Warriors, but seeing the Pacers’ state in the first quarter, he couldn’t help but be amazed, "The Pacers are just too powerful tonight!"

Reggie Miller said, "Any team trying to outscore this season’s Pacers is suicidal, and tonight’s Cavaliers are committing suicide!"

He was actually itching to play; he wished he hadn’t retired yet.

Playing with the Pacers’ rhythm was something every shooter longed for.

And the Pacers’ form continued unabated, scoring a whopping 72 points by halftime.

Two years earlier, the Pistons might have scored that many points in an entire game.

Of course, with the Pistons’ method of controlling the pace, even this season’s Pacers couldn’t possibly score 72 points in a half against them.

To put it plainly, it all depends on the opponent.

Against the material of the Cavaliers, the Pacers were naturally "stir-frying," "quick-frying," "boiling," and "finishing strong"...

They would tidy up however they liked!

Compared to the furious attack of the Pacers who scored 72 points at halftime, the Cavaliers’ 48 points seemed paltry...