The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 361 - 192: Cleveland’s "Sword Guard" Rebels._2

Chapter 361: Chapter 192: Cleveland’s "Sword Guard" Rebels._2

In the first half of the first quarter, Jordan kept making breakthroughs under the basket with such speed that "Ah Q" couldn’t stop him at all.

As a result, before Su Wan got within the three-point line, he would give him a bit of space, about an arm’s length.

But it was this defensive strategy that allowed Su Wan to sink three consecutive three-point shots. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Mike Brown cursed him out.

Right now, Su Wan’s worst ability was still his three-point shot, and "Ah Q" let him shoot like Ray Allen; how could Mike Brown stand it from the sideline?

He hadn’t finished cursing when he saw LeBron bringing the ball over half-court, so he could only shut up glumly, lest he affect the Cavaliers’ offensive performance.

LeBron watched the cheers for Su Wan rising from the crowd and really wanted to try scoring himself, to respond to Su Wan’s points and silence these Indiana Natives. But at this moment, Shaquille O’Neal had already successfully positioned himself under the basket.

And...

Looking at Artest’s face, he didn’t have any desire to attack.

It was only when he passed the ball towards O’Neal that he couldn’t help but mutter softly:

Damn it, who’s the "Sword Guard" for whom?

When he first heard that phrase, he was so moved. Now thinking about it, LeBron felt disgusted.

If only he hadn’t been so young then, unable to tell a man from a dog.

That guy sweet-talked him, and he let himself be fooled completely.

Now look where it got him, being that guy’s "dog"!

LeBron passed the ball with such resentment that Shaquille O’Neal’s turn was anticipated in time by little O’Neal, who slapped it away, and he cursed loudly, "Fxxk!"

Everyone on the Cavaliers heard it. Although he didn’t call anyone out by name, they all knew who LeBron was cursing!

On the Pacers’ side, they scored another counter, with Su Wan charging straight from the middle, finishing with a one-handed slam dunk.

LeBron’s expression turned serious. No, this couldn’t go on; if it did, they’d be "losing people, losing formation," losing even their underwear.

Up to this point in the game, there was one thing LeBron was clear about...

The Cavaliers were definitely not going to win this game!

But he could go down "gloriously defeated"!

At the end of the first half, Su Wan scored 19 points, but he wasn’t weak either, scoring 14 points. As long as he scored more in the second half, at least in terms of stats, he wouldn’t lose to Su Wan.

As for why they lost the game so badly later...

Since he didn’t lose, it could only be...

"Ball!"

First, ensure that he hadn’t lost!

LeBron shouted for the ball, then motioned to Shaquille O’Neal for a high pick and roll.

Coming into the third quarter, the team had been very cooperative with him for two plays, but based on those two plays... LeBron felt that Shaquille O’Neal should be moving up for the pick and roll out of his own volition.

But Shaquille O’Neal was frantic.

In those two plays, one had his hand hit on purpose, resulting in two missed free throws, and in another he got rejected by little O’Neal right to his face...

It would be strange if Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t frantic.

He completely ignored LeBron’s signalling eyes and instead signaled to LeBron James to quickly pass the ball to him, wanting to continue his solo play under the basket.

Rebel!

Rebel!

This "Sword Guard" had rebelled!

Of course, LeBron wouldn’t obediently pass the ball.

Shaquille was full of anger, but wasn’t he holding back his anger as well?

If you don’t give me a pick, fine, I’ll drive with the ball myself!

LeBron James immediately floored the Throttle, pushing past Artest towards the inside.

Artest had neither the strength nor the mass to match LeBron, but when it came to explosive power, he wasn’t as monstrous. And when LeBron went up with an elbow, how could Artest dare to take it head-on?

However, the non-screening Shaquille O’Neal was still standing under the basket.

With the already crowded basket area, now with Artest coming in after him, rushing into the "Reasonable Collision Zone," LeBron James had no space to shoot.

"Slap!"

Little O’Neal seized the opportunity, another block.

Bill Walton said, "This year’s Jermaine has a chance to compete for the ’Best Defensive Player Award’!"

Just like the ’96 Bulls team, could you say that the defensive quality of that Bulls team was due to Rodman, Pippen, or Michael Jordan, or Harper? That Bulls team held the opposition to about 85 points per game, thanks to the effort of everyone together.

So none of them won the "Best Defensive Player Award."

The Pacers’ situation was very similar to that of the Bulls, a strong defense was not the work of one person.

But before the Bulls put together this lineup, Michael Jordan and Rodman had both already won the "Best Defensive Player Award."

It’s different for the Pacers, as Artest had just won the award, but other than him, no one on the Pacers had this honor.

And another point...

At that time, it was Mutombo’s peak, with the Bulls’ overall improvement in defensive quality making it impossible for any one of them to compete with Mutombo.

This year is different, as the competition for the "Best Defensive Player Award" is not as fierce.

Big Ben suffered injuries after going to the Bulls.

And Artest has already won two "Best Defensive Player Awards," but so far this season, he hasn’t shown a standout defensive performance.

Marcus Camby is the frontrunner.

But after watching these two plays, Bill Walton thinks that little O’Neal’s defense is also advantageous.

Barkley watched LeBron, who had been blocked, spread his arms toward Shaquille O’Neal and laughed loudly, "So who exactly made the Cavaliers pick Shaquille O’Neal?"

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