The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!-Chapter 724 - 264: Restoring Order, Bright Universe_5

As the core of the team, he naturally had to be the one to change the opponent’s defensive formation.

Just waiting on the side for a fast break, or calling for a pick and roll to attack directly, misplacing and targeting the weakest defender...

He himself might have relaxed, but what about his teammates?

Facing opponents stronger than themselves was like being in the CBA!

Moreover, from Su Wan’s perspective, frequently handling the ball for attacks at the basket or mid-range shots could make opponents wary of his breakthrough capability, thereby giving him open spots at the three-point line.

Usually, before he decided to take a three-point shot, he would use mid-range shots more often to regain his shooting touch, thus ensuring that his shots from beyond the three-point line were more accurate.

This shot adjustment strategy was quite effective; Su Wan’s three-point shooting percentage reached a high of 42.3% this season!

That ranked him ninth in the league.

Such production and efficiency...

Su Wan had already transformed into one of the league’s top three-point shooters this season.

But the public was more impressed by his breakthroughs and mid-range shots, so not many people talked about his three-point shooting.

Su Wan himself wouldn’t mention it either.

Doing so would only make opponents pay more attention to his three-point shooting, thereby increasing the difficulty for himself—why bother?

Especially in a season like this, where he needed to carry the team.

The blow was quite significant for Bogans.

He spent the entire evening being constrained by Su Wan’s offensive choices, making it tough for him.

Whenever he gave a bit of space, Su Wan would end it with a three-point shot.

If he chose to defend closely, Su Wan would frequently make breakthroughs.

The entire three-point line was his shooting range; such a player was truly difficult to guard.

If it weren’t for constantly switching defenses with Ruhl, allowing him to adjust his mindset, he probably would have cried out by now, "Give me the ball, I want to go home!"

This was not someone ordinary people could defend.

However, the Bulls quickly counter-attacked.

Still, Derek Rose...

With surgical accuracy, Rose scored another two points with a breakthrough layup.

He wasn’t the same style of player as Michael Jordan, but watching Rose score on the court, Chicago people increasingly remembered the bald man wearing number 23.

Tonight was even more so...

Any guard who could compete with Su Wan was not an ordinary guard.

Derek Rose did it tonight!

Su Wan’s scoring was about to break the 40-point mark, and on the Bulls’ side, Derek Rose was also about to get his 30 points.

The score was tense until the very last moment.

After Su Wan made a mid-range jump shot, he and Tyson Chandler timely shut down, causing Derek Rose to make a dribbling mistake. The moment the ball was in Su Wan’s hands, Rose, out of desperation, committed a foul, sending Su Wan to the free-throw line and also sending away the last hope for the game.

With Su Wan making both free throws, the New York Knicks widened the score difference to 10 points.

In the final 24 seconds, even though Rose and Bozer scored again, the New York Knicks still took the first game of the playoff series on the Bulls’ home court.

Barkley commented, "On the path to becoming the regular season MVP, Su Wan taught Rose, a ’disciple of Su Wan,’ a lesson!"

The final moments were decided not just by offense but also by defense...

"We often overlook Su Wan’s individual defensive capabilities!"

"Of course, that’s normal too, since he’s just too outstanding on offense!"

The final score was 106 to 99.

In the first game of the semifinals, Su Wan scored 43 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Derek Rose matched up well, securing 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.

The splendid duel between the two had people exclaiming, "This is a regular season MVP-level matchup."

Many media believed that this playoff series would extend to six games to determine the winner.

Indeed, in the second game of the series, the Bulls won their home game, tying the series at 1-1.

Meanwhile, the other Eastern Conference semifinal had also officially started.

Emerging from the first round, the last team was...

the Indiana Pacers!

Miami media felt somewhat uneasy.

While they were sweeping through the league, there was one team they were wary of.

It was not the New York Knicks...

After LeBron found his position, Miami media thought the Knicks were definitely not their opponents.

But the Indiana Pacers were the team that had indeed beaten them after the All-Star Weekend.

Currently, the weakest aspect of the Heat was their inside game, lacking a true shot-blocking specialist.

Conversely, the Pacers excelled at inside capabilities.

Both teams had strong benches; the Pacers’ bench was also packed with capable players like Harrington, Lin Shuhao, "Little Potato", and Millsap!

A critical point was that LeBron felt visibly uncomfortable playing against the Pacers’ lineup, especially when Rick Carlisle placed Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol under the basket, his breakthrough efficiency significantly dropped.

And when the little O’Neal was on the court, it was equally tough for him.

This became evident during the game.

With the Heat failing to open up the game initially, Spoelstra had LeBron start earlier, but the first ball he played resulted in an "offensive foul."

That was the kind of treatment the "Sixth Man" got from the referees.

Especially when fighting for a defensive rebound...

He simply couldn’t hold his position.

It was rare for the Heat to fall behind during their bench rotation.

LeBron watched as little O’Neal kept grabbing rebounds right in front of him; his hand rose several times only to drop down again, a "flower of evil" blooming in his heart.

This was absolutely a year they couldn’t afford to lose...

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