Chapter 360: Top-tier Strategic Clash

Dwyane Wade hits a 3-pointer.

He breaks through Vince Carter's defense, uses a step-back to retreat beyond the three-point line, and sinks the shot.

Both Wade and James have been training desperately to increase their three-point shooting this season. Although they aren't skilled at three-pointers, they both know that to win, they must contribute more from beyond the arc.

This is also the area they privately discussed and evaluated as their biggest gap compared to Fan Xi. Fan Xi has a stable three-point shooting ability; while his off-the-dribble three-point ability is mediocre, his catch-and-shoot three-point ability is at a professional shooter's level.

Wade's three-pointer saves face for Miami.

Turning back, Fan Xi drives deep into the paint alone. Miami quickly collapses, and Fan Xi easily passes the ball out. Nowitzki catches it and hits a mid-range shot.

The Miami Heat are actually inferior to the Lakers in both overall cohesion and defense.

Fan Xi doesn't even need a screen to easily enter their paint, and Marcus Camby's defensive quality is several grades worse than Dwight Howard's.

If it weren't for the fact that three major rotation players couldn't play, under optimistic conditions, Fan Xi even feels that defeating Miami wouldn't take five games.

Nowitzki enters attack mode, and LeBron James also begins his assault.

James has improved rapidly over these years; all his skills have leveled up. Although Leonard thinks he is easier to defend than Kobe when he settles into a half-court set, once LeBron James gets moving, Leonard's defense appears thin.

He cannot stop James's assault. James charges into the paint, draws a double-team, and passes to Chris Bosh, who hits a mid-range jumper.

It's not much different from Fan Xi's moves.

The difference is… Miami has two such engines. Although Wade's condition is slightly inferior to last season due to injuries and other reasons, he is still a top-five player in the League.

The game pushes forward at this rhythm.

For a time, they are locked in a stalemate.

The first quarter ends quickly.

The visiting Clippers lead by 5 points, 32:27, as they head to the bench.

The game did not unfold in the crushing manner Miami expected. They are not in the lead.

However, after being stunned at the start, the Heat quickly found their rhythm and displayed long-lasting resilience.

"Although I hope the Clippers win this game, if it continues like this, Miami has a high probability of winning. Miami's Big Three have more outstanding strength; they are only missing Haslem, so the loss in combat power isn't significant. The Clippers, however, are going to have big problems with their rotation."

Charles Barkley says this during the quarter break.

This makes the audience in front of their TVs sigh one after another; their feelings are even more intense than Barkley's. Who doesn't want Fan Xi to win? Especially those women; they don't want to watch Fan Xi be defeated by that group of evil monsters.

The second quarter begins quickly.

James and Wade launch a counterattack; the two of them play exceptionally well, and Shane Battier, who came off the bench, shoots very accurately from beyond the arc, making up for the absence of Mike Miller.

The Heat, cheered on by their home fans, gain some initiative.

But they don't recover the score in the second quarter.

Because the Clippers' rotation players—Arenas, Hamilton, Grant Hill, and Yao Ming—all have outstanding performances.

The Clippers rotate players frequently in the second quarter, with every player acting like a microwave.

The Heat's charge fails to take effect against this wave of human-sea tactics.

After the first half, the Clippers still lead by 3 points, 55:52.

On the surface, the Heat Big Three look quite magnificent; James and Wade both have eye-catching performances, and the wave of counterattacks is as surging as the tide.

During halftime, even Kenny Smith, a die-hard fan of Fan Xi, begins to worry about the Clippers' victory.

Because it seems like the Clippers have used up all the moves they have.

And the atmosphere at the Meihangzhongxin qiuguan has reached an unprecedented high; when the Heat players leave the court, they all start shouting MVP.

Although it's unknown if it's shouted for Wade, who performed well tonight, or James.

The Clippers players are also very excited; they high-five various excited fans in the player tunnel.

By contrast, the Clippers players walk back to the locker room calmly, one by one.

Fan Xi refuses the TNT reporter's halftime interview.

These contrasts and information seem to indicate that the Clippers are relatively depressed, while the Heat are already enthusiastically prepared to harvest the game.

"Marcus, did you see? As long as we keep our emotions in check, we can easily take the victory. Don't pay attention to Jie Ke Fan's psychological tactics; he is best at provoking opponents."

Wade walks into the locker room. He is the first to find Camby, and he says to this old teammate: "Nothing is more important than winning the Grand Champion."

Camby nods repeatedly at what Wade says. Camby entered the League in '96; he is an excellent representative of the Golden Generation, but as of now, he has never won a Grand Champion.

If there were a Grand Champion ring, this hot-tempered guy could tolerate some things. Although being dunked on twice by Fan Xi has made his mindset irritable.

"Brothers, a great situation has opened up; let's not give Los Angeles any chance at all."

"As long as we take the first victory, the second victory will come naturally. Then, we will go to Los Angeles to get the third victory, and then the fourth."

James gives a speech in the locker room with extra excitement: "The Clippers are already on the verge of collapse. Did you see the second quarter? They can only frequently use old players to cover their shame, but this kind of systemless fighting is impossible to win in the Finals. We will destroy them in the third quarter, and the fourth quarter will become a massacre. By then, we can win by as many points as we want!"

"Victory belongs to Miami!!"

James roars loudly.

The teammates around him echo: "Victory belongs to Miami."

The Heat players are very excited. Under James's words, they see the possibility of winning the title, and a sweep at that.

Before this game started, they already understood that the Clippers were on the verge of collapse; tonight was just about throwing a thousand-pound boulder onto this dying camel.

The home locker room is full of excited anticipation.

They cannot help but fantasize about the scene of putting on the Grand Champion ring.

…

Inside the visiting locker room, Fan Xi sits next to Nowitzki. Nowitzki encountered a double-team in the second quarter; he didn't play very well.

Nowitzki is a player with strong ball-handling and isolation ability, and also strong off-ball ability; in terms of offense, he is the strongest at the power forward position.

"Let's run the pick-and-roll in the second half."

Fan Xi says to Nowitzki.

This is a secret weapon they buried during the regular season, originally intended to be brought out when facing the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. As it turned out, by mistake, they advanced before they even needed to use it against the Lakers.

Now, the Clippers have indeed encountered a serious crisis.

So, it's time to bring out this secret weapon.

Nowitzki thinks for a moment and says: "We are still leading now; how about we each try harder and make a push?"

Fan Xi also thinks for a moment and nods.

Then, he calls Bilupusi over and says: "In the second half, you take the lead. Just like Jason Kidd did last season, let Dirk lead the offense. I'll move off-ball, Leonard will be the secondary attacker, and Xiao Qiaodan will focus on defense."

Bilupusi nods quickly: "That's no problem. I can do what old Kidd could do; even if I fall short in some aspects, you can help facilitate. Besides, my three-point shot is much steadier than old Kidd's."

Then, Fan Xi talks with Leonard and Xiao Qiaodan, and then calculates with the coaching staff.

Next, Nowitzki personally draws the Mavericks' tactical routes on the tactical board.

Everyone understands in a second.

After all, Xiao Qiaodan's function is similar to Tyson Chandler's; the two are flat replacements for each other.

Nowitzki is still that same Nowitzki.

Although Leonard's mobility is not as good as Shawn Marion's, it is an indisputable fact that he is stronger than the aging Marion in every aspect.

Fan Xi taking out Jason Terry is simply effortless.

Bilupusi and Jason Kidd each have their own merits.

"Dream fulfilled!"

After discussing tactics with the coaching staff, Nowitzki feels a strong sense of emotion; he himself didn't expect that the Mavericks vs. Heat matchup that wasn't completed in last year's playoffs would be completed in this form with the Clippers this season.

The Mavericks' coaching staff shouldn't scold me for leaking tactical secrets, right?

Nowitzki can't help but laugh.

Because he realizes that since the team sent him to Los Angeles to fulfill his dream, using the Mavericks' tactics himself—isn't that helping Dallas fulfill its dream as well?

…

Beep!

The second half of the game begins quickly.

Mark Cuban has been sitting in front of the TV watching the game; he has deep feelings for Nowitzki and has always supported Dirk. So, when the Clippers entered the Finals, he was moved to tears; he wanted to see Nowitzki lift the Grand Champion trophy too much.

After the first half, his will was a bit depressed. The Clippers have gone through so many things during this time, the three major rotations couldn't play, Fan Xi encountered the recording gate, people's hearts are wavering, and the Heat are elite troops.

Could it be that Dirk will really be ringless for life?

Mark Cuban pessimistically finishes a beer.

Then the second half starts, and when he sees the Clippers' new lineup, he doesn't have many thoughts.

Until LeBron James misses a jump shot.

Bilupusi brings the ball across half-court, Fan Xi runs quickly around Nowitzki to the corner, Nowitzki goes to the high post to catch Bilupusi's pass, and holds the ball to isolate Chris Bosh, then stops for a jump shot after two steps... Swish!

"Why does this feel so familiar?"

Mark Cuban has a sense of déjà vu: the recipe of spacing the floor and clearing the strong side to let Nowitzki isolate is surprisingly familiar.

The game continues.

Mark Cuban finds it more and more familiar.

Isn't this the Mavericks' offensive and defensive system?

The difference is… the Clippers' defense is actually better than the Mavericks'.

The perimeter defense composed of Bilupusi, Fan Xi, and Leonard is far superior to Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and Shawn Marion.

Mark Cuban slaps his thigh in front of the TV; he is very excited and quickly calls the head coach, telling him to turn on the TV to watch the Finals.

Who knew the head coach would say on the other end of the phone: "I'm watching, boss. This is great; this is the result we wanted. Dirk helped us fulfill our dream; this is the Mavericks vs. Heat!"

They all find a sense of presence and a reason for pride.

"Little Jack, you're righteous!!"

Mark Cuban hangs up the phone and sighs longly.

Then, while watching TV, he calls his company assistant: "Aren't we looking for a spokesperson? Contact Jack; we need to help him as quickly as possible. Many commercial companies are watching, so let Jack endorse..."

"But, Jack is currently deep in a public opinion storm."

"Screw the public opinion storm. Isn't it just that man-thing? The ad slogan will be: Real men love xx Tech Net!"

Mark Cuban hangs up the phone dismissively.

Then, he continues to enjoy the game.

He is a true man of temperament.

When Nowitzki enters Dallas mode, the Clippers gradually take the initiative.

Because Fan Xi quickly shakes off the defense and hits a 3-pointer.

Immediately following is Leonard catching Nowitzki's pass on the weak side and scoring a layup.

Then, Bilupusi also strikes at the top of the three-point arc; Mr. Big Shot hits a 3-pointer.

This wave forces the Heat to call a timeout.

The point spread expands to 8 points.

Although the Heat are playing well, there are no mistakes.

"Why do I feel like the Heat are in more danger than the Clippers now?"

During the timeout, TNT commentator Earl Johnson says this.

His feeling is also the feeling of the TV audience, although they don't understand the game as well as the experts. But watching the Clippers expand the point spread so easily, they realize that maybe the Heat aren't that hard to defeat.

"Chris Bosh is very hard to defend against Nowitzki; they must double-team. Once they double-team, Nowitzki will pass; Wade double-teams, pass to Jack. James double-teams, pass to Leonard. If Marcus Camby defends up... you can directly lob to the paint..."

"Miami must find a more efficient way to attack. James should exert his role if he wants to win the Finals MVP," Charles Barkley says on TV.

Beep!

The whistle blows.

The game continues.

The Heat make adjustments; they take Bosh out and put in Shane Battier, playing a small-ball lineup.

At the start, Wade uses James's screen to hit a three-pointer.

Then, James walks toward Nowitzki; he personally goes to defend the Clippers' spearhead figure.

This move causes bursts of cheers to erupt at the Meihangzhongxin qiuguan.

James gained weight this season; he has enough strength to hold Nowitzki's lower body, and his physical quality is very strong, full of mobility.

When Nowitzki starts to ask for position, he immediately wraps around, like crazy glue.

Bilupusi cannot pass the basketball over.

He gives it to Leonard.

Leonard isolates against Shane Battier.

Battier is a very good defender; he has spent his entire career guarding super scorers.

Leonard uses a back-to-the-basket isolation to deal with him.

But after two moves, Battier pulls the chair, Leonard, who is slightly immature, stumbles, and Battier flies over to steal the basketball.

He steadily passes the basketball to Dwyane Wade.

This is a successful defense.

Fan Xi stands in the corner and sees it clearly; he realizes... it's his turn to output next.

… ===== CHAPTER 361 =====