Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 469 - 323 When Divine Punishment Descends
Chapter 469: Chapter 323 When Divine Punishment Descends
The Miami Heat, winning the jump ball at the start, had the first offensive possession of the fourth quarter.
Just as Yu Fei expected, the Heat did not let Wade rest after playing the entire third quarter. They were already down by 13 points, and Wade was their most reliable scoring option. If Wade rested, who could they count on? Shaquille O’Neal, who had only scored 8 points in the first three quarters?
Precisely because Wade was on the court, Yu Fei was playing with utmost concentration.
However, the Bucks continued to implement Karl’s strategy of conceding shots to Wade.
Wade understood that to erase the 13-point deficit, he needed not only unstoppable drives and the favor of the referees but also a comprehensive offensive capability.
Maximizing his unusually high postseason three-point shooting percentage was key to breaking the game open.
So, at the start of the fourth quarter, the first ball was him using Alonzo Mourning’s screen to slip to the corner and receive Payton’s pass.
The Bucks decided to let him shoot.
Under immense pressure, Wade displayed rare elegance, completing the full shooting motion and leaping for a left corner three-pointer.
As far as shooting posture is concerned, Wade was certainly not one of those freaks with innate shooting issues; what limited his consistency from the perimeter was mindset and a lack of focus in daily practice.
“Swish!”
74 to 84.
Wade hit nothing but net.
Over the following two minutes, both teams wrestled with confrontations and missed shots.
Yu Fei drove and passed to a teammate who missed the shot, Wade’s own drive got blocked by Kwame Brown, Alonzo Mourning strongly grabbed the offensive rebound only to go up weakly for the second chance. But considering he was playing with just one kidney, what more could Miamians ask for?
Yu Fei grabbed the defensive board and pushed a fast break. When the Bucks’ usual offensive tendencies that helped them devastate opponents— outnumbering their opponents for transition three-pointers— proved ineffective, such a choice became questionable.
Whether it was bad luck or just a poor touch, Yu Fei missed the trailing three-pointer.
Then, Wade took the ball again, powering his way to the basket to draw Raja Bell’s fifth foul.
After a scoreless drought of two minutes, Wade broke the dry spell with free throws, bringing the difference back to single digits.
Meanwhile, George Karl had to choose between strengthening the defense by bringing in Ariza or fortifying the offense with Barry, and he chose the latter.
This substitution was a consideration to conserve Yu Fei’s energy and was made for him.
This is why Karl was favored by Yu Fei’s camp; every decision he made considered Big Fei.
Tim Grover commented to those around him, “This is exactly what Frye needs. George made a good decision.”
“Big Fei, leave the dribbling and bringing up the court to Brent,” Karl said to Yu Fei during the substitution.
Yu Fei asked, “Then what do I do?”
Without a second thought, Karl said, “Break Miami.”
As Yu Fei moved to the frontcourt, suddenly, Sprewell came up to screen, causing Wade to switch on defense.
In the moment of mismatch, Yu Fei turned and posted up against Wade, signaling to Barry to pass the ball.
Damn, the ball came!
Yu Fei didn’t use any sophisticated post moves, but just forcefully used his body to jostle Wade, turned around to shoot, and scored.
The gap returned to double digits, and Yu Fei said, “Dwyane, you can choose how to start, but I decide how to end.”
Wade pursed his lips. In that moment, a raging fire of defiance, daring to challenge everything, ignited within him.
Wade’s college coach Tom Crean once said, “There’s an uncontrollable anger inside him.”
Almost everyone who knew Wade couldn’t fully understand this statement.
How could Wade possibly be like those common black men with roughness encoded in their genes? His non-aggressive appearance, speaking softly, the sweet smile, always humble and polite—did you know he married his high school sweetheart? He tithed to the church and even let his mother, who left him during childhood due to drug abuse, come back into his life… These could easily lead one to mistake him for a gentle choir boy without the usual arrogance and insecurities of a modern basketball star.
But he did harbor anger, like when he was heckled in high school and responded with a block and flipping off the crowd, leading to his ejection, or when he felt angry over all the attention James and Anthony received during the Rookie Challenge, and he was determined to catch up to them and prove himself worthy of all honors.
Now, Yu Fei was talking to him in a tone used by a superior to teach a subordinate.
The irrepressible spirit inside Wade felt an urge to explode.
Wade ran from under the basket to the right side of the three-point line, facing Sprewell.
With a three-point shot feint, he got Sprewell off the ground and then immediately sprinted to the basket, only to encounter Brown’s interception at the paint.
Yu Fei silently praised Brown’s positioning; the guy’s defense awareness was indeed good.
However, in the second that Wade encountered Brown, he dropped his center of gravity and used a hesitation step to shake off the defender, stepping back for a bank shot that went in.
Yu Fei didn’t say a word as his teammates passed him the ball across half court.
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A pick and roll brought Wade in front of Yu Fei.
“Can’t you come over on your own? Do I have to call a screen?” Yu Fei dribbled the ball behind his back, taunting, “Or do you not have the courage to stand in front of me by choice?”
Wade retorted, “I’m not selfish like you; defense is all about the team!”
After saying this, Yu Fei dribbled the ball through his legs, and the rapid change in rhythm was a sight to behold.
It would be better said that it was rare in history to see someone of Yu Fei’s height with such ball-handling ability, but rather, it was unique to see such coordination of body and limbs.
Just a simple between-the-legs crossover, coupled with a change in body posture, created numerous possibilities.
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