Hansen’s first breakthrough after coming on was unable to get past Mike Miller.
Although he was well enough to play, his foot injury greatly affected his breakthrough.
Realizing this, Hansen decisively gave up on trying to break through and switched to playing off-ball screens and shooting with Little Gasol.
Jas’s departure had a significant impact on the Heat, the most significant being that the Heat’s offense had to rely more on Wade, which prevented Wade from defending Hansen directly and forced a switch to another defender.
However, the Heat’s roster lacked a bench player who excelled in periter defense.
In the first off-ball attempt, Hansen received a pass from Conley and took the shot.
Though there was still so pain when he jumped, it was considerably less than during his breakthrough attempts.
He also maintained a perfect shooting form in mid-air.
The basketball traced a perfect parabola.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
The Grizzlies’ bench erupted.
Wade tried to break through in return but was fiercely blocked directly by Little Gasol.
Turning back, Hansen continued to receive the ball through off-ball screens set by Little Gasol.
Bosh rushed up this ti, seeing which, Hansen passed to Little Gasol and then moved off the ball towards the paint.
Little Gasol also held off Miller with the ball and then lobbed it right above the hoop.
Holding his breath, Hansen was led by the ball into a leap.
Though his foot injury prevented him from jumping as high as usual, he still managed to pull the ball over in mid-air and then dunked it on the way down.
"Boom!"
As the ball slamd through the hoop, the Arican Airlines Arena was in an uproar.
Hansen was not only able to continue playing, but his role on the court seed unchanged.
No, the spirit brought by his battling through the injury even seed to make the Grizzlies play better than before.
The only thing in the eyes of the fans in the arena was despair, sheer despair.
When the fourth quarter ca and the Heat still couldn’t close the gap, a considerable number of Heat fans began to leave.
They weren’t leaving because staying to watch the Grizzlies lift the trophy would be too frustrating; they simply wanted to leave early to avoid traffic!
At this point, the students from Barry University were very noticeable.
They had been cheering for the Grizzlies from the start, only to be drowned out by the Heat fans around them.
But now, with Heat fans leaving or appearing as dejected as beaten roosters with no energy left to shout,
the cheers for the Grizzlies at the Heat’s ho court were particularly prominent.
With two minutes left in the ga and the Grizzlies still leading by over 15 points, Spoelstra subbed out his starters, concedingly throwing in the towel.
By then, no one on the Grizzlies’ bench was sitting; they all stood by the court.
As Hansen ca off the court, he was warmly welcod by his teammates.
Guy, who ca off with him, hugged Hansen and excitedly shouted into his ear,
"We did it! You led us to do it! We are the champions, we are the champions!"
He was truly excited, having held it in for so long.
Randolph ca up and hugged both their heads, shaking his head and continuously mumbling.
This season had been the most tumultuous for him, to the point where he was once a burden to the team, but he regained his form in the finals and helped the team clinch the title.
More importantly, this season’s success cleared the bad reputation that had followed him throughout his career; he was not a burden anymore.
Battier was also excitedly walking up to them, putting his hand on Hansen’s shoulder.
From winning a playoff ga to winning a series, to competing for the championship, and finally clinching it.
Indeed, choices often matter more than efforts at tis.
Bibby also ca over, returning to his roots, still managing to bring a negligible help to the team in Ga 3—his best farewell performance of his career.
Most importantly, they had won riding on that person who had been a thorn in their side all season.
Grizzlies players remaining on the court gradually gathered around Hansen and his group.
The ga wasn’t over yet, but the Grizzlies’ celebration had already begun!
Naturally, this scene was captured by photographers on-site and displayed on the LED screen, causing a commotion in the arena.
"Who would have thought that the finals would be the easiest round for the Grizzlies in the playoffs," Barkley continued with his banter from the comntary seat.
Though blunt, his words were not wrong, as the Heat was the only team that got swept in four rounds.
Even the Thunders had managed to win at least one ga from the Grizzlies.
And it was not just a matter of the score; the gas were decisively lost 0 to 2, then referees and dirty plays were tried, but still no victory.
"This will be the last image the Miami ’Big Three’ leave us with," O’Neal also said with a smile.
Previously, because of officiating issues, he couldn’t say much, but now the Heat’s elimination ant one thing: even with biased refereeing, not everyone can win playing 8 against 5.
"Beep~"
Amid their chatter, the final long whistle finally blew.
The ga officially ended with the Grizzlies defeating the Heat 102 to 88, sweeping their opponents 4-0 to take the championship!
The mont the whistle sounded, the Grizzlies’ players, who had been holding back their emotions, completely exploded, shouting and starting wild celebrations.
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