After Hansen received the ball, he didn’t directly play one-on-one against Deng, but instead signaled Jokic to retrieve to the three-point line and passed the ball.
Imdiately, he started to cut inside.
Deng retreated with Hansen, but Hansen suddenly reversed and ran back to the three-point line.
Jokic’s basketball IQ is indeed high; he was initially holding the ball ready to pass inside but quickly caught up with Hansen’s rhythm and handed the ball over after a dribble, incidentally blocking Big Gasol who might be charging out.
Hansen caught the ball, turned, and once again took an unobstructed three-point shot.
When the basketball pierced through the net again, Riley finally couldn’t sit still.
The essence of the Jordan Rules is to do everything possible to prevent the opponent from scoring, including but not limited to double-teaming and fouling.
Even when Jordan reached his peak back then, he would be limited by such defensive tactics.
But after Hansen made two consecutive three-pointers, Riley realized the biggest difference between Hansen and Jordan.
Hansen can shoot threes!
No, judging from this season’s performance, it’s not just that he can do it; he’s very skilled at it.
This skill isn’t just about accuracy; just look at Hansen’s last two possessions. He didn’t force a shot after a one-on-one play but continuously searched for the best three-point shooting opportunities.
Long-range shots are inherently less stable than mid-range shots and breakthroughs, but Hansen strives to minimize that instability.
Moreover, he exploits the weaknesses of the Jordan Rules because whether it’s double-teaming or fouling, you first need reaction ti.
However, the three-point line is so expansive, it’s challenging to achieve that.
Unless all your players defend along the three-point line, which would make your interior defense completely out of control.
Although Hansen doesn’t make every shot even with the best opportunities, after Hansen’s fourth attempt hit his third three-pointer, Riley called a tiout.
During the tiout, the man who has weathered countless storms in the League, always slicking back his hair, donning a sharp suit to portray himself as the "Godfather," felt as if the priest opposite had pulled out a gun and said, "Sir, tis have changed."
Riley is certainly not like Barkley, who refuses to face basketball’s evolution, thinking "jump shots can’t win championships." On the contrary, he was the early prophet suggesting basketball developnt ultimately results in five forwards.
But this doesn’t an he can accept the reality that Jordan can shoot threes like Reggie Miller.
Every player has technical weaknesses, but Hansen now leaves him completely at a loss.
After the tiout, Riley substituted Big Gasol for West.
This is very close to the "five outside" basketball ultimate formation in his mind, but deploying it wasn’t his initial intention.
Because when the Cavaliers pushed the offense to the frontcourt, Heat players stood one step inside the three-point line defending.
Following Curry this season, Hansen beca the second player to enjoy such defensive treatnt.
Before Hansen reached out, Jokic had already cut into the basket after the pick-and-roll.
With a flick of Hansen’s hand, the ball was in his hands, and he dribbled once to perform a two-handed dunk.
After the dunk, he excitedly shouted there:
"This is my horse!"
It’s evident that Jokic really wants that horse.
Riley stood by the sideline, chin in hand, looking more serious than ever.
Jokic isn’t strong, at least not in such high-level confrontations.
But the crux is Hansen and Irving’s presence draws all of the Heat’s defensive attention, leaving no surplus defense to be used against him.
He is, after all, a big center, and one with high basketball IQ; he knows how to create the most straightforward scoring opportunities.
This point was once again verified in the next possession.
Although West held his ground against Jokic, after receiving the ball, Jokic opted for a spin layup.
Despite West’s fierce interference making his first shot miss, he effortlessly put the second attempt back in.
If it weren’t against his persona, Riley might have scratched his slicked-back hair.
He ultimately signaled to the players on court that the Heat would abandon such defensive tactics.
Just like his earlier approach of not ntioning tactics at press conferences, he would rather be defeated by Hansen than watch a rookie wreak havoc inside.
Moreover, allowing Hansen to consu energy on offense might not necessarily be a bad thing; as long as the Heat can keep the score tied through offense, the situation in the final quarter could be different from the previous ga.
Riley’s idea isn’t flawed, but as the ga progressed, he realized another issue: three points are one more than two!
Moreover, because Hansen transitioned smoothly into three-point shooting mode, he maintained an excellent shooting touch all evening.
This also beca the decisive factor in the King Mountain Battle.
Although Riley no longer continued defending by stepping on the three-point line, he couldn’t allow Hansen to shoot wildly outside.
Deng and Big Gasol would double-team Hansen at the first chance.
However, this gave Jokic an opportunity to shine.
Because the operation of "Hansen outside being double-tead → Hansen passes to Jokic → Jokic breaks through to pass to an open teammate" subtly transford the Cavaliers’ One Star and Four Shooters into team basketball.
Riley sat silently by the sidelines, but the more silent he was, the more it indicated his inner turbulence.
Ultimately, Hansen scored 45 points, with 10 assists, making 9 out of 18 three-pointers for the entire ga, leading the Cavaliers in a very Curry-style manner to defeat the Heat 122-114 in the King Mountain Battle.
This thod also caused Riley to lose his "Godfather" deanor when facing reporters’ questions post-match.
"Can you tell how to defend Hansen?"
Riley’s loss of composure wasn’t unexpected.
After all, once the Jordan Rules are ineffective, what else can you make him use?
Not to ntion box-1, Casey had already proven in previous gas what an unreliable thod that was.
Moreover, after losing the crucial King Mountain Battle, the Heat already trailed 2-3 in the series, and the next ga was in Cleveland.
One misstep and the dismantling of this Heat team, and Riley’s subsequent retirent, would be just one match away.
"Pat Riley thought he could control everything, but he didn’t understand he never succeeded when facing Jordan."
O’Neal finally exhaled in relief after the match.
The Eastern Conference Finals were unexpected; the Western Conference Finals weren’t stable either.
Because after the Cavaliers and Heat’s King Mountain match, the League announced penalties against Green.
In the previous G4 ga, due to expressing dissatisfaction over Jas’ screen with his hand touching Jas’ groin, Green was called with a technical foul.
This wasn’t a major issue, but Green was incredibly hot-tempered this season and had been called for technical fouls six tis already, according to the rules, with one more call, he’d automatically be suspended.
Of course, at this ti, it’s about the League’s stance because technical fouls and flagrant fouls can be upgraded, downgraded, or even canceled post-match by the League.
The League ultimately didn’t cancel this technical foul, aning Green would miss G5.
The very next day, the Warriors not only lost the ga without Green, but the lone Bogut in the interior struggled until he ended the season injured.
Hansen watched the situation grow increasingly familiar, wondering if the Lakers might make the Finals.
He wants vengeance on the Warriors, but now the Warriors might be absent?
Sure enough, whether it’s a ga or a series, until the last mont, one can’t really declare the conclusion.
A day later, the Cavaliers and Heat series G6 comnced in Cleveland.
Quicken Loans Arena was bustling that day.
TNT’s Big Three appeared in the comntary booth, and even Cavaliers’ owner Gilbert brought his son to the scene.
Although this was just the Conference Finals, defeating the Heat ant completely dismantling the once-peak Big Three of the Heat, a thought which by itself was thrilling.
Reviews
All reviews (0)