Y13 [EN]: Chapter 194

Y13-194 2011-2012 Regular Season

[What are the reasons for predicting the Miami Heat’s dominance in today’s game? Please explain briefly.]

[The Miami Heat have strengthened their existing Big 3 with Mario Chalmers’ improved play, drafted young point guard Norris Cole, and added Shane Battier and James Jones, along with Udonis Haslem, who remains a key player. They’ve maintained their core and acquired Shane Battier at a reasonable price, allowing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to get more rest. In crucial moments, they can deploy a stifling defensive lineup of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Battier, and Bosh.]

Miller paused to clear his throat and continued.

[In comparison, the Dallas Mavericks, like the Miami Heat, lost their starting small forward Caron Butler. However, they retained Tyson Chandler, the anchor of Dallas’s zone defense last season. They also kept J.J. Barea, who can lead the offense from the bench, and Brian Cardinal, Dirk Nowitzki’s backup. Therefore, team chemistry shouldn’t be an issue. Additionally, they added Chandler Parsons to fill Caron Butler’s role and Brandon Wright, who can boost Dallas’s energy by covering for both Tyson Chandler and Dirk Nowitzki. However, unlike Miami, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion haven’t fully regained their peak form, hindering their performance. Moreover, the team’s average age is well over 30, making them susceptible to physical issues at any time.]

[Meanwhile, the Miami Heat are on a 12-game losing streak against the Dallas Mavericks in the regular season. They defeated Dallas in the 2006 Finals but have lost all regular-season games since. They were 0-2 against them last season. Their last win was on March 6, 2004, seven years ago. This is a prime opportunity to end their long regular-season losing streak.]

[Dallas may face challenges with aging and conditioning, and player motivation could also be a factor. This is a common issue for defending champions. Especially for Dallas, the veterans who had never won a championship ring before finally achieved their goal. Therefore, it’s important to consider that they might lack the same drive this season.]

Reggie Miller’s insightful analysis was complemented by Craig Sager, who added his own observations beyond the teams’ strengths, enhancing the commentary.

*Thump!*

[The game has started! Tyson Chandler wins the jump ball, as expected. Joel Anthony is no match for him.]

[That’s right. The Miami Heat are sticking with Joel Anthony as their center this season, but he can’t compete with Tyson Chandler’s size and strength. In this case, they might have been better off acquiring another solid center with the mid-level exception [a salary cap exception that allows teams to sign players to contracts that exceed the salary cap] instead of Battier.]

[Many experts have pointed this out. This season, the Heat will struggle with their lack of inside presence. Battier is a valuable player, perhaps even better than a mid-level player, but he only reinforces their strengths without addressing their weaknesses.]

Chandler lightly passed the ball to Jason Kidd, who slowly dribbled past the half-court line and surveyed the court.

[Jason Kidd seems to be in good shape, despite concerns about his age.]

[Indeed, although Jason Kidd is aging, he remains a starting-caliber point guard on any team, thanks to his experience, reliable passing, and accurate shooting!]

Kidd glanced at Mario Chalmers, who was guarding him, and leaned his shoulder in for his signature post-up move. Chalmers was surprised by the contact, but Kidd didn’t push further. He took a step back and passed to Nowitzki, who was moving on the right.

[Dirk Nowitzki! He shoots as soon as he gets the pass from Jason Kidd!]

Chris Bosh gritted his teeth, remembering Nowitzki’s dominant performance from the previous year. In the Finals, Dirk Nowitzki’s turnaround fadeaway [a difficult jump shot where the shooter fades away from the defender], which felt like a dagger to the heart, his incredible spot-up shooting accuracy, and his skillful use of post-ups and face-ups, filled opponents with despair and made Bosh shudder.

*Swish!*

However, despite his preparation, Nowitzki’s spot-up shot was too strong.

*Thud!*

[MISS!!!]

[Oh, Dirk Nowitzki misses a wide-open shot?! Considering Nowitzki’s first-quarter field goal percentage, this is very unusual!]

Bosh grabbed the rebound and smiled, feeling confident. He passed the ball to Wade. Although it was a high post [an area near the free-throw line but outside the paint] near the 3-point line, the fact that Dirk Nowitzki, known for his incredible accuracy that they jokingly called ‘100% in practice,’ missed such a spot-up shot suggested that he hadn’t fully recovered his form, as the analysts had predicted.

[Dirk Nowitzki still hasn’t fully recovered his form! He shakes his head as if something is off!]

Nowitzki tried to regain his shooting touch by flicking his wrist, but it was clear that he wasn’t the same Dirk Nowitzki who had joined the 180 club [players who shoot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better from three-point range, and 90% or better from the free-throw line] last year and showcased his second prime after 2005-2007.

[Dwyane Wade! Matched up against Youngjae Yoon!]

Last year, Dwyane Wade played 76 games without proper rest due to shoulder injuries and migraines. However, this season, Dwyane Wade took full advantage of the extended offseason to recover from his injuries. He realized that his body’s durability had decreased compared to his prime due to injuries and even lost some weight.

If last season’s Wade relied on his power and skills to execute more difficult moves than his physical condition allowed, the current Wade was using his slimmed-down, agile movements to evade Youngjae’s defense while maintaining his strength.

‘Tch!’

However, Youngjae, in contrast to Wade, had developed his strength and fully utilized his experience from his rookie season, adding sophistication to his game. Therefore, the confrontation between Dwyane Wade and Youngjae was a close match, like a battle between a dragon and a tiger.

[Dwyane Wade! Drives in again!]

[So far, Wade and Youngjae have each broken through the other’s defense and scored once, right? Wade drove in smoothly and made a beautiful mid-range shot, and Youngjae Yoon received Jason Kidd’s perfect pass, faked out Dwyane Wade, and hit a 3-pointer!]

Wade, remembering that he had been fooled by the fake earlier, decided to retaliate this time. He dribbled the ball dazzlingly in a V shape from side to side in front of Youngjae, then powerfully backed down Youngjae with his buttocks and back.

[Dwyane Wade’s flawless post-up!]

Wade subtly twitched his left foot, suggesting to Youngjae that he could spin at any moment, trying to confuse him.

‘What a joke.’

In fact, Youngjae also didn’t have very good feelings towards Dwyane Wade. The antics of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the last Finals, starting with the infamous flu mockery [referencing LeBron James’s struggles with flu-like symptoms during the 2011 NBA Finals], and their subsequent refusal to admit their mistakes, couldn’t help but make Youngjae frown.

Wade, who was twitching his left foot as a pivot, smiled broadly as Youngjae leaned his body following Wade’s left foot and turned his body clockwise…

*Tap!!!*

[STEAL!!! Y13 FOR STEAL!!!]

[Dwyane Wade was too hasty! Youngjae Yoon’s defense is very intelligent! Youngjae Yoon’s defensive ability to anticipate the opponent’s moves and make sharp steals seems to have improved even more compared to last year!]

Youngjae quickly grabbed the ball he had poked out and ran forward, looking ahead. Because it was a steal from the baseline, several players had already retreated, making a solo fast break difficult. Reaching the wing area, Youngjae paused briefly and gestured to Chandler. Chandler immediately moved towards the high post.

[Tyson Chandler quickly sets an accurate screen. The 2-2 play with Youngjae Yoon already shows great execution! He originally showed good form in pick-and-rolls [an offensive play where a player sets a screen for a teammate driving to the basket] with Chris Paul, but after last season, he seems to have realized where, when, and in which direction he needs to set the screen.]

Youngjae received Chandler’s screen and quickly drove to the right. When Wade was blocked by Chandler, Joel Anthony had no choice but to step up and block his path, and Chandler, with an open lane, quickly rolled towards the basket.

[Tyson Chandler!!! He confidently charges towards the opponent’s rim, perhaps because he reduced his body fat and increased his muscle mass compared to last year, reducing his overall weight and preventing the risk of injury! He’s blocking Wade and is in perfect timing to receive a pass.]

“Uwaaa!!”

“Aaaah!!!”

Chandler ran in and caught Youngjae’s bounce pass, using his left arm skillfully to shield Bosh’s chest and drive towards the rim without being pushed back. Chris Bosh, who quickly ran in from the side, struggled against the strength of Tyson Chandler, a traditional center, but continued to jump with him until the end.

*Kwaaaang!!!!*

However, Tyson Chandler is truly a traditional center. Bosh was originally an elite big man capable of averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds, but he had to change his role due to the formation of the Big 3. Bosh, who focused on improving his mobility and outside shooting through weight loss this offseason, struggled against the power of Tyson Chandler, who was determined to push him back.

*Beeeeeep!!!*

The whistle blows as Chandler’s one-handed slam explodes. Chandler dunked on Chris Bosh in a humiliating in-your-face dunk and even earned an and-one [a free throw awarded after being fouled while making a shot] free throw at the same time.

[OHHH!!!!! TYSON CHANDLER!!!!!! CRUSHES BOSH!!]

[Tyson Chandler smashes Chris Bosh like a cracker! A tremendous one-handed slam that seems to shatter the rim explodes!!! And an and-one on top of that!! It’s the best play ever! Tyson Chandler!]

[With this, the score is 11 to 10! The Dallas Mavericks regain a one-point lead! Dallas is holding up well in the early stages.]

Chandler took his hand off the shaking rim and jumped up with Youngjae, matching the timing, and the two bumped backs in mid-air as if giving a high-five and came down.

“Nice shot! Chandler!”

“Yeah, good pass!”

*Swish!*

Chandler cleanly made the and-one free throw and shared high-fives with his teammates.

[Tyson Chandler cleanly makes the and-one!]

[Last year, Tyson Chandler’s free throw percentage was a whopping 73%! Among defensive centers or big men, that’s an accurate free throw percentage that ranks in the top tier! Wow, this! Contrary to pre-game predictions, a close game is unfolding!]

[What’s strange is that his free throws are good even though he can’t shoot mid-range shots. Usually, centers who are good at free throws are players who can shoot mid-range shots. On the other hand, Chandler has almost no offensive options other than dunks and put-backs, but his free throws are at a considerable level.]

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you to those who gave advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

★Thank you for the support coupons from sj9989, 조아조아쪼아, 동화와현실, 에트리언, and 복길!! Please continue to enjoy it^^.

@The holidays are over now. Also, it’s the last day of September. I hope everyone finishes the month well.

@In terms of matchups alone, Dallas is very advantageous against Miami. Shawn Marion, Youngjae, Corey Brewer, and Jason Kidd can contain Miami (though few teams can truly stop them), which relies on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s penetration and kick-outs [driving to the basket and passing to an open teammate], and Chandler and Brendan Haywood also provide a strong second line of defense to make penetration difficult. In reality, Miami has little chance of winning unless Bosh explodes. Of course, this is when they are playing at full strength. In the actual 2010-11 Finals, LeBron James was sluggish, and X-factor J.J. Barea had a breakout performance, leading Dallas to victory.

goimosp/// Haha, I also made a wish, and I hope it comes true. Youngjae and Emily… we are also lonely ㅠ.ㅠ

은신설야/// Euh…ㄷㄷㄷ

rtg98/// He also participated in this year’s EuroBasket [European Basketball Championship]. He was very sluggish due to aging, and Germany’s ace has passed to Dennis Schroder ㅠ.ㅠ He said he would participate in the next Olympics, but I don’t know;;

백사킬러, -DarkANGEL-, 파이넨시아, 사라질영혼, 이동석동/// Thank you for the comments!! Have a good day tomorrow~~

리생/// That’s what I’m saying;; It wasn’t when we were planning…

ㅎ0ㅎ/// Yesterday was something like a super moon ㅋㅋ I also found out because my father told me.

울트라10, 여신유리찬양/// American and European sports have the immense power of S-class players [top-tier athletes]. This is because, unlike Korea, clubs have to pursue profits. The size of the market is definitely related. If the market is not large, it is impossible to pursue profits, and it is difficult for players to have power. An S-class player is someone who brings in a lot of fans. That’s why a superstar’s salary is two or three times higher than the coach’s highest salary. The profits they get from them are enormous. In LeBron’s case, he brought several times the profit through increased broadcasting rights revenue, uniform and merchandise revenue, and ticket revenue by coming to Cleveland.

광환마룡/// The lieutenant colonel is here~~.

친/// Dallas has changed a lot from reality now. Please look forward to it~~