Y13 [EN]: Chapter 294

Y13-294 Final 2011-2012 =========================================================================

The score is 77 to 74, Dallas leading by 3 points. Coach Spoelstra was deep in thought, contemplating whether to bring Wade in for the remaining one to two minutes. He’d used only one timeout to disrupt Miami’s momentum and finished the 3rd quarter with the same lineup.

[Now, the highly anticipated 4th quarter is here! The score is 81 to 78 after the 3rd quarter! This is truly a game for the ages!]

[Both the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks are giving it their all. With such a close score, neither team can afford to let up. For Dallas, Youngjae Yoon is contributing with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range and a field goal percentage of 6 of 10, along with 4 free throws. Dirk Nowitzki has 16 points and 6 rebounds, and Jason Terry has 12 points and 3 assists!]

Jeff Van Gundy then turned his attention to the Miami Heat players, meticulously analyzing and explaining the current situation.

[For the Miami Heat, LeBron James has 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, Dwyane Wade has 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Chris Bosh has 17 points and 7 rebounds. They’ve played significant minutes, which also means they have the potential for high scoring. It’s rare for a player who hasn’t scored 30 or 40 points in the regular season to suddenly do so in the Finals. That’s why a primary scoring option, an ace, is valued more highly than a second option with similar stats.]

In the regular season, balanced scoring can be efficient, but in a short series like the Finals, that’s not necessarily the key. Over-reliance on a single player can be a problem, but having about three players dominate the scoring isn’t much of an issue in a short series. Especially in Game 7, in the 4th quarter, the ability of a star player to grind out points can decide the game. Looking at Game 7 historically, while seven or eight players need to perform well, in the end, five A-level players often struggle to beat one or two S-level players and three or four B-level players.

A prime example is the limitations of the early 2000s Sacramento Kings and the Portland Trail Blazers with their All-Star lineup. They couldn’t overcome Shaquille O’Neal’s LA Lakers and Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs, who had dominant star players. Of course, the current Dallas team is different from those Kings and Trail Blazers because they have two players who can go head-to-head with the opponent’s S-level ace.

[Dallas has managed to keep the playing time of their top 3 scorers to around the late 20-minute mark so far. In contrast, the Miami Heat’s Big 3 are already exceeding the early 30-minute mark. The 4th quarter will be a much tougher battle than the first three, so we’ll have to see what happens!]

Now, there are at most 12 minutes left. No one could predict how the 3-point lead would change and what the outcome would be in that time.

Beeeep-

The buzzer signaled the start of the 4th quarter, the beginning of the final 12 minutes to decide the Finals.

[The final 4th quarter between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat has finally begun!]

From the start of the 4th quarter, both teams presented different lineups. The Miami Heat had limited production from their bench players, so their starting five played heavy minutes, while Dallas rotated around 10 players evenly.

[Dallas Mavericks! They’ve changed their lineup twice since the end of the 3rd quarter, even though it’s only been about 4 minutes.]

[That’s right. Any player who comes in is showing good efficiency, and it’s significant that the starters are veterans. Also, young ace Youngjae Yoon is very active, but he’s not a player who can play 40 minutes or more.]

Jason Kidd – Youngjae Yoon – Shawn Marion – Chandler Parsons – Brandon Wright changed again to Jason Kidd – Jason Terry – Shawn Marion – Dirk Nowitzki – Tyson Chandler. Miami always had three or four starters on the court, so the offensive and defensive movements were similar even when other players were substituted. Coach Spoelstra knew that his team was playing talent-based basketball, and he always strategized based on the big picture rather than detailed plays.

[Jason Kidd. He’s burning the last of his veteran flame against Dwyane Wade!]

[His stats are modest: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Even last season when Dallas won the championship, his offensive contribution wasn’t great for his salary. A field goal percentage in the late 30s and a 3-point percentage in the mid 30s. It’s similar this season. It’s a disappointing performance for a defending champion’s starting point guard who earns 10 million. But he’s doing his best through smart game management and tenacious defense.]

[Although he’s aging, he’s still a player who can show his class within a limited time.]

Kidd slowly advanced with the ball. Eight minutes left. The score is 89 to 89. The 3-point lead had evaporated into a tie, but Kidd didn’t mind. Watching the players waiting to be substituted on the sideline, Kidd wanted to finish his last attack cleanly before being replaced.

“Hoo.”

Come to think of it, if Youngjae hadn’t emerged, this lineup would have been the best from the 2010-2011 season. In other words, the current lineup was the team’s best at the beginning of the season. But Youngjae grew rapidly, and he and Terry took turns being pushed out. Kidd chuckled as he adjusted the players’ positions, as if he was thinking of Youngjae watching the game from the sidelines.

“Oh, scary.”

Wade, blocking Kidd with an intense expression. Kidd glanced at Wade and joked.

Thud!

[Jason Kidd, light dribbling!]

Thump!

“?!”

[Dirk Nowitzki runs to the top and sets a screen! Is Wade caught!]

But Wade, who was used to screen plays, smoothly evaded Nowitzki’s clumsy screen with a frustrated expression.

Whoosh!

At that moment, Kidd looked at Wade with a satisfied smile and threw an overhead pass with all his might. Only then did Wade realize Kidd’s intention and hurriedly turned around.

[PICK!!!! AND SLIP!!!!]

[He’s completely fooled. Completely!!!]

[Chris Bosh, who was guarding Nowitzki, is also flustered and hurriedly follows!!]

It would be worst if they gave up a jumper here. Bosh gritted his teeth and caught up to Nowitzki’s side, pushing his upper body with all his might.

Whoosh-

“Eek!!!”

But Nowitzki, catching the ball and seeing Bosh right next to him, glanced at the outside and gracefully kicked the ball out.

[Jason Terry!!!]

[Shane Battier, his eyes were too focused on Dirk Nowitzki!!!]

The sight of the Miami Heat surrounding Nowitzki with as many as four people was truly spectacular. LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh, and even Shane Battier, the Miami Heat’s defense, which narrowed in on Nowitzki’s four directions, actually benefited Nowitzki.

Swish!

[BANG!!!!!]

[He won’t miss, Jason Terry!!!]

[92 to 89! 92 to 89!! The difference widens again by 3 points!!!]

Beeeep-

The frenzy captivated Dallas’ home fans. Coach Spoelstra quickly called a timeout to calm the players’ excitement, and the Dallas players’ morale was soaring with confidence that they could win.

[Now, only 1 minute and 30 seconds are left in the final 4th quarter of 12 minutes! The outcome of the game is still uncertain.]

[The biggest lead in 48 minutes was the Dallas Mavericks’ 6-point lead. There have already been 8 ties. The number of lead changes is 11!]

[The game couldn’t be more intense than this. Since it’s the final Game 7, neither team has anywhere to back down!]

The Miami Heat’s counterattack was fierce. They reduced the 3-point lead back to 1 point, scored 2 points to take a 1-point lead, but Dallas had no intention of letting the Miami Heat have their way. They continued to make comebacks and retake the lead, and both teams continued a tense and precarious tug-of-war.

Thump- Thump-

A stadium as quiet as silence. The fans watched this fierce and desperate game with their own eyes, carefully holding their breath and barely suppressing their swaying bodies so as not to disturb the players they were cheering for.

[Dirk Nowitzki! A showdown with LeBron James on the left wing!]

[He’s known as the man of the 4th quarter, but Dirk Nowitzki isn’t showing that extreme performance against LeBron James!]

He needs to secure his position with Nowitzki’s signature post-up [a move where a player establishes position near the basket with their back to the defender], but LeBron James is the strongest player in terms of power compared to the same position. Of course, he wouldn’t be easily pushed back.

Creak- Squeak!

The sound of friction as he feints a pivot with his right foot, as if he’s about to spin. LeBron James didn’t fall for the pivot, keeping in mind that he could turn and drive towards the rim or shoot at any time.

Whoosh!

[Is he suddenly shooting?!]

Dirk Nowitzki’s shooting is truly the ultimate weapon. LeBron unknowingly fell for that shooting motion and jumped high, and Nowitzki didn’t care about LeBron in the air and lowered both hands as he moved towards the baseline.

“Tch!”

Eventually, even Bosh, who was guarding the basket, ran out, and Nowitzki slightly pulled his right foot back from a position where he barely didn’t step on the baseline.

Tap!

[STEP BACK!!!]

He lightly stepped back, but the unexpected step back coming from the 7-foot-tall long legs moved a much greater distance than that of a guard. Both Bosh and LeBron were surprised by Nowitzki’s step back at that position.

[He shoots it as is!]

The crazy jumper that was shot from a tremendous height was truly a disaster for the Heat.

Swish-

[BANG!!!]

[Dirk Nowitzki is ON FIRE again with 1 minute and 17 seconds left! That smooth step-back jumper with that height! It’s a disaster, a disaster! The score is 103 to 100! Dirk Nowitzki widens the lead again by 3 points!]

Wade, who was standing behind the baseline, threw the ball to LeBron James, who was slowly running forward, and LeBron gritted his teeth and started running forward as soon as he caught the ball.

[LeBron James! Sudden fast break!]

[His intention to quickly break through before the defense is established looks good, but…]

Thud!

[STEAL!!!]

But that impatience eventually became poison. LeBron broke through quickly, but when Youngjae and Marion momentarily double-teamed him, he lost the ball from his hand. The slightly slipped ball went straight into Youngjae’s hand.

[LeBron James, he’s hasty! It’s a disappointing scene. It was too hasty a breakthrough, unlike him. There was still plenty of time, but he seems to have been too eager.]

[It’s a turnover that doesn’t fit the title of ‘King’! Youngjae Yoon, he breaks through as is!]

Youngjae could shoot from anywhere on the court and could also attack the rim, so Wade, who was briefly worried about how to stop him, began to back away while keeping a certain distance.

“…”

But Youngjae suddenly stopped his breakthrough and stopped at the top 3-point line. Wade, with a look of horror, rushed forward and soared with all his might, but the distance from Youngjae was still a bit far.

[Youngjae Yoon, is he going up for a THREE POINT as is!!!]

He hesitated until the end whether to use the shooting as a feint, but Youngjae seemed to have made up his mind and soared without hesitation. Dwyane Wade, called Flash, stretched out his hand with an expression that was too desperate to be called that, but Youngjae had no intention of showing any mercy.

‘I will now surpass you.’

The expressions of the two people facing each other in the air were too contrasting.

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

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

@I will upload the re-comments together tomorrow. The finals will finally end in tomorrow’s episode.