Chapter 813: Tonight, Let It All Out!
Game 6 began at Miami's American Airlines Arena.
Both starting lineups had been announced well before tipoff.
New York Knicks: Curry, Chen Yan, Battier, David West, DeAndre Jordan.
Miami Heat: Chalmers, Wade, James, Joel Anthony, Pau Gasol.
Before taking the floor, Chen gathered his teammates around him.
"Guys, remember what I said in the meeting."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Stay focused and finish this tonight. Do not let this game become an embarrassment. I do not want to see these guys again at Madison Square Garden in 2 days."
Chen raised his voice.
"Let's go! New York!"
The Knicks gathered tightly around him.
After 2 consecutive losses, the complacency was gone.
Everyone understood that they could no longer treat the series as though it had already been won.
Across the court, James was delivering his own message to Miami.
"1 more game!"
His teammates listened closely.
"Win this one and we tie the series. They have already lost 2 straight. Their confidence is starting to crack."
James looked around the group.
"Give them another loss and finish breaking it."
Both starting units quickly took the floor.
The tension was obvious from the opening tip.
DeAndre and Gasol jumped early twice in succession.
The referee stopped them, settled both sides down, then prepared to toss the ball again.
This time, DeAndre waited.
The ball went up.
DeAndre exploded off the floor.
His athleticism gave him the advantage, and he tipped the ball backward into Curry's hands.
New York had the first possession.
Curry dribbled toward the right 45 degree angle beyond the 3 point line.
The Knicks immediately began their action.
Chen received the ball about 1 step beyond the arc.
He retreated 1 step.
Then suddenly accelerated.
He moved toward the left 45 degree angle, where David West was waiting with a screen.
Wade fought around it.
Joel Anthony stepped up.
Double team.
Miami had wasted no time.
Chen remained calm.
Bounce pass.
David West caught the ball at the high post.
He was already inside his preferred shooting range.
But West did not immediately rise.
Nelson's instructions were still fresh in his mind.
Play under control.
Prioritize efficiency.
West paused.
Joel Anthony moved toward him.
West put the ball on the floor and drove left.
His movements were not explosive.
They did not need to be.
West played with balance and excellent fundamentals.
He muscled his way past Anthony toward the free throw line.
Turn.
Right handed hook.
Smooth.
Good.
2 to 0.
Kenny Smith nodded.
"Good opening possession for New York. They used the pressure on Chen to create an advantage for David West, and West did not rush anything."
Barkley agreed.
"That is exactly what you want in a closeout game. Get a good shot first. Do not come out trying to win the whole game in 2 minutes."
Miami came back down.
Chalmers crossed half court and passed to Wade.
Wade took 1 dribble before returning the ball.
James stepped up to screen for Chalmers.
Chalmers moved toward the middle.
The screen did not catch Curry cleanly.
Curry stayed attached.
Chalmers had nowhere to go and sent the ball back toward Wade.
Wade then used a Gasol screen and attacked right.
Miami's half court offense still relied heavily on pick and roll actions.
The shot clock was already running down.
Wade gathered near the mid range.
Pullup.
The attempt was too predictable.
Chen was already there.
Contest.
Air ball.
DeAndre collected the rebound.
He immediately launched the ball beyond half court.
Curry received it.
There was no immediate fast break opportunity.
Instead of forcing a difficult shot, Curry slowed down and waited for the rest of the Knicks.
Curry was not the kind of athlete who could simply overpower defenders in transition.
For a moment, it looked as though New York would settle into another half court possession.
Then Curry suddenly flicked the ball sideways.
Chen was trailing the play.
Catch.
Now the show began.
Chen accelerated toward the right.
1 hard step.
Then suddenly, behind the back.
Pullback.
Immediate in and out dribble.
Stop.
Start.
Stop again.
Wade's feet slipped slightly as he tried to mirror the rapid rhythm changes.
Chen saw it.
He exploded forward.
Hop step into the paint.
Gasol and Joel Anthony both collapsed.
Chen split the space between them and twisted his body beneath the rim.
Windmill motion.
Reverse layup.
Good.
4 to 0.
Chen landed and immediately turned toward the referee.
"And 1!"
He continued pointing toward his arm.
"And 1!"
Chen believed Anthony had clipped him during the gather.
The official ignored him.
Chen did not expect the call to change.
He simply wanted to plant the idea in the referee's mind.
After what had happened in Game 3, a little pressure on the officials could not hurt.
Miami returned to offense.
This time, Chalmers crossed half court and immediately looked toward James in the low post.
James received the entry pass.
Then paused.
Something felt different.
Why was David West standing behind him?
Nelson had changed the matchup.
Battier had struggled to contain James over the previous 2 games.
So tonight, Nelson wanted to try something else.
Strength against strength.
David West was powerful enough to absorb contact and mobile enough to avoid becoming an easy target.
James backed him down once.
Nothing.
Again.
West barely moved.
Their strength was closer than James expected.
James backed down a 3rd time.
Then suddenly used the force of the contact to spin.
West stayed with him.
James attacked anyway.
He drove into the paint.
New York's defense immediately collapsed.
James expected that.
He jumped through the pressure and glanced toward the baseline corner.
Chalmers was open.
James prepared to pass.
Battier suddenly stepped into the passing lane.
That was exactly what Nelson had emphasized before Game 6.
Deny James's passing angles.
James had to change his decision in midair.
He redirected the ball toward the perimeter.
Chen read it.
Jump.
Steal.
Barkley reacted immediately.
"That is what New York wanted. They took away the easy pass and forced LeBron to improvise in the air."
Kenny nodded.
"And Chen was already reading the next option. Excellent defensive possession."
Chen landed and immediately pushed the ball forward.
Wade chased.
Chen changed direction while running.
Wade stayed attached.
Near midcourt, Chen changed direction again.
Wade had to turn his hips once more.
Chen was attacking more than the defense.
He was attacking Wade's legs.
Wade's knee had already been under tremendous strain throughout the Eastern Conference Finals.
Repeated stops, starts, and changes of direction only made the workload worse.
Chen knew it.
So he kept changing rhythm.
Again.
Again.
Then suddenly, beyond the 3 point line, Chen dropped his body low.
Explosive first step.
Miami's defense reacted.
Chen immediately flicked the ball outward with his right hand.
Curry was waiting.
Catch.
Rise.
Swish!
7 to 0.
Curry turned toward the crowd and shook his shoulders in celebration.
The frustration from 2 consecutive losses had been building inside him.
Tonight, he wanted to let it out.
New York had opened the game with excellent shooting and execution.
Because his teammates were already producing, Chen did not force his own offense.
There was no need.
Miami's offense stalled again.
The Heat passed the ball around for nearly 12 seconds without creating anything meaningful.
Battier eventually deflected a pass out of bounds.
Whistle.
Miami ball.
Spoelstra used the stoppage to make an early substitution.
Joel Anthony went to the bench.
Mike Miller entered.
Anthony was technically a starter, but his role had always been limited.
Both Channing Frye and Mike Miller often played more meaningful minutes.
With Miller entering, Miami's lineup changed immediately.
James moved back to power forward.
....
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