When pride still matters

Chapter 316 Goodbye Ex

Riley was dissatisfied with O'Neal because this superstar, who had achieved three consecutive championships in Los Angeles, had never been a hard-working professional player, and was inconsistent with the Heat's professional purpose - to train the hardest in the league, maintain the best shape, and maintain the best shape. The most work-ethical, the most selfless, the toughest, the dirtiest, the most unpleasant team - the misfits.

Although O'Neal responded to Riley's desire to lose weight in February, deep down, he has always refused to accept Riley's philosophy. He does not view the game of basketball as a war or a symbol of masculinity. To him, this is a game.

O'Neal loved to dress up as his favorite movie character Scarface at parties, he also acted in movies and served as a deputy U.S. Attorney, and his life was as good as the movie "Back in Time," which is where kids An adult life full of fun.

Riley couldn't change this situation. He had long been accustomed to Ewing and Mourning's style of confronting the world through "black rage", but he couldn't force O'Neal to accept his own ideas.

But at least one thing the Heat can take comfort in is that the relationship between O'Neal and Wade will never develop like the former's two other predecessors.

Before the start of the playoffs, O'Neal accepted an interview with "Sports Illustrated" and talked about the difference in working with Wade: "When I play with other players, everything is about me. Young Shaq has to control Everything. Shaq, center, and young Kobe: But what about old Shaq? I'm not going to stop him. Like The Godfather, Pence is like Fredo, Kobe is like Sonny, and Dwayne wants to be the real Man. He's like Michael, so now's the time to say, I've decided to let you do your thing and I have to do it because I'm slowing down."

Everyone can say nice things, but how to do it specifically?

Riley looked at the score and already had concerns about O'Neal, who was slowly walking off the court.

"Shaq, we need to adjust our existing play style and tactics." Riley said.

O'Neal nodded in confusion and adjusted his tactics? Did Riley care about his opinion when he considered such a thing? This is really strange.

He didn't know what the mystery was, he just looked at Riley.

"You have to be more dedicated than you have been in the past," Riley said.

"Of course." O'Neal said, "I'm just like Rudy (the protagonist of "The Little Dream"), I can give everything."

Riley said, "Not enough."

O'Neill was becoming less and less understanding.

"Rudy gave everything he had for four years just to be in the game, and I've never seen you do anything like that," Riley said. "Are you really willing to be like Rudy in order to win? "

At this moment, if Riley's face is replaced by Yu Fei's using Y face-changing technology, O'Neal can understand why he feels so uncomfortable.

"what do you want to say in the end?"

O'Neill asked directly.

"The Bucks know you so well," Riley said. "They're going to stop you with fouls and then hit you with pick-and-rolls, and you know, that's always going to work. If you want to beat the Bucks, if you want to be in Florida. To get a real win in front of you, you have to do things you wouldn't normally do."

It was like Sadako had suddenly crawled out of O'Neal's TV.

He knew what Riley wanted to say, and he knew what Riley was having trouble saying.

Yu Fei has been saying that he is Wade's dog, and now, Riley actually wants this to become a fact?

Are you kidding me? He can take a step back and give up the responsibility of leading the team to Wade, but if he acts like a cow or a horse, or even provides services to Wade from the inside like the dogs around Yu Fei? impossible! This is impossible!

A furious O'Neal said to Riley: "What I wouldn't do before, I won't do now, and if you think I can do something like that, I can only say, Pat, you've got the wrong person!" "

It's unrealistic to expect O'Neal to accept this arrangement before the team is in dire straits.

O'Neal is not Ewing and Mourning, and he has had success, so he won't be as incited by Riley as those two were.

The only thing that might drive him to change is his hatred for Fei.

Just like the darkened female lead in a vulgar TV series, whether they don't get what they want from the male lead, or they are envious and jealous of the female lead, in short, once the self-proclaimed and noble female lead turns dark, they will behave in unimaginable ways. Own.

Riley cannot use his authority to force O'Neal to change himself, which will only be counterproductive.

Therefore, he could only wait.

That could mean a crushing defeat tonight, or even two in a row.

If necessary, he will even cooperate with the Bucks to let Yu Fei do what he wants to do and remind O'Neal of his past humiliation.

The timeout ended, and the Heat's only change was to replace Jason Williams with Gary Payton.

It seems to be a wise change. Replacing the defensively weak White Chocolate with a veteran with strong defense will be more conducive to stopping the Bucks' offensive.

The Bucks have changed a lot.

First, Kwame Brown was replaced by Udonis Haslem, and then Pachulia was replaced by Mutombo, who became O'Neal's star in the 2001 Finals.

O'Neal, who refused Riley's request, was obviously more expressive than before.

Seeing Mutombo, he was even more excited.

He was in position, received the ball, and then was fouled roughly by Haslem, who was double-teamed in time.

O'Neal stared at Haslem, "You guys!"

No matter how many times, Yu Fei is not used to watching Haslem wearing a Bucks jersey and playing against the Heat.

Hearing O'Neal yelling at the tactical foul, he only felt comfortable.

Should!

Why do the team have these insiders? Isn't it just to give the big fat pig dozens of fouls when needed?

Moreover, since the Bucks' foul count had not yet reached, Haslem still committed the foul before O'Neal shot, so there was no free throw. Immediately afterwards, the Heat encountered a world-wide problem - serving sideline balls.

Although Payton's serve cannot be said to be thoughtful, at least it can be regarded as giving the ball away for free. He could clearly throw the ball to Wade safely, but when he saw O'Neal trying to get a position in the low post, he thought, Dwayne wants to do it anyway. To give the ball to Shaq, why not just do it in one step?

This hand is indeed clearing the waterway, reaching the stomach in one step.

Payton served the ball to Kevin Martin in an extremely delicious way.

What followed was the Bucks' defensive counterattack.

The reason why major accidents often occur in sideline serves is because once a mistake is made, the opponent as the counterattacker is always in an advantageous position.

After stealing the ball, you can counterattack on the spot, and it is difficult for the side that made the mistake to stop it.

If something like this happens at a critical moment, it can completely change the outcome of a game.

The Heat made the same mistake. Martin grabbed the pass and threw it to Yu Fei.

Even if Wade retreats at full speed, Yu Fei, who is in the lead, can easily score two points by leaning on the opponent's body and hitting high.

"Your big fat dog has a little too much self-awareness." Yu Fei said enthusiastically, "Let me help you discipline it."

Wade would not be surprised if Yu Fei said something insulting.

Because O'Neal kept asking for the ball like crazy, the Heat's offensive ideas were completely restricted. There was no other solution except hanging low.

Wade didn't know why Riley didn't put a stop to this.

Even he can see the problem, can Riley not see it?

However, as a third-year player who has not yet fully established his status as the boss, Wade does not yet have the courage to challenge Riley's authority.

No matter what status you do, everyone must follow the rules. There is only one ruthless person like Da Fei who gets into trouble with Da Dan when he is just starting out.

Rebellion is like Kobe Bryant, and it took 8 years for the feud with O'Neal to fully intensify.

There is no harm without comparison. In comparison, Da Fei is still too perverted.

For several consecutive minutes, as long as the Heat fought positionally, Payton waited for O'Neal to get the ball in the low post.

Even if Wade wanted to hit one himself, Payton ignored it.

It's as if Payton got some instructions from Riley, they must open the situation through O'Neal tonight.

But is this situation so easy to solve?

Once the Bucks see that the Heat only play O'Neal, it will be much easier to defend.

Zone defense, double teams, tactical fouls, all combined.

Sometimes, O'Neal doesn't even want to play, but Payton still directs him to get the ball in the low post.

However, O'Neal, who frequently gets the ball, has extremely low offensive efficiency.

The Bucks basically didn't give him a chance to play alone. He was either forced to pass by double teams, made mistakes by double teams, or was sent to the free throw line for tactical fouls.

As the leader of the offense, O'Neal only brought 9 points to the Heat in five minutes, while the Bucks relied on defensive counterattacks and a small amount of positional warfare to score 16 points.

Wade was replaced and rested. He didn't understand the team's approach.

Even if O'Neal is the core, he doesn't have to hit the low post for every ball, right?

Later, Yu Fei was also replaced.

When being replaced, Yu Fei turned his back to the Heat and said to himself: "Hey, there is such a silly dog ​​that likes to steal the limelight. No wonder Kobe and Pence don't want it."

The most effective thing about the show is that the person who replaced Yu Fei was none other than the first-generation Kobe Penny Hardaway.

This was Pence's first appearance in the playoffs. If the Bucks didn't do it on purpose, I'm afraid no one would believe it.

Yu Fei's trash talk made this reunion of old friends devoid of any warmth.

Moreover, due to Yu Fei's influence, Pence, who originally envied and envied sharks far more than he hated them, now hates sharks far more than the sum of his envy and jealousy.

Not long ago, O'Neill added to Pence's antipathy by comparing him to Fredo Corleone.

What kind of buffoon is Fredo in The Godfather? A weak man, a clown who was executed for betraying his family, O'Neal actually compared him to this person?

Seeing that the Heat were about to replace O'Neal to rest, Pence was eager to do something to vent his anger on O'Neal.

Just like Yu Fei, Pence called a 1-5 pick-and-roll and named O'Neal.

This was not the style he was used to, but hatred could help people escape from difficult situations.

Pence dribbles the ball lightly. Everyone who has seen his young appearance will lament that time flies by. Even the most agile swingman in NBA history will lose his talent one day.

Pence didn't show much skill, just completed a jump shot in front of O'Neal, and then said to his face: "Your defense is worse than Fry said."

(End of this chapter)