NBA: Starting with Jokic template

Chapter 100 Christmas Day Game, Wade Blocked (55)

The starting lineup for the game is released.

On the Thunder side, as usual, the starting lineup is still: Lin Chuan, Ibaka, Durant, Sefolosha, and Westbrook.

The current starting lineup for the Heat is: Haslem, Bosh, James, Wade, and Chalmers.

In fact, in the first few games, Wade started to play as a substitute from time to time due to a knee injury, and Ray Allen took over as the starter.

But in this Christmas game, facing the Thunder team that defeated them in the finals last season, Wade still wants to start.

Spoelstra, Allen and others also respected Wade's request and adjusted the starting lineup.

Yes, Ray Allen left the Celtics during the offseason because Ainge was unwilling to give him a multi-year contract similar to Garnett and Pierce with an average annual salary of more than 2 million. Rivers also slowly relegated Ray Allen to the bench position and lost his contract. He chose to join the Heat with a 600-year contract worth only million.

If the Heat hadn't added Ray Allen, the No. 1 three-point shooter in history, it would have been difficult for them to get to the current second place in the Eastern Conference.

Because at present, the Celtics, who have lost Ray Allen, are still ranked third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20 wins and 11 losses, on par with the Heat, led by the suddenly growing league assists leader and All-Star Rajon Rondo, Garnett and Pierce.

If the Heat lose this Christmas game, their record will be the same as the Celtics.

Lin Chuan is very happy to defeat the Heat, in order to repay Durant's gift and also for the fun of watching the Heat, which consists of the Big Three, lose everything and can't even make it out of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Today he is going to go all out to completely defeat the Heat.

This game was broadcast live all over the world without any controversy.

When it comes to this kind of focus battle, the NBA is really good at creating hype and doing business.

"Dear viewers, welcome to today's game. On Christmas Day, you can eat turkey with your family and watch the game between the two teams from last season's NBA Finals on TV. How happy it is."

Kenny Smith said.

"Yes, the two sides in this game are old enemies. The story of the Heat being overturned by the Thunder last season seems to be just yesterday, but today, there have been many changes on both sides. But what I am most looking forward to is what kind of performance Lin Chuan can play in this game."

Shaquille O'Neal, who is also a center, sat up straight and said jokingly,
"Even after an offseason, the Heat did not add any quality inside players in the free market. With the Heat's weak inside starting lineup consisting of Bosh and Haslem, I wonder what kind of center-style lesson Lin Chuan will give them today."

At the start of the game, Lin Chuan easily jumped to the ball and passed it to Westbrook.

He dribbled all the way to the frontcourt and saw that the Heat's defense focused on Lin Chuan and Durant, and they only used Qian Moss to defend him. He decided to take the lead in attacking the first ball!

Westbrook suddenly passed Chalmers and rushed into the Heat's restricted area with a bomb in his hand. His feet kicked like springs and launched him into the air.

Facing the skinny former Dragon King Bosh who was raising his hands to interfere with him, Westbrook was merciless. He folded his hands backwards and used his unparalleled explosive power to dunk the ball over Bosh's head.

This power forward, who was of average or even smaller build, was knocked back several steps by Westbrook.

"In the first offensive round, Westbrook dunked over the defense. He really gave the Heat a head start."

Kenny Smith gasped.

But Bosh seemed to be used to this kind of situation, and there was no emotional fluctuation. After being dunked, he just went forward to pick up the ball in silence and prepared to serve the baseline. It seems that being dunked is a common occurrence for him, and this one is not a big deal.

Wade reached for the ball, wanting to give the Thunder a return.

Before Westbrook became famous for his explosiveness, he was also a guard known for his explosiveness and speed!
You know, looking at the history of the entire league, his blocks and dunks are second in history, second only to the God of Basketball Michael Jordan!
After receiving the ball on the wing, Bosh took the initiative to move up to set a screen.

With the help of a screen, Wade broke directly into the inside. Facing Lin Chuan who was guarding the inside, he finally displayed his unique skills.

Mizongbu!
Wade's unique European step!
While taking a step to the right, Wade lowered his center of gravity, stretched the basketball to the same side, and turned his whole body to the right.

Seeing Wade's breakthrough, Lin Chuan instantly leaned a little to the left side of his body, preparing to interfere with Wade's layup.

In the instant when Lin Chuan's defensive posture changed, Wade pulled the ball back in front of him. At the same time, he pushed back with his right foot, completely passed Lin Chuan's defense, walked into the basket with his back and made a reverse layup.

The sudden push off the ground made him frown. This sudden change of direction and European step took a lot of toll on his knees. His knees, which had not fully healed, began to ache again. But it was worth it to be able to score this goal!
"Snapped!"

Just when Wade and the entire audience thought he had dribbled past Lin Chuan and made a layup, a ruthless block shattered his fantasy.

Lin Chuan realized the problem the moment he was dribbled past. He quickly turned around, raised his right hand high, and knocked the basketball, which was still in the air, out of bounds.

"Lin Chuan's defense is so terrible that even Wade couldn't escape his block despite using all his special moves."

Kenny Smith was shocked.

You know, Wade's phantom step is very powerful. Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan in their prime could not escape becoming the background of his phantom step.

But Lin Chuan blocked it so easily.

O'Neill looked at it carefully and shook his head.
"Wade is not at his peak anymore. The injuries he suffered during the offseason caused his explosiveness to decline too much. His phantom steps just now were a bit slow, not as good as they were in his peak period. Moreover, Lin Chuan's current defensive level is also terrifyingly strong. His steals and blocks gave me the illusion of Olajuwon."

Seeing the opponent's main player being ruthlessly blocked by Lin Chuan, the home fans cheered.

Wade rubbed his knees, somewhat unwillingly.

Since Lin Chuan hit the ball directly out, the Heat still had the ball and they were the ones who served the ball in the frontcourt.

Wade ran around the screen to the free throw line, received the pass from Bosh and broke through the inside, and forced a layup against Lin Chuan's defense, but this time he was still unsuccessful and hit the front of the basket.

The rebound was grabbed by Ibaka next to him and passed to Westbrook.

He rushed to the frontcourt for a layup again, and the Thunder made another fast break.

Seeing that Wade was obsessed with something, Spoelstra frowned on the sidelines.

It is not easy to play against the Thunder away from home. If Wade is too stubborn, even he will have to be substituted off the court to rest and calm down.

(End of this chapter)