The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 162 Devastated
0:2, Pacers on offense.

Point guard Walkman has the ball, and Reggie Miller starts making runs.

This is his seventh season. He entered his peak period in his third season and is still in his peak period now.

He is a renowned off-ball master in the NBA, known for his top-notch off-ball movement and catch-and-shoot ability, and possesses a ghost-like ability to break free.

He would cut outside the screen to make mid-range or three-point shots, use back cuts and changes of speed to get rid of defenders, and draw defenders on the weak side and attack the basket – these were also his classic tactics.

He's averaging 19.9 points per game this season with a field goal percentage of 50.3%, which is quite impressive for a shooting guard. Jordan's field goal percentage last season was 49.5%, and this season it's 49.3%.

Of course, the defensive strength the two faced was not on the same level; no team defended Reggie Miller the way they defended Jordan.

Their 42% three-point shooting percentage and 22 points per game in the first round series were key factors in their upset victory.

At this moment, Rick Schmitz moved to the high post, and point guard Walkman used a screen to drive into the paint.

Meanwhile, Reggie Miller also used a back cut on the left wing to get rid of Kevin Edwards and found an open shot at the 45-degree angle of the three-point line.

Rick Schmitz was a clear mismatch against anyone in the high post, and Reggie Miller also found himself open, causing problems for the Heat's defense.

At this moment, Tang Bei ignored Reggie Miller's open space on the left wing. According to the tactical requirements, he only defended the paint and stood one step below the free throw line.

From this position, you can keep an eye on Schmitz above, as well as on the area under the basket, including Haywood Workman driving in.

Although Tang Bei has never been selected for the All-Defensive Team, no one in the NBA dares to underestimate his defense. This season, his individual defensive efficiency rating ranks third in the league, second only to Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo.

"Whoosh!"

So Workman passed the ball to Reggie Miller.

Miller caught the ball and immediately shot a three-pointer. As he was about to shoot, Kevin Edwards leaped up from a step away on his left and tried his best to block the shot.

At that moment, Reggie Miller was as calm as a machine.

His shooting motion was flawless; the basketball grazed Glen Rice's fingertips the instant it left the ground.

"brush!"

A splash of water, and the three-pointer hits.

"yeah!"

The moment the ball went in, he excitedly raised his fist, but his gaze did not fall on Glen Rice's face; instead, it was fixed on Tang Bei in the penalty area.

"His three-pointers are incredibly accurate!"

Zhang Heli gave a thumbs up, then reminded him, "Be careful of Reggie Miller when he's in good form. Once he thinks he's on fire, he'll go on a three-point barrage."

On April 18th last season, the Pacers played the Bucks on the road, and he went on a spree of sixteen three-pointers, making eight. I watched that game, and I remember it vividly!

3:2, Heat on offense.

As Tang Bei attempted to enter the paint, Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis immediately double-teamed him, blocking him in the low post on the left wing.

Larry Brown deployed a man-to-man defense, along with a collapse defense and rotation defense strategy, without using a zone defense.

Apart from Tang Bei, the other positions are three-on-four defense. The Heat don't have any superstars on the perimeter who can score big, so they don't need to double-team or help defend on the perimeter; they just need to quickly help defend.

In the low post, after being double-teamed, Tang Bei immediately ran to the high post to run a pick-and-roll with Avery Johnson.

Rick Schmitz was on defense, and Dale Davis was positioned one step below the free-throw line. As soon as Tang Bei brought the ball, they could immediately double-team him.

Avery Johnson used the wall to break through, taking the left-side path.

After disassembling, Tang Bei immediately performed a Tai Chi left turn and descended from the right side.

At this moment, he was separated from Avery Johnson by two defenders, Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis.

Rick Schmitz was too slow in turning and moving, but Dale Davis quickly retreated to the basket.

As he retreated, Avery Johnson, who had moved to the left waist position, passed the ball high in the air to the right front of the basket.

The next instant, as Dale Davis retreated to the basket, Tang Bei leaped up from the right front side of the basket, caught the ball with both hands in mid-air, and pounced on the basket like a winged tiger.

"not good!"

"Bone crusher!"

Seeing a giant beast crashing down from the sky, Dale Davis felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly turned to the side.

"boom!"

The next instant, Tang Bei slammed the ball down with one hand, and a loud thud echoed as the basket slammed open.

"WOW!"

The roar of cheers turned Miami Arena into a boiling ocean.

"Pretty!"

Hubie Brown excitedly commented, "Tang used a high pick-and-roll to break down Coach Larry Brown's early double-teaming strategy."

Bob Neil said, "Don's turning and moving speed is so fast that Rick Schmitz can't keep up at all."

Hubie Brown said, "Even if he can keep up with the pace, Don can make him fall behind through physical contact."

Larry Bird said, "Dale Davis can't get back to the basket; otherwise, he can't stop Don from getting the ball and attacking the rim."

Hubie Brown quickly replied, "Yes, he can only move laterally to block Tang when he turns around, which could potentially draw an offensive foul from Tang."

On the court, Larry Brown was yelling at Dale Davis:
“Dell, use your brain. You need to stop him from getting close to the basket the moment he gets the ball, instead of waiting for him to receive the ball and then watching him attack the basket.”

Dale Davis nodded quickly and ran towards the frontcourt.

3:4, Pacers on offense.

Rick Schmitz moved to the high post, and Reggie Miller ran from the left wing to the top of the key. He received the ball as he passed point guard Workman at the top of the key, then suddenly changed direction and, using Rick Schmitz's screen, broke into the paint.

This is a pick-and-roll tactic that he and Schmitz often use in the free-throw area, and it works very well.

Just then, Tang Bei, who was one step away from the free-throw line, quickly moved to the side, forcing Reggie Miller to switch to his left hand to control the ball, and then stuck to Reggie Miller's right side.

This deprived Reggie Miller of the opportunity to continue his drive to the basket, and he didn't even have the chance to pass the ball back to Schmitz.

He could only dribble the ball toward the left wing, and at that moment Kevin Edwards caught up with him again, and the Pacers' pick-and-roll tactic failed.

Due to time constraints, the second attack was somewhat rushed.

Reggie Miller pulled back to the three-point line and passed the ball to small forward Derrick McKay, who was moving from the right wing towards the top of the key.

McKay got a step away from Glen Rice, received the ball at the top of the right arc, and launched a three-pointer that wasn't his forte.

"Bang!"

The basketball went wide, and Tang Bei grabbed the rebound.

"As long as Tang Bei can defend the paint, coupled with his efficient offense, it will be difficult for the Pacers to beat the Heat," Zhang Heli said.

Tang Bei mentioned the high position again, with Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis standing directly behind him, blocking his path down.

At that moment, Grant Long immediately seized the opportunity to cut into the penalty area from the right wing along the byline and raised his hand to ask for the ball.

Avery Johnson used Tang Bei's screen to try and break through Schmitz's defense, but Rick Schmitz moved to the side in time and blocked him.

At this moment, Haywood Workman caught up with him again, and he had no choice but to pass the ball to Tang Bei, otherwise he would be double-teamed. When Tang Bei received the ball, Grant Long under the basket was no longer open, because Pacers small forward Derrick McKay on the left wing had already moved to the basket to help.

"Whoosh!"

He immediately passed the ball to Glen Rice on the left wing beyond the three-point line, while Walkman at the high post had already covered the ball.

Glen Rice had just received the ball when Workman had already lunged two meters away, leaving him no choice but to jump and shoot.

As Rice took the shot, Tang Bei had already forced his way past two defenders and entered the paint.

Grant Long and Derrick McKay, who were originally under the basket, had already left the restricted area due to the three-second rule on offense and defense.

"Bang!"

It was too short; the basketball bounced off the rim and rebounded.

Tang Bei made an accurate prediction, moved ahead to block the shot, jumped on the left front side of the basket, and grabbed the offensive rebound.

In the next instant, with his powerful second jump, he soared into the sky ahead of Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis.

Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis's ability to take a second jump was no match for Tang Bei's; they could only stretch out their hands and try to hold Tang Bei down.

But all efforts were destroyed by Tang Bei's terrifying explosive power. Tang Bei smashed through four arms and soared into the air, holding the ball with both hands. He fiercely slammed it into the basket, even through two defenders.

"boom!"

"Di!"

Amidst the resounding thud of the rim, the referee blew his whistle, and the Pacers' two big men were knocked back, both falling to the ground under the basket.

"WOW!"

Tens of thousands of people raised their arms, and a deafening roar of cheers instantly swept through Miami Arena.

"Too fierce!"

Han Qiaosheng excitedly commented in a passionate voice: "Tang Bei dunked on the Pacers' two big men head-on. His offensive power under the basket is unbelievable, destroying the opponent's defense like a devastating force."

"Dale Davis committed a foul, Tang Beijia gets one free throw," Zhang Heli added with a smile.

Sun Zhenping said, "The Pacers have a total of six inside players, but no physical defenders. If they keep using early double-teaming to defend Tang Bei, I really don't know how many games they can last."

Zhang Heli analyzed, "Given Tang Bei's assertive personality, sooner or later he will go to the basket to attack, instead of always pulling up for high pick-and-rolls."

Han Qiaosheng said, "Rick Schmitz is too small. Although he has height, Tang Bei has good jumping ability and should be able to play under the basket, even if he is double-teamed."

"brush!"

Tang Beijia's penalty hit.

3:7, Pacers on offense.

Reggie Miller ran from the left wing through the paint to the right wing and ran a pick-and-roll with Derrick McKay. McKay got rid of Glen Rice and ran towards the right elbow area.

Kevin Edwards did not switch on defense and continued to guard Reggie Miller.

Glen Rice was thus freed, giving Derrick McKay an open space in the right elbow area, and the ball was passed to him from the top of the key.

Meanwhile, Dale Davis moved to the basket, drawing the defense while preparing to grab the offensive rebound.

Tang Bei was in the left midfield position, and Rick Schmitz had already moved to the left wing, so he couldn't help defend Derek McKay.

"brush!"

McKay took an open jump shot and made it.

"Glen Rice's defense is still a bit lacking; his ability to break pick-and-rolls is insufficient," Zhang Heli said.

5:7, Heat on offense.

As Zhang Heli predicted, Tang Beiguo stopped running high pick-and-rolls and instead went directly to the basket to establish position and receive the ball.

Even with Rick Schmitz and Dale Davis working together, they couldn't stop them.

Tang Bei first separated the two players by moving faster, and then used his strength to push them aside, thus easily entering the basket.

However, the ball didn't go in. Avery Johnson's passing angle under the basket was cut off, and he could only pass to Grant Long, who was open.

"brush!"

Grant Long lurked a step inside the right corner and launched a mid-range shot before the Pacers' help defense could arrive, and it went in.

Zhang Heli said, "Tang Bei deserves at least half the credit for this play. He got into position under the basket and shut down the Pacers' interior defense."

5:9, Pacers on offense.

"Snapped!"

Reggie Miller got an open shot on the left side of the free throw line using Rick Schmitz's screen, but Tang Bei, who was just a step below the free throw line, slapped him into the air.

Grant Lang retrieves the ball, and the Heat launch an attack.

On the sidelines, Larry Brown, seeing the failed attack, was somewhat dissatisfied with Reggie Miller's shot selection.

The pick-and-roll between Reggie Miller and Rick Schmitz at the high post is one of the Pacers' regular offensive tactics, and Miller takes a lot of shots there.

However, Tang's help defense was too quick. When Schmitz moved to the high post, Tang's defensive position was also far out. At this moment, Reggie Miller's shot in the free-throw area was somewhat irrational, as he was too close to Tang.

Using the same trick again, Tang Bei entered the basket once more.

He immediately positioned himself after entering, facing upwards, using his right elbow to pin Rick Schmitz to the right and his left elbow to pin Dale Davis.

As Tang Bei entered the restricted area, Avery Johnson was ready to pass the ball. He quickly moved to get rid of the defender and lobbed the ball in as soon as Tang Bei entered the basket.

As the ball slid downhill, Tang Bei released his left and right hands, then soared into the air. After catching the ball and landing, the Pacers' two big men immediately began to closely guard him.

Just as the two hadn't completely closed in on each other and there was some space, Tang Bei swiftly made a Tai Chi left turn, and the explosive force of the turn, like a volcanic eruption, instantly knocked Dale Davis over.

Rick Schmidt grabbed Tang Bei's waist with both hands, but couldn't stop him from turning around; he was even pulled off a stumble.

"boom!"

The next instant, he was hanging on the rim, and Rick Schmitz, who was almost knocked over, was also knocked to the ground by him.

"Di!"

The referee blew his whistle, pointed at Rick Schmitz, and made a gesture indicating a foul.

"WOW!"

He dunked on two more players, and the cheers in the Miami Arena were deafening.

At 5:11, Larry Brown called a timeout before the free throw.

Hubie Brown said, "The Pacers' strategy of double-teaming Tang early failed. They couldn't stop Tang's offense, whether at the high post or under the basket."

Bob Neal said, "The key is that neither of them has a mobility advantage, nor strength or size advantage, and their early double-teaming isn't strong enough to stop Tang from getting close to the basket, which is a problem."

Larry Bird also said helplessly, "Don's talent is too great. He can quickly move to separate the two players and then seize the opportunity to get close to the basket."

(End of this chapter)