Chapter 1 Leaving the Parking Area

When he walked out of the parking area, the reporters outside saw him and a burst of flashbulbs went off.

Since entering the playoffs, Tang Tian had won Best Defensive Player and been named to the All-Defensive First Team, accumulating a lot of honors, but his performance hadn't actually been that outstanding.

It might have been related to the weakness of the opponents, or to Popovich's tactical arrangements. In short, his performance wasn't much different from last year.

But that didn't stop him from becoming the focus of the Finals.

The scenes of him hitting key shots in three games last year were still vivid in the minds of the fans and reporters here.

But this year, compared to his offense, his defensive achievements were even more dazzling.

So, just like the reporter asked Battier earlier, the Heat would be focusing on dealing with his defense.

The reporters here only took pictures and didn't interview, and Tang Tian didn't mind at all. He pulled Olsen around for all kinds of poses, as if he was afraid others wouldn't know they were in love.

But Olsen's face was full of smiles and she seemed very happy.

Celebrities usually hide their relationships because they are always ready to change partners, but Tang Tian's approach now was like he had made up his mind about her.

After the posing was over, the two separated after getting on the elevator.

Olsen went to the stands, and Tang Tian went to the locker room.

"Good luck, honey."

Olsen kissed Tang Tian, and the whole elevator was filled with the sour smell of love.

After getting out of the elevator, Tang Tian wiped the lipstick off his mouth, then took out his Beats headphones from his bag, started listening to war songs, and tried to find his game state.

Inside the American Airlines Arena, the fans were already packed to the rafters.

Although the Heat had experienced a tough battle in the Eastern Conference Finals, it made them even more excited for the Finals.

The Finals required form. The Spurs had been resting for more than a week, but they had just finished the game and were in form. This might be the key to victory.

The players from both sides came to the arena one after another to warm up.

At the commentary booth, the TNT Big Three were already ready.

Barkley and O'Neal were analyzing the performance of both sides in the previous playoffs.

Smith occasionally mentioned the pink dress while interjecting.

"Come on! Kenny, how about the loser of me and Shaq wearing that dress dunks on you!"

Barkley couldn't help but say.

"Okay, it's settled."

O'Neal reached out and high-fived Barkley to reach an agreement, completely ignoring Smith's bewildered face.

"Brother, there's nothing I can do, you're too proud, this is the price."

Barkley reached out and patted Smith on the shoulder, then laughed.

Smith once again successfully became a third-party victim.

"Okay, let's analyze the two teams."

Smith quickly changed the subject.

"The Heat's Ray Allen and the Spurs' Tang are the x-factors on both sides, especially Tang. I think his defense against Wade, Ray Allen, and even Chalmers, who has performed well before, is the point that determines the outcome of the game."

Barkley analyzed, showing his professional level.

"Yes, those seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals should give the Spurs a lot of inspiration. If LeBron is left to fight alone, the Heat will be passive."

Smith continued.

As the commentary booth analyzed to this point, the opening ceremony began, and the starters from both sides came out one after another.

Compared with last year, the starting lineups on both sides had changed.

The Spurs had Parker, Tang Tian, Leonard, Duncan, and Splitter.

The Heat had Chalmers, Wade, James, Bosh, and Kwame Brown.

Bosh outjumped Splitter, giving the Heat the opportunity to attack first.

On the attack, James held the ball at the right 45-degree angle, and there was an off-ball pick-and-roll in the paint.

After the run, a very obvious point was that Tang Tian was brought to the left baseline.

Battier wasn't lying in the previous interview, the Heat had a plan to target Tang Tian's defense.

James had developed his shooting this season, and his style of play had changed a lot from last season. Leonard didn't dare to let go at this time, so he could only stick close to defend.

James accelerated and went straight inside.

Although Leonard's confrontation was much better than last year, he was still a little struggling to single-handedly resist James.

The Spurs' inside help defense came up, and James directly made a big turn, passing the ball to Brown under the basket at the same time.

Brown scored with a bank shot.

In one possession, James had fully demonstrated his progress this season, and his pressure on the Spurs was obviously greater than last season.

Popovich was on the sidelines at this time, arms crossed in contemplation.

Ray Allen was the Heat's biggest signing this season. He was coming off the bench now, but his playing time would definitely not be short.

James' progress plus Ray Allen, this series was really going to be much more difficult than last year.

In the Spurs' offensive possession, they didn't run the hammer tactic, but directly had Duncan post up low.

Popovich hadn't originally planned to play like this this year, but Hibbert had turned the Heat's inside upside down, so wouldn't it be inappropriate not to play like this?

Duncan posted up Bosh, and scored with a bank shot after a series of turns.

Bosh looked like he was trying his best, but the impact on Duncan was very limited.

From this, you could more or less see the reason why the Heat's inside was ravaged in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In order to cooperate with the Heat's tactics, Bosh had been losing weight for years. Although his outside shooting percentage had gone up, becoming a veritable stretch-four player who floated on the outside.

But the decline in his ability to contest under the basket was much greater than expected.

Wade's catch-and-breakthrough in the frontcourt didn't go in, and Splitter protected the defensive rebound.

The Spurs attacked the frontcourt again, and Duncan continued to post up.

This time Brown came over to help defend, and Duncan turned and passed the ball to Splitter under the basket. Splitter scored with a two-handed dunk.

The fans' expectations on social media were correct. Compared with the previous starter Blair, Splitter's finishing ability was obviously much stronger.

The Heat were not to be outdone, Chalmers continued his excellent form since the playoffs, and scored with a turnaround jumper in the frontcourt.

4 to 4, the two teams were evenly matched on the court.

Duncan faced Bosh in the frontcourt again, and Chalmers shrunk inside to help defend.

Tang Tian ran proactively at this time.

Parker saw it and set a pick-and-roll, Duncan passed the ball with a flick of his hand.

Tang Tian caught the ball, but James had already come to help defend.

Obviously, after experiencing last season's Finals, Tang Tian had become the number two focus of defense in Spoelstra's defensive system, after Duncan.

Leonard cut to the basket, he knew Tang Tian would pass.

But Tang Tian didn't pass the ball, after seeing James hesitate for a moment because of Leonard, he directly chose to shoot.

He wanted to see if the dog shit luck from this morning was really working.

"This ball..."

Barkley frowned in the commentary booth, this shot was a bit forced!

James flew to interfere.

Although there was hesitation, his physical help defense ability was heaven-defying, and the pounce interference was still full of pressure.

Tang Tian's shot passed over James' fingertips and flew straight towards the basket.

The audience on the scene stared blankly at the ball.

Such a difficult ball, should...

"Swish!"

"Beautiful!"

Accompanied by Barkley's instantaneous emotional change, the basketball went into the net cleanly!

It really worked?

Tang Tian laughed as soon as he finished the shot.

No player can maintain a hot touch all the time, but even the most marginal role player in the NBA will occasionally have a breakout game.

Touch is closely related to confrontation, ability, and choice, but there is also one thing, and that is luck.

Just like the change in his touch when he wore the lucky wristband against the Mavericks before, he really stepped on this dog shit luck tonight.

The score alternated between the two teams in several consecutive offensive and defensive possessions.

After playing for more than three minutes, Tang Tian shot again with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer after running out.

Bosh's long arm interfered with his vision, and the opportunity was still not very good.

Popovich was a little unhappy on the sidelines at this time.

Tang Tian's choice for the previous ball was unwise, and now he was coming with a second ball, he...

"Swish!"

Tang Tian made another three-pointer in the face of Bosh!

"..."

Alright.

Popovich swallowed the curse that came to his mouth, turned and walked back to the bench to sit down.

You can be capricious if you can make the shot.

"Wow, Tang's touch is very good tonight!"

Barkley was already laughing in the commentary booth.

After playing for a few minutes, the strength of the two teams could basically be seen to be evenly matched.

Although the Heat didn't have much of a way to deal with Duncan, the Spurs couldn't limit James very well either.

At this time, an x-factor was needed.

For example, Tang Tian's three-pointer outside of the tactics was something that could change the stalemate.

The Heat's offensive in the frontcourt didn't go in, and the Spurs turned around to counterattack, Tang Tian's chase three-pointer.

James flew to chase and block.

The Heat did a very good job of defending Tang Tian tonight.

But Tang Tian shot first, and his eyes were full of confidence after the shot.

If Durant was in front of him at this moment, he even wanted to say a classic advertising slogan.

"Use Burt's Bees shower gel, that's how confident!"

"Swish!"

The basketball went into the net again.

18 to 12!

The Spurs widened the point difference to 6 points!

Tang Tian's three-pointer in this quarter was 3 for 3!

"This is unreasonable."

O'Neal was a little depressed at this time. The Heat's defense had been in place several times, but Tang Tian still managed to throw the ball in.

"Tang's touch is really hot tonight."

Smith said something very pertinent at this time.

If the first ball didn't feel like much, everyone should be able to feel it after these two consecutive three-pointers.

"Stop him!"

Spoelstra shouted from the sidelines.

He was really angry.

He was killed by Tang Tian last year, was he going to do it again this year?

James suddenly pulled up for a three-pointer in the frontcourt.

"Swish!"

The basketball went into the net cleanly!

Answer ball!

This ball made the emotions of the fans at the scene high.

This was the peak James, able to break through, pass, and shoot!

Tang Tian had a good touch, and Parker signaled a double pick-and-roll for him to run the tactic in the frontcourt.

Tang Tian ran out of Leonard's pick-and-roll, but in addition to the switched James, Wade also directly pressed him.

This was really going all out.

But at the moment when the double-team formed, Tang Tian lobbed the ball directly to the basket.

The Heat's help defense rotation had already switched to Leonard, but Splitter was open under the basket.

This pass directly found the best scoring opportunity.

Splitter scored with a two-handed dunk after catching the ball.

Sorry, I can pass too.

Stable three-pointers plus accurate passing, that's how Tang Tian's consecutive ten games of 20+ points at the start of the season came about.

This was also the biggest difference between him and last season.

Spoelstra stood on the sidelines in a daze.

A Tang Tian whose touch was so hot that it exploded, and he could also pass the ball!

How could the Heat defend against this?

"Dwyane, stick to him, don't let him catch the ball!"

Spoelstra reacted and shouted directly to Wade.

Only the last resort was left.

Theoretically speaking, the best way to limit Tang Tian, a catch-and-shoot three-point shooter, was to have someone follow him.

But the problem was that Tang Tian was fast and had a very good sense of movement, and ordinary people couldn't keep up with him at all.

If it wasn't a last resort, he didn't want Wade to follow, because that meant Wade's contribution on the offensive end would be greatly reduced.

Although Wade had a knee injury, his speed had only dropped from super fast to very fast, and he could still keep up with Tang Tian.

Tang Tian didn't get a chance to shoot for several minutes in a row.

But the Spurs took advantage of the Heat's lack of offensive firepower during this period and widened the point difference to 8 points.

The game entered the rotation time, and both sides made substitutions one after another.

Wade and Bosh were both off the court to rest on the Heat's side, and Ray Allen, Haslem, and Battier were substituted on.

James swayed to the four position, and the Heat began to play a small lineup.

The Spurs also put on Diaw, Green, and Ginobili.

Tang Tian was still left on the court.

James broke through and passed the ball in the frontcourt, Ray Allen caught the ball and quickly shot a three-pointer.

Green was half a beat slow.

"Swish!"

Ray Allen's three-pointer went straight through the heart, helping the Heat narrow the point difference back to 5 points.

Whistles sounded from the scene, this was Ray Allen's role, his clutch ability was no worse than the Big Three!

"Now the Heat's x-factor is out."

O'Neal said with a big laugh at this time.

You have your Tang Tian, I have my Allen.

But O'Neal's laughter froze before it fell.

Tang Tian caught the ball and shot a three-pointer in the frontcourt, drifting in the face of Ray Allen...

Made it!

The fourth three-pointer in a single quarter!

Barkley was overjoyed on the sidelines.

Laugh, why aren't you laughing?

Tonight was destined to be Tang Tian's night.

James forced his way to the basket in the frontcourt and caused Diaw to foul.

He adjusted his breathing and made both free throws.

With his shooting progress this season, his free throw stability was also much better than last season.

Still a 6-point difference.

In the Spurs' frontcourt attack, Ray Allen clung to Tang Tian and didn't let him catch the ball.

Diaw passed the ball high to Green on the weak side, Green's three-pointer didn't shake Chalmers, and after a forced shot, it hit the front of the basket and bounced out.

But Diaw predicted the ball successfully and shook his big ass to grab the offensive rebound.

Tang Tian had just thrown off Ray Allen and ran to the baseline at this time.

Diaw passed the ball with a flick of his hand, Tang Tian caught the ball and shot.

Ray Allen扑起的干扰,这球防的很到位.

Tang Tian was slightly leaning back in the air.

This was not his preferred shooting method, and he was not even used to shooting like this.

But there was no choice at this angle.

The ball was released, barely passing over Ray Allen's fingertips.

The nerves of the fans at the scene tightened.

This was Tang Tian's fifth three-point attempt in a single quarter.

He had seized the first four opportunities, and this time it should not...

"Swish!"

The basketball went into the net cleanly!

What is not in?

The basket is the sea!

How could it not go in!

"Holyshit!"

O'Neal had no choice but to swear at this time.

Under this intensity, Tang Tian made 5 of 5 three-pointers in a single quarter, he must have stepped on dog shit this morning!