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February 22, Oracle Center, in the home team locker room.
It has been a week since the Warriors last played at home, and today is their first game after the All-Star Weekend.
All the players were sitting in their seats, preparing for the game in an orderly manner, and Liam stood in front of everyone, making the final adjustments:
"...It's been three months, but I still remember the disappointed looks on the fans' faces after our last crushing defeat to the Heat, and that's a shame for me and a disgrace to all of you! Today, it's time for us to take revenge. I have just one request from you: give everything you've got to win this game. Even if you lose, you must stand tall in defeat. Do not disappoint the fans who support us. Can you do that?"
—"Yes, Coach!" Everyone roared in unison, full of momentum.
Kirilenko also shouted and looked at Liam with curiosity.
Sloan didn't have this motivational habit before the game, and the boss saw the team as an army, believing that all players are warriors, playing with a sense of responsibility and mission. As long as he executed his tactics well, he could win with an ironclad defense, rather than treating them as kids who needed to be motivated.
After hearing everyone's response, Liam nodded in satisfaction and put on a smiling face:
"Don't stress too much. Anyway, if we lose, it's on me. If we win, it's all you guys. It's the same with our opponent tonight."
"Hahaha…"
There was a burst of laughter from the crowd. Spoelstra had been the worst head coach in the first half of the season, the Heat lost games, and the fans completely copied them, but if the Heat won, it was quickly forgotten.
Kirilenko also smiled, but his smile was a bit bitter. In the Jazz, losing was rarely the fault of Sloan; it was often the players' mistakes, though there were fans who thought Sloan was too old-fashioned and stubborn to continue coaching the Jazz. But most people didn't think that way and firmly supported the old-school coach.
After the laughter died down, Liam slowly said:
"Play well, don't overthink it. Don't feel the pressure. The same thing as before—there's no shame in losing to the Big Three. The pressure is on their side. The Heat should win. Losing would be unfortunate, but what matters is playing our own game."
"No problem, Coach!" Curry interjected.
Green also said seriously with his raspy, deep voice:
"Coach, leave Bosh to me, I'll definitely guard him well!"
"I've hated the Heat for a long time…"
Kirilenko looked at his teammates who were talking and laughing, and the surprise in his eyes grew stronger. After witnessing Liam's speech with his own eyes, everyone had gone from being highly motivated to a more relaxed mood, with the nervous tension completely dissipating.
As someone aspiring to make a mark in Russian basketball, Kirilenko wasn't just a player. He was also the leader of the locker room on the national team when playing for his country, and he lifted his teammates' spirits before every game, but the effect wasn't nearly as powerful as it was here.
"I'm not going to get into tactics, attacking, and defending. We've practiced it several times over the past two days. What matters most is playing our own game…"
Looking at Liam, who was speaking eloquently, Kirilenko really realized that he had arrived at a team completely different from the Jazz, with a head coach who was different from Sloan in every way except for his emphasis on defense.
After Liam organized the tactics, it was also time to go onto the court, and the players ran out. Kirilenko wasn't too familiar with the local team locker room in the Oracle Center, so it took him a little longer to get ready for the game, and he stayed behind. In front of him was Butler.
Kirilenko saw Liam approaching Butler, the two spoke softly, and the room was silent. The voices of the two were very clear and reached Kirilenko's ears:
"Jimmy, is there any pressure? You're going up against James again."
"Coach, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. I got demolished by him last season, and I'm going to get it back this time!"
"Alright, let's do it. It's time for everyone to see what you're really capable of…"
Hearing the conversation between the two, Kirilenko couldn't help but think about the scene from the last two days of practice.
Since he had just joined the Warriors, the training content had mainly been to get familiar with the team's tactics. He also knew that he only had half a year left on his contract, and being a veteran, he had little potential to be used. It was unlikely that he would be a starter on such a young team like the Warriors.
But Kirilenko originally thought that with his own strength, even if he came off the bench, he would be stronger than Butler and was quite dismissive of him in his heart.
However, after these two days of training, Kirilenko found himself up against Butler, and after feeling Butler's strength firsthand, he completely changed his opinion.
The two had directly faced off last season, but at that time, Butler was still very immature and weak. This season, Butler had lost his starting position, and they didn't face off directly. Kirilenko had remembered Butler as a young rookie.
But now he realized that even though Butler was still not as experienced defensively, he had definitely reached a higher level defensively, and Butler was much more well-rounded than Kirilenko offensively. He wasn't a starter simply because he was young and had potential—he had surpassed him in combat power.
In the face of these "harsh" facts, any resentment Kirilenko had in his heart disappeared. He gave up on coasting and started to train seriously, eager to fight for his next contract.
"Andre, I've been busy preparing tactics against the Heat over the last two days, so I haven't had time to talk to you much... How's life in Oakland? Are you still adjusting?" Liam's slightly apologetic voice resonated in Kirilenko's ears.
Kirilenko snapped out of it and realized that Butler had left, and Liam had come over to his side and was looking at him.
Kirilenko slowed down, looked down, and smiled:
"It's good, Coach. I love the city of Oakland. The fans here are very welcoming."
He wasn't just talking about that. When Kirilenko had arrived in Oakland, the Warriors fans he met on the street were enthusiastic about him, even though he hadn't played a game for the Warriors yet.
"That's good. Trust me, the fans in Oakland are no worse than those in Salt Lake City." Liam smiled and then said, "It's a shame, Andre, I can't give you a starting position, but I know your abilities. You're the first backup at the forward position, and the team needs your help."
Kirilenko also responded solemnly:
"Coach, you can trust my professionalism, and I like the tactics and the atmosphere of the team. As long as I play, I'll play well."
After two days of joint practice, Kirilenko was surprised to find that the Warriors' tactics seemed tailor-made for him, and he fit seamlessly into the team's system.
Liam smiled slightly because when he switched to Kirilenko, he certainly took his tactical characteristics into account.
In his previous life, Kirilenko was considered one of the most out-of-place stars, and his technical characteristics were very suitable for the small-ball era. Many people regretted that if he had been born ten years later, his achievements wouldn't have been weaker than Green's, and he would have been the perfect defender in the small-ball era.
Liam had taken Kirilenko's shooting weakness into account and specially designed an off-ball cutting tactic for him. In this case, he quickly integrated into the team, which is why Liam was also willing to let him play after just two days of joint practice.
Then, the two walked and talked as they walked down the long player tunnel and entered the court.
By this point, the entrance ceremony had begun. The spotlights in the Oracle Center dome were turned off, and the flashing lights scattered, creating an exciting atmosphere with energetic music and the enthusiastic cheers of the fans.
Kirilenko was infected by this atmosphere, and he felt his heart race, and his body felt slightly warm.
It reignited his passion for the game.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the NBA regular season broadcast on ESPN for you today. I'm Mike Breen, and sitting next to me is Jeff Van Gundy. We'll bring you the game between the Warriors and the Heat. This is a strong matchup. The Heat currently sit in second place in the East, while the Warriors hold fourth place in the West. Both teams are in the playoff picture, and the Warriors have won five consecutive games before the All-Star Weekend, sweeping the decline..."
Mike Breen spoke eloquently in front of the camera, introducing the current situation of the Warriors and the Heat.
The game between the Warriors and the Heat was broadcast live in the United States and naturally also aired on ESPN. American fans wanted to see Curry go up against the Big Three, while national fans were eager to watch the Warriors massacre the Big Three and take their revenge.
Fans worldwide were united in their pursuit of individual heroism, and there were more opponents than supporters for the Heat's trio.
After a long analysis, local fans were becoming a bit impatient, and the image finally cut to the Oracle Center, where the players from both teams stood on the court, and the game began immediately.
Mike Breen looked at the players on the court and said:
"The Heat still have their regular starting lineup, with James, Wade, and Bosh all in the Big Three, along with Dampier and Chalmers. After Spoelstra used this starting lineup, the Heat's record jumped to second place in the East. The Warriors started with Curry, Klay, Butler, Green, and Chandler. Butler returned to the starting position after a half-season absence, hoping he could play well..."
On the bench, Spoelstra's eyes were fixed on Butler.
He had considered allowing Liam to start Kirilenko directly before the game and had prepared a plan for that, but since Butler had started, the game was much better. Butler's defense and Kirilenko's were not on the same level. Even if Kirilenko was plagued by injuries now, his historic ability to help defense and protect the rim was still deeply feared by Spoelstra.
After all, none of the Big Three from the Heat were good at shooting, and if Liam used the ultimate lineup to protect the rim with Chandler + Green + Kirilenko, it would be much harder for the Heat to develop their offense.
And Butler seemed mediocre in all aspects... Spoelstra's eyebrows furrowed slightly, his mind shifting. Liam asked him to start; was it to develop the youth? Could it be that to train Butler, he didn't even care about winning or losing the game?
Spoelstra couldn't figure it out, but looking at Butler's determined face, he always felt that this young man was not as simple as he appeared. However, Butler hadn't played much this season, and except for being a bit efficient, he hadn't shown anything special. He suppressed the inexplicable beat in his heart and turned his eyes toward Curry.
This baby-faced player was the most dangerous for the Warriors, and Spoelstra had prepared the highest level of "courtesy" for Curry.
"Tic-"
At that moment, the referee blew the whistle and tossed the basketball into the air. The game officially began!
Chandler pressured Dampier and passed the ball to Curry, and the Warriors got the ball on their first offense.
Curry dribbled the ball across half-court and passed it to Green in the low post. Chandler immediately elevated towards him as a screen. The three played an off-ball tactic on the strong side. Curry used Chandler's screen to run from the top of the arc at a 45-degree angle and quickly shot a three-pointer after receiving Green's pass.
Swish!
Dampier was slow to react, and Curry's shot was uncontested as it swished through the net.
3-0
Liam clapped on the sidelines and nodded slightly. If the Heat dared to play like the big center, he would continue to attack relentlessly.
In the next transition, the Heat attacked. Chalmers dribbled across half-court and passed to James, who expertly ran toward the lower corner.
The MOP, who had thrown the game-winning shot in the NCAA, was responsible for dribbling the ball across half-court for the Heat, and James was the real point guard, just a shooter on the offensive side.
James looked up after receiving the ball and passed it to Bosh, who called for the ball inside. This was Spoelstra's setup. In the last game, Bosh played Green with significant effect, and Spoelstra naturally had to take advantage of this group of strengths.
"You can see that after the opening, both teams attacked step by step according to the head coach's requirements. This is the usual routine for both teams at the start," said Mike Breen.
After Bosh received the ball, the rest of the Heat players spaced out, and he turned his back to Green in the low post, watching the rest of the Warriors, ready to dish the ball if he was caught mid-shot.
But none of the Warriors came close to attacking. Bosh did his work and started backing in, trying to use his strength advantage to overpower Green. But to his surprise, Green actually held his ground!
Behind him, Green raised his arms and fought to keep Bosh's back in check. After losing to the Heat, Green had worked incredibly hard over the last three months and made rapid progress! Bosh didn't want to score easily against him anymore.
Bosh leaned in a couple more times, but Green did a great job, only backing off slightly, always keeping his right hand high, not giving Bosh any space to shoot.
In the end, Bosh, unable to move toward the basket, turned around and shot, but Green successfully contested it, and the ball bounced off the rim and was secured by Chandler.
"Defense!"
After the successful defense, Green was extremely excited, roaring, taking Chandler's pass, and running to the frontcourt. Curry and Klay sprinted together, and the Warriors players charged toward the frontcourt like a tidal wave.
Due to the early start, the Heat players were very focused and quickly retreated, especially James and Wade, who watched Curry and Klay respectively, not allowing them the chance to take an open three.
Seeing this, Green wasn't in a rush and ran straight to the restricted area, followed by Butler. The two formed a double ghost play, heading toward the three-point line, putting Dampier in a dilemma, forcing James to shrink to the restricted area to help defend.
At that moment, Green passed the ball with force to Curry at a 45-degree angle to the right side. Due to James' collapse, Curry was unguarded, stopped, and shot. The three-pointer bounced off the rim.
6-0
"Good shot! The two three-pointers from Curry are on point, all great opportunities for open positions, and the Warriors' tactics are working! This ball is well played!" Jeff Van Gundy praised.
Mike Breen added:
"Green's defense on Bosh can't be overlooked. He was dominated by Bosh in the last game, but right now he blocked Bosh's shot, directly contributing to the Warriors' fast break."
Jeff Van Gundy agreed:
"That's right, but we'll have to keep watching. If Green can defend this well throughout the game, then the Warriors will have a much easier time."
On the court, the Heat were down 6-0, but the players weren't worried. Their last big win gave them a huge psychological advantage against the Warriors, and they didn't fall behind in the game's opening.
It was still Chalmers who dribbled the ball across half-court, then passed to James, running toward the lower corner to create space.
James held the ball at the top of the arc, and it was Butler who defended him. This wasn't the first time they had faced each other, and James still remembered when he had devoured Butler last season.
In fact, during the last game against the Warriors in Miami, they also faced off in the third quarter. But in that game, James entered "the zone," and although Butler defended with everything he had, he was ineffective.
Facing Butler's defense again tonight, James didn't pay much attention, casually making a three-threat move, and with a step of his right foot, he tried to use his best tank to break through and push Butler away.
But as Butler was bouncing the ball, he smacked the ball away with his left hand, knocking it out of James' hand before crouching to pick it up and running toward the frontcourt.
James didn't expect Butler to steal the ball at all, but he reacted quickly, simply pausing before immediately chasing after Butler.
Mike Breen also said loudly:
"Butler steals from James! Butler is running down the court, and James is chasing him. Is he going for his best block...?"
James was fast, and the distance between the two closed more and more, but Butler didn't seem to notice James following him. He continued running at his own pace toward the area.
But just when James was watching Butler's movements, lifting his big hand and preparing to pin Butler's shot against the backboard, Butler suddenly slowed down, leaned back, raised his hands high, and made a layup.
His movement completely interrupted James' plan, and the referee's whistle blew as James collided with Butler, who released the ball toward the basket at the same time.
James' strength was powerful, and Butler staggered a couple of steps toward the basket, but he didn't care whether he fell. Instead, he turned his head to closely watch the basket, just in time to see the basketball bounce off the rim and fall directly through the net.
Only then did he stabilize his center of gravity, swing his fist hard, look menacing, and shout to the audience behind the hoop, drawing an enthusiastic response from the fans.
"Jimmy! You're the best!"
"Oh oh oh ~~ tough guy, you're really a tough guy!"
Mike Breen also exclaimed:
"Butler draws the foul from James and has a chance for a 2+1!"
8-0
"Tic-"
As the Warriors fans cheered, Spoelstra called a timeout.
End of this chapter
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