Wade's injury was a huge blow to the Heat. The Heat, which had just gained some momentum to chase points, immediately fell into a struggle. Milicic and Jefferson continued to double-team O'Neal. Although O'Neal got the ball after halftime,
He scored 14 points, but it was very physically demanding, and he was not able to create enough open three-point shooting opportunities for the outside like in the past.
The Celtics led 51 to 42 at halftime. The most important thing was that the Heat lost Wade, their outside firepower. O'Neal was unable to do anything alone. In the last minute of the first half, he no longer had the aggressiveness he had at the beginning.
, the Sharks are beginning to feel a little heavy. It is most appropriate for O'Neal to play 30 minutes in a game now. He has already played 18 minutes in the first half, and he is always in high-intensity confrontation with Milicic or Jefferson. This is good for O'Neal.
It is too strenuous for him at his current age. Not to mention O'Neal, who is already in his thirties, even Milicic and Al Jefferson feel that their calves are shaking after being tense and then suddenly relaxing.
At the beginning of the second half, Van Gundy replaced Wade with Rasul Butler, but Rivers sent the Celtics' bench. The task of Mark Blount and the other two substitutes was to
Use up O'Neal's energy. If you can't stop O'Neal from attacking, then make a foul and let O'Neal score at the free throw line.
Eddie Jones, who was on the bench, got a full rest in the second half of the second quarter and the midfield. The most important thing is that the opponent no longer has the flexible pace and oppressive defense of Wade and Rasul.
·When Butler was with the Heat last season, Eddie Jones, Wade, and Caron Butler were all there. He could be said to be a substitute among substitutes. In training, Eddie Jones didn't know how to beat him.
Butler has done this many times, and Butler is also afraid of Eddie Jones from the bottom of his heart. After all, this guy used to be the boss of the Heat.
Eddie Jones did not continue to rush inside after Blount's one-block screen. Instead, he scored with a fadeaway jumper. This guy was once considered Kobe's mentor after entering the NBA. His mid-to-long-range shooting skills were very good.
Excellent, the ball went into the basket without any interference.
The Heat's offense is relatively simple, score and play, but it will be more troublesome to play out after getting into O'Neal's hands. After O'Neal enters the inside, he is still double-teamed. Although O'Neal's efforts, 6
In about minutes, he had already made Mark Blount foul four times, and he scored 11 points in a big explosion, but the score was not much closer. There was still a 4-point difference between the two sides, and even more so against the Heat.
The disadvantage is that at this time Rivers replaced his team's full lineup. This time Tony Allen was not used as the shooting guard. Wade, the opponent's arrow man, was no longer on the court. The Celtics sent
Darrell Wright, who has good three-point shooting accuracy, came in to replace Tony Allen.
O'Neal's physical strength was already a little unbearable, but Milicic had enough rest time to play again. He tried his best, and Milicic smiled evilly in his heart. Now it's my turn to take care of you. Milicic wants to play in the low post.
Naturally, no one from the Heat would stop him from this seemingly masochistic approach. When the ball was handed to Milicic, Milicic surprisingly did not turn around and face the basket to attack. Instead, he leaned against O'Neal with his back.
beat.
"Oh! My God! Look what Milicic is doing! He actually went against O'Neal, the strongest player in the league. Didn't he suffer enough in the first half?" Scott said.
As soon as he finished speaking, Milicic bumped into O'Neal. When O'Neal took half a step back, Milicic took a step forward and rushed into the basket. Like a big grasshopper, he bounced off the ground and hit a powerful dunk.
.
The next three consecutive attacks by Milicic ended in two in front of O'Neal. The sharp decline in physical strength made it difficult for O'Neal. He could not keep up with Milicic's shooting speed, and he even lacked the energy to block shots.
Bill Walton said in the commentary box: "After losing Wade, the Heat were like putting it on O'Neal's shoulders to move forward. In fact, they have Ricky Davis, LaFrentz, Laettner, and Damon.
·There is no need for players with characteristics like Jones to use O'Neal so excessively. It can be said that Van Gundy is not my favorite coach. Using athletes in this way will reduce their sports life. I am glad that O'Neal did not encounter big players when he was young.
Van Gundy, otherwise he might become a medicine pot like me."
Van Gundy really likes to overuse athletes. For example, he later used Howard on the Magic. Many times, Howard could no longer jump and still insisted on staying on the court. In the end, there was no change in the game.
O'Neal was beaten several times by Milicic in a row. In his heart, he had played with all the women in Van Gundy's family. His physical strength really couldn't hold it anymore. He would die if he rested for a few minutes. Now he was beaten for no reason by his strength.
Humiliated by Milicic who was inferior to him.
After a wave of shock waves from the Celtics once again pulled the score beyond 10 points, Van Gundy only remembered to replace O'Neal at this time. When O'Neal came off the court, he looked at Fatty Fan with a livid face. Van Gundy was still holding the tactical board and yelling loudly.
When Wai Wai, O'Neal didn't listen at all. He covered his face with a towel and sat splayed on the chair.
Van Gundy felt that his authority had been challenged, and turned around and yelled at O'Neal: "Shaq, what are you doing! Look at how you played, you let an 18-year-old kid score almost 20 points on you!"
O'Neal stood up and threw the towel to the ground, looking down at Van Gundy: "Your tactics are like shit. If you like, go up and fight yourself, and let Milicic score 10,000 points on your head."
Wade was injured in this game and O'Neal refused to play. The only one the Heat could attack with the ball was Ricky Davis, but he couldn't take any advantage in front of Pierce. In the end, the Celtics finished with 96
The game was won by 79.
For the Heat, O'Neal played two and a half quarters and scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks, and caused a total of 9 fouls for the Celtics. His inside dominance was evident. For the Celtics, Eddie Jones got
He scored a game-high 31 points, Pierce scored 26 points, and Milicic scored 21 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
The Celtics' victory in this game can be said to have been stolen from the Heat. After beating the Heat, the Celtics already led the league with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss.