newbobooks 364 The Heat are continuing to close the gap!
364 The Heat are continuing to close the gap!
The Heat are now looking to take advantage of the Clippers' absence of Su Hao and bring their starting lineup back in to close the gap.
After all, if the bleeding cannot be stopped in time, the game may end prematurely.
The Clippers also did not plan to put Su Hao on the court in the fourth quarter.
This way, he can get enough rest and avoid the risk of injury due to overuse.
With the whistle blowing, the fourth quarter officially began.
The players from both sides returned to the field.
As expected, the Heat fielded their full starting lineup once again.
They hope to change the pace and momentum of the game in this way.
The Clippers, on the other hand, continued to keep Su Hao on the bench, maintaining the same lineup they used at the end of the third quarter.
Despite missing key players, they remained confident and committed to the game.
"Aren't you going to rest? You're down by so many points, aren't you going to give up?" Curry questioned Wade. Faced with Curry's provocation, Wade replied with a wry smile, "Because we don't feel tired yet, we can definitely keep fighting. Is Su Hao tired and needs to rest? Why isn't he on the court?" Wade's response carried a hint of resentment and helplessness.
However, in response to Wade's question, David Lee immediately stepped forward and retorted without hesitation, "Su Hao is just trying to let you win because you're behind by too many points!" These words were like a sharp sword, piercing straight into Wade's heart.
For the Clippers, there is absolutely no need for them to continue playing Su Hao.
After all, the team has built a huge lead, and the other players are in excellent form.
Even if the Heat field their starters, they won't be able to catch up in a short time.
Without Su Hao anchoring the paint, the Clippers' interior defense is noticeably several levels weaker.
At the start of the game, Curry received a pass from Paul George and launched a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
The ball bounced off the rim.
Chris Bosh grabs this defensive rebound.
The ball was passed to LeBron James.
With Su Hao not guarding the paint, LeBron James resolutely drove to the basket.
He charged into the paint, pushing past the defender.
He pulled up and made a jump shot from a meter away from the basket.
The ball goes in.
In the following possessions, the Clippers lost rebounds repeatedly.
This allowed the Heat to score several second-chance opportunities.
On the other hand, without Su Hao, the Clippers' outside shooting also became inaccurate.
They couldn't score inside, and they often lost defensive rebounds.
This left the Clippers players feeling extremely frustrated and helpless.
They began to doubt their abilities, and some even started to complain about the coach's tactical arrangements.
In this situation, Mike Dunleavy realized that he had to take action to change the situation.
So, halfway through the fourth quarter, he called an emergency timeout.
"Don't be discouraged, everyone. We're still in the lead right now. But we need to make some adjustments. I'll be bringing on some new players, and I hope you can stay focused and give it your all in the upcoming games," Mike Dunleavy encouraged his players.
"The Clippers have finally called a timeout! It looks like they're going to bring Su Hao in! In just half a quarter, the score has been reduced to only ten points behind, it's really unbelievable!" Barkley exclaimed.
"Without Su Hao, the Clippers ultimately couldn't withstand the Heat's Big Three!" Miller said with a smile.
In fact, the Clippers are aware of their own problems.
They relied too much on Su Hao, which made their offense so disjointed without Su Hao on the field.
Whenever Curry has the ball, no teammate goes up to set a screen for him; he can only stand there and shoot three-pointers or pass the ball to a teammate.
Such an offensive approach clearly posed little threat to the Heat.
As a newcomer to the paint, Aldridge has good height and weight, but lacks experience.
He also received a few harsh lessons from Heat veteran Haslem in the paint.
"They're calling a timeout now, they're definitely going to bring Su Hao back on. He's been resting for more than half a quarter, and his stamina has recovered. We've been playing almost the entire game!" Chris Bosh complained to Spoelstra after leaving the court.
Not only Chris Bosh, but also LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and others have almost played the entire game.
Physical stamina is now a major challenge for them.
However, this wasn't the biggest test yet, because next they would face Su Hao, who had returned to the court after a full rest. This was something they certainly couldn't handle.
The Clippers with Su Hao and the Clippers without Su Hao are completely different teams.
In fact, Su Hao's presence did put enormous pressure on the Heat.
When Su Hao is off the court, the Heat can control the game through fast breaks and defense, but once Su Hao returns to the court, he becomes an insurmountable defensive line, leaving the Heat feeling powerless.
Moreover, Su Hao's outstanding performance inspired his teammates, making the entire Clippers team more aggressive and cohesive.
At this point, Coach Spoelstra also realized the seriousness of the problem.
He knew that if adjustments weren't made quickly, the team could fall into trouble. Therefore, he decided to continue fielding his key players, attempting to maintain the previous offensive momentum.
At the same time, he also hopes to reduce the team's error rate and success rate by maintaining the current roster.
However, the Heat always face a huge challenge when facing a superstar center like Su Hao.
They must find a way to break through Su Hao's defenses and limit his effectiveness.
Otherwise, the Clippers would very likely have won the game.
"There's no other way, the team needs us right now, so we have to go out there and play our hearts out. We're only down by ten points now, and we definitely have a chance to win this game!" LeBron James' eyes revealed unwavering confidence.
He clenched his fist, as if to gather all his strength.
His voice was full of passion and determination, allowing those around him to feel the fire within him.
LeBron James became increasingly excited as he spoke, his eyes shining as if he could already see the dawn of victory.
His words, like a war drum, inspired his teammates' fighting spirit and rekindled their desire for victory.
"We can't give up! As long as there's even a sliver of hope, we'll give it our all!" LeBron James shouted. His voice echoed throughout the court, inspiring everyone.