Chapter 28: Pen from God

"Hayes! Hayes!" 

At least Hayes' movement speed was a significant upgrade over Uncle Huo. Although his offensive abilities took a hit, the defense became far less vulnerable to the Heat's relentless onslaught.

Sure enough, the Rockets' defensive strength surged immediately after Uncle Huo left the court.

There had been much debate about the Heat's victory the previous year, but one glaring weakness stood out: their lack of three-point shooting. This issue became even more pronounced as O'Neal's dominance inside faded further this season. Without a reliable long-range threat, their offense became painfully predictable, relying heavily on aggressive drives to the basket.

With Hayes on the court, the Heat's opportunities for penetration were effectively curtailed.

The substitution's impact was evident; Andrew's tactical adjustment had brought about a noticeable improvement in the Rockets' defensive performance.

As the game unfolded, both teams settled into a tense stalemate, trading baskets but unable to gain a significant edge. The Heat struggled to widen the scoreline, while the Rockets found it equally challenging to close the gap.

This dynamic showcased the limitations of pairing Hayes and Yao Ming. Their defensive coordination was solid, but Hayes lacked shooting ability, allowing the Heat to simplify their defensive strategies.

For over half a quarter, the deadlock persisted, with both teams cycling through their benches in search of an advantage.

On the Heat's side, the veterans—Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton, and Antoine Walker—took the floor, each a former All-Star with a wealth of experience. They brought grit and savvy to the game, but the Rockets had Millsap, a fearless newcomer, crashing the boards and challenging the aging defenders. The old-timers struggled to contain him.

The game continued in a stalemate until the fourth quarter, where McGrady finally caught fire. He connected on several critical shots, and with just 30 seconds left in the game, the Rockets pulled ahead, 98-97!

The Heat promptly called a timeout.

This was the climactic moment everyone had been waiting for—a nail-biter with a one-point difference. The atmosphere crackled with excitement as fans leapt to their feet.

Chinese fans watching from thousands of miles away felt their hearts racing.

"The most anxious right now must be Charles and Kenny; they're probably sweating bullets!" Miller commented, lightening the mood as he observed the mounting tension.

As both teams huddled, the head coaches worked furiously on their strategies. Van Gundy focused his defense on the paint, knowing that Wade was likely to take the crucial shot. This seemed the most logical option given the circumstances.

However, Andrew's eyes were glued to the Heat's bench. The Heat's head coach, Pat Riley—dubbed the "God Operator"—was notorious for his cunning strategies, often eschewing conventional tactics in critical moments. Andrew understood he had to keep a sharp eye on Riley's next move.

After Van Gundy finished issuing instructions, Andrew leaned in, whispering to Battier to stay alert for any outside three-point attempts.

When the timeout concluded, the Heat made a crucial lineup change, bringing in Capono, their most accurate three-point shooter, akin to Novak. Andrew's suspicions were confirmed; he knew the Heat would be looking to exploit this opportunity.

The game resumed with the Heat controlling the tempo through "white chocolate" Williams on the perimeter. As the shot clock dwindled to its final seconds, he dished the ball to Wade.

Posey and Haslem simultaneously set high picks, creating a double-screen from left to right.

"Shrink! Shrink!" Van Gundy shouted from the sideline, convinced that his defensive strategy was sound.

The Rockets tightened their defense, preparing to stifle Wade's drive.

Wade utilized Haslem's screen to barrel toward the basket, but the Rockets' defense was formidable. They were primed to snuff out the attack.

"Shawn!" Suddenly, Andrew's voice rang out from the sidelines.

Everyone's focus was on Wade's impending drive, yet Andrew's keen eye caught the moment when Haslem, having successfully disengaged, set a pick for Capono.

Battier, hearing Andrew's call, pivoted to chase after Capono, but it was too late. He had been drawn into the paint according to Van Gundy's instructions, and now he had to fight through the mess.

At that critical juncture, Wade executed a precise cross-court pass to Capono.

"Swish!"

With the crowd holding its breath, Capono nailed the open three-pointer over Battier, sending the score to 100-98!

The arena erupted in an explosion of cheers!

"It looks like Charles better prepare for some drama!" Brin quipped from the commentary booth, grinning as he observed the scene unfold.

The camera panned to Coach Riley, who remained cool and collected—a true testament to his reputation as the "God Operator."

Van Gundy shook his head in frustration, clearly caught off guard by Riley's audacious play at the last moment.

The Rockets' players, having poured their hearts into the game, felt a wave of disappointment wash over them as they watched their hard-fought lead evaporate. The bitter taste of a near-victory slipping away was almost unbearable.

"What's with those faces? The game isn't over yet! Why are you conceding defeat?" Andrew's voice boomed as he clutched the tactical board, rallying his team.

His shout was a thunderclap, snapping the players back to attention.

"Steve, get ready to come in!" he called out, signaling Novak, who was still in his warm-ups.

Novak hesitated, momentarily stunned. Had he really heard that right? 

The rest of the team mirrored his disbelief—after all, Novak hadn't seen a single minute of play this season!

"Don, what's going on?" Van Gundy interjected, puzzled. Despite giving Andrew some latitude with offensive strategies, he was still the head coach, ultimately responsible for the game's outcome.

"We're going for a three-pointer," Andrew replied, ignoring the skepticism in Van Gundy's eyes. He began sketching out a new offensive play on the board.

With the game nearing its climax at the Heat's home court, overtime was not an option for the Rockets; they needed to finish it now.

As Andrew's plan sank in, Novak quickly stripped off his training gear, realizing he was indeed about to see some action.

Van Gundy frowned but felt a surge of respect for Andrew's boldness, even as he wrestled with his own doubts.