CHAPTER 571: CHAPTER 280 NOAH IS GOING CRAZY_2

The lead had been cut to within 5 points once again.

Noah, Ross... each time the Cavaliers tried to widen the gap, someone from the Bulls would step up.

Thibodeau had brought to the Bulls not only top-notch defense but also formidable game resilience.

Although it was the first round against the Bulls, and although Ross and Noah were already with the Bulls back then, it was just as O’Neal had said—the current Bulls team was much stronger than before.

The first half ended with the score at 41 to 48, the Cavaliers leading.

On the way back to the locker room during halftime, Malone chatted with Hansen while walking.

Hansen had scored 24 points and 6 assists in the first half.

There was no doubt his performance was MVP level, but he had expended much more energy than anticipated.

Especially against the Bulls, who seemed as undying as cockroaches, this pace of play could mean that Hansen might not be able to last until the end of the game.

"Mike, my energy is not a problem." Sensing the concern in Malone’s tone, Hansen stopped in his tracks.

The One Star and Four Shooters strategy was one they had decided upon together, and they were both well aware of the pros and cons.

Perhaps looking back now, they should have stuck with letting Kyrie develop his organizing abilities, even if it meant losing some games.

But be it the tactics or the choices, once made, they couldn’t be changed; they had to see it through to the end.

"Maybe Kyrie will be back in the second half." To keep Malone from worrying too much, Hansen patted his shoulder with a smile.

Coming back for the second half, Malone still made tactical adjustments, substituting JR for TT and unleashing the Cavaliers’ version of the "Deathly Five Small."

This was a strategy he had been experimenting with throughout the regular season.

He chose Garnett over TT to maintain the psychological warfare against Noah.

Irving started off trying after the break.

After breaking past Ross, his mid-range jumper went in.

This score excited the Cavaliers’ coaching staff.

Jordan had only dominated the league after Pippen had risen up. It wasn’t to say that Jordan was weak, but a game lasts 48 minutes, and even the strongest player can’t carry the whole game, especially in the playoffs where it’s about offensive efficiency under high-intensity conflict.

If Irving could really assimilate ball-handling like Pippen, allowing Hansen to rest for a while, then the Cavaliers’ strength would rise a notch.

However, their excitement did not last long, for when Butler scored a three-pointer, Irving’s drive and floater on the returning play went off the mark.

The growth of a player requires time and cost.

At that moment, Garnett, with his excellent positioning, boxed out Noah for the offensive rebound, then went straight for the second chance.

But he really didn’t have much explosive power left, and Noah, coming from behind, covered the ball with both hands.

However, Noah’s movements were a bit too aggressive, directly overpowering Garnett to the ground after securing the ball.

There was a personal edge to this play as there already was enmity between him and Garnett, and for the 39-year-old Garnett to grab an offensive rebound right in front of him was a bit too much of a blow to his pride.

The referee’s whistle sounded, signaling a foul on Noah.

Garnett on the ground clenched his fists; he was not known for a good temper.

Just as everyone thought he was going to get up and confront Noah, he instead rolled over, propped himself up on his fists, and started doing push-ups right there on the spot!

This scene immediately set the arena ablaze.

Not one, not two, but he did seven push-ups before Garnett stood up.

"It’s okay, I’m fine."

After getting up, Garnett signaled to his Cavaliers teammates that he was alright.

He released his emotions by doing push-ups.

The Cavaliers currently had the upper hand on the court, and starting a conflict wasn’t in their benefit.

Garnett was fine, but now Noah was worked up because being dissatisfied with the call, he was given a technical foul by the referee.

Boos rang out from the audience.

Malone’s choice at this moment was interesting, as technical fouls lead to awarded free throws, and coaches usually pick the best free-throw shooter to take the shot.

But Malone directly appointed Garnett.

Garnett shot three free throws in a row, making all of them.

Even while taking the free throws, he had a "friendly exchange" with Noah.

It seemed he really was okay.

On the Bulls’ offensive possession, Noah was back at it, facilitating from the free-throw line, playing with his back to the basket. Without waiting for his teammates to finish running their plays, he suddenly turned and headed for the basket.

Apart from his one-handed, set shot mid-range jumper, Noah’s most reliable offensive move was this kind of back-to-basket, spin-drive.

Because of his wide body, by the time you realized he had started turning, it was already too late.

Noah successfully shook off Garnett, who, having lost his explosiveness, couldn’t catch up.

However, just as Noah thought he was about to score, that familiar figure appeared again.

Accompanied by the gasps of the onlookers, Hansen’s help defense pressed the shot directly onto the backboard!

After the block, Hansen grabbed the defensive rebound and turned to push the fast break.

He flung a long pass to Irving, who was already pushing forward, as he crossed the three-point line.

In the fast break, Irving showcased his ball-handling skills with a high dribble followed by a lay-up dodge, swiftly scoring.

At this moment, Thibodeau was pacing furiously on the sidelines, spitting at Noah’s direction, clearly unsatisfied with Noah’s offensive choices just then.

Thibodeau was a remarkable coach, giving ample opportunities to players within the team, but when it came to poor relationships in the NBA, he was certainly one of them.

After being scolded, Noah had planned to play it cool, but right as he caught the ball in the frontcourt, he was met with Garnett clapping his hands at him, then stretching out his arms and shouting, "Come on, little kitty."

If it came to provoking anger, Garnett was undoubtedly an expert hand.

Noah instantly tossed to the back of his mind whatever Thibodeau had scolded him about.

To hell with it, he was going to crush Garnett today!

He directly opted to drive past Garnett with the ball.

"This is a bad choice!" Even O’Neal at the commentary desk was shaking his head at the sight.

Garnett, though aged and slower on his feet, was still up to the task against someone like Noah handling the ball.

He correctly anticipated Noah’s direction and stood his ground, managing to stop Noah in his tracks.

Noah, consequently, attempted a hook shot with his back to the basket but didn’t notice Tucker already collapsing towards the paint.

The Cavaliers might have a small lineup, but they are agile.

Seizing the right moment, Tucker directly stole the ball from Noah’s hand.

The Cavaliers quickly countered with a defensive fast break.

This time, Irving received the ball at the three-point line, charged past the mid-court, and upon encountering Butler’s help defense at the free-throw line, he tossed the ball towards the right side above the rim.

Hansen, led by the ball, leapt up, caught the basketball in mid-air and went straight for a gliding slam dunk.

The "Han and Oue Connection" from Hansen and Irving!

Quicken Loans Arena erupted in the blink of an eye.

Malone also rose excitedly, clapping for his players.

Since the Bulls were a team that played defensive counters, he had set the strategy before the game to play as much of a half-court game as possible.

That strategy was indeed sound, tonight the Cavaliers had a much higher success rate in half-court sets than the Bulls.

But tonight Irving was off his game, leaving only Hansen to carry the play.

Although Hansen’s success rate was high, such a playing style was too draining on his stamina.

He used his Deathly Five Small indeed to overturn his own pre-game strategy, competing with the Bulls in defensive counters.

Although it meant challenging the Bulls at their strongest point, it at least allowed Hansen to conserve some energy.

Now it seemed the effect was even better than expected.

After all, Irving was only struggling with double teams, he was still a master of the fast break.

to 57.

The Cavaliers started the second half with a 9 to 2 run against the Bulls.

This adjustment in lineup was proving miraculously effective.

Of course, here Garnett’s contribution was indispensable.

Speaking of which, Noah was a fan of Garnett, resembling him in various aspects, including the temperament on the court, just a little more patience, and your time will come.

Thibodeau called for a timeout with a wave of his hand.

After the timeout, Noah was substituted out for Mirotic right away.

Clearly, Thibodeau had high demands on the team’s execution.

The camera focused on Noah, who looked visibly upset but helpless.

After the timeout, Rose and Mirotic executed a pick and roll, with Rose breaking through to the basket and slipping past Garnett for the layup.

The Deathly Five Small had a precondition of being defensively solid to counter the Bulls, and now, Garnett lacking speed and explosiveness was at a disadvantage against mismatches.

Malone quickly called for TT to come up.

TT walked over to the scorer’s table to wait.

But just then, Hansen suddenly burst forward into the paint, dunking ferociously over Gibson right in front.

The play was brutally dominant, with Noah out, the Bulls’ paint protection was obviously weakened.

Perhaps it was Noah’s previous rough play against Garnett that got under Hansen’s skin. After landing, Hansen turned and shouted towards the Bulls’ bench,

"Who said they were going to beat me? Why can’t I see them?"

Noah was losing his mind.