The intensity of the game made people realize that this was an extraordinary final.

What is certain is that the Mavericks don't like high-intensity games.

For them, if there is no fierce confrontation, try not to happen. Pacers will only increase the intensity of the confrontation, and the offensive pressure brought by blindly increasing the intensity of the confrontation is significant.

The Mavericks’ response is to change the main attack point.

Nowitzki cleared his scenes on the offensive end and did many less conspicuous things, such as using his own offensive threat to open up space for others.

Peja shared part of the offensive firepower, and what made the audience regret was that he still did not change his strength and felt the most blinding character.

Another thing that makes Mavericks fans feel sorry for Xie Hou's performance.

In the first quarter of the Battle of Tianwang Mountain, he fought eleven and a half minutes before being symbolically replaced by Claire to rest.

Compared to the past four games, his offense proportion has increased tonight.

As Charles Barkley said: "Arthur has the desire to hit 60 points tonight, and the touch is also good, so there will be a good show next."

As everyone knows, at the beginning, Barkley had no dislike for Xie Hou, but also had no good feelings.

In the rookie season, Xie Hou rejected Nike's 100 million yuan contract to prove that he deserves a higher sneaker endorsement, which is an unparalleled impact on the older generation of players led by Barkley.

You should know that Barkley never received an annual salary of tens of millions in his entire life. As soon as a kid like Xie Hou joined the league, someone offered hundreds of millions of yuan. He didn't want it. Can the older generation feel comfortable? Therefore, Barkley's attitude towards Xie Hou has always been moderate until last Christmas, after the 3rd 80-minute night - he was convinced.

After that, Xie Chui's army on the commentary seat was added, and Barkley became Xie Chui's leader.

His partner, Kenny Smith, who became Xie Chu, didn't think as much as he said: "Arthur's offensive proportion has indeed increased, but it is more a tactical increase, not a strategic level."

In his opinion, like last year's Christmas battle, Xie Hou's way of taking charge of most of the team's offense at the beginning was a strategic issue.

Such a game means that he is above all tactics.

His offense is the strategic core of the whole team.

It was not like that tonight. Xie Hou consciously increased the number of attacks, but it was not yet time to make the Mavericks nervous.

On the contrary, the changes on the Mavericks are very concerning.

Nowitzki, Peja, the team's top offensive player and the second offensive player are not conspicuous. Instead, Devin Harris, Josh Howard and others have a strong sense of offensive presence.

In the first quarter, the two sides played equally, and the Pacers had the advantage in the more familiar strength of the confrontation, 24 to 21, leading the Mavericks by 3 points.

In the first two minutes of the second quarter, Xie Hou continued to rest.

At the beginning, Mavericks' substitute guard Adrian Griffin shot a three-pointer and missed.

Josh Howard grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it out, Peja's three-pointer continued.

25 to 24

At this point, the Mavericks overtook.

"If the Mavericks find the feel of the outside line, the form will be extremely unfavorable for the Pacers." Smith said it to the point.

Papalucas wanted to get one or three points, but the starting point was good, but the choice was not reasonable enough.

He should have conducted a few more goals, and there might be a better chance. Now that he is taking action, the Mavericks' interference is in time and the long shot jumps out of the basket.

The Mavericks' counterattack, 27 to 24.

As Xie Hou and Artest went off the court, the Pacers' defensive strength took a sharp turn, and the offensive end was lacking in core players who blasted the opponent's defense line.

Papalucas's general trend was all in the fiba game. When he came to the NBA, his stability was more like a helpless move that lacked the ability to make progress.

Just passing the ball through the periphery and lacking threatening attacks, the Mavericks' defense can naturally keep up.

The Pacers' tactics were unconsciously tied into a dead knot, so they had to hand them over to the inside with seven or eight seconds left.

Still missed, it's the Mavericks' turn.

Fortunately, the player in charge of the promotion at this time was not called Devin Harris, otherwise with his speed, this round of anti-counterattack would be in danger again.

The Pacer retreated to the exact position and the ball was transferred to Howard's hand.

"Fans may not be able to imagine, but to this game tonight, the Mavericks' offensive core is indeed Josh Howard."

Howard scored 6 points in the first quarter, but he scored offensive rebounds in the second quarter, which allowed Peja to take the lead in three-pointers.

This round, he made the moves on the outside. Granger chose to give up his three-point defense based on his shooting percentage, mainly to prevent him from breaking through with the ball.

Howard, who has completely shown confidence, will not take into account his three-point shooting percentage or low, and will shoot as soon as he pulls it up.

30 to 24

Only two and a half minutes later, Howard led the Mavericks to a 9-0 climax.

Xie Hou can't sit still.

Claire's hand patted his shoulder, "Arthur, go up and guide our attack."

Xie Hou took off the towel on his body. If he continued to treat the Mavericks as a team that was defeated by him alone last Christmas, they would suffer a big loss.

Xie Hou walked to the sidelines, and Papalucas saw that he was going to play, and knew that Claire was disappointed with their performance.

He can't let the coach take back his life, he can only find a way to break the Pacers' scoring drought.

At least he must win the first point in the second quarter before Xie Hou came on the court.

Under Papalucas' command, the Pacers played at least two good tactics.

A pass after a false cover in the inside line cuts.

Although Jeff Foster, who received the ball, did not get much offensive space, his figure and athletic talent, when he entered such a deep position, he should have a hand in his hand. He could complete the attack by using a big hook facing the basket.

Unfortunately, the US inside line has degenerated to the point where even the big hook is not standard.

Foster's big hook was only hit by a corner of the rebound without even touching the basket when the opponent had limited interference.

The ball flew across the bottom corner, and Granger received the ball. Griffin, who was defending him, was experienced in locking his lower plate and blocking him to the corner.

No matter who comes to this position, the final result will be to force a three-pointer.

The opponent is stuck in the corner. If Granger forces the ball to dribble, he will dribble out of bounds even if he is not intercepted.

Granger had no choice. He couldn't wait for his teammate to receive the support. Foster's big hook did not touch the basket, so the offensive time was not back. In the remaining few seconds, he twisted his body hard, jumped into the air, and shot the ball like Kobe Bryant, "I dare to shoot this one."

No matter whether such a ball is entered or not, Kobe's fans can comfort themselves with picturesque beauty.

Granger's fans were no longer able to do it. His posture was ugly and awkward, and he shot directly behind the basket, causing him to go out of bounds.

Xie Hou didn't expect that he would appear under such circumstances.

"The Pacers didn't score in the first three minutes of the second quarter."

"Coach Claire replaced only Gary Payton."

"Except for Arthur who just played, the other four people made an ugly attack in the past three minutes. If it were me, I would replace them all."

This is why no one asks you to be a coach.

Xie Hou complained about Barkley in his heart. As soon as he came on the court, Papalucas came over and said, "They feel very bad, you have to take more pressure."

"'They', do you include you?" Xie Hou asked.

Papalucas naturally denied: "No."

"That's good. It may be a bit tired if you carry four people by one person, but there is no pressure if you carry three people by two persons." Xie Hou muttered to himself, walked to the sidelines and prepared to defend.

He was about to say something that he had to defend against the Mavericks' attack when he saw Nowitzki standing in front of him.

The Pacers replaced Xie Hou and the Mavericks also replaced Nowitzki, and the top figures of the two teams played at the same time.

Xie Hou held back the words, and it turned out that it was right not to speak.

The Mavericks' momentum is far superior to the Pacers. Nowitzki came up and asked for the ball at a low post, but still did not attack. As soon as he held the ball, the Pacers' defensive focus was shifting toward him.

Later, Nowitzki attracted double-teams as soon as he held the ball, because he could really score without double-teams; the double-teams brought at this time were precisely because his back-on attack was not as exquisite. If the double-team could be formed, it would be seriously disturbed to his offense.

From the moment Nowitzki took the ball at a low post, he was ready to double-team and pass the ball out in a blink of an eye.

Peja received the ball, transported it, pulled it up and shot it.

Go again.

"If even Peja hits her easily, the Pacers will really be in big trouble!"

32 to 24

Since the beginning of the second quarter, the Pacers have not scored points, but their opponents have scored 11 points in a row.

The 3-point lead turns into a 9-point trail.

If they don't score any more, they will fall behind more and more.

Xie Hou asked Papalucas to hold the ball, and he followed the Greeks and spent the half.

The person sent by the Mavericks to defend him was Josh Howard. He performed well at night, which was a great sign of shame to wipe out Christmas Eve.

If he can continue tonight's performance and help the Mavericks win the crucial battle of Tianwang Mountain, can he clear the shame of being Xie Hou getting 80 points in the third quarter?

Xie Hou thought it was impossible, that was 80 points!

and...
To be continued...