Carter caught the ball, faced Antoine Walker, and decisively chose a step-back jumper after a solo drive!
This time, due to the last-minute tactical change, Carter didn't try to run down the clock. Instead, he followed his own rhythm, quickly drove to near the free-throw line, stopped, and shot!
In today's game, Carter had already made at least 5 such mid-range jumpers. By all accounts, his success rate was quite high.
But that's how games often go. When you're not under pressure, everything goes in. When it counts, when you need to make the shot, you miss.
Carter's shot bounced off the rim. Just as the Miami fans were about to erupt in cheers, the Celtics' number 11 player descended from the heavens, snatched the rebound right over Haslem's head, and slammed it into the basket…
The ball went in, the whistle blew, and the game was over!
O'Neal, who failed to box out, first stared in disbelief at Yao Ming's putback dunk, then his face fell, his usual jovial expression gone…
96:95, the Heat, who gave it their all, ultimately lost to the more skilled Celtics.
O'Neal had a stellar performance in this game with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks, his best of the series. Yet, it still wasn't enough to counter Yao Ming's buzzer-beating putback at the very end.
Looking at the stats alone, Yao Ming's performance in this game wasn't as good as O'Neal's. But what's the point of winning individual stats when the team loses?
At the post-game press conference, O'Neal was uncharacteristically serious.
"If I were still in my prime, I definitely wouldn't have let Yao Ming get that last rebound. But unfortunately, my prime is over. Although I can still score 28 points, grab 15 rebounds, and block 5 shots, I couldn't stop Yao Ming from scoring in front of me… I still believe I'm the best center in the league, but you need to add 'one of' to that, because I'm no longer unique or invincible. That's life, guys. I can play for another 10 seasons, but I can't dominate the league like I did at 25…"
Yao Ming, the hero who delivered the fatal blow to the Heat and helped the Celtics avoid a Game 7, also lauded his old rival after the game and defended him.
"I've seen many reports saying Shaq is old! But I want to remind everyone from my own experience: if Shaq is truly old, how could he score 20+10 against me?
And not just in one game, but averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks over six games!
If a rookie had such a performance on the Eastern Conference Finals stage, how would you evaluate him?
A league prodigy? A future star?
Why is it that when it comes to Shaq, he only gets labeled as 'aging'? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?
Regardless of whether you believe me or not, in my eyes, Shaq is still the best center in the league, no question!"
Wade averaged a series-high 26.7 points for both teams, but it still wasn't enough to help the Heat break the Celtics' Eastern Conference dominance.
"I'm disappointed. We played so hard, yet we couldn't enjoy the victory. I don't want to admit the Celtics are too strong; I just want to say they played more maturely and more consistently than us. In handling crucial moments, they have more experience than we do.
Shaq comforted me, saying I'm still young and my career is just beginning, with many opportunities ahead. But I want to say that my desire for a championship is no weaker than any veteran's. I can't wait to step onto the NBA Finals stage and compete for that ultimate glory…
Next season, I believe next season we will be more mature, more stable, and stronger…"
He Xi Meng and Carter, in this series, were essentially trading off their strong performances.
He Xi Meng had better games in Game 1, Game 3, and Game 5, while Carter had more impressive outings in Game 2, Game 4, and Game 6.
For the Celtics, as long as one of He Xi Meng or Carter played exceptionally well, they could counter Wade's impact and prevent the Green Team from falling into too passive a state.
On the Heat's side, besides Wade, they lacked a second strong player to help him share the scoring and defensive burden.
O'Neal could have filled that role, and he did so in the previous two rounds.
However, against the Celtics, O'Neal's effectiveness was nullified by Yao Ming.
This led to Wade being trapped in a situation of fighting alone, unable to extricate himself…
The Celtics defeated the Heat 4:2, winning the Eastern Conference championship and earning a spot in the NBA Finals.
And in this year's NBA Finals, the Mavericks, who successfully navigated the Western Conference gauntlet, will be their opponents!
The Mavericks' roster this season includes starters Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Adrian Griffin, and Erick Dampier, with reserves like Stackhouse, Devin Harris, Keith Van Horn, Boris Diaw, and Marquis Daniels. They are a strong and deep team, their paper strength no less than the Celtics'.
This lineup had already defeated the Spurs and the Suns in the previous rounds, proving their capabilities. Especially Nowitzki, who is at the peak of his career, making him extremely difficult to handle.
In the Western Conference Semifinals, Duncan couldn't contain Nowitzki. Who will the Celtics use to contain him?
Diaw? Diaw's height disadvantage against Nowitzki is too great. Nowitzki also possesses an excellent mid-range jump shot. He could exploit Diaw's height and create problems for the Celtics.
Therefore, Diaw's power forward position will definitely need adjustment. But who will replace him?
David Lee? Rajon Rondo? Or Brook Lopez?
During the pre-game tactical analysis meeting, Kerr and his assistant coaches deliberated repeatedly but couldn't reach a conclusive solution.
Inevitably, Kerr dismissed his coaching staff and went to the training court to find He Xi Meng, who was practicing three-pointers.
For this NBA Finals matchup against the Mavericks, He Xi Meng was prepared for a shootout.
Looking back at the Mavericks' three-round playoff run in the West, they consistently pushed their opponents into high-scoring games.
The Suns, while an offensive-minded team that preferred scoring to win, are a separate case.
However, the Grizzlies, under Coach Lionel Hollins, placed a significant emphasis on defense, and their defensive capabilities were clearly improving in the West.
The Spurs, of course, are another story. While not as absolute as the Pistons, the Spurs are undoubtedly one of the most defense-oriented teams in the league.
Yet, neither the Grizzlies nor the Spurs could establish their preferred defensive rhythm in their series against the Mavericks. Instead, the Mavericks dictated the tempo, leading to offensive battles, and ultimately, both fell under the stampede of the Dallas Mavericks…