O'Neal has always had excellent adaptability.
On this shot, he didn't lament his inability to force a dunk, but rather took pride in making the shot the moment he released it.
Optimistic people always find ways to entertain themselves.
He Xi Meng admired O'Neal's resilience wholeheartedly.
On the Celtics' second possession, He Xi Meng once again tossed a lob pass to Yao Ming.
However, on this play, Wade chose to double-team. Yao Ming immediately passed the ball back to Carter on the perimeter, whom Wade had left open.
Carter, facing the retreating Wade, caught the ball and shot, but unfortunately, the ball bounced off the rim.
O'Neal sealed off Yao Ming, preventing him from going to the basket. He believed the rebound was surely the Heat's.
Unexpectedly, Diop, out of nowhere, darted in between O'Neal and Haslem and snatched the offensive rebound.
"What the heck! Who is this guy? Why is he here?"
O'Neal, in mid-air, was full of questions.
Diop, having secured the rebound, gave O'Neal no chance to react. As O'Neal landed off-balance, Diop jumped again and completed a delicate little floater over O'Neal's head.
O'Neal couldn't keep up with Diop's leaping ability at all. Haslem could barely keep pace, but his limited height and poor positioning meant he was blocked by Diop, unable to effectively deter Diop's second jump shot.
The Heat had finally hoped for Carter's missed shot, only to have Diop unexpectedly emerge and score on a second-chance opportunity, much to the frustration of Coach Riley on the sidelines.
But the game had just begun, and despite his inner dissatisfaction, it wasn't the time for criticism. Riley possessed such composure.
On the Heat's second offensive possession, Jason Williams opted to drive first, attacking the Celtics' defense before passing to the trailing Wade. Wade caught the ball and drove again, penetrating the Celtics' paint amidst the chaos and finishing with a hanging reverse layup, avoiding Yao Ming's interference at the rim and successfully scoring.
In this year's playoffs, Wade's drives remained the Heat's most crucial scoring method, bar none.
On the Celtics' third offensive possession, O'Neal quietly exerted force, interfering with Yao Ming's post positioning, denying He Xi Meng an easy lob pass.
He Xi Meng didn't rush. If not for Yao Ming, he would take it himself.
He immediately called for a high pick-and-roll from Diop. Diop's screen was effective, successfully blocking Williams.
Williams dared not go under the screen against He Xi Meng.
The Heat's coaching staff had repeatedly emphasized before the game that against He Xi Meng, going under the screen would undoubtedly lead to a step-back three-pointer from He Xi Meng! This was a lesson learned through blood and tears by other teams in the league, with countless video recordings to attest to it. Therefore, Williams did not dare to underestimate the situation and immediately yelled to Antoine Walker, "Switch!"
Walker, at the forward position, was not slow. However, facing He Xi Meng, he felt somewhat outmatched.
He Xi Meng drove all the way to the basket, leaving Walker behind.
O'Neal was in a dilemma. If he didn't rotate to help, He Xi Meng would score on a layup. If he rotated, Yao Ming behind him would be unguarded.
Weighing the two options, O'Neal ultimately chose to step up and help, gambling that He Xi Meng would drive aggressively at him.
But O'Neal lost the gamble.
He Xi Meng, with a red star and two hands ready, would choose the opposite side regardless of O'Neal's gamble.
Now that O'Neal had chosen to cover him, He Xi Meng unhesitatingly executed a high lob pass while on the move, sending the ball to Yao Ming, who was behind O'Neal.
O'Neal wasn't unprepared, but even with a full-extension jump, he couldn't intercept He Xi Meng's lob pass because He Xi Meng had intentionally created ample space.
Yao Ming leaped from behind O'Neal, caught the ball with one hand, and easily completed an alley-oop dunk.
Yao Ming repeatedly dunking over O'Neal's head was becoming too much even for the good-natured O'Neal.
On the Heat's third offensive possession, O'Neal actively dropped into the post, signaling for the ball from Wade.
Just as everyone expected a show to begin, with Yao and Shaq about to engage in a head-to-head battle, O'Neal surprisingly passed the ball!
O'Neal backed down Yao Ming forcefully, drawing Diop to double-team, and then passed the ball to Haslem, who was cutting inside.
O'Neal's intention was good, wanting to create an opportunity for his teammate, but he hadn't accounted for his teammate's finishing ability.
Haslem caught the ball and drove to the basket, attempting a dunk, but under the double-team of Yao Ming and Diop, Haslem's dunk was swatted away!
Haslem yelled, signaling to the referee that he had been fouled and deserved free throws.
However, the referee ignored Haslem and signaled for the game to continue.
Yao Ming secured the defensive rebound with a second jump and passed back to He Xi Meng.
He Xi Meng had already been observing the frontcourt situation. Carter had already taken off, starting his engine.
He Xi Meng retreated to Yao Ming's side to create space from the Heat's defenders, then executed a quarterback-like long pass directly to Carter, who was driving to the frontcourt.
He Xi Meng's pass was quick and high.
But Wade's defensive retreat was faster and higher!
Before the ball reached Carter, Wade had rapidly retreated and leaped high, intercepting the long pass in front of Carter.
Good heavens! He Xi Meng's brilliant assist instantly transformed into a basic turnover.
He Xi Meng, still in the backcourt, spread his hands in exasperation and explained to Yao Ming, "Do you believe me if I said I considered Wade's presence before passing and tried to make the arc as high as possible?"
"I believe you! But what's Wade's nickname?" Yao Ming asked He Xi Meng with a smile.
"Flash!"
"Then it makes perfect sense! If the Flash isn't fast, how can he be called the Flash?"
As they were talking, the Flash was storming back down the court.
He Xi Meng: "I'll go out to the three-point line to slow him down!"
Yao Ming: "Leave the basket to me!"
As it turned out, the Flash neither shot from beyond the three-point line nor drove into the paint to attack the basket.
Wade's fast break was explosive, but his mind was clear.
Facing He Xi Meng's interference at the three-point line, Wade didn't slow down. He changed direction and, almost in a low-flying posture, forcefully pushed past He Xi Meng's attempt to impede him. Then, facing Yao Ming, who was ready under the basket, he jumped early and used a Parker-esque high floater, utilizing his soft touch to guide the ball into the net!
On this play, Wade had essentially taken on the entire Celtics team by himself!
This was the dominance of the prime Flash!