Volume 4: Golden State Prosperity

Wade had initially still acted like the leader, but James's decisiveness after "surrendering power with 8 points" frightened him into giving up the ball, playing off-ball—a role he was not good at—and working hard to develop a three-point shot he did not excel at. Only then did he gradually adapt to playing beside James. The Warriors, however, had four star players, all first-rate scorers in the league. They could take turns isolating, without worrying about stamina or role-player involvement. The Cavaliers' small lineup switched every screen on defense, using its mobility advantage to genuinely contain the Warriors' passing and cutting at the start. Coach Lu had no choice but to go with the flow and keep running James into the ground. This was both to defend the Warriors' passing and cutting and to create driving lanes for James with an extreme spacing lineup. James and Irving kept scoring, but the Warriors' offensive efficiency was higher. When Green was replaced by Covington, the Warriors gained another floor spacer, and the Cavaliers likewise did not dare help freely. Irving had it somewhat better. When James returned to the Cavaliers, he was older and his stamina had declined, making it difficult for him to control the ball at all times. He ceded some possessions to Irving, which was why his statistics did not decline much. Zhang Yu had been prepared. After seeing the Cavaliers go small, he adjusted the tactics from passing and cutting to mismatched isolation. Only in crucial games and crucial moments could stars take over; ordinarily, the team still had to rely on role players to score. James was also the Cavaliers' offensive centerpiece, so he could not stop opponents with fouls like a blue-collar center. He simply could not defend the Warriors' twin wings attacking the rim. Bosh and