796: The Magician of the 21st Century (4th update)

When everyone thought this would be a showdown between James and Link, Wade stepped up and took on the responsibility that should have been his.

Fourteen points, two assists, three rebounds, and two steals in a single quarter—Wade looked as if he had returned to his peak in the first quarter!

It felt like a signal—a signal that the Heat were about to turn the tide.

Whenever Wade delivered this kind of performance in the playoffs, it meant the Heat were about to sound the horn for a counterattack.

At that moment, Heat fans were ecstatic. They did not care whether Wade or James led the team to victory. As long as they won in the end, who carried them there did not really matter.

Only by winning could the Heat keep their hopes alive in this series.

They were full of confidence in that.

They knew Wade would not give up on this series. The soul of the Heat would not abandon his team.

He had sounded the horn for a counterattack once again, and every time the Heat had mounted one, they had emerged victorious without exception.

Not just in a single game, but in the entire series!

Spoelstra, however, was calmer than the Heat fans. More than anyone, he knew the game was far from decided.

Wade shutting down Conley was only the first step. James shutting down Link would be the second—and the most important—step.

Link had posted terrifying regular-season averages of 29 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Those 7 assists per game ranked tenth in the league.

The facts had proven that Link's playmaking ability was no worse than that of many point guards. If he could get the Grizzlies' offense going, then all the Heat's efforts would