He swung the leather whip in his hand and yelled at O'Neal, "Damn! Get your ass to the high post for a pick-and-roll!

How many times do I need to tell you? Their interior defense efficiency this season is astonishingly high!"

Before the game, Riley carefully studied the Warriors' game footage from this season. He knew very well that compared to a straightforward low post attack, the Heat could only rely on Wade to disrupt the Warriors' interior defense and possibly break through their defensive line.

Moreover, ever since he took over the team mid-season, Riley had already established Wade's absolute core status.

So even Shaq, who once had a glorious past, must serve as a pick-and-roll tool for Wade in the game.

On the court, upon hearing this, O'Neal's expression immediately turned unpleasant.

Because as the former face of the NBA...

During his time with the Lakers, Phil Jackson never let him be insulted like this?

However, Riley couldn't care less about these things.

On the court, upon noticing O'Neal's lazy defensive attitude, Riley continued shouting, "You damn lazy bug! Can't you just move a bit?"

O'Neal initially wanted to retort that Riley didn't understand the essence of defense.

But the next moment, successfully breaking the Heat's zone defense, Qin Yue drove into the paint, soared, and completed a layup.

At that moment, O'Neal was embarrassed.

Because it was his failure to press forward in time that allowed Qin Yue to exploit the sole gap in the Heat's zone defense.

And what made O'Neal even more uncomfortable was that Qin Yue and Riley at this moment were seemingly a natural pair...

After scoring, the former mocked, "With this kind of defense, no wonder The Great Dream could do whatever he wanted on the court."

The latter then yelled at him, "Get moving, you damn lazy bug!"

Tonight, Qin Yue would absolutely show no respect whatsoever to O'Neal, this aging king who was shamelessly trying to whitewash peace in the public eye.

Especially when he showed disrespect first?

On the court, the Heat attacked.

Honest and simple, O'Neal moved to the high post to set a screen for Wade, attempting to roll down...

But little did he expect, Qin Yue had already positioned himself early on the path that O'Neal would inevitably take.

Qin Yue had watched the finals between the Heat and the Mavericks in history. He knew very well that even those like Dampier and Diop could effectively limit O'Neal's roll after the pick-and-roll.

So, if he couldn't even stop O'Neal's roll after the pick-and-roll, what was the point of him playing basketball? How could he talk about making a name in the NBA?

This was the unmasked Shaquille O'Neal of the 05/06 season.

Apart from his past glories and the old data he would repeatedly mention in front of the media...

This once greatest center was no longer shining.

On the court, if the Heat wanted to turn things around, they had to rely on "Cheeky Hero" Wade.

In Oracle Arena, as Wade charged forward, even Qin Yue couldn't help but sigh.

No wonder Wade would be Pat Riley's top choice for the Heat's all-time greatest player.

Because at this moment, with his explosive speed and exceptional RYAN speed leading the league, even if you knew he was going to break through, you absolutely couldn't stop him.

Bam, swoosh——!

Under the basket, Wade completed an aerial layup, securing the Heat's first two points of the night.

Back to the Warriors' possession.

Facing the Warriors' indefensible double interior pick-and-rolls, Riley, who couldn't hold back any longer, turned around and called Moning to him, "Go take that damn lazy bug out for me, damn it, we were supposed to be defending with a zone tonight, how did the Warriors turn it into a man-to-man?"

Upon hearing this, Moning, knowing Riley was already in a rage, dared not slack off and immediately ran over to the technical table.

In response...

Qin Yue felt extremely disappointed.

Because Qin Yue never expected that O'Neal, this aging king, couldn't withstand even three rounds before him.

At the top of the arc, seeing O'Neal still being lackluster in defending against the pick-and-roll, Qin Yue decided to withdraw the ball after a pick-and-roll with Murphy and bid farewell to this former greatest center with a three-pointer.

"That's why I say you wouldn't win a single championship without Kobe Bryant.

Because Kobe Bryant is Los Angeles's Michael Jordan, and you're just a big Scottie Pippen, always talking big and trying to prove you're strong by undermining other players!"

At this moment, looking at O'Neal, Qin Yue sharply criticized him.

Since O'Neal previously criticized him, Qin Yue naturally had to criticize back.

However, what's more disappointing than disappointment is...

This aging king didn't even show a shred of fighting spirit this evening.

In Oracle Arena, after Artest fouled...

Dead ball substitution, Moning came up, O'Neal went down.

Qin Yue noticed that when being substituted off the court, O'Neal's back was as lonely and desolate as could be described.

Even upon returning to the Heat's bench, he remained silent, as if the world had nothing to do with him.

"Boring."

It was indeed boring.

Because Qin Yue originally thought O'Neal would try to struggle a bit.

On the sideline, after the Heat made a substitution, Brown also moved to the sideline, ready to substitute Murphy.

In the following game, O'Neal, who was substituted off by Riley after three rounds at the start, did not return to the court.

Subsequently, without O'Neal, Wade and Qin Yue engaged in a showdown at Oracle Arena.

Although they were in different positions and didn't directly match up during the game, being James brothers, the two went back and forth, making the game unexpectedly exciting.

Throughout, Wade scored a total of 36 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals for the Heat.

Qin Yue scored 34 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, 7 assists, and made 3 blocks.

On the scoreboard, 101 to 105.

The Warriors won through Ron Artest's clutch free throws.

After the game, Riley blamed O'Neal's lack of participation in subsequent games on his infamous foot injury.

But the Bay Area media did not spare O'Neal, who dared to criticize the Messiah earlier: "Shaq's foot injury seems like a switch. Whenever he performs poorly, he presses a button and tells everyone, 'See, it's not me playing poorly, I'm just fighting through injuries.' But as soon as he performs well, his foot injury magically heals."

Regarding O'Neal's "smart" foot injury, Qin Yue did not comment post-game, as he had completely lost interest in Shaquille O'Neal.

Originally, before entering the league, Qin Yue was once worried he'd be tasked with defending O'Neal by the Warriors.

But looking back now...

Qin Yue only felt he was too young and naive back then.

The forthcoming era no longer belonged to Shaquille O'Neal.

The aging king must eventually face a dignified end.

If he doesn't face it gracefully.

Then in this tumultuous new era, there are plenty of people who will help him face it.

In the NBA, no one can sit on the throne forever.

Even Michael Jordan faced criticism for his come-back career with the Wizards.

Now, with the pent-up feelings swept away, Qin Yue gazed into the distance...

"Don't worry about finding true friends, no one in the world won't know you?"

...

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