NBA: Warrior godfather.

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Mike Breen took over:

"This shot is good. O'Neal is too old… Let me tell you about the starting lineups for both teams. For the Warriors: Curry, Azubuike, Butler, Matthews, and Biedrins. Varejao was benched due to stiffness. For the Cavaliers: James, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, Antawn Jamison, and O'Neal."

Jeff Van Gundy added:

"Among them, Monta Ellis is listed as a point guard, but in reality, James is the one controlling the ball. Ellis still plays as a shooting guard, focusing on cutting and off-ball moves. Stephen Jackson is a fake starter. He will be replaced early and subbed with Mo Williams during the rotation."

After the two commentators explained the Cavaliers' setup, Cleveland began their attack.

James held the ball like a tank and stormed into the paint. Butler, trying to guard him, had no choice but to backpedal.

Biedrins moved up to help defend, but James's expression didn't change. He shielded Butler, surged forward, and jumped as Biedrins leapt to contest his shot.

The two collided mid-air. Biedrins staggered backward, unable to handle James's power. But James still had control. Before landing, he softly released the ball with his right hand, banking it off the glass.

"Beep—"

The referee's whistle sounded. James scored the layup and got the and-one.

2–2.

After landing, James flexed his massive biceps toward the crowd behind the basket and roared, igniting passionate cheers:

"King! King!"

Liam Gonzalez watched this unfold from the sidelines, taking a deep breath.

Seeing James play in person gave a clear sense of his dominance. Although it wasn't a dunk, this play fully demonstrated James's superior physical condition and athleticism. His soft finish at the end perfectly showcased why he's the most fearsome rim attacker on the planet.

James's body was a weapon, and paired with his touch near the rim, he was nearly unstoppable in the paint.

However, just moments ago, James had a chance to pass to O'Neal, who was open behind Biedrins, but he chose to drive himself instead.

Liam thought about James's pregame interview with ESPN, where he had firmly denied any intention of leaving the Cavaliers, and a faint smile appeared on Liam's face.

The "King" has fallen into my trap!

Mike Breen shook his head and said:

"Look at this. James is just unstoppable. Biedrins and Butler couldn't defend him at all. In the end, Liam even had to pull a big man away from the paint. How can you fight like this?"

Jeff Van Gundy, still amazed by James's shot, replied hesitantly:

"Mike, don't worry. Let's take it one step at a time..."

Yet, no matter how dominant James's drives were, his shooting remained a weakness.

He missed the free throw, completing a classic "2+0." Biedrins grabbed the rebound, and the ball returned to the Warriors.

The Cavaliers quickly transitioned back on defense, preventing a fast break. Curry calmly brought the ball into the front court and ran a pick-and-roll with Biedrins.

Monta Ellis and O'Neal switched on defense, leaving the aging O'Neal guarding Curry.

Curry didn't hold back. Facing the heavier O'Neal, he shifted directions, created space, and released a three-pointer.

Swish!

O'Neal's bulky frame couldn't keep up with Curry's movement, and his slow contest failed to disrupt the shot. All he could do was watch as the ball sank through the net.

5–2.

Mark Jackson, part of the commentary team, interjected:

"Hand down, man down. That's the MVP we're seeing right there."

Mike Brown frowned as he saw Curry's composed expression, realizing this could continue throughout the game.

They couldn't let O'Neal defend Curry one-on-one, or they'd give up easy points.

On the next possession, James attacked the rim again. This time, Matthews came over to help defend, and Biedrins blocked James's path early.

Still, it came at a cost. James, with his excellent court vision, noticed the defensive gap and passed the ball to O'Neal under the basket.

The veteran big man was ready. He received the ball, jumped lightly, and dunked it in.

5–4.

O'Neal glanced at Biedrins, who retrieved the ball, with a trace of disdain in his eyes.

After all, I'm getting old. Even kids like this dare to challenge me.

O'Neal thought of Curry's earlier three-pointer and felt a strange panic. If this had been his prime… Could he have defended that shot?

He believed he could. But now, facing this baby-faced rookie who had only played nine games, O'Neal couldn't help but imagine what Curry might become after a few years.

The thought was unsettling.

But for now, I'm still in this league, and I'm still a bloodthirsty shark!

After Matthews used a screen to free himself from Jamison and nailed a three-pointer, O'Neal took the initiative, asking for the ball in the low post.

The Cavaliers were happy to oblige, and James immediately fed him the ball.

O'Neal leaned back slightly, testing Biedrins's strength. Then, with a powerful move, he backed Biedrins down, turned, and hooked the ball in with his left hand despite the contest.

8–6.

After scoring, O'Neal took a deep breath as he jogged back on defense.

At 37, his stamina had declined significantly from his prime. He could only maximize his impact in short bursts, especially in the first quarter when his energy was at its peak.

The first quarter ended with both teams tied at 32–32, a fierce back-and-forth battle with neither side gaining an edge.

Mark Jackson smiled and asked:

"Both teams are tied after the first quarter. Liam's Warriors haven't fallen behind. Mike, who do you think has the upper hand?"

Mike Breen hesitated but replied:

"O'Neal couldn't keep up on defense and struggled to get back in transition. That hurt the Cavaliers and kept this close. I think Mike Brown will adjust in the second quarter and stop Curry from targeting O'Neal."

After the start of the second quarter, Mike Brown did exactly what Jeff Van Gundy predicted, removing O'Neal and replacing him with backup center JJ Hickson. This was also a consistent strategy for the Cavaliers.

O'Neal was physically exhausted, so Mike Brown could only let him play the entire first quarter, rest for the second, and then bring him back in the second half if necessary to maximize the old shark's power.

In fact, Mike Brown didn't really want to use O'Neal, but his annual salary was $20 million, higher than James's. Owner Gilbert would definitely not agree to that.

He was forced to do with the situation, working tirelessly to organize tactics for O'Neal and trying to use whatever energy he had left.

After O'Neal left the game, the Cavaliers' lineup in the second quarter featured Mo Williams, Hickson, Stephen Jackson, Delonte West, and Monta Ellis.

The Warriors had Lowry, Watson, Reggie Williams, Big Z, and Anthony Tolliver—another offensive-heavy lineup.

Both teams had an uncommon depth on their benches. While the Cavaliers were stronger overall, their defense wasn't good enough. The Warriors had adopted the Cavaliers' starting style: Big Z became a double-edged sword.

The two sides went silent as they met head-on. Big Z on the Warriors' side took a mid-range shot, while Mo Williams quickly turned around and hit a three-pointer.

Lowry and Big Z were almost unstoppable in their pick-and-roll game. They cooperated every day in practice and had great chemistry.

Meanwhile, Anthony Tolliver didn't hesitate to shoot threes. As soon as he received the ball, even with defenders in front of him, he would shoot without hesitation as long as there was no interference. He was sent out to do just that.

On the Cavaliers' side, Monta Ellis, Mo Williams, and Stephen Jackson stepped up their play, taking turns working alone. The Warriors' bench couldn't stop them at all.

In the first six minutes of the second quarter, both teams' bench players were on fire, and the score changed back and forth.

When both Curry and James returned to the court, the Warriors led by 1 point, 46–45.

From the beginning of this game, neither team had been able to create a significant lead, and the situation was extremely tense.

As soon as James stepped back onto the court, he immediately went to work, charging into the paint against Butler. Butler was a step slow on defense, which allowed James to dunk the ball.

After landing, James pounded his chest fiercely and looked up to the sky, letting out a loud roar, which sent the Quicken Loans Center into a frenzy. The fans screamed wildly, adoring their "Emperor."

James was determined to score today and had an extremely strong desire to attack. As a result, he hadn't played his primary offensive role for over a quarter and a half, which nearly exhausted him.

End of this chapter

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