His movement rate was clearly slower compared to the previous games, but his technical execution was still very fluid.
The talent training of the Anti-Fans System had reached a plateau and required a lot of practice, which helped him develop muscle memory.
When the basketball pierced through the net, a restless noise arose from the crowd.
Hansen, is he really running a fever?
Heat Team’s offense, Durant’s pick and roll mid-range shot was swift and decisive.
Aside from the game where Hansen had locked him down, Durant’s performance throughout the Finals had been MVP caliber.
Had it been James, facing this fervently desiring Grizzlies, the Heat Team would most likely have been swept again.
Hansen’s recent basket had an effect; Heat Team’s strong-side double teaming dared not be too thorough, and Randolph took the opportunity to spin and drive to the basket drawing a foul from Bosh, earning two free-throw opportunities.
At this time, Hansen took the initiative to go over and high-five Randolph.
Tonight’s game would not be an easy one. The high fever would continue to affect him, and everyone on the Grizzlies had to give their all.
Randolph made both free throws, and both teams exhibited excellent form from the get-go.
It was during Randolph’s free throws that Spoelstra called Wade aside.
Once the ball transitioned from offense to defense, it ended up in Wade’s hands; Wade prepared to drive with the ball.
Competitive sports have no sympathy; Spoelstra was not going to go easy just because Hansen was feverish.
Of course, he didn’t have that privilege, because losing tonight’s game meant that the road for this team would end.
Wade’s crossover successfully got past Hansen for a floater. Hansen’s movement speed was clearly slowing down.
The crowd erupted with cheers from Heat fans.
Now, they were certain that Hansen was still feverish.
Although it felt somewhat like a hollow victory, they desired it more than a fourth consecutive runner-up finish.
Under Spoelstra’s hand signals, Heat Team reinforced their determination to double-team the strong side.
Hansen moved to receive the ball again, but this time it was Wade who came back to face him on defense.
Clearly, Spoelstra’s aside with Wade had involved more than just offense.
Hansen’s shot fake was followed by a change of direction, squeezing past Wade toward the basket before jumping and shooting.
Wade timed his jump to block the shot, but Hansen in midair pulled off a one-handed catch and release.
Wade touched Hansen’s wrist on the block; Hansen’s shot did not go in, and he lost balance, falling to the ground.
The referee’s whistle blew, signaling Wade’s defensive foul.
Wade then went to help Hansen off the ground.
It was at that moment of contact that his eyes widened involuntarily.
For it wasn’t until he grasped Hansen’s burning hand that he truly felt the state of Hansen’s condition.
The fact that Hansen could perform such an action must be supported by an incredibly strong willpower.
Hansen stepped to the free-throw line, took a deep breath, his exhales were hot.
Though his body felt weak, his hands were steady, sinking both free throws with confidence.
The crowd stirred once again.
Hansen’s defense made it clear he was feverish, but his offense seemed completely unaffected; what was happening on the court was incredibly contradictory.
However, as the game progressed, fans could see that each time Hansen appeared on camera, the sweat on him increased.
Especially in the second half of the second quarter; Hansen on the court was like a sweat factory, and ball boys had to wipe the floor now and then. Content orıginally comes from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⁂𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⁂𝓷𝓮𝓽
By halftime, the score was 53 to 50, Heat Team leading, but the advantage was negligible.
Hansen had scored 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting in the first half.
From his defense and the number of shots he took, it was evident the fever affected him, yet he miraculously played with high efficiency.
"If you don’t know how to define a player’s greatness, then you just need to record what you’ve seen tonight," Barkley declared from the commentator’s booth.
When heading back to the locker room for the halftime break, Hansen was leaning on Guy’s shoulder.
Moreover, he didn’t return to the locker room but went straight to the medical room for an IV.
Besides dizziness and weakness, another issue with fever during exercise is increased sweat output.
Especially closer to halftime, when the fever-reducing medication started to take effect, the evaporation of sweat accelerated, easily leading to dehydration.
That couldn’t be replaced by just drinking saline; only an IV would do.
While Hansen was receiving his IV, Grizzlies players occasionally came by to check on him.
This time Hansen did not complain about their idleness.
Because, in the first half, his teammates had performed exceptionally well.
It kept his own expenditure within acceptable limits.
Because of similar circumstances, his tonight’s performance was destined to be compared by fans to Jordan’s legendary "Flu Game."
But what many people do not know is that Jordan was not as fortunate back then.
In that game, despite Jordan’s fever, the Bulls’ players did not seem to lift any weight off his shoulders.
Pippen had scored just 17 points from 5 of 17 shooting in that game, and the Bulls had only three players scoring in double digits.
Many say Pippen was stronger than James, really it’s six of one, half dozen of the other.
Frankly speaking, at the level of the Finals, without the ability to dominate, so-called versatility is good for nothing.
They could link up play nicely, but expecting them to carry the team at critical moments was just wishful thinking.
In contrast, Hansen was indeed much more fortunate.