Chapter 112: I Will Let You.
Randolph continued to play in the low post. This time, after receiving the ball, he made a move against Anthony and quickly turned baseline to take a fadeaway shot before the Heat's help defense could arrive.
For a player of his build, his moves were incredibly smooth.
Anthony indeed had good shot-blocking ability, but Randolph's rich experience allowed him to initiate contact early, preventing Anthony from closing out in time.
Swish!
The ball went through the net cleanly.
Randolph had earned the trust of a seasoned coach like Hollins, who built the team's tactics around him. Being a legitimate low-post threat, he was more than just a decent player.
After about five minutes of play in the first quarter, the score was 10-2, with the Grizzlies leading.
These five minutes could be described as LeBron James' public humiliation.
Gay, despite his physical strength, could not shut down LeBron every time. The lack of speed limited him to merely containing LeBron.
The key issue, however, was that out of the five Grizzlies on the court, Gay was the weakest defender!
When LeBron did manage to get past Gay, his lack of a consistent mid-range shot forced him to keep driving inside.