pdf-ebookys Chapter 352 The Decisive Round Arrives! A More Effective Method Than Tactics is...
Chapter 352 The Decisive Round Arrives! A More Effective Method Than Tactics is...
Chapter 352 The Decisive Round Arrives! More Effective Than Tactics is Madness!
After Lin Tian's dunk, the Pacers did not choose to press the full court again, but instead the whole team quickly retreated and returned to their respective defensive zones.
In NBA-level games, the full-court press tactic is all about catching the opponent off guard.
Once you've gained an advantage and taken the benefits, you need to quickly change tactics. If you continue fighting, you'll easily be overwhelmed by a few well-placed attacks.
But the reinstatement of half-court defense doesn't mean the Pacers' defense has become lax.
When a team's head coach, general manager, and key player are all cunning and dirty-minded, then that team's tactics will inevitably be numerous and dirty as well.
For example, the Bucks had just relaxed their guard when Cassell dribbled the ball up the court, just about to call a play and execute it to stabilize the team's losing streak.
But before Kassel could even get his footing, Lin Tian's pressing came again, and this time it was faster and more intense!
Lin Tian's feet were almost directly inserted between Cassell's legs, making it impossible for him to quickly exert force to break through. At the same time, in addition to Lin Tian, the other Pacers players also suddenly exerted their strength, expanding their defensive area and increasing their defensive intensity.
Intensify the pressing defense in the second half!
Lin Tian's defensive intensity was immense. With the defensive gaps he intentionally exposed, Cassell was forced to move towards the right 45-degree angle. But just as he reached 2 meters outside the three-point line, Carter's double-team came!
Cassell had to expend all his energy just dealing with Lin Tian, so he didn't dare wait for Carter's defense to come up fully.
He immediately passed the ball laterally to Ray Allen on the other side.
But after Allen got the ball, the Pacers changed their defense again. Carter stayed close to Cassell, while Lin Tian quickly moved laterally towards the top of the key.
On the other side, Allen, facing Christie, could only break through towards the left sideline.
Then Webber came up too! He and Christie double-teamed Allen on the left side!
Meanwhile, in the Pacers' interior, Ben Wallace stood tall, single-handedly guarding the paint and cutting off Allen's connection with the inside, preventing him from easily lobbing the ball inside.
Seeing that he would be surrounded by three players if he continued to break through, Allen had no choice but to quickly turn around and dribble backwards towards the middle, hoping to gain some extra space.
But clearly, that's what the Pacers want him to do!
He had only taken two steps toward the middle when Lin Tian arrived!
Lin Tian and Christie double-teamed Allen again. This time, Allen couldn't escape. Lin Tian snatched the basketball from Allen's hands. Then, Lin Tian dribbled again and launched a counterattack. Christie then took a step insidiously and blocked Allen, preventing him from quickly getting back on defense.
"Whoosh!"
Three seconds later, Lin Tian dribbled to the three-point line and pulled up for a three-pointer, which went in!
24 points!
The Pacers continue to extend their lead!
The Pacers' defense was truly spectacular!
Anyone in the know can immediately tell that this is an expanded version of a half-court 1-2-2 zonal defense!
Since the US team was pushed to the brink of defeat by teams like Lithuania and was brutally beaten by the Chinese team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the NBA has been thinking about how to improve and allow the US team to regain its dominance on the world stage.
After a whole season of experimentation and cover-ups, the league officially announced this season that it will no longer impose any restrictions on zone defense!
Apart from maintaining the three-second rule to ensure entertainment value, all other restrictions on zone defense in the league have been completely lifted.
The previously occasional, clandestine zone defenses used by various teams have become more prevalent this season, with more teams starting to experiment with them.
Well, of course, so far, the effect is not obvious. After all, Americans don't play zone defense from a young age, and the coaches' research on zone defense is obviously not as good as those old tricks in Europe.
But ultimately, zone defense tactics have already begun to emerge.
Carlisle's expanded zone defense is essentially a modified version of the full-court press; to put it simply, it's a half-court press defense.
The Pacers' strength lies in the mobility and excellent defensive abilities of their perimeter players. They drive the opponent's ball handlers to the sides of the court and then double-team them, increasing the distance and difficulty of their passes and preventing them from quickly completing passes and transitions.
Then look for opportunities to force the opponent into a defensive trap and complete the interception.
Of course, this kind of defense also involves a lot of gambling. If the opponent's ball handler is good enough at passing, they can easily find an opportunity to pass the ball to a teammate who has been left out, allowing the teammate to easily score a layup.
Its benefits and risks are equally high, and if it is used continuously, the risks will likely far outweigh the benefits.
But occasionally taking it out to scare people can definitely have a surprising effect.
After Lin Tian hit that three-pointer, the Pacers went on a 10-0 run in just two minutes, and Lin Tian was undoubtedly the biggest contributor to this offensive surge!
In less than two minutes, he scored 8 points, 2 steals, and 1 assist, leading his team to a swift and decisive victory over the Bucks!
His stats have reached 29 points, 15 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals! Another near-perfect performance.
With 38 seconds left in the third quarter, Bucks' Cassell once again dribbled the ball up the court.
His expression had lost its previous ease; his eyes were fixed on Lin Tian, transforming from a friendly E.T. into a ferocious alien.
This shot has to go in! Otherwise, if the Pacers go on a run at the end of the quarter, their game in the fourth quarter is really over!
After arriving at the frontcourt, the Pacers didn't try any fancy tricks this time, but instead started their traditional man-to-man defense. After observing the situation, Cassell passed the ball to Glenn Robinson, who currently had the biggest advantage in his matchup, hoping that the big dog could complete a beautiful one-on-one score.
Robinson received the ball and faced Webber. He had an absolute advantage in mobility and speed. He used two consecutive shooting fakes to get Webber off balance. Then Robinson immediately broke through and drove towards the basket. As Ben Wallace rushed up to help defend, Robinson passed the ball to the middle with both hands.
That was Kassel, which had been cut off from the sky and arrived in haste.
This is what makes the "alien" survive: cunning movement and super high basketball IQ!
Although he is a point guard, he always manages to be in the right place, receiving passes from his teammates and directly launching attacks.
"Snapped!"
Before Cassell could even jump after getting the ball, Lin Tian, who had just been blocked and shaken off, caught up with him, reached out from behind him, and snatched the basketball away!
Big Ben caught the basketball that Lin Tian had stolen and immediately passed it to Lin Tian.
The Pacers' comeback has begun again!
This time, Lin Tian dribbled the ball up the middle again, while the rest of the Pacers players were scattered all over the court. However, because Lin Tian started from his own basket, the Bucks' entire defensive formation had already been set up by the time he arrived in the frontcourt, giving him no chance to play a fast break.
Lin Tian ignored the Bucks' well-prepared defensive formation, showing no intention of playing it safe for the final attack. In his eyes, the Bucks' defense was as fragile as paper, and with a 'rip,' it was completely torn apart by Lin Tian.
Almost immediately after getting past Cassell, Lin Tian quickly turned and dribbled past Caffey, who came up to help defend. Then, before Pope and Robinson could come up to help defend, he suddenly made another no-look behind-the-back pass, sending the ball back to the baseline.
Carter received the ball outside the three-point line with no one guarding him and immediately pulled up for a shot!
"Whoosh!"
After another crisp sound, the score difference between the two sides reached 27 points!
Lin Tian has exceeded his target of 25 points ahead of schedule!
After Carter made that shot, the Bucks had less than 8 seconds to attack. Robinson, who came to the baseline to inbound the ball, seemed to be stunned. Even though there were still 8 seconds left, he still chose a very irrational long-distance pass!
He flicked the ball forward with one arm, hoping to give Cassell a quick goal.
The Pacers play like this every day because Webber has good passing skills, Lin Tian is fast enough and has strong dribbling ability, and they practice this kind of thing all the time.
But you're playing like this in front of the Pacers?
That would be like showing off one's limited skills before an expert, and it would be a recipe for disaster!
Cassell did catch the ball, but he couldn't shake off Lin Tian at all. After receiving the ball, he stumbled and almost made a mistake, let alone launch a fast attack.
Just as he knew he would have difficulty quickly breaking through Lin Tian's defenses and wanted to play it safe, a voice suddenly came to his ear.
"Sam! Here! Give it to me!"
With Kassel in a somewhat awkward position due to Lin Tian's pressure, he didn't have time to analyze whose voice it was and simply passed the ball over.
But he knew he'd made a mistake the moment he released the ball!
The guy on the other side is wearing that damn white jersey! Not the Bucks' green!
Christie!
When did this guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes become such a treacherous bastard?
Christie, who received the pass from Cassell, didn't even say thank you to Cassell. Instead, he dribbled the ball up the court and charged forward. Ray Allen had just been facing him when Christie suddenly threw the ball into the open space on the left.
Just as the basketball was about to fly out of bounds, Lin Tian's large hand appeared and caught the ball. Lin Tian even had time to feint at the air, and Cassell, who was chasing closely behind him, immediately jumped and passed in front of Lin Tian.
"Sam, are you going back to your home planet?" After uttering his first trash talk to Cassell in the game, Lin Tian calmly launched a three-pointer just before the end of the third quarter!
"Whoosh!"
After another crisp sound, Lin Tian hit another three-pointer!
The Pacers have extended their lead to 30 points!
16: 0!
In the final two minutes, the Pacers unleashed a 16-0 offensive onslaught, leaving the Bucks utterly defeated!
The game, which had just held a sliver of hope, was completely blown out in an instant. Against a team like the Pacers, being down by 30 points in the final quarter meant there was really no point in continuing.
The Bucks were completely stunned!
In the fourth quarter, the Pacers did not field any of their starting players, effectively declaring the game over early on.
Even without their starters on the court, the Pacers' bench players held their own against the Bucks' starters, who were still eager to give it their all, maintaining a lead of around 30 points for a short period.
After persisting for a few minutes, Karl realized that things were hopeless and it was impossible to turn the score around. So he stopped forcing it and substituted all his key players with 8 minutes left in the game, thus surrendering.
110: 138!
When the final buzzer sounded, although the Bucks had scored 110 points tonight, and the three Musketeers combined for more than 70 points, they still lost by a full 28 points!
There was nothing they could do; their opponents, the Pacers, were stronger and had more firepower. In fact, the Pacers' firepower was among the best in the entire history of the league.
We can't beat them, we absolutely can't beat them!
In the second and third games of the series, the Bucks reversed their losing streak and did not lose by nearly 30 points like in the first game; instead, they lost by smaller margins each time.
In the second game at Conseco Arena, they only lost by 11 points, and even had a one-point lead in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter.
In the third game back in Milwaukee, they even maintained a lead for the first three quarters, and had a 3-point advantage with the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter!
However, in the next two minutes, the Pacers' balance, powerful firepower, rich experience, and superior star power allowed them to successfully turn the tide and win the game.
3: 0!
The series has reached match point once again, and the Pacers have another chance to sweep their opponents and advance easily.
This time, however, they failed to maintain their strong performance and winning streak during the playoffs.
In Game 4 of the series, the Bucks' three sharpshooters finally had a huge breakout. Ray Allen hit 7 three-pointers and scored 31 points, while Cassell only scored 13 points and had 5 turnovers, but still delivered 18 assists!
The biggest contributor to the team's victory was "Big Dog" Glenn Robinson.
This former number one draft pick used his mobility, size, and strong mismatch ability to completely overwhelm the Pacers' frontcourt. He scored 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, shooting 17-for-26 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range, and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Thanks to his explosive performance, the Bucks managed to defend their home court and salvage some dignity!
They became the first team to defeat the Pacers in one game in the past six series.
They finally ended the Pacers' incredible winning streak in the playoffs.
The Pacers' playoff winning streak, which began last season, has finally come to an end!
They had a 15-game winning streak last season and a 7-game winning streak this season, for a total of 22 consecutive wins!
The highest record in NBA history!
They became the first team in NBA history to achieve 20+ points and a 15+ point winning streak in the playoffs! Their dominance during the playoffs was simply awe-inspiring!
Unfortunately for the entire league, the Pacers showed absolutely no regret or disappointment at this loss.
On the contrary, these people were all very excited!
"What's there to worry about? We're leading 3-1. If we were down 1-3, that's when we'd need to be serious," Miller said, still looking arrogant.
"I got blown out. I couldn't stop Glenn, it's that simple." Webber was one of the few on the team who still retained a hint of ferocity at this moment: "Next game, I'll get back at him. I'll crush Glenn! I'll show him the huge gap between us!"
"He was just lucky tonight. He jumped up with all his might and landed a punch on my knee. In the next game, I'll bury him back in the ground."
"What? 22 consecutive wins? The best in history? That many? I have no idea! I'm super satisfied! We've given it our all in the past games." Carter maintained his usual sunny disposition when facing the media.
"What does the end of our winning streak mean for us? It means the next winning streak is about to begin," Lin Tian said with a confident shrug. "It also means we can finally advance at home. How long has it been since we won a series at home?"
"It's time to give our fans a little something; let them watch us advance to the Eastern Conference Finals!"
"By the way, how's the 76ers vs. Magic game going? The Magic are already up 3-1? That's impressive! Hopefully they won't pull off an upset. Allen's energy is much greater than they think!"
The Pacers' arrogance, disdain for others, and domineering attitude have undoubtedly stung the hearts of every Milwaukee resident.
I just defeated you, and you're already thinking about your next opponent?
Are they even starting to worry about whether their opponents will be able to turn the tide?
Arrogant and disrespectful!
"Kill them!" Before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, George Karl roared furiously, spitting as he spoke, "These arrogant and rude bastards! They have no respect for us! Kill them! Let them know how tough and ruthless Milwaukee people are!"
"The frigid environment has forged our indomitable spirit! The bitter cold cannot defeat us, and neither can the Indians!"
"Tonight, I won't say that we have to become the first team in history to come back from a 0-3 deficit, nor will I say that we have to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals."
"But tonight, fuck those Indians to death! Make them pay for their talk and arrogance! Show them our mettle! Bring the game back to Milwaukee!"
"Yes! Kill them!" The Bucks were also spurred on by Karl's roar. A group of fierce bucks stood up and walked into Conseco Arena with high morale!
On the other side, in the Pacers' home locker room, Carlisle maintained his usual refined style. Unlike Bird, he didn't sit on the bench in the middle of the locker room, but instead moved a chair and sat down comfortably.
Regardless of the attitude and demeanor the Pacers have displayed to the outside world over the past few days, internally they have absolutely no intention of underestimating the Bucks.
The Bucks have already demonstrated their firepower in the last game, showing how difficult this team can be if those three guys are allowed to get going.
Therefore, in the two days prior, Carlisle had conducted very rigorous drills on the team's defensive system and defensive matchups, making ample preparations.
It wasn't just that Carlisle had made thorough preparations before the game, ready to give the Bucks some surprises.
The players have been giving their all in training these past two days, showing no signs of slacking off.
As the Bucks' opponents on the court, they knew better than anyone how difficult the Bucks were to deal with.
"You all remember the tactics we practiced these past two days, right?" Carlisle cleared his throat and began to formally outline the tactics for tonight's game.
"Glen dominated us in the last game. His offensive skills are so comprehensive. He can shoot threes, he can catch and shoot in the mid-range after a screen, he can drive to the basket with the ball, and he can back down any opponent shorter than him in the low post."
"In other words, he's a master of all scoring methods. He's good at putting the ball in the basket in any way he can. He can create mismatches against anyone! In the last game, he repeatedly drove to the basket to score against Chris, but when we switched to Doug to defend him, he used his strength to score in the low post."
"And when we switched to defend him, he kept taking shots from mid-range and long range."
"He has the talent to become one of the league's top scorers. His skills were honed during his college years. The reason he was able to surpass players like Hill, Kidd, and Howard to become the number one draft pick is because of his comprehensive and amazing scoring skills!"
After praising Robinson lavishly, Carlisle changed the subject and continued, "However, he is lazy, unambitious, an alcoholic, has terrible lifestyle habits, doesn't participate in training, and if you compare his game videos from this year with those from his college days, you'll find something."
"This guy has hardly improved at all! You can still see those bad playing habits from college in him now. His shortcomings and weaknesses from college are still there. He has hardly honed his skills and hasn't made any progress."
"So he averaged 21 points per game in his rookie season, but that's about the same level he's maintained throughout his entire career! To be honest, his performance in that game was just a temporary burst of energy, like having a turkey dinner for Christmas."
"Who doesn't eat turkey for Christmas?"
"However, to prevent him from getting turkey in the last two games, we still need to make some arrangements. Lin, you will be guarding Glenn from the start of the game tonight. Cut into his bottom lane, lower your center of gravity, push him out of the elbow area, and let him launch his attack from the top of the key and further away from the basket."
"Vince, you're in charge of Ray. You can play more aggressively, don't give him any space to shoot, don't allow him to take any mid-range or long-range shots, force him to drive. Then Ben, pay attention to help defense, be ready to come out and block Ray's pull-up jump shot or force his way to the basket."
"Doug, you're in charge of that monster Sam. Use your height and weight to cover him. In the mid-to-long range, give him a half-step of space to block his passing lanes, making it difficult for him to organize and pass the ball easily. Let him try to play one-on-one and shoot."
"Chris, you have the heaviest job tonight! You'll be carrying the team's offense. We'll be focusing on you from the start. I'll give you a chance to prove you're 10 times better than Glen, but whether you can do it or not depends on you. But I believe you won't let me down, and you won't let the guys down!"
"Okay, that's about it. Any questions?"
Carlisle quickly finalized the strategy for the night, assigned tasks to everyone, clapped his hands, and gestured for everyone to shout their slogan together. Then, the entire Pacers team walked out of the locker room and headed to the court.
With a 3-1 lead, Game 5 of the series has officially begun!
As the starting players from both sides stepped onto the field, amidst the deafening roar of the fans at Conseco Arena, the referee tossed the ball into the air!
This time, Ben Wallace put in all his effort, leaping high and slapping the basketball into Lin Tian's hands.
"No rush!" After getting the ball, Lin Tian let it bounce on the floor, raised his hands, and signaled to everyone not to rush and to slowly take their positions.
Then, Lin Tian dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and immediately passed it to Webber, who was reaching out for the ball on the high post on the wing.
After receiving the ball, Webber faced Robinson, who had dominated him in the previous game, and suddenly lowered his weight, saying, "How did it feel in the last game? Remember that feeling; you'll never have a moment like that again in your life!"
"But tonight, your feelings will be completely opposite to those of the last game!"
In response to Webber's provocation, Robinson scoffed, "Come on, Chris. If you were really that good, you would have crushed me in the last game! Let's put it this way, without Lin, you're a complete softie and trash!"
"A spineless woman who only knows how to suck up to powerful men! You think I'd be afraid of you? You think I'd worry about you? Huh?"
"Whoosh!"
Before Robinson could even finish speaking, Webber had already pulled up for a jump shot and easily scored 2 points!
"Only cowards argue! But Chris Webber will send you back to your hometown and beat you so badly your poor old mother won't recognize you!"
On the Bucks' offense, Robinson, who had just been humiliated by Webber, angrily went to his best position, the midfield, and reached out to try and take the ball for a strong shot.
But after he regained his footing, he was surprised to find that the person defending him had become Lin Tian!
"Huh?" Robinson scoffed. "Lin, are you looking for death? Maybe you're the best point guard, but if you go up against me, I'll turn you into mincemeat!"
"Give it a try." Lin Tian said, while secretly giving Robinson a jolt in the waist, causing Robinson to take a half step back. Lin Tian then quickly stepped forward and took over the tiny bit of space that Robinson had vacated.
Then Lin Tian continued to put pressure on Robinson, making it impossible for him to dribble or exert force, leaving him in a very awkward position!
Logically, in this kind of opportunity to exploit a mismatch, Robinson should have directly attacked the paint and forced his way through, which would have been the best and most efficient way to score. However, Robinson's position for the ball was a bit far from the basket, and Lin Tian's lower body strength was now truly impressive!
If Lin Tian were to play against traditional power forwards or tall players over 210 cm, he definitely wouldn't be able to handle it. But against a swingman like Robinson who plays on the perimeter, Lin Tian is truly fearless!
Not only is he strong enough, but he also has faster footwork and a steady, accurate and ruthless attack speed. When tall forwards encounter Lin Tian, they simply have a hard time dribbling the ball and getting into attack mode!
With Lin Tian pushing him to his limits, Robinson had no choice but to dunk the ball from the spot, then step back slightly to create some distance before pulling up for a long-range jump shot.
"Bang!"
However, this kind of shot is the most difficult and unstable way to score, even for top shooters, let alone a tall forward like Robinson.
Make a confident move, and you might just miss!
Webber grabbed the rebound, glanced at the frontcourt, and instead of passing, he dribbled the ball up the court himself.
This incredibly talented and stylish player dribbled the ball all the way up the court, and it wasn't until he reached the three-point line that he finally encountered Robinson, who had come up to defend. Only then did the Bucks' defense get into position.
But by then, it's too late.
Webber dribbled the ball to the right with his right hand, subtly slowing down his advance. Then, in the instant Robinson relaxed his guard, he suddenly made a quick and stealthy change of direction, dribbling the ball to the left. At the same time, he quickly stepped to the side, blocked the position, and then suddenly accelerated!
The Bucks never expected a power forward to play like a guard. They were completely caught off guard, and no one came to help defend or cover. Webber had already taken three steps at a time and was heading straight for the basket.
"boom!"
After a muffled thud, Webber slammed home a one-handed dunk, scoring 4 points in a row to start the game!
In the Bucks' next offensive possession, Lin Tian put up even more intense and aggressive challenges against Robinson.
He started battling Robinson outside the three-point line, relentlessly pushing him towards the three-point line, making it impossible for him to reach his familiar area to receive the ball.
As for Cassell, he was completely covered by Christie, who was half a head taller than him. Without the advantage of speed, Cassell was somewhat helpless against Christie's defense.
After several runs and screens, the Bucks' play failed to materialize, and in the end, they could only pass the ball to Allen, who cut out from the paint to receive it.
After Allen got the ball, Carter immediately rushed in to provide close defense!
Given Carter's defensive abilities, expecting him to lock down and completely shut down Allen is unrealistic; it's not something Carter excels at.
But if you just have Carter guard Allen closely, preventing him from shooting and allowing him to drive, then Carter will definitely not disappoint!
Noticing Carter's close defense, Allen immediately lowered his center of gravity to break through and successfully got past him. However, just as he reached the vicinity of the free throw line, Ben Wallace rushed over, baring his teeth and claws to disrupt his shooting rhythm.
Left with no other option, Allen accelerated again and forced his way to the basket.
"Snapped!"
But this time, just as he drove to the basket to gather the ball and jump to attack it, he suddenly felt a lightness in his hands, and the basketball was gone!
Lin Tian!
At some point, Lin Tian let go of Robinson and went to help defend the basket!
And seizing the opportunity, he slashed down and knocked the basketball out of Allen's hands!
Then Lin Tian caught the basketball and threw it towards the frontcourt, and the basketball came back to Webber, who had already started sprinting!
Webber, with the basketball in hand, once again sped up his pace, and only after he had crossed half-court did two perimeter defenders, Cassell and Caffey, confront him, attempting to steal the ball from his hands.
But who is Webber? His vision extends to the entire history of the league's power forward and center positions, and he is definitely among the top five! Long before Cassell and Caffey came up, he had already calculated what he was going to do next.
The basketball was released and flew towards the basket.
When Caffee and Cassell double-team Webber in that position, it means something else—
The Bucks are in dire need of help under the basket!
"boom!"
Immediately following was a loud bang. Carter, who was fast-moving, leaped into the air, grabbed the basketball with both hands with his back to the basket, and then slammed it heavily into the rim behind him.
Another signature back-to-the-basket alley-oop dunk!
The DJ at Conseco Center immediately sounded the air raid siren, warning the Bucks to be careful of an air attack!
"This isn't an ordinary fighter jet attack! This is a UFO from outer space bringing an aerial threat! Prepare for destruction, Milwaukee!"
Accompanied by the DJ's excited roar, the entire Conseco Center erupted in a deafening roar of cheers and shouts!
Their home team did not disappoint them!
After losing a game on the road, my favorite players really woke up! They launched a furious attack on the Bucks!
So far in the game, the Bucks haven't scored a single point!
They were completely stunned by the Pacers' sudden change in defense and tactics!
Karl, sitting on the sidelines, stood up, crossed his arms, and called the first timeout of the game.
With Webber as the primary offensive option and mismatch defense as the secondary option, Carlisle's tactical change at the start of the game caught the veteran coach somewhat off guard.
Karl couldn't help but glance at Carlisle across the technical table.
Are all young people these days so ruthless?
Change is necessary!
Otherwise, Karl believed that with the Pacers' aggressive start, they could have widened the gap to more than 10 points in just 5 minutes!
If you fall behind by double digits right from the start when playing away from home, you might as well surrender the game.
As for Karl's arrangements?
It's actually very simple.
"Glenn, you set a screen for Sam! You two run a pick-and-roll!"
"Ray, go to the weak side, get ready to shoot as soon as you receive the ball!"
"Glenn, cut inside immediately after the pick-and-roll. I want you to show the bulldozer's ferocity and brutality! Whoever stands in your way, crush them!"
"yes!"
Increase aggression and fight harder and more fiercely!
You're having Lin Tian mismatch guard Robinson?
Then I'll use brute force to smash you to pieces!
Carl's strategy proved effective in the first round after the timeout.
After a screen and pass between Robinson and Cassell, Robinson suddenly unleashed a burst of brute force, like a bull charging into the paint against Lin Tian. He then received a pass from Cassell, and without making any further moves, he slammed the ball hard on the floor with both hands, driving it into the three-second zone, and then forcefully pulled up for a shot under the basket!
The strategy was simple and quick, using height, weight, and brute force to forcibly neutralize all of Lin Tian's advantages.
This is what is known as "overpowering ten wise men with one force".
No matter how strong Lin Tian was, or how dominant he was among the guards, Robinson was a proper power forward with a significant size advantage. He played this shot fiercely, aggressively, and unexpectedly, leaving Lin Tian with no way to stop him.
After Robinson scored two points with a strong drive to the basket, the Bucks finally broke the deadlock. The feeling of being completely dominated and almost suffocated by the Pacers finally began to dissipate.
Robinson's basket revitalized the Bucks' offense, and both Allen's forced three-pointer and Cassell's post-up game eventually found their way into the basket, scoring points for the team.
Of course, no matter how varied the Bucks' offense was, or how much the Three Musketeers fired their rifles, they couldn't stop the Pacers' offense.
Offense drives defense; scoring boosts defensive intensity, thus suppressing the opponent's offense and quickly widening the score gap.
This was originally an almost ironclad rule in the NBA, a principle that everyone followed.
But this ironclad rule is clearly not strong enough when facing the Pacers.
Because there will be times when they can't defend against their opponents, and times when the opponent scores consecutively, but how do you stop their offense?
That would be much more difficult than getting Chamberlain to abstain from sex for a month!
As long as Chamberlain can fire, the Pacers players will definitely be able to score non-stop!
21: 28!
47: 59!
72: 84!
The Bucks' offense was undeniably good, and the players gave it their all; the Three Musketeers' muskets were fully loaded tonight!
Under Carlisle's targeted defense, Ray Allen, despite Carter's close defense, sank five three-pointers using various drifting, forced pull-up jumpers, and long-range three-pointers. Cassell, facing Christie who was more than 10 centimeters taller than him, repeatedly made jump shots that were blocked over his head.
In addition, Robinson, this big guy, although he committed 2 offensive fouls because he played too aggressively and charged into the paint repeatedly, and had 4 fouls at the beginning of the fourth quarter, he still managed to get 11 free throws!
All three of them scored over 18 points in the first three quarters tonight!
Carlisle's tactical setup and changes were correct, quick, and commendable, but to no avail.
This is the NBA!
You may do the right thing, but it may not work. Your opponent may play in an unreasonable and incorrect way, but they can still keep scoring.
However, the Pacers maintained a firm grip on the game, leading by more than 10 points!
As mentioned earlier, doing the right thing on the basketball court doesn't always guarantee success, and when opponents are unreasonable and use the worst and most direct methods to score, there's only one best way to respond—
They are more unreasonable and crazier than them!
The Pacers can definitely do it!
In the first three quarters, Lin Tian, Carter and Miller combined to hit 11 three-pointers, their shooting touch was on fire. Webber was even more dominant tonight, racking up a perfect stat line of 24 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks in just three quarters!
The Bucks have three sharpshooters, their ammunition is plentiful and inexhaustible?
Sorry! We have an entire army here!
(End of this chapter)