Pick Westbrook

Chapter 164 Expecting the enemy to take the lead

Chapter 164 Expecting the enemy to take the lead

Milwaukee.

"4:0!"

"We've beat the Bobcats!"

"Let's see who our next opponent is!"

"No one can stop us!"

"We are invulnerable!"

Before the game started, a large number of Bucks fans gathered outside the Bradley Arena, and everyone took to the streets to prepare for the first game of the team's second round.

Kenny Smith said on the commentary platform: "Last season, the Bucks stopped in the second round because they encountered the Cavaliers with the league's first record. At the same time, there was a huge problem with their player rotation. The 7-man rotation made them It was very hard, and that's why we lost the series."

"But this season, they have a more complete team lineup! Their strength has also reached a new level!"

"It's just a coincidence that they met the former championship team, the Boston Celtics, who are aiming to regain the championship this season."

"The quality of this team is very strong and it will be a great test for them."

Barkley shook his head and said: "In my opinion, the game between the Bucks and the Celtics should be at 46. The strengths of the two teams are very close, but it is worth mentioning that the Celtics, who are aiming for the championship The Humans didn't show their full strength in the regular season."

"Last season, because of Garnett's injury at the end of the game, the team also stopped in the Eastern Conference semifinals, so this season, Coach Rivers implemented health management. He chose to protect Garnett in many intensive schedules, and did not Let him play."

"From the current point of view, the Celtics have also achieved a very satisfactory result. They have remained healthy from the team's Big Three to the main players and the substitutes. All players can enter the playoffs in perfect condition."

Kenny Smith was a little dissatisfied that the Bucks he supported were so underestimated by Barkley, so he argued: "Even so, the two teams should be 55. After all, the Bucks are the team with the best record in the league. Westbrook is still the regular season MVP."

"If you want to say that the Celtics have the Big Three, the Bucks also have good players, such as Westbrook, Curry, Yi Jianlian, Dragic, George Hill, and more. There are two former super giants Iverson and O'Neal on the bench."

Barkley naturally did not underestimate the Bucks. He was convinced by the performance of the Bucks as early as the last round of the series, but after all, this team is the Celtics, a team that has already won the championship. Prove your team.

Compared with the championship season, the Celtics this season have hardly adjusted their personnel, and the players cooperate with each other more maturely and tacitly. More importantly, they ushered in the growth of Rajon Rondo.

This season, Rondo averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists per game. In terms of team offense, he can even be regarded as the first in the league like Nash, Kidd, and Paul, and he is far above the league average in defense.

"It is said that the Celtics are the Big Three, but in my opinion they are at least three and a half giants. Rondo is definitely an All-Star point guard."

After listening to Barkley's logical analysis, Kenny Smith frowned, feeling more and more reasonable.

Instead, he remembered something and suddenly looked at his old partner and said, "You are said to be a nine-star poisoned milk, so the Celtics will be sucked to death by you?"

Technical front.

Li Lai and Rivers did not shake hands tacitly, they just came to the technical stage as a courtesy and glanced at each other.

Originally, the two were not familiar with each other, and both of them took this round of the series extremely seriously and seriously, so any friendly greeting scenes should not appear, so as to avoid embarrassing quarrels during the game.

On the court, Garnett beat his feet and chest, and then roared towards the Bucks bench. Before the game started, the atmosphere on the court rose first.

O'Neal was right in front of Garnett, and naturally he was sprayed the worst.

He looked at Garnett, who was spitting, and even had the urge to rush up and beat him right now.

Bucks starting lineup: Westbrook, Curry, Artest, Rasheed Wallace and Yi Jianlian.

Celtics starting lineup: point guard Rajon Rondo, shooting guard Ray Allen, small forward Paul Pierce, power forward Kevin Garnett and center Kendrick Perkins.

Game start.

Jump ball in the middle circle by Garnett and Yi Jianlian.

"During the regular season, the Celtics always let Perkins scramble for the ball." Tyronn Lu said with a hint of worry.

Marshall said with certainty: "Garnett's scrimmage is much better than Perkins. It seems that the Celtics are very serious about this game."

Whistle!

Garnett and Yi Jianlian leaped high, neither letting the other go.

The take-off movements of the two were completed almost at the same time.

It's just that the 34-year-old Garnett still leads Yi Jianlian in bullet speed, and far exceeds the opponent in wingspan.

The basketball was firmly placed in the hands of Rajon Rondo by Garnett.

Celtics offense.

"Defense!!"

At the beginning of the game, Artest reminded his teammates to stay focused.

Westbrook chose to take a step back to defend according to the pre-match arrangement, giving Rajon Rondo a step to dribble and shoot.

During the regular season, they also relied on this defensive strategy to greatly affect Rajon Rondo's ball-holding threat.

Garnett pulls up the pick-and-roll while Ray Allen runs around the baseline without the ball.

The attention of Curry and Artest was attracted by Ray Allen at the same time, after all, this is an exquisite master of off-ball movement.

Rajon Rondo, who saw the change in the Bucks' defensive position, decisively used the screen to go down, while Garnett stood near the high free throw line to respond.

Rasheed Wallace, who has rich defensive experience, did not choose to follow Garnett, but decisively helped defend the basket to limit Rajon Rondo's breakthrough attack.

Westbrook then switched to Garnett.

Rajon Rondo passed the ball without looking at people behind his head, and the basketball landed on top of Garnett's head with a very high arc. The latter caught the ball and ignored Westbrook's defensive iron-blooded jumper.

"This offense was played beautifully!"

"The tactical focus is on Ray Allen's point. His running directly took away the defensive attention of Curry and Artest."

"In this way, the Bucks can't defend this offensive round by double-teaming, they can only switch defenses!"

"The Bucks switch defenses very decisively. Rajon Rondo has no shooting ability and can only break through the penalty area. Rasheed Wallace can also defend the opponent steadily, but Garnett's side has a great offense. Chance."

"Westbrook can't guard against the Wolf King!"

The offense in the first round alone showed the Celtics' championship heritage and tacit tactical cooperation.

Li Lai thought of a lot of defensive tactics off the court to limit the Celtics' tactics. In the end, there was only one result. Let Curry defend Ray Allen alone, and put the Bucks' strongest defensive ability, Allen Tester was freed.

"But this has to test Curry's defensive ability. Ray Allen was once a Supersonic All-Star and head star. He can play both off the ball and with the ball. Mid-range, he has almost no weaknesses on offense."

It's not appropriate to use Curry to defend against Ray Allen alone.

The Bucks attack.

Westbrook advances with the ball.

Easy to link up the pick-and-roll.

Rajon Rondo still squeezed like crazy in the regular season to limit Westbrook's breakthrough, so that Garnett can continue to mark Yi Jianlian.

These days, there are not many insiders who can come back after switching defenses. Garnett and Duncan are the two strongest among them.

So don't look at Garnett being taken away from the three-point line by Yi Jianlian's ultra-long three-point threat. Once the Bucks complete the offense, he will definitely be able to return to the defense. Although it is difficult to return to the basket, at least the paint area No problem at all nearby.

This guarantees the Celtics' rebound rate to a great extent. If the Bucks' offense is blocked, the Celtics' defensive rebounds and defensive counterattacks may come at the same time.

Westbrook failed to break through, and Rajon Rondo's defense was very good, but the penalty area was freed up.

Curry cut around Artest's screen, Westbrook made a steady pass, and the latter scored a layup.

"The Bucks used Curry's three-point ability almost to the extreme. All the Celtics players on the court are working hard to limit Curry's three-pointers, which instead gave him a lot of opportunities to cut into the basket."

In the first two rounds of the opening, the Bucks and the Celtics played a very exciting duel. This is indeed a match between two championship-winning teams.

Barkley has seen the thoughts in the minds of the coaches of the two teams.

Rivers is waiting for the Bucks' offensive shooting percentage to drop, so that the Celtics can greatly control the rebounding rate, while Rajon Rondo will continue to speed up the counterattack rhythm.

Regardless of the flexible lineup of the Bucks, the same is true for the Celtics.

Barkley is still not sure about Li Lai's plan. He believes that the opponent wants to compete with the Celtics. After all, the Bucks' offense is unbeatable this season, and the Bucks still have the initiative to let Garnett attack. Attitude, they seem to intend to let the Celtics' offense fall entirely in Garnett's hands.

"The coaching staff of the Bucks, how do you want to play this game!"

The game continues.

Garnett has consecutive opportunities near the high position, and he also made consecutive shots without hesitation.

Wolf King, he is different from most insiders. He is very good at mid-range jump shots from high positions. He is also known as the "Jagged Big Jump Shooter" in the world, and his open shooting percentage is extremely high. An out-and-out technical offensive master, in this regard, he is very similar to Nowitzki of the Western Mavericks.

The Bucks' offense in the first few rounds was almost entirely on Curry. Ray Allen, a master of off-ball running, could keep up with Curry's speed, but the Bucks arranged too many off-ball screens for Curry. , It is difficult for him to follow Curry all the time, which brings many opportunities for the opponent to attack.

The score on the field came to 15:13, and the Bucks led by 2 points.

Off the court, Rivers finally couldn't help but feel anxious. He was also anxiously waiting for the Bucks to have problems with their offense.

"Curry either cuts to the basket around the screen and scores easily, or makes a steady shot from outside the three-point line."

"Watching him throw the ball, the basketball feels like it's going to go in before it's even shot."

"Such an easy goal will have to wait for the Year of the Monkey before he can not score one?"

beep!beep!

Rivers called the first timeout of the game.

Li Lai applauded the players one after another off the court, and then immediately arranged a tactic by pausing.

"We played very well at the beginning and kept an efficient offense. Remember that once our offense is not accurate, the situation on the field will be reversed immediately."

"Next we will not play Curry, because the Celtics will definitely find a way to target you this time, so we have to change to another style of play."

After speaking, Li looked at O'Neill beside him.

The latter took off his coat without hesitation.

It is rare for the Bucks to take this big shark ahead of schedule in the first quarter.

O'Neill recalled the picture of Li Lai deliberately finding him before the start of the series.

"Shaq, I'm afraid you will have to work harder in this round of the series. Garnett's defensive ability is too good, and his defense against Yi Jianlian is completely oppressive. Moreover, the Celtics often take Garnett to Center, you know we didn't play well against the Celtics lineup in the regular season."

O'Neal looks to the field.

He remembers Garnett yelling at the Bucks bench before the game.

"Huh, a husky thinks I won't know you when I come to Boston?! Stupid! Bastard!"

The game continues.

The Celtics adjusted their lineup.

Rivers replaced Kendrick Perkins, who had barely played against the Bucks, moved Garnett to center, and brought in Tony, the Celtics' other defensive stopper. Allen.

Barkley praised: "I still remember the 08 Finals, when the Celtics were able to successfully win the championship trophy that year. Tony Allen was crucial to Kobe's doggy defense."

"At this time, Rivers brought him up. If my guess is correct, it should be to limit Curry!"

Kenny Smith nodded in agreement and said: "Now that Garnett has been promoted to the center position, the Celtics' lineup flexibility has been further improved. In this way, they, who already restrained the Bucks, may become Totally suppressed."

"In the first quarter, the Bucks' overall offense was almost controlled by Curry alone, and the rest of the team was completely restrained. Now that Tony Allen is brought on the court, the Bucks' offense will definitely be constipated."

Both Barkley and Kenny Smith still remember the Celtics' restrictions on the Bucks during the regular season.

Although the Celtics lost the game because of Rajon Rondo's lore failure, it has to be admitted that the Celtics do have the capital to defend the Bucks.

And the Celtics at that time did not show a desperate posture.

"and many more!!!"

"Big mouth! Look!"

Reminded by Kenny Smith, Big Mouth Buckley curiously looked in the direction of the opponent's finger.

Shaquille O'Neill is here!

At the same time, Li Lai adjusted Yi Jianlian to the power forward position, replaced Rasheed Wallace and Westbrook at the same time, and then took Dragic.

"This is a lineup that the Bucks have never put on during the regular season. In the past, O'Neal has always partnered with Iverson. This time, it will be used to partner with the starters. Don't make any mistakes."

While Barkley is a little worried about the Bucks' lineup, he is also curious about what tactics the opponent will match at this time.

On the coaching bench of the Celtics, Rivers opened his mouth slightly in surprise.

Originally, he wanted to change to a flexible lineup to restrain the Bucks, but the opponent did the opposite without knowing it and took a lineup with a big center.

Who does this allow their flexible lineup to restrain?

And Li Lai's anticipation of the enemy had to remind Rivers of Phil Jackson, the Zen master who liked to whistle and call tactics on the court.

In the finals between the Lakers and the Celtics, Rivers was exhausted by Zen Master's ability. If it wasn't because the Big Three were too powerful, I am afraid that Rivers would have to bear the burden of losing the championship. pot.

(End of this chapter)