Pick Westbrook

Chapter 108 Overcoming the away game
Two days later, the first round of the playoffs continued.

The Bucks rushed from Milwaukee to Chicago, and finally realized what a godly team is at this moment.

The streets of the entire Chicago city are densely packed with Bulls fans. When the Bucks bus passed the street, these fans talked trash all over the sky and poured water on the bus from time to time.

"Because we've won two games in a row and now have a good chance of making the cut, the Chicago fans hate us so much."

Hammond looked at the Chicago fans who were still chasing after the bus and spamming trash, and said helplessly.

Li Lai did not look behind the car, but stared firmly at the United Center Arena, and said, "Even though we have won two games, these fans shouldn't be so angry.

Life and death in the playoffs is the norm. The Bulls made it to the playoffs from last season's league. This is already a great success. These fans' emotions are a little overdone. "

Hammond said with a wry smile: "If the other teams in the East beat the Bulls in two games in a row, they would naturally not be so excited."

Li Lai looked back at Hammond and said, "What do you mean?"

Hammond continued: "The stupid roe deer in the east and the second dude in the west, the fan circle has always liked to call these two teams rubbish brothers."

"So it's a shame for Chicago fans to be defeated by a team like the Bucks two games in a row!"

"After all, this is the city where Jordan stayed, and the fans here are extremely proud."

Li Lai breathed a sigh of relief. He thought of the Bucks' second-to-last strength in the league given by ESPN before the start of the regular season. The scene is still vivid in his memory.

Today, he has led the Bucks to the playoffs, even in such a good position as the fourth in the Eastern Conference, but most people's subjective views are still the Bucks garbage.

Because the Bucks have been weak in the Eastern Conference for many years, no team can look up to him at all, so it will be very difficult to reshape the team's image, and it will take a long time. Way to go.

"But no matter how difficult it is, we have to go!"

United Center Arena.

Game start.

Noah jumped off the ball and Rose attacked with the ball.

The Bulls still retained the advantage they played in the first quarter of the previous game, with Ben Gordon as a supplement and Rose as the main attack point on the field.

Westbrook was concentrating and still gave Rose a two-step shooting space, but Noah played a delay after the pick-and-roll, and Rose hit the basket without hesitation.

boom!
Folding dunks scored.

"Yi Jianlian's return to defense is slow." Tai Lunlu said with a frown.

Although it was still difficult for the Bucks to defend against Rose's desperate inside play after using the pick-and-roll in the last game, whether it is Yi Jianlian or Villanueva can always return to the defense in time. As for whether they can defend it, of course Said otherwise.

Tonight, Yi Jianlian didn't keep up.

Li Lai also saw this, but he didn't rush to adjust.

Go to the Bucks offense.

Westbrook played the pick-and-roll with Yi Jianlian in the high position, but this time the quality of the pick-and-roll was extremely poor, and Rose easily squeezed through.

Westbrook frowned slightly, pulled out to reorganize.

Originally, after the first offensive tactic was not played out, the second offensive tactic of the Bucks should be Yi Jianlian's high-post receiving and card-handling tactic, but this time Yi Jianlian was obviously distracted and did not take the initiative to block the position Find a spot to catch the ball.

"The Bucks' offense has always been one wave after another very tight and smooth, like a wave on the ocean.

But tonight was the first time I've seen them mess up their offensive tempo themselves. "

Barkley said with eagle eyes.

Faced with this situation, Westbrook decisively tried to force Rose directly.

It's just that he is a little lacking in breakthrough skills and abilities now, and the Bulls happen to be a team that is very good at defensive breakthroughs and inside shots.

So this ball was directly interfered by Noah and succeeded, and grabbed a defensive rebound.

The Bulls are going to fight back!

Fortunately, Artest's defensive awareness is top-notch, and he returned to the backcourt early and blocked the fast break.

It's just that when he was defending Rose, Ben Gordon made a quick cut from the weak side and made a direct layup.

The Bulls still made it.

The violent Artest couldn't bear it anymore, pointed to his teammates and reminded: "Don't be distracted, stay focused, this is the playoffs!"

In the next round, the Bucks continued to attack.

This time the problem appeared with Villanueva and Dragic.

There was a problem with the bottom line cooperation between the two, and there was even an embarrassing scene of one of his own blocking his own, and the Bucks' offense stagnated again.

Westbrook can only continue to choose to play hard, this time with a three-pointer.

Although Westbrook's three-pointers have begun to be accurate under Reggie Miller's special training in the regular season, there are still relatively big problems in stability and interference shots.

So with Rose's well-prepared defense and timing, the ball hit the iron without any surprise.

The Bulls went on a fast break again. This time, Rose didn't give Artest a chance. Against the opponent's defense, he scored a layup with a great mid-air pull.

The Bulls played a small high fuck!
The Chicago fans at the scene were excited.

Tyronn Lue said nervously: "Coach, we have already been beaten 10:0 by the Bulls in the opening game. If we don't come down and adjust, we will be in big trouble."

beep!beep!
Li Lai got up and came to the technical stage, made a gesture with both hands, and finally called the first timeout.

"UA! George! Villanueva! What's wrong with you three?"

On the bench, Li Lai did not rearrange any offensive and defensive tactics, but directly revealed the root cause.

The Bucks' offensive problems in the opening game came with three.

The three of them didn't speak, but it was obvious that they all knew that it was their own reasons that put the team in trouble, so they were very frustrated at this time.

Li Lai frowned, full of anger in his heart.

This is the stage for the playoffs, how can you play with your temper!

When Li Lai was about to get angry, Artest, who had always been stabbed with gunpowder, calmly patted Li Lai on the shoulder at this moment.

"Coach, this is their first playoff game."

Tyronn Lue also said at the right time: "Chicago fans spat trash on the bus, and these fans in the arena kept shouting and cursing. These can easily affect the mentality of young players."

Li Lai calmly turned his head to look at the United Center arena.

A circle of red ocean, the momentum is monstrous!
The Bulls fans waved the red towels in their hands and breathed out their fragrance on the court, while the fans in the second and third rows not far behind even pointed at the Bucks players and cursed. .

"That's the road to the playoffs."

Li Lai took a deep breath and finally understood the reason for the poor performance of the players.

Because the first two games were played at home, amidst the sound of praise and encouragement, every player of the Bucks could perform at a normal level, but now it is different.

Yi Jianlian, George Hill, and Villanueva, who played in the playoffs for the first time, experienced the horror of the away playoffs for the first time.

——like trying to swallow you alive.

So they can't adapt at all.

Tyronn Lue suggested: "Why don't you replace the three and adjust yourself first?"

Hearing this, the three of Yi Jianlian raised their heads nervously, and wanted to ask Li Lai not to replace them, and they would promise to adjust immediately, but they couldn't say this sentence when it came to their lips.

"Playoffs! Every minute and every second cannot be missed, and you wereted 3 minutes on the court, leaving us behind by a full 10 points!" Li Lai said with a serious face.

The three of Yi Jianlian who heard this sentence had already expected the next result, but none of them complained about Li Lai's decision, because they did make a mistake on the court.

Li Lai put his hands on the shoulders of Yi Jianlian and Villanueva, and continued: "But I will still let you continue to play!"

"Because you are the players I fancy, and you are also the starters of the Bucks!"

"Remember! The weakness you show on the court will not win the pity of your opponents and fans. Only when you are defeated, you choose to stand up stubbornly and fight back with a tougher posture. That is what people are most willing to do for you. The toughness and tenacity of the applause."

Hearing this, Yi Jianlian's eyes were shining with hope, and they turned their heads to look at those arrogant fans. Finally, Yi Jianlian couldn't help shouting, "I will definitely beat you!"

George Hill looked at the two people beside him, put Li Lai's hands on his shoulders jealously, and said with big eyes like copper bells: "Coach, you haven't said that sentence to me just now, tell me quickly!" Come on, I'm listening."

Li Lai's forehead was full of veins, and he pointed at Ben Gordon on the court while pointing at George Hill, and cursed: "Give labor to the court to prevent him from dying!"

The game restarts.

The Bucks reorganized their offense, and Yi Jianlian took the initiative to mention the three-point ultra-long support.

Noah's defense was a step late, and Yi Jianlian raised his hand for a three-pointer without mercy.

"Come in!"

Noah shook his hands down in a panic.

"A center pulls so far to shoot a super long three-pointer, do you really know how to play!"

Yi Jianlian, who scored the goal, breathed a sigh of relief. After watching the Chicago fans at the scene quiet and no longer talking trash like before, he pumped his fist excitedly.

"Fans at the United Center fell silent."

Kenny Smith looked satisfied, he knew the Bucks would be able to survive as soon as possible.

It's just that because there were too many points behind in the first 3 minutes, at the end of the first quarter, the Bucks were still behind by 26:30.

In the second quarter of the game, the two teams competed in substitute firepower.

Dragic led the team to score 5 points in a single quarter with 4 of 30 in a single quarter, but the protagonist of the bench lineup tonight is not him, but Ben Gordon of the Bulls.

Ben Gordon was on fire in the second quarter, scoring 11 points on 7-for-15 shooting and extending the Bulls' lead to eight.

"The Bucks are probably going to stumble in this game."

At the CCTV commentary station, Yu Jia shook his head and said.

If it weren't for the fact that the Bucks players were extremely uncomfortable with the away game and the home atmosphere of Chicago fans in the first quarter, they would have a high probability of winning the game.

It's just that since then, the Bulls have gained the lead, and the opponent has been working hard to maintain it until now. It will be difficult for the Bucks to catch up.

Zhang Weiping also sighed and said: "The Bucks did not take the lead once in the first three quarters, and the Bulls have always had a slight advantage."

"More importantly, after the first two games, the Bulls returning home have fully adapted to the Bucks' defensive intensity."

"Especially the two points of Rose and Ben Gordon, the Bulls have found the best period for the two to score respectively."

Bucks coaching bench.

Li Lai also noticed the changes in the Bulls in these two games.

Rose made more efforts in the starting stage to attack the Bucks' weakest penalty area at the basket, because the Bucks have Artest on the outside, which is an excellent point of outside defense, and Westbrook and George Hill's defense is the same. Very good, so it will be very difficult for the Bulls to focus on the outside offense.

When it came to the substitute stage, the Bucks' overall defense was almost at the bottom of the league, and the Bulls also seized this opportunity to allow Ben Gordon, who had more offensive means and more versatility, to conduct an indiscriminate offense on the court.

In this way, the Bulls' offense, which had been stifled for two games, finally opened up.

Barkley resumed his cynical look, grinning and laughing: "I said that the Bulls have been improving and shrinking the score in the first two games, and they finally found a way to beat the Bucks in this game." key points of the team.

Bucks!Still suffered from the loss of insiders and substitutes. "

In the last quarter of the game, Li Lai rearranged his offense.

He looked at all the players and said: "We really don't have an inside barrier player, so we haven't done well in the penalty area all season, and our substitute lineup also has big problems."

"But, we have our own winning formula."

"Attack! Just fight to attack!"

"Offense is also our best defense!"

After the game restarts.

Yi Jianlian began to frequently play pick-and-rolls with Westbrook, and Artest and Villanueva in the bottom corner of the Bucks also began to use off-ball screens to tear the opponent's defense.

The Bulls' defense is still as good as ever, especially Noah, who frequently travels back and forth to the inside and outside to limit Yi Jianlian's three-pointers and inside protection, and the effect is very good.

At this time, the Bulls' offense fell entirely on Rose alone.

Every time he carried a pack of explosives to the basket, he either made a foul or made a layup. Every time he tried hard to tear a piece of meat from the Bucks, so this game completely became Rose alone and the Bucks. The battle of the whole deer team.

boom!
At the last moment, with Westbrook's wonderful pass, George Hill scored a three-pointer, and the Bucks took a slight lead of 98:94.

The Bulls are on foul play!
It's just that the free throws of the Bucks' five players are not bad, and the weakest Westbrook also has 5% of his free throws.

Li Lai was very strange about Westbrook's free throw percentage in his previous life. He still had a free throw percentage of more than 80% during his rookie period, but then it declined year by year, and even only 64% during his Wizards period.

"Is this a lost free throw bag?"

However, this season Li Lai specially instructed Reggie Miller to train all players' free throws. After all, the latter is a member of the 90 club with a free throw percentage of more than 180% in his career for many years. With his special training, Li Lai is very relieved.

Westbrook made 2 free throws and George Hill made 2 free throws.

The Bucks won the game again with a surprise 102:100.

"3:0, the Bulls have no chance to comeback, absolutely not."

Yu Jia said with certainty.

Because no team in the entire history of the NBA can come back from a 0:3 situation.

In this game, the Bulls have played very well. Rose made 22 of 11 shots, 2 of 0 three-pointers, 10 of 8 free throws, and scored 30 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Ben Gordon also played his best game since the playoffs, with 26 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, but the Bulls still lost.

雄鹿队再次全民皆兵，威斯特布鲁克20分11篮板11助攻，易键联18分8篮板4助攻，维兰纽瓦15分6篮板，阿泰斯特14分8篮板2盖帽1抢断，乔治希尔10分5篮板5助攻，德拉季奇17分3篮板5助攻。

The Bucks players who won another game are very excited.

Yi Jianlian, George Hill, and Villanueva applauded their teammates respectively. They won their first away game in the playoffs, which was very useful for them to overcome the tension of the big game.

In Li's view, the most important thing in this game may not be the victory of this game, but the growth of the three of them.

(End of this chapter)