Pick Westbrook

Chapter 223 The King of Three Points

2 month 23 day.

The first game after the All-Star weekend.

The Bucks host the Rockets.

The chants of Bradley Arena resounded through Milwaukee.

Kenny Smith looked at the atmosphere of the fans and said with a sigh: "In this game, because of Yi Jianlian's return from injury, all the Bucks fans are shouting his name."

"Although this team has always been Westbrook and Curry's team, the love of Yi Jianlian in Milwaukee fans has been beyond words."

In addition to the reaction of Milwaukee fans to tonight's game, Chinese fans across the ocean are very much looking forward to paying attention to tonight's game.

Because of the hope of the Chinese men's basketball team, Yi Jianlian finally ushered in his comeback from injury.

In the Men's Basketball World Cup, Chinese fans met the best Yao Ming and the best partner Yi Jianlian.

Under the leadership of the two, the Chinese men's basketball team almost broke into the semi-finals of the World Cup.

If it wasn't for Yi Jianlian's injury in the quarterfinals, God knows how high Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian can bring this team to.

The World Cup, which originally belonged to the miracle of the Chinese men's basketball team, ended in such a regrettable way.

In addition to being grateful to Yi Jianlian, Chinese fans have expectations and blessings.

They all want to see how Yi Jianlian is after returning from injury, or whether he is the All-Star player.

on the field.

Yi Jianlian and Yao Ming hugged each other tightly, asking each other about their health.

The last time the two met was in the preseason. At that time, Yi Jianlian had just confirmed his injury and was waiting for the surgery.

From that preseason game to tonight's game, a full three months have passed.

Yao Ming was full of guilt.

If he hadn't been looking forward to Yi Jianlian's return to the national team, maybe the opponent would not continue to participate in the Men's Basketball World Cup after the finals, and there would be no subsequent injuries.

Seeing Yao Ming's extremely guilty mood, Yi Jianlian showed a standard boyish smile and said, "I'm ready, Yao."

"Don't blame yourself too much, even if you don't say it, I will return to China to participate in the Men's Basketball World Cup."

"Because it is your dream to lead the rise of the Chinese men's basketball team, and your dream is my dream."

Technical front.

Li Lai and Rick Adelman shook hands.

The Rockets this season have finally determined the direction of building a team with Yao as the only core and hitting the playoffs.

At the same time, in order to enhance the team's lineup strength, they also traded for Brad Miller and Courtney Lee.

With the draft picks he got badly last season, Dog Mo also picked a very favorite striker, Patrick Patterson.

Add Luis Scola, Sean Battier, Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry, and this lineup is already competitive in the West.

This season's Rockets also ranked fifth in the West in terms of record, and Yao Ming also played the best season of his career.

Averaged 26 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.

Kenny Smith flipped through the data and said: "Howard, the monster in the East, averaged 23 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks per game this season."

"Howard and Ming Yao are still considered the best centers in the East and West, respectively."

Of course, the ownership of the two league's No. [-] centers has always been debated by all fans.

Since O'Neal's dominance on the court has declined greatly, Yao Ming and Howard originally shared the title of the first center.

But after these two years of experience, in terms of honor alone, Howard has unsurprisingly been ahead of Yao Ming.

After all, Howard has won the DPOY award for two consecutive years, and also led the team to the Eastern Conference finals with a single core.

So in the hearts of most fans, Howard is the one who is more suitable for the league's No. [-] center.

But whenever Howard and Yao Ming played against each other, the picture on the court was undisputed Howard was blown up.

Yao Ming can even crush Howard on the offensive end with one hand.

This makes those fans who like Yao Ming, especially Chinese fans, extremely dissatisfied with Howard's title as the number one center in the league.

Barkley is different from the excited fans at the scene and the Chinese fans looking forward to the other side of the ocean. Even with his old partner Kenny Smith, there is a big difference in what to watch tonight.

The Bucks' style of play this season has changed a lot compared to last season.

Especially the center Yi Jianlian who was supposed to be the Bucks has been replaced by Cousins, and the latter has played very well this season.

So for the current Bucks, they hope that Yi Jianlian can return from injury as soon as possible, so that the Bucks can also run more in the regular season.

But on the other hand, they are extremely worried about Yi Jianlian's comeback.

Because the Bucks had to make very big tactical adjustments after Yi Jianlian returned to the field.

The biggest question facing them now is whether to fight or not to fight the tactics that used Yi Jianlian as the axis of offense in the past?
If you want to fight, how will Cousins ​​arrange it?

Tyronn Lue sits on the coaching bench of the Bucks, and he is also very much looking forward to Yi Jianlian's performance in tonight's game.

At this time, Tyronn Lu couldn't help but glanced at Li Lai who was standing on the court.

The back view of the opponent with his arms around him touched Tai Lue a lot.

Originally, Yi Jianlian was able to play a week ago, but Li Lai still insisted that he conduct 5v5 confrontation training, and then he had to execute a series of tactics with his teammates before reactivating Yi Jianlian on the field. .

Tyronn Lue still remembers Yi Jianlian's performance in the team's confrontation and the cooperation with his teammates.

Although it is not actual combat, there will be many variables on the actual battlefield, but Tai Lue still wants to say that Yi Jianlian's performance in team training is very good.

The big screen at the scene quickly displayed the starting lineups of the two teams.

After seeing this list, Barkley and Kenny Smith frowned in surprise at the same time.

"Yi Jianlian didn't appear on the starting list?"

Bucks lineup: Westbrook, Curry, Artest, Villanueva and Cousins.

Rockets lineup: point guard Kyle Lowry, shooting guard Kevin Martin, small forward Shane Battier, power forward Luis Scola and center Yao Ming.

After Barkley was shocked, he quickly figured out why the Bucks coaching staff arranged it this way.

In terms of player strength alone, Yi Jianlian is definitely better than Villanueva.

The latter's ability to be good at offense but not good at defense is also more suitable for playing as a substitute.

But if Yi Jianlian starts the first game after returning from injury, the pressure the opponent will face will be enormous.

If you win the game, it’s fine. If you lose the game, the pressure of public opinion that Yi Jianlian will face after the game will be unprecedented.

Especially tonight's game is still broadcast live across the United States, under the eyes of fans all over the world.

"More importantly, Yi Jianlian and the team still need a lot of actual combat cooperation, so it is more suitable for him to come on as a substitute player."

Of course, Barkley, Kenny Smith and fans all over the world are very clear.

Once Yi Jianlian finds his status and cooperates more tacitly with his teammates, he will definitely enter the starting lineup.

After all, Yijianlian is an All-Star.

On the court, the game begins.

Yao Ming jumped off the ball strongly from Cousins.

The ball made Cousins ​​extremely angry.

Originally with outstanding talent, he is extremely competitive even in the NBA facing all kinds of inside players.

But now facing Yao Ming of this height, he seems a bit too short.

O'Neal couldn't help grinning silly off the court, not to mention Cousins, even he looked smaller when facing Yao Ming.

McGrady clenched his fists under the court, and this scene happened to be seen by Li Lai.

The best years of the white horse and silver guns were in the Magic, because of the two scoring champions.

But when it comes to the most competitive team, it has to be in the Rockets.

It's just that things backfired. The Rockets are always unlucky. Tracy McGrady is injured or Yao Ming is injured, or so-and-so is injured.

In short, this team has never been in the playoffs neatly.

As the Rockets have played this season, they have not suffered any injuries, even Coach Adelman couldn't help but sigh.

"Xiu City is now strong and well-organized, and it can finally achieve great things."

But McGrady has long since disappeared from the list of these personnel.

"Want to fight, Tracy?" Li Lai asked suddenly.

Maddie nodded, then shook his head again.

This season, McGrady got the best rest of his career in the Bucks, and in terms of tactics, he also got a very important role on the offensive end.

Li Lai designed a lot of off-ball fixed-point shooting for McGrady, which made McGrady, who was already outstanding in shooting, play the best offensive efficiency of his entire career this season.

Because the Bucks are the only team in the league that can design easy scoring opportunities for players.

All the tactics this team designs on the offensive end are actually aimed at achieving this project.

That is the easiest way for players to score.

It can be a smooth cooperation, or a comfortable singles.

This is why commentators and media reporters always like to comment that the Bucks' tactics are like the Spurs and the Lakers.

But in fact, the Bucks' tactics are different from these two teams.

At least as far as the tactical concept is concerned, there is a big difference.

McGrady got a very big backup offensive role in the Bucks, which is completely different from the Knicks in the past.

Compared with the unlimited fire rights of the Knicks, the Bucks let McGrady understand what kind of role he is more suitable for now.

That's the bench.

That's why McGrady shook his head at this time and said: "Everything depends on the arrangement of the coach."

Li Lai couldn't help but patted Mai Di on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Shoot as much as you want. Where did that invincible white horse and silver gun go?"

"This is your former home team. You should let them take a good look at it. Now you are doing well in the Bucks."

Hearing these words, Mai Di couldn't help laughing out loud. Li Lai had never let him down on the point of being tough.

McGrady nodded affirmatively and said, "Coach, I want to fight!"

on the field.

Yao Ming forced Cousins ​​inside, turned around and made a hook.

Even Cousins, who had a hard time defending Duncan during this period, is now facing Yao Ming, who is more threatening on the offensive end, and he is even more ravaged and beaten.

"Yao Ming is the least afraid of this kind of powerful center. His skills are not possessed by all centers in the entire league."

"Even Dameng Olajuwon has personally admitted that Yao Ming is the center who learned best from him."

Cousins ​​was very helpless with Yao Ming's style of play.

Because as long as the opponent gets the ball in the low post, it is a completely undefensible ground hook attack method.

Not to mention blocking shots, it is very difficult for him to even interfere.

The Bucks attack.

Westbrook quickly counterattacked with the ball, and the entire Bucks players advanced very fast.

This was specially arranged by Li Lai before the match.

For a big center like Yao Ming, it is the best tactical arrangement to speed up the offensive rhythm and reduce the chance of the opponent's defensive position.

Even if Yao Ming can catch up, he can be exhausted to death.

Curry quickly landed in the corner, and after attracting Kevin Martin's defense, he immediately slipped to the baseline.

Westbrook has quick eyes and hands, hitting the ground and passing the ball.

After receiving the ball, Curry made a solid layup.

Kenny Smith has seen this combination of Westbrook and Curry more than once.

The two have become more and more tacit this season, and the Bucks' two backcourt double shots have indeed brought great trouble to their opponents.

Barkley knew very well that the reason why the Bucks were able to make this match so easily was because Yao Ming's return to defense was too slow.

In addition, none of the players on the Rockets except Battier is good at defense.

Therefore, in the face of the Bucks' quick push and counterattack, it is difficult for the latter to carry out a short-term 4-on-5 defense.

on the field.

Just as Yao Ming got back beyond the three-point line, the Bucks had already completed their attack.

In the early days of his career, Yao Ming had seen this style of play. The 7-second offense of the Suns was a very clear example.

Not only Yao Ming, even O'Neal was extremely annoyed when facing the Suns.

Because playing with this team can really exhaust a big center to death.

And now the Bucks are playing almost the same tactic.

"So, who said that the Bucks' offensive system is like the Lakers and Spurs?"

"It looks like the Suns to me."

Switch offense.

Kevin Martin, who was easily scored by his opponent Curry in the last round, took the initiative to hold the ball outside the three-point line, and then forced a breakthrough to the basket.

The moment he made contact with Curry during the breakthrough, Kevin Martin immediately raised his hand and made a very unreasonable shooting action.

Duang!

The basketball hit the iron without accident, but at the same time the referee also blew his whistle and called Curry for a defensive foul.

Kevin Martin goes to the free throw line.

Marshall quickly reminded at this time: "Kevin Martin averaged 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game this season, and is the Rockets' second scorer."

"But he's shooting just 42 percent from the field."

"It stands to reason that for such a low-efficiency offensive player, it is difficult for the head coach to give him the opportunity to continue to attack with the ball, but Coach Adelman just gave it."

"The reason is that Kevin Martin gets to the free throw line 10 times a game and shoots 86 percent efficiently."

Li Lai nodded.

Before the 1-point king Harden appeared, Kevin Martin was indeed a leader in the use of this technology.

Kevin Martin has a relatively thin body, but he is extremely smart and has a very high golf quotient. He knows how to use his physical inadequacy to gain whistle-blowing advantages from the referee.

Therefore, Kevin Martin often chooses to break through to complete the offense. As long as the opponent dares to touch his body, the referee will definitely blow.

Of course, there is another more objective reason, that is, Kevin Martin's shooting posture is very strange, a bit like a crooked machine gun.

Kevin Martin often only needs to stretch the ball, and the defensive player thinks he is going to shoot, and then he can cheat free throws through follow-up actions.

That's how smart he plays, and why the Rockets have the fifth-best record in the Western Conference this season.

Because Kevin Martin doesn't stick to the ball on the outside, accurate three-pointers, quick shots, and active movement. The cooperation with Yao Ming inside and outside has produced a great threat.

Coach Adelman also has a lot of experience in the offensive arrangement.

Most of the time he let Yao Ming and Kevin Martin appear on the same side of the offense, while the weak side was ambushed by another offensive master at the basket, Luis Scola.

Therefore, it is difficult for opponents to make up their minds to risk double-teaming when facing Yao Ming's low-post offense and Kevin Martin's outside-ball offense.

After all, Kevin Martin's three-point shooting percentage this season is still as high as 39%, and opponents will face great risks if they choose to short him.

Li Lai still remembers that in his previous life, many fans were guessing.

Is it because Harden was brainwashed by the Rockets management and trainers after being traded to the Rockets, so he became the 1-point king later in his career?
After all, before Harden, this team already had a player who could get extremely dazzling average data from free throws.

There's no reason they wouldn't teach Harden to do the same.

(End of this chapter)