Pick Westbrook

Chapter 313 is Dior

New Orleans Arena.

Faced with the trash talk of the fans, James threw chalk into the air, and Wade slammed into the basketball hoop and then did a pull-up.

Bosh roared into the sky, the only enemy in his eyes was the Hornets.

As early as the beginning of the season, all the media were talking about what changes the Heat needed to make to win the championship, and in the end everyone's answer was surprisingly consistent, that is, the trade.

Who in the Heat has the most trade value is, of course, the Big Three.

Who among the Big Three is most likely to be traded?
"Wade is the soul of the Heat team, and the magician Parklei hasn't had the guts to trade Wade yet."

"James won the regular season MVP last season, and he still ranks first in the regular season MVP list so far this season."

"Whether it's James' unrivaled economics or his natural strength, there is no way the Heat will choose to trade him."

"So once the Heat want to dismantle the Big Three lineup, the one who leaves must be Dragon King Bosh."

Kenny Smith talks about the news that has flowed from the beginning of the season until now.

Because the Heat deserved the number one traffic in the league, all the media also kept their eyes on the Heat and Bosh in a tacit understanding.

"Although the rumors were raging, this incident did not affect the relationship between James, Wade and Bosh. Instead, it made them more united and helped the team hit the championship, proving that they don't need to do anything at all. Make a change."

"James had a lot of pick-and-rolls with Bosh this season, and Wade also took the initiative to let Bosh hold the ball more in the first quarter."

"Both are helping Bosh play very well, and Bosh also played the best numbers since joining the Heat."

"Averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds per game, shooting 50% from the field and 35% from the three-point line."

Barkley paid special attention to Bosh's [-]-point shooting numbers.

Although compared with Bosh's terrifying 07% three-point shooting rate in the 08-40 season, this data is still far behind.

But in terms of shots and production, this is indeed the best three-point shooting season of Bosh's career.

Because of James and Wade's top breakthrough ability in the league, Bosh had to make changes in his style of play, and at the same time made a lot of concessions in his offensive options.

Just as James and Wade are helping Bosh play better, Bosh is also trying to help the two play more freely on the court.

The cooperation of the three with such unity and clear division of labor made Barkley couldn't help but shine, and felt that this Heat team was completely new compared with last season.

"This season, the Heat have always ranked first in the league's record. Originally, the Bucks had hoped to compete for this ranking, but Curry was injured for a month in the middle, which caused their record to fluctuate slightly."

"In the first game of Curry's comeback, the Bucks were defeated by the Hornets again. Judging from the current trend, it is no surprise that the Heat should win the league's first record."

Although the record in the regular season does not mean that this team can win the final championship, it can greatly reflect the overall strength of a team.

Both Barkley and Kenny Smith believe that this Heat team is indeed different from last season.

"Last season, the Heat team became the Big Three. Both their management and players are extremely proud, thinking that no team in the entire league will be their opponent."

"The fact is that the Heat didn't really have any opponents in the regular season."

"Heart Qi and themselves are their only opponents."

said Stevens suddenly.

Li Lai nodded in agreement and said: "But this season, they don't even have their only opponent, and they have completely kept their arrogance in their hearts. This is the strongest Heat team."

Du Feng glanced at Li Lai in shock.

Even when he played the defending champion Bucks in the last game, Li Lai did not give such a high evaluation of that team, but now, Li Lai's evaluation of this Heat team is even as if he is facing a historical level team. The team is average.

The sentence that they don't even have the only opponent is the best interpretation.

Game start.

Hornets regular starter.

The Heat's starting lineup: point guard Mario Chalmers, shooting guard Dwyane Wade, small forward LeBron James, power forward Chris Bosh and center Joel Anthony.

Before the halftime jump ball, Li Lai specially called Leonard and Jimmy Butler to his side and said.

"See if the two No. 3 and No. 6 players on the opposite side are there. Your task tonight is to learn how to defend them."

"Remember, if you want to defend these two players, you can't just watch the opponent's game video and play analysis."

"Because these two players will play completely different styles when facing different defenders. They are very strong and are the top players in the league today."

"You're going to play them on the court on both ends of the court and find ways to beat each other mentally and on the court."

After hearing these words, Leonard remained expressionless, and just nodded dully.

Butler looked extremely excited, and looked at James and Wade separately, and he wanted to defend the two at the same time.

Midfield jump ball.

Joel Anthony jumps off the ball.

The Heat attack.

Mario Chalmers advances with the ball, James and Wade are located at a 45° angle on the left and a 45° angle on the right.

Barkley said: "Compared to the first cooperation between the Big Three of the Heat last season, they obviously played more tacitly this season."

"The two of James and Way are standing on different flanks, making it difficult for the Hornets to focus on the same position."

"In this case, whether it's James or Wade, they can attack in a regular defensive state while getting the ball."

"For both of them, regular defense is the worst defense for both of them."

on the field.

Mario Chalmers takes a look at the defensive pressures on James and Wade, respectively.

Seeing that the Hornets were obviously more afraid of James' offensive ability, Vince Carter mainly defended James, while Leonard, who was defending Wade, took a step back to defend the interior.

Mario Chalmers took the initiative to pass the ball to Wade.

Wade holds the ball on one side, Leonard still maintains a defensive state of taking a step back, while Jordan moves from the other waist to near the paint area on the same side as Wade.

As for the player named Joel Anthony, Jordan didn't pay attention to defending him at all.

"DeAndre Jordan is blocking Wade's breakthrough route and establishing a second line of defense in the opponent's offensive path."

"In this case, Wade can only choose one-on-one mid-range shots."

"Of course Wade's mid-range ability is not bad, but compared with his unique breakthrough, this is obviously a better defensive choice."

Barkley was increasingly amazed by the Hornets' defense.

In his opinion, this is not a team that has just announced its reconstruction. In terms of defensive system, they have already entered the ranks of the league's first-class level.

In addition, Leonard is a player with very good defensive talent, and he completely beats Wade in terms of height and wingspan.

So even if Wade is the top star in the league, he will be greatly affected when facing Leonard's defense.

on the field.

Wade lowered his center of gravity and began to try to break through. Leonard took a step to the left to defend. He wanted to drive Wade out of the penalty area as much as possible, so that he could make difficult mid-range shots from the waist position he is not good at.

Seeing this scene, Li Lai frowned.

Stevens noticed such details and said inexplicably: "Wade's breakthrough is very terrifying, otherwise, the coach, you would not have arranged Jordan's second line of defense before the game."

"Now Leonard takes the initiative to give up the space on the left side, but he is also forcing Wade to stay away from the penalty area."

"What's wrong with defending like this?"

Li Lai said directly: "If it is defending other players, there is nothing wrong with Leonard's defensive choice this time, but he is defending Dwyane Wade."

"It doesn't make any difference if you put him on the left side or put him on the right side."

After Li Lai finished speaking, Stevens was still a little puzzled as to why there was no difference between placing the left side and the right side. Wade had already started playing singles.

A tentative step to the left, and then accelerated to the left to break through, Leonard followed closely, but at the same time Wade immediately turned around and pulled the ball to the right.

This breakthrough is extremely beautiful and at the same time it is a test of a player's physical core ability.

Leonard was completely shaken away, and only one of the two breakthrough lines established by the Hornets was left at this time.

Jordan faced Wade alone.

He hurried forward to press, but Wade passed the opponent with a giant loop and lost his way to face the basket alone.

boom!
One-handed hack!

The New Orleans fans at the scene watched in silence, Kenny Smith on the commentary stage was shocked and speechless, and Barkley laughed out loud.

Barkley is well aware of just how big of a mistake Leonard made.

"When facing players of this level, Leonard still has enough to learn, but he is still far behind in defensive experience."

Hornets attack.

Paul holds the ball outside.

Mario Chalmers didn't dare to put up defensive strength in the face of Paul, nor did he dare to fight for the ball holder.

He has been in the league for 4 years, but he knows too well that Paul's ball is too difficult to grab. If he wants to take advantage of him in a physical confrontation, there is no second point guard in the league other than Deron Williams. to this point.

If someone can steal the ball directly from Paul, then don't think too much about it, the headline of tomorrow's sports must be the player who cut Paul.

So at this time, Mario Chalmers is very clear that as long as he does not make mistakes in defending Paul, he is good enough.

At this time, Jordan decisively brought up the pick-and-roll. Joel Anthony didn't switch defenses at the first time. He also knew that if he switched defenses in front of Paul, he would be courting death.

Therefore, the Heat's tactical strategy in choosing to defend Paul's pick-and-roll is to double-team the weak-side players in advance.

It was Wade who brought it up. He took the initiative to stand on Paul's pick-and-roll offensive line, completely blocking the opponent's breakthrough space.

In this way, there will inevitably be space for Leonard to receive the ball, but James is standing in the support position. Even if Paul passes the ball to Leonard in the first time, James can rush over in the first time.

Barkley said: "The Heat's perimeter defense ranks second in the league this season, and they also rank fifth in the league in terms of overall defensive efficiency."

"So when it comes to guarding the opponent's perimeter players, they have a lot of experience."

It just so happens that the offense of the Hornets starters is launched from the outside, and Paul will inevitably encounter great defensive pressure when facing the Heat.

At this time, Paul, who has no room to attack, has only two options. One is to interrupt his offensive reorganization by lifting outside the three-point line, and the other is to immediately pass the ball to Leonard, who can easily catch the ball, and let the opponent come. Organize the attack.

Paul chose to trust his teammates at this time.

Because Li Lai told Paul in a previous team training match.

"If you are the only ball-handler in the entire Hornets team, then in the playoffs when you are specifically targeted by the opponent, our offense will be completely blocked."

So Li Lai has been cultivating the ball-handling ability of Leonard and Jimmy Butler.

Compared with Jimmy Butler, who has rough talent and rough skills, Leonard has made a very obvious improvement in these two abilities this season.

"Paul passed the ball to Leonard, James rushed over, Vince Carter appeared open in the right corner, Bosh pulled out to help defend, and Wade shrank back to the inside."

"Don't look at Wade as just a defender. In the Heat's defensive system, he and James often jump inside to help defend tall players."

Joel Anthony was not stupid at this time, and returned to the penalty area to help Wade defend with a tacit understanding.

Because of Jordan's completely reassuring offensive skills and abilities, he can't even shoot mid-range shots, so the Heat's overall defensive strategy is to put on Jordan and shrink the inside.

The Hornets' offense was completely blocked.

Leonard tried to single James, but just a dribble was directly intercepted by the opponent with quick eyes and quick hands.

At the same time, Leonard was directly knocked to the ground by the tank-like James.

The Heat made a fast break.

Wade goes down fast, Paul and Vince Carter desperately back on defense but it's too late.

Wade cuts in from the right, and James throws the ball into the sky.

boom!
Janeway connects!

"Too fierce, the Heat's offense and defense are too fierce!"

"This team is simply too abnormal. I really don't know how the Bucks won this team in the playoffs last season."

Du Feng was frightened silly by the situation on the field.

Especially James and Wade, they are like weapons in the world on the court, whoever comes will die, and whoever comes will kill.

Li Lai looked serious, still trying to think of a solution to the Heat.

Because Leonard did not solve Wade on the first line of defense, and at the same time was completely restricted by James on the offensive end, the defensive system that the Hornets have been proud of this season did not exert any advantage at all.

Stevens is very clear that the reason why the Hornets can win so many games beyond their own strength is entirely based on the team's excellent overall defensive awareness and ability.

Now the Hornets can't play well on the defensive end, let alone offense.

"Take Jordan."

Li Lai said suddenly.

Stevens turned his head in surprise and said: "Coach, the Heat's interior is very weak both offensively and defensively. Their defensive rebounds and offensive rebounds even rank in the middle and lower tiers of all teams in the league."

"Jr. Jordan has a great advantage over the Heat in terms of offensive threats inside and rebounding. We should not replace him."

Du Feng nodded in agreement.

In his opinion, the big man should always be the most important player on the court.

But Li Lai explained: "Can Jordan destroy the Heat's defensive system with singles in the paint? No!"

"The reason why the Heat dare to defend the outside line is because our inside line is Jordan and Lewis."

"Neither of them has the ability to attack like a cripple in the paint."

"Lewis is playing on the outside. Jordan can only eat cakes or make a second attack, but to eat cakes needs Paul to lead, and the second offense needs to occupy a favorable space for rebounding."

"But now, Paul is under a lot of defensive pressure on the outside. How can he still pass the cake to Jordan?"

"The Heat are obviously trying to drive Jordan to the perimeter. After our pick-and-roll tactic is completed, Jordan will never return to the penalty area. What will he use to grab offensive rebounds?"

Li Lai's series of words directly hit the hearts of Stevens and Du Feng.

It wasn't until now that they realized that after just a few rounds, Li Lai had thought so many things in his mind, and he had seen the offensive and defensive situation on the field so thoroughly.

"If we keep Jordan on the court, we really have no chance of winning."

Stevens came to his senses.

The Hornets called a timeout.

For the first time since the regular season, Jordan was replaced early by Li Lai.

CCTV commentary desk.

Su Qun said: "It means that coach Li Lai dared to do such a thing, a maximum salary contract, and Jordan is a maximum salary contract."

"Lee said that if he presses him down, he will press him down, but judging from the pictures on the court, it is really useless to face the Heat's Jordan."

"Don't know which backup center they're going to have at this point."

Yu Jia looked at the live broadcast screen and said in surprise: "It's not about Su's guidance, the Hornets' replacement is not a center, it's Diao!"

(End of this chapter)