Pick Westbrook

Chapter 399 Breakthrough and Three Points

Fucking Green was very surprised to see the shooting space three meters away suddenly emptied in front of him.

His three-point and shooting ability is indeed not outstanding, and his singles and other scoring skills are also slightly insufficient.

In the past, the opponents the Warriors faced would properly give Draymond Green some opportunities on the offensive end, but there has never been a team that completely emptied him like the Pelicans.

Draymond Green didn't hesitate, stood still and made a three-pointer directly.

Duang!

The sound of iron striking was harsh.

Because Draymond Green was standing outside the three-point line at this time, there was no chance to grab offensive rebounds at all, and the Pelicans were standing inside the two giant towers Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordan. Teams will have a harder time grabbing rebounds from both.

In fact, Green also noticed that Leonard and Jimmy Butler of the Pelicans were standing on both sides of the free throw line, so that when the shot turned into a long rebound, the Pelicans could also hold the rebound.

"The average rebound data of the Pelicans is 45, sixth in the league. At the same time, they only give the opponent 9 offensive rebounds per game. This data is second in the league. The first is the Meat Grizzlies inside. Team."

Leonard received the rebound, and the Pelicans immediately made a fast break.

Draymond Green returns to defense quickly, but how can his speed compare with Leonard and Jimmy Butler.

Two-line fast break.

Leonard hit the ground and passed the ball to Jimmy Butler, who threw the ball into the sky after receiving the ball. Leonard scored with a one-handed alley dunk!
"The reason why the Pelicans chose to let Draymond Green shoot, there are also considerations in this regard."

"Draymond Green's counterattack ability and speed are difficult to limit Leonard and Jimmy Butler, and at the same time, he has almost zero rushing to the basket."

Su Qun shook his head repeatedly at this moment.

It's not that he is dissatisfied with the Warriors' performance on the court, but that the Warriors seem to be too paranoid about the small-ball lineup, and they are almost completely abused by the Pelicans in terms of striker and interior height.

"Even if the Bucks played a small-ball lineup back then, they also had Rasheed Wallace, Yi Jianlian and Shaquille O'Neal in their team."

"In the end, we ushered in the extremely talented center DeMarcus Cousins, and the Warriors only have Draymond Green and David Lee?"

This gap between talent and height is too obvious.

Second half of the game.

Durant turned on the mode of death, and Jimmy Butler succeeded in singles twice in a row.

Jimmy, who had already defended well, was beaten by Durant so much that his mentality was about to explode.

"Really Nima, no matter how you vote, how can you get it!"

Knowing that his good brother was short-handed, Leonard took the initiative to switch defenses in front of Durant, but the result was no surprise.

Durant made an emergency stop after a dribble and pulled up to the middle distance. His shooting hand was just one palm beyond Leonard's defense.

Leonard can only cover his eyes, it is impossible to block Durant.

Swish!
Durant made a solid mid-range hit.

After scoring three consecutive offenses, Leonard and Jimmy Butler turned their heads to look at Li Lai on the coach's bench at the same time, and asked if they wanted to double-team.

They both know very well that it will be a very difficult decision to double-team Durant, because there are Curry and Klay Thompson on the court who have been holding back.

The three points of the two means that they can explode if they say they explode, and they will never fail to grasp the opportunity.

"Substitution!"

"Take Beverly."

For the first time this season, Mad Dog Beverly replaced the team boss Paul at a critical moment in the third quarter, which is a great honor for him.

Perhaps only coach Li Lai dared to replace the team leader at this time in the entire league.

Beverly knows that although he is the team's first backup point guard, it is still not easy to have the opportunity for this period of time. He also knows that he will face his first contract extension next season.

Beverly, who has been drifting for several years, is likely to get a very decent contract this summer, so he cherishes every opportunity that coach Li Lai gives him at critical moments.

"Don't worry coach, I know what you want me to do, defend Durant, no problem, I can do it."

Durant watched the stunned Beverly walk on the court and walked directly towards him. He pouted and spread his hands, speechless.

Last season, the Pelicans arranged for Beverly to defend Durant. At that time, Durant couldn't stand the mad dog and went straight to the leg, and the two quickly hugged and smashed into the billboard.

This time, Durant knows that the Warriors have higher missions and goals, and head coach Steve Kerr also regards tonight's game as important material for the future playoffs.

In the eyes of coach Steve Kerr, the Pelicans are their biggest opponents in the Western Conference playoffs this year, none of them.

Durant doesn't know much about it. He has been staying in the West for a long time, and he is obviously more afraid of the old strong team Spurs. He seems to be less afraid of the Pelicans who only rose last season.

But Steve Kerr has been emphasizing that this Pelicans team is scary.

The game continues.

As soon as Beverly came up, he hung his head on Durant's waist, and put his hands directly between the opponent's knees. This level of personal defense is Beverly's exclusive invention.

Because the contact with the offensive players is very close, any offensive action or thought of the opponent will cause changes in the stretching and stretching of the body muscles.

Beverly's head and hands can feel the muscle changes in key parts, so as to infer how the opponent will complete the offense or receive the ball.

"Go to the left!" Beverly felt the muscle changes in Durant's waist, and immediately shouted affirmatively.

Sure enough, Durant turned to the left to get rid of Beverly's defense, while preparing to catch the ball.

Curry quickly passed the ball, Durant turned around and prepared to attack immediately after receiving the ball, but he was surprised to find that Beverly had appeared in front of him, and he stabbed from bottom to top with one hand, knocking out the ball in Durant's hand. The basketball flew out.

Durant looked at the basketball that had already flown into the hands of the fans, then turned his head and glanced at Beverly speechlessly.

"You think you can break my ball? Wake up, who do you think you are?"

Beverly shook his head and said arrogantly, "I'm Scarlett."

I am Nima!
Durant was so angry that he raised his fist and wanted to rush to beat Beverly.

Beverly raised his hands very smartly, looked at the referee with innocent eyes, and said.

"My bath water can be given to him to drink."

Drink your sister's drink!
Durant warned Beverly with a trash talk, and the referee rushed over and warned Durant with his eyes.

"Less trouble."

Du Xiaoshuai was still defending himself and said: "I am causing trouble? Do you think I am the kind of person who wants to cause trouble? He is causing trouble."

The referee said, "Come on Kevin, we all know you like drinking bathwater."

roll roll roll!
The game continues.

Durant, who had an explosive mentality, continued to be entangled by Beverly's death. The Golden State Warriors, who were already behind in the score, lost the last trump card that could turn the game around.

After both Curry and Durant were suppressed, the Pelicans firmly controlled the situation.

At the end of the game, the Pelicans won the game 112:105.

In the post-match interview.

Durant was asked by a reporter if he would go to the Pelicans locker room to drink bath water later. The entire venue immediately burst into laughter, and Durant exited the venue cursing.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr then concluded the interview.

"Coach Cole, you still played a very good offense tonight. You must know that this Pelicans team is one of the best defensive teams in the league."

"To get a score of 105 against them is pretty good."

"However, your loss of points is very serious. The Warriors' defensive problems are no longer a day or two. How do you plan to solve them?"

Steve Kerr frowned, put his hands on the table and said relaxedly: "It's cool, I mean our score."

"However, the problem on the defensive end has indeed affected us for a long time. What I want to say is that on this issue, we lack both players who can protect the inside line and a complete defensive system."

"I don't know when we'll be able to resolve this, but I'm sure we will."

"Because the entire Golden State Warriors, from the players to the coaching staff to the management, has higher pursuits and goals."

Another reporter asked curiously.

"The Warriors' offensive tactics have a lot of shadows from the Bucks back then. Did Coach Kerr learn from Coach Li Lai's style of play?"

Cole nodded without denying it and said, "Coach Li Lai is one of the best coaches in the league. He and my teacher Popovich are both very good at coaching the team's offense."

"My tactical system not only has the shadow of coach Li Lai, but also the shadow of coach Popovich."

The reporter immediately said: "Coach Li Lai was asked the same question in the Pelicans post-game interview that ended early. Does Coach Cole want to know what he said?"

Cole raised his hand to signal the other party to continue talking, the reporter came slowly, and Cole smiled and said after listening.

"Coach Li Lai, no wonder the teacher is willing to praise you so much."

Earlier, the Pelicans' postgame press conference.

"Coach Li Lai, have you noticed that the Warriors have borrowed a lot of the tactics you deployed in the Bucks back then?"

Li Lai frowned when he heard this question. He obviously found that there were gossip and traps in the reporter's words.

So Li Lai said in a bad mood: "I don't think Coach Cole is a head coach who needs to learn from other people's tactics."

"Secondly, I don't think there is anything wrong with many of the Bucks' tactics in the Warriors, because Curry is suitable for such tactics."

"With Curry on the team, any head coach will take advantage of his off-ball and ability to draw defensive attention."

"In fact, not only coach Steve Kerr, but also many legendary coach Larry Brown's shadows in my defensive tactics."

"In the early days of the Bucks, many of my offensive tactics also had the shadow of coach Popovich. Now the defensive tactics and double-team tactics of the Pelicans still have a lot of coaching style of the magician Pakley."

"I don't think this is called reference. It is more appropriate to describe it as inheritance. In fact, every coach in the league coaches the team standing on the shoulders of giants."

"It was those very good coaches who gave us the opportunity to see higher and farther."

"Also, Coach Steve Kerr's passing and cutting tactics are better than mine."

After Li Lai's words fell, the whole venue burst into applause immediately, and the thick eyebrows on the side were convinced by the coach's words from the bottom of their hearts.

He finally understands why every player in the Pelicans respects the coach. The opponent is really a very good person.

After the game between the Warriors and the Pelicans, Li Lai's post-match interview went directly to the top searches in the United States.

For a while, all NBA coaches praised Li Lai's speech after the game, including those retired Hall of Fame coaches.

Larry Brown said: "Li Lai is a good boy, he will lead the development of basketball in a better direction."

The fortune teller Pakleli said: "Except that the Pelicans are a very strong opponent in the hearts of the Heat, I appreciate Li Lai very much and appreciate everything he has done with the Bucks and Pelicans over the years."

1 month 23 day.

The All-Star voting is over.

Eastern Conference Stars: Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett, Kyrie Irving, Cousins, Joakim Noah, Tay Sen Chandler, Jeremy Lin, Jrue Holiday and Westbrook.

After Jeremy Lin confirmed that he would successfully enter the NBA All-Star as a backup guard, there was an episode in the middle.

Many players in the league stood up to protest Jeremy Lin's selection as an All-Star.

Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum said bluntly: I don't think Jeremy Lin is eligible to enter the NBA All-Star Game. He is just an Asian player and a point guard. He was unknown in the first two seasons of his career. Outbreak is worthy of being selected for the NBA All-Star Game?He should first be grateful for the praise that he has received beyond his ability.

WNBA player Chiney also said: I can't understand that as an Asian point guard, Jeremy Lin can become an NBA All-Star. In fact, the lifelong goal of many Asian point guards is to play in the NBA for even a second!
ABB even directly sarcastically said on its own TV program: We all think this result is too ridiculous. Why does Jeremy Lin, an Asian point guard, play in the All-Star Game?

Originally, this kind of public opinion became more and more intense, and even the league was hesitant to cancel Jeremy Lin's All-Star qualification. At this time, Li Lai stepped forward.

He was very angry after a game and said: "I want to ask, what happened to Jeremy Lin's entry into the All-Star?"

"Is his average of 20 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists per game bad? Isn't he worthy of being selected as an All-Star?"

"During Anthony's injury, how many point guards in the league can do what he led the Knicks to achieve?"

"How many point guards in the Eastern Conference can average 20+7 per game?"

"Jeremy Lin, he has been working hard."

"Everything he has achieved is no worse than black players!"

"If you look down on Jeremy Lin and all the achievements he has achieved, then don't you look down on yourself?"

Li Lai's remarks after the game caused more NBA players who wanted to criticize Jeremy Lin to shut up early, and then Melon Anthony, Stoudemire, Westbrook, Cousins, Curry and other new and old teammates came forward one after another. Stand up and support Jeremy Lin to be selected as an All-Star.

Immediately afterwards, the retired league leaders Iverson and O'Neal stood in line with Jeremy Lin, bluntly saying that the opponent must have the qualifications to play the All-Star.

The matter was finally settled.

The Knicks locker room.

Coach D'Antoni patted Jeremy Lin who was sobbing alone in the locker room, and the other party was almost crying into tears.

Jeremy Lin is not afraid that he is not strong, nor is he afraid that he is not capable of gaining a foothold in the NBA.

If you are not strong, you should not enter the NBA, nor should you be based in the NBA. What he feels aggrieved is that he has worked hard for three years and finally got a chance to show himself to the world. Why are there so many people who want to discriminate against him and mock him? .

"You know what, you're not the first player I've seen crying alone in the locker room."

Jeremy Lin wiped away his tears and raised his head in surprise.

D'Antoni fell into the memory and said with a smile: "Before this, there was a player named Nash who was discriminated against by many players and teams in the NBA just like you. He suffered the same pain as you."

"On the court, whenever Nash wants to pass, the defensive players will slap him down with a slap in the face, because in their view, it is an insult to them to be broken by Nash."

"In the face of such discrimination, it took Nash 5 full seasons to conquer his teammates and coaches and secure the team's starting point guard. It took 9 seasons to become the league's assist leader. It took 10 seasons to become the league's regular season MVP. .”

"On the night when Nash was confirmed to be the MVP, countless NBA stars and fans raised objections and ridiculed that this is the worst MVP player in history."

"Because Nash is the first foreign MVP player ever in the NBA, local players think it's an insult to them."

"Nash, who learned all this, made up his mind that he will become an MVP player again next season, and stop these people's mouths!"

Hearing this, Jeremy Lin already understood what coach D'Antoni wanted to say, he raised his head and said firmly with his eyes.

"Coach, I'm going to be an All-Star again next season, and I'm going to shut this group of people up, I'm fucking qualified to be an All-Star in the NBA."

D'Antoni smiled and nodded, looked up and said: "Li Lai is a good coach. He discovered all your abilities and helped you determine the way of playing."

"To be honest, you are very suitable to stay in my system and play. If I were to train you from the beginning, I would also suggest that you develop in the direction of Nash."

"Breakthrough and three points!"

The Western star was confirmed at the same time.

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Zach Randolph, Tim Duncan, LaMarcus Aldridge , James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Paul George.

(End of this chapter)