basketball pope

Chapter 84 [Like eating stimulants]

On the 27th, the sixth game between the two sides was played at the United Center Arena in Chicago.

The Bulls fans once again unified the red T-shirts. When the players came out, the home DJ introduced enthusiastically, and the audience cheered.When the Knicks players came out, someone led the fans to boo.

The players began to warm up, Tom Thibodeau sat next to Yang Rui and said bitterly: "This atmosphere is really annoying, I want to see how arrogant the Bulls are this summer, Jackson, Jordan, Pippen are gone, which one? Idiots willing to be the head coach and help them rebuild?"

Yang Rui asked: "If they asked you to be the head coach, would you be willing?"

"Yes." Thibodeau replied with a smile without thinking.

Yang Rui rolled his eyes, you must be hitting yourself too fast, right?

Van Gundy frowned: "It's about to start, you two are still in the mood to joke here? If you lose today, it will be a tiebreaker."

The two immediately shut up. Although the Knicks still have a home game for the loss, Van Gundy hopes to advance today, otherwise, with his character, he will not be able to sleep peacefully these two days.

Van Gundy was willing to accept Yang Rui's proposal to set up an attacking formation after he went out of his way.

Knicks starting: Atkins, Houston, Mills, Johnson, Ben Wallace.

Two people were replaced in the starting lineup. Atkins, who is 180cm tall and weighs 73kg, was in the key game. Among the point guards, he had the best breakthrough and the most accurate three-pointers. The disadvantage is that the confrontation is poor and the defense is bad.

Mills played a short time in the regular season, averaging 19 minutes per game, with only 7.7 points, 3 rebounds and 1.2 assists.He is in charge of dealing with Jordan. He is 198cm tall and weighs 98kg. He is not at a disadvantage in confrontation. He is fast and has outstanding physical ability.

Bulls starting: Hubble, Jordan, Pippen, Kukoc, Longley.

With Ewing gone, Longley returned to the starting lineup. Phil Jackson thinks the Knicks have someone who can be shorted, and Longley can play in the paint because of his height and weight.

The Bulls' weaknesses are also obvious. Rodman is not there, and the pick-and-roll defense is worse.

Longley casually tipped the ball to win, and the game began.

CCTV5 Zhang Reasonable Tucao: "Ewing is injured, the Knicks don't have a big man inside. Ben Wallace is a head shorter than Longley, so it's not easy to play."

The Bulls opened up, Jordan received the ball from the outside, and Longley pulled out the pick-and-roll.

Later, Jordan was deified too much. Some people often said that he was not called a pick-and-roll, and that his superiority depended on his personal ability. In fact, one of Wade's tricks was to steal from Jordan.

When Longley mentioned the high position, Jordan didn't walk to the side to avoid the wall, but suddenly accelerated, and used a dribble behind the back to pass through the gap between Longley and Ben Wallace. Mills wanted to chase, no matter whether he went around or walked. The gaps are slow.

Big Ben didn't react and was completely passed. Jordan took off with three steps in the middle and scored with one-handed dunks. 0 to 2.

This wonderful goal drove the atmosphere of the audience, the fans cheered together, and the home team was even more imposing.

Sitting on the sidelines, Yang Rui could feel a pressure and pin his hopes on Atkins. He had no idea what was right or wrong.

The Knicks attacked, Atkins took the ball in the middle, Ben Wallace went to the side to screen for Houston, Atkins glanced at Houston, didn't pass, suddenly changed direction with the ball to the right, Hubble's lateral movement slowed by half Shoot, be broken past.

Atkins went straight to the basket, attracting Pippen to fill the defense and distribute the ball to the right bottom corner. Mills made an open jumper. 3 to 2.

Pippen has a very strong sense of making up defense, while Mills has nothing else to do. He has worked hard on corner threes all season. His position is fixed, and Atkins can find someone.

The Bulls attacked, the Knicks shrank, Jordan broke through with the ball, Mills and Atkins double-teamed him and emptied Hubble.Jordan scored the ball to the right corner.

Hubble has no confidence in his own three-pointers. He averaged 1 shot per game in the regular season, almost all of them were open shots, hitting 0.2, and the shooting rate was 19%, and there was no improvement in the playoffs.

Unattended, Hubble shot the ball to the basket, Atkins chased and defended in place, Ben Wallace also retreated, and Hubble passed the ball near the penalty area to find his teammates.

After several passes, 24 seconds later, Longley hit Ben Wallace in the low post, turned around and missed a hook, the rebound was grabbed by Mills, and Atkins made a fast break with a landing pass.

Atkins ran across half court on the left, dribbled the ball behind his right hand to his left, and then turned right to pass Hubble.

Houston stood outside the three-point line to attract Jordan's defense. Pippen just let Mills make a three-pointer, and this time he didn't dare to make up defenses at will.

Atkins made a layup in the middle. 5 to 2.

Yang Rui's dangling heart was relieved, and Atkins withstood the pressure and showed his advantages.

The Bulls attacked. After the players pulled away, Jordan singled with the ball in the low post, leaned on Mills twice, turned to the baseline and made a jumper. 5 to 4.

Jordan's trick is so perfect that it's hard to guard against one-on-one.He wants the ball on the strong side, and Johnson is not good at double-teaming, so he can only defend with Atkins or Houston.

In the Knicks positional battle, Atkins brought it to the frontcourt and waited for the door of his teammates to open, creating a chance to single out Hubble in the middle.

Atkins is very excited today. After graduating from college, he has never enjoyed this kind of core treatment again. This is his favorite way to play, and he can make a splash on the court.He has always been first in scoring and second in passing.

He dribbled the ball under the crotch in a row, and Hubble's position was relatively back, preventing breakthroughs but not throwing.Atkins veered to the left, and Hubble had just taken a traverse before hitting Ben that was pulled out.

As soon as the cover arrived, Longley's defense switching speed was tested. A little slower, Atkins made a one-step pull-up jumper inside the three-point line, avoiding Longley's block and missed under slight interference.

At this time, Ben Wallace's role came into play again. He turned around and rushed to the basket after blocking, grabbed the offensive rebound, and was one step faster than the retreating Kukoc.

After landing, Daben did not make a strong second attack. He turned around and passed the ball to the right 70 degrees. As soon as Kukoc retreated, Johnson on the periphery was empty.

Hubble hurriedly covered Johnson. The latter faltered with the ball and then didn't cast it. He distributed the ball to the middle, and Atkins got an open position. This time, no one made the defense.

Jordan followed Houston in the left bottom corner, Pippen and Mills were in the right bottom corner, Longley had withdrawn to the area near the penalty area, Kukoc chased after Johnson, and it was too late for Hubble to turn back to guard Atkins.

Fringe newcomers are always easily overlooked.Although Atkins is thin and small, he has specialties. His open jumper makes a three-pointer with a perfect arc and hollow into the net. 8 to 4.

Van Gundy and Yang Rui jumped up from their seats together, applauding the teenager.

Sun Zhengping said in surprise: "Too unexpected, the Knicks without Ewing started scoring consecutively, pressing the Bulls to play, and the core of the offense is rookie Atkins, he seems to be on stimulants today."

Zhang Lili sighed: "Let the rookie start in key games. The head coach needs to have great courage. Van Gundy and Yang Rui cooperated very well on the sidelines. The Knicks are likely to eliminate the Bulls in this game."

(End of this chapter)