NBA restricted area bulldozer

Chapter 160 Three Knives Through the Needle

The next game.

Maybe it was because Boggs couldn't defend against jump shots. After Kenny Smith tried a few shots, he felt very hot, and the Rockets gave him the offensive focus at this stage, and they caught the Hornets by surprise at the beginning.

Kenny Smith, nicknamed the Jets.

Unlike the glider Drexler, Kenny Smith emphasizes the starting speed of the breakthrough. In addition to this, he is also commendable for his 52% field goal percentage. Can vote.

Obviously, against a small defensive player like Boggs, Kenny Smith is too easy. Even if other Hornets players double-team, as a point guard, he still has a precise pass and passes it to his teammates in the air defense.

As a strong team in the Western Conference that is expected to compete for the championship, the Rockets have enough offensive capabilities in every position. In front of Kenny Smith, who feels hot, Boggs has become a shortcoming of the Hornets' defense and is completely torn apart.

On the other hand, the Hornets...the defense was blasted, and the offense failed to gain an advantage.

Curry made a few shots to test the waters. The feel is not too bad, but it is difficult to find a good shot. Newman rushed to the basket twice, but it was Olajuwon who slapped it out, and most of the shots from the Hornets were in the On Johnson's body, he singled Rockets power forward Otis Thorpe a few times, and the effect was mediocre. Although Thorpe is not good at offense, he still does a good job of cooperating with his boss Olajuwon's defense.

As for Li Shengli...Because of the Rockets' blockade, he rarely receives passes, and all his focus is on defense, and the Rockets' outside play is exceptionally good, and there is no need to force the inside, so what Li Shengli can do is to compete. Grab every rebound.

Played until halfway through the first quarter.

The point difference behind the Hornets has reached 12 points for the first time, 12 points in the half quarter. If this rhythm continues, it is possible for the point difference to be reduced to 20 points, and the strength of the two teams is reflected at this time. Incisively and vividly, Alan called a timeout in a hurry.

……

The lion fought the rabbit with all its strength. The Rockets faced the Hornets without any release. Rudy, as the head coach of the Rockets, was too transparent.

Because the Hornets' lineup is too bad, the outside line is not enough to see, and the inside line can play offense, so Rudy's arrangement is to put the defensive focus on the outside players and cut off the passing routes of the inside and outside lines.

Defense, defense!

That's what Rudy asked of the Rockets, without even mentioning offense.Although on the offensive end, Kenny Smith's touch is very hot, but this is just a surprise icing on the cake, sublimating Rudy's tactical arrangement once.According to Rudy's expectations, even if the Rockets don't feel good in this game, the defense alone is enough to overwhelm the Hornets.

Every game is a game.

Rocket Rudy has already made a move, and the resources he can use are obviously more than Hornets bishop Alan, which makes Alan frown.

Although it was the first quarter of the game, if there was no remedy for a lost sheep, there might not even be a wool in the sheepfold. Alan had to come up with a solution.

How to solve the game?

Without any hesitation, Alan replaced Larry Johnson with Tony Bennett on the bench. Originally, Bennett was a backup point guard and a speed player. With Li Shengli, a lineup of one big and four small was formed. .

……

The timeout is over, back on the court.

Although I only watched half a quarter, the fans of the Hornets are already worried enough. They are 12 points behind in the half quarter. This must have been blown up by the Rockets. They were waiting for Alan to line up and rescue him... But no one Thinking that, as the only few firepower points of the Hornets, Johnson was actually taken down? !

Not to mention the fans don't understand this substitution, even the Rockets players and head coach Rudy don't understand it.

What do you mean?

In this game, Larry Johnson's performance was not good, but his personal ability is still good, and he has a certain effect on the offensive end, and he was replaced by a small player as a substitute... Are you sure this is not suicide?

……

Although everyone didn't understand, the five people on the Hornet's side were very clear about their missions, because Alan had assigned them their own missions.

The first is defense, desperate defense!

Curry and Boggs switched defenses. Curry suppressed Kenny Smith, who was feeling hot.

The rest of the focus is on offense.

Li Shengli is the first firepower point, Curry is the second firepower point, one inside and one outside, while Boggs, Bennett, and Newman are fast and have strong organizational passing ability. Responsible for moving the ball inside and out.

It has to be said that Alan's tactical arrangement is very bold. The Rockets want to cut off the Hornets' internal and external connections, but he just wants to stick the internal and external lines together, confront them, and crack the Rockets' arrangement hardcore.

Under normal circumstances, he would not win Larry Johnson, but at this juncture of the trade turmoil, coupled with the frustration of the All-Stars, Johnson was determined to ignore Li Shengli, and did not work hard.

Don't want to fight?

Then you can be a bench!

The arrangement made by Alan gritted his teeth, which seemed to be a bold gamble, but in fact it was more helpless.

……

Hornets offensive round.

Boggs is not good at defense, but few people can stop the breakthrough. He easily threw off Kenny Smith, wiped Li Shengli, and almost handed the ball to Li Shengli, and then the four quickly dispersed, pulling The Rockets' defenders ran all over the field, creating one-on-one opportunities for Li Shengli in the penalty area.

Li Shengli hit back with the ball, and Olajuwon immediately stepped forward.

The current situation of the Hornets is very bad. Li Shengli knows that if he can't play this point, then the Hornets will not only lose the game, but may even be slaughtered by the Rockets for four quarters. No one dared to imagine how difficult it would be.

So even in the face of Olajuwon, he did not have any stage fright. He exerted force with his feet and pushed back fiercely. Olajuwon was a little bit overwhelmed. , Even if he followed the jump to block, Li Shengli dunked the ball into the basket and blew the horn of counterattack.

……

Until the end of the first quarter, the Hornets' tactical effect was surprisingly good.

The defensive end gradually began to curb the Rockets' outside offensive, forcing Olajuwon to stand up and support the offense. Although his footsteps under the basket were very dreamy, and he repeatedly hit the inexperienced Li Shengli, he suffered a fall and grew a long time. wisdom……

After Li Shengli had suffered enough from Olajuwon, he began to understand why O'Neal was embarrassed by Olajuwon in the All-Star Game, and his take-off blocking became more cautious.Even if he is a step slower, he doesn't want to be thrown away. If it doesn't work to directly block the shot, then he will do interference attack.

After one quarter, under the interference of Li Shengli, Olajuwon's offensive efficiency was not high.

As for the Hornets offense...

Li Shengli and Curry accounted for more than half of the team's shots. Curry's touch is normal, but it is enough, and the big head is still on Li Shengli's side. Facing Olajuwon's seasoned defense, he is really desperate. , Fight close to Olajuwon, forcefully push to the basket to launch an offense, making it difficult for Olajuwon to defend.

Trailing by 12 points in the half quarter and trailing by 8 points after the first quarter, the Hornets temporarily stopped the bleeding.

(End of this chapter)