NBA restricted area bulldozer

Chapter 580 Texas Cockroach

Two days later, the advanced teams from the east and west all showed up.

As expected in the East, the Bulls played against the Heat, and in the West, as Li Shengli guessed, the Rockets were dragged into Game [-], defeated the Supersonics and advanced, and met the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

At the same time, the major awards for the 96-97 season were announced one after another.

COY's best coach is Pat Riley.

The best defensive player in DPOY is Mutombo, who was elected with 52% of the votes.

ROY's best rookie is Allen Iverson, averaging 23.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

The regular season MVP was taken away by Malone. This is the first time he has won this award. This is... This award seems to come at the wrong time, more like a consolation prize for being knocked out by the Lakers in the first round.

As for the five data kings, Li Shengli did not have one.

Because since the restructuring of the 69-70 season, the league officially stipulates that the players participating in the award selection must reach 70 games in the season, not just Li Shengli, who was suspended for 20 games, and David Robinson is the same... Mao has no.

Li Shengli, a big winner, was empty-handed, and the entire Lakers had nothing to gain, and this was Li Shengli's baldest time. Fortunately...they didn't want to miss the finals, and the championship is more real than any award.

……

At this time, the opponent was determined and the schedule was determined.

The Lakers depart for Houston on May 5.

The Rockets had just finished their tiebreaker against the Supersonics on the 17th, prepared for the game on the 18th, and held a pre-game press conference on the 19th, and this press conference was more like a declaration of war for the Lakers.

Because there is only one championship, although the Western Conference Finals cannot determine the title of the championship, it can determine which team is on the way to the final showdown, and if it cannot take this step, as far as the Big Three of the Rockets are concerned, it is no different from being eliminated in the first round. What a difference.

Although there was a lot of talk before the game, the game came quickly, and the atmosphere at the Compaq Center Arena, the home court of the Rockets on the night of the 19th, was quite lively.

This is the first time the Lakers have stepped onto the stage of the Western Conference Finals in five seasons.

To be able to get to where it is today, to be honest, the Lakers management thought that the team would get better, but they didn't expect to make it to the Western Conference finals, because the ranking in the playoffs this time is too embarrassing, but after two rounds, they found... The lineup of the new group turned out to be extremely brutal.

……

"Li, you have to pay attention tonight!" Harris said a few words to Li Shengli before the pre-match meeting in the away locker room.

"Why, do you have any special arrangements?"

"That's not true. You are my most assured and trusted team member. I have nothing to say to you, but this time you may not only do your own work. I am worried... other positions tonight There will be mistakes!" Harris frowned and said his thoughts.

Judging from the second round and seven games between the Rockets and the Supersonics.

The inside combination of Olajuwon and Barkley is quite amazing, plus a glider Drexler.

After seven games, the Big Three of the Rockets formed a combat team, averaging 62 points and 33 rebounds per game, and the proportion of this data is very exaggerated.

Another one, although the Big Three are three old fritters, they used to be superstars who were the bosses of the three teams. Even if their physical fitness has declined, their experience is still there.

Especially when the Big Three are eager for a championship, their combat effectiveness will be amazing, because the three old fritters are willing to join forces, which proves that they no longer care about statistics.

This can indeed be seen. Whether it is Olajuwon, Barkley, or Drexler, the scoring data of the three have shown a downward trend. But it is a good thing.

……

Worried about mistakes?

It is normal to have mistakes, and it is not normal to have no mistakes, right?

If every game can be perfect and reach the peak of the team's performance, it is basically impossible, and the significance of the head coach is to deal with these mistakes in a timely manner during the game.

"Coach, are you worrying about gains and losses caused by excessive nervousness?" Li Shengli laughed.

"That's not true. Although this is the first time in my coaching career that I have gone so far and so steadily, it is never a big mistake to be careful, and playing the Rockets... I think the problem is not with Olajuwon, but with Barkley. .”

"Are you worried about Big Ben?"

"Yes, Barkley, I don't need to say that you all know that although Ben has improved rapidly, even though he has played against Malone, his experience is still a little bit worse, especially Barkley's partner is Olajuwon!"

"Lee, think about it, it doesn't matter if you put it on the Jazz, because the center position of the Jazz is not good, but what about putting it on the Rockets? So, unless it is a last resort, your support for Big Ben on the defensive end should be reduced, otherwise Olaju Wang will be in more trouble."

What Harris said is very understandable.

The Rockets are different from other teams. The Big Three all have strong singles capabilities. This is the most troublesome, because a stable singles game will definitely mean being broken. After breaking the defense, the formation is chaotic, which magnifies the offensive ability of the Big Three. , so the single defense against the Big Three is very important.

"What about Drexler?" Li Shengli asked the No. [-] leader of the Rockets.

"No way, it's impossible to suppress the whole line. I don't have that many people. Crotty can't play the third position, but Drexler can. I can only hope that Horry can hold it."

Harris thought for a while and then said: "In addition, I have also thought about it. Our headaches are also headaches for the Rockets. The ultimate goal of defense is to suppress efficiency, but the most direct way to suppress efficiency is to attack, so I need You play a solid offensive game and hold Olajuwon."

"But we don't have to worry too much. Compared with the combat effectiveness on the bench, we still have an advantage."

……

To be honest, the cost of the Rockets building a set of Big Three is very high.

After a few trades, it can be understood that the starting lineup has been strengthened, but the substitute has been weakened. This is why the data of the Big Three remains high, because the Rockets basically do not have a strong bench, and the Big Three will always die when they encounter trouble. So regardless of whether the game wins or loses, the data of the Big Three will not be bad, so playing the Supersonics can achieve the effect of the Big Three averaging 62 points and 33 rebounds per game.

But that's the problem.

The core players and teams with an astonishing proportion of data have a disadvantage, that is, the victory or defeat depends entirely on the performance of the core players, and as long as the Lakers find a way to suppress one or two of the Big Three, it is basically considered safe. Three heads, then the rocket can be directly defeated.

……

Because of this, Harris emphasized defense, so the starting lineup for the first game of the Western Conference Finals was Li Shengli, Da Ben, Horry, Kobe and Nick.

As for why there is no Crotty in the defensive lineup, it is because when the Rockets have the Big Three, there is really no and no need to have too strong offensive points in the guard combination. If there is a change in the guard position, let Crotty play. It's not too late, and it's safer to start with Nick.

After confirming tonight's starting lineup, Harris repeated the defensive task tonight, and at the same time, the Rockets in the locker room of the home team were also having headaches, head coach Rudy Tomjanovich would have even more headaches, and the Big Three looked at each other .

"Barkley, Clyde, I seem to be watching you two tonight!" Olajuwon said in a low voice.

"Why, you, the number one center in the league, don't have the confidence to play against Lee?" Barkley asked jokingly.

"You..." Olajuwon choked, "Damn, if I were before 30 tonight, I wouldn't say much, but...Damn, you go ask the center of the league , Li Shengli, I, Olajuwon, dare not say that I have confidence, who else dares to say? Is it Ewing or Robinson?"

"Okay, okay, I know this bastard is very violent, I'm just joking." Buckley said with a smile: "But seriously, I hate this guy, really, I went to Texas The Cockroaches are coming together, this season was supposed to be the most promising one, but why... why did the Lakers come out, ah, Clyde?"

"You ask me who will go?" Drexler said angrily, "Anyway, I can't wait any longer. There are Bulls in the East, and the Lakers and Jazz in the West. If you can't get ahead this time, you'll be in the future." No chance, all tonight...must win the Lakers!"

"Of course! Olajuwon, I will cooperate with you on the defensive end."

"Okay, you and Clyde hold on tight, I'll pull him away."

"As long as you keep an eye on Li, you can leave the rest to me. I want to...fly one more time at the end!"

"Stop talking nonsense, it's time."

"Huh... finally here, let's go, meet the Lakers!"

(End of this chapter)