Starting from the last bus in the NBA

Chapter 299 Madison Square Garden 1
Wang Hao did what he said, and faced the Knicks alone.

Even if the whole team's mind was not in the game and the state was extremely poor, the Supersonics did not sink completely.

24:27
At the end of the first quarter, the Sonics were only 3 points behind.

Even, if it weren't for the end of the first quarter, Alan Houston got a defense and made 2 of 2 free throws.

The Sonics trailed by only one point in the first quarter, and for the entire game, it was almost a tie.

As for now, the 3-point gap is just a three-pointer.

There is still a reason why the Sonics, who are completely out of state, were able to stalemate the score.

First of all, as one of the top teams in the NBA, it still has the qualities it should have.

Although the supersonic state is not good, the state of things refers more to the offense.

Especially the shooting touch, one person is contagious, and there will be a situation where no one can make a shot.

Offense is affected by state, but defense is not!

To defend this kind of thing, it is best if you have a clear mind and are willing to work hard.

Although everyone in Supersonic is full of heart and soul to go home for the New Year, but there is no shortage of professionalism.

Now that you are on the court, you will naturally go all out.

Going all out may not solve the poor state of offense, but it can definitely be the best defense.

What's more, the head coach is still sitting below. If you don't do your best, you will be sprayed painfully later.

Secondly, the Knicks are really giving opportunities.

In offense, relying on the scoring ability of Alan Houston and Madman, as well as Marco Jackson's organizational offense, they played well.

With 27 points in a single quarter, his performance is not bad.

It's just that, on the defensive end, the Knicks' effectiveness is mediocre, and it can even be said that it is very mediocre.

The fact that the Sonics are in such a poor state can allow them to score 24 points is already very telling.

Obviously, when Don Cheney was a player, he was indeed a defensive expert.

But after becoming the head coach, he doesn't seem to be able to pass on his defensive skills to his disciples.

And the most important thing is, naturally it is Wang Hao!
14 points in a single quarter, 9 of 5 shots, 4 of 2 three-pointers, the super high scoring efficiency has already explained the problem.

Moreover, this is the data under the siege of the Knicks.

No matter how slow Don Cheney's reaction was, no matter how unwilling the Knicks players were to defend, they knew they had to double-team in the face of Wang Hao's outstanding performance.

In fact, throughout the first quarter, the Knicks have been targeting Wang Hao, all kinds of double teams.

It's not that Wang Hao hasn't tried passing the ball before, but in the end, he still chose to do it by himself.

The second quarter started, and Wang Hao, who had already played the first quarter, was placed on the bench.

"Wang, take a break as soon as possible, we need you for this game."

Paul Westphal suddenly spoke, and Wang Hao already understood what he said.

The head coach obviously also discovered the problem of the team's poor state, but there is nothing he can do about it.

When is the worst time to be a coach?

That is, the team obviously had already played, but when they made the last shot, they just couldn't make the ball.

This is very helpless. After all, it is impossible for the head coach to play in place of the players?

As head coach, Paul Westphal has more pressure because he has to think more.

Are the fans satisfied?

Is the media satisfied?

Is the team management satisfied?
Players can be willful and not responsible for these things, but as a head coach, it is not possible!
Therefore, in today's Christmas game, Paul Westphal does not want to lose, nor can he lose.

Such a high-profile game, although it is only a regular season, who knows how it will be interpreted after the game?
Iverson just lost a regular season, and the feat of leading the team to the finals last year became luck!

You know, the Sonics didn't even make it to the Finals!
Previously, because of their excellent record, how much the media praised the Sonics, if they lost, it would be the same level of criticism.

In order to avoid this kind of thing, the Sonics must win!
In this case, Paul Westphal can't do much, he can only rely on Wang Hao.

Who can say such a big move like deadly manipulating the core?
What Paul Westphal said just now has already revealed one thing, that is, Wang Hao, take the time to catch your breath, and there may not be time to rest in the future!
It's such a compliment!
"boom!"

However, at this moment, the scene suddenly boiled, and the Knicks fans were actually cheering for the team?

This is really unimaginable!

Looking up, 24:29.

The second quarter of the game has just started, and the score has been further stretched?
At the same time, the big screen is already replaying, and in fact, the Sonics are not doing too badly.

With a professional attitude, they did a good job defensively, and it was even considered a successful defense.

Knicks backup center Osara Harrington, in the last 3 seconds, received the ball outside the three-point line.

You know, as a traditional center, his shooting range is extremely limited, and he basically doesn't shoot three-pointers.

However, such a forced move actually entered!

what is this?The house leaks happen to rain all night, the boat breaks and the head wind hits!

Wang Hao suddenly wanted to curse someone.

Paul Westphal was already cursing, punching rookie Brendan Haywood.

Well, it's really no wonder Haywood.

As a traditional center, Haywood's defensive area is limited. Unless he has to pick and roll, he can't defend beyond the three-point line.

What's more, facing a big man who doesn't have a three-pointer at all, his choice of protecting the basketball is not wrong.

The only thing wrong was that Harrington threw the ball in.

Of course, this is not worse. What's worse is that the Supersonic's shooting touch is really contagious.

Earl Watson missed a drive throw, and neither did Quentin Richardson's outside three-pointer.

The consecutive missed shots made the atmosphere of the Sonics a bit bad.

Thanks to the strength of the Knicks' bench lineup, otherwise, the point difference will continue to widen.

However, it was Harrington again, obviously just a substitute, but today he played stronger than the main players.

With the second rebound, he added two more points for the Knicks.

Thanks to this time, veteran Brent Barry stepped forward, broke through and assisted Heywood to score two points.

It's just that, looking back, Marco Jackson also made a mid-range shot.

"King, get ready!"

But over there, Alan Houston and Madman are ready to play, and it is estimated that Don Cheney has also seen the situation on the field.

He intends to build enough advantage in the first half.

Paul Westphal didn't dare to let Wang Hao rest anymore, so he simply put him on the court.

29:38
The second quarter lasted less than 4 minutes, and the point difference was close to 10 points.

The Knicks took the initiative to suspend substitutions.

Not only that, Don Cheney also specially arranged tactics, as if he was bound to score the ball.

Returning to the game, the two sides are now doing their best.

It's just that, for the Sonics, Rashard Lewis played instead of Ewing, and for the Knicks, backup center Harrington was on the court.

Mark Jackson dribbled the ball across the half court. This time, instead of giving the ball directly to the madman, he arranged for his teammates to run.

That's right, with the support of the head coach, it's just so tough.

Alan Houston moves quickly, and the Knicks are constantly covering him. It seems that this is an arrangement for Alan Houston to attack.

Not only Harrington and Kurt Thomas on the inside, but even madmen are also covering for Alan Houston.

Sure enough, the madman immediately blocked Michael Reid who was following Alan Houston.

Wang Hao didn't dare to be careless, and immediately switched defenses.

His reaction was fast enough, and his speed was not slow, so he caught up with Alan Houston immediately.

Although it still allowed him to successfully receive the ball, there was no room for a shot.

However, at the next moment, Alan Houston jumped up suddenly, didn't he dare to shoot?
Just when Wang Hao was about to deliver a big hot pot, he suddenly realized that it was not a shot, but a pass.

This is really unexpected.

After all, Alan Houston's role in the Knicks has always been an end point, not a passing point.

As the main guard, he has averaged over 2 assists per game in his career, which is already very telling.

And the object of Alan Houston's pass is the madman.

Madman's ability to attack with the ball is very strong, but it doesn't mean that he can't attack with the ball.

"Shh!"

In an unexpected attack, the roles of Alan Houston and Madman were switched, and the Supersonics knew what cruelty is!

More importantly, 11 points.

The moment the goal was scored, the atmosphere of the Supersonics was a bit heavy, even for Gary Payton.

It's not that a difference of 11 points can overwhelm people, but a change of mood, helplessness and self-blame.

Reluctantly, he was in poor condition and blamed himself for not being able to play well.

A small change in mood can actually have a big impact. Thinking about these things has already proved that you are not concentrating.

Glancing at his teammates, Wang Hao didn't talk nonsense, because he understood that talking is worse than doing.

"Gary, I'm coming!"

No, Wang Hao took the initiative to make a change. He simply started dribbling from the backcourt and dominated the team's offense.

The madman was not polite, he directly stepped forward, and from the moment Wang Hao received the ball, he wanted to interfere with Wang Hao.

Wang Hao was not in a hurry, first he leaned against the madman with his back, and then quickly broke through from the right.

Seeing the madman catch up, he immediately changed direction, then pulled the ball back again, and continued to accelerate towards the right.

A set of changing directions dribbled smoothly, directly shaking the madman away, and sprinting all the way to the frontcourt.

It's just that, the Knicks have also been prepared, Marco Jackson and Alan Houston look like they are always ready to double-team.

After halftime, Wang Hao had no choice but to slow down first.

He didn't go directly to the three-point line because the Knicks were ready to double-team and he didn't want to give it a chance.

That's right, it's just too much, and the Knicks have not yet broken through to the inside, and the Knicks are already preparing to double-team.

This is bullying your teammates and not scoring.

Of course, it is impossible for the Knicks players to really let go of their own people and just double-team Wang Hao.

Even if he is not in good condition, as a professional player, if he really wants to give a chance, he may not be unable to score goals.

Wang Hao is constantly dribbling and adjusting the rhythm, and the madman also lowers the center very low, always ready to defend.

Suddenly, Wang Hao moved, he still chose to break through on the right side, this position has a better chance.

Madman's speed is not slow, and his judgment is also very prepared. In fact, as long as he is willing to defend, his defense is not bad.

It's just that, today's madman can go all out in the attack, which is already very good.

defense?What do you think, unless the Knicks boss gives another 1000 million.

That is, today, Wang Hao did not perform badly in the first quarter, which somewhat stimulated the madman, and the madman was competing.

Wang Hao just made a move, and the Knicks players on both sides also made a move.

They're moving appropriately, ready to double-team.

However, just when Wang Hao was about to break through to the three-point line, he suddenly stopped.

It has to be said that such an emergency stop was very sudden, and even a madman could not react in time.

Not only that, outside the three-point line, Wang Hao took off very simply. This was a dry shot from outside the three-point line.

The madman tried his best to stop him, but he could only sigh.

There is no way, Wang Hao's height and arm span are placed here, the possibility of being destroyed when he pulls out his hand is not high.

What's more, it was an emergency stop, and the madman couldn't react in time.

"Shh!"

Watching the basketball go straight to the net, the Knicks fans were dumbfounded. Is it so powerful?

Knicks fans: No, we finally cheered for our home team, can you not destroy it?
You play so well, we can't help cheering you on later.

The three-pointer from outside is learned by Wang Hao and McGrady. It has to be said that the effect is very good.

Especially when facing defenders who are not tall enough, they can get more room for shots.

It can be said that just this trick, in the hands of Wang Hao, has far surpassed McGrady.

After all, McGrady's three-pointers are not so stable.

32:40
There is still an eight-point difference, and the Knicks are still full of confidence.

In the next attack, they repeated their old tricks and still arranged for Alan Houston to feint.

In fact, they did a good job, forcing the Sonics to switch defenses.

It's just that Michael Reid followed this time, and didn't give the madman a good chance.

And at this time, the madman started again.

If the tactics can be executed smoothly, the madman is actually willing to do so, after all, he can score easily.

But once the tactics are not played smoothly, the madman is impatient, and the ball falls into his hands, and there is only one result.

Facing Michael Reed, he made a forced shot.

"Bang!"

It's a pity that it's normal for the basketball to bounce out of the frame. After all, the shooting rate is about 40%, and this is a madman.

PJ Brown reacted very quickly, grabbed the rebound and handed it directly to Gary Payton.

This time, Gary Payton was not stopped by Marco Jackson, but let him break through the center line smoothly.

Facing Mark Jackson, Gary Payton took advantage of a change of direction and went straight to the inside.

In terms of physical fitness, Mark Jackson did not suffer at all, he leaned against Gary Payton very well.

As long as the opponent dares to make a move, he has the confidence to defend against it.

(End of this chapter)