The way of the center

Chapter 425 Toughness, Toughness, Unity and Bloodliness

The Portland Trail Blazers in the 2011-2012 season gave people the following impressions: a super center with an average of 30+13 per game, a power forward with completely opposite basketball IQ and physical fitness, two guards with little impact, A former All-Star forward who occasionally shines but most of the time seems to disappear, as well as two guards on the bench who often boil their heads and make opponents desperate, and two old insiders who may have existed since the beginning of Pangu.Such a lineup seems to be very good, especially the "30+15 super center" will make people's eyes shine.But such a lineup is nothing compared to the other three teams in the East and West finals.

Indeed, George Ricard is an expert at weaving tactics, and his "ghost ideas" even made old players like Popovich capsize.Otherwise, it is impossible for this guy to change from a high school basketball coach to an NBA-level coach in just a few years.Neil Orsi was afraid at first that he would make a big mistake by letting Ricard skip the assistant coach and go directly to the head coach, but the outstanding performance of the Trail Blazers this season turned another gamble into a victory for him.

But even the most powerful coach needs an excellent team lineup to allow him to display his talents.If you don't believe me, you can ask Mayfair Jackson to coach the Bobcats and see if the Bobcats can soar.

However, with such a slightly mediocre lineup-in this era when stars began to play together, the Trail Blazers' lineup can only be described as mediocre.Ricard actually led the team to the Western Conference Finals after 12 years.It can be said that what the Trail Blazers have done is enough to make a blockbuster. Nell Orsi did not expect his team to be so close to the O'Brien Cup so soon.But for Ricard and the Trail Blazers players, such achievements are far from enough.Seeing that the O'Brien Cup is just around the corner, they are not willing to take an early vacation like this.

After swallowing the bitter pill again in Oklahoma, today, the game returned to Portland, back to the Rose Garden Stadium that made most teams collapse.The Battle of Tianwang Mountain, this is the special name given to this game by the media. Win, or, Go, home, such games are always the fans' favorite matchups.

"Ann, we have a lot of people watching your game together today! You will be promoted if you win two games in a row, just two games, come on! There is no football here today, only your performance!" Catherine has left the United States again, and now She is in Milan, Italy, but in this city ruled by football, Catherine has still found many like-minded friends.reason?The reason is of course because of the upcoming battle of Tianwang Mountain.

"I bet $10 on you! You know, $10 is not a small amount for a retired old man! Give me more strength, when it's time to fall, don't Hesitate!" Divac was always able to cheer up Anjie in an unusual way.

"Relax, Ajie, the discussion about today's game in China has already been overwhelming. In our community, we will build a temporary studio downstairs tomorrow, and use a giant screen to broadcast your game! Many people will come to see it tomorrow Qiu, your mother and I have been interviewed by reporters many times. Everyone has confidence in you, and you should also have confidence in yourself!" An Jie's parents showed infinite pride in the conversation .

Countless people called Anjie before the game started. Everyone knew how important this game was to Anjie and the Trail Blazers.Therefore, whether it is in the United States or other regions, no one will want to miss the live broadcast of this game.

An Jie always responded to all the callers with an optimistic attitude. However, when his ears were quiet and the phone stopped ringing, An Jie's smile disappeared immediately.

Blessings are always good, but only An Jie knows how difficult this game is.

His offensive pressure is not great, even Morris can't limit Anjie in one-on-one defense.However, it is precisely because of this that the Trail Blazers will be cornered.Van Gundy's bold change allowed him to find a way to deal with the Blazers before the team lost ground: let Ainger play his best, but strangle the other four on the Blazers, isolate him and cut off support.

Ricard used this trick against Paul when he played against the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.Facts have proved that this trick is very useful. The Trail Blazers can easily sweep the Clippers. Ricard's trick can be said to have brought great help to Anjie and the others.

However, in the second round of the series and now against the Thunder, it is impossible for Ricard to use such tactics again.Because even if he isolates Westbrook, the Thunder still have attack points that will stand up to break the deadlock and force Ricard to change tactics.But when the Thunder isolated Anjie, the Trail Blazers didn't have a second person who could break the deadlock.

Aldridge is the second head of the Trail Blazers, but facing Ibaka's defense, this guy still can't turn the tide on his own.

"Damn, why are you thinking so much?" An Jie shook his head vigorously. Now the locker room is empty, and his teammates are all warming up on the court.An Jie didn't want to lose his fighting spirit before the start of the game, it was useless to think so much, he might as well just go on the field and fight for it!

The tall guy donned the Trail Blazers' best-selling No. 00 jersey, and put on the center's way that swept the world.An Jie pushed open the door of the locker room, the battle of Tianwang Mountain, the butcher came.

Fight, this is the only thing An Jie can do now.But maybe because he was too hard, this guy made Ricard feel terrified in the first quarter of the game.

"Once again! Ann fell down again! Morris and Ibaka went towards Anfeng at the same time. I can't remember how many times Andi was violated, but I think he must be in great pain." See An Jie Being overturned to the ground by Morris and Ibaka again, Mike Breen shook his head unbearably.

"It's okay, buddy!" Morris was the first to rush forward and prepare to pull Angel up.

"Fuck you, Morris! It hurts me to death!" Angel grabbed Morris's hand and stood up, but his tone was not very friendly.Now is the time to fight for survival. It is impossible for An Jie to be friendly to Morris, just like Morris will overthrow An Jie again and again without hesitation.

After two free throws, Ibaka still paid the price for his foul.However, this way of scoring points makes all Trail Blazers fans very worried.

This has just started, and the Blazers' offense is very sluggish.Everyone in Oklahoma thought that the powerful Thunder was about to win the game from the very beginning.

However, the Trail Blazers just came over tenaciously.

The Trail Blazers used desperate defense and gambling-style double-teaming to curb the Thunder's attempt to open the score.Embarrassed, ugly, and staggering, but even so, facing the fierce attack of the Thunder, the Blazers still stood firm in the Rose Garden!
In the first quarter, the two sides tied with a score of 24 to 24. Thunder fans couldn't believe it, they actually suffered a loss on the offensive end!The Blazers' defense is really unbelievable!
"I can't imagine how the Thunder can score with such a deadly defense. It's a game to lose and go home, but it's clear that the Blazers players don't want to take an early vacation."

The Trail Blazers don't want to lose, and the Thunder don't want to play another damn tie-break!If they win this game, they will enter the finals to compete for the O'Brien Cup!Damn Game [-], damn Blazers, no one in the Thunder team is willing to continue to spend in the Western Conference Finals!
In the second quarter, both Westbrook and Bledsoe went crazy, and their breakthrough can be described as desperate.Raymond Felton, who was getting older, was no longer able to defend these two people effectively.

2+1, 2+1, and another three-pointer. Under the leadership of these two guards, the Thunder gradually took the initiative in the second quarter, but the tenacious resistance of Anjie and Aldridge still made the Thunder The expectations of the team to open the score were dashed.

51 to 50, the Thunder entered the second half with only a one-point advantage.If this group of guys wants to step over the corpse of the Blazers and enter the finals, they have to be more ruthless!
So in the third quarter, the rest of the Trail Blazers fully enjoyed the death entanglement that only superstars were eligible to enjoy in the past.Jeff Van Gundy wasted no time at halftime, reminding the aggressive Thunder of the importance of defense!This coach, who is famous all over the world for his defense, does not allow his team to lose on defense!
The young and energetic Thunder team has done it. They have Westbrook, who is so strong and perverted, Sefoloza, a perimeter defensive player, Durant, who is tall and long, and two players who are both athletic and strong. The inside line that people fear.It is not difficult for such a lineup to do a good job of defense.Of course, this does not include restricting An Jie.

Anjie is still struggling to move forward under the defense of Morris. He bites the score for the Trail Blazers one by one. He wins himself a chance to breathe with his falls again and again.Can't let the Thunder open the score, can't let the Thunder open the score!This was the only voice that echoed in An Jie's mind in the second half of the third quarter.

The offense punched and kicked, and the hammer wrench was exhausted, but the Trail Blazers still blocked the thunderous attack of the Thunder.

"Look at them! They are no longer good! This group of guys can only do this! Don't relax, we will eat the Blazers soon!" Jeff Van Gundy was anxious during the break Jumping up and down, the last 12 minutes, the Thunder must defeat the Blazers in these 12 minutes!
"We are only 12 minutes away from victory! Hold on to the pressure, hold on, we must make it to the final!" Ricard also hit the tactical board with his fist, and both sides were already red-eyed.

That's right, red-eyed.Even though An Jie and most of the Thunder team were brothers, friends, and teammates who fought side by side, at this moment, everyone in the Thunder team wanted to swallow An Jie alive.

So after playing for 2 minutes in the fourth quarter, the situation appeared like this.

In one attack, Angie turned around and walked to the basket leaning on Morris, and he planned to force a dunk.

At this time, Ibaka, who is the NBA's block leader this season, naturally does not allow Anjie to go to the basket again to do evil.

He made up for his lack of timing and height and wingspan with his exaggerated bounce speed and jumping ability. This guy quickly caught up with Anjie and held the basketball tightly.

In the end, Anjie's dunk ended in failure, but the referee once again called Ibaka's foul.

The Rose Garden fans cheered loudly, but this time, when the hero of Portland stood up again, everyone gasped.

"Ann! You are bleeding!" Aldridge rushed to An Jie immediately.

"Ah?" An Jie touched his face with his hands, but found that hot liquid was flowing on his face.

The photographers of all channels avoided such shots as required, after all, the picture of the face covered with blood is too bloody.The game was temporarily suspended by the referee, and the Trail Blazers team doctor rushed into the field immediately.

It turned out that Ibaka hit the corner of An Jie's eye hard with his elbow when the block fell to the ground.This gravity blow directly broke the fragile corner of the eye.

Although Ibaka did it unintentionally, he still "won" the booing of 2 people in the audience.

After some simple handling, An Jie was forced to leave.In fact, Anjie can continue to fight in such a situation and continue to fight the Thunder.But the NBA rules are like this, and Anjie must abide by them.

Does Ibaka have no apology in his heart?Of course he has.When An Jie was still in the Thunder team, he and An Jie had a very good relationship.Ibaka's defense would not have been so terrifying without Anjie's confrontation and learning with himself in training.However, in the face of victory, this kind of friendship cannot be the reason for Ibaka to be soft.

During the time when Anjie was not around, the Thunder pursued the victory, frantically attacking the inside line guarded by Marcus Camby and Aldridge.Ibaka and Morris also scored frequently. These two have been frustrated for too long when Anjie was on the court.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, there's no more bleeding!" An Jie yelled at the referee on the technical stage, and finally after a dead ball, An Jie played again!
"An! An! An!." There is only one shout from the Rose Garden now. Portland's hero is back on the battlefield. He is the only hope for the Trail Blazers to win!

After that, the game returned to the rhythm of the first three quarters.An Jie, who played with a Band-Aid on the field, was still violated again and again, and the Thunder players did not show any mercy because of An Jie's injury.But An Jie doesn't hate them, because if it were him, he would do the same.

"Oh, this is the worst game I've ever seen." Seeing that Ibaka had committed six fouls because he overthrew Anjie again, even O'Neill couldn't bear to shake his head.How strong is this guy's body to be able to do this!
Van Gundy also made a difficult decision to use rough and lethal defense against Ann.Doesn't he feel sorry for his former general?There's no way to feel distressed, who made An Jie stand opposite Lei Ting now?
Under such rough defense, An Jie was still a little affected.The guy's offensive efficiency began to decline, and the fouls on the defensive end gradually increased.

With 1 minute left in the game, the Trail Blazers fell behind by 8 points.Wu Hua's hands were shaking, making it impossible for him to complete the filming.Because he knows that the Trail Blazers are only a matter of time before they die.
An Jie was still desperately trying. During this period, his Band-Aid was knocked off again, and blood gushed out again.But he wiped it with a towel while Aldridge made a free throw, put on a new Band-Aid, and played again.

Everyone, including the Thunder players, has great respect for Anjie.But respect, and can not help the Trail Blazers win.

The Trail Blazers were completely defeated by Van Gundy because of the strength of their lineup.

Tough, tough, united, bloody.This Trail Blazers team left a deep impression on the world, but
"The game is over! My God! 110 to 105, the Trail Blazers lost their Tianwangshan battle! The Thunder won the first place in the Western Conference, and they are the champions of the Western Conference! These young people are going to the finals!" Kenny Smith gave a passionate commentary following the craziness of the Thunder players.

But ESPN's Mike Breen and Kenny Smith's partner Shaquille O'Neal, by no means happy.
(End of this chapter)