NBA: Opening breaks record

Chapter 136 Suffocating Defense

Re-entering the court, amidst the cheers of the fans, Morant's offense ended with a three-pointer.

When it was the Lakers' turn to attack, the Grizzlies resolutely implemented Jenkins' defensive strategy.

They have adjusted the specific matchup and marking.

Brooks was adjusted to defend Westbrook, Bain defended James, Williams, who replaced Adams, defended Meng Hua, Jackson marked Monk, and Bradley was emptied intentionally or unintentionally.

Morant, who was free, was responsible for maneuvering and cruising, pinching the ball holder at any time.

James, who holds the ball, is used to strong winds and waves, and understands the changes in the opponent's defensive strategy in seconds, and immediately distributes the ball to Bradley who was emptied.

Bradley's three-pointer was good, but unfortunately, he didn't make a shot in the face of a wide open.

Sometimes, I am used to having people in front of me, but suddenly it is empty, and I am not used to it.

The Grizzly's attack is like a six-veined sword, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't work, and most of the time it doesn't work.

But what does it matter? On the defensive end, they spared no effort to sprint all over the court, pressing hard at every step, chasing hard, and the Lakers were defended in a panic.

James and Westbrook were able to control the ball and pass it out, but Bradley, who was in a wide open position, failed to make three consecutive shots.

This is very demoralizing.

The opponent's strategy is also a gambling defense, and the Lakers are right about adapting, but they just can't score.

The more they couldn't get in, the more impatient James and Westbrook became.

In the face of a double team, it is easy to be broken if you are impatient.

The Grizzlies are very good at taking advantage of the opponent's mistakes to score. They are young, run fast, and can't run to death.

Finally, after Westbrook made a mistake and the Grizzlies made a fast break, Vogel requested a timeout, even though there were only 2 minutes left before halftime.

It is also very important to recover the point difference after playing these 2 minutes well.

Bradley took the initiative to take responsibility: "I'm sorry brothers, I didn't even make three shots from the wide open position, and I don't know what happened."

James said: "Avery, when everyone feels cold, you don't need to apologize."

Westbrook wanted to apologize for the mistake, but he didn't open his mouth when he heard what James said. The best apology is to prove himself on the court, otherwise it's just a mouthful, at best, he has a high EQ and has no practical effect.

Vogel looked at Meng Hua and suddenly asked, "Hua, if you come to hold the ball, are you confident that you won't make mistakes?"

Meng Hua was taken aback, and asked back: "It's useless just not to make mistakes, right? My vision is not good, and I can't instigate an attack with the ball."

Vogel said: "In the game against the Trail Blazers, I remember you played very well. You even assisted with a goal in the logo in the middle circle."

"They had no morale in that game, and they didn't actually defend very much. And that day, I didn't know what happened. My mind was running at high speed, and it felt like I had summoned Magic Johnson." Meng Hua replied with a guilty conscience.

"That's it." Vogel was not without regrets. He had a bold idea and wanted to replace Westbrook, but it was not enough to keep James with the ball.

Tucker can hold the ball, but his three-pointers are less reliable than Westbrook.

He wanted Meng Hua to play the No. 1 position, but Meng Hua himself said that he couldn't instigate an attack, and taking Westbrook would be a bit of a bully.

Then he has no choice but to let the players adjust themselves. He called the timeout for another purpose, which is to let James and Westbrook rest.

Both of them have old arms and old legs, and being attacked by the Grizzlies' young players in turn is a severe test of physical strength.

James is indeed out of breath, and the years are not forgiving.

Re-playing, the Lakers played three offensive rounds, James planned twice, Westbrook once, all ended in failure.

The Grizzlies are still double-teaming the ball holder, and the Lakers can't do anything about this tactic.

The more defensive the home team is, the more confident it is, the player rotation speed is getting faster and faster, and any loopholes can be filled in an instant.

Bradley found that he no longer had to worry about not making open three-pointers, because he no longer had open shots.

Morant found that he seems to have become a defensive champion, the more he defends, the more he has experience. He loves this kind of defense.

Using his speed and agility, his pincer attack caused Westbrook and James quite a headache.

In addition to Morant's timely flanking, Williams and Jackson are also very good at plugging gaps.

This is a suffocating defense. The attacker is caught in a vicious circle of playing more with less, unable to find opportunities at all, and the more they play, the more they collapse.

Fortunately, there are only 2 minutes left, halftime is up, and the nightmare is finally over.

The Lakers players all breathed a sigh of relief, James walked back to the locker room without saying a word, the team trailed by 10 points, which was nothing at all, but the game was too aggrieved.

There is no way to bring such a teammate.

Ever since Meng Hua molested Bain, received a pass from Westbrook, and made an ecstatic three-pointer, the Lakers missed six shots in a row, and the production of steel in the FedEx Arena skyrocketed.

Seeing that the Lakers were in a bad situation, those who supported Meng Hua the most began to speak out for him.

Bradley missed the first three-pointer, Ke Fan said: "It's okay, this double-team, other Lakers players must have space, and the Grizzlies will definitely pay the price."

Bradley missed again, Ke Fan: "It's wide open, Bradley didn't bring a scope today."

Ke Fan made a bad face after missing three shots, "What is Bradley doing? This shot is too outrageous. Did you go to a nightclub last night?"

Westbrook made a mistake, and Ke Fan yelled anxiously: "The Grizzlies are young, and if they make a mistake, they will be awarded points. Westbrook shouldn't be able to play this ball."

Vogel asked for a timeout, and Ke Fan and Su Qun were also busy making moves. They agreed that Westbrook should be replaced, and Melon or Rivers, even Warcraft, would do.

After the timeout, the Lakers did not adjust, and the two continued to point out the country and encourage words, using Jenkins' excellence to set off Vogel's mediocrity.

The player appeared again, Monk hit the iron, and Ke Fan said: "Just now you hit Bradley, you should continue to let him hit. You let this shot, then let that shot. In the end, no one feels the touch. How do you win the game?"

James finally continued to feed Bradley and hit the iron again. Ke Fan: "Bradley can't do it. The Lakers have to fight Meng Hua. Now he is the only strong point on the court."

Westbrook took possession of the ball and passed it to Meng Hua, but the iron voice remained the same. Ke Fan said, "Striking the iron is also contagious. Meng Hua is so accurate. At the beginning, he was not allowed to shoot. Now you see, even his touch is gone. The Lakers are going to die, they are going to die."

"Alas..." He sighed a long time, hating it for not fighting.

At the end of the halftime, looking at the drooping Lakers players, Ke Fan said: "Fortunately, the halftime is over, the Lakers are behind by 12 points, but just looking at the performance on the field, I think they are behind by 20-30 points."

Su Qun agreed: "Who said it wasn't? The Grizzlies' defense is suffocating. This team is really good."

"Mr. Su, how do you think the Lakers should adjust?"

"I think they're going to hit the three-pointer and turn up the most accurate perimeter artillery.

In addition, the point of holding the ball needs to be adjusted.

First find a player to pass the ball, and then James and Westbrook go to catch the ball. Don't always dribble there recklessly, people have already seen through you. "

(End of this chapter)