Grab Curry at the start

Chapter 83 Youth Storm
"Beautiful, Curry and Love feel really encouraged. They have played consecutive All-Star performances." Zhang Sixin applauded.

In the third quarter, Curry and Love showed great power in the pick-and-roll. They each hit a three-pointer and directly rubbed the Mavericks on the ground.

The Mavericks started normally in the second half, but when Nowitzki was strictly guarded by the Timberwolves, only Terry played well, and no one else stood up.

This is the embarrassment of the Mavericks' offensive end, except that Nowitzki has no stable second point, and Terry is only a sixth-man level, which is somewhat inconsistent with the Mavericks' record.

Of course, other Mavericks players, such as Kidd and Marion, are very experienced and more cautious than the average team's starters, but sometimes experience can't be relied on. If they can't give Nowitzki more help, it will be difficult for the Mavericks to meet a real strong team.

The Mavericks didn't expect the Timberwolves to become so strong all of a sudden. The Timberwolves in their impression were not so strong as players.

The Timberwolves played extremely decisively in the second half, and their defensive strength was greatly improved. The Mavericks didn't react all of a sudden, and fell behind by 10 points.

It's not that the Mavericks haven't faced opponents with explosive points in a short period of time. The Suns have also shined in the West for several seasons, but a team like the Timberwolves with a strong defensive focus and explosive points is really rare.

But the Mavericks actually don't want to lose. In the competition in the West, a victory or defeat may also affect the regular season ranking.

Nowitzki, Kidd, and Terry reduced their rest time, and the Mavericks took the initiative to reduce the rotation, intending to fight the Timberwolves with all their strength.

Zhang Sixin signaled the players not to worry, just keep an eye on Nowitzki.

Even if Beaubois hit a three-pointer again after coming on the field, he has no idea of ​​adjusting the team's defensive strategy.

Others, including Terry, the second point of the calf, can play casually.

The Timberwolves will only be a conventional defense. If they can completely tear it apart, Zhang Sixin admits it.

But Nowitzki can't do this. This is the basic tactic of defending the Mavericks and it won't change.

Of course, the conventional defense is not completely unchanged.

For example, after the Timberwolves take the lead, they will pay more attention to the three-point line, and it will be easier for the Mavericks to kill inside.

A basketball game is still an offensive game. No matter how good the defense is, it is impossible to block the opponent, so there must be a focus.

After the Timberwolves hit consecutive three-pointers, the Mavericks also increased their blocking of the three-point line.

But it doesn't matter, the Timberwolves can also attack the inside and play offensive and defensive transitions.

Or when Dampier goes down, they go straight to the paint.

Dampier is now a weak point for the Mavericks. He can't keep up with the speed on the top, and he doesn't have height inside.

This wave, the Mavericks are very uncomfortable.

And when the Mavericks' bench lineup wanted to chase points, the Timberwolves were not polite.

Just like the Timberwolves wanted to rotate time in the first half, it is difficult for the Mavericks to take advantage of it now.

Belinelli didn't score many points, but he always maintained a three-point threat. As soon as the Mavericks' defense didn't notice, Belinelli hit one.

This buddy is a relatively easy-to-use role player. If the price is right, Zhang Sixin doesn't mind using it all the time.

But if the Timberwolves perform well, there will definitely be competition, and Zhang Sixin will not force him to stay.

For head coaches with open eyes, there are still many good role players.

When the score fell behind, the Mavericks chose to change.

They gave up Marion as a defensive point on the flank, put on double guards, brought Dampier back up, and tried their best to chase points without giving up the inside.

Marion is now also degraded seriously, only defense is left, and shooting is completely gone.

He could shoot well in the Suns three years ago, could affect both offense and defense, and was barely at the All-Star level. Now he is a pure role player. I don’t know if it’s aging or the wrong skills.

The Mavericks gave up Marion in order to have four three-pointers on the court, but the Timberwolves blocked the three-point line relatively tightly, and the Mavericks didn't get so many opportunities.

Of course, it is also a success for them to allow the Suns to focus more on the three-point line. This is the containment force of tactics.

However, their own defense has also deteriorated.

If the Timberwolves' offense has not deteriorated, what good is the Mavericks' offense getting better?

But they don't have a choice either, and the Mavericks only have so many cards.

It can't be done now, I can only blame them for not paying enough attention.

Since they put more thought into strengthening the lineup, losing a few more games now is just benevolence.

And Zhang Sixin rarely puts his mind on mid-season deals, unless there is a big advantage.

It's really a bit of a shame to act like deliberately looking at the goods for others.

In the last few minutes, the score gap between the two sides has not changed much.

The Mavericks have no other choice but to let Nowitzki play singles.

Then attack in an all-round way, and the Timberwolves don't have much to say.

In fact, Kidd also symbolically increased breakthroughs, but Kidd is really old, and now he can only help control the rhythm and squat on the three-point line. It is really not easy to be strong.

"The Mavericks' lineup is too old." Tyronn Lue couldn't help but sigh.

He has played against a lot of people above, but now he is sitting on the coaching bench.

Zhang Sixin smiled and said: "Actually, with the current training level, they are not too old. It is true that their lineup has flaws."

"But they have Nowitzki, as long as some adjustments are made, it will still be one of the biggest troubles in the West."

"Now they are also the top four in the West." Dell Curry couldn't help interjecting.

Those who didn't know about the previous conversation would think that the Mavericks have a poor record now.

On the court, the Mavericks' defense began to shrink. Now they can only hold the Timberwolves' inside line first, and then bet that the Timberwolves' outside line will not be so accurate.

Compared with the traditional choice, after all, although the league is changing now, most people still think that big men are more threatening.

Even if the Timberwolves are very good outside, their outside shooting percentage is always lower.

However, the three rookie players outside the Timberwolves can really withstand the pressure of the game.

In the last 5 minutes, Curry completely controlled the situation.

He made a big foul on Nowitzki, and assisted DeRozan and Matthews to hit three-pointers one after another, directly killing the Mavericks' hope of a comeback.

In the last few minutes, the Mavericks didn't make a single three-pointer. This is the difference between the two teams.

The Timberwolves' double-digit lead was maintained until the end.

In this way, they came to the third position in the West.

Curry and Love both scored All-Star statistics again, and any one of them looks better than Nowitzki.

The media also exclaimed that the youth storm in the west has intensified.

Zhang Sixin said that this is just the beginning.

(End of this chapter)