basketball player

Chapter 143 141: It's really not hard to fight
It has to be admitted that Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the two veteran scorers, are in better shape than Henson expected.Especially Pierce, his superb positioning and coquettish mid-range shots truly interpret what is called "age does not take away true skills".

In order to make up for Pierce's physical degradation, Rivers set up quite a lot of cover tactics for the soul of the Celtics.With more screens and offenses, Pierce's proportion of attacking the frame with the ball has dropped significantly.

Maximize Pierce's advantages in the most energy-saving and short-sighted way. Doug Rivers does have two brushes, and he will do more than just "boil chicken soup".

Pierce used his precise mid-range shots to hit the Pacers' defense again and again. His shot selection was very cunning. Many times Danny Green thought Pierce would not shoot, but he just shot.When he thought he could shoot, he had to pause again.This unpredictable shooting rhythm made it very difficult for Green.

With Pierce's excellent performance, after 5 minutes in the first quarter, the Celtics still led the Pacers by 2 points, which undoubtedly made the local commentator in Boston extremely excited.

"Coach Henson Joe thinks he can easily get out of Boston, but it's up to 'Truth' to answer!"

When Pierce once again used Garnett's off-ball screen to get a gap, and Rondo's pass accurately assisted Pierce to hit a shot, Henson, who was at a 4-point disadvantage, called a stop to the game, and the trial was over!

"Danny, take a break after the game. You performed well, but I need you to play a bigger role at other times." After Danny Green left the field, Henson patted him on the shoulder and whispered in his ear.

Green nodded. He knew that it was because his defense against Pierce was not successful enough that the coach made this decision.But even so, even if he is just a role player, Henson has given him enough to step down.It's already like this, what else can Green ask for?

If it weren't for the coach in front of him, he wouldn't even know if he would have a chance to show off in the NBA.

Therefore, the harmonious relationship between the Pacers players and Henson is not due to Henson's magic, but accumulated bit by bit.

When it's time to be fierce, be fierce, and when it's time to give them sweets, let them be sweet, and you will find that getting along with these big names is actually as easy as getting along with high school boys.

After dealing with Green, Henson couldn't wait to walk up to the taciturn boy.In fact, from the very beginning, Henson didn't expect Green to completely contain Pierce.It was only to ensure offensive firepower that Henson continued to let Green start.

The real "artifact" for defending Pierce, Henson hasn't played yet!

"Kavai, remember those videos we discussed yesterday afternoon?" Henson didn't talk to Leonard much, because he knew that this kind of taciturn guy likes refined conversations the most.

Sure enough, Leonard didn't gnaw, just nodded.

"Very good. Once you get on the court, just do what I told you yesterday. Guard Pierce, rebound the ball, and give the ball to Chris Paul. It's that simple."

Now Leonard's skills are far from being formed, so Henson also tries not to let him do things beyond his ability.Therefore, the task Henson gave Leonard was not complicated.Just one word, defense!
As soon as Henson finished speaking, the electronic buzzer sounded.At the end of the timeout, the fans in the North Shore Garden frantically waved Pierce's photojacket, eager for this warrior with green blood to continue to fight against the incoming enemy.

However, no one cared. The expressionless Pacer 2 had already set his sights on "Truth".

"The game restarted, and Paul Pierce brought great trouble to the Pacers today. As we all know, Danny Green is an excellent wing player. Fight with Pierce. But in that case, Ray Allen can be liberated. In front of coach Hengson, there are really two bottles of poison. "

The well-known Celtics live commentator Mike Gorman spit into the microphone, expressing his confusion about Henson's motivation for the substitution.

"Could it be that he thinks that a first-year rookie can stop Pierce? I know that No. 2 successfully blocked LeBron in the last game, but that was only because LeBron underestimated the enemy." Gorman continued.

On the field, in the Pacers' offense, Paul assisted George to hit a shot over Ray Allen's head, which is a typical way of dealing with others.The aging Ray Allen despaired of the height of George's shot. This was the third time in the game that he watched the childish rookie throw the ball over his head.

George and Leonard's one offense and one defense today is the key to Henson's winning plan.

But Celtics fans don't seem to care about George's goal.They remain enthusiastic, looking forward to Pierce teaching that Pacers rookie how to behave in the other half.

For this ball, Rondo planned to make a surprise attack by himself.However, Paul's defense against him was really tight, and Paul gave Rondo two big strides very aggressively.If you want to shoot, you can shoot. If you don't shoot, you must face Paul's rough physical confrontation.

Helpless, Rondo, who was unattended beyond the three-point line but still dared not shoot, directed his teammates to move with a dark face.This situation where no one is defending but still dare not shoot three-pointers makes Rondo feel embarrassed.

Seeing Ray Allen come out according to the tactical route, Rondo immediately handed over the ball.However, Ray Allen was once again entangled by the tall and long-armed George as expected.For Ray Allen, whose ability to break through with the ball has regressed a lot, he almost lost the chance to score when George blocked the space.

Paul George's defense caused Ray Allen a lot of trouble today. Indeed, George has brought a lot of trouble to all the second positions he has played against this season.His defensive ability has improved greatly, which is very in line with Henson's expectations.

Therefore, although the Celtics tried hard to play variables, they couldn't play at all.Because in the end, the only thing Ray Allen can do is to hand the ball to Pierce!
Pierce, as always, came out through Garnett's screen, ready to meet Ray Allen.This trick has been tried and tested against Danny Green. As long as he can successfully catch the ball, Pierce can use his superb offensive ability to torture the inexperienced rookie.

Just when Pierce was about to receive the basketball, a big hand was suddenly placed between Pierce and the basketball.Pierce turned his head in surprise, this guy was obviously blocked by Garnett just now, how did he catch up! ?
Leonard didn't catch up, he just had long enough arms.

"Crack!" The basketball was slapped away by Leonard, and the Celtics made a pass error!
Leonard's first reaction after taking the ball was not to bury his head and run, but to find Paul according to Henson's instructions!

At this time, Paul has already moved forward, but behind him is still Rondo who is entangled with him.Seeing that the pass was not safe, Leonard decided to advance with the ball himself.

When Leonard took his big strides and ran, people realized that this guy is simply a weapon in transition offense!
The elderly Pierce was easily thrown away, and Leonard was "forced" to complete the one-stop dunk after the steal because he could not pass the ball safely!This dunk undoubtedly exploded a few mental illnesses on the Pacers' bench.

Stephenson fell face down on the ground after Leonard's dunk, and then just pretended to be dead.Henson has never understood the "performance art" of this kid celebrating his teammates' scores.

The funniest thing is that other people are jumping up and down for Leonard's dunk.However, Leonard himself just returned to the defense as if nothing had happened, which made those teammates who were celebrating his score on the bench somewhat embarrassed.
"It's Leonard again. He successfully steals Pierce and pushes the dunk himself. I remember the scouting report saying that Leonard's dribbling is extremely bad. But just on the fast break, I didn't see where his dribbling was bad."

Leonard's dunk tied the game for the Pacers and made Pierce feel bad.The long arms and big hands of No. 2 gave Pierce a great sense of oppression.

On the next ball, after Ray Allen and Pierce failed, Garnett tried to single West in the low post.It's a pity that West's iron-blooded defense made Garnett fight and retreat, and in the end he could only use a "big iron-blooded jumper" to contribute a strike.After Henson focused on strengthening the inside this season, Garnett couldn't take advantage of the Pacers' three-second zone at all.

The Pacers immediately launched a counterattack, and Paul did not intend to give the aging Celtics any respite.His penetrating breakthrough attracted the Celtics to shrink. In the crowd, Paul still accurately delivered the ball to his teammates.

Paul's breakthrough shot is still very good, but the person who catches the ball outside the three-point line makes Henson a little desperate. It is actually Leonard.

Leonard got the same defensive treatment as Rondo from beyond the three-point line, and no one cared at all!But if you throw a pot, you have to throw it or not.Leonard bit the bullet and shot a three-pointer, but his stiff shot made Frazier, who was waiting for shooting as an art, couldn't help but cover his eyes.Spicy eyes, too spicy!
Sure enough, Leonard's shot knocked out of the frame, but fortunately West, who followed up in time, made up for it, and the Pacers' offense did not fail.

When he just shot a three-pointer, Leonard was like an idiot who knew nothing.But once on the defensive end, he seems to be a completely different person.

Pierce still used the screen to attack, he feinted after gaining space, and then took a step to shoot.This kind of cunning and changeable shooting rhythm is difficult for many experienced players to judge accurately, let alone a rookie.Danny Green just lost to Pierce just like that.

Leonard was deceived by Pierce like Green, but even if he was deceived, his long arms and big hands were still in front of Pierce.It's as if even if you shake O'Neal away, his size still fills the penalty area and makes you feel at a loss.

With a forced jump shot blocked to his fingertips, Pierce failed to perform magic again. He couldn't even see where the basket was at the moment he made the shot!
For the third time in a row, the Celtics' offense went nowhere.After Paul pushed quickly, he was violated by Rondo, and there were some quarrels between the two sides.But Henson was indifferent, Paul was no rookie, he knew how to control himself.

No matter how Rondo justifies, no matter whether Paul really made a lot of small moves against Rondo before.Anyway, the Pacers got two free throw opportunities, which is inevitable.

Paul personally made two free throws and instantly changed the score from 4 points behind to 6 points ahead.The 10-point gap inside and outside caused Rivers to be stopped.

With just one substitution, Henson contained the Celtics' fireworks.Choose between two bottles of poison?Sorry, I don't drink a bottle!Neither Ray Allen nor Pierce can escape the fate of being locked up by the younger generations!
"What did I say? The Celtics are not that difficult to deal with." Henson smiled and took the tactical board from Vogel's legs, who was in a daze.

(End of this chapter)