basketball player

Chapter 318 Chapter 316: The Tug-of-War
Lionel Hollins experienced today what it feels like to be restricted by a solid defense.

Before the start of the game, Hollins' plan was to solidify the defense and then score like a knife on the offensive end to gain an advantage.

But in fact the game was quite different from what he imagined. The Pacers really couldn't score, but the Grizzlies themselves couldn't cut flesh from the defending champion.

After the first quarter, the score of the two sides was 22 to 18, and the Grizzlies were temporarily behind by 4 points.In the era of fast-paced offense and three-pointers in modern basketball, it is very abnormal to score less than 25 points in a single quarter.

Neither side is shooting very well, as they focus almost exclusively on defense.Fighting against the best defensive team in the league, this kind of thing may only be done by Henson Joe.

"I believe that it is impossible for the two sides to allow this situation to continue. At least one of the two teams will try to open the situation first, because if the score cannot be opened for a long time, it is actually very dangerous for both teams!" Countless commentators have said so, but in fact, it is their ratings that are really at risk.After all, few fans like to watch this kind of full iron game.

However, Henson and Hollins continued their defensive battle in the second quarter with shame.The Pacers failed to score nearly 4 minutes after the start of the second quarter, allowing the Grizzlies to lead 31-26.

However, the Grizzlies' good times didn't last long. When Henson replaced Horford with the more energetic "Birdman" Anderson, the Grizzlies quickly fell into the ice cave in the next 6 and a half minutes.Gasol Jr. struggled in the interior, and the Grizzlies' breakthroughs were repeatedly sabotaged by Anderson. His vitality undoubtedly added a lot of deterrence to the Pacers' restricted area.

The Grizzlies scored only 4 points from multiple shots, while the Pacers' offense was successfully activated by Stephenson and Ray Allen's consecutive three-pointers. West and George also scored, and quickly blasted a wave of 15 to 4 attacks!However, looking up, the Pacers have only achieved a 6-point lead. In the first half of this quarter, the Grizzlies' defense was too successful.

In this way, the two sides finished the first half of the game under extremely heavy eyelids.At halftime, 43 to 39.The Pacers still lead by four points, but with a full half of the game remaining, the four-point advantage is almost negligible.As Henson and Hollins expected, the score was outrageously low!
"It keeps going on like this. In case the Grizzlies start to fight back."

Back in the locker room, Stevens was concerned about the team's situation.The best way to play a game against a team like the Grizzlies is to open the score as early as possible, and defend against the Grizzlies until the last moment. Tom Thibodeau has already helped Henson experiment two days ago.

Henson raised his right hand and shook his head, "Just play like this, the game hasn't lost control yet."

Insist on focusing on defense, Henson has already made up his mind!
When the second half started, the fans cheered less than before.Of course, the ratings of major TV stations have also dropped off a cliff.There are still some fans who are still watching the game, maybe because they have fallen asleep in front of the TV, so they didn't change the channel.

Before the start of the second half, the sideline reporter found Hollins, "It seems that Coach Henson doesn't intend to challenge the Grizzlies' defense. Do you think if you fight defense, your team can last to the end?"

Hollins smiled contemptuously, "To be honest, I didn't expect Coach Henson to be such a timid person. It seems that the pressure of 16 consecutive victories almost crushed him."

Hollins is indeed a sophisticated guy, and an ordinary midfield interview can tell the truth.

What’s false is the part where he commented on Henson’s timidity. He didn’t really think that Henson was timid, but he hoped to inspire the Pacers to attack and put more energy on the offensive end, so that the Grizzlies’ offense would become easier.

It's really the pressure part. Hollins really thinks that the Pacers are under too much pressure.And this kind of pressure will only hurt the Pacers themselves in the end.Therefore, Hollins is not in a hurry, he is willing to grind to the end with the Pacers.Because it is the Pacers who are anxious at the last moment, not the Grizzlies.And the attack at the critical moment is the most fearful and impetuous!
However, Hollins' provocative method obviously didn't work, and Henson is not stupid. He would lose his mind when he is provoked. After all, this is a rigorous basketball novel. (Pooh!)

Hollins and Henson won't budge, and it's the fans who suffer.

After entering the second half, the rhythm of the game became a little more ups and downs.The Pacers first scored 5 points in a row and quickly took a 9-point lead. However, in the next 5 minutes, the Grizzlies came to their senses and immediately let the defending champion fall into an offensive drought.
"A wave of 14-0 offensive climax, Coach Henson called to stop the game! God, who would have thought that the first super climax would be the Memphis Grizzlies!" Reggie Miller was surprised, as if this wave of offensive climax was about to become a turning point of the game.

However, after returning from the timeout, everything returned to normal. Paul first caused a foul and made two free throws, breaking the embarrassment of the Pacers' 5 minutes without scoring.In the last minute of this section, facing the second team of the Grizzlies, Ray Allen led the team to play a wave of 1-8, closing the gap.

After three quarters, the Pacers trailed the Grizzlies by 4 points.That's right, the gap is still a fucking 4 points! 65 to 61, the two teams were exhausted, but neither could kill the other.

So far, Henson has completed his first phase plan!He successfully used defense and survived the last quarter with the Grizzlies!Starting from the fourth quarter, every offense is a key offense for the Pacers!
With the defensive efficiency slightly inferior to the Grizzlies, why can the Pacers rank first in the league, while the Grizzlies are only fourth in the West?It's simple, the Pacers can play the league's top offense on the basis of having a good defense!And the Grizzlies, they don't have such ability!

At the end of the third quarter, after the players left the court, Henson immediately took out a marker and sat among everyone.

In the first three quarters of the game, the relatively conservative style of play did not let the Pacers players waste too much unnecessary physical energy.And save physical fitness for the fourth quarter, so that the offense in the fourth quarter will not lose the chain!
"Good job, guys! I'm proud of your defense in the first three quarters. How is it? Are you tired?" Henson didn't rush to draw tactics, but asked his players first.

"There's plenty of strength, boss." Paul replied with a smile.

"Very good, in the fourth quarter, we will not grind against them. On the basis of ensuring the quality of the defense, we must try to open the situation first on the offensive end! Remember, to ensure the success rate, because every attack in the fourth quarter is a key attack! A miss means that we have wasted energy for nothing." As he said, Heng Reng raised his right hand, and then clenched his fist hard, "It's time to end the game!"

Afterwards, there was a series of tactical explanations.With limited time, Henson could only keep things simple.But he believes that Paul, the field control master, can understand what he means.

After the electronic buzzer sounded, Stevens stood beside Henson in some puzzlement.

"Why start attacking now? Wouldn't it be better to open the score earlier?"

"It can't be pulled away," Henson waved his hand. "Initiating a fierce attack in advance will only waste our physical energy. And the offensive at the critical moment requires a lot of physical fitness of the players! Do you know how Thibodeau died? It was because he tried to open the score in the third quarter, but failed. And in the fourth quarter, facing the Grizzlies' seamless defense, the Bulls have no energy."

"But you are so confident, can you open the score by launching an offense in the fourth quarter? Will the Grizzlies seize the time when we focus on offense and launch a fierce attack?"

"Don't worry, Brad. We have the defense of the Grizzlies, but the Memphis Grizzlies don't have our offense!" Henson smiled confidently. The defending champion has no shortcomings!
It's time for this tug of war to end!

(End of this chapter)