basketball player

Chapter 580 Chapter 578: Only 10 minutes
Before the game started, Henson deliberately checked the odds given by Vegas on his mobile phone.

Sure enough, the odds for the Bulls to advance were 1 to 8, while Vegas gave the Bulls a 10% chance of advancing.

While the odds are wildly inflated, Henson isn't complacent about it.He still remembers that the Pacers were also the side with lower odds in the playoffs.As a result, he and his team went all the way, winning championship trophies one after another.

Therefore, Henson will not ignore any opponent.After all, he also grew up from nothing back then.

Moreover, this is not the first time Henson has played against the Bulls in the playoffs.He knew very well that although the coach changed and Ross left, the strength of the Bulls was still there.

The Bulls entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the East with nothing left to lose.So, the guys in the red jerseys are definitely going to give it a go.

However, Henson will not allow any accidents to happen. In the first round, Henson not only wants to win, but also wants to win beautifully.The Pacers are targeting the Warriors, and he cannot accept that his team capsizes on the Bulls.Even if you lose a game, it won't work.

So, before the game started, Henson gathered everyone on the bench and gave a short speech.

"I know, we beat the Bulls in the regular season. We're 4-0 against them. But that's the regular season. If there's any fool who thinks the regular season can be confused with the playoffs, take off your jersey and go home and eat soft cakes. There are no easy battles or soft cakes in the playoffs. Every game is tough! So, bring out your best! Don't give each other a chance. One game will completely destroy their confidence!"

Henson was very emotional, and his emotions were transmitted to the players through this short speech.

Before the start of the game, ESPN marked the key to the Bulls' victory as "catching the opponent's emotional slack."

Indeed, people think that the Pacers may be too relaxed in their first round against the Bulls.

However, after the game started, Mike Breen and Kevin Harlan realized that the Pacers were extremely focused.

"Another turnover! Just 5 minutes into the game, Jimmy Butler has already received a second pass error! What is he doing!? Does he think he is still playing the regular season!? Here is the playoffs, and Paul George will not miss any chance to steal him."

Accompanied by Mike Breen's yells, George personally advanced with the ball after stealing it, and then ended the offense with a two-handed dunk.

So far, the score on the court has become 10 to 2.After playing 5 minutes in the first quarter, the Bulls only scored two points.The Pacers' focused defense allowed the Bulls to drill seamlessly.

"Jimmy, what are you doing!? Be sober, before the point difference is opened!" Rondo scolded Butler angrily, but Butler realized that he seemed to be the kid hiding behind everyone.

Stand alone?Maybe I'm really not ready yet.

Fortunately, Wade then made a mid-range shot to stabilize the situation for the Bulls, moving the score to 4-10.But until now, Hoiberg can no longer count on the Pacers to relax their vigilance.

It can be seen that even in the face of the eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers have no intention of being soft.

"Victor, come here!" Seeing that it was almost time, Henson beckoned Oladipo to his side and said a few words.

After finishing speaking, Oladipo nodded silently, then sat in front of the technical stage, ready to play.

After 1 minute, there was a dead ball on the pitch.Oladipo and Danny Green high fived and went into battle.

Green has been a fake starter this season, and he is used to getting off the court the earliest.After Oladipo came on the court, Wade couldn't help swallowing.

He knew that what he was about to face might be himself ten years ago.
Sure enough, Oladipo scored as soon as he came on the court.At this time, Oladipo is full of confidence, and he will never be at a loss again.He knew that under Henson's system, if he didn't have an offensive mission, he could just stand in the bottom corner to open up space, and he didn't have to run around like a headless chicken.

If there is an offensive mission, it's simpler.Take the ball and play singles, don't be humble.After all, he is the Pacers' super sixth man.

Oladipo broke through through Lopez's cover. Due to Lopez's three-point threat, his younger brother Robin did not dare to shrink.Therefore, only Wade can defend Oladipo alone.

Now Oladipo is much faster than Wade, and with the delay of a cover, Oladipo passed Wade almost instantly.

Wade is still conscious, but his legs and feet can no longer keep up with his brain.By the time he got around the screen, Oladipo was a block ahead of Wade.Then, Pacers fans enjoyed a one-handed tomahawk split.

The appearance of Victor Oladipo indicates that the Pacers have opened up the strongest firepower.Hoiberg looked at the bench, wondering who could match the Pacers' second unit.

In the 8th minute of the first quarter, Hoiberg had to win Wade and Rondo. He put all his hopes on Bobby Portis, the No. 2015 rookie in 22.I hope this young all-around forward can lead the Bulls' bench forward.

Although Portis is not a high pick in the draft, he still played some bright moments in the Bulls for two seasons.

Most recently, last month, Portis set a new career scoring high with 22 points against the Jazz.

Don't people say that the playoffs are the stage for creating stars?Hoiberg wants Portis to make a name for himself in the playoffs.

However, fame is not something that can be achieved casually.Although people like the drama of "Fight to Fame" very much, the players who can really become famous in one fight must have the conditions for success before that "Fight to Fame".All they lack is an opportunity.

But in Henson's view, Portis does not have those conditions.What he lacks is not only opportunity, but also strength.

So who has what it takes to become famous?Of course, it was Siakam who had been unknown before and paddled in the regular season, but had been reborn in the playoffs.

Hoiberg replaced Portis, imagining that he would match up with Frye and then use his mobility to severely damage the opponent.However, Henson sent a rookie with a lower pick than Portis and a uglier average than Portis.

Hoiberg swallowed, realizing that he was pushing Portis not toward the stage, but toward the execution ground.

After the game restarted, Portis first tried to sit Siakam in the low post.With a height of 2 meters and a good low-post attack in college, he is very confident in this attack.

However, Portis pushed a few times, but found that he had made no progress!In terms of confrontation ability, Portis is not much better than Siakam.

In the end, Portis could only rely on Siakam for a long-range hook.Although Siakam's height is not as good as Portis, but with his terrifying wingspan, he still interferes with his shots.

If you want to make mistakes in the low position, the ability to fight is very important.O'Neal, Yao Ming, the postman, and even James, among these big killers who can score efficiently in the low post, which one is the weakest in confrontation?

Portis took it for granted. In college, his body could crush most opponents.But here is the battleground for the playoffs!
Portis missed the hook, Siakam grabbed the rebound, and then advanced with the ball himself!
Like Antetokounmpo, although Siakam plays the fourth position, he has his own ability to attack with the ball.The Bulls' defense is obviously still ignorant. They are all sticking to their matchups, thinking that Siakam will hand the ball to the defender.

However, the No. 43 striker suddenly accelerated and passed Portis, who was not focused enough, in one step.

After stepping into the penalty area, Siakam jumped hard.With the addition of slender arms, Siakam's dunk looks very beautiful.

One offense and one defense, people remember who Pascal Siakam is, but they don't care about Bobby Portis.

Fight to fame?Hoiberg really thought too much.

Seeing Siakam successfully dunk, Hoiberg's eyes became depressed.He originally thought that the situation would change when the two sides played against each other in the playoffs.But it seems that everything is no different from the regular season.

Although Rondo has strong organizational skills and fierce defense, he cannot score after all.And Paul's scoring ability is also very scary when he has both organization and defense.

Wade averaged only 15 points per game this season, and his body can no longer support his superstar performance.But what about George?George is one of the most threatening scorers in the league.

Jimmy Butler is very strong, but compared with Antetokounmpo, he seems to be half a step behind.

In the end, even Portis, who Hoiberg had high hopes for, fell short of Siakam.Not to mention that Henson still has Oladipo, Brogdon and Bogdanovic in his hands.These people, Hoiberg couldn't find anyone to match them!
The players of the entire team are one step behind the opponent.Even Hoiberg himself thinks that he is a step behind Henson.

Under such circumstances, is it really possible for the team to win?
After Siakam dunked, he pointed to the sky on the court to pay tribute to his father.Henson applauded and recognized the performance of the players.

At this time, less than 10 minutes were played in the first quarter.But no one knows that in less than 10 minutes, the Bulls have realized how huge the gap between the two sides is.

Black eight miracle?There have indeed been many miracles on the Pacers.But these miracles all ended in the disastrous defeat of their opponents.

In just 10 minutes, Henson almost decided the winner of the first round.A Pacers with full firepower will not fall into a hard fight in the east.

The Bulls dream is just getting started, it's over

(End of this chapter)