basketball player

Chapter 679 Chapter 677: A point guard who can't score
Rajon Rondo is a new player who just joined the Pacers this season.Once, he was one of the best point guards in the league. Beside the Celtics Big Three, Rondo played an indelible role.

Later, when the small ball era came, guards like Rondo who were not accurate enough to shoot three-pointers began to be underestimated.As a result, this guard who once regarded triple-doubles as something in his pocket wandered around many teams.

He assisted Dirk in the Dallas Mavericks, tried to make the playoffs with Cousins ​​in the Sacramento Kings, formed the Big Three with Jimmy Butler and Wade in the Chicago Bulls, and partnered with Cousins ​​again in the New Orleans Pelicans.

One team a season, and the constant wandering made Rondo grow old in the wandering.And because the fans have no sense of belonging to him, his popularity has declined rapidly compared to the Celtics period.

This has also led to the fact that Rajon Rondo's strength is now greatly underestimated.

As for PJ Tucker, he is more "civilian" than Rondo.

At that time, Rondo was also a superstar that various teams rushed to snap up.But PJ Tucker, he has always been a dedicated role player.It wasn't until he joined the Pacers in the past two years that his name gradually became known to people.

After coming to the Pacers, Henson often let Tucker, who is less than 2 meters tall, play a small lineup center.Because of this, Tucker left a very profound impact on people.

His wonderful defense and occasional explosive scoring performances are the reasons why fans like him.

In the playoffs last season, if Tucker's defense was not strong enough during the rotation time, who would have survived to the end in the final tie-break?

These two guys are important forces for the Pacers, but if you think about it carefully, they don't seem to be that important.Because, these two guys are often forgotten by fans.

After all, they are not as shining as George and Antetokounmpo, they are not as pleasing to the eye as Siakam and Oladipo, and they are not as emotional as Derrick Rose and Stephenson.Even in terms of appearance, they can't compare with Kuzma, a niche student.

Therefore, when the fans saw Rondo and Tucker appearing in the starting lineup, they were very surprised.Everyone thought that Henson might change, but he never thought that he would start Rondo and Tucker.

"Coach Henson has changed, and this change is very special. Rajon Rondo has only played two starts this season, and PJ Tucker has not even had the experience of starting a game. But in such an important game today, Coach Henson has sent such a surprise lineup. To be honest, I don't know exactly what Coach Henson wants to do."

Kenny Smith scratched his head. Could it be that Rondo and Tucker were just fake starters to deceive people?

Don't forget, the Pacers still have Oladipo, Brogdon, Kuzma and Bogdanovic on the bench.

These guys seem to be more qualified to start.Therefore, Henson's unexpected change may just be a feint.

Steve Kerr also thinks so. He doesn't think that replacing Tucker and Rondo with Henson can change the fact that the Warriors are already extremely strong.

In front of a lineup like Curry, Thompson, Durant, and Greena Cousins, Rondo and Tucker are not worth mentioning at all!
"Go to the field and destroy them. This year, we must win!"

Before the game started, Kerr only said this to the players.Everyone in the Warriors rushed to the field one by one, and they were bound to take revenge at the opponent's home court.

However, among these few people, Cousins, who was the most excited in the previous games, had doubts for a year.The one called PJ Tucker, Cousins ​​doesn't understand, and doesn't want to understand.

But Rajon Rondo, as someone who has worked with him for two years, Cousins ​​knows very well that Rondo is by no means a simple player
"The game is about to start. To be honest, I am looking forward to it. Although Coach Henson's change has caused a lot of controversy, his decision-making ability is unquestionable. Let's not speculate on those complicated things and enjoy the game!"

As soon as Barkley finished speaking, the referee threw the basketball high.As always, the Pacers didn't get the basketball.Lopez has always been quite Buddhist in the scrimmage phase, so Henson is used to "letting the opponent go first."

The Warriors are imposing, five people overwhelm, and none of the five are easy to mess with.As long as you put one of these five, he can kill the game.

So today, Henson used a resolute 1-on-1 defense.It's okay to let the opponent score, but you can't let the opponent score easily.Even if the Warriors players threw the ball against the defense, Henson recognized it.

So, at the beginning of the game, Durant really scored against Tucker's defense.

This is a very simple offense, Curry and Thompson spaced out, Cousins ​​​​screened, and Green pulled outside the three-point line.

After Durant borrowed the screen, he went to the middle distance and directly made a jumper. Facing Tucker, he has a height advantage.

Although Tucker's post defense is very tough, and the interference is also very timely.But Durant has always been the league's top scorer, and this difficulty can't bother him at all.

In this way, Durant made a steady hit in the mid-range shot.With a simple tactic, the Warriors took the lead in scoring 2 points.

"Kevin Durant, he is definitely the most powerful personal offensive player among active stars! Let's see how the Pacers will respond!"

The commentators all expressed emotion for Durant's goal, but what Henson saw was Tucker's hard defense.As long as Tucker is still working on this, his plan will not fail.
Next, switch to the Pacers offense.

At first, Steve Kerr thought Antetokounmpo would be a point guard.Therefore, he asked Green to smash Antetokounmpo today.When necessary, Cole also allowed Green to use some small moves.

Surprisingly, however, Antetokounmpo didn't catch the ball at all.Rondo took the ball steadily across the half court, and then started to organize the offense in style!
"Rajon Rondo is running the offense, it's like he's back with the Celtics."

After the teammates started running, Rondo beckoned, and he also needed a cover.

Brook Lopez did his part and put on the pick-and-roll.Cousins ​​was a little apprehensive because he didn't know what Rondo would do next.

Rondo bypassed Curry with a screen, and Cousins ​​​​did not switch defenses, but continued to guard Lopez on the outside.No one, wants to be cummed into a sponge full of holes by this big white guy.

Rondo's breakthrough speed is not fast, but he has been fighting against Curry behind him, keeping the basketball within his cylinder from being disturbed.Seeing Rondo enter the penalty area like this, the rest of the Warriors did not respond.Because in their view, Rondo will pass anyway in the end.

But until the end, Rondo didn't pass the ball.He took Curry away and made a nice layup with a low hand, and he scored the ball firmly.

2 to 2, no one thought that the Pacers' first opening would be Rajon Rondo.

Cousins ​​shook his head. He had already reminded everyone not to underestimate that eccentric point guard!

After Rondo scored a goal, he glanced at Henson and found that Henson was applauding himself.That No. 9 smiled in his heart, and Henson really did what he said!
As we all know, Rondo had trouble with the head coach in the Celtics, Mavericks and Pelicans before.Because this guy thinks that sometimes the tactics arranged by the coach are not as smart as him.Therefore, Rondo often looks down on his coach.And those coaches were also angry because Rondo changed tactics and commanded without authorization.

After all, this can already be regarded as challenging the authority of the head coach.

However, in the Pacers, Henson and Rondo never had a quarrel.This is because Henson's arrangement can basically be approved by Rondo.And Henson also told Rondo that as long as he can win, Rondo is allowed to have a certain amount of free play.

The ball just now was the result of Rondo's sudden free play.If he was in the Celtics just now, Rivers would definitely scold him bloody.If it's in the Mavericks, come on, Rick Carlisle is a coach who personally directs the point guard every time he passes the halfcourt.

Henson alone would applaud his freedom.There is no doubt that this allowed Henson to gain Rondo's trust.

After the goal, Rondo's morale was boosted, so he entangled Curry on the defensive end.Like Paul, Rondo also likes to use some rough little moves when defending.Of course, unlike Pachulia, Rondo doesn't intentionally hurt people.

"Come on, why did you lose here last year, you have to lose this year!"

On the side of the confrontation, Rondo did not forget to spray trash talk at Curry.Rondo's mouth made Kobe, who has always been a general, explode.Because of this mouth, Rondo fought with Paul a lot.

Curry ignored Rondo on the surface, but in his heart he still wanted to give the old guard a little color.

So, Curry received Durant's point, and then shot directly from outside the three-point line!

It's a pity that Rondo's blockade was very timely.Although Curry can make shots without looking at the basket, it doesn't happen every time.

"Bang!" The basketball hoop made a crisp sound, and Stephen Curry made a shot!

"Rondo's defense is still quite sophisticated. He didn't lose his position. If Curry wants to score on this guy, he may have to figure out a way."

Rondo guarded Curry, which strengthened Cousins' concerns.This guy was not sent to make up for it today!
After Curry made a shot, Antetokounmpo got a rebound.In this regard, Cole has long been prepared, he let the players retreat quickly, and does not give you the conditions to fight back.

But Antetokounmpo didn't push the ball quickly, but handed the ball to Rondo.Once again, Rondo slowly took possession of the ball past half court.

Since Paul left, the Pacers' offense has been as fast as possible, and it is best to smash the opponent's defense with three or two strikes.

But today, the Pacers played a traditional offensive model with the point guard as the starting point.Cole frowned tightly, he really couldn't figure out what Henson was going to do.

Rondo is running the offense again, calling screens again.But just when everyone thought he would break through, Rondo suddenly passed the ball!
The basketball passed through Curry's crotch, then through the crowd, hit the ground and bounced back into George's hands.Rondo is equivalent to giving the ball to George from the cracks.His vision and passing accuracy are truly breathtaking.

George just got rid of Durant's entanglement and cut in, but he didn't expect Rondo to actually deliver the ball.

Then, what George has to do next is very simple.He lightly raised his hand, flicked casually, and the basketball was obediently moved by him.

An easy chance to score, George wants to score and Durant wants to score, the difficulty is completely different.Make it easy for teammates to score, this is the value of Rajon Rondo.

4 to 0, both goals were related to Rondo, and the Pacers scored lightly.

After the Warriors followed, Tucker immediately posted the No. 35 known as "Reaper" to death.

Seeing Rondo and Tucker working so hard, Henson smiled smugly.

His change of formation may not be able to show the effect all at once, but after the game, everyone will see the results.

Five-star warriors are not invincible!
(End of this chapter)