The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 215 The Tangled Lineup

The Grizzlies and the Heat have similar plans, and are also very interested in this kind of confrontation between playoff teams.

Their lineup has changed slightly, and Courtney Lee, who also has good defensive skills, replaced Tony Allen in the starting lineup.

Their purpose of doing this is very clear, which is to enhance the outside three-pointers of the starting lineup.

But what they rely on for survival is defense, so they will not start pure shooters without defense.

At the beginning of the game, the Grizzlies' tactics were very clear, slowing down the rhythm and digging inside, and the defense was even more suffocating.

With Gasol around, it's not easy to get inside the Grizzlies.

This is a big constraint for the Heat. Compared with Wade and James, both of them are better at breakthrough than shooting.

But the Heat are not afraid. The slow-paced game highlights the star's ability. They do not lack players who can attack.

It can be said that the strength of the playoffs is as soon as the two teams come up.

In order to fight against the Twin Towers, the Heat also changed their lineup, and Oden started again.

Although the effect of several starts is not very good, the team still has high expectations for Oden.

After all, what needs his help is when facing the Twin Towers team.

They think that Oden can still play his strength, but his body can't last too long.

Zhang Xiaotian was also rarely placed on the bench, and Spoelstra also greeted him in advance. This was mainly to test Oden, not to say that he would play on the bench when he encountered such a team in the playoffs.

In fact, Zhang Xiaotian really doesn't value the starting game so much. What he values ​​more is possession of the ball, and the most important thing is victory. He is eager to get more victory points.

The Grizzlies really don't have many ways to play the Heat inside, and they always lose rebounds in the backcourt.

Oden didn't say it didn't work in the first game, but the effect was not ideal.

He can rebound and score, and he might be able to take advantage against ordinary insiders, but to fight against black and white bears at this level, his current body really can't support it.

Spoelstra was very helpless. The Heat signed Oden in the hope that he could fight against this level.

Horford and Millsap of the Eagles, Al Jefferson of the Bobcats, Gortat and Nene of the Wizards, Noah and Boozer of the Bulls, Hibbert and David West of the Pacers, just In the East, there are so many troublesome guys inside, and there will definitely be two or three teams in the playoffs.

If Oden can't show his skills in front of this level of insiders, the Heat's dollars will be in vain.

The team is already considering whether to go to the free market and sign a defensive blue tie with a short contract to go to the playoffs.

When it came to the rotation period, the Heat finally began to take the initiative.

The Grizzlies are also the bottom team in the league's playoffs. With Zhang Xiaotian and Ray Allen, the Heat quickly overtook the score.

The Heat maintained their lead until the end of halftime, but the problem with this solution is the same as before, that is, the Grizzlies' substitute has no offensive power, which is not the answer the team wants most.

In the third quarter, Oden finally gave a surprise, sending out two consecutive blocks.

But the problem is also obvious, that is, the team's offense, if the defense keeps up, it is still useless without scoring.

It's okay that Oden can't score like the opponent's inside line. The most important thing is that James and the standing center are a bit awkward and can't play their strength.

This is a big problem. The current feeling of the team is still a bit worse after all.

So even if Oden was good on the defensive end, he was quickly replaced.

The Heat have played fast offense and defense for several seasons, and it is impossible to grind like the Grizzlies.

After Zhang Xiaotian and Ray Allen entered the field, the score that was about to fall behind by double digits quickly caught up.

The Heat's most efficient combination is one big and four small, even if they are against the Twin Towers.

They can't compete with others when they play double inside. Improving offensive efficiency and letting the opponent adapt to them is the best solution now.

Of course, the experimental lineup is also to predict multiple possibilities.

The more critical the moment is, the more we must prepare for various situations.

They're the team with the best record in the league, and they're entitled to it.

In the last quarter, the Grizzlies finally couldn't withstand the Heat's offensive. This is also an old problem of the Grizzlies. The attack power is insufficient and the outside line cannot be opened.

After the Heat hit a few ball-holding points, they had no way to retaliate.

The test lineup started, and the familiar methods ended. Although they won the game, the Heat don't know if the test effect has been achieved.

On March 3, facing the hopeless Pelicans in the playoffs, the Heat took turns resting Wade and Zhang Xiaotian, and replaced two players in the starting lineup.

As a result, Anthony Davis showed his power, and the Heat lost again.

Two days later, the Heat played the Trail Blazers at home, and the starting lineup changed again. Zhang Xiaotian came back to play at the second position.

Spoelstra had a great time playing, and he also wanted to be famous and handsome.

On the other hand, it also shows that the Heat do not have 100% confidence in winning the championship. Even if it is only a little bit, they also hope to make up for some loopholes in the lineup.

There is also the smell of smoke bombs, which makes the opponents in the playoffs unpredictable.

As for the Blazers, who were playing against a junior and a junior, and Aldridge didn't play, they also started two inside lanes. Zhang Xiaotian felt that it was purely superfluous.

Even if the team changes, they will definitely not form this lineup in the playoffs, as long as they don't go around and get themselves involved.

The Trail Blazers, who do not have an advantage inside, actually pose little threat to the Heat. They have been firmly occupying the initiative in the first three quarters, but the opponent's frequent three-pointers at the last moment scared the Heat players into a cold sweat.

When Zhang Xiaotian was not completely locked up on the court, it was rare for the team to lose points in the final quarter.

However, the Heat were still more stable than the opponent at the last moment, and finally relied on James' quasi-lore to win the game in a thrilling manner.

On March 3, Wade returned after two games of rest. The Heat will definitely not take it lightly.

Because this is considered the most important game before the playoffs, the away game against the Pacers.

As the biggest opponent in the Eastern Conference, the Heat tried their best to let Oden play during this time, in fact, the most important thing is for the Pacers.

The strength of the playoffs, but it is still a full test of the lineup.

So Zhang Xiaotian did not appear on the starting list, and the team put Oden to the ultimate test.

As a result, Spoelstra was quickly disappointed. Just like when he was playing against the Grizzlies, Oden was able to help defend in the interior and send out blocks, but the offensive end was of no help at all.

He performed but the team lost points and couldn't open up space. Hibbert was still lawless inside. After only half a quarter of the test, the Heat gave up.

After the lineup became one big and four small, the Heat's offensive power increased, and it was only at the end of the first half that they struggled to catch up with the score.

However, the Heat's going all out is not necessarily to win the game. The purpose is to test the lineup, so they let Haslem start again in the second half.

(End of this chapter)