The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 520 Semifinals

While the Spurs were preparing for the second round with ease, the Cavaliers lost a big away game, and there was a second tiebreaker in the East.

In this game, the Pacers suppressed the Cavaliers from the beginning to the end, and directly defeated the Cavaliers' defense in the third quarter. It gave people the feeling that they were not a team at all. In the key games of the playoffs, there are superstars, which is actually relatively rare. .

This time, James really couldn't laugh.

Maybe eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, James has never experienced such an experience.

In an interview, he warned his teammates, "The answer before every game is the same, throw the ball in the air, let us go on the field and fight hard. I want to say, this is the playoffs, I can't give you much experience There is not much other people can tell you. You have to go on the court and experience this moment yourself. If you can put everything on the court, put your heart into it, do what you need to do, and let your teammates feel that you are reliable , then no matter what the result is, no matter whether you lose or win in the end, you will have a clear conscience."

In the game between the Raptors and the Wizards, the Raptors defended the dignity of the first place in the East in the last quarter, and defeated the Wizards with a total score of 4:2 to end the first round of the playoffs.

In fact, the Wizards played more steadily, and they were still leading after the third quarter.

But at the last moment, the Raptors' rotation was as stable as a dog. With the support of substitute players, Lowry and DeRozan won the final victory more easily.

From this aspect, the Raptors can be regarded as a strong team.

Wizards coach Brooks also had to admit after the game that he lost to Casey in terms of tactics.

In this way, two teams in the East have entered the second round.

The winners of the other two groups have not yet been decided, but the second round of the Western Conference is about to begin.

The second and third of the Rockets and the Warriors fought first, and Curry came back, but this time he was on the bench.

The first half was Harden's world, shooting decisively and hitting a high percentage.

Curry's appearance off the bench is just quite satisfactory, but even so, the Rockets dare not relax their defense against him.

But that changed as soon as the second half started.

The Warriors are used to exerting force in the third quarter and the whole league knows it, but knowing it doesn't mean it can stop it.

Increase the defensive strength, and then Durant starts the unsolvable mode.

To be honest, if Curry is not counted, the Rockets' bench lineup is worse than the Warriors, but the offensive ability of the Rockets is not as good as the Warriors.

The key is that the Warriors have a good defense on the perimeter.

It is really difficult for Harden and Paul to drive role players in front of the Warriors' defense.

The Warriors have four All-Star levels, and their combat effectiveness in key games is stronger. This is the gap.

In addition, there may be a problem of psychological inertia. The Warriors have enough confidence in the second half, but the Rockets have concerns.

At the end of the quarter, after Klay Thompson made a wide shot, the Rockets' defense was basically in a state of taking care of one thing and losing another.

And their offense is always a little bit worse.

At this time, we can see how important it is to have a strong striker, and defenders still have some disadvantages in terms of physical condition when attacking.

In the first game of the Western Conference semifinals, the Warriors won the away game. Harden scored the best points in the game, but did not leave the victory.

After the game, Warriors coach Cole said proudly: "Durant is a top-level luxury. When you don't play well, just give him the ball and he can score on anyone. I don't know how you can prevent it. he."

It is so arrogant to win the away game. At this time, the last two groups in the East finally ended the battle.

The Celtics showed off again in the first quarter and caught the Bucks by surprise.

Neither team is a team with a lot of explosive points, so the ending is almost doomed from the beginning, and the Celtics, who are playing at home, have the last laugh.

The Bucks didn't have a chance, but their defense in the second half was terrible.

In comparison, the Celtics are more stable and better at grasping the court situation.

Their [-]-million-dollar insider Horford is also in this key game, which proves that he is an out-and-out All-Star level.

In the game between the Cavaliers and the Pacers, the Cavaliers also broke out in the first quarter.

However, this game was more tortuous, and the Pacers got a chance to counterattack in the third quarter.

But in the crucial fourth quarter, James and Love defended the victory.

The Cavaliers changed their starters in this crucial game. Tristan Thompson, who hadn't shown much before, responded to the coach's trust with an efficient performance.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing is James, 45+8+7, and 4 steals.

With such a strong player, it is difficult not to win.

This is the playoffs, the side with more good players will win, the team that dares to make changes based on the team's weaknesses will win, and the team that is more eager to win and stronger will have the last laugh.

On April 4, the Spurs kicked off the second round of the playoffs.

The Pelicans are also aggressive, and Rondo said before the game that their goal is the championship.

To play in the playoffs is to have this kind of confidence, but it takes strong support to make the slogan a reality.

Facing the Pelicans, the Spurs have to worry about Davis, but Aldridge won't suffer too much if he defends.

It is the two defensive strengths of the Pelicans. Rondo and Holiday can restrain opponents very well when facing the Blazers, but they are basically useless when facing the Spurs.

The two strong points of the Spurs, Zhang Xiaotian and Leonard, happen to be facing the opponent's defensive weakness, and the overall defense of the Pelicans is not good, and they will undoubtedly be restricted by the Spurs on the offensive end.

In other words, against the Spurs, they are the restrained party.

Although it is not the kind of direct restraint against the strongest point, their first-round advantage has not much left at this time, and it is very difficult to fight against the Spurs.

Of course, this is the case no matter who plays against the Spurs in the second round.

The final moments of the regular season are still fighting, and the first place in the Western Conference is for the current advantage.

The Pelicans took Davis as a breakthrough and were very active on the offensive end.

The Spurs are not too entangled in locking up Davis. After all, it is unrealistic for an All-Star player to lock up when he is physically strong.

Unlike teams that can only defend and attack, the Spurs have both offense and defense.

While the Pelicans were aggressively attacking, the Spurs also started a scoring battle with Zhang Xiaotian as the main point of attack.

The score was tight, and if anything, the Spurs seemed more comfortable.

When it comes to the rotation period, it will be difficult for the Pelicans to bite the score.

There is a gap between the substitute players, but it is more due to the overall defense. The Pelicans' defense is too poor. When the main lineup players still have personal ability to make up for it, even ordinary fans can see the tactical gap between the two sides after the substitute players come on the field.

As a result, the score was pulled apart in the second quarter.

Even if the main force of the Pelicans comes back early to restore the disadvantage, they are facing opponents who are already at the level of the Blazers.

(End of this chapter)