vertical and horizontal point guard

Chapter 76 The Opening Showdown
The Opening Showdown of Chapter 81
If the Timberwolves want to win this game, the only breakthrough lies in offense. Only by playing a stable and efficient offense can they have a chance to beat the Celtics tonight.

Although the head coach Frank Vogel was full of confidence before the game, his real situation was not much better than the young players of the Timberwolves. As a rookie coach, he led the team to face a championship level like the Celtics The team, the pressure on him is not light at all, on the contrary the pressure is very heavy.

Although in terms of offense, the Timberwolves are much better than the Celtics in terms of positional warfare and fast break, but Frank understands that the chance of winning this game lies in the fast break. In order to defeat the old Celtics in one fell swoop, or even take them away in waves.

If this game is honestly playing positional warfare, I am afraid that it will be deeply caught in the Celtics' iron-blooded rhythm. Facing the Celtics' tough defense, the young Timberwolves will only lose themselves a little bit in the game. In the direction of victory, it was finally swallowed up by the Celtics bit by bit, not even bones left.

To win tonight, the only way to disrupt the Celtics' offensive and defensive rhythm is to use fast breaks, more running positions, faster counterattacks, and faster game rhythms, so that the aging Celtics can exhaust their physical strength on both ends of the offense and defense. What's more, once the fourth quarter is dragged on, the old Celtics' physical strength drops to freezing point, and the Timberwolves' chances of winning will greatly increase!
But the head coach Frank Vogel did not tell Li Shihao about this in detail before the game. He knew that even if he didn't say it, Li Shihao understood what he meant. Essential things, but seeing doesn’t mean doing it. The Celtics’ offensive and defensive rhythm has always been controlled by Rondo. This young point guard is very mature, not like a young player. become a force to be reckoned with.

Rondo can now be said to be a defensively enhanced version of Nash. Although his shooting ability is not good, he can grasp the breakthrough pass very well, and the timing is very accurate. More importantly, this young point guard is still standing behind him. The figure of the Big Three.

Once the game enters an anxious state, I am afraid that the Big Three will stand up and take over the game immediately. Therefore, if you want to win this game, it will ultimately depend on what kind of energy Li Shihao can explode tonight and whether he is strong enough to overturn the game. Contest!
this game.The Timberwolves need to play fast breaks while ensuring efficient offense, and inside rebounds will be a big problem.

In previous games, Timberwolves' rebounds have been well controlled, with an average of 11 more rebounds per game than the opponent. They can also reverse and win later, which is one of the reasons why they can achieve such an excellent record this season.

However, facing the Celtics tonight, whether Marc Gasol and Kevin Love can continue to maintain their previous excellent rebounding performance is always an unanswered question.

Kyle Love is a new insider star discovered by the Timberwolves in the past two seasons. He has a strong monster-level rebounding ability. Averaging nearly 15 rebounds per game, he got the attention of many in the league.

According to this trend, Kevin Love is very likely to compete with Warcraft Howard, who ruled the East, for the annual rebounding title, and this game will be the time to test his rebounding ability. Wolf King Garnett, the league's rebounding leader, if Love can continue to show his excellent rebounding ability, he will undoubtedly gain more attention.

True gold still needs to be refined by fire!

The match was both a test for Love and a chance for quick fame.

The Timberwolves have been practicing fast break tactics for the past few days. During the team drills, Li Shihao led the substitute team, constantly using fast breaks to attack Love's main team. The tactics played by Love's main team are Kyle The Celtics' current pressing defensive tactics, the Timberwolves' move is to study how to use fast attacks to break the Celtics' solid defense.

Blitzkrieg is to attack and break through with lightning speed, break up the opponent's defense line, and make the opponent exhausted.

If this tactic can be successfully implemented, it is hard to believe that the Celtics, who are one year older this year, can last until the fourth quarter!
The Celtics' main lineup actually has a very big flaw, that is, neither Rondo nor Perkins has excellent shooting ability. Rondo may have breakthrough ability, which can make him feel a little bit offensive, but Perkins Kings Mao has no ability at all, he is a blue-collar through and through, a person of Drifting level, and his scoring methods can only be two tricks - close-range layups and dunks, which are pitifully shallow, and his footsteps are frighteningly slow. Teammates can't bear to complain, such Parsons will often become a point of no presence on the field in the game.

Perhaps there is also a three-point shooter Ray Allen in the team, who may provide some firepower support for the Celtics, but due to the change of ball ownership this season, there has been a rift between the Big Three, and there will be some friction from time to time. Ray Allen is the biggest victim.

This season, Ray Allen's possession of the ball has decreased sharply, and he has not seen the majesty of the Big Three. His position on the court has gradually become marginalized, and he has no stable shooting opportunities, which has caused Ray Allen's tactical status in the Celtics to drop. Going down, even the young point guard Rondo in the team is much more important than Ray Allen!

Therefore, in tonight's game, if Wolf King Garnett and Paul Pierce are in a tough battle, the Celtics will most likely not have a third person to stand up to support the team's firepower. things that could happen.

At the beginning of the game, Marc Gasol and Garnett scrambled for the ball. Maybe the Wolf King was a year older. After landing, the wolf king Garnett's eyes were a little dazed. Looking at the hulking figure of Marc Gasol, he was silent, not knowing what he was thinking.

Li Shihao controlled the ball for the Timberwolves' first offense. He started to attack Rondo's defense one step outside the three-point line, and Garnett, who was blind to the side, came out to help defend.

Li Shihao took the opportunity to pass the pass to Kevin Love who was open. Love stood outside the three-point line on the right, leaving a shoe distance, and jumped high. The hardworking and simple Perkins hurried over to block the shot. However, Kevin Love has already taken the first step, and with his height and long arms, the advantages of a high-position fort are vividly reflected. The basketball hits the net hollowly, and the Timberwolves take the lead in scoring three points in the opening game.

The Celtics coach Rivers frowned on the sidelines. The Timberwolves played extremely decisively at the beginning, and they focused on Love as soon as they came up, and they made three-pointers as soon as they shot. This faintly made him feel a little uncomfortable. It's wonderful, but he can't figure out the evil idea in the belly of Frank Vogel on the opposite side.

They didn't have any thoughts for a while, so they had to let the game continue. Anyway, they had the advantage in this game, and they still had time to wait and see what happened.

When it was the Celtics' turn to attack, Rondo was not greedy for the ball, and the ball was handed over to Pierce as soon as halftime passed, allowing the latter to choose singles or pass.

There is no doubt that Pierce is the boss of the Celtics. As the leader of the Celtics who has remained in Boston for more than ten years, he has a very high status in the Celtics team. no problem.

Compared with last season, Pierce's pace is much slower. He has gained weight in the summer. In order to deal with the increasingly powerful LeBron James in the East, Truth has to work hard on tonnage and strength.

Although the explosive power and comprehensive offensive methods have not weakened, the slightly slower pace undoubtedly makes it easier for Brewer to defend him, at least not more confident in defensive breakthroughs.

Faced with Brewer's defense, Pierce decisively chose to break through with the ball. He knew that this young perimeter blocker who couldn't get past the Timberwolves once used three consecutive emergency stops and changes of direction to get out of the way of the opponent. Garnett rushed to the basket, attracted the defense of Kevin Love and Marc Gasol, and threw the basketball hard. Garnett, the wolf king, rushed in at some point, jumped high unstoppably, with his hands in mid-air Catch the basketball and complete a powerful split dunk.

A rare alley-oop, the skillful cooperation between Garnett and Pierce won two points for the Celtics.

After the wolf king Garnett landed, he pulled his jersey and roared angrily. He clenched his fist with his right hand and slammed the hammer on his chest, showing his fierceness.

"Truth" Pierce smiled faintly when he saw this, and raised his index finger high in the air, signaling his teammates to play steadily and not to be too impatient.

Li Shihao frowned. The Celtics have gotten better this season, especially the cooperation between Garnett and Pierce has become more and more proficient. The connection between the two is extremely powerful. There are teams that can stop it.

Only attack against attack!

Bill Wharton in the studio saw this scene and said with a smile: "Many people know that Pierce is a guy who refuses to accept his old age. The strongest No. 30 position in the league, let's not say whether this statement is correct, but from this game, it can be seen that Paul Pierce is indeed a great threat on the offensive end. He stands on the court and affects the defense of the defenders all the time. Heart, he is too dangerous, as long as he relaxes for a moment, Pierce will create an offensive opportunity! You want to find an active third player who is more threatening on the offensive end than him in this league, I am afraid there will be none.”

Reggie Miller nodded, he did not refute Bill Walton's point of view, but agreed: "It is true, Pierce can indeed be said to have all the offensive skills of the third position now, even the increasingly dominant LeBron It’s also hard to compare with him. I still remember the wonderful battle between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals last year, and the scoring matchup between Pierce and Kobe was mind-swaying.”

As he said that, the camera turned to Li Shihao, who was attacking with the ball, and boos suddenly rang out from the audience.

(End of this chapter)