basketball behind the spotlight

Chapter 195 The Playoffs Begin

This is the Wolves' first home playoff game, so the local parties in Yancheng attach great importance to it.

Xia Hongfei invited many local basketball stars, sports bureau leaders, and basketball association leaders. Looking at the entire first row, it was almost all local celebrities, even Thompson and Harris were impressively in the row.

This is the third match between the two sides. Lu Ziqiu did not play the main player in the first two games. Although the game was lost, the substitutes played very tenaciously.

In this game, Lu Ziqiu made adjustments to the starting players, namely Lan Feng, Luo Mang, Lu Qian, Xiaozhi and Lin Sen, and Luo Peng was still used as the sixth man.

Huaxia continues to use their usual lineup, which is still the league's No. 1 Jordan, point guard Simmons, small forward Dai Jin, power forward Lin Dong and center Fann.

It is worth mentioning that Jordan won the MVP of the regular season this season, while point guard Simmons entered the double first team with Jordan, and Dai entered the double second team. This luxurious team is still the biggest team this season. favorites to win.

Before the game, Lu Ziqiu didn't have any rhetoric. He just arranged the tactics and asked the players to warm up.

Even though everyone knows that the Wolves have no hope of going further this season, the audience still gave the team the warmest applause.

Before the start of the game, Lu Ziqiu shook hands with West. West smiled and said, "It seems that your fans are very enthusiastic, but unfortunately our strength gap is too great."

Lu Ziqiu nodded and said, "Indeed."

"You don't feel sorry?"

"A little bit, but we will make a comeback next season. I hope your lineup will remain so complete next season. Otherwise, even if I win you, I will still regret it."

West didn't take it seriously, "Who doesn't want to play in our team?"

Lu Ziqiu smiled slightly and did not express his opinion.

West didn't say any more, and the two sides returned to their own half.

The game started with deafening cheers from the audience.

After the jump ball, Huaxia got the ball, and Simmons took control of the ball for halftime. The zone defense adopted by the Wolves at the beginning of the game did not let Xiaozhi specifically target Jordan.

Huaxia poured the ball patiently a few times, and the ball finally fell into Jordan's hands. Dai Jin stepped forward to pick and roll Jordan. After the block, he helped Simmons make an off-ball screen again, and Simmons threw off Lin Sen's defense.

Jordan was not eager to play singles at the beginning of the game, but returned the ball to Simmons who had a chance. Simmons made a shot after catching the ball, but at the beginning of the game, he hadn't found the touch yet.

The ball bounced out of the frame, and was held in the arms of Luo Mang who leaped high.

Lin Sen went to respond, and after receiving the ball, he immediately accelerated and rushed straight to the opponent's half, but Huaxia's return to defense was very timely, and he quickly took a defensive position.

Xiaozhi and Lu Qian both stepped forward to help Lin Sen pick and roll. Lin Sen went straight to the inside when he caught the pick and roll, but Lin Dong defended in front of him, and Simmons chased after him. Lu Qian was watched dead by Jordan, Luo Mang The passing route with Lan Feng was blocked again, so he could only return the ball to Xiaozhi.

After Xiaozhi received the ball, there was no defense in front of him. He hesitated and chose a jump shot, but the ball bounced out of the frame.

Van Enka jumped up to grab a rebound, and was about to be put into his arms, but Luo Mang suddenly appeared and poked the ball away again.

"Strike." Lan Feng yelled, jumped up high, pointed the ball towards the basket with a little finger, and the ball slid out of the basket again.

It was Luo Mang again, he jumped up again, and beat the ball to the outside line before Lin Dong.

With sharp eyes and quick hands, Lu Qian grabbed the basketball before Jordan, turned around and began to slash with his back, using his body weight to carry it inside step by step.

Huaxia let go of Xiaozhi again and chose to flank Lu Qian.

Lu Qian passed the ball to Xiaozhi again, Xiaozhi gritted his teeth, took the ball and took three steps straight to hit the basket, but under Fann's interference, the ball slid out of the basket again.

It was still Luo Mang, this rebounding maniac jumped at the same time as Lin Dong again, and hit the ball again.

After both of them landed, Luo Mang quickly vacated the ball again and put it in his arms. Then he resisted Lin Dong and hit the inside line. The ball slipped out of the basket again, but he heard the referee's whistle and called Lin Dong a defensive foul.

It doesn't matter if you lose points. With Huaxia's strength, you can get them back at any time, but in just one round, you lose the frontcourt board again and again, which makes West unbearable.

Lin Dong rubbed his sore chest and nodded bitterly. He also knew that he had to be stuck, but he had to be able to. That person's dark elbow was really terrible.

Luo Mang clenched his fists and turned to look at Lu Ziqiu on the sidelines. He was not good at words, but told him with actions that even if he lost, he would walk out of the arena with his chest upright.

Although he failed to score, Luo Mang's performance was so exciting that everyone on the scene gave him warm applause.

George couldn't help but walked up to Lu Ziqiu, and asked softly, "Do you need to replace Xiaozhi? The other party obviously let him go on purpose."

Lu Ziqiu shook his head, "It's okay, I can't replace him, Xiaozhi's defense is too important, if he leaves the field, the defense will collapse."

George also understands this, but it is not a solution for Xiaozhi to be targeted like this, "Do you have a good solution?"

"Let him shoot. It doesn't matter how bad his shooting percentage is, as long as he can shoot with confidence." Xiaozhi has few scoring methods, which doesn't mean he can't even shoot open spots. paid for it.

It was all said and done, so George didn't say any more.

Lu Ziqiu took advantage of Luo Mang's free throw and beckoned to Xiaozhi, "The opponent is obviously letting you shoot on purpose now. Once you have nothing in front of you, go straight to the inside. Whether you make it or not, just make sure to throw the ball to the basket. Understand?"

As long as he rushes to the inside, Lin Dong and Fan En must defend, while Lan Feng and Luo Mang can better attack the frontcourt.

"What if someone blocks my way?" His ability to hold the ball is too poor. If he encounters defense, as long as he disguises himself, his speed will immediately slow down. In addition, his passing ability is not strong. It is possible to make mistakes.

"Then shoot boldly, just like in normal training, don't think you can't make it." Lu Ziqiu patted him on the shoulder with a smile.

Xiao Zhi focused on his head, he would do what the coach asked him to do, he would not think too much.

"Okay, go up, and try to minimize fouls when defending."

"Ah."

With two free throws and one hit, the Wolves took the lead in scoring.

China's offense, this time they didn't have a pick and roll, and after falling into the position, they directly hoisted the ball into the inside.

After taking the ball, Fan En used his height and weight to resist Lan Feng and turned around for a layup. The ball went into the frame and scored two points for Huaxia first.

"Put away your little tricks, I'm used to it." After scoring the goal, Fann patted his butt that was hit.

Lan Feng grinned, "I'm missing one."

Fann's eyelids twitched a few times, and he turned and ran back to defend while suppressing his anger.

"Don't be as knowledgeable as that kind of garbage, we must not be provoked, this is not a regular season." Jordan approached him and whispered.

"I understand." Fann nodded, and looked back at Lan Feng with a sneer, "Give me more balls, I want to blow up that trash."

Jordan smiled and nodded, "No problem, just fuck him."

(End of this chapter)