Legend of Tomorrow

Guo Xu dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, using the same routine as before, playing a pick-and-roll and then driving to the weak side to open up space. This time Payton did not chase, and switched to guard Stoudemire in the middle.

Zen Master Jackson doesn't like zone defense very much. Most of the time, he uses man-to-man marking. At most, when the opponent breaks through well and the outside three-pointer is not very good, he lets the players shrink near the penalty area for pseudo-zone defense.

The Lakers are good at bringing their opponents into their own rhythm, fighting for isolations and using their rich experience to win the game. Changing the defense when covering a screen can always maintain pressure on every attacker, but it only tests the player's single defense ability.

When the defender plays a pick-and-roll with the ball, after the big man delays the defender's breakthrough, there will be a short defensive vacuum period when he retreats to his original position. This vacuum period is almost empty in the eyes of good pitchers. Therefore, this requires switching defensive players to withstand the off-ball player who is moving down the pick-and-roll, and it also places certain requirements on the team's rotation.

Payton is a heavy guard. He is not afraid of misalignment to guard Stoudemire. He can not only interfere with his shooting, but also delay the speed of the pass. However, Malone has a more difficult time misaligned to guard Guo Xu.

Guo Xu took a step towards Malone, and when he was about to hit him, he turned around with a long stride and passed by Malone, successfully hitting the basket. He attracted O'Neal to cover and jumped out of the baseline to create a passing space, and passed it to Diop on the left from close range.

Diop was completely free. He caught the ball and took a step into the basket to dunk the basketball with one hand. O'Neal turned around and had no time to block the shot, 4-4.

The Lakers attacked, and the ball was passed to O'Neal again. This time he turned to the center and feinted with the ball, shaking Diop up, bumping into him and missing the shot, causing a foul.

Guo Xu walked up to Diop and patted him on the back. After he bent down, he said, Good defense. Try not to jump around. Just resist interference.

Understood, I will be careful. Diop nodded, smiling as if he had already won.

He only scored two points and was considered effective on the offensive end. Things are rare and valuable, and he was very happy. And he believes that being able to start and defend O'Neal is a success. This feeling of being recognized is really good.

O'Neal made one of two free throws, 4-5.

The Suns' offense still follows the same routine. Stoudemire and Guo Xu play pick-and-rolls. If the opponent can't guard them, they fight endlessly. If you can score, it's reasonable. D'Antoni's tactics are star tactics.

Guo Xu walked to the right, relying on speed to open up space with Payton. He held the ball frame at about 50 degrees. Payton did not chase. Guo Xu singled out Malone and dribbled under his crotch to change direction with his left hand to the right, attracting Malone to cross. Move behind your back and dribble to your left hand for a step back.

Ma Long was able to keep up in the first step because of his distance and experience, but there was nothing he could do when Guo Xu changed direction the second time.

Kobe jumped out from the baseline to cover and block the shot. Guo Xu jumped up and passed the ball to the right corner. Bell, who couldn't run around, caught the ball and shot a three-pointer. Malone had excellent defense awareness and went to cover the corner, causing slight interference. Suddenly, the ball missed.

This opportunity came up. Kobe didn't cover up, and Guo Xu just shot easily. After covering up, there was a loophole in the bottom corner.

When the Lakers attacked, Payton passed to O'Neal for a low single. This time he leaned back twice, turned and threw towards the baseline, and missed the basket due to Diop's interference. Stoudemire grabbed the backcourt rebound.

This is the value of blue-collar center Diop. It doesn't matter if he can't attack. He can withstand a few inside stars that others can't resist, so that the opponent can only take shots far away from the basket and use his long arms. Interference and block shots.

If you can find a rough reference for Diop's strength, he is Chuck Hayes, who is stronger defensively and worse offensively.

When the Suns attacked, Guo Xu and Stoudemire played a pick-and-roll. Malone defended and tried to force Guo Xu to the outside. It was a good idea, but his legs were spread too far apart, which gave his opponent a chance to perform.

Guo Xu quickly swatted the ball with his left hand and passed under Malone's crotch. At the same time, he accelerated sideways to get rid of it. He took two steps to pick up the basketball. Since his position was close to the baseline, he attracted Kobe to cover up and he passed the ball to the bottom corner.

This time Malone was too far away and could not turn his defense to interfere with the corner shot. Bell hit an open three-pointer. 7 to 5.

When the Lakers attacked, Payton played a pick-and-roll, breaking away from Guo Xu with the ball and trying to return one. He overestimated his speed and underestimated Stoudemire's bounce. His quick layup was blocked by Stoudemire's pursuit of the nail board. The ball rebounded and George grabbed the offensive rebound and forced the shot to succeed, 7-7.

The two sides went back and forth, and the first quarter was evenly matched. The Lakers veteran star was not afraid of any team when he was full of energy.

Unlike the Lakers' opening game, Kobe was reduced to a role player. Payton didn't pass the ball to him much and worked closely with the two insiders. Bell followed Kobe inseparably, making it difficult for him to even catch the ball.

Since entering the league, Bell's defensive attitude has always been perfect, which is his capital to gain a foothold in the NBA. He had scored and the goal was to get Bryant open as late as possible.

Kobe finally broke through, but Bell immediately fouled, preventing him from taking an easy shot or getting to the basket to score the ball. Bell, who committed two fouls at 6 minutes, was replaced, Joe Johnson came on, and the task of defending Kobe was handed over to Marion.

After playing the entire quarter, Kobe made 1 of 3 shots and 2 of 2 free throws. He only had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and no assists.

O'Neal's performance was also very average, making 2 of 4 shots, 2 of 4 free throws, and scored 6 points and 3 rebounds.

Payton was the Lakers' best performer, scoring 5 points and 7 assists. He relied on organization to revitalize the team. George scored 6 points and Malone scored 8 points.

The Suns trailed 30 to 32 at home.

Guo Xu mainly made breakthroughs. During the counterattack, he also made two misplaced three-pointers, hit one goal, and scored 7 points and 6 assists in a single quarter.

All five Suns starters scored, and Joe Johnson, who came off the bench, also scored 5 points and hit a three-pointer. Only Marion performed a little worse, scoring only 2 points and 1 rebound on 1 of 3 shots.

In the first half of the second quarter, Joe Johnson and Nene performed well and led the team to suppress the Lakers' bench.

Cobra Horace Grant joined the Lakers again, and it was no longer the same as when he won the championship in 2001. His speed was too slow and he became an ordinary blue-collar center. After Robert Horry joined the Spurs, the Lakers lacked a power forward who could shoot from beyond the three-point line. Medvedenko could make a mid-range shot, but his lateral speed was too slow to be qualified as a power forward for defense.

In order to strengthen the offense of the rotating lineup, Kobe took a three-minute rest in the first quarter and partnered with Fisher on the outside in the second quarter. Their shooting percentage was not high under the defense of Blake and Howard.

After Bell and Howard reported to the team, they were often called to one-on-one by Guo Xu. Although they were beaten miserably most of the time, they continued to accumulate experience in single-defense against stars, and both made significant progress. Will be easily passed.

In the second half, the main players of both sides returned. D'Antoni did not send Diop for the offense. O'Neal had an easier time in singles. He made 4 of 6 shots and scored 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, helping the Lakers seize the score.

The Suns led 58 to 56 at halftime.

Guo Xu rested for 5 minutes in this quarter and scored 7 points and 3 assists. He almost completed a double-double with 14 points and 9 assists.

Kobe was heavily guarded, and his offensive game was not strong. The statistics were a bit ugly, with 0 of 3 shots and 1 of 2 free throws. He only scored 1 point in a single quarter, 5 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist in the half.

Zhang Lili commented: Guo Xu performed so bravely in the first two games. He only scored 14 points in the half today. I think he was a little out of control. If other players can score 20+10, he is a super defender. He must score 30+20. That’s normal.”

Xu Jicheng smiled and said: If we keep playing like this, he will probably get 30+20 today. Payton will no longer be able to guard him.