Legend of Tomorrow

Barkley commented: The best thing about Jason is the diversity of his style of play. In the first two games, he mainly attacked with the ball, but today he switched to playing without the ball. Garnett did not switch to guard against opportunities, and when he defended inside, he had When free, Jason can also drain Garnett's energy.

Kenny Smith said: Jason has top-notch running and catching abilities. I feel that the Suns are more threatening when playing like this. Especially when the opponent makes a mistake in switching defense or double-teams him, he has a strong ability to release the ball to find teammates in the air. . When there is no chance of being screened without the ball, he can immediately switch to attacking with the ball. His integration of off-ball and with-ball is perfect, driving the Suns' entire offensive system.

Barkley nodded: This is why I said D'Antoni is a seriously overrated coach. If he played like this in the first two games, how could the Suns fall behind 0-2?

Smith laughed: Actually, we played like this for a while in the first two games, but the lineup was not suitable. D'Antoni was too pursuing counterattack speed and rarely let Amare and Nene play together.

In Guo Xu's previous life, even in 2018, D'Antoni had problems with on-the-spot response. He rarely used two big men to form the twin towers. When he was with the Lakers, he even had Gasol on the bench. In the current offensive and defensive system of the Suns, Nene's performance is no better than when he was in the Nuggets in his previous life.

Garnett and Cassel's pick-and-roll did not create mismatches. Garnett feinted in the middle and broke through. He was double-teamed by Nene and Joe Johnson, and Hassell was left open on the flank. The latter caught the ball in an open position and did not shoot, but chose to break through with the ball, attracting Marion to cover up and pass to Sprewell, who succeeded in the mid-range shot. 7 to 2.

The Suns attack and resolutely attack Guo Xu. Joe Johnson's task is simple, rely on his physical advantage to protect the ball, and then pass it to the running Guo Xu at the right time.

Garnett went out without guard again, leaving Cassel to chase. Guo Xu received the ball on the left side and feinted. After Cassel made the save, he changed direction and made a one-step pass, attracting the madman to cover the ball and distribute the ball to the right side.

Joe Johnson hit an open three-pointer, 10-2.

The Timberwolves attacked, and the Suns defensive end also changed their strategy, guarding against the three-headed monster and letting others shoot.

Sanders knew the team's weaknesses and allowed the two blue-collar players to move near the penalty area and immediately hit the basket after receiving the ball. Cassel attracted Joe Johnson and Guo Xu to double-team and pass, and Hassell scored from the open mid-range shot on the left. 10 to 4.

When the Suns attacked, Guo Xu changed his direction and ran from the right baseline to 70 degrees on the right side. Stoudemire blocked Cassel. Garnett was immediately in a dilemma. If he didn't switch defense, he might be open, and if he switched defense, there would be no space inside. He still switched defenses, and the team's first defensive goal was to restrict Guo Xu.

As soon as Garnett came out, Guo Xu passed the ball laterally to Stoudemire who was cutting to the basket. The latter forced a layup on the right side but missed due to Johnson's interference. Nene grabbed the offensive rebound on the left side and easily Make up the basketball and score. 12 to 4.

Garnett won the rebounding title this year because the team mainly relies on him to defend the penalty area and protect backcourt rebounds. No other player averages more than 5 rebounds per game.

Smith said: The Suns adjusted well today. Nene has a clear advantage in playing, and both the inside and outside lines are open.

Barkley said with a smile: As long as Jason attracts Garnett's defense, the Timberwolves can only rely on one veteran inside to prevent the Suns' two big men from hitting the basket. It will be easier for the Timberwolves to defend if Haslem starts, he can only pull Hit the mid-range shot.”

The opponent's weaknesses are obvious. It's just that the Suns' coaching staff went too far in the first two games. I feel that Haslem is effective in guarding Garnett. If he has the range to open up, let him play more. In fact, to win, you don't necessarily need to be so open. .

Guo Xu doesn't know how to get into trouble. D'Antoni's strategy before the game was to let him take more shots, but when he saw the advantage inside, he passed the ball. The better the performance of his teammates inside, the less Garnett would dare to guard against him. That would be a good time for Guo Xu to score.

Hassell caught the ball and hit the basket, attracting a defense to pass to Johnson, who hit a hook shot from close range by Stoudemire. 12 to 6.

Guo Xu made a mistake in passing the ball to Joe Johnson. The Madman succeeded in stealing the ball and passed it to Cassell on the fast break. The latter relied on Guo Xu to make a three-step layup. 12 to 8.

The fans of the home team gave Cassell a warm applause. The three-headed monster can be used if the opponent is not careful, and the attack power is very strong.

Guo Xu passed the half-court pass to Marion and moved himself. If he double-teams without the ball, there will definitely be space in other positions, and Cassel must run with him. There is a 12-year age difference between the two, and Guo Xu is 100% sure of defeating Cassel.

Marion also strictly followed the coach's arrangements and passed the ball to Guo Xu at the right opportunity.

Guo Xu and Stoudemire ran to catch the ball without covering the ball. They feinted in front of the frame and changed directions to pass Johnson. Cassel was also slow to pursue the defense. Szilla had no time to cut, Guo Xu broke through and threw in the middle, Garnett let go of Nene to cover the ball and missed it, and the ball went in.

14 to 8, Guo Xu scored his 5th individual point.

The Timberwolves made mistakes in their cooperation. The Madman couldn't get rid of Marion. When passing the ball to Cassel, Guo Xu succeeded in stealing the ball. He took two fast-break steps alone to get rid of Cassel and dunked the basketball with both hands.

16 to 8, personal 7th point.

Sanders couldn't help it and was forced to request a timeout.

After the timeout, the Timberwolves made substitution adjustments. Olawokandi came on and Johnson went off to rest.

Sanders asked Olavokandi to defend the penalty area so that Garnett could go out to defend the pick-and-roll. The Sugar Man was not bad at resisting people and blocking shots. After all, he had a height of 213cm and a weight of 122kg. Back then, He became the top pick just because of his excellent physical fitness.

The Suns did not make any substitutions, D'Antoni just emphasized the zone defense tactics.

The game continued. Cassel's back attack was double-teamed by Guo Xu and Joe Johnson. Hassel was released again. This time Hassel failed to get to the basket. The four people shrank near the penalty area, blocking the ball tightly. .

Hassell distributed the ball to find Garnett. Garnett was blocked by Nene in the low post on the left and was unable to enter the basket, so he distributed the ball to the middle.

Olavokandi was released, took aim after receiving the ball, and made a simple mid-range shot.

After entering the playoffs, Olawokandi's shooting percentage caused the Timberwolves to collapse, only 32.4%. He can't make mid-range shots and has no skills in the low post. He mainly relies on picking up misses to score.

If Sanders wants to defend the penalty area, he can only use the parallel import No. 1 pick. Mad Dog Madsen is equally bad offensively. He is only 206cm tall and can resist people but poorly protects the frame.

Madsen never performed well when he was with the Lakers. He is an eternal pain in the hearts of the Lakers management. If they had chosen Guo Xu with the first round pick in 2000 and signed it for four years, the Lakers would have hoped to complete four consecutive championships. Even five consecutive championships.

In the Suns' position battle, Guo Xu continued to play without the ball. Garnett defended the pick-and-roll quickly enough. Guo Xu was not in a hurry to catch the ball and led Garnett in a circle. Stoudemire made the first block and Nene made the second. block.

After receiving the pass, Guo Xu feinted and missed the shot. He changed direction in the middle and forced a breakthrough, attracting Cassel to chase and double-team, and passed the ball to the empty Nene.

Nene took one step to the basket, attracted Olawokandi to cover and gave the ball to the right side. Stoudemire pulled up and dunked the ball with one hand. 18 to 8.

Guo Xu did not add any assists, but he completed the organizational work very well and passed the ball to the most appropriate position.

D'Antoni was stunned on the sidelines. This was not the offensive method he imagined. Guo Xu and his teammates spontaneously produced the offensive effect of the Spurs' twin towers.

In fact, the Suns' twin towers are more offensive than the Spurs' twin towers in 2002 and 2003, because David Robinson entered a period of decline after winning the championship in 1999. The two Suns are at their peak physical fitness, how could they not be able to deal with a parallel No. 1 pick?