Throughout the game, the Wizards seemed to be a few points behind the Bulls at the end of each quarter. Jason, the commentator on the scene, explained that this few-point gap reflected the gap between the lineups of the Wizards and the Bulls.
The two commentators also agreed that the first half of the fourth quarter will determine tonight's victory.
So far, almost none of the Wizards' starting players, led by Li Kaiming, has played less than 25 minutes. Li Kaiming has played all the remaining minutes except for the first half of the second quarter.
Under the strong defense of the Bulls, Li Kaiming's fatigue level has risen to 36 so far. This is also the first time since the start of the regular season that Li Kaiming's fatigue level has exceeded 35 before the fourth quarter. This shows the intensity of the defense tonight. .
Next to the Bulls' bench, Tom Thibodeau's face was more serious than ever. The opponent's team was tenacious beyond his expectation. With the Bulls' lineup having the advantage, Thibodeau started the game. After three quarters, They actually only led by 6 points. This record made Thibodeau, who was aiming for a breakthrough in the playoffs, unsatisfied no matter what.
He held a marker in his hand and drew quickly on the tactical board, "Don't give the opponent a chance to take a shot from outside. Force them to go to the basket. Qiao Jin, keep your position under the basket, and the opponent will be driven into the three-point line." After that, the next work depends on you!”
Joakim Noah nodded, and the flowing ponytail on the back of his head also bounced twice.
"Derek, after the start of the fourth quarter, let me break through the opponent's penalty area. Whether it's forcing a break through the opponent's point guard, or using the screen to hit the basket, reduce my shots from the outside and concentrate all my shots in the penalty area. , the opponent's frame protection almost only relies on a center, and he has fouled three times so far, knock the center out!" Thibodeau gave Rose a task.
Ross nodded firmly while wiping his sweat with a towel. He is a relatively taciturn person off the court. He prefers to respond with body language rather than verbal language.
"Tai, you have to continue to defend Li Kaiming on the opposite side. You did a good job in defending in front of me. Remember, no matter whether he scores against you or not, as long as you try your best on the defensive end, you have done your best. Okay, don’t worry about what goals he scores! Do you understand? Let me use up his energy, we can’t double-team him, so this matter can only be done by you alone!"
Gibson licked his dry lips, and the shadow in his heart caused by Li Kaiming faded a little.
As long as his coaches and teammates support him, no matter how well that guy performs on his defense, he shouldn't have any negativity!
As soon as Thibodeau's tactical arrangements were completed, someone from the technical desk came over to notify the Bulls players to take the field. Thibodeau loudly repeated several tactical keywords and then asked the players to walk onto the court.
Unsurprisingly, the Wizards still have Li Kaiming leading the starting lineup. Most people have expected this. In a game of this intensity, the Wizards substitute, except Arenas, the rest of the people are probably not available. One whose hands don’t shake.
Among them, Yi Jianlian may have played a few games of this intensity, while the rest are either new recruits or have poor physical fitness.
At the kickoff of the fourth quarter, the Bulls served. Rose resolutely implemented Thibodeau's arrangement as soon as he came up. After dribbling to the frontcourt, he immediately changed direction, forced a breakthrough from Hinrich's side into the penalty area, and then made a reasonable move. He jumped with both feet on the ground in the collision area, held the ball in both hands and pulled the lever in the air, dodging Brac's blocking hand, and then wiped the ball on the backboard, and the basketball spun and flew into the basket!
91 to 83!
"Good shot, just play like this!" Thibodeau on the sidelines was excited, clenching his fists and shouting!
Sanders, who was next to the Wizards bench, was a little unable to stand. Hinrich was not too young, so it was not suitable to play for such a long time. In addition, opposite Rose was young and had a pair of top players in the league. With his waist and explosive power, it is somewhat unrealistic for Hinrich to guard Rose.
When the Wizards were attacking, Hinrich seemed to have real physical problems. After arriving in the frontcourt, he didn't get out of the first pick-and-roll, so he threw the ball directly to Li Kaiming, and then stood outside the 45-degree three-point line. , put his arms on his knees and kicked him hard.
After Gibson was destroyed by Li Kaiming in the third quarter, he stopped talking trash in the fourth quarter, but his defense was more serious than before. It can be seen that the bowl of chicken soup Thibodeau poured down between quarters had a very significant effect.
Others can't get a chance by running without the ball. Only breakthroughs and the shooter's movement without the ball can maximize the power of the ball. Of course, you can also use the legendary mobile pick-and-roll, but this trick can only be used at the opponent's home court. Coming out, it seems a bit seeking death, and the referee is still the Tony brother, staring at the Wizards and Li Kaiming with a pair of dog eyes. How can it be possible for the Wizards to have an advantage in penalty decisions?
Therefore, Li Kaiming still has to score the ball himself, and it is best if he can break through to the inside or the penalty area, so as to cause damage to the Bulls' defense. Throw a few from the outside without any pain, and the opponent will not be afraid of you at all.
After Li Kaiming dropped the ball, he immediately changed direction with a one-handed fake move, and with the shaking of his head and shoulders, Gibson was directly shaken away. Li Kaiming took this opportunity to enter the penalty area. Only Noah was the Bulls' defender, but the others were still doing well. Guard your opponent.
However, Li Kaiming would not try to challenge Noah. If he scored, it might be a very exciting goal, but no matter how exciting it was, it would not be able to give him an extra point, so he chose an unpretentious throw. Noah was late on defense. In one step, Li Kaiming scored 2 points.
91 to 85.
In the Bulls' offense, Hinrich followed closely this time in order to prevent himself from being passed by. Rose called Noah to come up and set a screen, and then went directly to the three-point line. The Wizards' overall defensive formation immediately Shrinking, leaving a little space for the Bulls' perimeter, Rose broke through and took a step into the penalty area, passing the ball to Giesberg on the outside. The latter hesitated for a three-pointer, and then took a shot.
Under the basket, Noah and Blatche competed for rebounds, but neither of them got it. Li Kaiming saw the opportunity and stretched out his arm, picked up the rebound in the air, and then dribbled the ball and started charging from the backcourt!
Gibson saw that his own offense was hindered and waited outside the three-point line in the backcourt early. He had experienced Li Kaiming's fast break speed, but he did not want to coach it twice in the same game.
In addition to Gibson, several outside players of the Bulls were also in position early. Several of them stared at Li Kaiming eagerly. As long as the latter stepped forward to the three-point line, he would be greeted by an inhumane siege!
After Li Kaiming saw this situation, he also directly slowed down. When Gibson saw that Li Kaiming's fast break was blocked by him, Gibson breathed a sigh of relief. When he was about to pack up his mood and go up to defend Li Kaiming, he saw the latter three meters away. There is still one step away from the dividing line, so he just jumps and pulls out!
Gibson's mind suddenly flashed through those long three-pointers in Li Kaiming's highlights. While he was shocked, he quickly rushed towards Li Kaiming with his hands and feet!
But Li Kaiming's height of 2.1 meters and a wingspan that is 10 centimeters beyond his height, plus his shooting posture is still a standard jump shot, that is, jump up first and shoot with his wrist at the highest point!
The combination of several factors made Gibson, who rushed in front of Li Kaiming, only raise his head and watch the former take action, because the height of Li Kaiming's shot was almost as unreachable as heaven for Gibson, who was 206cm tall.
Li Kaiming's three-pointer hit the basket directly from 28 feet away, as accurately as if it was equipped with a GPS.
After the on-site commentator Adams Vernal saw this scene, he said to Gus Jason next to him, "The distance of this ball is really too far. It seems that Gibson did not expect that Li would take a direct shot from this position. This guy always It’s about having unparalleled confidence!”
"I've watched Lee's games. In the first few games, including the preseason, every one or two games, he would hit a three-pointer one step from the midline. Others are just training for this kind of person. It’s fun to play, but this guy brings this skill to the court!” Gus Jason sighed.
"Hahaha, man, maybe he is the only one who dares to do this kind of thing. If I were the coach and someone threw such a ball, I would definitely let him get out!" Vernal said to Jason with a smile.
Gus Jason also nodded with deep understanding. This kind of ball is too risky. No coach will agree to take such a shot in a formal game unless he has to take a shot due to lack of time.
After Li Kaiming's three-pointer, the score difference returned to 3 points again, 91 to 88.
Thibodeau on the sidelines resisted the urge to call a timeout and kept comforting himself in his heart that this kind of ball was just luck.
The Bulls attacked, and after others moved without the ball and cleared the area near the penalty area, the ball was given to Noah, who beat Blache with his back and scored easily.
93 to 88.
But Noah didn't seem to be satisfied with this, because after Blatch got three fouls on him, when Noah got the ball under the basket, Blatch started not to defend him much, which made Noah want to Brachi's plan to fight immediately came to nothing.
With more than 9 minutes left before the end of the game, the Wizards served from the bottom line. After several rounds of rest, Brac finally saved some energy to organize the team's offense. After Li Kaiming screened without the ball, he received the ball and passed it down. Nick Young in the bottom corner had a good rhythm, but the Bulls' defense came quickly, hitting a three-pointer, and the rebound was won by Noah.
The Bulls' offense wanted to replicate the tactics of the previous round, but Hinrich from the outside directly interrupted the Bulls' offense with an off-ball foul. The number of fouls in the fourth quarter had not yet reached, and the Bulls sent the ball forward.
Others had no chance, so Rose decided to break through on his own. He changed direction and passed Li Kaiming who was covering the defense during the march, and then threw the ball against Brach's defense. Although he did not score, Noah under the basket grabbed the offensive rebound. , scored with an easy two-handed dunk.
95 to 88.
Adams and Gus Jason on the sidelines agreed that the Wizards' defeat has gradually become apparent. The main players are exhausted. Except for Li Kaiming, no one else can stand up to score, or even stand up to defend. The balance of victory gradually tilted towards the Bulls...
