Gasol's three-pointer was just a flash in the pan.
He has no plans to use three-pointers as his regular tactic yet, it is just a way to steal chicken.
The Clippers still have to work hard to break the Blazers' oppressive defense, and at the same time, their own defense can cope with the Blazers' skilled offense.
The Blazers' lineup and tactics have been gradually constructed since 2005, and it has been five years now.
Except for Oden who unfortunately failed to grow due to injuries, Ade and Roy have become All-Star players.
With these two as the core, the Trail Blazers' role players should be said to match well.
Advantages: Tenacity, tacit cooperation, no obvious shortcomings, and the morale of Portlanders has always been very high.
The shortcoming is that it lacks some imagination and talent, and is too conventional.
There is no way, their greatest imagination is sitting on the bench and they will never get up.
McMillan is also quite unique in his tactics. There are currently few coaches in the league who are as dedicated to mid-range shooting as he is.
He is one of the few coaches who asks his players to take more mid-range shots, allowing them to take mid-range shots whenever they have the opportunity.
Last season, the Trail Blazers averaged 16 three-pointers per game, while the Magic took the most 27 times.
Although some teams take fewer three-pointers, they shoot more towards the basket and take shots under the basket.
Maybe it was in the 1990s that I was impressed by Michael Jordan's mid-range.
The mid-range is indeed a killer in key games and critical moments.
But looking at a large sample size of offensive options, it's the least efficient.
Therefore, last season, although the Trail Blazers had a mid-range shooting percentage (15th), their points per game average was at the bottom of the league (21st).
Judging from a single game, the result of too many mid-range shots is that the team is slow to score points.
After a few rounds, the Trail Blazers defended very well, causing turnovers, fast breaks, and positional hits.
Looking at the score, they were 7 points ahead of the Clippers, near the end of the first quarter.
Randolph missed the basket, grabbed an offensive rebound, and passed the ball to Ricky Davis in the bottom corner.
Davis hit a three-pointer, setting the score of the two teams at 29:25 in the first quarter, with the Trail Blazers leading by 4 points.
The Clippers didn't play very well in the first quarter, their offense was a bit messy and their defense was even worse.
There is a lack of rotation, there are only two layers of defense, the outside is poked open, and Gasol is on the inside.
Gasol is not Howard, so he can't wipe his butt so perfectly.
Fortunately, the Trail Blazers had slightly more mid-range, and Gasol did not face foul trouble.
Tonight's referee is Monty McCutchen, and his calls so far have been normal and cautious, giving Min Congda no space or opportunity to perform.
Unlike those controversial referees, McCutcheon, who is from Texas, has always been known for his fairness.
Of course, complete fairness is impossible, and overall he is much better than some pushy referees.
The league office's decision to let him officiate the Clippers' opening game was obviously a deliberate arrangement.
After all, Smart's uncertain landmine is buried in Staples, and many referees are unwilling to step on it.
In the last regular season game of last season, veteran referee Joe DeRosa, who was about to retire after the call, was scolded even after the game was over, which cast a shadow on his refereeing career.
Therefore, important games like the opening game should be handled by reliable veterans like McCutchen.
During the break, McCutchen did not forget to observe Min Congda, who was sitting on the sidelines, and his expression was okay.
And the good news tonight is that Min Congda didn't have popcorn in his hand, which meant that he was missing an important weapon.
Min Congda was so fed up with the awful popcorn at Staples Center that he didn't want to buy it at all.
He was satisfied with the Blazers' performance in the first quarter, but the 4-point difference was not safe enough.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Harden came on the bench and replaced Curry.
According to Dunleavy, Harden has organizational skills.
When Curry came off the court to rest, he asked Harden to organize.
Out of distrust of young people, of course, a veteran must be paired.
Dunleavy replaced Kirk Hinrich again and formed a backcourt with Harden.
This backcourt combination looks more satisfactory.
At the 3, Dunleavy took out Davis and put George on the court.
On the inside, Dunleavy reluctantly went to Milicic and Bonner.
It was a five-up, five-down game. Dunleavy had no idea what this broken lineup could do.
The opposite Trail Blazers also have a big rotation, because they are back-to-back away games, so they need to give their main players more rest.
Oberto, Matthews, Fernandez, Amir Johnson, Cunningham.
The Trail Blazers' substitutes still played in a very orderly manner. Fernandez made a successful cut and received a pass from Oberto for a layup and scored two points.
Dunleavy held up his forehead, and Milicic and Bonner, the two white insiders, were too slow.
If there is no defense for three seconds according to FIBA rules, Milicic squatting in the three-second zone can be a good human shield.
But in the NBA, because of the defensive three seconds, the mobility requirements for the interior defensive end are very high.
The Clippers attacked with a high pick-and-roll. Harden broke through from the left and was double-teamed. He hit the ground and passed the ball backwards to Milicic.
Milicic hit a 45-degree mid-range jumper. His shooting feel and hand shape are very good.
Not bad, scored two points.
Subsequently, the scores of the two teams increased alternately.
The Clippers didn't defend the Trail Blazers very well.
But the Trail Blazers can't solve Harden at all.
Clippers fans also quickly discovered the difference between Harden and Gordon.
When Gordon plays, he plays alone, but when Harden plays, he can lead several people to play together.
First, he assisted Milicic in the mid-range, and then assisted Bonner in the basket.
In a few minutes, the Clippers slowly narrowed the point difference.
It's not that the defense is good, but that the offense is more efficient.
With Harden on the court, the Clippers, who were a little messy in the first quarter, became much more organized.
Min Congda looked at Harden's performance, frowned, and thought to himself: "Damn, this little fat guy didn't play so steadily last season, did he? Why does it feel like he has improved after one offseason?"
Min Congda's old problem is that he only looks at the present and not the potential.
Is the potential of the No. 3 flower show a joke?
It's time for young people like this in their early 20s to raise their goals.
One offseason later, it can be said that there is a world of difference.
Harden didn't seem to play well in the preseason.
In fact, he has been observing his teammates' playing habits.
For example, Milicic's Sweet-Point is two 45 degrees.
Bonner's highest three-point shooting percentage is in the right half of the court, including the right bottom corner, 45 degrees to the right and the top of the arc to the right.
When he shoots a three-pointer here, he can make the ball with 50% certainty.
If he is allowed to shoot from the left, his hit rate will drop sharply to 30%.
Of course it's difficult. This shooting percentage statistics was done by a video analyst, and Harden wrote them all down.
He knows that he has to play against substitute players, and the substitute players are not necessarily inferior.
If a team's substitutes are well matched, the bonus to the record will be very high.
When James Harden received a pass from Hinrich at the top of the arc and hit a three-pointer.
The Clippers have chased the score to 37:36, only 1 point behind the Trail Blazers!
Although the Trail Blazers played lively and fiercely, it seemed to be of no use.
(End of chapter)
