Although Min Congda has not been a coach for a long time, he has never eaten pork before and has seen pigs running away.
As a person with extremely high basketball talent and strong understanding, he has the skills to be a coach.
It can be said that he did not take any detours taken by the novice coach, and even took the shortcut himself.
He can discover the key points of the game every time, can make adjustments at the fastest speed, and can hit the snake seven inches away, which can be said to be quite accurate.
However, before the start of the Western Conference Finals, Min Congda clearly realized that if you want to win this series, you must not take shortcuts.
This is different from playing the Nets last year and the Heat the year before.
The overall strength of the Nets and Heat is far inferior to this year's Warriors. At the same time, the Clippers themselves have declined due to George's reimbursement and Milicic's retirement. The two sides are at least evenly matched.
Against the Heat, Min Congda can use three tips to calm the world. With a few tactical changes, he can easily kill the Heat and make his opponent unable to hold his head high.
Not to mention the Nets. The Eastern Conference Finals were their final glory. In the finals, they had no resistance at all. They didn't need to target them. They could win by playing normally.
But if we play against the Warriors this year, if we still want to rely on cunning strategies to win the series, relying on a few strategic changes and tactical arrangements to win the series, I'm afraid it won't work.
In the first quarter of the game, the Clippers and the Warriors were inextricably linked. The Clippers were superior in offensive efficiency and had the upper hand, but the Warriors played very bravely, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner on offense and defense. Don't be impatient or impatient, just chase points bit by bit.
After the first quarter, the Clippers led the Warriors by 1 point, 29:28.
Curry played the entire first quarter without a minute's rest.
Harden also played 11 minutes and came off the field near the end of the first quarter.
Leonard went down in the middle of the game and was replaced by Butler. The Clippers' interior rotation was also dominated by Anthony Davis and Gasol. Randolph came on and played two minutes, and Min Congda replaced the blue fat man. Got off.
There is no other reason. Fatty Blue can't keep up defensively. With his current state, he is already a loophole in such a high-quality game.
That's right, it's only the first quarter of the first game, and former Clippers core players like Randolph can't make it.
It is enough to show that both sides went all out to fight the bayonet from the beginning, and did not relax at all and did not slowly test the lineup.
If you can play, stay and play. If you can't, sit on the bench.
Min Congda decisively asked Randolph to sit back on the bench. At this moment, he missed Milicic very much.
If this kid doesn't retire, he will definitely come in handy against the Warriors, but it's a pity that this tough guy is missing.
In addition, Bonner was too slow and Jokic was too young. The Clippers, who had beaten the Warriors in the paint before, had no one available in the paint for a while.
The root of everything lies in the return of Kevin Durant, who is slow and defensively average and suffers greatly from the inside.
Min Congda used PJ Tucker and told him to take good care of Durant on the court, block him on the floor, block him desperately, and not let any slack in defense.
Tucker has always been the Clippers' go-getter and the number one mad dog under Min Congda. This season, after Paul George was injured and absent, his role in the team has become more and more important.
Tucker nodded after receiving the order. His mission in this series is to kill Durant.
After the start of the second quarter, both Curry and Anthony Davis stayed on the court, and the Clippers played a small lineup.
The Warriors also have a small lineup, with Speights on the inside and Durant as the backbone of the team's offense.
In the 2015 season, Durant missed many games due to injuries, but he still made it to the playoffs and showed strong strength in the first two rounds.
After the start of the second quarter, Durant's singles began to hit consecutive points.
The Clippers, on the other hand, relied on repeated air cuts and runs to find shooting opportunities under the tug of Curry.
Tucker's defense was very intense, but Durant was not afraid. His touch was getting better and better, scoring 7 points in a row, making two mid-range shots and a three-pointer, and the Warriors took the lead!
When the Clippers play a game, once they suppress it at the beginning, they often suppress it from beginning to end, without giving their opponents any chance to breathe.
This is especially obvious in the more than 20 games coached by Min Congda. Once you have an advantage at the beginning, it will be difficult for the opponent to come back.
Because the Clippers' rotation connection is so good, the tactical switching is also very smooth, there are always strong points on the field, and the offensive continuity is very good. Once they fall behind, wait for the whole game to fall behind.
Only the Warriors, relying on Durant's single-point explosion, can set off a counterattack climax and overtake the score.
Min Congda did not call a timeout. Curry held the ball and screened from the outside, then went to the basket and hit a throw-in to score two points.
Curry has already scored 12 points, and he hasn't rested yet.
Min Congda told the absolute core players such as Curry and Davis before the game, "Your playing time in this series will be more than any time before."
In a head-to-head match of strength, it is inevitable to squeeze out the main players. Any idea of expecting the bench to come up with surprise players and the core to pick up the peaches is the idea of some naive star players. They always hope that their idols can fight without bloodshed, and someone can stand up and help them every time. Once "empty cut", I lamented my teammates CBA...
You get the most money and are the core of the team's tactics. You have to take the lead at critical moments.
Just like in a war, when two armies face each other, sacrifice is inevitable. Sometimes you have to fight hard to see who can survive. Once you are afraid at the beginning and think about conserving strength, the final result is to lose the war.
Cole also understands this truth. The first two rounds against the Grizzlies and Thunder were major rotations. James and Durant averaged less than 35 minutes per game. They paid great attention to the rest of the main players.
Even if the situation is at a disadvantage, Cole will let the core players rest to ensure their physical fitness, and they can always turn around in the end.
But playing against the Clippers is different. You can't relax for a moment. Once you fall behind far, you may not be able to come back in the final stage.
Cole knows how good Min Congda is at finishing, and his tactical control and design are top-notch.
If you want to break through, you can only rely on the abilities of James and Durant...
Both coaches are very calm and rational. They know what the coach's responsibilities are in such an important matchup. They cannot steal the show where they shouldn't. They must leave it to the players and do the deployment and logistics work themselves.
In the second quarter, the Warriors suppressed the Clippers. With Durant's burst, the Warriors successfully took the lead and began to suppress the Clippers.
During the official timeout, P.J. Tucker looked a little frustrated. His defense against Durant was not successful.
In fact, he has tried his best, but there is nothing he can do. Superstars cannot defend one-on-one. Once the touch comes, it will be the same for anyone who defends him.
Min Congda did not replace Durant because of this. In fact, the Clippers have enough forward defensive resources. Butler and Leonard are both very good defenders at the third position.
But Min Congda still insisted on letting Tucker defend Durant. He told Tucker, "Defending Kevin is a project for the entire series. You can't guard him every ball, but he can't guard him every ball either." Make them all, pester him, hang in there, and the victory will be on our side.”
Tucker nodded. Min Congda's encouragement gave him confidence, patience, and confidence to fight Durant for a whole game, or even a whole series. This was his mission.
Curry went to rest in the middle, Harden came on and began to control the game, and Leonard also returned to the game. The two began to attack, using breakthroughs and jump shots to attack the Warriors' position.
Infinite mismatch tactics emerged, and the Clippers began to create a large number of misplaced small ones to beat big ones, and big ones to beat small ones.
When Harden hit a mid-range jumper against Bogut, the Clippers took the lead again!
46:45, the Clippers had a 1-point lead, but it only lasted 15 seconds.
LeBron James made a no-look-pass pass to Lillard who was cutting to the basket.
Lillard changed hands to avoid the defense and scored two points with a layup.
46:47, the Warriors overtook the score.
Immediately, Leonard broke through the emergency stop and succeeded in a throw, 48:47, and took the lead again.
The two sides were taking the lead alternately, and the nerves of all the players were extremely tense, because nothing on the field could be spared, not even one.
On the last offense of the second quarter, the Warriors had the ball, and Cole called a 20-second timeout to set up the game.
At this time, the Clippers led the Warriors by 1 point 50:49.
Cole arranged a simple sideline ball tactic. James served the ball out of bounds. Durant, Thompson, and Lillard moved continuously. The Clippers opened the middle. James made a beautiful pass to the basket without looking at anyone. Bogut Easy layup after catching the ball!
At the end of the first half, the Warriors took the lead, leading the Clippers 51:50!
It can be seen that Cole was well prepared and did not waste the last few seconds of offense in the first half. He would rather use a timeout to set up tactics.
In a game like this, sometimes a free throw or an offense may determine the final result.
During the halftime break, Min Congda also felt a little regretful that the final defense at halftime was not well arranged.
In fact, he had already guessed that in the last two seconds, there was a high probability that he would hang backwards.
But he didn't dare to shrink when arranging defense, because Durant, Thompson and Lillard had too much firepower from the outside three-point range.
In the end, he chose to put the basket and defend the three-pointer, which gave Bogut an opportunity to take advantage of.
Moreover, James passed the ball very well and was very concealed, and he deceived Gasol.
This is undoubtedly a high-level duel. In the locker room, Min Congda continued to emphasize the strategy for the second half. Curry, Harden and others are still the core of handling the ball. The offense must be resolute. Attack when you can and don't think too much.
Min Congda specially reminded Harden not to hesitate and chatter when handling the ball, but to be decisive in taking action and not to be afraid of hitting the ball.
Both nodded in understanding.
Tyronn Lue on the side thought to himself: "What is the difference between this tactical arrangement and mine? Smart really replaced me as the head coach, and ended up using the same strategy as me!"
Director Lu was still a little aggrieved, but of course he would never say it out loud.
In the third quarter, the two sides began a decisive battle, and the offensive and defensive intensity and speed further increased.
At this time, LeBron James, who had been silent for a long time in the first half, suddenly started attacking mode.
He and Durant succeeded in consecutive attacks, breakthroughs, three-pointers, counterattack breakthroughs, positional battle breakthroughs, three-pointers, and more breakthroughs!
James, who only scored 5 points in the first half, stepped on the accelerator of a heavy tank like a chicken in the third quarter, constantly attacking the Clippers' three-second zone.
Gasol and Anthony Davis were each called for a defensive foul and had to reduce their defensive actions.
James used the physical energy he had saved in the first half of the game to shatter the Clippers' defensive formation.
After a 16:5 offensive shock wave, the Warriors suddenly led the Clippers by 12 points!
In the playoffs, no team has ever been able to lead the Clippers by 12 points. Min Congda immediately called a timeout.
He first removed Harden and replaced him with Jimmy Butler to increase the thickness of the front line. At the same time, he also rarely roared at the players, scolding the Clippers' "sons of bitches" defensive ends as a piece of shit.
It can be seen that Min Congda is really anxious. This shock wave is indeed very fierce and may make the situation unbalanced.
The Clippers' victories over the years have been too sure, and the players have won consistently. Especially in the playoffs last season, the Clippers almost ran at a constant pace and took first place, with no opponent nearby who could keep up.
It's different now. Someone around him is catching up, or even overtaking him after a slight acceleration. At this time, the player's ability to withstand pressure and tenacity are tested.
Of course, just roaring won't work. Min Congda immediately changed his defensive strategy and chose to semi-double James.
The so-called semi-double team means that once James picks and rolls the ball, someone will immediately come over to force James to play the ball, and then immediately return to his defensive position.
Not to force James to make mistakes, but to prevent him from launching an offense first.
Except for Tucker, who was guarding Durant alone, everyone else had to go over and pinch James as long as they had the chance.
At the same time, on the offensive end, singles in the low post cannot be allowed, and Gasol must increase his strength in the low post.
After the timeout, Gasol immediately turned around in the low post and hit a hook shot to score two points to stabilize the situation.
Subsequently, as soon as James got the ball, the Clippers began to press and attack near the midline, forcing James to play the ball, and then returned to the normal defensive position, disrupting the Warriors' first-pass attack rhythm.
In the end, the tactical movement was unsuccessful. Thompson missed a strong shot from the outside and got the backcourt rebound. The Clippers counterattacked.
In positional battles, Gasol still plays hard in the low post. After turning around, he hits the jumper again. If the Warriors don't double-team, Gasol can still play.
However, the Warriors don't seem to be afraid of Gasol's low-post offense.
The first thing they have to solve is the offensive problem. How to deal with the Clippers' early attack and pressure?
James chose a bold pass. After being flanked, he hoped to use the pass to break the Clippers' defensive formation.
Curry succeeded in stealing the ball, and the Clippers counterattacked. The Warriors retreated very quickly, and Curry failed to find a good offensive opportunity.
Gasol was still in the low post. Gasol turned inside and passed Bogut. He went to the basket and hit a two-pointer on the board, which also caused Green's defensive foul!
After the extra penalty, Gasol hit the extra penalty and scored 7 points in a row, narrowing the point difference to 5 points.
Cole didn't expect to be hit by Gasol. Bogut was hit three times in a row. It was really an accident.
But all this is still under Cole's control.
A 5-point lead is enough for the Warriors.
So, after a timeout, Cole replaced Bogut.
With 4 minutes left before the end of the third quarter, he put on the "secret lineup" he had prepared for a long time:
Center: Green, Power Forward: James, Small Forward: Durant, Shooting Guard: Thompson, Point Guard: Lillard.
A pure small lineup.
This is a lineup the Warriors have never used against the Clippers in the regular season.
After holding it in for most of the game, Cole finally showed his sharpest sword and wanted to quickly cut the Clippers' throat.
Theoretically speaking, he wanted to wait until a more critical and critical time to use such a big move.
For example, when it comes to the Battle of Tianwang Mountain, or when the series is lagging behind, etc., you can use it to turn the tide.
But the opponent is the Clippers and Smart Min. You still need all your strength to beat the lion, let alone face such an opponent?
Once the opponent takes the advantage, the series will be difficult to win.
Therefore, I have prepared a whole season, or even three years of preparation for the lineup, just to defeat this strongest opponent in the Western Conference Finals!
"I'm going to win Smart this time. Let's see how you solve the problem later."
(End of chapter)
