"Let's prepare for tomorrow's game with peace of mind. Then we can test how deep the waters of the Clippers' Big Three are."
Wang Zelin tried hard to stop paying attention to online discussions, but he had to find something to divert his attention.
Tomorrow night is the game against the Clippers. He can't wait to have a touch with the new Clippers. He also wants to know whether Griffin can bring him new ideas after getting two helpers in Rondo and Butler. surprise.
The key is that the Clippers are now at a critical moment in the playoffs and have a sense of urgency to win every game. The Clippers are better than their Trail Blazers!
You don't need to think about it to know that the Clippers will definitely give it a try tomorrow night.
…
After a day of preparation, at 6:40 in the evening on March 6, Wang Zelin and his teammates entered the Staples Center. This was the Trail Blazers' penultimate away game this season.
After playing the Clippers, they will go to San Antonio in two days for their last away game of the season.
The Spurs are much more difficult to deal with than the Clippers. Next is an away game. They naturally hope to go to San Antonio with a winning streak.
At the end of a tense season, the Clippers just played away in Dallas yesterday and just returned to Los Angeles today.
In an away game last night, with the efficient output of Butler and Griffin each scoring 30 points, the Clippers successfully defeated the Dallas Mavericks. Their current record improved to 48 wins and 31 losses, and they continue to maintain their hope of competing for the top eight in the Western Conference.
After the All-Star Weekend, the Clippers' performance has improved significantly compared to the middle and early stages of the season. Wang Zelin feels that this is the gap between the leaders.
Needless to say, Griffin's ability is stronger than Rondo and Butler in terms of overall strength. But he has never been able to prove his ability to lead a team. In contrast, Rondo and Butler are both top-notch tough guys in the league. Not only are they full of mental attributes, but they are also filled with a strong iron-blooded temperament. , can help the Clippers quickly grow into a truly strong team.
Even if they ultimately miss the playoffs this season, the Clippers will surely be able to make a comeback next season.
After all, Wang Zelin knows better than anyone how tough Jimmy Butler is.
But...you still have to beat when you should!
It is a critical moment for the Clippers to compete for a spot in the playoffs. Why is it not a critical moment for the Trail Blazers?
They are also aiming for 70 wins in the regular season. At this time, they can never give up to you.
The starting lineup is announced before the game.
Visiting Trail Blazers: Lillard, Button, Batum, Jokic, Wang Zelin.
Home team Clippers: Rajon Rondo, JJ Redick, Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan.
As the saying goes, you only know who was swimming naked when the tide goes out.
DeAndre Jordan, known as Little Jordan in the world, was like a fish in water after meeting Chris Paul, a master of passing control in his previous life. His career quickly reached his first highlight moment, and he was selected to the All-Season Team in the 15-16 season. Defensively, he has established himself as the number one center in the league.
Even in this time and space, the emergence of Wang Zelin has completely overshadowed DeAndre Jordan and Cousins himself, but DeAndre Jordan is still recognized by the outside world as one of the best centers currently in service with his good data and the Clippers' better record. one.
At least one of the top five active centers.
But when Paul joined the Lakers, the Clippers lost a vital court engine. Jordan, who was technically rough, immediately didn't know how to play. The effect of partnering with Griffin in the past two seasons was really average.
So much so that the Clippers management had previously reported that they wanted to trade DeAndre Jordan.
But fortunately, with the arrival of another active passing master, Rajon Rondo, Jordan immediately returned to his peak state. After the All-Star Weekend, his scoring average once exceeded 13 points per game, setting a record A career high.
With Rondo and Butler on the outside, Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, who is dreaming of returning to his prime, on the inside, it’s no wonder that this Clippers team is vaguely called a spaceship by many people!
In terms of paper strength, the Clippers' starting lineup has four theoretically All-Star-level players, plus sharpshooter JJ Redick. This starting lineup looks really bluffing.
Both teams are going all out tonight to win this game.
Jump ball, Blazers attack.
After nearly a season of training, the Blazers' basic tactics on the offensive end have been determined. Lillard and Jokic are responsible for the team's organization, Patton and Batum are the shooters, and Wang Zelin is responsible for sitting in. The basket acts as a guardian angel.
After the jump ball, Wang Zelin ran towards the basket, and Jordan and Griffin immediately doubled up without any hesitation.
As for the other three members of the Clippers, Rondo blocked Lillard from outside the three-point line, Butler guarded Batum on the wing, and Redick followed Barton.
Jokic looked around in confusion and found that he had been left out...Am I being underestimated?
Teacher Yue felt a little aggrieved.
"I didn't expect the Clippers to adopt such a decisive attack strategy right from the start. It seems that Clippers coach Rivers is very afraid of Wang Zelin!"
Buckley shouted immediately.
Lillard immediately released the ball and passed it to Jokic near the paint area. Surprisingly, the latter missed an open jumper.
DeAndre Jordan tried his best to contain Wang Zelin, and Griffin took the opportunity to get the rebound.
"Jokic hesitated just now before taking the shot. Maybe this caused his shooting rhythm to be disrupted, so it's not surprising that he missed the shot." Miller complained.
The Clippers attack and Rondo advances.
While Wang Zelin was in position, he shouted to Lillard: "Damien, shrink the defense line, let go of shooting and not sudden attacks!"
Although Rondo has said that he has developed three-pointers in the past few seasons, his three-point ability is honestly just mediocre. Most of his shots are completely open shots. If there is a little interference, his The hit rate has plummeted.
It is said that Lillard is shooting instead of bursting, but in fact it is just giving Rondo a false opening. Even with Wang Zelin's speed, as long as he wants to, he can spread out in time to interfere before Rondo takes action.
Looking at the nine players who were constantly entangled within the three-point line, Rondo was very embarrassed because he was completely left open and was in a state of free movement at this time.
"The Trail Blazers targeted Rondo's technical shortcomings and simply let Rondo go. If Rondo has the ability, just complain to me. Anyway, it's not that easy for others to score."
Buckley laughed.
With such an opportunity, it really makes no sense not to invest.
So Rondo didn't hesitate, raised his hand and made a rather stiff pull-up jumper, which was a rare match for Venus Williams.
At this moment, a figure suddenly jumped out from the inside and outside. As soon as Rondo took off and prepared to take action, he was completely enveloped by him.
"Snapped!"
The next moment, the basketball in Rondo's hand was directly slapped upside down. Lillard and Barton were the first to react and rushed out. In the end, Lillard assisted Barton to complete an alley-oop dunk.
2:0, the Trail Blazers opened the scoring.
The Clippers organized the offense again.
Rondo advanced to the frontcourt and began to organize his teammates to move.
Redick went around from the bottom corner to the left and kept rushing towards Rondo. Button and Batum instantly switched defenses. The former mainly focused on the front and left wing, while the latter immediately rushed towards Redick.
On the right three-point line, Griffin suddenly pulled out, shook off Jokic and asked Rondo for the ball.
In the paint area, Wang Zelin suddenly rushed towards Griffin. He started at this time because Jordan was stuck behind him. Rondo wanted to cross his defense line and pass the ball to the basket. The probability is almost 0.
After locking the passing routes from the front, left wing and basket, Rondo could only choose to distribute the ball to the right wing.
At this time, all of Rondo's attention was on Lillard and the pass from the left wing, and he did not pay attention to Wang Zelin's actions. He passed the ball to Griffin before Redick received the opportunity.
As soon as Griffin received the ball, he was blocked by Jokic, and then he noticed that Wang Zelin was not far away from him.
It was too far away from the basket at this time, and he wanted to pass back to the center, but Lillard had cut off the passing route between him and Rondo, and the passing route could not be passed for a while.
So he could only risk passing the ball to the basket and penetrate the inside from Wang Zelin's head.
At this moment, Wang Zelin, who was only two or three steps away from Griffin, reacted quickly. He just stepped forward with half a foot, then jumped up, stretched his long arms into the air, and grabbed the ball with one hand.
Landing Wang Zelin rushed past Griffin, passed the midline with the ball, and rushed to the frontcourt.
"This ball can't be defended!"
"It's coming, it's coming...Welcome to Wang Zelin's show time!"
Buckley and Miller roared excitedly with rosy faces.
After Wang Zelin took two steps, he saw no one in front of him. He hit the ball directly three steps away. After he took four steps and reached the top of the front arc to the right, he took another big step and followed with his heel. Stepping on the free throw line, he rose from the sky, raised one arm high, slammed down, and smashed the ball into the basket amidst the exclamations of the audience.
"boom!"
With a loud noise, the Clippers' basket was blown open by Wang Zelin.
4:0, the Trail Blazers expanded their lead.
"Beautiful, a one-stop dunk! I only dribbled the ball once. This fast break was so intense!" Barkley roared excitedly.
"We noticed that Wang Zelin's back heel was on the free throw line when he took off, which means that Wang Zelin once again achieved the feat of dunking at the free throw line. He is truly the strongest dunk king in history! Call it an actual free throw. The King of Lines is no exaggeration.”
Miller also looked full of praise.
Clippers attack.
"Always pay attention to receiving the ball from the outside! You must control the rebound at the basket and don't relax for a moment."
Rivers, the master of chicken soup, shouted from the side.
In the first two attacks, he was a little disappointed with Jordan and Griffin, who actually allowed Wang Zelin to get out of the paint area so easily. This performance obviously did not conform to the defensive strategy set before the game.
Next, Jordan and Griffin strengthened their control of Wang Zelin in the paint area, preventing Wang Zelin from successfully assisting in defense to the outside.
But the Trail Blazers also did a good job of continuously double-teaming the Clippers' ball handlers on the outside.
Overall, the Trail Blazers still have a certain advantage on rebounds.
Wang Zelin's performance in the penalty area was as strong as ever. He successfully controlled the offensive rebounds. The Trail Blazers' second offense was far more frequent than fast transitions. The offensive efficiency naturally increased. At the end of the first half, the Trail Blazers led 22:12 by 10 point.
If the game continues like this, the Clippers, whose offensive efficiency is lower, are destined to lose.
At this time, Rivers called a timeout. He needed some inside attacks. When he thought about the two big players in the penalty area, and they were unable to restrain Wang Zelin in a two-on-one situation, he felt a burst of pain in his liver.
I really don’t understand how there can be such a monster in the alliance?
Jordan and Griffin couldn't beat Wang Zelin alone?
So, Rivers quickly gave the Clippers players a taste of their souls.
As for the tactical arrangements?
Are you kidding me?
With Rondoron’s guidance, what tactics do you need to worry about?
Moreover, Rivers and Rondo were considered a pair of masters and apprentices when they were in the Green Army, and both of them were accustomed to this arrangement.
It just seems a bit strange to others. The head coach is boosting morale, but it is a player who arranges tactics. It seems strange no matter how you look at it.
After the timeout, the Clippers attack.
Rondo took the ball to the frontcourt. At this time, Griffin, who was moving under the basket, suddenly withdrew outside, while Jordan still stayed under the basket.
First, the shooting range is limited, and later, Jordan can only draw some of Wang Zelin's defensive attention when he is in the penalty area.
This time Griffin did not run too far, but received the ball on the left side of the free throw line, turned around and shot from mid-range.
"Wha—!"
At 14:22, the Clippers brought the point difference back to single digits.
At this time, Clippers fans didn't have time to be happy for too long. The next moment, Jokic passed Lillard and threw the ball directly with one hand. .
"It's over!"
Seeing this scene, Rivers shook his head in disappointment.
After a closer look, Wang Zelin unexpectedly rushed to the front. Jokic's long pass was about to be in place. Wang Zelin stopped with his feet, reached back, grabbed the ball, and then rushed across the center line.
"boom!"
Another unpretentious one-stop dunk, Wang Zelin once again smashed the Clippers' basket.
In the TNT commentary box, Miller said: "The Trail Blazers' defensive intensity has obviously improved today. I even feel that we are watching a playoff-level game. The most critical point is Wang Zelin, who helped defend very well tonight. Be positive, the Clippers have to learn to accept the intensity of the playoffs."
Barkley said: "This is a preview of the playoffs. If the Clippers can't beat the Trail Blazers today, they are likely to lose to the Jazz in the regular season rankings and ultimately miss this year's playoffs.
But if they defeat the Trail Blazers, and may catch the Western Conference playoff flight as the eighth seed, their opponent in the first round will be the Trail Blazers in front of them.
No matter from which angle you look at it, this game is really crucial for the Clippers. It can almost declare whether their efforts throughout the regular season were in vain? "
After the first quarter, 34:21, the Trail Blazers led by 12 points on the road, and there was still a big gap in strength between the two sides.
(End of chapter)
