Li Ao went back to the locker room, wiped his sweat, changed into clean training clothes, returned to the training ground, and met his new teammate Elden Campbell.
Campbell was chatting with O'Neal Jr. when he saw Li Ao coming out and greeted him warmly: "Hey, Spider-Man, I didn't expect to be a teammate with you. I'm so lucky."
Campbell said hello with one hand on his hip, one hand raised and waving, and his neck stretched forward... This loose and ruffian style made Li Ao uncomfortable. It was his Spider-Man who took the initiative to say hello, okay? It seems that his new teammate Also very familiar.
He's not used to it, but he feels pretty good. It would be annoying if a new teammate shuts himself off because he was traded and can't even say a word. Before the start of the season, there are training camps and preseason games to slowly get used to it. Having such a teammate in the middle of the season is a big headache just thinking about it.
Li Ao also responded enthusiastically: "Hi, Elden, how does it feel to be back in Los Angeles?"
Campbell responded: "It feels great, I love it here."
"I hope you'll be as happy as you are when you fight the big shark."
"Haha, your words are just like the rumors... direct! I know what the team wants me to do after trading me back. I can't wait to play against the Lakers."
During the greetings, Li Ao looked at Campbell, then at O'Neal Jr. beside him, and said, "Jermaine, why are you getting smaller and smaller? Haven't you gained 265 pounds?"
O'Neal Jr. said angrily: "Whoever stands next to Eldon is very small! He weighs 300 pounds! I'm not the O'Neal next door!"
"Yes, yes, isn't that what I said? Why are you angry..."
At this time, the coaches arrived, and the three of them ended their chat and entered preparation training.
The content of the preparation training had little to do with tonight's opponent. Instead, it ran a few sets of tactical coordination related to tomorrow's game.
After the training, Li Ao recalled the scenes during training with his new teammates.
Although the data is as high as 13 points, 7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, Campbell's overall rating is only 76.
He averages 13 points per game, which is very high. His overall offensive rating is not high, and his skills are almost non-existent. He has absolutely no independent offensive ability. Apart from eating cakes, his scoring methods are to use his height and wingspan to hit high and turn around after catching the ball. A hook shot in the three-second zone from the bottom line, two shots that face the defense, and the hit rate is sky-high.
But the defense is very good, the defensive rating is as high as 86, and the low defense is strong.
The Hornets are willing to give Campbell an average of 30 minutes of playing time per game. In addition to wanting this high-paid player to score points, sell him at a good price, and save luxury tax, they should also rely on his strong low-post defensive ability.
After all, the Hornets are currently ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference. Although Magloire is talented and improving quickly, his defensive end is not as good as the veteran center.
In general, Li Ao feels that the addition of Campbell is a very strong supplement to their interior defensive diversity.
…
In the evening, the Clippers faced the challenge of the Rockets at home.
The Rockets have been in trouble this season. In the summer, Olajuwon left and Maurice Taylor was reimbursed. As the season progressed, new starting small forward Glenn Rice was also reimbursed. A few days ago, , Francis was also injured and needed to be sidelined for 2-4 weeks. Substitute swingman Walter Williams also sprained his knee in the game against the Heat the day before yesterday.
In addition to the injury of Jason Kohler, the 15th pick in the first round of the 2000 class, and the reimbursement of Dan Lange, the second pick in the second round, the Rockets have only 8 players left on the roster tonight, which will meet the minimum requirement stipulated by the NBA. Number of attendees.
Regarding this, Alexander also said in an interview that they do not need to introduce a 15th player. As long as their current lineup is healthy, they will be enough to make the playoffs.
Li Ao looked at Tomjanovich opposite, whose hair seemed to be thinning a lot. It was not easy for this old coach.
But this has nothing to do with the Clippers. We should fight however we should.
At 7 o'clock in the evening, the game started. The Clippers had the absolute upper hand at the beginning. Under Li Ao's defense, Mobley scored 1 of 4 in a single quarter, plus 2 of 2 free throws, and only scored 4 points. The Rockets also Only scored 16 points.
For the Clippers, Bibby surged tonight. He scored 7 points and 4 assists in the first quarter. Li Ao scored 4 points, Jordan scored 3 points, Matt Halprin had 8 points, and O'Neal Jr. scored 4 points... Except for double-teaming Jordan and quickly switching defenses against Li Ao, the Rockets did not do well defensively. The Clippers scored 31 points in a single quarter and won by 15 points in a single quarter.
With this point difference, in the second quarter, Gentry began to "make trouble", giving Big Q, Gerald Wallace, and Campbell a lot of playing time, allowing Big Q to take a lot of shots from the bottom line, and allowing Gerrard- Wallace adapted to the rhythm of NBA games and allowed Campbell to familiarize himself with his teammates in actual combat.
As a result, in the next three quarters, the Clippers only scored 19 points, 22 points, and 18 points respectively.
This was supported by Li Ao's 17 points in the last three quarters and Jordan's 13 points in the last three quarters.
Fortunately, although they were slow on the offensive end, they defended very well and protected the rebounds extremely well. Except for the Rockets who scored 26 points in the third quarter, they only allowed the Rockets to score 20 points and 20 points in the other two quarters. 21 points.
In the end, Li Ao's 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks, Jordan's 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Matt Halprin's 14 points and 7 rebounds, Odom's 7 points and 7 rebounds, and Campbell's 4 Scored 8 rebounds...defeated the Rockets 90-83 and won three consecutive victories.
Bibby was really unwilling to take more shots. He scored 7 points and 4 assists in the first quarter. After playing 19 minutes in the next three quarters, he only scored 6 points and 4 assists. With such a good touch, he only took 7 shots in the end and made 5 of 7 shots.
After the game, the Clippers coaching staff held a meeting.
One game made Gentry give up the idea of using the Twin Towers as the main inside line.
Campbell's scoring ability is worse than they expected. He only scored 2-for-4 tonight.
But it didn't disappoint them too much. After all, this is a center who has only shot 46% in his career. This season's 48% shooting rate is purely supported by "defensive three seconds". In the past two seasons, his shooting rate is 48%. The shooting percentage is only 44%. This has been expected for a long time. They will definitely not let Campbell take more than a dozen shots in each game like the Hornets did.
It's a pity that O'Neal has shown the potential to play power forward.
O'Neal Jr. has always been a center when he was with the Trail Blazers. After the Clippers traded him back, he was also used as a center.
When playing against the Jazz, Li Ao was absent. Gentry tried to start with O'Neal and Jaylon Collins. O'Neal performed very well. In the triangle offense, he could serve as a close ranger next to Jordan and Odom. He also performs well as a reliever, a cutter and an offensive rebounder, as well as a wing screener and offensive rebounder.
On the defensive end, O'Neal Jr. can also adapt to the power forward's defense, and his supplementary defense is very brutal.
So Gentry hopes that after Campbell comes, he can create more changes in O'Neal's style of play.
Doug Collins analyzed: "Jermaine playing center is actually a good choice. Playing center will have a smaller range of movement on the defensive end. For a 265-pound insider, the pressure on the knees will be smaller, and he will Playing center is no worse than playing power forward. We don’t need to ask Jermaine to change his position just because we have a center who can defend in the low post.”
In this way, Gentry thinks it makes sense. If Campbell is 23 years old, it is indeed necessary, but Campbell is already 33 years old. There is really no need to form a pair of defensive twin towers and let O'Neal Jr. play the key to his growth. Change the style of play in stages.
And it cannot be used as the main force. It can be used occasionally during the rotation period.
…
At 7:40 pm the next day, at the Staples Center, the away Timberwolves entered the game first, and the Clippers were about to usher in the second game of back-to-back games at home.
Li Ao looked at the opposite player tunnel. The Timberwolves' performance at the start of the season surprised him.
This opponent unknowingly rushed to second place in the Western Conference!
"Minnesota Timberwolves, 10 wins and 3 losses, averaging 104.3 points per game, allowing 99 points per game..."
Currently, the Lakers have 9 wins and 4 losses, and the Kings have 10 wins and 4 losses, both ranked behind the Timberwolves.
After entering the stadium, Li Ao looked at the opponent's player evaluation report.
"Kevin Garnett, 211 centimeters, 115 kilograms, overall rating of 98, averaging 22.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game..."
Another season averaging 20+10+5 per game. Li Ao lamented that the Wolf King's personal ability was really strong during his time with the Timberwolves.
Szczerbiak, who was born in the class of 1999, has also made great progress in his third year, averaging 19 points per game so far this season.
Trier Brandon still performed well, averaging 12 points and 8 assists per game.
Billups, who plays full-time as the sixth man this season, averaged 15 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He performed well and can be called an offensive and defensive player as the sixth man.
Joe Smith, who has to partner with Garnett in life and death, is also crucial. He averaged 10.7 points and 6 rebounds per game, and his shooting percentage exceeded 50% for the first time in his career.
Coupled with role players such as Nesterovich, Anthony Peeler, Gary Trent, Sam Mitchell, etc., the Timberwolves made a stunning start.
Li Ao was puzzled, how could such a team not even pass the first round?
With such an excellent player configuration, lineup structure, and a top coach, it is unlikely that it will collapse in the middle and late stages. After this start, it will be high or low to finish in the top four in the Western Conference, right? How could you lose in the first round?
Garnett is a little too soft and has no key ball ability, but even if the key ball ability is included, the Predator Wolf King's playoff performance is as strong as any.
When the cheerleading team's performance time was over, Li Ao put away his distracting thoughts and came to the bench to listen to Gentry emphasizing the tactical details of tonight.
At 7:58, the referee informed the two teams to start the game.
The Clippers' starting lineup remains the same, and the Timberwolves sent out a starting lineup of Trier Brandon, Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, Garnett, and Nesterovich.
O'Neal Jr. came to the center circle and looked at Garnett opposite him. He was also a high school player, full of fighting spirit...and displeasure!
This mid-range wolf is actually staring at Spider-Man! This is not taking him seriously! ?
At 8 o'clock in the evening, the referee blew the whistle to start the game.
O'Neal Jr. burst into anger... then turned around and ran quickly to the backcourt.
Fortunately, I didn't say harsh words, and I couldn't jump at all.
Garnett beat O'Neal to win the jump ball, Trier Brandon received the ball and advanced, and the Timberwolves attacked first.
Trier Brandon advanced to the frontcourt, broke through Bibby and entered the inside, passing the ball to Garnett.
Garnett helped Szczerbiak pick-and-roll on the wing and received the ball. Facing the switching defense, Li Ao also chose to break through, attracting Jordan's help and then passing the ball to Joe Smith. Joe Smith caught the ball from the baseline and made a mid-range shot!
Wing screening, running to open up the defense, breaking through and passing the ball, opening up after the ball is released, connecting and shooting... the Timberwolves' offense is flowing smoothly!
During the transition between offense and defense, Li Ao came to the frontcourt and saw that it was Joe Smith who was guarding him. He immediately led Joe Smith to the baseline.
O'Neal blocked Joe Smith, but Joe Smith was too late to get around the pile. Nesterovich immediately changed defense, but couldn't keep up. Garnett quickly pulled back from the wing and helped Nesterovich delay Li Ao. .
Bibby seized the opportunity to throw the ball. Odom received the ball from the right corner and rushed in. Joe Smith made a supplement outside the three-second area. Garnett quickly made a supplement to the basket. Sure enough, as soon as he reached the basket, Odom made a pass. Passed the ball to O'Neal Jr. on the left side of the three-second zone.
O'Neal caught the ball and took a step forward. Garnett immediately pressed forward but failed to resist. O'Neal dribbled the ball hard and knocked Garnett back to the basket. He jumped and smashed the ball into the basket with one hand!
Li Ao rushed up to celebrate with O'Neal and said loudly: "Wow, you really look like O'Neal tonight."
After being praised by Spider-Man, little O'Neal shook his shoulders twice while running back, and suddenly realized that he was actually O'Neal, just not that big.
However, he had just dunked the Wolf King, and he was in a good mood and did not care about the evil Spider-Man.
The high school student on the other side was very excited. He was toyed with the opponent's movement and hurriedly made up for it here and there. In the end, he even received a dunk.
Although the Timberwolves' defense has never been great and was only at the mid-level level in the league at its best, this year it has been absolutely terrible and currently ranks eighth from the bottom in the league.
With the first goal in the game, he felt that tonight's opponent was beyond their control.
In this case, let's continue to attack! This year's start of 10 wins and 3 losses was achieved by scoring over 100 points in 12 of 13 games!
Li Ao retreated from the defense, followed Szczerbiak, and threw himself into the defense.
So far, the Timberwolves are third in the league in points per game, behind only the Mavericks and Kings.
Trier Brandon advanced to launch an attack. After a pass and cut, Garnett received the ball and made a flying throw... The ball hit the basket, spun around and fell out. Li Ao, who was chasing after him, protected him. Defensive rebounding.
Although Garnett was very good at this goal, Li Ao still said "f*ck".
This pass-cut coordination is so sharp!
Joe Smith plays small forward. Although the defensive end is seriously hindered, the offensive end is very suitable for Garnett and Terrell Brandon. He has top athletic ability and sharp cutting. His 42% mid-range shooting rate so far in his career is also very good. The top one can even pass the ball!
Just now, Joe Smith passed the second pass to Garnett, which was quite beautiful.
Passing the ball to Bibby, Li Ao was ready to attack. After running to the frontcourt, he continued to cut the baseline and disrupt the opponent's defense.
Bibby took advantage of both Garnett and Joe Smith being brought to close range, changed directions and broke through to the right side of the free throw line, and hit a mid-range pull-up jumper.
Bibby confirmed that Terril Brandon's defensive performance has declined this season not only because of the team's overall defensive decline. The former point guard of the Iron-Blooded Cavaliers has really begun to collapse defensively. The intensity of confrontation has dropped significantly, and the weight has dropped from the previous 83 kg to 77 kg, which has a great impact.
But on the offensive end, Trier Brandon's breakthrough is still sharp after losing weight!
Trill Brandon broke through, Garnett pulled away, and Joe Smith cut in after the pick-and-roll, containing the entire Clippers defense.
The moment Szczerbiak was free, Trier Brandon's pass arrived immediately.
Szczerbiak made an open three-point shot...hit!
5 to 4, the Timberwolves took the lead!
After a few more rounds, the score reached 8-10, with the Clippers trailing by two points and the Timberwolves attacking again.
The Timberwolves were already playing smoothly. Szczerbiak took advantage of the screen and cut in to catch the ball and stepped to pick the basket, causing O'Neal to foul and get two free throws. The Clippers called a timeout!
Gentry had already stood up, he was really unstoppable! And it can’t be defeated even in a confrontation!
He looked at the head coach on the opposite bench who looked like a gangster godfather. This guy really dared to play.
Other teams have given up the pursuit of offense after the Iron-Blooded Wave re-emerged. Even the Mavericks are seeking to integrate offense and defense.
And this one, never to return to the offensive end, is determined to take advantage of the inside opportunities brought by the defensive three seconds.
But this one really succeeded!
Szczerbiak, Garnett, and Joe Smith, these three forwards who are more than two meters tall, have excellent mid-range shooting, excellent running, strong cover ability, and sharp cutting, are on the court together. Gentry just now After thinking about it for a while, I feel like I have no solution!
The main reason is that this is their first match against the Timberwolves in the new season. The defensive strategies they came up with after watching videos and scouting reports were almost useless. This radical formation of 3 forwards, 1 center, and 1 point guard suddenly failed. In a fight, it's really difficult to come up with defensive methods.
Thinking that Spider-Man had already started to counterattack just now, although the fight was unsuccessful and his teammates didn't realize it... Gentry decided to make a wave!
…
After returning from the timeout, Li Ao looked at the four teammates who were playing together, emmm... Gentry's offensive basketball gene really exploded.
Playing with him are Boykins, Big Q, Matt Halprin, and Odom!
On the opposite side, Flip Saunders opened his mouth wide when he saw the Clippers' lineup.
But then the corners of his mouth turned up. If you want to fight, then let’s fight!
In fact, focusing on offense is not what he wants.
However, the signings during the offseason were unfavorable. None of the interior linemen and guards they wanted were obtained. Only Joe Smith firmly followed Garnett and returned as a running back.
He thought about it for a long time, imagining multiple tactical systems and lineups, but found that no matter what he did, it would be the same as last season and there would be no qualitative improvement.
He also discovered that 'allowing early double-teaming' would allow the Predator defense to go a step further, but they couldn't take advantage of it.
So he changed his mind, overturned all previous ideas, re-planned, and finally decided to take a different approach!
The results were very good. They suddenly became the strongest offensive team in the league. Although the points per game were not the best in the league, their victory was due to their stable offensive firepower. After the Clippers re-ignited the iron-blooded wave, the average points per game of each team were declining. , only they can continue to maintain stability, and they have taken advantage of the new rule of 'defensive three seconds' to the extreme.
The game continued. The Timberwolves made no substitutions and continued to play with the starting lineup. Szczerbiak stepped to the free throw line.
As one of the league's most accurate free throw players, Szczerbiak made two free throws, 12-8, and the Timberwolves led by 4 points!
As soon as the ball fell from the basket, Matt Halprin immediately picked up the ball and sent it to Boykins. Odom got down immediately! Da Q and Li Ao have already rushed out.
Boykins immediately pushed forward after receiving the serve. The Clippers suddenly accelerated and caught the Timberwolves off guard.
Neither Garnett nor Nesterovich responded to the rebound, and four players on the opposite side had already crossed the three-point line.
Szczerbiak was slow and could not keep up.
When Li Ao rushed to the top arc to receive the ball, only Terril Brandon and Joe Smith retreated to the three-point line, and both of them blocked Li Ao.
Odom rushed into the three-point line from the wing, and Li Ao scored... a big Q at a 45-degree angle on the other side!
Big Q caught the ball and shot a three-pointer...hit!
11 to 12, the Clippers narrowed the point difference to 1 point!
Li Ao and Big Q high-fived and retreated. Odom cut in and didn't catch the ball or grab an offensive rebound, but he was still cheerful. It was good to score a goal.
Li Ao feels that Big Q is really suitable for this kind of running attack. Standing still to catch and shoot is not the rhythm that Big Q is good at... However, he still needs to urge his teammate to practice hard when receiving three-pointers from the bottom corner.
The Clippers counterattacked strongly this time, catching the Timberwolves off guard. Garnett and others saw the opposing lineup and knew that the opponent was going to attack, but they didn't expect to be so crazy.
If that's the case, let's fight! Their offense has not been afraid of anyone this year!
When the Timberwolves attacked, Garnett hit a long two-pointer from the baseline and responded with a goal to the Clippers.
The two teams started an offensive tug-of-war, and the scores soared.
At 6 minutes and 47 seconds, Li Ao caught the ball at a high position, turned around, and made an emergency stop hook. He was fouled by Szczerbiak who was chasing him. He got two free throws and entered the official timeout.
The current score is 19 to 20, and the Clippers are 1 point behind the Timberwolves!
On the visiting team's bench, Flip Saunders was surprised that the opponent actually kept up with their offensive firepower!
Using Boykins, the backup point guard, as the core of the offense, Flip Saunders found that the opposing coach was bolder than him.
In the first half of the quarter, Boykins scored 6 points and 3 assists, playing like crazy.
It's hard to tell the difference in the starting stage, so let's take a look at the continuity of firepower in the rotation stage!
Flip Saunders looks at his beloved Billups. This year, he finally has a chance to show his talent!
…
For the Clippers, Gentry really wants to continue to use this lineup to thrive.
But no, it actually consumes a lot of energy for the players to play like this. The main reason is that this is not the rhythm they are used to. With the opposing lineup, they can play very well like this, but the rhythm they are not used to will always consume a lot of physical energy.
Also, Boykins, the backup point guard, didn't have the awareness to allocate his physical strength, so he just rushed forward and started to pant after playing for a few minutes.
Gentry knew that Boykins could not be blamed for this. He was originally just a backup point guard for their team, and he had always played such a role in other teams. He was sent here just to have him play a limited role in a limited time. Scoring has never been about "distribution of physical strength". Playing is all about rushing, clashing and shooting.
However, when attacking, there is more than just charging up and fighting.
Gentry sent out a combination of Greg Anthony, Li Ao, Jordan, Odom, and O'Neal Jr.
The triangle offense starts!
The official timeout ends and players from both teams come onto the court.
The Timberwolves also made personnel rotations. Trill Brandon and Garnett both went to rest. Billups brought Anthony Peeler, Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, Mark Jackson (center ) comes on stage.
The game continued, Li Ao went to the free throw line and made two free throws. 21 to 20, the Clippers took the lead by one point.
When the Timberwolves attacked, Billups advanced to the frontcourt and saw Jordan guarding the top arc, and he immediately became excited.
Dribbling the ball, Billups suddenly pulled up. Jordan, who was waiting for the ball, was thrown unexpectedly. When he pounced on it, the ball had already flown over his head.
'Does this ball have rhythm? Blind bet? 'With such confusion, Jordan turned his head and saw...the ball hit hollow!
Jordan said "Fake". He had heard that the opponent Tan Hwa Lang was very rough when playing, but this level of roughness was a bit too much.
No wonder he was treated as a parallel import before he lost his strength and became a homeless man. Which coach would use such a point guard without murmuring in his heart.
During the transition between offense and defense, Li Ao ran to the frontcourt and reached the left corner with his arms akimbo. Greg Anthony passed the ball to Odom after halftime and stretched it to the right sideline.
When Jordan came to the three-point line and saw Billups guarding him, he became competitive and moved to the right side of the free throw line to lean on Billups for the ball.
Billups stood behind Jordan without fear, and his positioning and movements were very good, which made Jordan even interested.
Jordan tried to take a step. Billups was knocked back half a step by the opponent's strong static force, but he immediately pushed forward again. His footwork was very quick, and he knew the distance to make up for it very well. He could press forward. Interfering with shooting, there is enough space to step back or move laterally.
Jordan felt that the opponent had almost top-notch individual defense capabilities, and he became even more excited. He stopped holding back, took two steps in a row, turned over and shot a jump shot...
Billups struggled to resist and maintained his defensive position. When Jordan turned over, he relied on his excellent explosive power to immediately press forward and reach out to interfere... It was useless.
Jordan turned over and hit a jump shot easily!
Flip Saunders, who crossed his arms on the sidelines, shook his head. Their second team's defense was actually better than that of the starting lineup. He thought that the second team could guard Bibby tonight, but he didn't expect that the opponent didn't send Bibby. Billups can only be used to defend Jordan, and Jordan went to rest soon after the game started. Now that he has enough energy, Jordan launches the attack, and Billups can't stop it at all.
Then keep attacking!
When the Timberwolves attacked, Billups advanced beyond the three-point line, and Jordan pressed out to defend. Facing Jordan's strong confrontation, Billups steadily protected the ball, changed direction, and broke into the three-point line. One step outside the free throw line, he suddenly stopped for a long two-point shot and hit it again!
One-on-one singles in the top arc, this is an offense that the Timberwolves' starting lineup does not have, and Jordan really cannot defend it.
Gentry on the sidelines clapped his hands and shouted "Leo". No one on the court paid any attention to him, but he knew that his beloved disciple had already understood what he meant.
When the Clippers attacked, Jordan continued to attack from the high post. He only scored 1 goal. When he turned around and retreated from the back, Jordan immediately flanked Odom on the left side of the top arc. He immediately cut in along the middle, received a pass from Jordan at the free throw line, and went straight inside without stopping.
A big man like Odom burst straight through the middle without interference. Everyone was frightened when he saw it. Szczerbiak immediately shrank in and defended Odom and O'Neal with Mark Jackson.
Odom passed the ball to the left, and Li Ao took a two-point shot from the baseline...hit!
25 to 25, the score is tied again!
Billups received the serve and advanced to the frontcourt. Looking at his opponent guarding the top arc, he was stunned for a moment, and then immediately became ecstatic.
He has a tenacious personality and has always been very confident. No matter how many times he was criticized by Li Ao, he still felt that he could defeat this big spider when he faced Li Ao again.
But one-on-one is eliminated, and he beckons for a pick-and-roll.
Joe Smith came out to help Billups block Li Ao, and Billups used the cover to break through from the left.
Odom switched defenses very actively, retreating quickly, trying to get to close range before Billups broke into the paint.
When Billups reached the left side of the free throw line, he suddenly stopped, turned around, faced the basket, took off, and took a mid-range shot...and hit it again!
Billups turned around and pointed at Joe Smith who ran out of the three-point line. When the two reached the center circle, they bumped chests to celebrate this cooperation.
Joe Smith's playing style is very similar to that of Garnett without the ball, but he has no ball-handling ability or the fact that his ball-handling ability has deteriorated after serving as a substitute for Garnett for two years makes Joe Smith and Garnett become Two completely different players.
The biggest difference is in partnering with a large number of ball-holding guards. When Garnett and Billups partner, Billups becomes a pure catch-and-shooter. Garnett will give him some time to hold the ball, but That's not enough for Billups, and the two can't work together at all; but Joe Smith can be called the type of insider Billups likes to partner with, cutting into the frame, containing mid-range shots, and solid coverage. It's all Billups needs.
When the Clippers attack, Jordan and Odom continue to play a high pass and cut cooperation in the triangle offense. This time the Timberwolves' defense has changed. Joe Smith flanks Jordan. After Jordan releases the ball, Joe Smith takes advantage of the situation and moves to the three. O'Neal Jr. pounced on the right side of the second zone, Mark Jackson extended out to block Odom's breakthrough attack, and Szczerbiak stuck to Li Ao, preventing him from letting go.
When retreating, Billups directed his teammates to make defensive adjustments.
However, they ignored one problem...
Li Ao turned around and bypassed Szczerbiak, easily throwing away the handsome Spanish guy and rushing into the paint. Odom scored the ball while traveling. Li Ao received the ball from the left sideline of the three-second zone and took off. He smashed the ball into the basket with a one-handed dunk with his left hand. !
Li Ao stayed in the bottom corner with his arms akimbo. It wasn't Szczerbiak who restricted him there, it was him who stayed there because of tactical needs!
When the opponent's defense makes changes, he just needs to change on the offensive end.
Li Ao scored 4 points in a row, and the effect of 'Pumper Level 1' was superimposed. The second goal was a dunk, and the morale of the Clippers team soared! Actively retreat and prepare to defend.
The fans at the scene burst into thunderous cheers.
The three beauties are at odds!
After returning from the timeout, Li Ao and Jordan scored 3 goals in a row, and Billups, the top prospect on the opposite side, also scored 3 goals in a row!
The fans at the scene were very surprised by Billups' performance tonight.
The top pick of the 1997 draft is quite famous, but not a good one. From 1994 to 1999, it was very difficult to pick a parallel import among the top three picks in the 6-year draft.
The top three picks in the 1994 class, Big Dog, Kidd, and Hill, were all selected; in the 1995 class, Joe Smith, Antonio Davis, and Stackhouse, even the most inconspicuous Joe Smith, He also averaged 15+8 per game in his rookie year; Iverson, Camby, and Raheem in the 1996 class were also very strong... That's why the No. 1 pick in 1998 averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his rookie year. In his rookie year, Lupus averaged 11.2 points per game and shot 37% from the field. He also left a deep impression on people. After reaching the All-Star weekend in his rookie year, the Celtics couldn't stand him and sold him.
After the rookie contract expired, the Nuggets refused to renew Billups' contract. As a third overall pick, this is still very rare in NBA history. Flip Saunders particularly liked this young player, so the Timberwolves only used 2 Signed him for $4.6 million per year.
After so many years, Los Angeles fans have almost forgotten this parallel import. When mentioning the Timberwolves, the first thing that comes to mind is naturally Garnett, and then Joe Smith, who has caused big things.
Tonight, Clippers fans were surprised to find that the parallel import lottery actually came out!
When the Timberwolves attacked, the fans at the scene violently booed Billups as he advanced.
This makes Billups very excited. He is taken seriously by rival fans!
Keep attacking!
Facing Li Ao's mid-to-long-distance cover defense, Billups continued to use the screen to break through. Odom defended very hard, actively responded, and quickly changed defense to stick to Billups, but Billups suddenly made a breakthrough during the breakthrough. He rose from the ground and faced Odom with a long two-point shot...hit again!
Score 9 points in a row!
Odom stood up straight, rolled his eyes, and then quickly ran forward.
The Tan Hwa Lang on the opposite side looks mature and steady, and his playing moves are simple and unsophisticated, but his prodigality is comparable to that of the Black Mamba next door!
It may be because he has played against his neighbors more often. Although Odom has difficulty understanding it, he accepts it quickly and just tries his best to defend.
During the transition between offense and defense, when Greg Anthony advanced, the fans at the scene chanted "Spider-Man" in unison.
Jordan was so angry that he stood on the left side of the three-second zone with his hands on his hips. It was definitely not that he was tired from playing several consecutive games and wanted to take a breather. He was making a silent protest.
When it came time to attack, their fans were not thinking of him, but of the big spider. It was simply abominable! After he has rested, fuck the man opposite him!
Li Ao ran to the high post on the right side of the free throw line, and Szczerbiak, who followed him, was ready to hit from behind.
The handsome Spanish guy has a tonnage of 201 centimeters + 111 kilograms. Not to mention Li Ao, he can handle Jordan, O'Neal, and Odom from behind.
Li Ao reached the right side of the free throw line, but before he could get into position, Odom shot the ball directly. Li Ao also turned around and passed Szczerbiak and broke into the paint!
Szczerbiak quickly turned around to chase, but even if Li Ao dribbled in, Szczerbiak couldn't catch up.
Li Ao came to the right side of the three-second area, faced the rushing Mark Jackson, grabbed the ball and took a step close to the baseline. When his feet landed, he hooked the ball toward the basket with his right hand...
"beep"
The referee's whistle sounded, and Mark Jackson, who rushed forward, stopped his feet, causing Li Ao, who had not yet regained his footing, to stagger. After the whistle sounded, the ball fell into the frame.
If the goal is valid, a penalty will be added!
After standing firm, Li Ao came to the bottom line and listened.
Suddenly, the picturesque mid-range jumper and extended dunk turned into the attacking posture of the old man in the park next door... but the fans at the scene still burst into violent cheers.
This old man’s hook makes Clippers fans think he’s pretty after watching it for a long time.
29 to 29, the Clippers tied the score again, and Li Ao had an extra penalty!
Bill Walton, the commentator of Time Warner Cable Sports who broadcast the game, praised: "Spider-Man's progress is really terrible. Breaking through the frame and making emergency jump shots have become his regular scoring methods. Although his ball-holding attack method is still It’s very simple, but his ability to seize opportunities is very strong, his offensive options are also excellent, and he can use simple techniques to play a top role, which not everyone can do.”
After praising Li Ao, Bill Walton complained about the Timberwolves: "The Timberwolves' choice of play this season confuses me. Their defense is so bad. In the playoffs, they can go far with this style. ?"
Hubie Brown responded: "I think Sanders's choice is very smart. Their shooting guard, small forward, and center are all relatively poor, especially the players at the shooting guard and small forward positions are worse defensively than the other. If Szczerbiak and Piller start, the defensive performance may not be better than the combination of Szczerbiak and Smith. Brandon's defense has declined seriously this year. If Sanders has to play defense like before , the performance is at most the same as last season, maybe even worse. Letting Smith serve as a substitute for Garnett is not as good as Garnett playing ten more minutes. If they didn't change, it would be impossible to achieve a record of 10 wins and 3 losses..."
When Bill Walton and Hubie Brown began to argue whether the Timberwolves' "anti-trend play" was correct, on the court, Li Ao went to the free throw line and made an extra free throw.
Counting the two free throws after the timeout, he also scored 9 points in a row. Together with Jordan, he fought with the opponent 11 to 9, helping the team overtake the Timberwolves 30 to 29!
During the transition between offense and defense, Billups advanced to the frontcourt. He was still high-spirited. He had been waiting for this kind of confrontation for a long time! Finally he has such a day!
Continue the pick-and-roll attack!
Billups's style of shooting directly when he sees an opening is really "unpreventable" when working from mid-to-long distances. Odom tried very hard, but he couldn't stop Billups from shooting.
But hard work doesn't mean it's useless. Every time Billups takes a shot, it's a difficult shot, so the fans at the scene were so surprised when he made the shot.
This time, the 45-degree angle of Billups' lateral stepback step was two points longer than the other!
The direction was very positive, but the strength was weak. After scoring 4 goals in a row, my physical strength was affected in a short period of time!
The ball hit the front of the basket and bounced back. Odom grabbed the ball and counterattacked!
Billups was a little tired from the continuous onslaught, but Li Ao, who played very simply on the offensive end, was in good shape now and bypassed Qiao-Smith who wanted to delay the fast break and went straight to the frontcourt.
Billups struggled to catch up, but after catching up with the center circle, he stopped, put his hands on his knees and gasped for air. He looked at Li Ao, who had already rushed to the free throw line, took two steps in a row, jumped up with both hands, and smashed the ball in. Basket!
After landing, Li Ao ran to Billups amidst the cheers of the fans at the scene, gave a thumbs up to himself, and said: "The best third overall pick in the world is me!"
(End of chapter)
