Chapter 459: "Notoriety spread"

No one understood this substitution.
You know that since the playoffs, Zhu Fangyu has only played 5 minutes per game.
It seemed to make do with it, but in fact, he played 5 games. This was because I played the Warriors and almost every game had garbage time.
He is a bit like Louis Williams. He was given a chance at the end of the season to perform well in the playoffs, but he did not play in the playoffs due to defensive issues.
"Maybe the Lakers want to try his three-pointer?"
Kenny Smith gave a reasonably reasonable explanation in the commentary.
Zhu Fangyu can stay in the league because he has a good three-pointer.
In the last two minutes of the first quarter, Thomas threw in two or three points on the Suns side, but Horry and Walker on the Lakers missed.
Respond to another one who can shoot three pointers, this is fine.
The Lakers returned in the second quarter to start.
Finley and Mourning broke through the basket after a pick-and-roll, and then crossed Tim Thomas to score a layup.
However, on the Suns side, Barbosa immediately made a pick-and-roll break and fouled, and made two free throws to return.
In the selection of this year's best sixth man, Barbosa lost to Mike Miller.
But that has something to do with the fact that the Suns players have a lot of ball power. In terms of the sixth man attribute, he is obviously stronger.
Finley continued to play pick-and-rolls with Mourning in the frontcourt.
This time the Suns contracted to help defend, and Zhu Fangyu in the bottom corner came out.
But Finley did not pass, but forced a layup against Thomas, causing the latter's thugs to foul.
Thomas' offense is good, but the defense is really bad.
But after these two rounds, Confucius couldn't understand, Mencius couldn't understand, and Laozi couldn't understand either.
Zhu Fangyu didn't seem to have any effect after putting it on, but did he just practice and return?
And soon, the fans discovered a very interesting thing on the court.
Thomas, who was very active on the offensive end in the second half of the first quarter, squatted on the outside without moving away from Zhu Fangyu after two runs.
This makes people even more incomprehensible.
Thomas is a power forward and Zhu Fangyu is a small forward. If the two are confronting each other, they will absolutely crush the body.
Thomas will, but it's more than just outside throws two three-pointers!
Barbosa's breakthrough was blocked, the Lakers counterattacked, Christie assisted Finley and scored 2 points.
34 to 30!
Finley performed well in this period, and the Lakers successfully narrowed the point difference.
The next round, a more interesting scene happened on the court.
Barbossa signaled Tim Thomas to go to low singles. Thomas was not reluctant at first.
After Barbosa signaled for the second time, he went to the basket reluctantly.
And after he catches the ball and starts back-playing, other people find that his back-playing is a bit... gentle.
Yes, it is gentle.
Zhu Fangyu, who was defending behind him, lowered his weight, but Thomas only chose the hook to turn around.
"when!"
The basketball came out of the frame, and Zhu Fangyu was guarded!
There was a stir at the scene.
But at this moment, Phil Jackson on the sidelines showed a grandpa KFC smile.
If Artest is notorious for beating fans in the "Palace of Auburn Hills", then Zhu Fangyu boxing Bogut is to make him notorious among players.
That combination boxing with a strong shadow of "kung fu" is to some extent more daunting than Ma Long's iron elbow.
Especially for players like Thomas.
Because it will really be beaten.
And there will be surprises next round.
Finley broke through and was double-teamed, this time he chose to split the ball.
The ball was delivered to Zhu Fangyu in the bottom corner.
Zhu Fangyu took the ball and shot.
It was obviously too late for Thomas to return to defense, so he watched Zhu Fangyu take action.
"Huh!"
A crisp sound, three minutes into the net!
Zhu Fangyu got his first point in the playoffs of his career!
34 to 33!
And this three-pointer is still very important, the Lakers chased the score to only 1 point!
D'Antoni was also dissatisfied with Thomas' performance in the second quarter and directly replaced him with Stoudemire.
Barkley and Kenny Smith in the commentary were amused by this scene.
Because in a sense, Jackson replaced Zhu Fangyu and directly beat Thomas, who was in excellent condition!
You have Hua Xiong, and I have General Pan Feng!
And really cut you off!
Or it can also be understood as a sledgehammer, why Sun Hao is needed to beat Thomas!
Zhu Fangyu, enough!
Jackson's adjustment was very eye-catching. The Suns had a chance to open the score, but once again fell into a see-saw with the Lakers.
This see-saw continued until the third quarter.
This time it was the Lakers' turn to explode, and they played a wave of 13 to 3 attacks at the beginning of the third quarter.
Unlike the Suns, the Lakers didn't let this opportunity slip away.
They played steadily and eventually defeated the Suns 117 to 104 to win the game.
For the Suns, Stoudemire had 22 points and 10 boards, Marion had 13 points and 11 boards, Nash had 9 points and 13 assists, Barbosa had 14 points, and Dior had 8 points and 4 boards.
For the Lakers, Sun Hao had 32 points and 7 assists, O'Neal had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Finley had 16 points, Walker had 11 points, 3 boards and 3 assists, and Zhu Fangyu had 3 points and 1 board.
Sun Hao and O'Neill attended the press conference after the game.
"The Suns are a good opponent. He caused us some trouble, but as in the past, the winner is still us."
O'Neill is in a good mood.
Although the double-teaming of the Suns made him less comfortable than he was when he played the Warriors, he still scored easily after playing the pick and roll with Sun Hao.
After all, double-teaming this thing. Everything takes time.
The reporter threw the same question to Sun Hao, but Sun Hao was more cautious.
"The Suns are very strong. We were lucky to win this game, and the next game will be more intense."
Sun Hao's answer caused O'Neill to probe for a while. This big guy obviously felt that Sun Hao was a little too cautious.
One day later, the second game of the Eastern Conference Finals continued.
The Pistons lineup is relatively fixed and there is not much room for adjustment, but they have a higher defensive intensity than the first game.
The game becomes a defensive battle.
This time the Pistons played the game to the end.
Anthony hit the key ball, and McGrady's three-pointer missed the basket.
The Pistons finally won a thrilling 87 to 85, tied the big score to 1 to 1.
The next day, the second game between the Suns and the Lakers continued in Phoenix.
D'Antoni made tactical adjustments and replaced Kurt Thomas with Dior.
Dior was still a striker at this time.
This adjustment means that Stoudemire will go to the top center, and the Suns have a lineup without center!
Although their tactics are not the same, D'Antoni is a running coach just like Nelson.
When a problem cannot be solved, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely to use offense to solve the problem.
Facts have proved that D'Antoni's adjustment is effective.
Because no matter whether it is Stoudemire or Thomas, the single defense can't prevent O'Neal, or rely more on assisted defense.
Or more accurately, relying on Marion's help.
Stoudemire playing center means that Marion is playing power forward, and his defense efficiency in the interior is obviously higher.
Of course, more importantly, the defensive counterattack ability of this lineup is much stronger than before.
Dior, like Walker, is a fast break thruster.
122 to 115, the Suns finally pulled back one city at home, rewriting the big score to a 1-1 draw!
"Your worries are right, we are a bit too underestimated."
O'Neal said to Sun Hao in the locker room after the game.
Sun Hao didn't say anything.
Although the playoffs are not as long as the regular season, the intensity of the game is higher. Round after round, it is a double test for players' mental and physical.
The opponents they played last season went from weak to strong, and there was a gradual process, and the players adapted very smoothly.
Looking back at the year when I won the championship in Dallas three years ago, it was the same.
But the Lakers have something special this season.
After the Mavericks were accidentally hacked by the Warriors, they played the Warriors in the semifinals, and the intensity of the game was obviously diving.
Up to now, he suddenly faced a high-intensity opponent like the Sun, and it was normal for him to not adjust his body and mind.
But in this way they also won the first game, which shows that their hard power is still better than the Suns.
"Shaq, have you discovered that this series is a rhythm game?"
Sun Hao didn't continue the previous topic, but suddenly asked.
O'Neill nodded after thinking about it.
The Lakers' triangle offense is a positional battle, while the Suns are running and bombing.
The collision of two different styles of teams depends on whether the Lakers can keep the rhythm down or the Suns can keep the rhythm fast.
"Let me suppress the rhythm."
At this moment, Payton, who was listening to the side, suddenly interrupted.
"I play the organization in the low post, which can slow down the rhythm."
Payton went on to explain.
That is his specialty.
"If you have the chance, you can play Steve more, they have less room for defense in the low post, and they can also consume more Steve physical energy."
Sun Hao nodded, Peyton's proposal was very useful.
"I know."
Payton had obviously thought about it.
Two days later, the Lakers and the Suns moved to Los Angeles to start the third contest.
The Suns still set Dior to start, and the Lakers still have no lineup adjustments.
D'Antoni smiled at the back.
As long as they win an away game, the Suns can regain home court advantage from the Lakers.
But after the game started, he found that the Lakers' play style has changed a lot.
In the first two games, the ball was in Sun Hao's hands most of the time. Sun Hao and O'Neal launched the offensive pick and roll.
But in this game, the ball is in Payton's hands most of the time, and Payton is in the low position to catch the ball.
Because of Nash's poor defense, in addition to organizing, Payton even frequently singles Nash in that position!
The Suns had to flanks from time to time, but they were often mobilized by Payton's pass, and some of them lost sight of the other.
More importantly, the rhythm on the court is obviously slowed down!
Even after tasting a certain sweetness, after Payton's exit, Jackson asked Sun Hao to continue playing back in that position!
Sun Hao is no longer the Sun Hao of last season. Although his passing is a bit worse than Payton, his back attack is more threatening than Payton.
The Suns are even more frantic.
D'Antoni was also helpless off the court.
The overall defense of the Suns is strong, but he is not a defensive coach!
Usually the Suns' defense is enough, and now you let him adjust the defensive tactics on the spot, that is, catch the ducks on the shelves.
The assistant coach on the side has nothing to do, watching the Lakers from the opening advantage to the end of the game.
In the end, the Lakers beat the Suns 104 to 86 at home, rewriting the big score 2-1.
This change also attracted the emotions of the fans after the game, feeling that this is returning to the scene of the game between Popovich and Nelson three years ago.
One move for you, one move for me, the move is deadly.
The Suns fans also look forward to D'Antoni's new ultimate move in the end.
Only in the fourth game of the series, D'Antoni did not make any major adjustments.
It's not that he didn't want to, but... he didn't.
Compared to those two, D'Antoni still had less ink in his stomach.
He and Adelman should be the same type of coach.
When the most dependent tactical system does not work, the rest is more passive.
This is also a big reason why he failed to lead the team to win the championship throughout his career.
Players can eat fresh all over the world with one trick, but coaches can’t.
The Lakers also made persistent efforts, 107 to 96 to win another victory, rewriting the big score to 3 to 1!
At this time, the fans and the media are in the same direction: the Lakers advance to the Finals, and it is certain!
It’s just that the story is often attractive because their process is always twists and turns.
In the fifth game, the two sides came to Phoenix, and the Suns suddenly "rised" again.
But this time the rise has nothing to do with D'Antoni, but... a player of the Suns.
After playing two consecutive games to determine that they couldn't play their best defensive counterattack, the Suns focused on fighting the Lakers!
In this game, the Suns refreshed many people's understanding of them.
Although, that person knew Sun Hao.
This Suns team can also play positional warfare, and it is very good!
You must know that in the 2006~2007 season in history, this complete sun, Popovich can only use Holly to hit Nash to win the game.
In that season, the Spurs returned to defensive play, dominated by positional battles.
The fact that the Suns can push Popovich to that point is very telling.
Now Stoudemire is not injured~EbookFREE.me~ This sun and that sun are actually the same.
Of course, the Lakers' positional battle is worthwhile.
The two teams entered the same tug-of-saw as they did in the first game, and this tug-of-war continued for the whole game.
At home in Phoenix, luck is on the side of the Suns.
At the last moment, Sun Hao hit three consecutive points before the final shot, but the last one went in and bounced out.
The Suns also took a more exciting way than the Eastern Conference finals to win back a city, chasing the big score to 2 to 3.
This time, the series of the two sides also came to the familiar G6 fans.
For Lakers fans, this year is a little different from last year.
Because there is no home court advantage, losing G6 means going to Phoenix for a tie-break.
In other words, this G6, they cannot afford to lose.