Chapter 523: Keep 1 hand

The failure of the University of Kentucky to win this year's championship certainly made Li Liang disappointed and sad.
Players' feelings about the college basketball team can't be compared with professional teams.
Professional teams are more of a job, and naked interests are in front of them, and they may leave at any time.
Unless a very small number of transfers are made at the university, for most players regardless of their grades, they are memories that cannot be erased in a basketball career.
Especially for some players who are not too talented, maybe the NCAA arena is the most brilliant moment in their lives.
For example, Shabazz Napier, who got the MOP this time, a thin point guard, gave a wonderful performance in the final.
But his NBA draft prospects are not optimistic, because he is really talented, and the predicted ranking will look like the second round.
Even so, his basketball career will be without regret.
Li Liang left Texas overnight and returned to Los Angeles to concentrate on the final games of the regular season.
On April 9, the Clippers faced the Thunder at home.
The Thunder is back-to-back playing away, today is the second back-to-back game, which is physically disadvantageous to the Thunder.
But the Thunder have dominated the game from the beginning.
As soon as Durant came up to face Li Liang, he hit 21, then Westbrook misplaced Li Liang for a point, and then broke into Li Liang, causing Li Liang to foul.
Thunder coach Brooks knows that if he wants to defeat the Clippers, he must start with Li Liang.
Three fouls in the opening three minutes, Li Liang had to take a break.
This disrupted the Clippers' rotation rhythm and offensive feel.
The Clippers suddenly returned to the past game routine, relying on the rotation of Paul and Griffin to open the situation.
For Li Liang, being fouled by fouls is not only because of lack of playing time, the key is that the offense feels hard to find.
For a player who eats by shooting, the feeling and continuity of the offensive game is very important.
Once it is interrupted at a certain point, it becomes very difficult to feel the back feel warm.
Brooks has carefully studied how to deal with Li Liang since the Western Conference last season.
This coach is very caring. He believes that in the next few years, Li Liang will be an important opponent of Kevin Durant in the West.
So in terms of how to deal with Li Liang's strategy, the Thunder and Spurs are the two teams that are at the forefront of the league.
The Spurs are still taking a "positive" route, using the same strategy against Kobe, Durant, James and others to deal with Li Liang.
The Thunder's strategy is relatively more "sly", trying various small tricks to deal with Li Liang.
The two fouls at the beginning of this game were undoubtedly successful, and the referee was very face-saving, let Li Liang go down and rest.
Then Westbrook and Durant scored frequently. The Clippers suddenly became misfired in the second half of the first quarter.
After Li Liang took a break, the Thunder contracted the defense line very little. The outside line shorted the Clippers to cast, but the Clippers just couldn't shoot.
The Thunder hit the Clippers a 10:0, leading the Clippers by 12 points at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Rivers hesitated when he changed Li Liang on the court.
According to the normal rotation, Li Liang will take a break in the last two minutes of the first quarter, then continue to rest three to five minutes before the second quarter, let Griffin play with the bench, and then Li Liang will play again.
Now Li Liang rests most of the first quarter. If he continues to let him rest, the rest period will be too long and it will be cold.
By this time, Li Liang had stood up from the bench and was ready to go.
I haven't played for most of the quarter, and my hand feels cool.
Rivers waved at Li Liang, motioning him to go back to rest.
"Lao Li, I'll be cold if I don't go!" Li Liang mumbled.
"Following the process, I don't want to be surprised." Rivers said.
This is a regular season, Rivers believes that players appearing in a time period that they are not familiar with, not only affect the state, but also may risk injury.
What theory of this TM, Li Liang will be injured?
But Rivers, out of cautious consideration, felt that he could win the game if he could win, even if he couldn't, and he didn't want to take any risks.
Let Li Liang rest, let him rest.
Rivers is not Mike Brown after all, he is not so obedient, he has more ideas.
Li Liang had to sit back on the bench and put on his coat again, don't freeze.
After the start of the second quarter, the Thunder continued to suppress the Clippers.
But Durant didn't play well tonight, he didn't have a good shooting touch, and he didn't grasp the good chance of several open positions outside.
I don't know if it's because Li Liang is sitting down the court, Durant feels not challenging?
Li Liang still appeared in the normal period of time. After playing, he missed two three-pointers and lost his feel.
But the feeling of defense is not lost, the Clippers immediately started chasing points after Li Liang played.
They were 14 points behind and hurried along the way. Before the end of the halftime, they narrowed the point difference to 3 points, 56:59. The first half ended.
The Thunder's offensive status tonight was average, with relatively large ups and downs.
They all rushed fiercely, and they went in several times, and then got up.
After all, the Thunder relies on the personal status of Durant and Westbrook on offense. Once a person's status is average, the offense will fall by a grade.
For a team like this, the more hoarded stars, the better, and the more insurance.
But the detonator chose to send Harden away... Hey, he was really hijacked by the Timberwolves management.
In the second half, Durant's condition recovered, and he hit the distance in the opening, and then a big loop caused Li Liang's foul.
Li Liang is speechless. Are you the referee?
Li Liang felt that since the last press conference after Xiao Hua took office and disclosed that the NBA discriminated against Chinese, the referee has become stricter on Li Liang's whistle.
I used to reason with him before, but now I still talk about reason, but the punishment is not very favorable.
Being fouled at the beginning like this is still very hurtful for a player whose defense is based on Li Liang.
In fact, Brooks caught a weakness in the Clippers lineup configuration, and with the help of the referee, naturally caused trouble for Li Liang and the Clippers.
Brooks found that Li Liang was not only the core of the offensive in the Clippers, but also assumed the role of a pioneer on the defensive end.
This kind of task distribution is actually very unreasonable. Of course, it is Mike Brown who blames Li Liang for his core position!
Generally speaking, the core of the team's offensive organization must be less defensive pressure on the defensive end.
Even if it is an offensive and defensive dual player, in order to ensure that the offensive end has spare power and does not fall into foul trouble, it will also assign defensive tasks for others to share.
For example, before 2008, Duncan of the Spurs had Robinson. In the later period, the Spurs will definitely give Duncan a coolie center as a meat shield.
Another example is Kobe. When he was on the team with O’Neal, he was the offensive second, so he could do his best to be a mad dog on the defensive end. After 2008, the Lakers hoarded Bujacic, Shannon-Brown, Jordan Farmar, like a bite-type small guard to share the defensive responsibility of replacing Kobe.
After all, the offense is still the most important, if the defensive end is consumed too much energy, or caught in foul trouble, it is very detrimental to the overall impact of the team.
Therefore, Mike Brown initially considered Barnes in this regard.
But the problem is that Barnes can indeed share a part, but Li Liang's burden on defense is still too heavy.
Every time he plays a team with a strong striker, Li Liang rushes ahead.
He can defend against small forwards, and he can defend against power forwards.
Durant, Randolph, James, Kobe, Harden, these other team's offensive arrow characters, Li Liang have to confront them one-on-one.
In terms of Li Liang's age and seniority, there is no problem. Well, the second-year young people, it is when they are energetic, who do you want to block?
Like Spurs Leonard and Pacers George, they all walked up like this.
But the problem is that Li Liang is developing too fast. He has already succeeded in grabbing the class and grabbing power on offense.
This is good, he has to pick the heavy burden on both ends, even if you have strong ability, you can be directly exposed to the opponent's calculations, it is easy to go wrong.
Brooks has carefully studied the Clippers and Li Liang. He believes that the Thunder will rush out of the West this year, and must surpass the Clippers. The Clippers' imbalance in lineup structure and responsibility distribution is a weakness that can be used.
After Li Liang was fouled in the beginning of the third quarter, he really turned a lot on defense.
Not daring to start easily, he didn't dare to make an offensive foul casually. Thunder took the opportunity to attack violently, hit a wave of offensive climax, and pulled the difference between the two sides to 15 points.
The Clippers played very tough, Li Liang started shooting frequently outside, at the end of the third quarter he finally found a three-pointer feeling, hit three three-pointers in a row!
The third goal is when the attacking time is approaching, take a shot directly near the center line and hit the board!
This ball helped the Clippers narrow the point difference to only 2 points and enter the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Paul hit a mid-range jumper as soon as he opened, pulling both sides back to the same starting line.
Both sides started an offensive and defensive battle between you and me.
Li Liang played very cautiously in the fourth quarter. He did not use props, nor did he throw three-pointers on the outside line because of his strong three-point ability to break through to 60 points.
He didn't want to expose himself as soon as he was promoted to his ability.
Mike Brown is right, now there are countless eyes staring at him all the time, trying to figure out his offensive skills and methods, trying to limit him in the game.
From the inside to the outside, from technology to psychology, the more difficult and dangerous obstacles face up, so Li Liang must keep a hand.
Even if you can't get 70 wins, judging from the current public opinion, 67 wins is enough for Li Liang to win the regular season MVP.
At this time Paul stood up and hit two three-pointers in a row.
Durant immediately responded and hit the first three points of the game. If he played better, with Li Liang's fragmented playing time today, the Thunder will beat the Clippers by a large score.
The scores of the two sides rose alternately, and at the crucial last moment, Westbrook was awe-inspiring.
First, the mid-range zombie succeeded in a jumper, and then made a defensive hit in the attack to help the Thunder lead 4 points.
After the Clippers were suspended, Li Liang wanted to make a three-pointer, and the Thunder chose to foul Paul and sent Paul to the free throw line!
Brooks, you can. I used to play Jordan when I was playing against the Clippers. Now I'm learning Lao Li to play penalty tactics.
As a result, Paul also made two free throws, Westbrook rebounded from the basket.
With 40 seconds left, the Clippers were supposed to defend against the Thunder, and there was still a chance to play next.
As a result, Durant beat Li Liang one-on-one and missed a mid-range jumper, but Westbrook picked another rebound!
This small guard is really good at rebounding.
As soon as this critical offensive rebound was scored, the Clippers fell into complete passiveness.
Had to foul and sent Westbrook to the free throw line.
As a result, Westbrook made two free throws and the point difference came to 5 points.
It was difficult this time, Rivers called a timeout and gave Li Liang a three-point tactic.
As a result, Li Liang caught the ball, the Thunder fouled and sent Li Liang to the free throw line.
Brooks is simply careful to the extreme, and does not give Li Liang a chance to change his life.
Li Liang steadily made two free throws, but it was useless. The point difference was still three points, and the ball was in the hands of the Thunder, and time was running out.
Rivers played geese all day long and was blinded by geese, and died in the "penalty shootout".
In the end, the Thunder's 109:106, 3-point advantage took away a victory at Staples, compressing the Clippers' hopes of 70 wins in the final three games.
On April 13, the Clippers faced the Kings at home.
Before the game started, Li Liang found his younger brother Cousins ​​and said that this game let him win, and he would never hack him again in the future.
Then the Clippers beat the Kings at 120:101 at home. Cousins ​​asked Li Liang after the game whether he really did not black him.
Li Liangdao, "We should have won this game, not your credit, you scored too much, not count."
Cousins ​​scored 32 points and 12 rebounds in this field, and his performance was indeed very good.
Thinking about what Li Liang said makes sense, he didn't pursue anything more.
Winning this game, the Clippers have won 68 games.
This is a remarkable achievement. The Clippers set the best record for the regular season of the 21st century team, leaving the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers behind!
On the Los Angeles Clippers team homepage, the number 68 is extremely dazzling.
But the Clippers are not prepared to stay on this score.
Within the team, including boss Ballmer and others agreed that the team should impact 70 wins.
Although the playoffs are more important, for the Clippers, a historically weak team, the regular season honors are also very valuable.
At the Staples Center, the Lakers looked up at home with a dozen championship rings.
It's the Clippers' turn to do their home games. As soon as they look up, they have nothing to do!
In fact, many teams that have not won the championship can fly flags at home.
For example, if you get a division champion, you will have a banner.
This division champion is not the East-West playoff champion, or even the East-West regular season champion, but the regular season champion of the six major divisions!
With this kind of flag, the Lakers don’t know how many faces, and they hang it at all costs.
And the Clippers don’t have to hang, so any honor is very important to the Clippers.
The opponents in the last two games were the Nuggets and Trail Blazers in the Northwest.
The Nuggets are not too scary for the Clippers, and this season they have gone straight to the lottery.
On April 15, the Clippers took home the Nuggets.
The Clippers started with fierce firepower, Paul opened the game with a three-pointer, then Barnes took Li Liang's pass and made another three-pointer.
The Nuggets started with a very poor start. The Clippers succeeded one after another, playing the Nuggets a 15:0 as soon as they opened.
Then the game went smoothly, and the Nuggets' resistance to resistance was not strong. Besides, it was an away game. Who would show resistance?
Two hours to solve the battle, the Clippers 119:107, easily defeated the Nuggets, won the 69th victory.
At the end of the game, the audience cheered loudly.
Ballmer sat on the sidelines, excitedly embracing each other with friends.
69 wins, and the Chicago Bulls in 1997, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972 tied for the second-best record in history.
But the Clippers have a second chance in history, depending on the last game to open the Trail Blazers.
After the game, Rivers still tried to restrain his excitement in an interview, because he knew they still had a chance to create better results, and he had to say something to the last game.
The game with the Blazers is back-to-back, and the Clippers are going to the Rose Garden.
For both sides, it is the game that you want to win.
The Clippers want to set a historical record, and the Blazers want to get a better place in the playoffs. As long as they win this game, they will have the upper hand in the competition with the Rockets and successfully grab the home advantage.
Of course, even if you lose, as long as the Rockets don't win the last game, the Blazers will also win the fourth position by virtue of winning and losing.
Just before the start of the match between the two sides, the news came that the Rockets had lost.
In this way, regardless of whether the Blazers win the last game, the Blazers will face the Rockets in the first round and have home advantage.
But the Blazers feel that they still have to resist!
How could they do the Clippers' wedding dress and get them 70 wins?
No team is willing to be the background board for other teams to create records, but this is also a valuable place on the court.
The game between the two sides was very intense.
Until the fourth quarter began, the Blazers led by 1 point.
After the start of the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers led by Lillard, played a wave of 9:2 climax, laid the advantage in one fell swoop.
With the last 3 minutes remaining before the game ended, the Blazers led the Clippers by 10 points.
Just when everyone thought that the Clippers' regular season record would stay at 69 wins, and the next 70 wins still failed to arrive, Li Liang shot.
The shots here are really shots.
After a timeout, Li Liang received the ball at the top of the arc and faced Batum directly to make a three-pointer shot.
Then, Lillard was intercepted by Paul, Li Liang received Paul's pass, and the right wing made a 45-point three-pointer and hit again.
Two consecutive three-pointers allowed the Blazers to call a timeout.
The Blazers learned the Spurs and the Lone Ranger and began to double-jack Li Liang.
After the suspension came back, Lopez first received a small cap from Jordan in the basket, then Li Liang held the ball from the outside, and when the two were surrounded, the dribble moved horizontally, then stopped outside the three-point line and then made another three points. Shot, hit!
Only 1 point left!
In the minute before the end of the game, Li Liang used his familiar three points to chase the point difference to only one point.
Say familiar, but actually unfamiliar.
As long as the attentive fans will notice, Li Liang's choice of these shots is obviously more casual than in the past.
In the past, in order to get a fleeting space, he would shoot at a farther distance, and would use more running and covering to obtain opportunities.
This time he didn't. He got the ball, and he felt like he was about to pitch.
Batum, who defended him, and Matthews, the double-binder, were both caught off guard.
Moreover, Li Liang's three shots were not smooth as usual. After the force from the leg was used to shoot the ball with the entire torso Li Liang, the ball was thrown out by the strength of the arm and wrist after taking off.
This is the so-called "dry pull", in fact, it is a relatively unstandard and more difficult way of shooting.
The advantage is that the ability to carry interference is strong. The disadvantage is that even if there is no interference, you may not be able to vote.
This kind of shooting requires very high waist, abdomen and upper limb strength.
The most proficient in using this kind of shooting is Ray Allen.
So some people say that Ray Allen's shot is textbook-style and fart. UU reading www.uukanshu.cco
Which shooting textbook teaches students to shoot like this, none of them can learn well.
After improving his three-point shot ability, Li Liang recently improved his waist strength, leg strength and wrist strength in the task to adapt to this shooting method.
Li Liang's little one showed his hand and did not attract too many people's attention.
Subsequently, Li Liang succeeded in steals and assisted Crawford to make a layup and succeeded in overtaking the score.
In the end, the Clippers had a 3-point advantage on the road and won the 70th victory of the regular season!
With 70 wins and 12 losses, the Clippers created the second regular season 70 win in NBA history!
At the moment the buzzer sounded, the Blazers fans at home applauded the Clippers.
This is the victory and record they deserve.
In an interview with reporters after the game, Li Liangdao said: "This is not an end, but a beginning, waiting for me."