Chapter 217: Weird vs. Weird

Leon called a short timeout. The main function of the short timeout is to give the players a time for adjustment and buffering, as well as for substitutions. Leon did not make any tactical adjustments, but only asked the players to stabilize the rhythm of the attack. With Antoine Walker unable to open up, the Celtics' offense was a bit chaotic, and they couldn't find the backbone of the attack.
"Paul, you have to take on the responsibility of attacking tough spots. At the same time, Antoine, using your experience and support, we have to play harder at home. And our three-pointers must be opened. Try the feeling of three-pointers. Don’t dare to shoot because you are behind.
Leon encouraged players to try more three-pointers in the offense. The Celtics did not shoot three-pointers in the first two games, although Reed, Arenas and Pierce There were key three-pointers in the last game, but the overall team's three-pointer percentage was not ideal.
From the first round against the 76ers, the Celtics have been a bit unable to keep up with the pace of the regular season, the league's number of three-pointers and hits declined in the playoffs. The strengthening of the defensive level in the playoffs is on the one hand, on the other hand, the Celtics have not found the most comfortable step on the offensive end.
This is also the price Leon pays after attaching importance to defense. Once players need to focus more on the defensive end, it is normal for offensive end to have faults, and the three-pointer is an offensive method that pays great attention to rhythm. The game is hardly defended and broken by constant fouls. Even the best pitcher will lose sight in the game.
Leon believes that the Celtics can pass the 76ers without a three-pointer, and even a fight can pass the Pistons, but there is absolutely no way to go further. Without a strong low, if there is no three The Celtics will find it difficult to score this efficient weapon.
It is said that defense wins championships. Leon never recognizes this. Throughout NBA history, offensive teams have won more championships than defensive teams, and it is easier to establish a dynasty. In Leon's eyes, the Celtics who won 11 crowns are not a defensive team, but the Celtics who won two championships in the 1970s are an outright defensive team. This is why Bill Russell and Bob Cousy will support Leon's offensive style of play, why not in the 1960s.
The problem is that compared with defense, offense relies on an unpredictable thing called feel. In contrast, defense will not deceive you, so Leon asked the whole team to start from defense in the playoffs and slowly find in the series. Feeling offensive.
The timeout ended quickly, when Leon waved to the end of the bench. In the first quarter of the game, he took out the strange card-Wang Zhizhi.
Starting from the signing of Wang Zhizhi, Leon trained him in the direction of a surprise soldier. He does not care what role Wang Zhizhi plays in the Chinese national team. That is something Wang Zhizhi needs to consider after returning to China. In the Celtics, Wang Zhizhi is like a kicker on the rugby team. He has not many chances to play, but he can often give the team a key help.
Leon is well aware of Wang Zhizhi's characteristics, lack of physical fitness, poor strength, and slow movement. Apart from his excellent hand and ball feel, he is almost useless in NBA-level confrontations. Changing to another coach can only let him be a water fountain guardian, because his defense is really not enough. Leon thinks that his feel and height are rare treasures. There is no player of this height in the current NBA that has such a feel.
Therefore, Leon's strengths and weaknesses are for Wang Zhizhi to practice long-range jump shots, and his requirements for Wang Zhizhi's long-range shots are different from those of Reid, Arenas and others. He only pursues accuracy, not speed and angle of shots. Anyway, he is tall and he is not absolutely sure that he will not make a shot on the court. Therefore, Wang Zhizhi's three-point shooting percentage is as high as 62%, but he has not shot enough to make it into the leaderboard.
In the game against the 76ers, Wang Zhizhi didn't get any chance to play. Leon knew that since it was a secret weapon, he couldn't use it often. This would not have a miraculous effect, and in the end, the opponent would figure out the routine and lose its effect.
When Wang Zhizhi heard Leon’s call, this time he no longer looked as compelled as before. Once he was used to Leon suddenly letting him play. Secondly, before the playoffs, Leon told him that he wanted time. To prepare for the game, always maintain the temperature of the shot.
Wang Zhizhi took off his jacket and stepped onto the floor. This is his first time on the stage of the NBA playoffs. Although he entered the playoffs with the Mavericks last season, he is unlikely to get a chance to play. He is slightly tension.
At this time, Wang Zhizhi did not know that Yao Ming, his national teammate and opponent on the field, was watching the game in front of the TV. Seeing Wang Zhizhi put on the stage for the playoffs, Yao Ming had mixed feelings. He is higher than Wang Zhizhi and performs better on the court, but in other aspects he is one step ahead of Wang Zhizhi. Enter the national team later than Wang Zhizhi, the CBA, the NBA, the playoffs, and it is estimated that he will enter the second round later, the conference finals...
Although age is the main reason, it has nothing to do with Yao Ming's own abilities, but for him who has been watching Wang Zhizhi's back go forward, it will be another inner lump. Originally, he and the Houston Rockets had a chance to enter the playoffs. In the end, they fell behind the Suns by a game margin. He ranked ninth in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs. Yao Ming also lost to the Suns in the selection of the best rookie. Stoudemire of the team.
Wang Zhizhi didn’t know this. He took some anxiety into the game, but he soon calmed down. He is already familiar with this venue. The fans who are familiar with it yelled him "chichi". Leon let him in the third game. He still has consideration when playing, he will obviously adapt more easily at home.
On both offenses and defenses, neither party made any money. Wang Zhizhi came back twice, but for the third time, when PJ-Brown blocked Billups' layup and the Celtics got the chance to counterattack, the situation began to change. Different.
When Walker is on the field, he will quickly interpolate to occupy the most important top arc position-the free throw line. Wang Zhizhi will not. He will go down the left and right wings with Reid. This is a V-shaped quick counterattack formation. Leon practiced repeatedly in training but used less tactical formation, because Leon believed that Arenas did not have the ability to distribute the ball in the V-wing formation.
But this time Arenas didn’t need to think too much. He directly gave the ball to Wang Zhizhi. Wang Zhizhi did not shoot directly, but handed it to Paul Pierce who cut into the middle. Prince who originally watched Wang Zhizhi turned back immediately. Went to visit Pierce, but Pierce turned around after taking off and passed it back to Wang Zhizhi, who was in a big empty seat!
Completely wide open, Wang Zhizhi caught the ball slowly and made a three-pointer!
An excessively high arc, the ball hit the front of the basket, and the force was slightly less.
"F-uck..." Leon on the sidelines tweeted. He sent Wang Zhizhi on the court to make him make such an open three-pointer. If he can't make a three-pointer, he will become a defensive black hole on the court. Fortunately, the Pistons don't have strong players at the power forward position. He doesn't worry about Prince's ability to completely blow Wang Zhizhi.
If the Celtics can't make a three-pointer from the outside, then sorry, they will continue to shrink the defense, making Pierce and Arenas' breakthrough more difficult. This is the case with the offense. The inside and the outside cannot be disconnected. Whether it is failing to advance or throwing, it will bring a vicious circle.
Leon was sweating palms on the sidelines, and the next few offenses both struggled, and the score of 14:10 was maintained for three and a half minutes, and both sides fell into a scoring shortage. Which one can break the deadlock first? Bring a change in the game situation. That three-pointer by Wang Zhizhi is really a pity.
But Leon still has to trust him, because Wang Zhizhi is more than just a three-pointer.
The Pistons’ offense is also really stretched. They have to rely on Billups’ singles against Arenas. Billups keeps advancing in the low post. The Celtics resolutely refrain from flanking, and Billups does not fall back on a jumper. In this time, Wang Zhizhi got a rebound.
At this time, the Pistons suddenly resorted to a 1-2-2 press defense, and double-teamed Arenas in advance, not giving him a chance to catch the ball. Wang Zhizhi grabbed the ball in the backcourt for a while and didn't know who to pass it to, because everyone was pressed for defense.
"What are you afraid of, I passed halftime!" Leon yelled anxiously from the sidelines.
Wang Zhizhi did not hesitate anymore. He immediately dribbled the ball for half the time and passed the ball to Arenas when Prince came up and intercepted. Then Wang Zhizhi rushed inside!
To crack the 1-2-2 defense, UU reading www.uukanshu.com has practiced countless times in Celtic training. It is the best choice to quickly cut into the inside after the inside line is supported, because they will only have one person in the basket. !
At this time, it was too late for the others in the Pistons to change their formations. Arenas advanced a few steps and directly slid the ball to Wang Zhizhi. After receiving the ball, Wang Zhizhi made a fake move and shook Wallace, who came forward to make up for the defense. , And then a beautiful layup succeeded! The scoring shortage finally broke! The North Bank Garden, which had been silent for three minutes, burst into cheers again.
Rick Carlisle touched his nose on the sidelines. He obviously did not expect that Wang Zhizhi is not only a fixed three-pointer, but also a player with tactical reading ability. It seems that he underestimated the strange card in Leon's hand. Carlisle used the strange card of Prince in the opening game, which obviously disrupted the rhythm of Leon and Walker. In addition, Walker's state of the game was indeed somewhat unstable, and Prince really played a role.
After Wang Zhizhi came on the field, Prince hesitated to face Wang Zhizhi. It would not be economical to defend like Walker. Let him go and he can score again, which is really a problem. Prince lacks experience and obviously doesn't know what to do.
"This time it's your turn to play, depending on how many cards you have..." Leon looked at Carlisle, calculating in his mind what other tricks were on both sides, anyway, Leon had a lot of hole cards in his hand. (To be continued.)