Chapter 218: 1 quarter to decide the outcome

From the first quarter to the second quarter, the two sides entered a stalemate, no matter which side could not pull the score apart. After using the strange card of Wang Zhizhi, Leon helped the Celtics reverse the situation. They went from being behind by four points at the beginning to gradually overtaking, and always suppressed the Pistons. However, Wang Zhizhi's role is still limited, partial, Leon replaced him a few minutes after the start of the second quarter, and never sent him to play in the first half.
Two baskets scored, plus a free throw, it only took about 6 minutes. Wang Zhizhi sent a halftime answer of 5 points and 2 rebounds in his playoff debut. Overall it was not bad. However, he did not hit a three-pointer, which is also a concern for Leon. The team still can't make more gains outside the three-point line. At the end of the midfield, the score between the two sides was 49:48, and the Celtics led by 1 point. This score was quite close to the halftime score of the previous game.
"Three-pointers, we must shoot more three-pointers to avoid getting into hand-to-hand combat and fights with the opponent. Although we will not be afraid of getting into a tough battle with the opponent, we are ready at any time. But use three-pointers to tear the opponent's defense , Will be the most effective and obvious way to defeat them. You can try to shoot some three-pointers in the counter attack instead of having to layup, although the success rate of the layup is high enough. Remember, don’t forget The feeling of shooting, find them, find them in the game." At halftime, Leon reminded the players in the locker room to increase three-point shots and find the feeling of three-pointers as much as possible.
But Leon didn’t have a deep sense of his own. The Pistons’ defense was very targeted. After Carlisle suffered Wallace’s loss against Walker in the last game, he was determined not to let Wallace play against Walker, even if Wang Zhizhi continued. In scoring, Carlisle also did not allow Wallace to be distracted. He asked Wallace to return to his familiar defense position and wander around a large area outside the three-second zone.
The existence of Ben Wallace allows the Pistons' perimeter players to be able to defend themselves and expand the defensive circle boldly without being beaten by the Celtics in the mid-range position. As early as the first game, Leon thought about how to get this short center No. 3 on the bench. In the second game, he almost did it, but Carlisle adjusted so quickly that he had to play his next card. .
At the beginning of the second half of the game, Leon, who returned to the sidelines, sat on the bench. He drank and began to wait patiently.
During the intermission, Leon thought about replacing Chris Anderson to deal with Ben Wallace. Just like Dennis Rodman in the semi-finals last year, he did his best to grab offensive rebounds and use trash and passion. To influence Wallace and the Pistons. Leon even considered whether or not to make an outside move.
But this idea was quickly suppressed by Leon. Leon, like Auerbach, can do whatever it takes to win, but he also knows the importance. The regular season against the Lakers, a pure substitute lineup, using this trick can be described as a weak victory and a strong counterattack. Although it has been criticized, it is also a good story in the future; now, the Celtics have an advantage. It is ugly, and worse, it may inspire the Pistons' anger and put the team at a disadvantage.
So Leon decided to wait and wait for the best time. This time will be an opportunity to determine the trend of the game.
Although Leon emphasized the three-pointer in midfield, the Celtics did not fundamentally change the offensive formation. After Arenas tried two counterattacks and quickly missed a three-pointer, the team still returned. To the old way of positional offense relying on Pierce singles. The second fast offense can be described as handy in the regular season, because the opposing teams rarely make targeted arrangements with each other. You play yours and I play mine. The feeling of the game is very important.
As soon as the defensive intensity of the playoffs increased, especially Arenas himself also consumed a lot of energy in defense. It is difficult to do well in offense. At this time, it is natural to rely on the singles ability of core players.
"Gilbert needs to adjust. It seems that he has too many defensive tasks, and the burden on him is still too heavy." Leon looked upset after seeing two three-pointers missed and had to Arenas, who re-invested in defense, thought to himself. Before the series, he hopes Arenas can make more contributions on the defensive end. His defense against Iverson in the first round is really not enough. However, it seems that it is really not that easy to maintain a high level and high intensity at both ends of offense and defense like Kobe, Jordan or Stockton.
Leon also knows that the point guard is the position with the lowest return on defensive investment, but the two rounds are against teams with strong point guards, and the opponents most likely to face in the Eastern Conference Finals have the strongest point guard in the league. , Leon had to make high demands on Arenas' defense.
Leon was thinking about it. Arenas suddenly intercepted Billups in defense. An excellent kick was not based on speed, but on judgment. Even though his possession was as steady as Billups, his dribbling There are still rules to follow, and flaws to find.
After stealing the ball, Arenas quickly advanced with the ball. There was no one in front of him, no teammates and no opponents. Michael Reid ran at the same level as him. Reid did not move forward, but spread to the side like wings. When Reid reached 45 degrees to the left, Arenas, who rushed into the three-second zone, turned around and passed the ball. Reid almost started to jump before the ball touched his hands, then received the ball, swung his arm, and the catapult started. .
"Huh!" Three points into the net! The Celtics finally made a three-pointer, a three-pointer like a flying knife! The stalemate between the two sides in the third quarter was broken by this three-pointer. At 55:50, the Celtics opened the point difference to 5 points. This is a gap that must be responded to and adjusted for Carlisle. A short timeout was called immediately.
Leon knew that the time should have come, if his judgment on Carlisle was not wrong.
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Carlisle saw Billups steal the ball by Arenas, followed by a 3-pointer from the Celtics, cautiously calling a timeout. Before the entire series, Carlisle had set the primary goal of dealing with the Celtics-to contain the Celtics' three-pointers.
The terrible three-pointers of the Celtics in the regular season often become the key to their victory. The same offense is successful, and there are several times more than the opponent by one point. In the end, it is reflected in the total score, which is the point of winning. If the Celtics have a powerful low-post monster, the Pistons will be overwhelmed by the weakness of the power forward position. Carlisle is very worried that Walker will become this role. In the last game, he showed strong offensive power and firm offensive will. This time Carlisle also started with Prince with a try-and-see mentality, but he did not expect to play well. effect.
It is not how strong Prince's defense is, but Walker's unstable performance and inability to be determined to the end, making him no longer prestigious in front of the defense line formed by Prince and Wallace.
Now that Arenas is increasing his three-point shots, the Celtics as a whole are trying to increase their three-point shooting percentage, while the Pistons' own offense is stagnating because of the continuous expansion of defense that consumes energy. Although Billups has been suppressing Arenas, he is also very tired.
Carlisle pointed to the backup point guard Atkins who was sitting under the court and signaled that he was ready to play. But instead of replacing Billups, he replaced Hamilton~EbookFREE.me~Carlisle's heart is contradictory. On the one hand, Atkins's appearance is a normal rotation, although Atkins and Billou Puth is also a point guard, but because Hamilton, Prince or Robinson lack offensive organization ability, switching to Atkins and Billups to play double point guards can well alleviate the team's outside conduction. problem. Now the team is weak offensively, and replacing Atkins in normal time would be a good adjustment.
On the other hand, the Celtics' three-pointers are showing signs of momentum, Atkins's defense is not good, whether he is facing Arenas or Reid, Atkins' height and speed will suffer.
The hesitation lasted only 0.1 seconds, Carlisle still did not change his mind, Atkins had taken off his sportswear and was ready to play. For a coach, changing the established rotation rhythm is a big risk. After a season of running-in rotation time and personnel, the players already have a good feeling of the field with each other. Easy replacement requires good players. The adjustment ability and special arrangement before the game.
Carlisle was still conservative.
When Leon saw Atkins stand up from the bench, he knew that the time had come! In the third quarter, he strived to decide the outcome in this quarter! (To be continued.)