basketball purple front

Chapter 531 Old Lakers

Tiredness is the current rhythm of this Lakers team. In the second half of the third quarter, although Tang Qian performed well, he still couldn't stop the score difference from being gradually widened.To be honest, the Pacers' shooting rate is not high, only 33.1%, but the Lakers' shooting rate in this quarter is even lower, but around 18.9%.If it weren't for Gasol's desperate effort to score 5 points, the Lakers might fall into a scoring drought in the second half.

Well, from Tang Qian's point of view, the scoring drought has already begun.

72-61, 11 points behind and entered the fourth quarter.

Tang Qian scored 1 block, 7 rebounds and 1 assist in this quarter.

Under Tang Qian's inside deterrence, the Pacers slowed down their attack on the inside in the third quarter.

"Bryant, do you want to come down and take a break? You haven't rested for three quarters." Mike D'Antoni asked, but in fact, his heart was very tangled and complicated.Because let Kobe off the field, then facing the extremely strong defensive Pacers, the Lakers are basically over.It is impossible to catch up.

With No. 24 on the court, the Lakers have the possibility of a miracle, but... Kobe's physical overdraw is bound to be more serious.So Mike D'Antoni was very "conflicted" in his heart.

I hope that Kobe can come down and take a rest, and I hope that Kobe can continue to play and break out to help the Lakers turn around.

Kobe took a big gulp to add water, shook his head and said, "I don't need it for now, I can still hold it."

"Bryant, you'd better go down and rest for a few minutes, your body won't be able to bear it if you play for a long time in a row." Tang Qian also spoke, but was also rejected by Kobe: "It's only 12 minutes, grit your teeth That's fine, I'm fine."

"But……"

"I'm fine, everyone hurry up and rest, we must fight the Indiana tonight!" Kobe interrupted Tang Qian, shouted a word of encouragement, then closed his eyes and continued to drink sports drinks.

The fourth quarter started. At this moment, Tang Qian had already given up any "challenging tasks", because winning is the key.

The rest is nothing.

The rest are secondary.

And he endured it until now, finally he can...

Gold defense card activated!
Within 12 minutes, the defensive ability increased by 100%!

A few minutes later, the Pacers were almost dumbfounded, because the Lakers' inside line is too difficult to break through, right?This is simply Shura Hell, once you enter it, you will be close to death!

For 3 minutes and 39 seconds, the Pacers did not score a point.

Under Kobe's forced breakthrough, the Lakers scored 4 points from free throws.

72-65, the Lakers are still 7 points behind.

"Is that guy a monster? I seem to run into him no matter which direction I cut in from!" Lance Stephenson complained first, with an extremely depressed expression on his face, because he is originally a perimeter player who is good at breakthroughs. If they are blocked, the threat of attack will be reduced by 6-7% immediately.

"It's a bit exaggerated." David West, the oldest in the starting lineup, also said: "I took several shots under the basket and were blocked. Even if it was Gasol, he seemed to follow him , will appear under the basket to protect the basket at any time! Among other things, just tonight, he is enough to be called a defensive core player!"

"Try driving the ball!" Pacers head coach Frank Vogel suggested. It's a simple but effective solution.No matter how strong you are, you always have a defensive limit, right? I'll attract your defensive attention, and it's okay to let your teammates play time-laden, right?
"Yes." Both George Hill and Paul George nodded, thinking that this method could be tried.

Because the Pacers are a "retro style of play in the 90s", inside offense and inside scoring are very important parts. Outside long-range strikes are only auxiliary, and it is difficult to kill people.If you want to win this game, open the inside line, that is the key.

But in less than 2 minutes, the Pacers called another timeout. There was no other reason. Even if they used a breakthrough ball, they still couldn't penetrate the Lakers' inside barrier.And tonight, I don't know what medicine the Eastern center took, but his sense of stealing smell is far beyond normal. In less than 2 minutes, he got his third steal.It made the Pacers break through, and they didn't dare to play the ball casually.

"This Eastern center is not simple. Even if his state explodes, it is too fierce." George Hill's words represent the aspirations of the entire Pacers team. Everyone thinks that No. 29 is too scary in defense up.In the end, the head coach Frank Vogel opened his mouth and said: "After all, he was the one who slapped 32 caps just yesterday. Don't take it lightly. Perhaps his defensive ability can already compete with the peak Howard."

"Then what should we do? Sir? We can't let our opponent catch up step by step, right?" Lance Stephenson asked impatiently.Frank Vogel smiled and said: "There is no need to do this. After all, we are the ones leading now, aren't we? We just need to adjust the offensive point outside in the next time, focusing on mid-range shots and three-pointers... ..."

"But Mr. Vogel, our team's strengths are not mid-range shots and three-pointers. Isn't it too risky to play like this?" David West, the oldest of the five starters, interjected and asked . "That's right, mid-range shots and three-pointers are indeed not our Pacers' strengths this season, but..." Frank Vogel flashed his eyes and replied: "Inside offense and basket scoring are our strengths Is it? NONONO~Our strongest point has never been scoring, but defense, defense, everyone~"

A word to awaken the dreamer.

Indeed, the Pacers averaged only 94+ points per game this season, ranking lower in the league.

But the average conceded points per game is no more than 90+. Besides the Grizzlies, who else can beat them?
So Frank Vogel's words are not wrong at all.

Seeing that the players understood, Frank Vogel smiled and said, "As long as we allow them to score fewer points and make outside shots, it's enough to keep the victory. Are you right?"

"That's right! Mr. Vogel!!!" The entire Pacers team burst into confidence.

In less than three years, a turbulent ordinary team can be exchanged, rebuilt, reorganized, reborn, and become the top three seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Frank Vogel's coaching ability is still extremely good.So his prestige in the Pacers is far greater than that of Mike D'Antoni in the Lakers.

This is also Frank Vogel's ideal team state, convincing and orderly.

It's a pity that the Lakers only scored 2 point in the 1 minutes just now. Kobe made 2 of 1 free throws and lost the best node to tie the score difference.Later, the Lakers were in huge trouble.

72-66, the score changed quietly from this place.

The Pacers have strengthened their overall defensive strength!
If it had been at the B level just now, it suddenly jumped to the A level, or even the A+ level.

This made the already weak offensive Lakers even worse and miserable.

This is the strength of a strong defensive team. They can strengthen their defensive strength at any time. For example, the current Lakers want to strengthen, but they can't do it. They can only play more and more chaotic.

The third consecutive ball hit the basket and went out!
The Lakers' field goal percentage is dropping sharply!
Tang Qian also felt great pressure. In the frequent physical confrontation, if he hadn't used a gold ability card, his physical fitness would definitely decline now, and his defensive state would be greatly reduced.The high-intensity confrontation at the starting level made Tang Qian's physical fitness more and more stretched.

Fortunately, now, there is no need to worry about this for the time being.

Tang Qian also put out 100% defensive focus, trying to make the Pacers' inside shots, all misfired.

But soon, he discovered the problem.

The offensive firepower of the Pacers has moved outward!
This is definitely not good news or good signal, because as a center forward, he can exert the greatest deterrent power only in the penalty area, and can "defend five with one". "Are.And in this way, there is a possibility of losing the protection of rebounds, which is not worth the candle.

The usual situation is okay, Tang Qian can make up for it, anyway, the offensive end has firepower protection, and he doesn't care about one or two rebounds.

However, the current Lakers, lacking Nash's needles to deliver shells, coupled with overall physical problems, have long since cooled down their firepower, which is greatly reduced.Against the fiercely defensive Pacers, every ball is more difficult to attack, which makes the score difference and expands virtually.

Obviously, trailing by 10 points against the Suns has a completely different meaning than trailing by 10 points against the Pacers.

The former is just difficult, the latter can make you desperate.

What is a defensive team? This season's Pacers are like that. The 10-point advantage is in their hands, which is enough to be like a chasm.

Concentrating on outside shots, of course the shooting rate will not be too high, and the Pacers are not a team known for shooting. During this period of time, the shooting rate did not exceed 30%, but they can't stand it... they can still score goals.

No matter how low the shooting percentage is, it can still score goals, right?And what about the Lakers?Within a few minutes, there was almost a misfire, and under the strong defense of the Pacers, they didn't score a single point.

And at this time, the game time is only 2 minutes and 15 seconds left.

77-66, the Lakers are still 11 points behind their opponents.

The situation is desperate enough.

Mike D'Antoni called a timeout, allowing the team to take a breather and rest, but that's all.

He has no magic, and he can't let the Lakers collectively recover their physical fitness, collectively improve their defense, and collectively explode.

This is the head coach's "area of ​​weakness".

In another minute, although Kobe of the Lakers forcibly rushed inside and scored 1 free throws, his physical fitness declined too much. Only 4 of the 4 free throws hit the Pacers' basket.

77-68, the Pacers led the Lakers by 9 points.

Tang Qian rushed out desperately and blocked Paul George's shot, but there were only 57 seconds left.

After Tang Qian got the ball, Mike D'Antoni's timeout application took effect immediately.

But the bright red score is dazzling.

Compared with the happy Pacers bench, the Lakers bench is silent.

The pressure on the Lakers this season is really too great. First, the halo added to the body, as if one person was under ten thousand, and then the halo broke, becoming the laughing stock of thousands of people. In the end, it was actually for a playoff spot. fight hard.The ups and downs, the endless rumors and gossip, and the intensified conflicts within the team have long exhausted all the soldiers of the Lakers, no, exhausted.The only belief that supports this team is the playoffs, making it to the playoffs!But now, tonight, at this moment, everything seems to be disillusioned.

Faith is gone.

All gone.

After losing this game, the Lakers were completely out of the playoffs.

Even Tang Qian was confused. In 57 seconds, what else could he do in the face of the terrifying Indiana Pacers?

Like some YY novels, wear underwear outside and transform into a superman?That is completely impossible in the real world.

Furthermore, he also resorted to a "trick", and the golden defense got stuck.

He also made the Pacers' fourth quarter shooting rate less than 30%.

He tried his best.

What else could he do?

Quickly chasing points in a short period of time?This is not something that a center forward can do!

It is not within the ability of the center.

So Tang Qian was also in trouble.

Mike D'Antoni, as the coach, still has to make a statement. He forcefully put away his disappointed expression, and comforted him: "Everyone has done a good job~ I see your hard work, and I am proud of you. It’s not entirely everyone’s fault that the team has become like this~ We don’t take advantage of the right time, place and people, so we just need to do our best in the process~”

The words that sounded consoling, actually fell into the ears of the Lakers soldiers, more like "the end of the season", as if to prove...they have finished this season.

It has ended.

Not reconciled, and it's useless.

To lose is to lose.

"Bryant, get off the game. You've worked hard for so long, and it's enough. No one will question your efforts." Mike D'Antoni had just finished speaking, and No. 24, who had been drinking sports drinks, suddenly spoke up. , said: "I don't end, there is still time, isn't it? The game is not over yet."

"Bryant, I understand your competitiveness, but..."

"No, McGrady could recover 35 points in 13 seconds, we still have 57 seconds, why not?" Kobe interrupted Mike D'Antoni's words: "And chasing 9 points and chasing 12 points, in terms of difficulty Totally different, isn't it?"

"Bryant, that's a situation that can only happen if God is touched. Didn't McGrady only happen once in his life? I know you are very unwilling, and I know everyone is very unwilling, but basketball is a competitive sport. Losing I lost, I lost, I lost, I lost!!!" Mike D'Antoni shouted very rarely, he had high hopes for himself and the Lakers this season?In addition, the NBA has always had the tradition of the head coach taking the blame, so his mental pressure is definitely not small.

It's just been suppressed and never exploded.

As the head coach of the team, you must never be discouraged or vented before the team members.

Therefore, D'Antoni has endured for too long.

After a few seconds of silence, Kobe threw away the drink cup in his hand, then stood up, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, go on stage."

"Play!"

PS: Thanks to Qin Rumeng and Hulu for their rewards, and thanks to Zhiqiu Yiye 1117, Liduxing, Kuangzhan Falling to the Ground, Jian Ai Wuhen, and Yaozhong Wang for their monthly tickets~
(End of this chapter)