Slam Dunk: My Study Abroad Career in Northern Hunan

Chapter 663: Open book exam? !
The Timberwolves face the Lakers at home.

This is already the fourth game between the Timberwolves and Lakers this season, and it is also the last meeting between the two teams in the regular season.

Lakers.

This team full of honors is one of the most watched teams in the NBA, and the Lakers have the most dominant center in the league, O'Neal. When the Lakers came to the Target Center Arena , which naturally brought media attention here.

The game between the Lakers and Timberwolves has attracted much attention from fans. It is a game between the first and third in the Western Conference. This kind of game between strong teams can attract not only ordinary fans, but also many other teams. The assistant coach will also find time to sneak in and watch the ball.

Halfway through the season schedule.

If the Timberwolves and Lakers continue to play according to their current record, as long as there are no injuries, it is almost certain that these two teams will enter the Western Conference playoffs.

For some ambitious teams, now is the time to take a good look at their opponents.

O'Neal of the Lakers and Martial Arts of the Timberwolves are both the top players in the league. If you want to defeat their team, you must find a way to defeat these two players first.

The strong encounter is a good opportunity for other teams.

Moreover, this game is different from the previous games between these two teams. O'Neal has recovered, and the Lakers' lineup for today's game can be regarded as the most perfect lineup for the team today.

On the other hand, the Timberwolves had a big battle with the Houston Rockets just the day before the game against the Lakers. Although they lost, the Timberwolves' leader still showed strong perimeter dominance.

Playing against the Lakers the day after the game against the Rockets, this back-to-back game intensity can simulate the playoffs to the greatest extent.

Only in such games can we see the quality of a player.

What kind of performance the Timberwolves will perform now that they have entered the playoffs, and whether the team's leader can maintain his condition during the high-intensity playoff schedule, some clues can be seen from today's game.

Players entered the stadium. Amid the cheers of the audience, players from the Timberwolves and Lakers entered the playing field one after another.

Coach Philip didn’t know what was going on today. He seemed a little distracted. From time to time, his eyes would look at Martial Arts, who was actively preparing for the game, and occasionally he would look at team owner Glen Taylor in the back row of the dugout. .

I don't know what he was thinking.

During the pre-game preparations, Philip did not encourage the players as usual. Instead, he waved slightly to Wu Dao. After Wu Dao approached him, he said to Wu Dao:

"Today's game, we have to play well."

"If you think there's a better chance of scoring, just play freely."

"The Lakers don't have the perimeter to restrict you."

"Of course, if your hand feels average today, then pass it on more and don't force it."

Phillip said earnestly to Wu Dao. Listening to his words, Wu Dao felt a little surprised.

Why did this coach suddenly change his gender?

In fact, there is a big difference between domestic basketball education and foreign basketball education. Domestic players are accustomed to listening to the coach's instructions to play. Whenever the game reaches a turning point, the players often dare not make their own decisions, and often need the coach to call a timeout and arrange the game. After a tactic, play according to the coach's instructions.

But there are too many turning points in a game.

A player from the opponent's team takes a shot and scores several goals in a row; the opponent's team explodes and hits the boards like crazy; or the team itself has no touch and fails to attack for many rounds in a row.

All of this can be regarded as a turning point in the game.

Although Budo is a player from Asia, his head coach was Coach Anzai when he was growing up in high school. Coach Anzai has a characteristic, that is, when the team's life and death are not at stake, he is used to letting the players on the field figure out their own solutions. Dilemma.

Coach Anzai is a player who gives his players plenty of freedom.

Then Budo entered Oak Hill High School as an overseas player. When he entered Oak Hill, he used a training game to establish his status on the team.

And Coach Smith is a results-oriented coach. He doesn't care whether the martial arts is reasonable or not, and what kind of method he uses to play. He only wants one thing, winning.

As long as you can win, you can play in any martial arts style, even those mindless three-pointers are not a problem.

This kind of growth experience has shaped the current style of martial arts.

The head coach that suits him is not a coach who is as comprehensive as those domestic coaches who have to talk about everything. What he needs is a coach with strong tactical literacy and tolerance, who only needs to remind him of martial arts at critical moments.

Although Philip is a coach in the United States, his coaching style is somewhat similar to that of domestic players, and he has a stronger desire for control.

Martial arts in the Timberwolves actually suppressed some of his previous playing habits.

Compared to when he was in high school, his playing skills are much more reasonable.

Phillip suddenly said these words to himself today, and Wu Dao couldn't help but think about it.

"What's wrong? Coach Phillip?"

"Does the team plan to make any tactical adjustments?"

Wu Dao asked with curiosity on his face, but he did not stupidly continue what Coach Phillip said.

"Tactical adjustment?"

"No, no."

"Martial Arts, you are the core of our Timberwolves' tactics."

"The whole team revolves around you!"

"You just have to remember that."

Coach Philip patted Wu Dao's arm gently, and in the face of Wu Dao's doubtful eyes, he raised his chin, indicating that it was time for Wu Dao to enter.

Seeing Coach Philip like this, Wu Dao didn't think much and turned around to go to his teammates. After a group of people gathered in a circle to encourage themselves, they entered the field.

After watching Wu Dao and others enter, Coach Philip sighed sadly, but he quickly cheered up, turned his head, and looked in the direction of Glen Taylor.

Glenn Taylor was sitting behind the Timberwolves' rest area. Although he did not hear all of the conversation between Philip and Wu Dao, he more or less heard some of the content. After noticing Philip's gaze, Glenn Taylor nodded slightly. , with a satisfied smile on his face.

The reason why Philip suddenly came to Wu Dao to say such things is also very simple, because the boss Glen Taylor personally left the game.

Excellent players and excellent coaches will have conflicts. This kind of thing is too common in the NBA.

Owner Glen Taylor had long heard from team executive chairman Kevin McHale about the minor conflict between Budao and Phillip.

The two people have some different ideas, and their conflicts are very restrained and there is no sign of intensification.

Because of this, Kevin McHale and Glen Taylor didn't pay much attention to these things before. But as Wu Dao performed better and better on the court, and even suppressed Jordan to win the MVP in the All-Star Game, Wu Dao's value was completely different from when he first joined the team.

Wu Dao is widely regarded by fans as an MVP-level player and a super star who has fulfilled his talent. If there are no injuries or other off-field factors, he will have the same mission as a cornerstone of any team he goes to.

In today's league, except for the Bulls who have a non-tradable item, other teams may be able to accept any conditions in order to pursue martial arts.
The friendly conversation between Wu Dao and Tang Shuai gave the Timberwolves' management a strong sense of crisis.

The relationship between players and teams is very delicate.

Rookies have to support the team management for fear of losing their jobs. But when they reach the level of martial arts, their relationship with the team is equal, and the players are even greater than the team.
"Wow—"

As players from the Timberwolves and Lakers entered the stadium, warm cheers erupted from the stands.

The Timberwolves' starting players are all old faces. In addition to Wu Dao, Garnett, Marbury, and Tom, the team's starting No. 5 player is the young Ben Wallace.

O'Neal is one of the most dominant inside players nowadays, and now he has reached his peak.

In order to fight against players like O'Neal, the value of these rough-and-tumble players in the league has skyrocketed one by one. Even those who are not skilled in skills can still get a contract from some teams.

Of course the Timberwolves also have someone like that, Stanley Roberts, a player who was once teammates with O'Neal in college.

He and O'Neal are still familiar with each other.

The Timberwolves signed a center who averaged 9.5 points and 5.1 rebounds last season just to be used as a human shield.

However, functional players need to be put in at the most appropriate time.

When O'Neal is playing at his hottest, asking Stanley Roberts to "interrupt him" is the correct way to use a meat shield player.

By the way, this thing is called the shark-killing tactic.

But in fact, O'Neal was not the first victim of this tactic. Chamberlain in the "ancient" era suffered such treatment.

For the Lakers, O'Neal is the starting center, and Eddie Jones, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Fisher are also on the court.

After the players from both teams entered the arena, standing in front of Martial Arts was his old rival Rick Fox.

Perhaps because the reputation of martial arts has greatly improved during this period, Rick Fox, who had never talked to martial arts in previous competitions, smiled kindly at martial arts, and then said:

"Hey, Budo, I watched your All-Star debut."

"It's awesome!"

“I deserve the title of MVP.”

"You have to be gentler today and don't make me look too bad."

Rick Fox seems to have a pretty good character, and he is one of the rare people to show kindness when facing Wu Dao, a yellow rookie.

Maybe it's because martial arts is different from before.
Now he is also a person with personal honor, neither big nor small, he is truly a "star".

How do you say that? When you are good, you are surrounded by good people.

"Competition, friendship first, competition second."

When Wu Dao heard this, he responded with a smile on his face. Wu Dao's attitude seemed very sincere, but in fact, he had no intention of holding back.

Just kidding, if friendship comes first, why compete? Wouldn't it be nice to have a party?
Players from both sides entered the court one after another, and Garnett and O'Neal stood on the center line to jump the ball.

As the referee blew the whistle, the basketball was moved to the Lakers' backcourt. O'Neal defeated Garnett and won the jump ball.

The Timberwolves began to retreat quickly. At the same time, Fisher quickly entered the frontcourt with the ball.

And just when Fisher was approaching the top of the arc, O'Neal sank into the low position. However, O'Neal had just revealed his intention to catch the ball. Garnett on the other side seemed to feel something and left the place.

At the same time that Garnett left the spot, Wallace, who had been struggling to prevent O'Neal from entering the basket, suddenly lost his strength and went around from behind O'Neal to the front of O'Neal, making a pass without the ball.

The two inside men of the Timberwolves put all their defensive focus on O'Neal.

"."

O'Neal was about to turn around and change positions when he suddenly felt a huge force coming from his back. He looked sideways and realized that Garnett had taken Wallace's original position, making it difficult for him to change positions.

Such a blatantly illegal defense made O'Neal hold his breath in his chest, and he couldn't say f**k.

The league's illegal defensive system still exists today.

It’s just that it’s too difficult to define. Generally speaking, there are very few calls in games. It’s very common for teams to double-team core players’ defensive tactics, but when everyone does this, they at least cover it up. The Timberwolves don’t even perform it at home.
Fisher, who was holding the ball at the top of the arc, couldn't just pass the ball to O'Neal. He could only pass the ball to Eddie Jones on the side.

Why was O'Neal always knocked down when facing teams like the Jazz and Spurs before Kobe Bryant grew up? It wasn't because O'Neal wasn't strong enough, it was just because the defense O'Neal faced was the same as what he is facing now. of.

In the two-on-one inside situation, all the other teammates were misfiring. The key was that there was no way to get the ball to O'Neal. This was what the Lakers feared the most.

It's not just the Lakers who are afraid. In fact, all the dominant single-core centers are afraid of this.

The players assisting O'Neal do not necessarily need an outside scorer like Kobe. With a power forward who has some independent offensive ability and a slightly longer range, this problem can be easily solved.

Boozer is enough. If there are one or two off-ball shooters on the outside, the Lakers can be said to be invincible.

It's just that most teams in the league don't pay attention to three-pointers, and their requirements for power forwards don't seem to pursue strong shooting attributes.

The Lakers currently have no such person.
No, as soon as O'Neal was flanked, the ball had to be given to Eddie Jones for an outside single.

The Lakers' offensive rotation was actually very routine. Rick Fox, who defended Wu Dao, went to assist in the pick-and-roll, and Fisher tried to cut through. Instead, Robert Horry pulled out and got an open opportunity.

Eddie Jones moved sideways under the cover of Rick Fox, and then faced Wu Dao after changing defense. Facing the imposing Wu Dao, Eddie Jones had no idea of ​​trying to attack Wu Dao, and quickly gave the ball to Wu Dao. Here comes Horry, who has reached the mid-range.

However, when the Lakers rotated the ball, Garnett quickly pulled out from the inside, and Ben also stood in front of O'Neal, cutting off the connection between the inside and outside.

Horry himself got a certain open space, and seeing Garnett coming, he chose to shoot himself.

He has a certain shooting ability and can even shoot three-pointers.

But the hit rate?
"Dang~~"

With a crisp sound of iron, the Timberwolves easily defended this round. The basketball jumped very far and was caught by Garnett.

As the basketball came out, everyone in the Timberwolves, who had easily defended this round, looked at Martial Arts with joy.

Why can the Timberwolves target O'Neal?
Because martial arts is an open-book exam!