From South China Tiger to NBA King

Chapter 118 Staples Variations.

Celtics 6: 6 Lakers.

The Lakers continued to attack, Ball directly forced the speed, Jiang Hu rushed over and hit him with his chest, which made him lose his balance, and he had to slow down again and pass the ball to his teammates.

It was Ingram again who received the ball at the top of the free throw line. His shoulders continued to shake and tried to trick Brown. Brown had watched many of his games and was familiar with his offensive style, so he was not at all moved.

Ingram had no choice but to force a breakthrough with the ball. Brown resisted him head-on. Smart rushed over and hit a knife with his right hand. Ingram lost control of the basketball.

"Quick attack."

Needless to say, it has been two months since the game, the tacit understanding between Jianghu and his teammates is no longer what it used to be, and he immediately switched from defense to offense.

Smart sprinted quickly with the ball, and he was already confident when he came to the frontcourt.

Ball couldn't keep up with Jianghu's speed without the ball. Jianghu left him far behind in three steps and two steps.

Coming to the basket, Smart throws the ball high, Jianghu leaps high, catches the ball and turns 180° after taking off, with his back to the basket and vigorously smashes the ball into the basket.

"Bang~"

Jianghu's vigorous smashing of the basket forced the basket to make a loud noise, and the shape of the entire basket was also pulled to deformation.

"Hmm~"

Jianghu hung his hands on the basket, then let go of his right hand and pointed to the famous Lakers Kobe who was watching the game from the sidelines.

The Celtics 8:6 the Lakers, overtaking the score.

This is a tribute to the engraving of a wave of classic moves, with the back and hands behind the back, the favorite dunk move of No. 8 Kobe in his youth.

Bryant stood up and applauded, showing a relieved smile again.

Jianghu jumped from the basket and was booed by Staples again.

"Nice, good shot!!"

Sophia was also sitting on the sidelines, she was very excited, dancing and dancing.

Other fans on the sidelines showed puzzled expressions.

"Is she Sophia? I remember she was a Lakers fan since she was a child?"

"Damn it, she rebelled and was taken away by that guy from the east."

ESPN's Bill Walton said: "Beautiful dunks, Jianghu is in Staples, under the witness of Kobe, he re-enacted a wave of his classic dunks, but the wonderful dunks from the deadly enemy did not satisfy the Lakers fans. The booing is the best proof, Luke needs to use his slow-response brain to think about how to restrict Jiang, otherwise the Lakers fans will not let him go after the game."

The camera showed Wharton, he was still sitting peacefully on the bench, with a calm appearance, sitting on the Diaoyutai unmoved.

As a disciple of the Zen master, his philosophy contains the thoughts of the Zen master, stressing governance by doing nothing, and emphasizing the exploration of the potential of players.

It is not called a timeout, it is just to exercise the players' resilience, which is very reasonable.

Looking back, Wharton's system of "egalitarianism" came into play.

Ingram made a mistake once, so he won't be able to continue to attack with the ball in a short time.

Ball gave the ball to the big black bull Randall.

Randall held the ball in and encountered a delay from Morris Jr., and he passed the ball to Lopez on the outside.

Lopez shot from outside the three-point line, and Horford's interference was average. When Lopez had a good hand, he was also undefendable, but fortunately, his hand was average, and the basketball hit the back frame.

Jianghu received the rebound, turned around and directly forced a three-pointer against Ball's defense from outside the three-point line.

Celtics 11 to 6 Lakers.

The rivers and lakes feel pretty good, and the Lakers may suffer today.

After the goal, Jiang Hu pointed at Kobe with his finger, and then hammered his chest.

Hubie Brown said: "Oh, we already knew that Kobe was Jiang's favorite player before he entered the NBA. It seems that today's game also has extra motivation for him."

Bill Wharton still pointed his finger at his son: "Luke still hasn't seen Jiang's offensive resoluteness today. If he doesn't adjust his defensive strategy, he will pay the price for it."

For his son's coaching, he actually has a positive attitude, but he hopes that Wharton can become a master who is truly proficient in tactics, rather than a chicken soup coach.

As soon as Bill Walton finished speaking, Lakers coach Luke Walton, who had been sitting quietly on the sidelines, stood up, came to the sidelines, and called out the first timeout of the game.

It’s impossible to say that the Lakers don’t want to win. Even in a bad season, they will still go all out against the Celtics. What’s more, their lineup has a good talent now, and they have a chance to win .

After the timeout, Walton began to test the pressure on the players, asking them to strengthen their defensive pressure and improve their rhythm.

"Defensive counterattack, defensive counterattack!!"

"Put those words in your head, guys."

"We can't win the game without defense, without defense, the green jerseys are going to tear us apart!!"

He kept emphasizing the importance of defense, and at the same time made adjustments to the position.

After the game continued, the Lakers played a hand-to-hand screen. Randall imitated Green's appearance and made a false screen for Pope, and then took the ball to the penalty area to score a throw.

Celtics 11 to 8 Lakers.

The rough and thin is about a player like Randall. How can a striker who is proficient in throwing shots not be able to practice shooting? His future is actually foreseeable, but Walton likes to let him substitute for Kuzma, which eventually led to the Lakers. The player is lost.

The Celtics attacked, and the player on the other side of the river and lake was no longer Ball but Ingram.

Obviously, the strategy of using Ball to defend the world has failed, and this is the adjustment Wharton made.

Ingram, who is 203cm tall and has a wingspan of 221cm, may have a better defensive effect.

"Ha ha."

Seeing that the defender in front of him changed from Ball to Ingram, Jianghu was a little surprised at first, and then showed an indescribable mysterious smile.

The Celtics attacked, and the Lakers fans and commentators instantly noticed a new change in the situation on the court.

Bill Wharton said in surprise:
"Oh, with no instructions from Coach Brad, Jiang Hu took the initiative to signal to slow down the pace. He is going to catch the ball in the low post and play BI (Brandon Ingram, BI). This seems to be a very smart choice. In terms of weight, he has a big advantage over BI."

Hubie Brown said: "Yes, Jiang's position is small forward. As long as he can score, he can use any offensive method. I don't think Coach Stevens has any objections."

Jianghu came to the low post to catch the ball, Ingram blocked him from behind, Smart on the wing gave the ball to Jianghu, went to the bottom corner by himself, distracted the defense, and ensured that Jianghu could play singles.

Jianghu began to hold the ball backwards, and hit twice in a row while moving his feet, knocking Ingram off balance.Taking advantage of this effort, Jianghu turned around towards the left baseline and made a fallback jumper.

His legs are in the shape of scissors, and his whole body is leaning back at 30°. He is chic and elegant, with a picturesque beauty. His fingertips are like dancing, and he gently sends the basketball to the basket.

"Shu~"

Jianghu's picturesque jumper hit.

Celtics 13 to 8 Lakers.

Bill Wharton couldn't help shouting:
"O'Sheater, this damn jumper is so beautiful and smooth!!"

Hubie Brown praised: "His hand stability is still lacking, but it is smooth enough. I thought that no one would have such standard footsteps and fadeaway jumpers after Jordan Kobe."

Post-up singles + fadeaway jumper.

The offensive method that Los Angeles Lakers fans are all too familiar with is the most famous offensive method of Kobe Bryant, the best singles offensive player after Jordan.

How can it be?

Whether it is a fan or an expert, at this moment, I can't believe my eyes, because the main reason why some tricks in the NBA are becoming more and more rare is that they are difficult to practice. Footsteps + back and back jump shots are not ordinary offenses. Tricks, except Kobe and Jordan, who can combine footsteps and fadeaways so perfectly?

What's more, the current guy is just a young man who has just turned 19 and less than 3 months old, and his future has infinite possibilities.

"Made, it's getting dark!!"

A Lakers fan wearing a Kobe jersey held his forehead irritably and couldn't help but complain.

Such a young talent who may dominate the league in the future, the Lakers had the opportunity to get him, but they passed by.

Now he has been selected by the sworn enemy Celtics and has become the cornerstone of their dynasty revival. This feeling of loss is worse than being stabbed in the back.

After the fallback jump shot was hit, Jiang Hu opened his arms and flew the glider gracefully while retreating. When he walked to Kobe's side, he gently touched his bald head.

Kobe was stunned for a second, then he smiled dumbly and gave Jianghu his thumb.

Kobe was not angry about the groping in Jianghu, because before Jordan retired, he also did this kind of thing to Jordan. He regarded this as a kind of inheritance of sympathy, not rudeness.

This trick is really difficult, Jianghu can't maintain a high efficiency with this trick, because it takes too much physical strength to throw the whole person in the air and shoot backwards, so that the whole game is played like this.

In the next game, Jianghu made 5 consecutive fadeaway jump shots and hit 3 times.

The Lakers have finally begun to change their defensive strategy for Jianghu. Once Jianghu comes to the low position, what awaits him is a two-person attack.

Jianghu quickly punished the Lakers' defense with a pass.

Before the end of the first quarter, Jianghu staged an even more incredible performance. He was flanked by Ball and Ingram and the referee did not call for a foul and lost his balance. He passed the ball across the baseline from the left corner It was given to Jaylen Brown in the right corner. Brown shot with open hands, and hit a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer, ending the first quarter.

Hubie Brown said: "The Celtics played a three-dimensional offense. Jianghu used his personal appeal to make a point to revitalize the team."

Bill Walton sighed and said: "Only those who can be regarded as the real core players in Jianghu. The current Lakers have talent but no real core. They should establish a core, whether it is Lonzo or Brandon or Randall can do it, even if he can't play the effect of Jianghu, it will be much better than it is now."

At the end of the first quarter, Jianghu played 12 minutes and led the Celtics to a 33-23 lead.

他个人12投9中，砍下了19分3篮板4助攻，效率高的吓人。

In the second quarter, the Lakers made a change. Walton let Ball go off the court early with 3 minutes left in the game, just to let him lead the bench in the second quarter.

Kuzma and Ball on the bench are a perfect match. Since the start of the season, Ball has given him 36 assists per 3.5 minutes.

The tacit understanding between the two has been extraordinary since the summer league, and after arriving in the NBA, it has reached a new level.

In the second quarter, the Lakers sent Ball, Jordan Clarkson, Corey Brewer, Kyle Kuzma, and Ivica Zubac to the lineup.

This lineup revolves entirely around Ball's passing ability. Except that Clarkson has a certain ability to attack independently, Brewer, Kuzma, and Zubac are all types of receiving the ball and launching offense. Ball can play at will.

This formation of troops is undoubtedly a successful show operation by Wharton.

In the first half of the second quarter, Ball received 6 assists in a row, and the long pass from the backcourt assisted Zubac and Kuzma to score consecutively. Brewer also played an iconic layup to help the Lakers catch up. Points difference.

With 6 minutes left in the second quarter, Jianghu appeared again. At this time, the Lakers, who were behind by double digits in the first quarter, were about to tie the score on the court.

Celtics 45 to 42 Lakers.

In the second quarter, the lineup sent by the Celtics also amazed everyone.

Jianghu, Brown, Morris Jr., Horford, Baines.

Everyone's height is 2 meters, so it's a big lineup, but it's not too big. The tallest Baynes is only 01cm, and the small lineup is not too big. After all, Jaylen Brown, the shortest, also has 208cm.

The Lakers are: Tyler Ennis, Jordan Clarkson, Ingram, Kuzma, Zubac.

Bill Walton said: "The Celtics sent a five-forward lineup with a quick rotation, and the position of Jianghu was lowered to the point guard. This is a bold operation. Let's see if it can bring miraculous results."

Tyler Ennis, who is 185cm tall, fell into a state of bewilderment when he watched the defender in front of him turn into a quack.

He had a bad premonition, the Celtics 11 showmanship definitely did not come blindly, but came prepared.

He looked at Celtics coach Stevens with incredible eyes, as if saying:
"Brother, are you serious? Let him play point guard."

Stevens also saw Ennis' gaze, and raised his eyebrows slightly, meaning:
"You read that right buddy, he's our point guard."

In the first round after returning, Ennis suffered a solid loss. He wanted to break through Jianghu from the bottom line, but was forced to stop by Jianghu's physical confrontation. After losing his balance, he wanted to throw the ball on Jianghu and went out of bounds. Knowing that Jianghu's reaction speed is faster than him, he threw the ball over, and Jianghu grabbed it with both hands, and then quickly switched from defense to offense.

Although the Celtics lineup is relatively larger than the Lakers, they are not bad at all in terms of flexibility. The five two-meter-high men are all tall and muscular. The impact is definitely not bad.

Especially the Lakers have 185cm Ennis and 195cm Clarkson on the field, and Brewer who is as thin as a monkey but has a "warm and innocent" smile, which makes the Celtics' lineup look even more fierce up.

Jianghu dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and Horford and Baynes yelled towards the basket, which immediately attracted the defensive attention of all Lakers players.

Morris Jr. made a pick-and-roll for Brown at the top of the arc. Jianghu directly transferred the ball in a wide range, and passed it from a 45-degree angle on the left to Brown, who was running in the bottom corner on the right.

Celtics 48 to 42 Lakers.

Back on the offensive end, Ennis once again faced Ball's dilemma, that is, he couldn't break through the defense of Jianghu at all.

Jianghu's defense is not top-notch. His defensive experience and willingness are at the upper reaches of the league at most, and he is not yet at the level where he can be ranked in the best defensive team.

But if you want him to guard players who are one size smaller than him, then he feels overwhelming.

The Celtics set up a 3-2 defensive formation. Ennis couldn't get in and gave the ball to Ingram. Ingram also failed to break through Morris Jr. and could only carry out more difficult on-the-spot interventions. Pull up the shot.

The basketball bounced out of the frame. When Baynes was stuck, he used his weight to squeeze Zubac away. Horford faced Kuzma and easily accepted the backcourt rebound.

Jianghu held the ball again and threw it directly forward. Brown caught the ball and quickly broke through to the basket, which once again attracted the defensive attention of the three Lakers. After stopping the ball, he threw it behind him. Two steps is a dunk. 50 to 42.

"Beautiful, Jianghu is another empty-cut dunk."

"Whether it's a threat with the ball in hand or without the ball, Jianghu's tactical deterrence is top-notch. If you relax a little bit, he can cause tons of damage to you."

It was the Lakers' turn to attack, and the ball was given to Ingram to let him attack the zone defense. Who knew that Stevens on the sidelines came near the center line, put his thumb and index finger in his mouth and blew a whistle, the Celtics Man immediately changed his defensive style.

Full-court press + double-team ball handler.

The rivers and lakes ignored Ennis, rushed over to encircle Morris Jr., and instantly wrapped Ingram into a meat clip.

"BI wanted to pass the ball to Kuzma in the bottom corner. The ball was tapped by Morris Jr. in the air, and Jiang Hu rushed over to grab the ball."

"Jiang, push the speed and play transition, it's another fast break, Jianghu directly pulls out from outside the three-point line!!"

"No, but the Celtics protected the rebound, and Zubac had just reached the three-point line, and Jianghu had already shot."

"Horford got the rebound and passed it to Jiang outside."

"Jiang never doubted his touch, and once again decisively shot a three-pointer, but unfortunately he still didn't!!"

Missing two shots in a row is Mamba.

"but!!"

"This time Jiang grabbed the rebound himself, hit the basket and made a layup."

"This is the advantage of the Celtics' lineup. They can play a lineup with both mobility and height, and the Lakers can't match it at all."

Celtics 52 to 42 Lakers.

The game continued, and the Lakers attacked again. This time Ingram's breakthrough caused Brown's defensive foul.

Due to non-shooting fouls, the Lakers did not make free throws, but Walton took advantage of this opportunity to switch back to the opening lineup, Ball, Pope, Ingram, Randall, Lopez.

After this lineup was brought up, the Lakers finally did not suffer in terms of height.

However, the Celtics' defensive strategy also adjusted quickly. The change still came from the point of view of the rivers and lakes. He gave up the outside marking of Ball and double-teamed others, and only defended the pass for Ball.

This is the sorrow of a guard who does not shoot in this era. He can be emptied at will, but he cannot punish the opponent's defense.

Stevens clasped his arms, turned his eyes to the opposite head coach Walton, and said silently in his heart: "What kind of point guard is yours, and what kind of point guard is mine? Is it at the same level? I fight, have you ever fought?"

Stevens' complaints are not without reason.

The execution of any tactic, and the final result, still depends on the players' on-the-spot operations. No matter how good the tactic is, it cannot be played without good players.

Players and tactics, no one is better than the other, excellent players with appropriate tactics, the effect must be 1+1>2.

The gap in personal ability between Jianghu and Ball is doomed that no matter how the head coaches of the two teams adjust, the Celtics can take advantage of it and have a fairly free initiative.

Sure enough, in the next game, Ball failed to make two consecutive outside shots, but the Celtics were treated defensively after a breakthrough.

Jianghu broke through with the ball and plunged into the crowd.

All the Lakers fans at Staples couldn't help but widen their eyes and straighten their necks. They were very much looking forward to seeing Jianghu fall into a siege and then lose the ball.

However, the result disappointed them.

Jianghu is like a "master of dance forest", dribbling the ball silkily, like a dancer dancing a gorgeous waltz, turning around casually and gracefully in the crowd, and then floating in the air, flinging the ball freely like a dart into the hands of open teammates on the perimeter.

Morris Jr. and Jaylen Brown are both beneficiaries of Jianghu. Both of them moved actively and got a good chance to shoot. into their hands.

Before halftime, the Celtics responded to the Lakers with a wave of 12 to 0, widening the point difference to 15 points.

Celtics 57 to 42 Lakers.

Jianghu scored 17 points, 11 rebounds and 24 assists on 7 of 9 shots in just half the game. Whether it is efficiency or taking into account both individuals and teams, Jianghu's performance is impeccable.

同为一届新秀的鲍尔，却投出了8投1中的丢人命中率，3分6篮板7助攻的数据。

Ball was disappointed.

Everyone is a rookie, you are just one pick higher than me, I admit, you played very well in the Chinese league, but I did not play badly in the NCAA.

Why can you adapt to the NBA so quickly and even improve, but I can't get back the kind of perfect shooting I had in college?
I'm almost a full year older than you! !
Bauer was very depressed, and he wanted to take revenge very much.

But he is not good at irritating others with trash talk and small moves, so he had to choose to speak with basketball, but the sad thing is: in the competition of basketball, he seems to lose even worse.

There is a high probability that Bauer will never understand why Jianghu can become so strong in such a short period of time.

After all, no one would believe such a thing as cheating, right?
(End of this chapter)