From South China Tiger to NBA King

The Lakers requested a timeout and replaced their starting lineup.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Celtics replaced all the main players.

However, Danny Green did not get the chance to play this time, and Alexander was replaced.

Stevens is not a pedantic head coach. As an NCAA coach and an NBA coach, Stevens has always been very caring about rookies.

Last season, if it weren't for Stevens' absolute support for Jianghu, Jianghu wouldn't be able to become the team's top player so quickly.

Alexander was in very good shape in this game, and his continuous dunks on the court have shown him confidence. This period is when a player is at his peak, so there is no reason to replace him.

The game continues.

James, who had just returned to the court, immediately used his tank breakthrough and used a backhand layup to help the team tie the score.

In the remainder of the second quarter, the entire Celtics suddenly changed their tactics.

Everyone originally thought that the second half of the second quarter would be Jianghu's performance time.

But Stevens went against the norm and changed to a set of tactics with Alexander as the core.

Except for Alexander, a defender, everyone else is a forward with a height of more than two meters.

Under this style of play, Jiang Hu, Leonard, Gasol, and Horford have all become options to open up space.

Jiang Hu and Leonard's off-ball threats caused the entire Lakers defense to go into chaos. Alexander took advantage of this opportunity to steal chickens like crazy.

The person guarding him was Ball. He was much faster than Ball. Moreover, it was the first time for Ball to face him. He was not sure what his abilities were, so he made a crazy breakthrough.

Alexander is very smart. After he breaks through Ball, he does not go deep into the basket. Instead, he makes fuss in the mid-range, or passes the ball, or chooses to make a pull-up jump shot. Everyone else's attention is on Jianghu and Leonard. Didn't take him seriously.

He seized this opportunity and made 7 of 5 consecutive mid-range shots, scoring 11 points and 2 assists.

The Celtics' tactical choice caught the Lakers off guard.

They never expected that the Celtics would let this first-year rookie serve as the core when they have two superstars. This kind of courage is difficult for a rookie coach like Walton to understand, and it is even more difficult to decide.

At halftime, the Celtics led 67 to 55 by 12 points.

In the first half of the game, three Celtics players scored in double figures. Jiang Hu scored 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Leonard scored 19 points and 6 rebounds, and Alexander scored 15 points.

湖人这边，杜兰特拿到全场最高的26分3篮板1助攻，詹姆斯拿到17分5篮板7助攻。

As soon as the second half of the game started, the situation immediately changed dramatically.

The Celtics continued their tactics in the second quarter, but the Lakers changed the defensive matchup from Ball vs. Alexander in the first half to Durant vs. Alexander.

This change is definitely effective. Although Durant has never been selected for the defensive lineup in his career, when he gets serious, his defense is definitely on the outside.

In addition, his physical fitness is very abnormal. He is 213cm tall and has the speed of a defender. Although he suffered a serious injury that changed his career trajectory, his athletic ability has not declined terribly, but has remained the same. Among the top group in the league.

Coupled with his height, wingspan and defensive experience, he will definitely have a crushing effect against the first-year Alexander.

With Durant personally defending, Alexander made two consecutive mistakes in the offense and gave away the ball in vain twice.

Although Alexander made two mistakes, he was very frustrated.

But no one from the Celtics blamed him, and instead gave him a thumbs up.

Everyone knows that he is the future of the team, and in the process of cultivating him, he will definitely make the team pay the price due to his youth and inexperience.

Back to the game, for the Lakers, Ball, who was left open in the first half, was still not respected on the defensive end in the second half.

You made zero out of five shots. If you don't let me go, who will you let go?

However, Ball's touch also recovered in the second half and he hit two consecutive three-pointers, making the Celtics' choice pay the price.

The Celtics requested a timeout, and Stevens' decision was: continue to let Ball go. This is the strategy of this game and will not change. If he makes three consecutive three-pointers, he will return to normal defense.

After the timeout, Jianghu was not very lucky with his mid-range jump shot. It went into the basket and finally slipped out.

When the Lakers attacked, Ball was still left open, but he shot a three-pointer without hesitation. The basketball hit the backboard and finally bounced into the basket.

It's hard to say whether Ball's shot was due to his strength or luck, because when the shot was thrown, it seemed to be extremely deflected, but the final result was that he hit three consecutive three-pointers, and the Celtics We can only change the defense according to the coach's arrangements.

There is no doubt that when Ball is no longer left empty, the Lakers' offensive space is surprisingly good, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram , Brook Lopez, when Ball's three-pointers are normal, this is a top-five lineup. Ball, the shortest, is 2 meters tall, and everyone has good defensive abilities.

James suddenly felt that his breakthrough was extremely smooth, as if he had returned to the Heat era and became the all-powerful peak James.

But the current situation is different from his peak period. During his peak period, those guys with the same level or even higher level of game-determining ability as him have already passed their peak period.

James was very lucky at that time. He only met George, whose rookie contract had not yet ended. He had just entered his peak period and only knew Dewey, who played with talent, the elderly Duncan and the fledgling Leonard.

In his career, he has never encountered an opponent of this level.

In the following time, both of them played a ball-holding core style of play, occupying the ball in their hands and directing the entire team's advance and retreat.

During this period of time, James finally understood why the media called Jiang Hu the number one player in the league, instead of himself.

Because this guy is really too strong.

No better than not knowing, one is scared.

In just five minutes, both sides played with a big core holding the ball. Jianghu made 7 of 7 shots and 3 of 3 three-pointers, scoring 18 points and 3 assists.

And what about James?

His finishing at the basket is still his signature skill. The offensive efficiency of 6 of 5 under the basket is very high, but on the other hand, his three-pointers are not very good. He took three shots and shot 3 of 0. Transcript.

If compared to ordinary opponents, James' 9-for-5 shooting can still be considered a high shooting percentage, but compared with abnormal opponents, it is obviously incomparable.

With 4 minutes left in the third quarter, the Celtics' lead was once again narrowed from a very close 3 points to 13 points.

But how could the yellow-green battle be so simple?

Jiang Hu and others wanted to end the game as soon as possible, but the referee and the league would not agree. In the next round, Ingram held the ball in singles. He just made a feint outside the three-point line. Brown's hand only slightly collided with Ingram's hand, basically touching a hair. The referee immediately blew the whistle in his mouth without hesitation.

Amid the boos from the audience, Ingram withstood the pressure and made 3 free throws.

The next round was even more classic. Jianghu had just dribbled the ball past half court and was about to make a move when he heard a scream of "Ah", and then the referee announced an offensive foul against the Celtics.

Only when Jiang Hu watched it on the big screen did he realize how classic the moment that just happened was.

James put his hand on Leonard's shoulder. Leonard was about to run, so he pushed James. It was clear at a glance that this was definitely a very normal confrontation, and it happened countless times in every game.

But this time, it was different.

James, an old fox, seemed to know the alliance's intentions and directly cooperated with the performance.

The moment Leonard pushed him, he exaggeratedly fell backwards with a huge scream. Almost at the moment he said "ah", the referee's whistle sounded simultaneously with the action, like a tacit understanding. A couple who have known each other for many years and are very loving.

James, who is known as "I never dive", once again contributed his great performance in front of the world.

Looking back, the three free throws Ingram just got seemed to give him unimaginable confidence. In this round, he actually chose to directly ask James for the ball.

After receiving the ball, Ingram did not hesitate. After a cross over, he chose to shoot a three-pointer with the ball.

"Brush~"

The basketball hit again, and the point difference that had just opened to 7 points was narrowed to points again.

Looking back, Jianghu broke through to the basket and caused Lopez's foul.

However, Jianghu's touch fluctuated this time, and he only made one of two free throws.

The Lakers attacked, James chose a super long three-pointer three steps away from the three-point line, and the basketball once again plunged into the basket.

The Celtics were 95 to 90, and the point difference was pulled back to 5 points.

Speaking of James, this guy is really quite perverted. Three steps outside the three-point line, he can actually shoot a three-pointer in a normal mid-range shot. There are probably not many people in the league who can do that. .

In the last three minutes of the third quarter, the defenses of both teams began to engage in crazy physical confrontations.

At such a wonderful moment, the referee did not come out to steal the show, but acquiesced to this level of confrontation.

At the end of the third quarter, the score between the two teams remained at 101-96.

The fourth quarter officially begins, Stevens and

Luke Walton has a tacit understanding and puts into the strongest lineup at the same time.

Obviously, both teams are very important to this game. They both know that their opponents may start first at this time to establish the final advantage, and then start in the starting lineup at the same time with a tacit understanding.

Leonard was forced to stay on the court. He only rested for 3 minutes at the beginning of the second quarter and played for 33 minutes. He scored 28 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. There is no doubt that he is the Celtics leader. One of the reasons.

The main reason why the Celtics were able to suppress the Lakers in this game was because of Leonard's defense of James.

His defense of James alone has the effect of assisting defense and flanking by other teams, keeping James' shooting percentage at only about 5%.

This is something that is difficult for other teams to do. If they try to defend James alone, they will often be punished by James' breakthrough. Then they are forced to choose to help defend and delay, and then they are beaten by Du, who has excellent shooting skills. Lant had a huge headache.

James' breakthroughs with the ball and air cuts without the ball are all firmly controlled by Leonard. The only path left for James is shooting. If James' touch was not good, the Lakers might be further behind on the court. many.

Back to the game, the first offense of the fourth quarter belonged to the Lakers, and Jianghu started to play with the ball on their own.

The Lakers have changed three defenders to defend Jianghu in this game. Ball, James, and Ingram have all tried it. In the fourth quarter, Walton asked Durant to defend Jianghu.

Jianghu held the ball in the right corner and changed direction to the left. He used his speed to get rid of Durant's 50-degree emergency stop and made a mid-range shot. The ball went hollow into the net!

Celtics 103-96 Lakers.

Starbuckley, the former giant who commented on this game, lamented: "Jiang is so strong. He can score continuously without being double-teamed by his opponents. He has now scored 47 points, and I don't feel how tired he is. Moreover, the Lakers players don't seem to double-team him." I thought, guarding him this way will definitely lead to a high score today."

O'Neill said:

"The most terrifying thing about Jiang Hu this season is not the beautiful statistics, but the extremely high shooting percentage. All of his shooting percentages are basically among the top 10 in the league, and the overall shooting percentage is even higher than the shooting percentages of most inside players."

Returning to the defensive end, Jianghu started to release Ball again, and he moved two meters away and retreated to the penalty area to prepare for rebounds.

Ball received a pass from James in the right corner and made a three-point jumper. There was no interference from Jianghu and the ball went in again.

Celtics 103-99 Lakers.

Stevens gently held his lower scar with his hand, looking thoughtful.

He had already said in the third quarter that if Ball scored consecutive goals, he would not let it go, but Jianghu still let it go.

He wanted to run to the sidelines and gossip, but he still endured it.

Because he knows that Jianghu will most likely not let him down in the end.

The Celtics attacked quickly, Jianghu moved up the line from the right corner, but received the pass and had no chance to make a direct shot. Leonard pulled outside the three-point line as a screen. Jianghu took the ball and turned to the center to make a jumper for a three-pointer, getting rid of Durant and avoiding Lopez's block.

This time he missed the shot slightly and the ball bounced out of the frame.

Ingram grabbed the rebound for James to launch a counterattack.

James dribbled the ball across half court and passed it to Ball, who was actively taking fast breaks. The latter held the ball and faced Horford's defense and forced a layup. He was slapped down by Horford at the basket.

Ball's offensive choices were terrible. He had just made an open three-pointer, and he felt that he could make it this time.

He also didn't think about the other person's physical qualities and was blindly confident.

(End of this chapter)