The Road to Stardom: Start as a Slam Dunk Master.

Chapter 349 G2 begins!
After the main forces of both sides were gone, some problems could still be seen.

Speaking of which, the Lakers' overall lineup may indeed be poor based on data alone.

Throughout the regular season, except for the three absolute main players, O'Neal, Kobe and Fisher, who had relatively good statistics, no one else scored in double figures.

The best-performing small forward Fox, as the team's No. 3, only averages 9 points per game, while Devin George, who is ranked below, only averages 6.9 points per game, but he is already No. in the Lakers' scoring list. Five people.

Further down, including the main power forward Samaki Walker, he only averaged 4.4 points per game, and the other substitutes only averaged 1-3 points per game.

Looking at the data alone, it is indeed a big difference compared to the SuperSonics' substitutes. After all, the SuperSonics' running and gunning and rotation this season have allowed most of the substitutes to average at least 4 points per game. Understand that data is not everything.

This is a training opportunity, so even in garbage time, both sides are running tactics, but without the guidance of Lin Dong and Payton, the substitutes' performance on the court can't see the slightest trace of running and gunning. The defensive end just pursues speed, and the defensive end just presses hard. It looks very fierce, but in fact there is no essence of running and gunning and rotation defense. The overall situation is messy, personal strength is not outstanding, and there are many mistakes.

Earl Watson, whom the Sonics originally planned to train, has actually been disappointing overall this season. He is not very suitable for run-and-gun tactics. The team actually gave him a lot during the regular season. He had the opportunity to lead the team in garbage time, but he was completely overwhelmed. The entire second half relied almost entirely on center Pedrague to guard the basket, and Iguodala's pretty good 3-pointers were able to barely resist the Lakers. attack.

On the other hand, the Lakers, without sharp players like Payton, Lin Dong, and Hanamichi Sakuragi, can tear apart the formation. It is still quite easy to simply play the triangle offensive system. More importantly, the experience of the Lakers players is obviously better than that of the Super League. The speed of sound is a whole new level.

After all, this Sonics is still too young. The first-year and second-year players, among the substitutes besides Pedrague, the only one with some usefulness, Vin Baker, have already lost their playing time in the second half of the season due to lack of playing time. He was involved in a trade dispute and broke up with the team. His contract happened to end during this summer's market. It seems that he will probably jump out of the player contract and seek a new club as a free agent. Therefore, there is no need for such garbage time. Let him go up and waste precious training opportunities.

Payton smiled, patted his chest, and didn't say much, but everyone could see his confidence and desire to win from his face.

But to be honest, only by trying it personally can I know that Lin Dong understands that he actually does not have the ability to truly defeat the two of them.

Payton stared at Kobe when Kobe was on the court, and the effect was quite good. He prevented the shooting guard, who was already among the top scorers in the league, from shooting 30% and scoring in single digits.

In terms of offensive ability alone, Lin Dong may be considered the strongest in the NBA currently, and he is also young enough. As for his outside...

As for the others, Earl Watson and Vladimir can only remain on the watch list. As for the others, they are all directly on Bob's trade list.

Bob is a shrewd manager who also understands football. While the team and the fans in the home stadium were celebrating the victory, he had already silently recorded a lot of things in his notebook...

Of course, the operation of the team is only a matter for Bob as the team manager, and it is impossible to show any emotions to let the players know.

To put it bluntly, the ability is not enough to crush the OK combination. If Payton hadn't been desperately trying to help him stop Kobe, the tactics of forcing O'Neal away would not have been so smooth.

Since there was only one day between G1 and G2, the team only did some simple training the next day. Basically, they gathered together to run, shoot a few shots to find the feel, and then mainly focused on the tactics for the second game. Team-wide discussions on arrangements, changes, etc.

Frankly speaking, only the Sonics themselves know that this guy is still hiding it!
Everyone looked towards Lin Dong, but Lin Dong just smiled and nodded.

That 2+1 is already a bit forced for me, and the extraordinary performance also involves a bit of luck. That kind of ball only appears a few times in a game. Even if you are allowed to replicate it under the same conditions, it may not be guaranteed. It can be done.

Now that they have easily won their first victory, this is when the team's confidence has greatly increased and they are united. The atmosphere in the team is so good that even Desmond, who secretly competed with Sakuragi for the starting spot some time ago, is optimistic about the game. Great enthusiasm.

"It's still the same style of play as before, with Payton responsible for blocking Kobe."

Almost everyone else is on the list he wants to replace.

Needless to say, Wen Baker, with his current relationship with the team, will definitely test the free market by himself after the playoffs. This is tantamount to a waste of team assets, and it is currently irreparable.

It is true that this can give Sonics teammates more confidence in themselves and motivate them to move forward in many cases.

The current substitutes trained by the team's main force are too young and inexperienced. They can barely rotate when Lin Dong and Payton are on the court, but they do not have the ability to fight tough battles and cannot be entrusted with important tasks.

For the players, the more important thing is the second game.

It's not a bad thing if the enemy misjudges his own strength, but it's not necessarily a good thing if his teammates misjudge too.

I have too much aura...especially the G1 duel against Kobe and O'Neal, which not only shocked my Sonics teammates and fans, but may have even made the entire league recognize me again.

The regular season scoring champion, ranking among the best rookies in history, he can even face Kobe and O'Neal in a one-on-two, and even score a 2+1.

The final score was fixed at 88:112.

Anyone who knows football knows that as the true backbone of the current Sonics, Payton is worthy of the title of the uncrowned king of the Sonics and is also the true core figure of the current Sonics defense.

The soul of the Sonics doesn't ask for data at all now, and he may not even ask for FMVP. He just wants to win a championship with his own hands!
"Lin Dong is responsible for offensive organization and key ball handling. O'Neal, who has adjusted his mentality and has also followed the team to review the game, will be more alert and will not be so easily fouled. We have to compete with them to score points. More It’s going to be a tough battle to create damage on the outside.”

Thanks to the successful use of psychological warfare to split the OK combination in the first game, it not only made everyone's first victory extremely easy, but more importantly, it hid the contents of the package that the Sonics had prepared for the Lakers before the game.

Desmond was actually pretty good, but due to the rise of Sakuragi Hanamichi in the second half of the schedule, his strong ability to make up for mistakes allowed him to gradually become the team's starter. This made Desmond dissatisfied, and he still had one year left on his contract. It only expires in 2018, but if you consider that after the contract expires, the dissatisfied Desmond may follow Wen Baker's example and jump out of the player contract to seek the free market.

After all, regardless of whether he can stay with the SuperSonics next year, winning against the Lakers in this series will at least be an invisible improvement to his worth.

This kind of garbage time training is of great significance. It is to discover the hidden and potential problems of the team and find room for improvement. You cannot just point to a few main players and build a dynasty.

"But first, G2 is still our home court, and we have the home court advantage and the advantage of a big lead. Second, even if Shaq corrects his mentality and reunites with Kobe, the chemistry between them will not be the same because of the previous estrangement. The reaction will not be strong immediately, so we still have the advantage in momentum and mentality, so we can take advantage of the victory. ”

And he also had to organize the team's offense when Lin Dong was pressed by Kobe. When Kobe was not on the court, Payton was responsible for blocking the Lakers' perimeter. He had 4 blocks and 5 steals in a single game. His defensive contribution was no less than that of Lin Dong. At his peak, the 34-year-old veteran basically did all the dirty work alone, but he gave up all the scoring and limelight to Lin Dong.

"As for the defensive end inside..." McMillan looked at Chandler and Sakuragi Hanamichi, as well as Pedrague and Vladimir: "20 fouls and 40 free throws are enough for that big shark to drink a pot. ! Haha, just be careful not to get kicked off the field."

…………

It's a double-edged sword...

However, the enemy's attacks on you will inevitably increase exponentially. Once you encounter a situation where you are unable to cope with it, the faith you have built for your teammates will also collapse, and the attacks on them will be doubled. Confidence.

The main players had a 44-point deficit at the end of the game, but the Lakers' bench made up much of the deficit. In the end, they only lost by 24 points.

Except for the top five players in the team who have already secured their starting positions, the only one who is really available is Pedrague, and the only one who is available and worthy of training is Iguodala.

No matter what plans everyone on the team has for their future, they obviously have a high degree of unanimous approval when it comes to stopping the Lakers, a team that has won three consecutive championships.

This also made this tactical arrangement extremely easy.

McMillan said with a smile: "I saw Shaq's expression in the second half, and it felt like he had come to his senses. Coupled with a day of calmness and the team's psychological work, the Lakers will return to normal in the second game. "

He has already done this in G1. On the surface, Payton's statistics may not look very good, but in fact, Payton's contribution to the victory in G1 is not inferior to Lin Dong's.

Therefore, in order to get the maximum value for the team, it is best to use him as much as possible during this playoff period, let him gain some value, and then trade him in the summer trading market to exchange for some valuable chips.

"No problem!" Sakuragi Hanamichi was so excited that he was the first to chirp and agreed: "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

"Don't be too confident." McMillan said with a smile: "You are the shortest and lightest, and you have to be fierce when fouling Shaq, otherwise he can hang you for a layup. When that guy rushes up, he looks like a prehistoric giant. Beast, it’s not as easy as you think.”

"Look down on me." Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately rolled up his sleeves to show off his biceps: "It's not like I didn't face him in the last game. If he tries to hang me, I'll definitely pull him down!"

Everyone laughed, and Payton pinched his apprentice's muscles and teased him: "Not bad, he's a bit as hard as I was back then."

"Tsk! Lao Pei, I'm obviously tougher than you, okay!" Sakuragi said unconvinced.

"What are you talking about!" Others laughed loudly: "As the only virgin in the team, if you are not as tough as the boss, then you will be in trouble in the future..."

Sakuragi Hanamichi's growth this season is undoubtedly the fastest on the team, far better than Iguodala in the same year. However, his height, which stopped growing after reaching 204 centimeters, always makes Lin Dong , Payton and McMillan all felt very regretful.

There was no problem with the bone age test, and he kept up with his nutrition. He also stopped gaining muscle and weight for a while. His weight did not continue to increase rapidly, but it just stopped growing. This thing cannot be explained by science, and there is nothing he can do about it.

However, at 204 centimeters, it is estimated that it will be around 205 by next year when the bones are almost closed. The traditional inside center is definitely no longer a thing, but as a power forward, you can still look forward to it. After all, although he will no longer grow taller, his athletic talent will. It has been completely preserved. If it really grows to 210 years old, it is still unknown whether it will be as flexible as it is now.

So about two months ago, McMillan had given Sakuragi the ultimate positioning: a flexible power forward who prefers defense and frame protection.

He has been doing strength training all the time. Although it seems that he is a little thinner and shorter than Chandler, this guy's lower body strength is surprisingly strong and his brute strength is amazing. Even if he wrestles with Chandler, it is only a 50-50 split. , if there were a few more rounds, he could even win two games against Chandler with his endurance.

Coupled with his excellent defensive instincts, this is just a height difference. Otherwise, if he were to match O'Neal, the effect might be better than Chandler.

McMillan is becoming more and more fond of this disciple. He smiled and interrupted the crowd's hesitation: "The home court advantage cannot be wasted, and as long as we win G2, the gap between Shaq and Kobe that was barely repaired in order to win may be It will collapse again, and that will be the time when we completely establish the victory, so..." McMillan stretched out his hand, Payton was the first to reach out, then Lin Dong, Brent...

More than a dozen hands are intertwined. For the common goal, in order to climb the peak of the OK combination that was once said to be insurmountable by the league, the will of the entire team is connected together.

We are united and confident as never before.

"Supersonics will win! Come on!"

April 4th…

Although there was only one day apart, since the main players of both sides did not fight to the end in the first battle, they maintained sufficient physical strength, making the entire Sonics team look quite good.

The Purple and Gold Legion, who returned to the field, looked slightly different from the last game.

O'Neal's face is missing a lot of playful smiles.

The defeat in the last game and the turmoil on the court not only caused the team to lose, but also caused him to receive a severe 'reprimand'.

It was not the coach or the owners Bass family who reprimanded him, but his agent Amoto.

——Do you think you are throwing the blame on Kobe and the Lakers? You dumped it on yourself!
——Do you know how much value your actions have cost you? Do you know how your actions make the Bass family view you? Do you still expect the Lakers to give everything for you?

——Four consecutive championships! That’s four consecutive championships, man! This is the greatest achievement of the NBA since Jordan. It is right in front of you. As long as you grab it, you can lie down for the rest of your life! You can even shout slogans to compete with the God of Basketball, because the God of Basketball has not achieved four consecutive championships!

——But if you only win three consecutive championships, you are only half a Jordan! You are not destroying your competitor, you are destroying yourself!
——No matter how unhappy you are with that guy, no matter how you position yourself, think about your Shani, think about your unborn child, think about your dream cruise, think about everyone. The moment I surrender at your feet! As long as you still want them, go back to the court, partner with that guy, and win this year's championship!
——As for the team status, psychological emotions, put them all away, don't let them occupy your heart, otherwise you will never become the greatest player!
Recalling his agent's earnest words of psychological counseling for him all night, and standing on the court waiting for the SuperSonics' "boring preparation", O'Neal turned his head and looked at Kobe.

He hasn't said a word to Bryant since the game the day before yesterday. At this time, he actually wanted to say something. He felt that there was always room for relaxation in the relationship between the two.

But when the words came to his lips, he held them back.

This guy didn't even take the initiative to talk to me, so why should I take the initiative to talk to him?
Just cooperate well on the court, don't worry about these virtual forms.

O'Neill pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.

The game is a game, and the individual is an individual. It’s such a happy decision!
--beep!

As the referee's whistle sounded, and amid the cheers of fans in the stadium, G2 officially began.

O'Neal was the first to jump to the ball and hit the ball directly in the direction of Kobe. This made Phil Jackson on the sidelines feel relieved.

He knew that the two men had not spoken since the game the day before yesterday.

He actually tried to persuade Kobe to take the initiative to reconcile, but he, his second disciple, was not a good person. His irritability and personality off the court were not inferior to Shaq's, but he was more focused on the game itself on the court.

Bryant did not take the initiative to reconcile. Although O'Neal's agent Amoto told him that Shaq was fine, Phil Jackson still felt uneasy after all.

It wasn't until he saw O'Neal's active choice after jumping the ball that he relaxed a little.

but……

The experienced Zen Master knows very well that the current situation is still far from optimistic for the Lakers.

The two men's simple return to the court can immediately restore at least 89% of the Lakers' combat strength, but without completing the spiritual reconciliation, the two men will not be able to exert the original chemical reaction of the OK combination.

At the same time, having just experienced a big defeat, the overall morale of the Purple and Gold Army was also low. It was equivalent to just entering the team's warm-up phase because of the apparent reconciliation between the two people.

On the other hand, the SuperSonics had a big victory in the last game. The atmosphere at home was advantageous at this time, and the entire team had already entered the playoffs and was in a desperate state.

The difference in each other's competitive status will probably become the most important factor in determining the outcome of this game.

After the game started, the competitive state displayed by both sides undoubtedly confirmed Phil Jackson's conjecture.

Although the Lakers' offensive triangle system has been implemented again, it always feels like it lacks a little flexibility and change.

The OK combination, which originally worked well together, would always have differences in some choices in handling the ball.

Either Kobe wanted to pick and roll, and O'Neal wanted to sink to the bottom; or O'Neal realized his problem just now and took the initiative to pick and roll, but Kobe thought that the opponent would not do that and chose another route.

Phil Jackson could see that the two of them actually wanted to win and cooperate with each other, but they couldn't think of going together. To put it bluntly, they just lacked the tacit understanding they once had.

This makes the Lakers' overall offensive end seem unsmooth, and more often they fall into a one-on-one situation. However, after entering the state, the SuperSonics did a very good job on defense today...

Kobe's perimeter was severely limited by Payton. The 34-year-old veteran completely gave up scoring and chose to devote all his energy to defense. In the entire first half, Kobe was prevented from shooting 13 of 5, and he only scored 13 points after frequent strikes. .

Although O'Neal's inside line was firmly suppressing Chandler, the opponent used the trinity tactics of interception, double-teaming and slashing...

With Payton locking down Kobe, all the Sonics players, apart from defending, focused their remaining attention and energy on O'Neal's passing route. This made it not so easy for Fisher to pass the ball to him. , in the first half alone, passes to O'Neal were intercepted three times.

And when O'Neal finally got the ball in the low post, the SuperSonics immediately got two people on it at the same time, Chandler and the Japanese redhead.

Both of these two people can be regarded as powerful insiders. Although O'Neal did not suffer a loss in one versus two, it was really not that easy to defeat these two people. In the entire first half, he made 9 of 6 shots and was defeated by those two. Successfully defended 3 of them.

What's even more terrible is that O'Neal actually did not only "take the ball" these 9 times.

When they found that they couldn't stop O'Neal from scoring, the two men would take turns to foul. The fierce thug movements allowed O'Neal to take 7 additional shots in addition to these 8 shots, all of which were taken by these two people and the rotation players. Pedrage pulled him off.

In the NBA, fouled balls are not counted in the shot count unless you forcefully score 2+1.

In the first half alone, O'Neal was given 17 free throws...

The only thing Phil Jackson is thankful for is that the Shark's free throw shooting today was quite good. He made 17 of 12 free throws, and his free throw shooting rate actually reached an astonishing 70% for him. The Sonics' shark-killing tactics had little effect. .

O'Neal scored 24 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, which can be regarded as a top performance. Otherwise, I am afraid that the Lakers would have been beaten again by now.

But even so, it is still on the edge of extreme danger.

Payton didn't attack much and focused all his energy on defense. After two mid-range shots, he didn't take any more shots.

The rest of the SuperSonics felt pretty average today. Except for Iguodala, who only came into the rotation in the second quarter, and scored 2 points with 3 6-pointers, most of the others seemed to be focusing on the game today. Defensively, this makes their baskets seem less accurate.

Fisher's defense against Brent was quite successful. The latter made 4 of 1 shots and only scored 2 points in the mid-range.

钱德勒在篮下被奥尼尔接连盖了2个，4投1中，仅仅拿到2分，樱木花道和替补的佩德拉格也均是只有1个2分入账。

But you can't stand the pervert opposite you...

Watching Lin Dong use Payton's pick-and-roll to make a misplaced and drifting 3-pointer, Phil Jackson's heart twitched.

Don't come in again, don't come in again...

He muttered silently, but he couldn't stop the damn basketball.

Swish!
The basketball hit the net again, and Lin Dong hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the first half, setting the score of the two teams at 41:51 in the first half.

A double-digit difference of exactly 10 points.

In the entire first half, he made 3 of 10 7-pointers, plus 2 mid-range shots and two pull rods that forced O'Neal under the basket, as well as 4 of 4 free throws. This guy has scored a full 37 points by himself, which is better than Kobe and O'Neal added up to 1 more point!
Phil Jackson felt like he had seen a ghost.

Although Payton gave him a lot of pick-and-roll assistance and limited Kobe's defense for him, this guy's 3-pointers... felt more accurate than Reggie Miller!
This is something we didn't often see from Lin Dong during the regular season. He previously averaged no more than 3 5-pointers per game.

The breakthrough is so sharp and the three-pointers are so accurate. What kind of scoring machine is this? Isn't there something he can't do?
(End of this chapter)