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

Chapter 352: Zero seal against the big shark!
McMillan, Peyton and Bob were all stunned.

Sakuragi Hanamichi, defending against O'Neal alone?

Crazy...

Although Hanamichi Sakuragi has a gibbon-like wingspan of 218 centimeters and excellent athletic talent, as well as excellent defensive skills that are recognized by the team, his height of 204 centimeters and weight of 104 kilograms are much smaller than O'Neal's 216 centimeters and 145 centimeters. Kilogram, this is not a weight class player at all.

Single defense?

The three of them couldn't help laughing.

What to use for single defense? Take his virginal masculinity?
"Oh, my prince, please don't think about these unrealistic things." Bob couldn't help but joked: "If Sakuragi is given two more seasons to grow 5 centimeters taller and gain at least 30 pounds, I guess we can try, but now? Are you going to let Shaq kill him?"

"Sakuragi's outside support is still very important." McMillan also said: "He is the artillery support for your firepower and one of the guarantees that you can score more easily. If you put him on the inside, without his With pick-and-rolls, it becomes more difficult for you to score."

"The SuperSonics need you to score more easily." Payton also nodded.

Frankly speaking, although the Sonics are a run-and-gun team, they mainly rely on their overall speed.

Desmond also doesn't have much outside range, and mainly attacks the basket. However, when encountering a strong team like the Lakers with a super inside line, Desmond's ability to attack the frame will also be weakened.

The three of them looked at each other for a few times, obviously seeing the looseness in each other's eyes.

Therefore, until the team makes adjustments next year, at least during this year's playoffs, the Sonics will basically have to rely on Dong Lin for scoring.

Once the support of these two people is missing, it may be difficult for Lin Dong to ensure fire coverage of the entire field.

Seeing his persistence, everyone was a little surprised. McMillan couldn't help but said: "But objectively speaking, there is no possibility of confrontation between these two people... Are you doing something wrong again?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi has no offensive power, and Chandler is only average on the offensive end.

Everyone looked at each other.

It's not obvious that everyone's defense is lax during the regular season, but in the playoffs, when you encounter a strong team like the Lakers, in addition to being as strong as ever in counterattack, you basically have to rely on Lin Dong when attacking. one person.

"I have some ideas. Of course, I just think I can give it a try, but I don't dare to guarantee it." Lin Dong said: "And more importantly, Sakuragi now has a knot in his heart, and Chandler's injury has something to do with him. , what he wants most now is probably to take over Chandler's job... He is the Sonics' insider, and he has been sharing the work of carrying O'Neal before. Now Chandler is injured, with that guy's character , he must have decided in his heart that resisting O'Neal is his biggest responsibility next, and he is eager to go to the court to make up for his mistakes. At this time, if we announce that we will directly abandon the inside line, it will have a negative impact on Sakuragi's self-esteem, confidence, and even fighting spirit. A total destruction.”

"That……"

It seems that he is now averaging 40 or 50 points per game, or even 60 points, and even in the fourth quarter he can still fight physically. This is largely due to the help of Payton and Sakuragi, and even Most of the time, Lin Dong is not required to run in the pick-and-roll. Instead, the two take the initiative to run over and help him block, maximizing Lin Dong's energy saving.

Of the three people present, except for Bob who only came here this season, McMillan had known Sakuragi Hanamichi who followed Lin Dong to team training in September of the previous year, and Payton had known each other even earlier, as early as the Nike Summit. Very familiar.

As for the outside, Brent's three-point shooting is inconsistent and not stable enough. Iguodala's three-point shooting is very good, but he lacks overall experience and needs to improve his ability to escape, off-ball ability, defensive ability, etc. For the time being, I can only rotate, and I can't support the team for a while.

Payton is getting older, and if he has to focus on the defensive end, his offensive power will inevitably be insufficient.

And Sakuragi himself is also an emotional player. If he really gets into trouble because of this, he may not be able to achieve the original effect.

Facing this level of defense, it is impossible for Lin Dong to play one-on-one for four quarters. Teammates' screens, pick-and-rolls, etc. have become the most critical thing to sustain Lin Dong's firepower.

"Don't worry about my physical strength. I still have a boss," Lin Dong smiled and patted Payton on the shoulder: "Having a boss cooperate with me is enough. Let's give him a chance to try."

Both of them know Sakuragi Hanamichi's character very well. Frankly speaking, this is really that guy's thinking mode. It's just that everyone has been thinking about how to change the formation and ignored Sakuragi Hanamichi's personal thoughts.

Lin Dong's opinions have helped the team overcome difficulties several times this season, whether he proposed changing to a run-and-gun tactic, or when he tried to protect Sakuragi Hanamichi when the team was about to give up, giving the team Such a strong player has been retained. In short, whether based on his own team status or time to verify his statement, his opinions have become increasingly difficult for the team to ignore.

But now after gaining some experience, you can realize that the maturity of the lineup is not enough. In Bob's vision, next year will be to strengthen the outside line. The Sonics have too few shooters and too few scoring points.

"Then let's try it?"

"I will give you more pick-and-rolls." Payton agreed, taking over Sakuragi's job.

"I forgot to ask, after these two games, are your knees okay?" Payton nonchalantly stretched out his hand and patted the knees wrapped in thick padding: "I'm asking this to a man who has returned to the top. What a stupid thing to say!”

Everyone can see Payton's state. These two games are getting better each time, otherwise Lin Dong would not dare to assign Sakuragi's work to him.

"Then it's settled," McMillan finally made the decision: "It just so happens that I recently wanted to add some changes to the run and gun, and increase the speed... Haha, the death five small lineup, so that when we rotate, The flaws will be smaller, and the whole thing will be smoother. You can go to the extreme with your sword!"

However, he then asked again as if he remembered something: "But I am very curious, how can you make a 204 cm 104 kg guy fight against a 145 kg monster?"

Lin Dong laughed: "Template, belief, and of course... responsibility."

………………

Kai Rui Apartment, 10th floor...

"I've been waiting for your words, Brother Gao Ren!"

After hearing that Lin Dong said that the team had agreed to his temporary role as center, Sakuragi Hanamichi punched his leg hard with a strong fighting spirit in his eyes.

Although Chandler's injury was an accident, Sakuragi always felt that it was because he held down O'Neal at the time, which caused O'Neal's physical imbalance.

Frankly speaking, apart from Lin Dong, Payton and McMillan, Sakuragi and Chandler have the best relationship in the SuperSonics team. All of this actually only stems from a 'shopping coupon'...

Chandler swore that he just received a gift from the merchant at that time. Did he really think that the store was too far and it was relatively close to Lakeside High School, so he gave it to Lin Dong? Young Master Lin looks like someone who knows how to go to the supermarket? Of course, he gave it to Sakuragi, a poor guy, but Sakuragi secretly remembered it for two years. So when he got rich, he often invited Chandler to dinner, and both of them liked fighting shows, so they hung out together. After being together for a long time, we have become close friends.

Now a good brother is hurt because of himself, blaming himself? Guilty?
There must be some, but after all, he is much more mature than before. The biggest reason why Sakuragi wants this inside position is not just because of self-blame and guilt, but to take advantage of Chandler.

If the Sonics have no one inside to check O'Neal, then no matter the outcome, when the playoffs are over and the summer trade market opens, the Sonics will definitely strengthen the inside line!

And what if an All-Star center is added? Or is it a rookie with potential who plays before Chandler recovers?
Will the All-Stars or newcomers make room for Chandler? Will the SuperSonics give up this seriously injured center because of this?

The answer is actually very obvious...

But it would be different if I could handle O'Neal.

That proves that the Sonics don't need to reinforce the inside, that proves that this position can remain vacant until Chandler recovers, and when good brother is discharged from the hospital, if Sakuragi Hanamichi is asked to give up his inside position, he will not hesitate at all. things.

Things have happened and are irreversible, but this is the only way Sakuragi can think of now to really help Chandler.

Therefore, O'Neal is determined to carry it. Even if the team disagrees, he risks being replaced by the coach at any time, but he must still find a way to go in and show everyone!
Fortunately, Brother Gao Ren persuaded the coach and the others...

"Until the boxing champion comes back, I will protect the Sonics' inside line!"

"Have you figured out what to do?"

"I will try my best. Once the bullets run out, I will fight him tooth and nail!" Sakuragi Hanamichi said without hesitation: "Don't worry, it's not like I haven't beaten a large-tonnage center. If he wants to force me to eat him, I won't be able to do that." Easy! Besides, that guy is only a threat at the basket, as long as you can squeeze him out..."

"The idea is wrong. You are 40 kilograms behind." Lin Dong said with a smile: "Some things cannot be easily smoothed out by willpower."

"How will you know if you don't try?" Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes revealed a fierce light. His will has never been so firm and his fighting spirit has never been so full: "Oh, Brother Takato , didn’t you also recommend me to carry O’Neal? Why are you making sarcastic remarks now..."

"There is no lack of will, but the tactics are a bit worse and the thinking is a bit simpler." Lin Dong smiled and took out two CDs from the bag he had prepared: "This is a regular match in 96. It’s a very classic game, watch it carefully, maybe you can learn something from it.”

"In 96? Who beat whom?" Sakuragi Hanamichi was stunned, but quickly reacted: "Is there O'Neal?"

"Of course." Lin Dong said with a smile: "In the Bulls vs. Lakers game, a guy who is 3 centimeters shorter and 4 kilograms lighter than you, in the entire second half, including overtime, for more than minutes, will be at his peak. Shark’s clean sheet!”

"His playing style is worth learning from." Lin Dong said: "But at that time, although O'Neal was more flexible than now, he did not have the weight now. While learning from it, you also have to learn to substitute, learn to change, and learn to understand. …”

"It won't be that easy." Lin Dong patted him on the shoulder: "However, I will try my best to help you buy time... But please also remember that we can only lose three games at most!"

(End of this chapter)