Almighty legend life

Chapter 669 Artest, Don't Counseling
In the three years since he entered the league, Artest left an image of bravery, irritability, and comprehensive offense and defense. Last season, he averaged 2.1 steals per game, allowing him to rank among the top ten steals in the league.

But today, facing Liu Han, who was once the top figure in the league and is now the dominant figure, Artest's past advantages have all become disadvantages, even if he once broke down because of Jordan's ridicule in the summer training camp in 2001. He could touch Jordan's two ribs, but facing Liu Han, he couldn't even catch a trace of Liu Han's clothes.

The first quarter of the game between the Mavericks and the Pacers was more than halfway through. Although the score gap between the two teams did not widen, the Mavericks still had the upper hand. The generally accurate three-pointer lost its due effect. Even if the Pacers began to double-team the breakthrough Liu Han, he could still send extremely comfortable passes for his teammates.

Reggie Miller watched his "junior brother" perform to his heart's content with complicated emotions, and he inevitably felt a trace of regret in his heart. If he had advised Larry Bird to let the Pacers choose Liu Han, his championship dream might have long been It came true, but he was selfish at the beginning. He was afraid that Liu Han, who had already shown a good three-point ability in UCLA, would steal his seat after he came to the Pacers. Now, it is obviously impossible to let Liu Han join the Pacers.

Halfway through the first quarter, the Mavericks lead the Pacers by 4 points. This is a small gap, but the gap is always a gap, not to mention that the gap with the Mavericks will often be gradually enlarged.

In the 7th minute of the first quarter of the game, coach Carlisle replaced the starting center Foster. At this time, he had committed his third foul.

Nelson also started to deploy troops. Except for Liu Han, the others were just supporting roles in this game.

Carlisle intends to replace Artest and put on a faster player to mark Liu Han, but he is worried that the faster player will not be able to withstand Liu Han's strength. He is also in a dilemma now and can only let Artest continue to defend Liu Han.

The Pacers actually have good players on the bench. Al Harrington, Jamal Tinsley, and Austin Clothier are all good players. Compared to the Mavericks' bench players, The Pacers have more experience off the bench.

However, facing the Mavericks substitute led by Liu Han, the Pacers were gradually expanded.

At the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks had widened the point difference to 9 points.

Liu Han played the entire first quarter, scoring 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Artest sat silently on the Pacers' bench. He felt extremely tired. The intensity of today's game was about to catch up with his consumption of the whole game, but even though he worked so hard, he still didn't feel tired. Ways to prevent Liu Han.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Pacers planned to rely on the opportunity of Liu Han's absence to catch up with the score. All their main players appeared on the field and increased outside shots. However, their momentum was suppressed by the Mavericks at the beginning of the game. Alaska was generally cold, the Mavericks' basket seemed to be covered, and the Pacers scored no points in the first 3 minutes of the second quarter.

Carlisle had to call a timeout again, and it was inevitable that the team would lose if it continued like this.

After the timeout ended, the performance of the Pacers improved, but Liu Han came on the stage immediately, and the rhythm of the game between the two sides returned to the situation in the first quarter again.

Artest only felt that there was a fire in his head that was burning more and more. He had tried to blackmail Liu Han several times before, but he was avoided by the opponent as if he had predicted it in advance.

At the end of the half, the Mavericks had expanded the point difference to 17 points.

After the start of the second half, the Pacers began to double-team Liu Han, and Artest was the main defense, but Jermaine O'Neal kept circling around Liu Han.

However, Carlisle's double-teaming defense of one inside and one outside still has no way to face Liu Han. Liu Han's flexible footwork is extremely effective in the face of this kind of double-teaming.

In the 4th minute of the third quarter, Liu Han once again broke through Artest's defense and reached the three-point line. O'Neal immediately blocked the position inside to create a foul for Liu Han, while Artest behind Liu Han held back He was so angry that he planned to knock Liu Han from behind like he bumped Jordan.

Liu Han, who was traveling at high speed, took a big step in two directions with his left and right feet like a prophet. The strange traveling route not only made O'Neill dumbfounded, but also made Artest behind Liu Han dumbfounded. Eye.

Liu Han almost brushed Jermaine O'Neal's body in a flash, and then made a layup with a low hand. Behind him, Artest and Jermaine O'Neal collided heavily.

"European step" is not uncommon in the NBA, but it is extremely rare to be able to use it so delicately and skillfully like Liu Han, and it is still disguised at high speed, which requires high flexibility of the player's body.

Liu Han's score widened the point difference between the two teams to 19 points, but this is not what worries Pacers coach Carlisle the most. What he is worried about now is O'Neal, who is lying on the ground and clutching his abdomen in pain. Artest is He tried his best to show his shoulder and hit him, and O'Neal might be hit with broken ribs like Jordan.

The team doctor of the Pacers came on the field in an emergency, and O'Neal was carried out of the field on a stretcher in a short while. Artest was already in shock at this time. He couldn't imagine that anyone else could do this on the field.

After Jermaine O'Neal left the field, the strength of the Pacers' inside line dropped to a level, especially on the offensive end. Without Jermaine O'Neal's restraint, the Pacers' shots from the outside line were much more difficult.

The offense was weak, and there were also problems in the defense. After Artest accidentally knocked O'Neal off the court, he began to be a little dazed. He seemed at a loss in the face of Liu Han, and paid for two fouls in succession. As a result, he picked up four fouls before halfway through the third quarter.

Carlisle had to replace Artest and put on the old Reggie Miller to mark Liu Han, which was almost the same as surrendering.

At the end of the third quarter, the suspense was basically lost. Liu Han’s ultra-long-range shot from the backcourt at the end of the third quarter allowed him to score the 42nd point of the game, and at the same time brought the difference between the two teams to a close. 28 points.

In the fourth quarter, Liu Han did not continue to play. Nelson boldly used newcomers to play and exercise, and the game lost its suspense.

In the end, the confrontation between the eastern and western teams ended with the Mavericks winning easily. This game not only left a shadow on the Pacers players, but also made Artest look abnormal when he continued to face Liu Han.

　One more night

　　
　
(End of this chapter)