Chapter 40: Really Tough
Liu Han actually doesn't have a deep image of Garnett, compared to what he has experienced, those small disputes have actually become a thing of the past, and even Liu Han can't quite remember who Garnett is. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info
However, before the start of the game, Liu Han still remembered who Garnett was through the team's tactical explanation, and of course he also had a serious understanding of the player that Nelson highlighted, after all, the core of the Timberwolves' offense and defense is this player.
On November 29, 2003, at the American Airlines Center Arena, the game between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves officially began.
The Timberwolves relied on Olovo Kandi's jump ball to win the first offense, although the Mavericks' defense has improved compared to before, but the joint defense does still have certain limitations, and Garnett is ready to challenge Liu Han with full strength, relying on a high-post straight-arm jumper to take the lead for the Timberwolves first.
Defending Garnett is Jamison, Jamison had a brilliant performance in the last game with the Nuggets, scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds, but he was a little powerless in the face of Garnett in this game, Garnett's physical condition is indeed much better than Jamison's, arm span plus straight-arm jumper shot, Jamison can't defend at all, even if there is Nowitzki on the side to help him defend.
The Mavericks' offense is still a rotation on the outside, Liu Han broke through Kassel and distributed the ball to Nowitzki at the top of the arc, Olowokandi moved too slowly to prevent it, Nowitzki made a three-point shot but popped out of the frame, Garnett stuck his position and wanted to grab the rebound, Liu Han scored the ball from the sky, and the Mavericks equalized.
This ball made Garnett very depressed, and Sprewell, who defended Liu Han, had no sense of being stuck at all, allowing Liu Han to suddenly start from the free throw point to the basket to make up for the dunk, and it was on the top of Garnett's head.
Next, the Timberwolves' offense was still launched from the inside, but the Mavericks suddenly changed their defensive approach and adopted a man-to-man defense, Garnett got the ball and the Mavericks immediately wrapped it, Garnett couldn't pass the ball to the perimeter, and Sprewell scored three points to help the Timberwolves regain the lead.
Liu Han was not to be outdone, and hit a three-point shot directly from the three-point line through Sprewell's seemingly nonexistent defense.
Both sides started the game well, but the Mavericks' offense was more concise and effective, while the Timberwolves' offense was a little less consistent.
In the next game, the Mavericks suddenly changed their style of play in the offense, Nowitzki fell to the low post and attacked Olovo Kandi, he is now after a period of contact, the footwork and back body skills under the basket have improved a lot, Olovo Kandi is tall and weight enough but the movement speed is worrying, in the face of Nowitzki's backward shot, Olowo Kandi has not many ways, the Timberwolves have to wrap up Nowitzki, but the rest of the Mavericks have a lot of opportunities.
Maybe it was the back-to-back games that made the Mavericks players a little tired, and today they collectively didn't feel good, Odom and Allen McGee both missed the open positions, and Liu Han had to hold the ball more on his own.
With two minutes left in the first quarter, the two teams were tied at 29-26 with the Timberwolves leading by three points.
Nelson made the first adjustment, Liu Han still led the bench and rookies on the court, and Nowitzki and others were rested.
The Timberwolves also made substitutions, they were also back-to-back, and it was a back-to-back away game, and the main players were actually quite tired.
After the lineup was adjusted, Liu Han led the young people of the Mavericks to play a wave of small climaxes in the last two minutes of the first quarter, and the substitute players felt good, turning all the assists after Liu Han's consecutive steals into points.
At the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks outscored the Timberwolves by four points.
After the start of the second quarter of the game, Nowitzki and others returned to the court, Liu Han went off the court to rest, the Mavericks maintained their ability to continue fighting, and the bench depth on the Timberwolves' side was obviously not as good as the Mavericks, and their bench could not withstand the Mavericks' mixed lineup at all, Nowitzki played an All-Star level performance, scoring consecutive points on offense, and even sent two blocks on defense.
Since Olajuwon came to the Mavericks, the Mavericks' interior players have been well adjusted, including Nowitzki, Xue Yuyang, and even Bradley have grown a lot.
Nowitzki has also made good progress in timing, so he can now make timely blocks in the game.
The Timberwolves had to replace the main players in advance, and Garnett also saw it in his eyes and was anxious in his heart, he wanted to win this game very much, and he wanted to show his "toughness" very much.
Liu Han returned to the court in the second half of the second quarter, and this time he had a direct conversation with Garnett.
In an offensive attack after the Mavericks expanded the score to 16 points, Liu Han broke through with the ball, and Cassel wanted to block Liu Han but his body couldn't keep up with the reaction, after all, he was already 34 years old.
Liu Han burst to the top of the arc and met Garnett's supplementary defense, Liu Han had already taken three steps, and the timing of Garnett's card position was very accurate, but Liu Han leaned back after the last jump, and Garnett relied on his arm span to cover the space for Liu Han's shot.
At this time, Liu Han really showed the strength of his top star, his body was already extremely inclined in the air, and he still relied on a strong waist strength to extend his time in the air, relying on this trace of time, Liu Han pressed the basketball in his hand slightly to the back of his head, and then relied on the shaking of his wrist to push the ball out, the basketball just skipped Garnett's fingertips and flew to the basket and drilled into the net, Liu Han scored a very incredible goal, he couldn't control his body and fell to the ground after the goal, The American Airlines Center Arena was also cheered by the goal, and Cuban raised his arms and shouted like a wild cowboy.
Garnett felt a slight flush on his face, he didn't expect that he hadn't seen him for a few years, this Oriental man was even better, he had reached the limit of this level of defense, and the next thing could only be a foul.
The Mavericks relied on Liu Han's goal to extend the margin to 18 points, and Sanders had to call a timeout to interrupt the Mavericks' gradual upswing.
"Great, Liu, this ball just now is amazing."
Returning to the bench to welcome Liu Han was the chest bump and high-five of his teammates, Cuban leaned over from his seat to cheer for Liu Han, and Anna was also excited next to Cuban, she also liked to see her sweetheart made everyone present worship.
"Tough, we need to be tougher defensively, we can't let the other side score like this, from the defense, we are wolves, what we need is not cowardice, we need bloody battles."
On the Timberwolves' bench, Sanders blew the horn of battle.