The time of the second game was scheduled for half past seven in the evening on April 23, which was finally a relatively normal game time.

During the day, the Lakers conducted a simple group workout as usual, and then watched a video of the previous game together.

When it comes to the playoffs, you must watch the game footage to see how you and your opponents are performing.

In the next game, you can target or counter-target.

Although most of the time it is useless, if watching the video can solve the problem, what else do you need to train?

But it's always good to have a number in your head, especially for players who play with brains.

It didn't take much time to watch the footage, because the Rockets were in poor shape in the first game.

Not only was the player in poor shape, but the coach was not in good shape, and the whole set-up was suppressed by Mike Brown.

But there was no way, McHale had too few cards in his hand, and he could only play like this.

In the afternoon, the team had a half-day media open day, and reporters conducted brief interviews with players, coaches and management.

Entering the playoffs, the Lakers have been silent a lot.

Whether it's Bass Jr., Jeanne Buss, or whatever, there's a lot less talk in the media.

Even the most stupid person knows that in playoff moments, the mental state of the team is just as important as the physical state.

The Lakers' regular season has come to a successful conclusion, and their goal is to win a championship.

If anyone interferes with Lakers players at this time, they will not be scolded to death by the media, but also by the fans.

Therefore, the management did their best to say good things to the players, especially praising Li Liang, saying how good he played in the first game of the playoffs as a rookie, and how old and old-fashioned.

Li Liang just listened to it, and focused on the game anyway.

Now it's the players' moment and the management's moment to wait three months.

However, a reporter asked Li Liang what he thought of Curry's performance of scoring 33 points in the first game of the playoffs.

Li Liang looked at the reporter who asked this question and said, "I'm still a rookie!" Curry has been in the league for four years, how can you compare him to me? ”

Li Liang's answer made everyone laugh, but now many people are indeed comparing Li Liang and Curry.

Not only with Curry, but with a lot of people, it has nothing to do with whether he is a rookie or not.

As long as you are good, there will be people who compare you to better people.

Unless you do better, there will always be people who feel that you are not good enough.

Competitive sports are so full and supportive, otherwise how could there be boring sports such as basketball and football, where more than a dozen people chase a ball, and so many people are crazy about it.

……

When the game started at night, the Rockets really made adjustments.

Greg Smith, who had previously started, was replaced with Patrick Beverley.

In this way, Chandler Parsons stepped into the power forward position, and Jeremy Lin and Beverley played double control.

And although Harden is a quarterback, the ball is mainly in his hands.

Mainly because Greg Smith is on the floor, the role of the offensive end is basically 0, and the defensive end is useless against Li Liang.

Instead of letting him play 4 to 5 on the court, it is better to play Beverley and make the Rockets' offense come alive.

McHale's thinking is still very right, the Rockets want to threaten the Lakers, and the offense must be played.

That's it for defense, no matter what, there is no way to limit the Lakers with defense, so I can only hope that Kobe Bryant will send a big package.

If Kobe Bryant really sends it, then maybe the Rockets can steal one game at Stamps.

After the start of the game, the Rockets, who lost by a big score in the last game, really had a different spirit.

James Harden received a pass from Beverley, directly forced the basket, and made a half-toss and half-layup with his left hand, hitting the board for two points.

Harden, as the leader of the team, needs to step up and make a statement in Game 2.

On the Lakers' side, Nash quickly crossed the half court with the ball, hit the middle, attracted the Rockets' defense, and gave the ball to Li Liang in the bottom corner.

Li Liang received the ball and hit a mid-range jumper.

Compared with the last game, both sides started with a good feeling.

But what happens next depends on how the two teams play.

After Beverley started, he was in possession for half the court, freeing Jeremy Lin to run to the baseline.

In the last game, Jeremy Lin wanted to push the speed, but he was choked by Li Liang's oppressive defense.

Now Jeremy Lin is not the main pusher, and Beverley is just responsible for dribbling the ball across the halfway line.

Although he can't push the speed, at least the offensive rhythm won't be chaotic.

After continuous conduction from the outside, Parsons received the ball outside the three-point line on the right side, shook it for a moment, and broke through with the ball in his left hand and hit the inside.

Dodging Howard's defense, he made a layup with his left hand.

In the opening two shots, the Rockets scored inside.

McHale made the set-up to make the players play more aggressively, more decisively, and play inside.

The Lakers' defense breakthrough defense is average, not particularly good.

The three layers of defense line on the outside, the middle and the inside, and the four old legs on the outermost layer, how can they break through the defense well.

Then, Nash cooperated with Li Liang and passed the ball to the wing, and Li Liang missed the shot.

The Rockets fought back, but instead of rushing blindly and slowing down after halftime.

The Rockets were much more cautious in attacking, and when they saw that there was no chance, they slowed down and looked for opportunities.

After the Lakers quickly return to defense, there will always be a little problem in the position, and after the Rockets continue to pass the ball, they still look for Parsons.

Parsons received the ball, took advantage of Li Liang's unstable foothold, and once again made a left-handed strong basket.

As a result, he made a layup and ate a big hat from Li Liang!

As the bounce increases, so does the cap level.

Averaged a cap per game.

But in the Lakers counterattack, Kobe Bryant broke through the basket and was also stopped by Asik.

The referee did not blow for a foul, and the two sides switched offense and defense.

Parsons ate the hat and no longer had a head, got a chance to catch the ball in the bottom corner, and hit a three-point shot!

Then, the Lakers missed a three-point shot from the outside, and the Rockets fought back again.

They are still stable and do not attack the basket easily without a good opportunity.

Harden broke through with the ball, doubled around, passed out, and Asik took the ball.

Jeremy Lin circled around Asik, and after receiving the ball, he continued to change direction and hit the inside, facing Howard to make another layup!

In the opening game, the Rockets beat the Lakers a 9:2!

Flipping the situation of the previous opening game.

Mike Brown immediately called a timeout.

It can be seen that the adjustment of the rocket was successful.

After Beverley came on the court, the offense was no longer a four-on-five, and Jeremy Lin was liberated.

Beverley has three-point ability on the outside, and the Lakers don't dare to put it casually.

The offensive end is still fast, but not blind, when you have the opportunity, you can play, and you don't have the opportunity to slow down, and you can play the instability of the Lakers' defensive transition.

One three-pointer, the remaining three offensive successes were all under the basket, and he saw the weakness of the Lakers' outside defense.

During the timeout, Brown immediately made adjustments and changes to the defense.

Let Li Liang go from the position of big forward to small forward, and Ci Shiping go to the inside.

Anyway, the Rockets didn't have a big front here, and let Li Liang help Kobe Bryant and Nash to help defend the outside.

As for offense, the Lakers' veterans will adjust themselves.

After returning from a timeout, Nash broke through and drew a foul on Beverley.

Then passed to Ci Shiping, and missed the shot, but Howard got the rebound and made a layup.

In the Rockets' offense, Howard began to increase his assistance to the outside line, no longer simply crouching inside.

Parsons misplaced a small hit to Big Howard, and as a result, he received a hat.

Harden took the ball and rushed again, only to get another hat.

The Lakers counterattacked, Li Liang took two steps forward with the ball and passed the ball to Kobe.

After Kobe Bryant received the ball in the middle, he made a continuous change of direction feint, shook off three Rocket defenders, and made a rebound under the basket!

Chase four points in a row.

Then, after three consecutive rounds without scoring, the Lakers increased their defensive intensity against the Rockets' breakaway.

On the Rockets' side, the defense line has shrunk very little, and McHale is betting on it.

Bet that the Lakers won't have a good outside touch tonight, and at the same time send Parsons to keep an eye on Li Liang.

This proved to be the best way to defend the Lakers after many games in the regular season.

Even if Li Liang practiced a stop-and-go jump shot with the ball, he couldn't change the weakness of a single weak offense with the ball.

And this is the playoffs, not the regular season, and the defensive intensity is a notch higher.

So until now, the head coaches of the whole league have followed the "Popovich model" in dealing with the Lakers and Li Liang.

Except for a mid-range shot in the opening game, Li Liang did not shoot at other times.

Parsons stared at him very closely, Li Liang was not impatient, he waited patiently for the opportunity.

First, he played inside in the high post and passed the ball to Howard for a single shot.

Then, after a series of runs, he caught the ball and shook off Parsons, and hit a three-point shot from the bottom corner.

At 11:11, the two sides were tied.

After that, the scores on both sides of the first quarter alternated upwards.

The Rockets' young players played with confidence and felt more and more they played, especially Parsons.

Parsons went around in circles and C&S hit a catch-and-shoot jumper.

Parsons feinted on the left side to dribble to kill the inside, avoided the defense with three slow steps, played the defender for a time difference, and picked up the basket with his right hand.

Of course, Harden also made fouls on the counter-attack and went to the free throw line.

This thing rushes up like a wild boar, you can't stop it, if you don't stop it, he sticks it on you.

Kobe Bryant was fouled by Harden again, and it really felt like a dog.

While Jeremy Lin was still on the defensive, he caused a foul on Ci Shiping's counterattack.

Despite the boos at the Staples Center, the Rockets are getting better and better.

At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets led the Lakers by one point at 23:22.

Both sides did not score well and the shooting percentage was poor, and although the Rockets only led by one point, it was clear that they had better control on the court.

It's just two three-pointers from Li Liang's outside line, narrowing the gap to 1 point, otherwise the Lakers will fall behind even more.

Parsons scored 12 points in the first quarter and had an eye-catching performance.

Therefore, young people's ability to learn and adapt is very strong.

But Li Liang is also a young man, he shot 3 of 3 in the first quarter and scored 8 points.

But he was sober-minded, and he didn't think that he would take a drug later, and he would be able to take the rocket away with a three-point bang.

People who think this way often become the "Tieguanyin" who takes their own team.

The Rockets came prepared today, and Harden hasn't played this point yet, so it must be a tough game.

"Bruce, did you hear what I just said?" Mike Brown asked Li Liang.

Li Liang reacted, looked at Brown, and thought to himself what you said, I didn't listen.

"Hear me! I'll take care of it. ”

“OK！”