Lionel. Hollins kind of got to experience what it's like to be confined by an impregnable defense today.

Before the start of the game, Hollins' plan was to defend solidly and then score points on the offensive end to gain an advantage.

But the game turned out to be very different from what he had imagined, the Pacers really couldn't score, and the Grizzlies themselves couldn't cut the flesh off the defending champions.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 22-18, with the Grizzlies temporarily trailing by four points. In the era of modern basketball's fast-paced offense and three-point shooting, scoring less than 25 points in a single quarter is very abnormal.

Both sides didn't hit high enough as they put their attention almost all on defense. Fighting against the best defensive team in the league is probably the only thing that can happen to Henson. Joe can do it.

"I believe that both sides cannot allow this situation to continue. At least one of the two teams will try to open the game first, because if the score is not pulled away, it is actually very dangerous for both teams! "Countless commentators say that, but in fact, it's their ratings that are really at stake. After all, not many fans like to watch this kind of full-scale iron game.

However, Henson and Hollins continued their defensive battle in the second quarter of the game without giving face. The Pacers couldn't score nearly four minutes into the second quarter to put the Grizzlies up 31-26.

However, the Grizzlies didn't have much to do when Henson replaced Horford with the more energetic Anderson "Birdman", and the Grizzlies quickly fell into the ice cave for the next six and a half minutes. Gasol Jr. struggled on the inside, and the Grizzlies' breakout was repeatedly disrupted by Anderson, and his dynamism certainly added a lot of deterrence to the Pacers' restricted area.

The Grizzlies scored just four points on multiple shots, while the Pacers' offense was led by Stephenson and Ray. Allen successfully activated under consecutive three-point shots, and West and George also scored, quickly blasting out a wave of 15-4 attacks! However, looking up, the Pacers only managed to take a six-point lead...... No way, in the first half of the game, the Grizzlies' defense was too successful.

In this way, the two sides played the first half of the game in an extremely eye-heavy situation. At halftime, 43-39. The Pacers still have a four-point lead, but with a full half of the game remaining, the four-point advantage is almost negligible. Just as Henson and Hollins expected, the score was outrageously low!

"Keep going like this...... In case the Grizzlies start to fight back......"

Back in the locker room, Stevens was concerned about the team's situation. The best way to play against a team like the Grizzlies is to open the score as early as possible, and to defend against the Grizzlies until the last minute. Thibodeau had already experimented with Henson.

Henson raised his right hand and shook his head, "Just like that, the game hasn't gotten out of hand." ”

Insisting on focusing on defense, Henson has already made up his mind!

At the start of the second half, the cheers of the fans were not as enthusiastic as before. Of course, the ratings of major TV stations have also dropped off a cliff. Some fans who are still watching the game may have fallen asleep in front of the TV, so they didn't change the channel.

Before the start of the second half, reporters on the sidelines approached Hollins, "It looks like Coach Henson doesn't plan to challenge the Grizzlies' defense, do you think your team can hold on to the end if you fight defense?" ”

Hollins smiled contemptuously, "To be honest, I didn't expect Coach Henson to be such a timid person, it seems that the pressure of a 16-game winning streak almost crushed him." ”

Hollins is worthy of being an old and spicy guy, and an ordinary halftime interview can be said to be true.

What is false is that he commented on Henson's timidity, and he didn't really think Henson was timid when he said this, but he hoped to inspire the Pacers to attack and put more physical effort on the offensive end, so that the Grizzlies' offense would be easier.

It's really the pressure part, and Hollins really thinks the Pacers are under too much pressure. And this pressure will only hurt the walkers themselves in the end. Therefore, Hollins is not in a hurry, and he is willing to grind with the Pacers to the end. Because it's the Pacers, not the Grizzlies, who are in a hurry at the last minute. And the attack at the critical moment is the most fearful and impatient!

However, Hollins's agitation method obviously did not work, and Henson is not stupid, where he loses his mind when he is provoked, after all, this is a rigorous basketball. (Phew!) ）

Hollins and Henson won't give in to each other, and it's the fans who suffer.

Heading into the second half, the pace of the game became a little more up-and-down. The Pacers first scored 5 points in a row and quickly took a 9-point lead, but in the next 5 minutes, the Grizzlies came to their senses and immediately let the defending champions fall into an offensive drought and did not score a point, while the Grizzlies took the opportunity to blast a wave of 14-0 super attack waves to overtake the score!

"A wave of 14-0 offensive climax, Coach Henson called a halt to the game! God, who would have thought that the first to have a super orgasm would be the Memphis Grizzlies! "Reggie. Miller was surprised, as if the offensive climax was about to turn into a turning point in the game.

However, after the timeout, everything returned to normal, and Paul first drew a foul and hit both free throws, breaking the Pacers' five-minute scoreless embarrassment. In the last minute of the quarter, facing the Grizzlies' second lineup, Ray. Allen led the team to another 8-0 run, closing the difference.

After three quarters, the Pacers trailed the Grizzlies by four points. That's right, the gap is still a fucking 4 points! 65 to 61, the two teams were exhausted, but neither could kill anyone.

At this point, Henson has completed the first phase of his plan! He successfully used defense and survived the Grizzlies to the last quarter! From the fourth quarter onwards, every offense is a key offense for the Pacers!

Why are the Pacers ranked first in the league when they were slightly inferior to the Grizzlies in defensive efficiency, while the Grizzlies were only fourth in the West? Quite simply, the Pacers can play the league's top offense on top of a good defense! And grizzly bears, they don't have such abilities!

At the end of the third quarter, after the players left the game, Henson immediately took out his marker and sat down among everyone.

In the first three quarters of the game, the relatively conservative style of play did not allow the Pacers players to waste too much unnecessary physical energy. And to save the physical fitness for the fourth quarter is so that the offense of the game in the fourth quarter will not drop the chain!

"Well done, guys! I'm proud of your defense in the first three quarters, how's it going, feeling tired? Henson didn't rush to draw tactics, but asked his players first.

"There's strength, chief." Paul replied with a smile.

"Very well, fourth quarter, we don't grind with them. On the basis of ensuring the quality of the defense, we have to try to open up the situation first on the offensive end! Remember, the success rate is guaranteed, because in the fourth quarter of the game, every offense is a key offense! One miss means that we have wasted our energy in vain. With that, Hensh raised his right hand, and then clenched his fist hard, "It's time to end the game!" ”

Then, there was a dense tactical explanation. Time is limited, and Henson can only talk about it simply. But he believed that Paul, the master of the field, understood what he meant.

After the electronic beep sounded, Stevens stood beside Henson, somewhat confused.

"Why is the attack only now? Wouldn't it be good to pull the score away earlier? ”

"We can't pull it away," Henson waved his hand, "launching an onslaught ahead of time will only make us waste our energy." And the offense at the critical moment has high requirements for the physical fitness of the players! Any idea how Thibodeau died? It was because he tried to pull away in the third quarter of the game, but it didn't work. And in the fourth quarter, in the face of the Grizzlies' seamless defense, the Bulls were already bored. ”

"But you're so confident that you can pull off the score by attacking in the fourth quarter? Will the Grizzlies seize the time when we focus on offense and launch an onslaught? ”

"Don't worry, Brad. We have the Grizzlies' defense, but the Memphis Grizzlies don't have our offense! Henson smiled confidently, the defending champion, there is no shortcoming!

It's time for this tug-of-war to end!