162: First shot
The beautiful cheerleaders left the court, but the fans did not feel sorry, because the real moment of this basketball court has just arrived.
The starters of both sides walked onto the pitch, and the coaches of both teams stood solemnly on the sidelines.
Neither Hollings nor Henson wanted to lose this game. The Grizzlies have just come out of a three-game losing streak and need consistent wins to solidify the standings. The Pacers, on the other hand, had just lost to the Jazz and avoiding a losing streak was their number one goal.
The Pacers' starting lineup is the same as before, while on the Grizzlies' side, Hollins has put Quincy Brown, a sophomore who graduated from the University of Washington. Bombset mentioned the starting position, replacing Toney, who is known for his defence. Alan.
The intent of this change is very obvious, to use Bombset's projection ability to contain the Pacers' bag on the inside!
"Coach Hollins rarely changes the starting line-up, and that's very different from Henson. But today, it was Hollins who took the lead in making the adjustment, so that all three of the Grizzlies' outside players have the ability to shoot three-point shots, and the Pacers may need to be more cautious if they want to contain the Grizzlies twin towers. Kevin. Harlan saw Hollins' intentions if he put a Tony. Allen is on the field and that Henson will certainly make the defense Tony. Allen's man went to wrap up the opponent's inside line. After all, Tony. Allen is an outside player who doesn't shoot from distance.
But now that Hollins has released Poundset, who can shoot three-pointers, it depends on whether Henson dares to let the players resolutely wrap up!
Henson smiled, "You're sorry, Hollins!"
The referee blew the whistle, and the match, which attracted great attention among fans on both sides, officially began. Gasol Jr. easily won the first attack with his terrifying height of 2.16 meters, and Conley, who has been playing in the league for 5 years, slowly advanced with the ball, and the Grizzlies' offense was sure to fall into position.
In the opening attack, Conley handed the ball to Randolph, who was mentioned in the middle distance. At the same time, Gasol Jr. sat on the inside and raised his hand to ask for the ball!
Randolph didn't hesitate and hoisted the ball straight to his inside partner. A high-low coordination between the inside line and the inside line, I have to admit that Hollins used the "black and white double bear" vividly.
Gasol has the advantage in height and weight, and he's not the kind of guy who can only go on a rampage, but a traditional interior player with very good skills.
So if he doesn't trap it, it will be difficult for Horford to contain Gasol Jr. on his own. Danny. Green raised his arms and sandwiched it up the moment Gasol Jr. received the ball, and the Pacers tactics were still the same!
Gasol is tall and has long arms, so he still has a passing vision even when he is trapped. So the Spanish tower threw the ball to Bombset outside the three-point line with the interference of Horford and Green. Bombsett did not hesitate to catch the ball in the face of this big vacancy. If he can start today, he is here to do this!
"Brush!" The Nets made a crisp sound, accompanied by cheers from the Grizzlies fans.
"Three-point hit, Coach Hollins' change of formation immediately worked! The Memphis Grizzlies were the first to score points on long-range shots, which is really unusual. Kevin. Harlan applauded Hollins' subtle change, but Barkley didn't complain about Henson as usual.
On the contrary, Barkley today is desperate to see how Henson solves these problems.
On the offensive end, Henson also used outside offense and shooting to bite the score, as he said in the interview before the game.
So today, the Grizzlies' defense was very targeted. They implemented a strategy of infinite rotation defense, switching defenses no matter how they block and pick-and-roll, and not allowing the Pacers to get any shooting space.
In the end, George misplaced Gasol Jr. But his pull-up jumper clearly didn't fool the Spaniards, Gasol Jr. straightened his arm and sealed George's fingertips, and the No. 24 first shot that has already emerged this season hit the iron, and the Grizzlies successfully prevented a misalignment!
"Tsk, that's not like Coach Henson's style." Barkley was a little disappointed, and he thought the Pacers' offense would be even more unexpected.
A follow-up attack, Danny. Green didn't wrap it up, but stayed in front of Bombset, who had just scored. Seeing this, Gasol Jr. directly turned around and jumped the hook and easily scored the ball. Horford has limited height and limited interference with Gasol. It seems that the Grizzlies are playing effortlessly on the offensive end.
"That guy is going to blow up today! Henson. No matter how powerful Joe is, it is impossible to raise the body of his players! In the press area, several reporters chatted happily. They couldn't wait to see the look on the arrogant Henson's face after he lost.
5-0, the Pacers need to bite the score. Before this attack, Paul looked at Henson on the sidelines. Henson didn't speak, just nodded slightly. Then, Paul made a few gestures to direct his teammates to run.
Everyone on the Pacers knows it's time to close the net!
David. West brought up the cover for Paul, and this guy was very rough in his cover, but he was always able to get the right amount of foul and non-foul.
After the cover, West did not leave, but continued to give Paul out of the pocket. George made an off-ball screen. Paul broke through, George went out of the three-point line, what a typical "Pacers-style" offense. All Paul needs is a point, and George can shoot a three-pointer!
However, the Grizzlies were prepared for this, so George didn't get space after receiving the basketball. Guy quickly rounded the pick-and-roll, following George like a ghost.
At this moment, just when everyone thought that the Pacers' tactics were not playing, West, who had been standing in place, moved. He strides and moves from the three-point line toward the right wing of the court.
His movement seemed to be more of a space for George, but when Randolph was about to turn and follow, he realized that he couldn't walk.
Looking down, Chris. Paul used the courage of four or two to block the vicious "black bear" of Randolph.
Of course, Randolph can't hit Paul, but if he just hits the cover like this, the only thing he can get is a foul.
"Oops!" Randolph screamed when he saw West strolling leisurely to the mid-range position, and he couldn't keep up in time because of Paul's cover.
Because he knew very well that David. How terrible that "weapon" of West was.
When he was born, West's older brother was already a well-known basketball star in their neighborhood. The elder brother taught West a set of playing styles and told him: "Every time you shout, you turn in the low position." Shouting two, it is a hook hand after turning around in a low position. Shouting three is to turn around and shoot falsely. ”
West had all of these moves in mind, but he had one other style of play that his brother hadn't marked it in, and that was the mid-range shot that he had been practicing since he was a child.
This technique, which West practiced on the humble court of his yard, has been regarded as a sharp weapon over time. That's why he was able to take someone's life 17 feet from the basket!
George passes the ball and Randolph desperately bypasses Paul and chases after West. But it was too late, the "17-foot assassin" elegantly threw out his hidden weapon, and by the time everyone reacted, the target had already been killed on the spot!
"Beautiful, West's mid-range shot is as solid as ever. The Pacers bit the score, but it was clear that their offense was in big trouble! Kevin. Harlan wasn't inspired by West's mid-range shot, as West always had a few flashes of inspiration in every game for the Pacers.
In most people's eyes, the shot was clearly a tactic for George, but under the Grizzlies' tight defense, the tactic failed. So, West took a desperate shot.
No one saw West's leisurely stroll, and, Paul's cover that was no coincidence!
After West's goal, Henson glanced at Hollins and the black manager didn't react.
"Well, that's good." Henson was more than happy that the offense was seen as a failed tactical operation.
Then, the Grizzlies were still the same, with Gasol sitting inside and Randolph moving high. The Grizzlies didn't even bother to play pick-and-roll, they just wanted to eat a few more on the inside while Gasol was still full of energy.
But this time, when Gasol received the basketball again, it was no longer Danny who was holding him. Green, but tough West!
"Big Black Bear" Randolph was already hungry and thirsty, and he mentioned high positions to wait for such an opportunity. Two inside lines to go to the bag Gasol? Uncle Zach will make you regret it in the middle distance!
However, with two inside lines, it wasn't so easy for Gasol to get the ball out. Unable to pass the ball immediately, he struggled with the two for a few seconds before retaining control of the ball before passing it to Randolph.
But these few seconds were enough time for the Pacers to adjust their defense according to their tactics. Just when Randolph thought he could make a big difference in the middle distance, Danny Brown. Green suddenly flashed out, like a gust of wind, "swept away" the basketball in front of Randolph's eyes.
"Steal! The pass was wrong, and the Pacers switched offense and defense! Kevin. Harlan became excited, and Hollins simply cursed.
Hollins is well aware that once there is an opportunity to switch offense and defense, the probability that the Grizzlies can defend it is very small. The Pacers were very good at switching offense and defense last season, not to mention that they also have a master of the court this season.
Sure enough, Paul deceived Conley with a fake fax. Everyone was watching out for the "Queen Bee" pass, but Paul was on his own.
"The Grizzlies have to be a little more cautious, and they can't give the Pacers more opportunities for that kind of transition."
However, Kevin. As soon as Harlan's words fell, the Grizzlies struck again. This time it was Bombsett who struck the iron, and he got his chance at the moment when Green was ready to steal Randolph. Gasol Jr. was very smart, and he didn't make the same mistake twice. The Spaniard gave the ball to Bombeset, not Randolph, who had just made a mistake.
But this time, Bombsett, who is a typical "3-and-D" player, did not take advantage of the opportunity to shoot in the open position. There's nothing to say about this guy's defense, but how valuable he is on the offensive end depends entirely on how he feels today.
And Henson can clearly see through the data analysis module that Poundsett's offensive consistency is only a C rating. That means Bombset's shots won't be so accurate forever.
"Bang!" Basketball plays iron, it's a long rebound, so Randolph and Gasol's height advantage can't be exploited.
Instead, it was George who snatched Gay and kept the ball for the Pacers.
"Retreat, retreat!" Hollins immediately shouted and waved his arms, as if he wanted to go on the field and push the players back himself.
The Grizzlies' defensive discipline is still very good, the retreat is very timely, and the positioning is not messy.
"Coach Henson must have been very upset that he didn't take this opportunity." See the Grizzlies' defense is watertight, Kevin. Harlan said.
In reality, however, Henson was a little excited. It doesn't matter if you can't fight back, Henson didn't think about ending the game with a counterattack today. Because the Grizzlies' style of play is not destined to give you too many opportunities to counterattack.
But in a positional battle, do grizzlies really think they are stable? Henson couldn't help but look at West, who had just scored a goal, and he couldn't wait to see Hollins' angry expression. It was just a small test......