598: Long-term strategy
Indiana Pacers, the first team in the league to break the Bulls' 72-win record. After the Los Angeles Lakers who continued the "OK combination", the first team in the league to establish a three-game championship dynasty. It's no exaggeration to say that the Indiana Pacers have been the face of the NBA for the past few years.
The Golden State Warriors, the second team in the league to achieve 73 wins in a single season, even changed the league's style of play, allowing the NBA to officially enter the "small ball era". The year before last, he won the first NBA championship in team history with a devastating offensive and won 73 last season. And this season, after Durant announced his arrival, people are more optimistic that the Warriors can win the cup again after a year.
These two teams almost represent the highest level in the NBA in the past five years. Although in the middle of LeBron. James once won the championship after falling behind 3-1, but people still think this is the era of the Pacers and Warriors.
But these two teams, which have dominated the league for nearly five years, have never faced each other in the playoffs. This situation is also very rare. Because the peak of the two teams happened to be staggered in just 5 years.
During the Pacers' three-game winning streak, the Warriors were still an underappreciated youth army. At that time, Monta. Ellis' fame is much greater than Curry's. Green? Thompson? In Mark. Jackson's men haven't yet shone brightly.
And during the two years that the Warriors dominated the league, the Pacers were in the chaos of collapse and displacement. Jimmy. Butler, Kawaii. Leonard, Al. Horford, Ray. Alan...... The former champions have left one after another. Of course, the most important thing is Indianapolis' basketball godfather Henson. Joe, chose to retire.
So, in the past two years, the most discussed question among fans is: If the Pacers were still at their peak, what would it be like to play the Finals with the Warriors at this time?
But now, it's really coming.
Henson has been preparing for the Warriors since he returned from Chicago. The team that was able to reach the Finals from a fiercely competitive West with a 4-0 run in three rounds was not on the same level as any opponent Henson had ever faced.
The "previous opponents" here aren't just the ones Henson eliminated this year. Henson even thinks that his opponents in the last three-game winning streak may not be as strong as the Warriors.
Check it out, the Warriors have Stephen. Curry and Kevin. Durant is a two-MVP-level player with Klay Brown. Thompson is the league's top off-ball attacker. At the same time, it also has the most unpopular FMVP Andrei. Andre Iguodala, as well as one of the Warriors' cores, has been able to contribute greatly to the team on both offensive and defensive ends. Green.
The luxury of the Warriors' roster is indeed unmatched by many teams. What's more, the Warriors also have a complete offensive and defensive system while ensuring a luxurious lineup. And everyone in the Warriors team can fit into the system perfectly.
In fact, that's the scariest thing about the Warriors. They can combine team basketball with extreme individual ability.
The Heat and Spurs, who lost to Henson in the past, have very distinct characteristics. The Heat have the most individual superstars, but the run-in of the Big Three and other role players is not systematic, and Spoelstra has not yet built the Heat into a whole.
More often than not, the Heat rely on the individual abilities of the Big Three. As long as the Big Three are contained, the Heat will basically be dumb.
And Popovich's Spurs, although the overall is very strong, must admit that the GDP at that time was not at the peak of individual ability. The Spurs don't have the kind of player on the Spurs team who can kill the game on their own.
And this year's Golden State Warriors are more like a combination of the two. So looking at the Warriors' game footage in the office, Henson had a lot of headaches.
During the regular season, he only played the Warriors twice. The first time he was beaten to tears, the second time he was enlightened by Sag and gritted his teeth to win, and the regular season record against the Warriors was 1-1.
But just two encounters weren't enough for Henson to get to know the Warriors thoroughly. Therefore, Henson needs to make adjustments while trying to make mistakes in the finals.
The last title of the three-game championship period, the Pacers have been very easy against either the Spurs or the Heat. This is naturally due to the rise in the strength of the Pacers' players, but on the other hand, it also shows that Henson is very familiar with how to contain the Heat and Spurs. He didn't have to try and make mistakes in the finals to find a way to contain both.
But this year is different, and Henson has to play to know how to deal with the Warriors. So, this time in the finals, he will definitely lose some games. Similarly, the Warriors can only use trial and error against the Pacers. Now it's up to both sides to see which of the two sides can stop making mistakes first.
"Henson, offense or defense?"
Becky. It wasn't until Harmon spoke that Henson finally pulled his thoughts out of his mind. Only then did he remember that there were still two of his assistant coaches sitting in the office.
"Defend!" Henson replied firmly, "Unless we're sick in the head, we can't play against a team that has both Curry and Durant." We have to start defending, destroying them aggressively and then waiting for an opportunity to counter-attack. As for how to play this counterattack......"
"Continue with fast conduction?" McMillan came up with his own speculation, but it was quickly denied by Henson.
"Trust me, the Golden State Warriors will cut off all of our passing routes. People have always thought that the Warriors could win because of their three-point accuracy, but that's just one of the conditions. The Warriors can win because they defend well. So, don't expect to be able to play an easy fast break in front of the Warriors. ”
"What then?"
"We need a player who can push forward with the ball and play on his own, like the Cleveland Cavaliers, with four shooters pulling away and creating singles for one person. This person must have strong singles, break through with great lethality, and also be able to run fast attacks. ”
After Henson finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up. How did Stevens teach him? Take the good tactics of others and refine them. The most classic example is that Henson used the elevator door tactic to create a lore ball, which was countered by Mark Henson. Jackson's Warriors.
And tomorrow, Henson will try the Cavaliers' "star-studded" style of play. Last season's Warriors were defeated by "one star".
Playing the defensive end, then keeping things simple on the offensive end, scoring efficiently while containing the opponent's scoring, that's Henson's strategy!
"So, who are you going to let be Indianapolis' LeBron. What about James? McMillan asked curiously.
"Of course it's the player who gives James the most headache to play LeBron. James. Henson smiled, the afternoon confrontational training, there is a theme.
※※※
James is one of the biggest headaches for a Pacers player who is "the league's No. 1 James blow" Lance. Stephenson is certainly on this list.
But if Henson's brain hadn't been broken, he would definitely not have let Stephenson play James. After all, that's all Stephenson is capable of. With him alone with the ball and then four shooters pulling away, the Warriors are expected to walk away with the win in just half time.
In addition to Stephenson, the second name that can make it to that list is undoubtedly Antetokounmpo.
In the just-concluded Eastern Conference Finals, picking out the picture of Antetokounmpo blocking James was enough to make a highlight.
Antetokounmpo just signed a 100 million yuan contract this summer, and he also took a salary cut voluntarily. So there is no doubt that he is extremely sincere to the Pacers, and he will definitely be willing to do his best for the Pacers in the playoffs.
So in the afternoon training, Antetokounmpo and the players received another strange task.
"I don't want to play any complicated offensive tactics because on June 1, you have to defend well. Lance, tell them what aggressive defense is! ”
Henson said, and Stephenson rubbed his hands eagerly. Later, in training, he will not show mercy.
"Aside from defending, our task is to attack quickly. Once you get the basketball, give the ball to Antetokounmpo as soon as possible. ”
Speaking of which, everyone else scratched their heads. Isn't it time to give the ball to Paul in the first place?
Without explaining much, Henson carried out his plan. But in reality, Henson's plan is not limited to this game, but has already looked at the entire playoffs. The first game and the star-studded shot were just the first step in the plan.
Henson has not forgotten that he also has a "professional mastery" technique, the effect of which is to greatly improve a certain attribute of a player for a game.
With his own strategy and the effect of this rhetoric, Henson believes that he will definitely be able to take the initiative in the finals!
After the afternoon of training, there was a story about Draymond. Green's news was put online.
"I'm going to make them regret it, absolutely," Green said, "and I feel like it's disrespectful to me, and I see that as disrespectful to me." Don't expect the best defensive player to win the game, if Henson does that, he's just looking down on me. And I, I will make him regret it with my actions. ”
Green's remarks came from a question from reporters: "In the last 1 second of the game, if the Pacers choose to attack you, how would you react?" ”
Looking at the news, and then at Antetokounmpo's excellent form, Henson smiled slightly.
Then Draymond. Mr. Green, in the first game of the series, I'm going to take you under the knife.