The atmosphere in the Lakers' locker room was a bit dignified, the team fell behind by a large score, and everyone except Tang Shuai and Gasol performed poorly, especially the other three starters, and even sat on the bench for almost a full quarter because of this. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

In the regular season, even if you fall behind at halftime, the players will still talk and laugh, but the playoffs are so important that no one is in the mood to make any jokes.

"Carl played so well that I couldn't find any way to limit him." Knoll turned to Batum at this time.

"The Timberwolves are a lot better than I thought they would be." Batum shook his head and said.

Tang Shuai frowned, and the players seemed to have agreed with the fact that the Timberwolves were better than themselves deep down.

Just then, Billups arrived in the locker room.

"Hey guys, I have a few words to say."

Hearing what Billups said, the team all looked at him.

'In the first half we were okay defensively, but on the offensive end we were hesitant and it's normal to be a little nervous when we go into the playoffs, but if we want to make a difference in the playoffs, in the second half of this game we have to put that emotion behind because otherwise our whole season of work will be in vain.

The team nodded.

Billups then picked up the tactical board: "The Timberwolves are playing defensive counterattacks now, so we have to do these points, first, is to slow down the speed, as much as possible to limit their rounds of defensive counterattacks, second, is the success rate, when Don encounters a bag, the other players must run up to find opportunities, and if they have the opportunity to shoot, they must be decisive, third, we shrink the basket on the defensive end, the Timberwolves' offense focuses on the inside, and we defend a 3-2 joint defense ...... in the opening game."

The players nodded their heads again, and Billups said that these were key points.

Tang Shuai frowned again at this time, when Billups said these words, he didn't see that kind of morale boost on the faces of his teammates.

Billups explained in detail some of the tactics of the second half and told the players to adjust their mentality, and then left the locker room.

"Paul, do you think we have a chance to win?" As soon as Billups left, Noll turned to Gasol and asked.

"Fight hard, there will always be a chance." Gasol said with a wry smile.

Even Gasol doesn't seem to have enough confidence.

Tang Shuai finally couldn't sit still at this time, he could accept losing, but he would never be able to give up so early.

"Don, what's wrong with you?" Batum noticed that Tang Shuai got up, and his face was ugly, and asked.

Tang Shuai did not directly answer Batum's question, but looked around at his teammates, and then said: "Before the game started, didn't you ask me how I didn't get nervous? ”

Hearing what he said, his teammates focused their eyes on him.

"I said I was nervous before, it was just a joke, the actual situation is that I don't have a mental burden, I don't have any questions about what happens if I lose, or whether I can win, I was in a situation where no one thinks we can beat the Warriors, even the fans, teammates, before the game is to play their own style, their own characteristics, which is worse than our current situation, but ......"

Tang Shuai said and glanced at his teammates again, and then said in an accentuated tone: "I have never doubted myself after only half a game like now, what can we not afford to lose?" What do we have to worry about? We are sixth in the West, it is normal for us to lose, and it is a super level of performance to win, so what is there to be nervous about us? ”

As he spoke, his emotions became a little excited, and the expressions on the faces of the team members were also touched.

"When it comes to playoff experience, a lot of you here are much more experienced than I am, but why can't you let go of yourself? Coach Chauncey has made it very clear just now, what is the difference between 10 points, 15 points, or even 20 points? Haven't we won before when we're so far behind? Tang Shuai asked with an accent.

Batum stopped talking.

"We've been through a lot this season, changes in tactics, player trades, even Paul's injury, but we've persevered, we've lasted 82 games, we've helped the team get back to the playoffs in just one season, are we going to lose this game after a season of hard work just because we're nervous?"

"Guys, our opponents are back in the playoffs after 12 years, and they will be less nervous than us? But they let go because they think less! Guys, get rid of all that messy worries! Guys, let's wake up! Wake up and win this game for our own sake! ”

Tang Shuai's eyes burst into a burst of light, and he looked at his teammates and said firmly.

As he spoke, the Lakers remained silent all the time, but when he finished speaking, he could clearly feel that the decadent or ashamed look on their faces had disappeared, and was replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

Most of these people in the Lakers are veterans with playoff experience, and the previous nervousness was more due to mentality, after all, they were playing third in the sixth position, and after being scolded by Tang Shuai, they woke up all of a sudden.

"Don, I'm sorry, we didn't do our part." Batum spoke at this point.

"I'm the one who should say that." Deng then stood up and said, as the oldest player on the Lakers team and the most experienced player in the playoffs, he behaved like a rookie on the court, and after listening to Tang Shuai's words, he was extremely ashamed.

"No, the person who should apologize the most is me, I thought so much about the first time I played in the playoffs, I really ......" Knoll looked apologetic.

Seeing that the starting three people all expressed their positions, Tang Shuai breathed a sigh of relief, as long as the mentality came back, the game would be completely still played, he nodded and said: "I don't want to say anything superfluous, we, including me, didn't play well enough in the first half, the good news is that there is halftime now, as long as we show our best state, it is difficult to say whether we will win or lose." ”

The team members all nodded their heads, their faces full of determination.

Tang Shuai stretched out his hand, and the team members all stood up, walked over and folded their hands on it one after another.

"Lakers!" Tang Shuai shouted.

"Come on!" The team members shouted in unison.

After the players finished cheering, Tang Shuai noticed that someone was watching them, and he looked back to see Billups who didn't know when he appeared behind them again, smiling and nodding at them.

Seeing Tang Shuai turn around, Billups sent an approving look, and then said, "Guys, it's time." ”

The Lakers players yelled at each other and then walked off the court together.

"Chris, do you think the Lakers will play a strong counterattack in the second half?" When the players from both sides returned to the court, Timberwolves home commentator David Benz turned to Webb.

"The Lakers will definitely fight back, they won't throw in the towel so easily, but ......," Webber said, "but it's really difficult, the Lakers have proven in the first half that they are not in shape tonight, and Don alone is not enough to beat the Timberwolves' defense." ”

"Chris, what you said is already very tactful, to be honest, among the players of the Lakers, it is estimated that only Paul and Tang know that they are playing in the playoffs, and the others don't talk about the state, but the mentality has not been adjusted." Benz said unceremoniously.

"Hopefully, hopefully there will be some more fierce confrontation between the two sides in the second half." Webb said as he looked at the Lakers' bench, and as the players returned to the schedule, he saw some expressions that were different from the first half.

Coming back in the second half, both sides continued to start the first half.

Because they led by as many as 15 points, after returning from the second half, the fans exchanged words and did not shout and cheer as loudly at the beginning of the first half.

The Lakers attacked first, and Tang Shuai held the ball to the frontcourt.

The Timberwolves' defense was not much different from the first half, with Rubio defending Tang Shuai.

Tang Shuai beckoned Noll to block and dismantle, and then broke through to the inside.

His breakthrough was sandwiched by Towns and LaVine, and the Lakers' three-point performance in the first half except for Tang Shuai and Gasol was terrible, allowing them to make up for the defense at will.

Tang Shuai guessed the Timberwolves' defense, saw the opportunity, and a beautiful shot passed through Towns's crotch, and the basketball followed to the right wing, and Deng happened to appear in that position.

After being scolded and woken up, the Lakers players obviously became active and decisive in their running positions on the court, Deng grabbed the ball, followed without hesitation, and directly chose to go to the basket.

Aldridge under the basket came out and made a big hand towards Deng Hood.

If the ball was placed in the first half, Deng would probably pass the ball at this time, or at least stop, but at this time, he did not hesitate at all, and went straight to it.

The decisiveness of this ball was unexpected by Aldridge, and at the moment of contact between the two sides, Deng's experience was perfectly reflected, and after he made contact with Aldridge, he didn't look at the basket and threw the ball directly.

"Smack!"

"Toot!"

The crunch and whistle sounded at the same time, and the ball went straight up and down, and with Aldridge already blocked, it was impossible to dodge.

Aldridge reluctantly hugged his head, which was a shooting foul.

Deng on the free throw line.

The scene was driven by a DJ and there was a sound of interference.

Deng made both free throws under pressure.

Looking back, the Timberwolves' offense, Towns asked for the ball in the low post on the right side, and Rubio saw the opportunity to pass the ball in.

However, as soon as he received the ball, Batum quickly helped to defend it, and it was difficult for him to dribble.

LaVine originally ran to the bottom left corner to open up space, saw Towns being trapped, and cut straight to the basket.

Downs saw a feint that turned around and played hard, and after turning around, he passed the ball directly in the direction of Laven.

"Smack!"

As soon as the ball was passed, Knoll turned around and slapped the ball with his left hand. (To be continued.) )