Chapter 171: Big Crab Steps
On May 7, 2008, the Cleveland Quick-Loan Arena was packed with fans, and the Cleveland fans who came here were all worried, apparently worried about their team's future.
The sun is already setting in the west, the sun is reluctantly giving its last rays, and the Cleveland vs. Indiana game has officially begun.
In this game, the Pacers' lineup is finally neat, and the Indian City twins are in place!
The Pacers reverted to their previous tactical play, and finally did not use their swords to go sideways, putting Li Cheng under tremendous pressure while exposing the most important shot to the opponent.
"This game is finally going to be played well." When Li Cheng appeared on the stage, his face was full of smiles. At any time, as long as the brothers are back to back, shoulder to shoulder, even if it is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, they dare to create him.
"I can finally fight alongside you, this time, we will blow them up!" Granger shook Li Cheng's hand before going on the court and said firmly.
"Beat them up!" Li Cheng also said firmly.
They both saw the determination and excitement in each other's eyes, and in this battle, Indiana really achieved momentum.
At this point, the Pacers' situation on the court is not optimistic. But they didn't seem to be worried, and they still fought slowly, not in a hurry or slow.
Six minutes into the first quarter, the Pacers trailed by seven points, but they didn't seem to be in a hurry at all.
In fact, it was all the result of Hart's pre-match analysis. The Pacers seemed to be confident in this game, and they didn't worry about the opponent's death at all.
There is an old man in the family, if there is a treasure. At this time, there is indeed nothing wrong with it.
"If, after the game starts, you come across a Cleveland frenzy, you don't have to worry. If they do, they're done. So, we just need to keep the pace steady and not let the difference be widened to more than 10 points. Over time, Cleveland fell apart. ”
Hart's words made a lot of sense, and both teams were in a good mood in this game. But the morale of the two teams is not the same.
Behind Cleveland lies the abyss, and the reality of the situation has reached the point where there is no time to delay. So they have to attack like crazy, they can only go further and not retreat, and if they take a step back, they will be crushed.
Walkers, on the other hand, are completely different, and their momentum comes from their own self-confidence. There was no Granger in the first two games, we both won, and now that Granger is back, can you beat us? You say Granger's return will disrupt Lee Cheng's rhythm? That's a big joke. The tacit understanding between Granger and Li Cheng is unmatched in the whole team, no matter who the two of them are, they can know what the other party is thinking when they raise their hands, how could such a tacit understanding suddenly become incompatible?
So, as long as the pacer holds the pace. When the knight can't attack for a long time, he will naturally be impatient. And in a game like the playoffs, impatience is suicide.
In addition, the Cavaliers are a strong defensive team. But this game. Whatever the factors are forcing them to attack. Isn't it a matter of letting a strong defensive team attack, and letting them use their weaknesses to exploit the strengths of their opponents? Although the Cavaliers have achieved a certain advantage now, they may not be able to keep it up!
If the Cavaliers have a 7-point advantage, they will inevitably want a 10-point advantage. They will only get more and more anxious before they can take a 20-point advantage. Their attacks will only get more and more frenzied, but they are undoubtedly killing themselves in doing so.
Before this game. Brown did everything he could to galvanize the players to fight to the death. But he didn't know that he was pushing his team into the fire pit by doing so. If it were Popovich, he would never have done that. He's definitely going to ask for his players. Defend first and drag the game to the final quarter.
Because when the game reaches the last quarter, your team is attacking like crazy, and as long as you have an advantage, it is easy to defend. And when your player feelings start to change, and the game is over, what else can you do?
It's a pity that Brown is not Popovich, he is still much worse than his own teacher.
……
From the beginning of the game to the present, the hideousness on James' face has never retreated. He is out of the way in this game, and he is going to fight to the death. The little emperor's state did affect the teammates around him, but under the influence of his feelings, the impatience of the knights was also rising in the hearts of the knights little by little.
Ben Wallace is a core player, but he's a defensive core. He can take the team's defensive intensity up a notch, but right now the Cavaliers need offense, and they've been caught up in a frenzy of offense. By doing so, the Cavaliers squandered Ben Wallace's advantage, which was undoubtedly another self-defeating exercise.
"!" The Cavaliers' players had the same look on their faces as the world had done millions of dollars ago, and they were in a hurry, especially when they saw the confident smiles on the faces of the Pacers' players and their seemingly nonchalant rhythm.
"Don't be in such a hurry! After this game, take me to Cleveland and have some fun. Li Cheng held the ball in his hand and said to James nonchalantly. Just now, James had already wanted to come up twice to break Li Cheng's ball, but Li Cheng skillfully defused it.
"If you let me win, Cleveland will go wherever you want tonight!" James said through gritted front teeth.
"Oh!" Li Cheng agreed, and then began his unhurried dribbling rhythm again.
James angry teeth itch, but there is no way. Li Cheng is a freak, his ball control is not leaky, and he has no way at all.
Li Cheng said, quickly changed the rhythm of the dribble, stepped out, and then quickly accelerated. He passed the ball to Granger, then turned around and took a step back. Granger received the ball and pretended to dribble, then he threw the ball to Li Cheng with one hand.
Very tacit cooperation, and then Li Cheng jumped up, and the basketball hit the basket comfortably.
"Refreshing!" Li Cheng stretched out his right hand and slapped Granger.
This game may be the most comfortable game played by Li Cheng since he entered the playoffs.
First of all, the Cavaliers' extremely pressing defense has slowed down this game. In addition, Granger's return provides a good fulcrum for Li Cheng.
The score was back to 5 points, and James really wanted to peel the guy who was wearing the same number as himself, but now had a hippie smile.
The more Lee is like this, the more anxious the Cavaliers' players become, they still maintain their lead, but they have never been able to extend their advantage.
Brown frowned off the court, he was also a little anxious, but he didn't know what the problem was.
In the first quarter of the game, under the crazy impact of the Cavaliers, they achieved certain results, and they entered the second quarter with an 8-point lead.
When the home team fans saw such a result, their hanging hearts were also relieved. After all, now your team is the leader, as long as you can maintain this lead until the end, your team will be the winner.
After the start of the second quarter, the substitutes of both teams also played according to the rhythm of the starters. The walker is light and breezy, not in a hurry or impatient. Cleveland, with a crazy look on his face, wanted to rush to the Pacers' basket with the ball like they did in football.
After 4 minutes, the two teams began to rotate. The two teams coincidentally replaced the main players, and at this time, the difference between the two teams was still 7 points. The Pacers' bench instead narrowed the gap by one point, how can this keep the Cavaliers' main players from rushing?
James' first offense after returning to the court was ready to attack on his own. At this time, who still has time to play the ball and play tactics?
James didn't have time or mood, but Li Cheng and the Pacers had time to play with the Cavaliers.
Li Cheng looked at James with a playful look on his face and said, "Come and break through me!" ”
"Humph!" James left a cold snort and began to break through.
James didn't make any shaking movements and began to break through, simple and straightforward.
Li Cheng was squeezed away by him, James didn't have time to laugh at Li Cheng in his heart, and now the little emperor is so anxious! And at this time, Granger came up at the right time to help the defense.
James's heart tightened, he now walked forward and waited to be broken, he could only move sideways or backwards. But how could the anxious little emperor choose to step back? He picked up the ball and rushed in.
One step, two steps, three steps, four steps! James strides past Granger and into the Pacers' basket. He then easily threw the ball to the rebound, and the basketball bounced into the basket.
Every time the referee blew away, Li Cheng looked at James and smiled.
"Kill you, orangutan." Li Cheng teased James as he was about to return to defense.
James also knew that he couldn't go, he was a little embarrassed, and he didn't speak. And Li Cheng's mouth is like a machine gun, the first sentence did not make a contribution, and the second sentence came up immediately, "You don't have thick skin!" Do you know the embarrassment? You're walking! Do you have anything to do with the referee? Or do you have something to do with Stern? ”
"Humph!" James didn't know that Li Cheng was laughing at him, but he couldn't fight back against Li Cheng. Really, because Emperor Zhan's mother ...... Ahem!
"Don't speak? Defaulted? ”
"You're enough!" James shouted, "Shut your mouth and play your ball." ”
"I really want to play well, but you don't let me play well, okay? You take four steps to the basket, which gym teacher teaches the layup? Li Cheng continued to use the taunting skill.
James felt aggrieved, but he didn't think to use his fists to help Li Cheng shut up. Really, he'd dealt with this kid too many times. If he uses his fists every time, he won't have to play against the Pacers again. (To be continued......)