From a strength perspective, the Grizzlies are much worse than the Timberwolves. Watermark Ad Test: Watermark Ad Test

Coupled with the disadvantages of away games, tactical suppression, and average hand feel, the Grizzlies want to defeat the Timberwolves, and it is as difficult as the Bobcats to win the championship.

Before halftime, the Timberwolves led the Grizzlies by 10 points, 49-39.

The disparity in strength is so big that the Grizzlies players feel suffocated, and everyone in the Timberwolves is extremely talented, and the defensive tightness and intensity are unimaginable. The Grizzlies players silently walked into the locker room, and they all felt the tremendous pressure from the Timberwolves, who were going to outrun the Grizzlies on both offensive and defensive ends.

Randolph was the only player the Grizzlies had the brightest in the first half, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds. One of them played two and one extremely beautifully, supporting the Grizzlies and Timberwolves to play evenly for a while. But after that, the Timberwolves began to suppress the Grizzlies again.

Such a process should be said to be unexpected, after all, the Timberwolves are the team with 76 wins in the regular season.

And the crowd at the target center, Minnesota area fans and Timberwolves loyalists have reason to believe that the Timberwolves can easily win their first game.

Zheng Ke also believes.

Zheng Ke hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer just before the end of the first half to improve his score to 15 points. didn't score 20 points as Tony Allen said, but it doesn't matter, after all, Tony Allen didn't respond to Zheng Ke's provocation at that time, and the two were just engaged in a trash talk battle without finding boundaries.

After answering two questions interviewed by ESPN, Zheng Ke also walked into the locker room with the team.

Second Half -

The third quarter was a period of great hope by Grizzlies coach Hollins. At halftime, he told the Grizzlies players to play aggressively, and although the Timberwolves are defending the team, we still have to start with Randolph and Gasol, inside and out. Give the space to be carved out and the chance to score alive.

Hollins was also forced to have no choice, and the Grizzlies shot 2-of-11 from three-point range in the first half, one of which was scored by Randolph. If you want to beat the Timberwolves, shooting three-pointers is definitely hopeless. Only through their own style. That kind of straight-to-go and hard chisel out a victory.

So in the third quarter, when the physical strength is more abundant. Hollins gave such a tactical arrangement.

This set of tactics is not unfamiliar, and teams like the Rockets and Spurs with super low-post attackers will have such straightforward offensive tactics. Including the Timberwolves, who previously owned Jefferson, when there was no way. will allow Jefferson to play infinitely low-post singles, using the inside line to drive the outside line.

The Grizzlies drop the ball from the outside to Gasol Jr. in the low post.

Gasol Jr., who took the ball, almost the moment he got the ball, turned around and passed Little Jordan behind him.

"I'll rub it."

Little Jordan's eyes flickered, and his body was completely immobilized by the burly little Gasol card. watched little Gasol pout, jump slightly, and dunk with both hands.

Thibodeau, who was next to him, frowned.

"Deandre is relatively thin, and Gasol Jr., who has an amazing tonnage, still struggles a bit. His specialties are help defense and blocking. It is a great addition to Lefou. At the moment, the Grizzlies have the intention of attacking the interior, and the effect of using Pekovic should be much better than Jordan Jr. ”

Thibodeau considered the formation, and the two teams on the field were inextricably matched. (Pingnan Net)

Zheng Ke skillfully dribbled the ball under his crotch, and the basketball flew like a living elf, flying around him. Dazzled with the ball in front of Tony Allen, his shoulders shaking incessantly.

Seeing Zheng Ke making a rare fancy dribble, there were people who were particularly happy in this aspect at the scene and immediately became agitated.

"Shake him, pass him, play him"

Sweat dripped from Tony Allen's forehead, and Zheng Ke was stunned.

"Are you coming?" Tony Allen's eyes narrowed, and his center of gravity dropped even lower.

Zheng Ke retracted the basketball, his left foot drove the whole body to exert force, and his body jumped into the air tensely. He played the ball with both hands in a textbook position, and before Tony Allen could jump, he had already plucked the ball out of the way

The force of the ball is very great, the speed becomes very fast, and when the goal is scored, the basketball smashes on the inner edge of the hoop, and it makes a crisp "thump" sound.

Zheng Ke spread out his scissor legs, avoiding Tony Allen's black feet that quietly reached over.

"See, it's in again!"

Zheng Ke was annoyed by Tony Allen's black feet, spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and blurted out another extremely lethal trash talk.

Tony Allen's face darkened, and he turned his head and accelerated past Zheng Ke

The Grizzlies' interior offensive tactics have had some effect, albeit with a bit of physical exertion. Jordan Jr. received back-to-back fouls for the next two minutes.

At this time, Thibodeau began to transfer troops, replacing Afflaro and replacing Lowry; Replace Jordan Jr. and bring on Pekovic.

It's a two-guard lineup, with Billups playing as the number two, handing over the responsibility of defending Conley to the young, muscular Lowry.

Thibodeau's tweaks paid off on the offensive end, as Lowry came up and broke past Conley before distributing the ball to Billups on the perimeter, who hit a three-pointer.

After hitting the shot, the Timberwolves' lead extended to 11 points.

As the game deepened, the strength of the black and white bears gradually decreased, and the speed of the entire Grizzlies chasing the Timberwolves began to decline, and the score difference gradually widened in this quarter of the game.

At the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves led by 14 points at 76-62, and it felt like the Grizzlies were being opened up by the Timberwolves in every quarter, and the difference in strength was too obvious.

Then, before the break in the fourth quarter, Thomas told Zheng about the outcome of the third game of the day.

The Hawks beat the Magic 103-93!

"What's going on? How could the Magic's home court be won by the Hawks? How many rebounds does Howard have? block and talk to me. Zheng Ke is interested, this is the first upset game today, and it is basically the only team that has caused an upset.

"Howard is incredible!" Thomas drew in the crowd of Timberwolves players around him, cleared his throat and said with some admiration: "Howard scored 46 points and 19 rebounds!" ”

"Wow" the crowd was in an uproar.

Thomas smiled and continued, "However, Howard also contributed eight turnovers, and the Magic had a total of 18 turnovers, which is more than double that of the Hawks. So even if Howard made a big show in this game, making 14 of 22 free throws, he still couldn't save the Magic. ”

"It's a pity for Howard's good stats." Lefu shook his head and sighed, hearing Howard's data, his eyes lit up just now.

Howard's 31 points in the half broke Maddy's record of 28 points in a playoff half. It also tied the Magic playoff single-game scoring record held by Maddy. Unfortunately, in the end, the team could not win. Thomas said with a smile.

Zheng Ke couldn't believe that the Hawks were so strong, you must know that the Magic had reached the Finals two years ago, and the Timberwolves won the championship for the first time in history.

The Timberwolves players were rambling about the Magic and Hawks game, and the referees on the court blew the final quarter of the game between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies.

The Timberwolves led by 14 points, but Thibodeau continued to keep Zheng on the court.

Thibodeau thought very clearly, Zheng Ke stayed on the court for a few minutes, waited for the Timberwolves to expand the difference to more than 20 points, or continued to maintain a difference of about 15 points, and in the last 3 minutes or 4 minutes, Zheng Ke could be replaced in advance, in fact, it was also to let him rest, and it was better to rest in garbage time at the beginning.

So Zheng Ke continued to stay on the court at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Zheng Ke was on the court, not only attracting the attention of the Grizzlies, but also injecting the Timberwolves' bench players on the court with a shot in the arm. I felt that there was a Dinghaishen needle there, no matter how I stirred it, there would definitely be Zheng Ke to stabilize the situation, and my heart suddenly brightened up, and I played more confidently.

Minutes later, the Timberwolves stretched the margin to more than 20 points, and Zheng was substituted.

Although the Grizzlies did not replace the main players off the court, the game has actually entered garbage time, with Billups apprentice Lowry controlling the rhythm, and the Timberwolves are as steady as Taishan.

In the end, the first game was won by the Timberwolves with a score of 105-84.

Zheng's performance is slightly lower than his average of 34.7 points per game in the regular season. He only scored 29 points in the game, but he also scored 9 rebounds and 9 assists, as well as 3 steals and 2 blocks on the defensive end.

After the game, a media reporter interviewed about Tony Allen's defensive problems.

Zheng Ke changed his aggressiveness on the field and laughed: "He's really a fighter!" I admire his spirit, and every time I can feel the kind of blood and fighting spirit in him, no matter what kind of setbacks I encounter, the next second will definitely be brave and positive to pounce and put pressure on my defense. ”

Reporters were suddenly thundered, and the players who praised their opponents on the playoff stage may not be able to find a few in the history of the NBA.

But fortunately, Zheng Ke's compliments on his opponent are not the first thing, he used to often cheer for some of his opponents in the media, in short, good words are not the same as when he was on the field.

Zheng Ke did this, purely to be polite, anyway, he didn't suffer a loss when he said two good words, and at the same time he was able to show his generosity. Sometimes when you want to die or live on the field, you are like Zheng Ke off the field, and some people who have black feet and small actions will feel ashamed in their hearts.