Chapter 62: You Say It Again
Mavericks vs. Kings at their post-game press conference.
Mavericks head coach Carlisle was asked why he didn't continue to field Wang Dachun, who was eye-catching in the second quarter, in the second half of the game.
Carlisle replied very clearly, Wang Dachun, as the team's main interior center, is the first game after returning from injury. One quarter of the game is more than enough.
As the head coach of Wang Dachun, he must take responsibility for the health of his players, which is more important than the outcome of the game.
January 14th. The Mavericks flew to Denver for an away game against the Nuggets.
The Nuggets' lineup today is also based on the inside. At this stage, it seems that most teams in the league consider the Mavericks' interior to be their biggest weakness.
The Mavericks' last game against the Kings. Even Wang Dachun had an amazing performance in the second quarter. But after all, there was only one quarter, and the Mavericks still lost to the Kings in the end.
This makes more teams think. The Mavericks' comeback in the second quarter was short-lived. The inside line is still their biggest weakness.
The starting lineup that the Kings fielded today is:
Point guard. Chauncey Billups. 191 cm.
Scoring guard. J.R. Smith. 198 cm.
Small forward. Dundee Jones. 198 cm.
Power forward. Kenyon Martin. 206 cm.
Center. Nee Hilario. 211 cm.
The Mavericks' starting lineup is the same as in the last game. Today, however, Coach Carlisle's inner activity was more intense. Counting the last game against the Kings, the Mavericks are currently on a four-game losing streak.
Judging by the Nuggets' lineup today. It will be very difficult for the Mavericks to take down the Nuggets. If they lose this game, the Mavericks will lose five in a row again
The Nuggets made it clear today that they want to play to the Mavericks' soft underbelly. If the Mavericks want to strengthen their weaknesses. Wang Dachun's playing time must be extended.
Wang Dachun's second game after returning from injury. Coach Carlisle had planned to still give Wang Dachun only one quarter of playing time, but if he wanted to win this victory. Wang Dachun has time to make adjustments. Carlisle is still in a position to decide.
After the game against the Kings. Carlisle consulted with the Mavericks' medical team and asked Wang Dachun to have a review after the game. See if there are any signs of recurrence of Wang Dachun's original injury after the game.
The answer is that Wang Dachun's current physical condition is very healthy. That's when it's not used.
The match between the two sides begins.
The Diggers and Kings are both focused on the Mavericks' interior. But in the tactical approach, there is still a difference.
The Kings used a two-tower tactic to focus on positional warfare. And the head coach of the Nuggets, George Carr. Developed inside tactics. It is an inward cut tactic that is carried out by Kenyon Martin and Nene as the top athletes in the league.
The first quarter of the game. Just as Nuggets head coach George Karl envisioned. Their two interior lines attacked the Mavericks' interior defense like beasts. In addition, Smith's knife-like saggerence on the outside line hit two unreasonable three-pointers.
At the end of the first quarter. The score has reached 33:21. The Mavericks trailed by 12 points.
The first quarter of the game. Mavericks center Danpier still only had two rebounds, just like he did last time. Even the head coach Carlisle specially instructed before the game.
If Dampier comes on the field. It's hard to grab rebounds inside. Try to rely on your tonnage to help Nowitzki get rebounds. However, Dampier's performance on the field was still not satisfactory.
Before the start of the second quarter. After Wang Dachun did warm-up activities on the sidelines, he went on the court with the main team.
He was also very anxious to watch from the sidelines just now, his own defensive basket was like no money, and he was constantly abused by the Nuggets' interior line, and several goals should be able to be prevented in his opinion!
The reason why Wang Dachun has such a view. It's as his game experience continues to grow. and the conclusion that the reading ability on the field is also improving.
The second quarter begins.
The Nuggets, on their side, are the same as the Mavericks. The starting lineup is still line-up. Neither Nene nor Kenyon Martin took Wang Dachun as a rookie seriously.
The Nuggets are still playing the same way they played in the first quarter.
Nuggets offense.
The inner penalty area stuck Wang Dachun. Kenyon Martin through his excellent athleticism. Shake off Nowitzki and cut inside, such as Puss's pass that followed.
Kenyon Martin remained the same as in the first quarter. Get up and get ready to dunk. Wang Dachun, who was stuck by Nene, only exerted his strength at this time. Nene was almost pushed out by Wang Dachun's sudden force.
Nene is furious! was about to push the force back, at this time Wang Dachun "pulled the stool". Let the overly strong Nene fall directly out of the bottom line.
At this time, Kenyon Martin in the air was also exposed in front of Wang Dachun. Wang Dachun didn't even jump. Stretched out his big hand and gave Kenyon Martin a volleyball cap.
The fanned basketball flew high into the back seat of the audience. This made Nuggets fans, who had been in a state of excitement since the beginning of the game, suddenly mute.
This made Kenyon Martin a little embarrassed. In Wang Dachun's episode of caps just now, he didn't even jump, which made him feel like a big slap in the face. Although it was a basketball fan, Kenyan Martin felt that it was his face that was slapped.
Nuggets possession.
Billups reorganized. Martin asks Billups for the ball. I want to single-play Wang Dachun. Billups didn't give the ball to Kenyon Martin. Instead, a tactical gesture was made.
Kenyon Martin pulls Nowitzki to the right three-point corner. Nene screens JR Smith from the left and cuts inside from the left, and JR Smith comes to the penalty area. The fake sudden pass passed the ball to Nene behind him, Wang Dachun was not deceived into jumping, and the close defense got the basketball to the inside of the penalty area.
That's when Kenyon Martin ran back into the box. Nene passed the basketball to Kenyon Martin who ran over, and Wang Dachun was in the blind spot with his back to Kenyon Martin. Kenyon Martin, who was already holding the ball and preparing to jump off and dunk Wang Dachun, also showed a hideous smile on his face, and even muttered "Let you be an Asian monkey dare to hat Lao Tzu".
However, Kenyon Martin still underestimated Wang Dachun's intuition as a goalkeeper. When Kenyon Martin jumped to the highest point. Wang Dachun had already turned around and jumped. Even Kenyon Martin has the best jumping ability in the NBA. But how can he compare his height with Wang Dachun, who has the ability to touch the top edge of the rebound, in the air. Wang Dachun's big hand pressed the basketball and pressed Kenyon Martin the floor with the ball.
That's right, just press back to the floor. When Kenyon Martin landed, the force in Wang Dachun's hand still did not stop. Let Kenyon Martin, who wants to protect the basketball, hold the basketball with both hands, and after Wang Dachun landed, the strength of his hand plus the inertia when he fell. Press Kenyon Martin directly to the floor with the ball.
There was silence at the Pepsi Center in Denver!
Wang Dachun, who stood up, looked condescendingly at Kenyon Martin who was still lying on the floor, and said coldly:
"Let's try it again!"