After coming to the Clippers, O'Neal Jr. quickly became the core of the team's interior defense, and he had a bright vision for the future.

But since the start of the season, he has been hit by a constant number of blows.

He averaged 29 minutes per game, scoring 9.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.4 blocks.

After fighting for so long, he has received a positive evaluation of 'young', and when it comes to his news, they are all saying that he has been abused by anyone again, or he is bullying a thin opponent.

There is also a block king by his side, and he is also under a lot of pressure.

Gradually, he became less and less confident.

But as the saying goes, if you don't break it, you can't stand it, he throws that damn pride aside, and thinks of himself as a real rookie, even if he wants to be beaten again, he doesn't care, he is fearless!

Such a mentality broke the shackles of 'I am a genius' that shrouded him in himself!

Seeing that his teammates and fans didn't care about Spider-Man who blocked Maddie and Duncan in a row, and they were cheering for him, O'Neal Jr. began to build a new confidence in his heart, which was completely different from the previous name of 'genius high school student'!

Isn't the block as good as Spider-Man?

What's wrong with the strength that can't compare to Spider-Man?

There are also O'Neal, Duncan, Garnett, Webber in the world of basketball...... Wait for the superstars, but they won't play if they can't compare?

If you can't beat them, then play with your life.

Forget about Spider-Man, that's a teammate, you can't play with your life......

The game continued, with the Clippers serving in the backcourt.

Li Ao took Maddie to run, and the other party followed more closely than Marion.

"Timac, what are you doing so tightly? Isn't it good to leave some physical strength to attack? Seeing that you are only 16 points, don't you feel ashamed? ”

Maddie replied: "We have the strongest center. ”

"I'll relay your words to O'Neal."

"It's okay, Tim isn't afraid."

“…… You have so much faith in him, does he know? ”

"I don't know if he knows."

“……”

Li Ao was speechless, this guy doesn't seem to have any heart?

Li Ao didn't run out of position, Greg Anthony passed the ball to Big Q, and Big Q stepped back to shoot a three-point shot...... Miss!

O'Neal Jr. grabs an offensive rebound!

Duncan slammed it towards O'Neal Jr., who duffled a shot, turned and dribbled out of the three-second zone and made a jumper from close range...... Iron.

Although iron, Gentry on the sidelines was happy with the ball.

Fight decisively and confidently!

Moreover, when Duncan guarded the defensive rebound and was about to hang it to Maddie who was about to get off with Li Ao, O'Neal Jr. stuck up to interfere with the rush, and it happened that Armstrong was not in a good receiving position, and when Duncan dribbled to avoid O'Neal Jr.'s steal and passed to Mike Miller, the time for the Magic team to counterattack was over!

Gentry rejoices!

In the past, O'Neal Jr. was reluctant to do this kind of dirty work, always holding it, and his actual role in defending the opponent's fast break was not as good as that of Chris Meem and Sean Lukes, who were actively fighting.

At that time, although he struggled to run back, the center retreated, and if he didn't retreat early, he couldn't have outrun the defender, let alone O'Neal Jr., and David Robinson couldn't come.

And, David Robinson, Duncan, Garnett...... The stronger the ability of these defensive masters, the more positive these details are, and no one can't pull their faces.

The Magic fell into positional battles, and Duncan returned to the low post.

This time with mental preparation, Duncan's strength that is far rougher than the size seems to be shown, stuck O'Neal Jr. behind him, received the ball, and chiseled!

Not as furious and fast as O'Neal, Duncan's strong chisel was solid and steady, and O'Neal Jr. struggled to resist, but was knocked back to the left side of the basket.

O'Neal Jr. still didn't give up, and after being knocked back to the basket by Duncan's fierce force, he still struggled to press back, creating an opportunity for Li Ao to shrink and block!

But!

Duncan slammed O'Neal back and turned around to take a step towards the right side of the three-second zone, jumped, and threw the ball into the basket before Li Aofei's hand reached the basket!

It's rude and rude to create shooting opportunities, but it's too fine to finish that time!

Li Ao shook his head, patted Little O'Neill's back and ran forward.

It's too strong!

When he ran over the middle line, Maddie posted it, the smile on the corner of his mouth and the smugness in his eyes were not disguised at all.

He complained: "It's not you who scored, why are you so proud?" ”

Maddie shook her head and said, "You're jealous." ”

Dit!

Li Ao accelerated to the front court with his head bored, and was poked into his true thoughts.

A few more rounds passed, and the Magic quickly gained the upper hand after being hatted three times in the opening round.

Duncan's singles, Maddy's sudden points + Duncan's mention of a 45-degree angle mid-range response, Mike Miller's flank response is also really accurate, and the shooting rate is a little higher than Li Ao's two points longer.

In terms of mid-range shooting ability, Li Ao is a little stronger, but he needs to run, needs to connect the team to attack, and has more to do, Mike Miller only needs to stand in the area where he shoots the best to borrow cover, and most of the time he even needs to stand, ready to retreat at any time.

Coupled with the fact that Armstrong shares the pressure on Duncan and Maddie with the ball, Michael Dolyak's tonnage is also solid......

The Magic's offensive firepower is not ferocious, but it is stable!

And the Magic are doing an excellent job defensively!

Armstrong leads the arc defense, the meat shield protects the frame, Duncan covers the close range + pounces on the outside three-pointer if necessary, and Maddy chases Li Ao on the wing......

Li Ao didn't expect Maddie's defense to be so active and focused.

This is Maddie! What about the said good traffic commander?

Throwing off the defense again, Li Ao stood on the right side of the three-second zone and complained: "You said that your salary of millions a year, what kind of life do you play?" ”

Maddie asked in confusion: "Aren't you fighting harder defensively than me?" You rushed in so far and interfered with Michael's layup, and you're paid less than me. ”

Li Ao: ()

High school student wheat classmates online Deng Hua, how to break this?

Li Ao finally knew why Garnett looked at Duncan so unpleasantly, and why Peyton was so disgusted with Stockton.

Spewing trash talk at such an opponent is like punching cotton, and there is no sense of accomplishment at all, but your emotions will be affected.

With 8:22 left in the first quarter, the Clippers called a timeout and entered the rotation.

The score was 12-16, and the Clippers trailed by four points.

O'Neal Jr. took the lead, worked hard to defend, and led the whole team to pull down the offensive efficiency of the Magic team, but the Magic team is really stable!

Li Ao, who was replaced, learned one thing - he used to think that the Spurs were very stable, but now he understands that it is not the Spurs that are stable and Popovich is stable......

There is Duncan in the team, a donkey on the bench, and a tactical coach who can create a suitable offensive and defensive system for Duncan, all of which can be very stable, and it has little to do with who coaches.

The tactics of the Magic team are actually very decent, and there are no bright spots, that is, the strength of the TT duo is strong, and they drive the whole team.

However, compared with the strength of his opponent, Li Ao is more sorry for his own side.

He really wants a stronger point guard teammate right now.

It's not that I dislike Greg Anthony, the veteran has a steady pass, a solid three-pointer, and a lot of experience in the game, which is very good, but he doesn't have the ability to attack on his own like Armstrong.

McGinnis has the ability to attack independently, but the style of play is the core style of play, and it is unique and wavelike, and the key strength is average.

Boykins, a pure assaulter, is still very immature at the age of 24, and although he is in the third grade, he does not have much more competition experience than O'Neal Jr.

Kenyon Dolin, who entered the NBA and got stuck on the wall.

Every player on the point guard line has his own characteristics, but he can't count on them when it matters most.

Or a mid-range shooter is fine, but the big Q is two points unstable, and Piakowski's baseline mid-range shot is within Duncan's defensive coverage......

In the end, Li Ao began to dislike him for being alone - he had to have an independent offensive ability!

Without technique, it is difficult to show his mid-range shooting ability when encountering opponents such as Maddie and Marion, who are physically better than him and extremely active in defense.

Anyway, when you play a weak team, your running ability is enough, so let's develop an independent attack first!

I thought about the back beating many times, and was put on the agenda by Li Ao.

There is a solution, regardless of whether it can really solve the problem, anyway, at this moment, he detracts from the current status quo that cannot be changed.

He complained to O'Neill Jr. and Greg Anthony, who were also replaced: "Didn't you say that No. 21's knee injury was destroyed and his athleticism was destroyed? Why is it still so fast and jumping so high? ”

Little O'Neill nodded in approval and spoke to his heart.

Greg Anthony responded: "Yes, his athleticism has been greatly affected, you can see if you look closely, his starting speed and jump are slower than before, but his sense of anticipation is so good, like the two attacks that he hit the two of you in one pick and two hits, you think about it carefully, you will find that he predicted your movements, and you can change in advance with one shot, so that you can complete the attack at the same time as your best defensive moves." ”

Li Ao + O'Neill Jr.: (へ╬)

Who says no brains?

We're both smart!

…

Entering the rotation, the Magic team is still playing steadily under the leadership of Maddy.

Duncan sat on the sidelines and gave his teammates a lot of confidence.

There is also the fact that Maddie played very steadily, without waves, and chose the most secure style of play, breaking through the ball and passing it to his teammates with the best chances.

Li Ao looked at Maddie with this style of play and speculated on Maddie's personality traits...... Or rather character flaws.

When he played for Carter, Maddie's style of court was similar to Carter's - very aggressive and hardworking, but without any goal, he liked to compete with opposing players, and he was inexplicably competitive in all kinds of comparisons with opposing players, but he had an average desire to win or lose.

When he played for Duncan, Maddie's style of play was steady, and he had a strong desire to win the game, but he was not blind, and he was confident but trusted his teammates.

Li Ao thought back to Maddie in the original time and space, in addition to voting or investing, becoming more and more independent.

But if you look at the situation during the Raptors period, after Maddie arrived at the Magic, Duncan didn't come, Hill was reimbursed year after year, Maddie could only score, and even regarded scoring as the only thing in the back, except for shooting, he didn't know what else he had, and he became extremely persistent about shooting, and in the end he was even afraid that others would rob him of his shooting opportunities......

Such a character 'flaw' is actually beneficial, just like now, with a boss like Duncan, there is no need to correct Maddie's playing style, he will follow Duncan to learn those good playing habits.

At the end of the first quarter, the Magic led the Clippers by six points at 23-17 and entered the second quarter.

Unlike in the past, at the beginning of the second quarter, Gentry sent Li Ao on.

As he expected, Maddie played the full first quarter and had a break at the beginning of the second quarter.

Maddie's average playing time per game is not particularly high, and the playing style of passing control + defense-based and singles supplemented by a lot of consumption is quite large, and the average playing time per game is only 344 or 5 minutes.

Li Ao came to the court and looked at the backup point guard Troy Hudson opposite...... It's another day of wanting to deduct Baylor's pension.

The other 4 players opposite are Mike Miller, Monty Williams, Pat Garriti, Duncan.

On the Clippers' side, the other four players on the court are Greg Anthony, Piakowski, Margetty, and O'Neal Jr.

The second quarter began, and the Magic attacked.

Li Ao led his teammates to strengthen the defensive confrontation.

The situation is unfavorable and his strength is absolutely at a disadvantage, but he still maintains his focus and hard work.

Only then will it be possible to seize the opportunity when it comes.

Anything can happen in a competition.

Even if you don't have the chance, you can hone your ability against the top team led by Duncan.

Duncan, who rested for 4 minutes at the end of the first quarter, came on the court for the first offense - fell to the low post and chiseled O'Neal Jr.!

He looks like an emotionless robot, but he also has his eye for caution.

It was little O'Neill who caused him to be blocked by Li Ao at the beginning!

Chisel cry him!

However, O'Neill Jr. is still fearless and plays with his life.

Li Ao contracted the pinch in advance, and Duncan didn't hit the right position yet, he calmly chose to divide the ball ...... "snap"...... As soon as the ball left Duncan's hand, it was slapped by Li Ao!

'Siege Level 3' has an effect on the ability to predict the opponent's passing line!

O'Neill Jr. grabbed the ball that was photographed by Li Ao and immediately passed it to Margety.

Margeti ran like an American bison with muscles all over his body, and all the players who retreated from the Magic team blocked it, and Magetti shared the ball!

Li Ao rushed into the three-point line to receive the ball, jumped in two steps in a row, and scored two points with both hands!

Focus, hard work, paid off!

Isn't this the opportunity coming!

Not much, though......

After the mistake, Duncan played more cautiously, preferring to pass the ball slower and have a worse chance after a teammate's catch, and not so urgent.

Featuring a steady!

On Li Ao's side, there are not many opportunities to counterattack, and the offensive end can only play positional battles, and he is not discouraged, but strengthens the output of the offensive end and increases his shots.

Even though Maddie was resting, his shooting opportunities weren't great.

He has a good reputation, and opponents have long started targeting him.

A top team like the Magic team also learned from the Lakers to make up for him.

But this kind of defense, he has gradually become accustomed to it, Maddie is not there, he plays quite freely, responds to the mid-rotation, shooting, which opportunity is good, if it is a teammate who has a bad shooting performance tonight, he chooses to face the defense and shoot.

Li Ao and O'Neal Jr.'s hard work on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends drove the enthusiasm of their teammates, although Duncan led the team to pull away a little bit, the Magic team's advantage was more solid after Maddy came on the court, and the Clippers players did not give up.

The Magic side is also playing hard - this opponent is too tough!

Originally, Rivers wanted Duncan to play seven or eight minutes and rest, an 11-11 opponent, but he planned before the game that Duncan would play 334 minutes, without playing until 40 minutes, and the playing time schedule for Maddie was only in his early 30s.

As a result, Duncan played a full second quarter!

In the second half of the second quarter, the Clippers sent McGinnis outside singles, Li Ao was flanked by the wing, and Margety, Odom, and O'Neal Jr. were frontcourt combinations.

The frontcourt trio was very fierce in attacking rebounding, and Duncan was not able to do a particularly good job of rebounding protection on the court, Duncan was replaced, and Rivers felt that the rebounding ball would be snatched up.

Fortunately, the first half was about to end, it was 10 minutes and 58 seconds, the score was 47-36, and they maintained a double-digit lead from the middle of the second quarter, which was very solid, and they planned how to protect the rebound at halftime, and just keep the lead in the second half.

Like Rivers, the Magic players on the court also felt that this wave of torturous hand-to-hand combat was about to end.

However, the Magic players did not let up, and when it came to the Clippers' offense, they were more active in defense and guarding.

McGinnis continued to single-hander pullup jump shots...... It's iron in Maddie's defense!

Duncan moved aggressively, taking the lead in a favorable position, and he used an iron elbow to push Odom away to extend the rebounding area.

The ball bounced towards Duncan's head, Duncan was very happy, this ball was blocked, and there was at most one defense in the first half, and he could rest after one more round...... Huh? Why is the light dim?

Duncan didn't have time to jump, and there was a sense of impact from behind!

Li Ao's chin appeared in Duncan's sight......

Li Ao rushed to the sideline of the three-second zone, jumped from behind Duncan, and pressed the ball back to the basket through Duncan!

Duncan didn't move, and in the frantic cheers of the fans at the scene, he waited for Li Ao to land smoothly, then turned around and ran forward with Li Ao.

This detail, even the Clippers players can't help but praise the opponent's character.

Only O'Neal Jr., who followed Duncan to the frontcourt, shouted in his heart, 'Qiang'.

When it came to the Magic's offense, as O'Neal Jr. expected, Duncan fell into the low post again!

I can't stand it!

However, although little O'Neill called 'and stilt' in his heart, he still fearlessly went up...... Duncan's back play this time was particularly furious, and before Li Ao shrank into place, he turned and smashed the ball into the basket through O'Neal Jr.

was abused again, but O'Neill Jr. did not have the frustration and self-doubt that he had been beaten up in the past.

But he was very sad and angry!

It's not me who deducted you! Why do you scare me every time?

…

In the next time, the Clippers worked hard throughout the whole process, and only Li Ao led the team's enthusiasm before, and when they really encountered an opponent who was completely unbeatable, they still felt discouraged in the late game.

But now there is one more O'Neal Jr., who influences his teammates in a different way from Li Ao and drives the enthusiasm of his teammates, at least tonight, the Clippers keep working hard throughout the whole process!

What is the effect...... Duncan only had a four-minute break in the first quarter and a two-minute break at the start of the third quarter tonight, playing 42 minutes in the game!

Maddie also played more minutes than usual, playing 39 minutes.

Duncan has played an average of 40 minutes per game this season, more than 40 minutes when playing a strong team, and only 356 minutes when playing a weak team.

Maddie averages 34 minutes per game, usually playing close to 40 minutes against strong teams, and only about 30 minutes when playing weak teams.

Tonight, the Clippers were treated as a strong team by the Magic.

Duncan was furious, shooting 15-of-28 from the field, plus 8-of-14 free throws, to finish with 38 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 5 blocks.

Maddy had 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 block.

Under the leadership of the two, the Magic team held the lead to the end, relying on defense to withstand wave after wave of counterattacks of the Clippers, defeating the Clippers 95-89, improving the record to 18-6, maintaining the record advantage over the Lakers, temporarily ranking first in the league!

O'Neal Jr. was on offense tonight, but despite the loss, he earned the cheers of the fans in attendance.

6 points, 12 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, did a good job.

Fans watched every time Spider-Man angered Duncan, it was O'Neal Jr. who suffered, and they were distressed.

Li Ao hatted Duncan 3 times tonight! Spacer twice!

Although Duncan also returned Li Ao's two blocks, but Li Ao's style of play, Duncan couldn't deduct Li Ao no matter what, and the blocking was not as favorable as the other party, so most of the resentment was sprinkled on O'Neal Jr.

In this regard, the bottom line fans comforted O'Neal Jr.: "Jermaine, please be strong!" ”

You can't let Spider-Man suffer, right? That's okay.

O'Neal Jr. was comforted and defended more violently, and was also blown up more times head-on......

Li Ao got 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 6 blocks tonight, the data is very good, and it would be better to ignore the shooting rate of 7 of 21 shots.

Receiving a 100-point consolation prize and sliding his record to 11-12, what can make Li Ao feel a little more comforted is the change in the mentality of O'Neal Jr., a teammate who serves as the core of the interior defense, so that he has the conditions to look forward to a better future.

Also, the mission is accomplished!

"The Plague of Innocence:

Number of times the host has been blocked by Tim Duncan: 2, number of shackles: 0.

Number of times the host has completed the block against Tim Duncan: 3 times, and the number of shackles: 2 times.

Congratulations to the host for completing all the objectives, reward: 1 level 3 skill upgrade card. ”

Duncan made more shots in the second half, O'Neal Jr. defended hard, and Li Ao improved the effect of shrinking and blocking, and each capped Duncan once in the third and fourth quarters, and by the way, Andrew De Klerk, the substitute center, was given a big hat.

The second time Duncan was at the end of the third quarter, when Boykins, who came off the bench, rushed successfully when Maddy counterattacked, the Clippers played a counterattack, Li Ao rushed to close range to receive the ball, Duncan had already completed the block, and he couldn't even complete the interference, but he still raised his hand and rushed to the basket without hesitation...... 'sent' Li Ao a dunk...... and a series of single critical hits to O'Neal Jr. in the fourth quarter.

After a night's rest, Li Ao got rid of the depression caused by losing, and after the morning exercise and breakfast, he made a phone call: "Boss, do you have time, are you interested in teaching a player who is more talented than you to play back singles?" ”

(End of chapter)