The home and away games alternated, with the Clippers and Magic getting two days off.

On the afternoon of the 10th, the Clippers had a morning rest and left for Orlando early.

Orlando is Disney's home base and full of childlike fun, and Ballmer felt that going there early might ease the pressure of losing home advantage.

On the plane, Li Ao decided not to play after losing 50 US dollars in playing cards, and nested in the back row to watch last night's video.

He really didn't share the sky with gambling and drugs.

Jordan was not lucky today, and after losing 9 in a row, he slapped the table and left, and his teammates got used to the violent temper of the basketball god and continued to play with them.

Jordan came to Li Ao's side, glanced at the screen, snorted, and said: "Don't look at it if you can't see it, you have already watched it twice at the airport, we already have a way to deal with them, you just honestly help me create opportunities." ”

Li Ao was speechless, he didn't pay attention last night, but he saw it when he watched the news this morning - when he shouted 'I will definitely come back', which was popular in the sports world today, Jordan's mouth next to him had already opened, as if he wanted to say something.

Don't guess, looking at Jordan's expression, he definitely has to pretend to be a force, but he was cut off by Spider-Man, and he is still unhappy.

Li Ao replied decisively: "Then you have to grasp the opportunity, creating opportunities is too simple for me." ”

"I can do this kind of thing with my eyes closed!"

At the age of 40, in the finals, it has become a vital part of the tactics, even Jordan, he feels very excited, and there is still a little bit of trepidation.

After a wave of mutual scolding, Jordan also focused his eyes on the screen and watched the video clip together.

The mouth is disgusted, but the body is still very honest.

After reading it, Jordan frowned and said: "I can't be sure before last night's game, but now I'm sure that the way we played last night is indeed the best choice for us." ”

"The advantage of the way we played last night was that even if the Magic knew we were going to do that, it would be difficult to disrupt our plan through tactical adjustments, but the disadvantages were also obvious, I and you had to open up the offense, and Mike had to grasp the key ball...... If only I could think of a safer way. ”

"You always want to be the best you can be, it's not that easy, I've won two triples in a row, I've played six of five times, I've been inconsistent even after the first four games, and I've won two championships by just one point.

It's a finals, you can't have an absolute advantage every time like last season, and it's good to have a plan with a clear hope of winning.

To win the championship, we don't need to crush the opponent, we just need to perform better than the opponent. ”

"That's right...... But Alvin is really bold, he can think of such a plan, almost use the strengths of me and you, and others, to the extreme, there is no room for it, if it doesn't work, 0-2 behind, he should be scolded. ”

"The head coach who won the championship is naturally different."

"How?"

"Winning a championship is a valuable experience for a team's head coach and assistant coach, otherwise why would the assistant coach of every championship team receive a high-salary offer from other teams?

Now Alvin already knows what he is going to do in the finals, and he is not afraid of failure, he has led the team to win the championship, he is a meritorious coach, and the team can't do anything with him if they lose once.

With the championship trophy in place, he can be more bold in executing his plans, and he reminds me of Phil Jackson.

The first time I played in the Finals, Phil didn't do a good job of commanding, we had a better record than the Lakers, we had a home-court advantage, but the first game was lost because of Phil's panicked command, he was worried about this, worried about that, and the tactical adjustment was a mess.

Fortunately, our assistant coach at that time was Tyrese Winter, yes, the one who invented the triangle offense, and in the second game, he began to lead the tactical adjustments, and we brought out our true strength and won four games in a row to beat the Lakers.

After winning the championship, Phil became very confident, and in the finals the following year, he completely crushed Adelman on the spot and became the best coach.

By the way, what a coincidence, the triangle offense is a tactic that Tyrese Winter came up with when he was a sports management major at USC, but at that time your school's vision was not good, and he wanted to stay on the Trojans coaching staff after graduating from college and was turned down, and then he went to the University of Kansas to help the Wildcats lay the foundation of a traditional powerhouse......"

Maybe it's getting old, Jordan loves to remember the past this season.

Fortunately, there are many stories about his legendary basketball career, and Li Ao is also willing to listen to them.

…

After a night of rest and a day of training in Orlando,

On June 12th, the third match day of the finals arrived.

At 7:40 p.m., the TD Waterhouse Center Gymnasium, the Clippers and Magic entered the court one after another.

After the lights came on, Li Ao saw an extra-long slogan spelled out by a row of fans behind the technical station - "Thank you for coming to our championship award ceremony, and I wish you all the best on your way home." ”

Li Ao nodded and commented: "The trash talk of the fans of this Magic team is much more cultured, and we will make one next time, Jermaine, let's go back and let the fans raise 'Duncan, do you think you are worth 100 million'?" ”

O'Neill Jr.: !! ∑(Дノ)ノ

If you want to kill me, I'll just say it!

Offend two of the best centers in the world in one sentence?

Although I have already offended countless times......

The Magic still looked unwavering before the game, the hostility on the Clippers' side increased, and the difference between the two teams was reflected in this small thing.

At 8 p.m., G3 kicks off.

Both teams attach great importance to this game, if the Magic team wins, they can turn the home advantage they grabbed into a real advantage, leading 2-1, and the next two home games can win as long as they can win one, they can enter the match point, and the Clippers naturally do not want to see such a situation.

The Clippers continued the style of play in the second game, and Li Ao started to attack!

Although Li Ao didn't find a better way in terms of team strategy, his personal style of play has improved compared to the previous battle!

In the last game, he had 9-10 minutes in each quarter and could go all out on both offensive and defensive ends, which caught the Magic team off guard, and he himself was very excited.

He actually just took Gentry's advice in the last game and tried to change the playing time.

In the past, he has been trying to reduce physical exertion as much as possible, such as paddling on the offensive end when there is a strong scorer on the court, and increasing the time he stays on the court.

He was the No. 3 offensive player on the team after Bibby and Jordan as the first point of contact for every lineup, and he was definitely the right choice, and his 'daily stroke' on the offensive end allowed Jordan and Bibby to play their ball-handling offensive ability, and Odom and O'Neal Jr. to grow steadily, so the Clippers quickly became championship contenders.

This season, things have changed a bit – as his stamina has improved, his stamina has gradually become 'over-the-top' for his style of play.

Other young players are prone to situations where their physical strength is not enough to support the demand for play, and when they come to him, they become unable to exhaust their physical strength by playing style!

Gentry hadn't noticed it before, and he must have been happy that the Disciples could play the whole game when they needed to, which meant that they could play the whole game.

But when it came time to play the Western Conference with the Lakers, he was shocked - the lover could barely support himself in the hard steel with Kobe!

This is not about scoring against each other and fighting against strength, but about mutual physical exertion.

Although Li Ao didn't consume Kobe, he didn't make Kobe feel better!

After G1, Gentry meditated for a long time, and discussed with Li Ao the next day, asking Li Ao to play 2-3 minutes less per quarter, no matter what the score was and what the situation was, to concentrate on the output of physical strength.

Don't underestimate the lack of two or three minutes per quarter, which has greatly improved the continuity of his offensive and defensive performances!

His physical strength has surpassed the top to 95, and he can't do it if he plays a full 48 minutes like Kobe and Iverson and still looks energetic, but he can do it if he plays 40 minutes to keep the offense and defense in one, interspersed with breaks!

In the last game, he was not sure if he could do it, so he didn't prepare much, and spent all his time studying the Magic team defense, ready to switch back to his previous style of play at any time.

This time it's different, he's more prepared in terms of the details of the main attack!

In the first quarter, Li Ao played 10 minutes and 55 seconds and made 7 shots, not as much as G2, but also scored 3 goals! plus 2 of 2 free throws, 8 points, 1 board and 1 assist!

Under the leadership of Li Ao, the Clippers scored 20 points during this time, 4 points ahead of the Magic team with 16 points!

For Li Ao's offense to play better, the Magic team has already expected it.

The players of the G2 Magic team can see that Li Ao plays too simple and direct, too focused on maintaining the threat of shooting, and has less changes, while Li Ao has become more and more comprehensive in his mid-range shooting skills and has the ability to do more.

But even if it was expected, it would be difficult for the Magic team to go further defensively.

After three years of training and two finals, Li Ao's off-ball running has been extremely superb.

He didn't aim to run out of the open space, he just wanted to get the space to catch the ball, get a more comfortable catch-and-shoot rhythm, the goal was not so high, and he didn't even think about avoiding defensive interference, which is very detailed and difficult for the Magic team to further restrict.

Even if it can be done, it will consume more physical strength, which will affect the continuity of stability, and the gains outweigh the losses.

In the final analysis, Li Ao still takes the path of eating the feel, no matter how well he grasps the details, he still eats the feel, and he can't shake the team defense of the Magic team.

It's just that Li Ao feels really good tonight, and he gets the same score as the first quarter of G2 with fewer shots, and the physical consumption on the offensive end has also been reduced to a certain extent because of the better details, and the playing time is 1 minute longer than the previous game...... Bibby, the rotating Odom and Jaric took advantage of the threat posed by Li Ao, and the team played better in attack than in the past two games.

In the last 1:05, both teams scored two points each, and at the end of the first quarter, the Clippers held on to a four-point lead, leading the Magic 22-18!

The situation opened up, and the Clippers went smoothly behind, and the Clippers and Magic were tied 21-22 in the second quarter, maintaining a slight three-point lead into halftime.

Stern saw this score in tears, it was not easy, both teams finally scored more than 40 points in the half, and the iron-blooded battle between the Knicks and the Heat was not so difficult back then.

In the third quarter, the Magic strengthened their offensive and defensive output in this quarter, with Cassel and Maddy taking turns to launch a pick-and-roll offense with Clifford Robinson, plus Duncan's singles, and the strongest lineup of the Clippers to face off.

It is known that the purpose of the Clippers is to let Jordan, who has unparalleled individual ability, close the game in the third quarter, and the Magic team is naturally prepared.

In the first half of the quarter, both teams scored 13 points, and the star duel between the two teams was inseparable.

After the official timeout, the X-factor appeared!

Bibby hit two consecutive three-point shots after blocking and dismantling to break the balance!

Playing a tug-of-war with the ready-to-play four stars of Kassel, Maddy, Clifford Robinson, and Duncan, Li Ao and Jordan are still extremely difficult even with the assistance of Bibby, Matt Harplin, O'Neal Jr., and Odom, who rotates on the court.

The two of them always have state fluctuations, and the opposite side is like a well-tuned machine, continuing to output at a high level, and when the official pause, both of them have no bottom in their hearts, at this time, the white devil who has not had much presence in front of him like a 'ball distribution machine' suddenly kills out, solving the urgent need of the two!

Not only that, but the lead was raised from 3 points to 9 points, and the Clippers really took the initiative!

At this moment, in such an unfavorable situation, the TT combination looked at Kassel in unison.

The two superstars are pinning their hopes on a 33-year-old veteran...... The veteran himself didn't feel any pressure.

Although he was not valued by the team before, he has been doing such things and carrying the team forward.

Maddie and Duncan made the safest choice, focusing on defense and handing over offense to Cassel.

Cassel did not disappoint the two, leading the team to 12 points in the second half of the quarter, and the TT combination did not let Cassel's efforts in vain, leading the team to defend the Clippers only scored 9 points in the second half of the quarter, and did not let the Clippers continue to expand their advantage.

At the end of the third quarter, the Magic chased the score to 65-71 and narrowed the gap to 6 points!

Unable to widen the gap further, Gentry smiled.

In this half quarter, it seems that the Magic team has risen to the momentum, and if it weren't for Bibby's two three-pointers, the Magic team would have tied the score.

No! Not only that, but if it weren't for Bibi's two three-pointers to boost morale, the Clippers, whose strongest lineup was suppressed by the opposite side, would be very likely to collapse in the second half of the quarter, and it would not be as simple as being tied with the score, and the Magic team might even play a clear lead in one fell swoop.

But Bibby threw those two three-pointers, and the Clippers withstood the Magic's counterattack and held on to a six-point lead, and the balance of victory was already tilted!

The Magic team concentrated on firepower output in the third quarter and maintained a high level of performance throughout the quarter, putting aside Bibby's two unexpected three-pointers, the Magic's regular star battle crushed the Clippers 25-22, but the Magic team started to soar in the third quarter, and there will be no power to explode again in the fourth quarter!

Gentry's confident smile was captured on camera, and if it was turned over in the end, it would definitely make headlines.

Fortunately, his prediction was correct, the headline may still be his smile, the title of a certain wave of sports - Jin Shuai smiled slightly, and the victory is under control!

In the final quarter, the Magic switched back to a solid style of play, and the TT team was unwilling to be six points behind, but they still chose to continue with the established strategy.

The third quarter was also a solid part of their game, and Rivers' ability to prepare for the game was among the first echelons in the league.

In the face of the Magic's stable and powerful style of play, the Clippers did not play easily in the final quarter, but relied on Li Ao's regular scoring, the impact of young players, team defense, and Bibby's goal at critical moments...... Hold the lead until the end!

At 10:26 p.m., Odom received the ball and threw it into the air, and the final whistle blew.

Duncan shot 8-of-17 from the field, plus 4-of-7 free throws, and scored 20 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks, and his performance has stabilized.

Maddie had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, and was an excellent second-in-command.

Cassel had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal.

But still lost to the Clippers!

8 points in the first quarter, 6 points in the second quarter, 5 points in the third quarter, and 5 points in the fourth quarter, Li Ao played 39 minutes, 9 of 19 shots, including 2 of 5 three-pointers, plus 4 of 5 free throws, and got 24 points, 7 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks!

Jordan had 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and Bibby had 20 points and 6 assists.

With a score of 21-22 in the final quarter, the Clippers finally defeated the Magic 92-87 to regain the home-court advantage and lead 2-1!

After the final whistle, Li Ao and his teammates celebrated excitedly.

Now Bao Q yelled at the surrounding camera: "We'll bring the finals back to Los Angeles, Spider-Man said!" He said it, and we did it right away! ”

Li Ao, who was already ready to pretend to be forced on the side, felt Jordan's feelings last night...... Gan!

And, having said that, can't their Clippers just finish the Finals on the road?

…

Clippers fans don't have to worry about not being able to return to Los Angeles in the Finals, and Big Q shouted out their hearts.

Snatched back the home advantage, even if they lose the next two games, it will only be 2-3 and will not be eliminated!

It's still dangerous to fall behind 2-3, but that's after that, and now we've got through the biggest crisis.

After breathing a sigh of relief, the minds of Clippers fans also came alive, and they came up with the same idea as Li Ao - why can't they just finish the Finals on the road?

You don't have to bring the finals back to Los Angeles, do you?

This ambitious idea was quickly shattered......

A day later, on June 14, the Magic defeated the Clippers 86-79 at home, tied the score at 2-2 and avoided the crisis of losing three games in a row.

Duncan played 43 minutes, shooting 11-of-23 from the field, plus 2-of-3 free throws, to finish with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 blocks.

Maddie had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, Cassel had 15 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists, Mike Miller had 12 points, and Clifford Robinson had 2 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

Li Ao's scoring slipped tonight, shooting only 8 of 21, two three-point shots, plus 5 of 7 free throws, and got 21 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks.

Plus Jordan's 14 points and 2 assists, Bibby's 15 points and 4 assists, and O'Neal Jr.'s 10 points and 10 boards, are not opponents of the Magic.

Tonight, the Magic's style of play is still the same as in the past three games, and it is unstoppable.

And the Clippers' all-or-nothing style of play missed tonight.

The Clippers' strategic plan is linked one by one, first of all, Li Ao has to open up the situation, and then it can go smoothly, and he didn't do well tonight, neither maintaining a large number of shots like G2, nor hitting G3 shots.

Gentry thought the Magic might fluctuate after losing two games in a row, just as they did after the first two games of the Finals last season.

Once the Magic give up on steady, the Clippers have a better chance of winning.

Although he didn't think it was very likely, Gentry was still looking forward to taking advantage of the situation to take the Magic team in waves.

But tonight the Magic team did not waver, and Gentry even clearly felt how determined the Magic players were!

(End of chapter)