Chapter 687 [Competition of Perseverance, Stalemate to the End]
Yu Jia said: "Kidd received high evaluations in the first round. People said he guarded Kobe, but in the second round, Kidd had no way to defeat Westbrook. He was afraid of the speedy defender who was good at breaking through. Now Kidd Germany is obviously at a disadvantage against Paul."
Zhang Lijia sighed: "Yes, he defended Curry for two rounds but failed. Even though Curry is just a kid, he really dared to shoot after receiving the ball and really dared to fake past Kidd." (Curry: I am 190CM. children...)
With Barea playing, the Mavericks have someone who can break through on the outside; Marion is responsible for defense, guarding Gay alone and switching pick-and-rolls, both of which are excellent.
After two rounds, Gay was fouled and entered the dead ball when he was guarding Barea's breakthrough. Yang Rui also made substitutions. DeAndre Jordan came out and replaced Gay, and sent twin towers inside.
As a result, the lineups of both sides have become mutually exclusive.
Jordan is responsible for covering the middle, and can cut and dunk after the pick-and-roll. Griffin can directly hold the ball and beat Marion in isolation. The focus of the offense has shifted to the inside, and Paul is still the one who initiates the offense.
Marion defends the pick-and-roll in the middle, and is half a head shorter than Jordan. Once he is diverted by Paul, it is difficult to defend the inside cut, and it may not be too late to turn around and commit a foul. On the side, Nowitzki defends Griffin and Curry's off-ball screen, which tests the veteran's mobility.
Marion went to defend from the side, and Nowitzki had the same difficulty guarding Paul and Jordan's pick-and-roll. Thank God he could keep up with Paul's breakthrough. He couldn't protect the penalty area, and he couldn't foul. If he got into foul trouble, the Mavericks would Not easy to fight.
Barea also struggled to defend Paul one-on-one. His body shape was terrible, with a big head, short neck, and thick shoulders. His registered height was 183cm, but he was actually only 178cm. His 180cm wingspan made it difficult for him to interfere with shooting. Barea played in all 82 games during the regular season, averaging 20.6 minutes per game and contributing a total of one block.
As long as they face Barea's single defense, players of any position can shoot without worrying about being blocked by his short hands.
The Clippers' defensive tactics are man-to-man, which is not easy to mess up. When Terry receives the ball at the 4th position, he must be forced out in time to prevent him from shooting a three-pointer; Nowitzki receives the ball in the low post, and the wing players retreat in time to form a double team.
This will free up Marion, Barea, and Prince. If they can guarantee their shooting percentage, it will be difficult for the Clippers to win, but Yang Rui must arrange it this way, otherwise Nowitzki will play endlessly and score four goals with a high shooting percentage. Ten points is fatal.
The two sides fought fiercely in the first quarter, with the Clippers leading 38-30 with 8 three-pointers.
Paul had 6 points and 7 assists in a single quarter. Curry played the entire quarter, making 7 of 11 shots and 4 of 7 three-pointers, scoring 18 points and 2 assists.
Mavericks Nowitzki made 7 of 11 shots in a single quarter, 1 of 2 three-pointers, and 4 of 4 free throws. He scored 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Others performed generally.
Prince made 0 of 2 shots in the first quarter and failed to perform, and Marion also did not score a point.
After Marion came to the Mavericks, he increased his post-up play. He could rely on his opponent, turn to the right and middle, and score with ultra-high throws. This was effective against general No. 3 and 4 positions, but not against Griffin.
Griffin is not without merit on the defensive end. He is afraid of players who can break through. He has the strength to defend backs. He can push opponents away from the basket and interfere with shooting with his jumping ability.
Curry took a rest in the second quarter and Paul continued to play. Against the Mavericks, Paul's playing time must be increased.
When he was with the Hornets, Paul led the team in this way, averaging more than 40 minutes per game in the two playoffs.
The other four Clippers are Tony Allen, Gay, Dunleavy, and Mahinmi.
Gay, who rested for 7 minutes in the first quarter, returned to the court to lead the substitutes, ensuring two three-pointers and four defensive players.
On the defensive end, Gay is responsible for dealing with Marion; Dunleavy defends Stojakovic, who is easier to deal with. The two have similar bodies and are shooting types; Mahinmi's opponent is Gasol, who can not only resist people in the low post, but also Can guard against pick-and-rolls.
The Mavericks' five players are Terry, Kidd, Peja, Marion, and Gasol. They also have no reservations. To strengthen the attack,
Haywood and Cardinal, who have some playing time in the regular season, continue to rest.
Neither side can guard against the other.
Tony Allen's single defense was excellent, but the Mavericks completely gave up the outside ball-holding offense. Kidd organized and Gasol provided Terry with no-ball cover. Peja's three-pointer from the bottom corner is accurate and can attract the defense. One of Terry and Marion cuts outside and the other cuts inside.
Marion's most powerful skills when he was in the Suns were running and cutting without the ball, catching the ball and shooting, and catching the ball for layups. Kidd is a defender who can shoot the ball very quickly and pass the ball accurately. As he gets older, he can't It's no problem to launch a fast break and find teammates; coupled with Gasol, who is good at supporting, the Mavericks move the ball very well.
Kidd begins to play a role in the system, just like Nash who can't run fast. On the defensive end, Paul is left to Terry to deal with. Kidd will not become a loophole if he defends Tony Allen.
After 6 minutes, Paul took a rest and Curry came on to play point guard. Griffin replaced Mahinmi as a center forward, adding a powerful scoring point in the low post and turning into a small ball tactic.
The two sides played the most intense game in this playoffs, with the Clippers leading 68 to 62 at halftime.
During halftime, online fans commented on the game, and the posts flooded the screen with praise.
Since the Eastern Conference game started early, the first game between the Cavaliers and Celtics has already been played. The Cavaliers won 99-92. Both sides focused on defense. The scene was very dull. It was in sharp contrast to the Western Conference finals.
"Today's game is two extremes. The Cavaliers played too ugly and started a one-on-one duel between the stars. This offensive battle between the Mavericks and the Clippers will be recorded in history."
"No matter which team, the Mavericks or the Clippers, advances, I will support them to win the championship. The Eastern Conference team is not on the same level at all."
"In the regular season, the Clippers pursue a balance of offense and defense, but they still score too few points. This style of play looks better now."
Yang Rui praised the players in the locker room during halftime and was very satisfied with their performance. Unfortunately, the Clippers couldn't defend them. It is impossible to easily defeat the Mavericks in this series.
Yang Rui emphasized offense, allowing players to actively move and cooperate and reduce singles. In a game of equal strength, the main thing is perseverance and making as few mistakes as possible to win. The Clippers players are young and have physical advantages, but young people play rougher than veterans.
In the third quarter, the Clippers continued to maintain the lead.
Paul rested for 6 minutes in the second half of the second quarter, and with the intermission, his physical strength recovered a lot. Yang Rui did not let Curry play, but first sent Gary Neal, who had not played for the previous minute.
Neal's job is the same as Curry's, relying on the big man's screen to catch and shoot from the side. This can give Curry more rest time and ensure better condition. Curry is different from Paul. If he plays too much, the Clippers' defense will be reduced. After 30 minutes, his offensive efficiency will also decrease.
Neal plays the No. 2 position and is better than Curry, but he is not tall enough. He is full of physical strength and has no reservations on both offense and defense. He actively stayed close to Stevenson and did not become a defensive vulnerability. On the offensive end, Neal showed good touch and hit two three-pointers.
The Clippers led by 14 points entering the final quarter. Not long after they were happy, the Mavericks relied on Terry, Kidd, Prince's three-pointers and Nowitzki's single to chase the score back.
The Mavericks' overall three-point shooting percentage per game in the playoffs is 39.4%. The more critical the team's core is, the more accurate it is.
Both Terry and Kidd's three-point shooting percentages are higher than in the regular season. Terry shot 44.2% from the field, averaging 2 shots per game. Kidd shot 37.4% from the field and averaged 2 shots per game.
The two sides were in a stalemate until the last 1 minute and 15 seconds, with the Clippers leading by 5 points.