Chapter 1013 1012. The Devil's Pace
Some things are unavoidable, and we can only accept them and then find ways to deal with them.
For example, the rule changes, defensive free throws are not allowed to be used, and the head coaches who can adapt will continue to survive, and those who can't adapt will be eliminated. This is the difference between Popovich and Larry Brown.
James's style of play can make him perform like a superstar. The league wants to support him, so naturally he won't be called for traveling. Otherwise, before his skills are polished at this stage, he will be an ultimate version of Steve Francis, which is inconsistent with the title of the representative of American basketball that the league wants to establish to compete with Liu Mang.
The league will definitely not change the whistle on James, so we have to find a way to deal with it.
James's special three steps have become part of his strength, which is indeed difficult to defend. The only choice is to shrink and double-team, and the Cavaliers' outside line will have a chance.
Tactics are also a kind of biological chain. The Heat are afraid of the Bulls' high-speed rotation defense. The Bulls are afraid of the Sonics led by players like Francis who can't defend their breakthroughs, but the Sonics are afraid of the Heat, who have a big center who can defend the basket and don't need to be double-teamed from the outside.
The Cavaliers this season is another version of the Sonics. The Cavaliers' pitchers are much weaker than the Sonics, but even if James is only in his third year, he is much better than Francis. Moreover, the Cavaliers' center can also shoot, which is one more shooting point than the Sonics. It is a real one-star four-star. Kwame Brown has to follow Big Z, who relies on mid-range shots to make a living.
McGrady took advantage of James's excessive excitement to block a shot, which was actually an accident.
Then it was the Cavaliers' turn to attack. James continued to break through. Since Kwame Brown was pulled to the baseline mid-range by Gooden, it was difficult to defend the inside line. The Hawks could only use three outside players to block him. After James broke through the basket, he was sandwiched by McGrady, Liu Mang, and Prince. He passed the ball to Damon Jones at the top of the arc. Liu Mang had already rushed to Damon Jones when McGrady came to block James' jump step.
However, James' breakthrough and passing the ball were really amazing. The timing was very good. His teammates didn't need to have so many skills. They just needed to catch the ball and shoot it.
Damon Jones has deteriorated seriously this year. Only the three-pointer is still at a first-class level. It just meets James' needs for teammates. He received the ball and made the first three-pointer!
8 to 10, the score difference returned to two points.
It was the Hawks' turn to attack again. Liu Mang advanced to the frontcourt. Seeing that McGrady, who had become Los Angeles, was asking for the ball at the top of the arc, Liu Mang could only fish and pass the ball.
McGrady's superstar status was challenged, and it was the referee who challenged him. How could he bear it? Liu Mang had confidence in McGrady, so he passed the ball to McGrady and moved to the left at a 45-degree angle to prepare for the shot.
McGrady received the ball and dribbled one step to the right front to get close to the three-point line. James immediately shot at McGrady.
McGrady was very focused now and reacted quickly. The moment James came up, McGrady's long right leg stepped out, started quickly, took two steps in a row, and had already stepped into the free throw line!
Even James couldn't keep up with McGrady's movements even if he was close!
McGrady's third step was still swift, and he grabbed the ball. After taking the third step, he jumped up. Big Z rushed over. McGrady threw the ball to Kwame Brown. Kwame Brown was so excited. Why did he have so many chances to eat cakes this season? He received the ball and jumped up, and smashed the ball into the basket with both hands.
12 to 8, the Hawks continued their offensive firepower.
From the perspective of playing style, the Cavaliers really restrained the Hawks, just like the Sonics restrained the Hawks. It was difficult for the Hawks to defend against this kind of super breakthrough master.
But the Hawks were not afraid at all.
If the playing style was restrained, it was restrained. If the defense is not easy to defend, try your best to defend, starting from the offensive end!
The Sonics couldn't beat the Hawks, let alone the Cavaliers?
When the Cavaliers attacked, Liu Mang, McGrady, and Prince's defensive double-teaming became faster, and at the same time, Liu Mang's expansion after double-teaming was also faster. After James broke through and attracted the double-teaming and passed the ball, Damon Jones was a beat slower, and he was still thinking about adjusting it like the last shot, and he was half a second slower, and Liu Mang rushed in front of him. Damon Jones's three-pointer against Liu Mang's defense failed to hit.
The Cavaliers built a team around James. The advantage is that the space is open, allowing James to break through and score or pass the ball, but the disadvantage is also obvious, rebounds!
McGrady and Prince sandwiched James, Kwame Brown rushed in to grab the rebound and immediately passed it to McGrady. McGrady was always paying attention to his teammates when he was positioning himself. Liu Mang rushed across half court first, Snow and Damon Jones chased Liu Mang, McGrady immediately sent a long pass and the Cavaliers chased Liu Mang frantically, and even Drew Gooden, who was far behind, chased Liu Mang desperately.
However, McGrady's pass was not to Liu Mang, Liu Mang, the consecutive scoring champion, was regarded as the object of hatred. McGrady passed to Rasheed Wallace who followed up!
Rasheed Wallace followed to the top arc, just received the ball, and chased for a three-pointer...
The summer training was not in vain, Rasheed Wallace's three-pointer also went in!
15 to 8, the Hawks led by 7 points!
After confirming that the defense was restrained by the opponent, Liu Mang arranged a defensive counterattack tactic when Coach Kruger went to the referee to argue.
If the Cavaliers can make the shot, there is no way, if they can't make the shot, they will counterattack!
Liu Mang knew that Coach Kruger's argument with the referee would not change the referee's tolerance for James' whistle, so the tactical arrangement was very decisive, just like the arrangement made by the coaching staff before the game, just try to speed up the tempo!
The key point is that the Hawks dare to recklessly play! They don't need Fish Leong, as two consecutive championships have given the Hawks players the courage to recklessly play.
More than 4 minutes, the score difference is 7 points, and the Cavaliers called a timeout! And it was James who called the timeout.
Back to the bench, James took the tactical board from Mike Brown, and Mike Brown just watched James arrange the tactics.
The TV screen did not broadcast this live, but Coach Kruger noticed it. Seeing the other coach's experience, Coach Kruger was in a good mood! The frustration of the referee calling McGrady for a technical foul was offset.
…
After the timeout, the Cavaliers have the ball.
The first long timeout came too early, and the Hawks did not make any substitutions, and the Cavaliers did not make any substitutions.
After James received the ball in the frontcourt, he dribbled to the top arc, Prince defended inside the three-point line, and Liu Mang was ready to double-team at any time.
James still chose to break through, and breaking through is his biggest strength, and there is nothing else for the time being.
James rushed into the inside, and under the defense of Prince, he entered Kwame Brown's defense range under the basket. James didn't have much space for jumping steps, so he didn't take three steps. He rushed directly to the basket, attracted Kwame Brown, Prince, and Liu Mang to chase and defend, and passed the ball to Big Z on the left side of the three-second zone. Big Z raised his head and shot high to score two points.
The Cavaliers' tactical play has changed!
The Cavaliers put Big Z closer to the basket on the offensive end. This strategy is very smart. Kwame Brown is under the basket, so the Hawks have fewer people to shrink. It seems that James' breakthrough has become difficult. When he reaches the basket, the space for jumping steps has become smaller, but in this way, the double-teaming space of Liu Mang and Prince has also become smaller. James doesn't need to take three steps, and he can go directly to Kwame Brown's arms. He is tall and has a good field of vision, so he just needs to pass to Big Z.
10 to 15, still a 5-point difference.
James is really good. Even if he doesn't have extra steps to find space, it's hard to break through. Extra steps are also based on whether there is a breakthrough or not. Moreover, he has a high basketball IQ and quickly made changes to the disadvantage of too few offensive options.
But... the Hawks' offense was more fierce!
After McGrady received the ball from Liu Mang in the frontcourt, he continued to break through. The Cavaliers quickly shrank and made McGrady a dumpling!
At this time, McGrady threw the ball to the weak left side when his vision was blocked by James' waving arms and Gooden's double-teaming, and Big Z was pushing Kwame Brown under the basket.
It was so tacit. Liu Mang ran without the ball and cut in from the left side of the three-second zone to receive the ball. At this time, Kwame Brown, who was squeezing Big Z, immediately became the one squeezed by Kwame Brown. Liu Mang rushed into the basket and smashed the ball into the basket with one hand through Kwame Brown under the pursuit of Eric Snow.
Kwame Brown was speechless. Can't he just lay up? He doesn't dunk normally, but he has to dunk over him? Teammates are not spared?
In just 5 minutes, the Hawks scored 17 points!
17 to 10, still a 7-point difference!
The Cavaliers played well on offense, but the Hawks were better!
Obviously, the Cavaliers are not used to the Hawks' fast pace, just like the 76ers. At the beginning of the season, they have not yet figured out how to solve the problem that the Hawks' outside shots are too accurate, and the two outside shots have strong breakthrough and finishing abilities under the basket.
Perhaps as the season progresses, other teams will find many ways to limit the Hawks' style of play, but now, the Cavaliers can't stand it!
Especially the style of play of the core offensive players who are crazy about McGrady, the defense does not need McGrady to defend alone. The Cavaliers' starting lineup only has James as a singles strong point, and the other players' styles are limited to eating cakes. Even Big Z, who has singles ability, can only eat cakes. All-Stars such as Love and Bosh in the best lineup will gradually become cake eaters, not to mention Big Z who only barely made it to the All-Stars once. McGrady's defensive pressure is less, and he can focus on breaking through and passing the ball.
In addition to counterattacks, the Hawks are now playing McGrady's outside three-pointers and breakthrough passes, which looks like the same style of play as James.
The same style of play, the two breakthrough threats are equally matched, but McGrady can now say what he dreamed of for a long time during the Magic period: I have teammates who are better than everyone else!
McGrady and James continued to compete. When the official timeout came in the first quarter, the Cavaliers scored 16 points in seven minutes, a very high score, but the Hawks scored 24 points!
James performed very well, relying on breakthrough passes to score 6 points and 3 assists, but McGrady scored 8 points and 4 assists!
Except for Prince's average performance, the main offensive performance was poor, which made the overall performance very average, 0 out of 2 three-pointers, and everyone else scored!
McGrady led the Hawks to 24 points in seven minutes. He was not replaced during the official timeout. Coach Kruger was also unhappy and asked McGrady to continue to fight them. He replaced Liu Mang with Jason Terry, McGrady, Iguodala, Josh Smith, and Rasheed Wallace, and continued to let McGrady lead the offense.
The Cavaliers also started to rotate, replacing James, Ronald Murray, Donyell Marshall, Gooden, and Varejao.
…
Liu Mang sat on the sidelines, and he didn't expect that he would have a day to relax and watch his teammates lead the team to beat the opponent.
McGrady and Jason Terry went up and took turns throwing, it was so brutal. Both of them were at their best physical fitness at the beginning of the season, especially McGrady. He practiced for so long in the summer and didn't waste any time, training camp, pre-season games. After the fight, they were in a good state, and the two went up to deal with James like a wheel battle.
James' statistics can be very good, but judging from the scene, there is no doubt that the Eagles have the absolute upper hand.
They are all rotation lineups, but since Larry Hughes is not here, the Cavaliers have a good substitute lineup, but this time even Big Z is gone. Big Z's physical problems are more serious than Yao Ming's, and the pitchers in this lineup are not as good. The starting lineup is strong. Varejao was abused at the basket by Rasheed Wallace, who taught him how to play before. The Cavaliers' main problem is rebounding. Although the Hawks are not top in rebounding, they are among the top in the league. The Cavaliers The team's rebounding strength is definitely at the bottom of the league, and the best rebounders are actually Varejao and James.
After the first quarter, the Eagles scored 38 points!
The Cavaliers played well and scored 26 points, but the Eagles scored too many and led by 12 points in a single quarter!
…
The score was so exaggerated that Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley, the commentators of T.N.T. who broadcast the game live, didn't know how to describe this game. The Eagles' game felt like they were completely pinching their opponents.
Although Kenny Smith and Barkley usually make jokes, they still have professional knowledge. Kenny Smith concluded: "The Eagles understand the current rules faster than other teams and make use of them. Liu Zai After the last game against the 76ers, I said that they just made all the shots that should be made, and the Cavaliers failed to make many shots that should be made. Maybe shooting will become the dominant force in the league in the future. "
As a pitcher, Kenny Smith looks forward to that day.
But Charles Barrick doesn't like this statement: "The physical combat under the basket is the real basketball. If you look at Ace and McGrady, they mainly attack the basket. McGrady just uses three-pointers as a way to attract the opponent to defend." Just a tool."
"Maybe you're right, just like I got two rings for shooting three-pointers, but you were empty-handed when shooting baskets." Kenny Smith didn't know when he took out the championship ring and put it on.
"Kenny, I want to duel you!"
"Are you talking about my donkey? It seems to have fallen in love with you, and it can't eat anymore lately..."
…
McGrady was the protagonist today, the one who played the best, leading the Eagles to continuously expand the score.
In this contest with James, McGrady had the upper hand, and it was obvious that the Eagles' pitchers were better than the Cavaliers' pitchers. The Cavaliers' best pitchers were Donyel Marshall and Damon Jones, but the two of them The average three-pointers per game, combined together, is equal to Liu Mang...
In the third minute of the fourth quarter, Liu Mang hit his fourth three-pointer of the game. His score finally exceeded 20 and he scored 22 points. In addition, he also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Looking at his data, Liu Mang Mang feels like the ultimate Derek Fisher, except he doesn't like his teammates' wives.
Scoring depends on eating cakes, and assisting depends on catching and passing the ball or distributing the ball when cutting in. He doesn't have to do much at all. When McGrady doesn't need to spend much effort on the defensive end, his offensive performance is really good. When Liu Mang is When he was playing a supporting role, the whole team revolved around McGrady, and McGrady felt really good.
Played for 34 minutes and scored 30 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists! Beating James' 27 points, 4 rebounds and 10 assists!
James is the kind of player whose statistics will never be bad if he plays hard, but the Cavaliers are not. In the third minute of the fourth quarter, with Liu Mang's three-pointer, the Eagles scored 107 points! The Cavaliers only had 85 points. It wasn't that the Cavaliers' offense was poor, but that they couldn't defend it at all.
Three minutes after the start of the fourth quarter, the point difference was finally opened to more than 20 points!
James had worked very hard, but he watched Eric Snow make another open mid-range shot, and Liu Mang got the defensive rebound.
Liu Mang saw that the Cavaliers bench had begun to make moves. This ball was not given to Tracy McGrady, and he had to make the final attack himself!
This guy is already 30+10!
Liu Mang wants to get his score to 25 points! This offense won't stop until we get three points!
Liu Mang advanced to the frontcourt and saw Snow rushing towards him like a mad dog. Liu Mang moved sideways to dodge, but still rushed inside. Two points was okay, 24, what a good number!
Liu Mang rushed to the free throw line, grabbed the ball, and prepared for a squirming layup to show his face at the last moment. At this time, Snow turned around and caught up. James was also blinded and attacked Liu Mang from a double flank. , Liu Mang took a step, and Snow followed him. He took another step, and James came over. He took the third step and had no chance to shoot!
In a flash, Liu Mang decisively took the fourth step!
The referee even put the whistle in his mouth, but still put it down.
Not only are opponents not used to three long steps for a layup plus a jump step, but the Cavaliers themselves are not used to it. Liu Mang took his fourth step and landed on his feet before turning over and throwing...
"Uh..." Liu Mang felt his face snap.
Did you agree that anyone can take one more step and invest?
Liu Mang's throw went across the bridge, no touch! The ball fell to the floor, a group of people scrambled for it under the basket, and the ball went out of bounds.
Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown called a timeout.
McGrady came up and patted Liu Mang, trying not to laugh. The players on the bench of the Hawks had already started to take off their training clothes, and the same was true for the Cavaliers.
Liu Mang followed McGrady to the bench depressedly, watching Jason Terry excitedly leading the bench to prepare to brush up his stats. He was so depressed!
He just couldn't adapt to it!
No wonder in Liu Mang's memory, after the league changed the jump step rule, only James played that way, because he was the only one who was used to that style of play, while others were used to the normal three-step layup, and taking two more steps would break their rhythm.
To take one more step for a layup, you also need that ability!
This time, Liu Mang understood the meaning of "If you can do it, you can do it". Not everyone can do a layup with three steps and one more jump.
If the league really decides to change the rules and make this extra step "legal", then James' current performance is his true strength, and nothing in the NBA will change. It is impossible for others to learn this trick so easily. Instead of doing this, it is better to practice the normal playing style. It is mainly because it is difficult to change habits. James is still so strong with this trick, and others will not be affected. They still have to play as they should. They still have to find a way to deal with such a James.
…
Just as Liu Mang thought, David Stern, who was watching T.N.T live, saw Liu Mang imitating James' layup and actually missed the layup. His old eyes lit up immediately.
As the president of the NBA, he certainly has a wealth of professional knowledge about basketball. He has been the president of the NBA for more than 20 years. Seeing that Liu Mang, a player with such good skills and who can play with both hands, is not used to this kind of layup, he immediately decided to change the rules!
Since the 2003-04 season, many fans have attacked the league for promoting James, but at that time, James' Cavaliers were weak and could not affect the strong teams. The strong teams, except the Spurs and the Pistons, were very popular, which means that most fans would not care so much and just complain.
This year, the Cavaliers, on the basis of James and Big Z, added Larry Hughes and dug up several high-quality role players. There is no problem in entering the playoffs, but if they want to become the league's face like Liu Mang, they are far behind.
Jordan, Olajuwon, Malone, O'Neal... Even Iverson, when they were the face, the team's record was one of the best in the league.
David Stern is right to promote Liu Mang, but Liu Mang is a foreigner, and David Stern needs to take care of American fans, so he has to promote a new face.
James must have a good performance, even if he is criticized by thousands of people.
With David Stern's vision, he can see that James has great potential to become a superstar of the era like Magic, King of Force, God, and Shark.
So changing the rules has entered David Stern's schedule, and it is urgently needed.
Since so many teams and players complained, why not just rationalize it?
…
22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, very comprehensive data, but Liu Mang was not the protagonist. His most "perfect" shot in this game was probably the four-step layup with three misses.
McGrady played 34 minutes and achieved 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists to become the MVP of this game, helping the Hawks lead by 18 points in the third quarter and leave the game with a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.
In the end, the Hawks relied on McGrady's 30 points and 11 assists, Liu Mang played 28 minutes, 7 shots and 4 three-pointers to get 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, Kwame Brown's 18 points and 17 rebounds, and Rasheed Wallace's three three-pointers. The Hawks beat the Cavaliers 128 to 104, a 24-point difference!
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