Chapter 1077 1076. The Core of Attack and Defense!

Kobe scored 13 points with 12 shots in a single quarter. His efficiency was very touching. In the second quarter, he made 4 of 12 shots, 1 of 2 three-pointers, and 4 of 5 free throws, scoring 13 points.

At halftime, Kobe made 7 of 21 shots, with a hit rate of 33%, and just scored 21 points.

But there have been 17 of 47 shots, which is not a big deal.

Moreover, Kobe made 21 points with 7 of 21 shots, which is very efficient in the Lakers. Yao Ming's hit rate dropped to 3 of 7 shots. In the second quarter, Kobe made 13 points with 12 shots, and the other Lakers players made 9 shots and only scored 5 points! These five points also include Yao Ming's two free throws, which means that the other players made 1 of 9 shots!

The Lakers only made 13 shots in the first half. Of course, the Hawks were similar, with fewer free throws, and only made 14 shots.

However, such an inefficient game did not reduce the viewing experience!

At the end of the first half, the fans were looking forward to the second half of the game between the two teams.

It was so hot!

Yao Ming was furious when he played with Kwame Brown, Rasheed Wallace and Mourning in turn, and the elbow confrontation under the basket was extremely fierce.

Of course, the hottest one was Liu Mang!

The blocks of Odom, Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi combined were just equal to the blocks of Liu Mang alone.

Liu Mang showed an ability that he had never shown before. People were very curious about where Liu Mang's limit was!

Originally, Yao Ming was the absolute killer of the Lakers in this game, even more dominant than Kobe. It was as easy for him to play against Kwame Brown or Mourning as drinking water. 3 of 4 in the first quarter was the best proof.

But in the second quarter, after Liu Mang let the Hawks have "three centers", Yao Ming was restricted!

If Kobe hadn't thrown more than a dozen times in a single quarter, the Lakers might have fallen behind by a lot.

In the final analysis, the Lakers only have three real stars, Kobe 21 points, Yao Ming 10 points, Odom 4 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, and the Lakers rely on these three people.

Of course, the playoff-level games are all like this, and the Hawks' scores are mainly concentrated on Liu Mang, McGrady and Jason Terry.

...

During the halftime break, Liu Mang returned to the locker room, sat in the corner, closed his eyes and recalled the details of the first half while his memory was still fresh.

Yao Ming's second quarter was mainly based on positioning and rebounding, Kobe's mid-range offense, Odom's versatility, and the problems encountered by his own team on the offensive end... Mainly, Liu Mang wanted to remember the feeling of defense! Remember as much as possible!

Coach Kruger saw Liu Mang sitting in the corner with his eyes closed, and did not disturb him. He asked everyone to rest for a few minutes. The halftime break was 15 minutes, and a few minutes of tactical arrangements were enough.

Coach Kruger once again felt the shock that he thought he had gotten used to for Liu Mang's performance in the first half.

Liu Mang's performance on the defensive end today made Coach Kruger feel even more incredible than when he saw Liu Mang score 90 points.

Liu Mang's ability to score high points has long been proven, but 90 points is too much.

And defense...

Liu Mang's defense has never been so easy!

The main reason is that Liu Mang's defensive prediction in the three-second zone is completely different from before!

The coach and the players are thinking about very different things. Liu Mang is strengthening his memory of his defense under the basket and looking for how to block Yao Ming, while Coach Kruger and Mike Woodson are discussing something different.

When there were six or seven minutes left in the halftime break, the players had gone to the toilet, had eaten some high-calorie food, and their tense nerves were slightly relaxed. They didn't relax, but relaxed their overly tense nerves.

Coach Kruger knocked on the tactical board, and the players slid the small bench next to Coach Kruger.

"We did a great job on defense in the first half. We need to continue this defense in the second half, but there are some changes in defense, Mike..."

Coach Kruger handed the tactical board to Mike Woodson, who took the tactical board and drew something, then said: "Ace, in the second half, you go here..."

"Ah...?"

...

...

The halftime break is about to end, and the players of both teams returned to the sidelines to stretch their bodies and prepare to start the second half of the game.

The third quarter is the key. Although it does not mean that the team will win if they lead in the third quarter, the lead in the third quarter will undoubtedly lay a good psychological advantage.

The physical fitness of the players of both teams is not a big problem. The Lakers rotate six players in the frontcourt and have sufficient rest time. Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Odom, and Chris Mihm, the Lakers' four-player rotation inside line has no problem with physical fitness.

Small forwards Luke Walton and Devin George also have no physical fitness problems.

Although the Lakers' backcourt can almost be regarded as having no substitutes available, Kobe is a physical fitness monster. Fisher and Kobe are partners, and the consumption is not large. They can play the whole game.

The Hawks have no problem with Liu Mang's physical fitness, and there are more people who can rotate in other positions, which is also fine.

Judging from the current situation, this game is basically certain to go to the end, so it is crucial to establish a little advantage!

Yao Ming was shooting on the court to cultivate his touch, and it felt like someone was always watching him!

Yao Ming played for more than 6 minutes in the first quarter and 11 minutes in the second quarter. His playing time was well controlled. The main reason was that Yao Ming's playing style became simpler in the second quarter. He defended the basket and was responsible for physical combat on the offensive end. Although his touch was affected, physical combat and confrontation are what Yao Ming is good at, and the overall consumption is not large.

After a break of more than ten minutes, Yao Ming continued to start in the third quarter and played in the first half.

However, he felt an evil gaze, and he knew who it was without looking back!

Soon, the second half of the game began.

The Hawks sent out Liu Mang, McGrady, Iguodala, Josh Smith, and Rasheed Wallace.

The Lakers sent out the starting lineup at the beginning of the game, Fisher, Kobe, Luke Walton, Odom, and Yao Ming all played together.

The Lakers attacked first.

Fisher received the serve, advanced to the frontcourt, and passed the ball to Kobe on the left side of the top arc. Kobe faced McGrady and was defended by McGrady and Prince in a round-robin battle. Kobe became happier and happier.

However, the Hawks' defensive position was beyond the Lakers' expectations!

Josh Smith, Rasheed Wallace, and Liu Mang were all around the three-second zone, almost surrounding Yao Ming, and were a little far away from Odom and Luke Walton. It felt like Josh Smith had to defend two people!

Odom and Luke Walton on the right side of the basket both have good shooting space.

Kobe suppressed the urge to face McGrady and passed the ball to Odom. Josh Smith immediately approached Odom. At this time, Luke Walton went up to help Odom block Josh Smith. Odom went around the baseline from the right mid-range and broke through the basket!

Odom was too tall and it was scary when he rushed. Josh Smith bypassed the pick-and-roll and chased after Odom.

Rasheed Wallace did a great job on defense this time. He was in an excellent position under the basket. He could go back to defend Yao Ming's shot and interfere with Odom. Josh Smith could also choose to defend Yao Ming or double-team Odom when he went back.

At this time, Odom's serious ability to organize offense was excellent, and his vision was beyond that of ordinary point guards. He threw the ball to the free throw line!

Leading people with the ball!

After Luke Walton made a pick-and-roll, he went around to the high post and cut in from the middle. He received the ball at the free throw line and rushed to the left side of the three-second zone. Yao Ming was blocking the position under the basket. Rasheed Wallace and Josh Smith were both on the right side of the three-second zone. Luke Walton was facing an empty basket and flew up to shoot...

"Pop..."

A No. 1 rushed out of the crowd! He fanned Luke Walton's shot out of bounds!

A clean and neat big pot!

Luke Walton saw that the opponent's big men were attracted by Odom and Yao Ming, and didn't notice that there was a sinister 1.93 meter player hiding in the crowd ready to make up for the defense at any time!

The sixth block!

The fans watching the game couldn't help but cover their eyes.

It's too miserable!

The Hawks' defense under the basket was not weak. They had Rasheed Wallace, Kwame Brown, and Mourning who were good at single defense, and Josh Smith, a help defense expert. Now there was Liu Mang...It was too difficult for the Lakers to score under the basket!

The referee signaled the ball in the frontcourt. The Lakers had 4 seconds left for this attack!

Kobe pulled his teammates to discuss it quickly. Liu Mang was thoughtful when he saw this scene...

Odom served the ball from the baseline and hung it to Kobe, who was leaning against McGrady in the high position. Kobe passed the ball to one step outside the free throw line. Yao Ming blocked Iguodala who was trying to defend. Fisher was one step outside the free throw line and just received the ball. He jumped up and shot a long two-pointer...

Liu Mang had been ready to make up for the defense. He guessed that Kobe would definitely look for Fisher at this time!

Liu Mang blocked Fisher. Fisher was forced to lean back by Liu Mang. The arc of his shot was very high, which was very different from the arc of ordinary players!

Under such interference from Liu Mang, Fisher forced a long two-pointer shot with a backward shot!

"Ding... I will be the pioneer! Feature: Triggered by the old horse waiting for the stable, from Derek Fisher."

The first shot in the third quarter was made by Fisher, who only scored 3 points in the first half with 1 of 4 shots!

However, although Fisher made the shot, the defense of Liu Mang around the three-second zone was too terrible!

The Zen Master on the sidelines couldn't help but look at the opponent. Liu Mang's defense under the basket today was beyond imagination, and now he was used as a defensive vanguard for backup defense!

In other words, Liu Mang was used as the core of defense!

The Zen Master found that the tactics he arranged were going to be ineffective again, but he thought about it and let it go. Just give the ball to Kobe and let Kobe handle it himself, just like giving the ball to Jordan if there is no tactic to use.

Attack and defense change, the Hawks attack, McGrady advances to the frontcourt with the ball.

When Kobe sees Liu Mang coming, he immediately sticks to him, even if Liu Mang doesn't have the ball in his hand.

Rasheed Wallace pulled to the right corner and pulled Odom out. Josh Smith went to the left mid-range, ready to cut at any time. Yao Ming stepped on the left edge of the three-second zone, in and out, avoiding the three-second defense, and defending Josh Smith's cut and Iguodala's baseline cut.

Liu Mang ran straight to the right low post. Kobe followed Liu Mang here and knew what Liu Mang was going to do!

Kobe immediately made physical contact with Liu Mang, and the two entangled under the basket. Liu Mang held his arm and entangled with Kobe's arm. The action was like wrestling!

However, Liu Mang's strength is slightly stronger now, and his iron foot skills seem to be rooted in the floor, blocking Kobe behind him.

Kobe really didn't expect that he couldn't block Liu Mang in this position where he could get started!

After McGrady waited for Liu Mang to get to the position, he passed the ball to Liu Mang. Liu Mang received the ball with his left hand, leaned towards Kobe, but couldn't hit him. As expected, Liu Mang tapped the ball, turned right, and stepped into the three-second zone with his left foot.

Kobe is also very good at defending the low post. His footwork moves very quickly, leaving no space for Liu Mang to jump. He did a good job of defending Wade and Liu Mang from starting.

After Liu Mang stepped out, he retracted his foot!

Unlike ordinary people who use their left foot as the axis, Liu Mang used his right foot as the axis this time!

Liu Mang grabbed the ball, retracted his left foot, and made a jump shot. Kobe immediately jumped up to block the shot.

But Liu Mang retracted the ball again, stepped out with his left foot again, jumped with both feet, avoided Kobe who jumped up, jumped high, and gently threw the ball into the basket.

Yao Ming didn't dare to touch this ball even if he moved over. It would definitely be a foul. Liu Mang had already thrown the ball.

The ball thrown by Liu Mang hit the backboard and bounced into the basket!

After Kobe landed, his mind was full of the dream footwork that Liu Mang had just performed...

This footwork is so great!

Kobe feels that it is better than his low-post turnaround pull-up or fadeaway jump shot, and there are more ways to operate!

However... Kobe once again felt that he was "hammered"...

Attack and defense changed, the Lakers attacked, Kobe went to the frontcourt to receive the pass from Fisher, faced McGrady's defense, and forced his way to the basket. At this time, Liu Mang and Rasheed Wallace both sandwiched him, and Kobe passed the ball to Yao Ming in the gap between people.

Yao Ming continued to happily enjoy the fun of being assisted and eating cakes, and scored two points with a high shot.

Kobe could pass this kind of ball, Liu Mang asked Rasheed Wallace to concentrate on getting around Yao Ming, and he came to assist in defense.

Coach Kruger put Liu Mang in the small forward position, in fact, to defend the Lakers' weakest small forward in outside shooting. The offensive end was still holding the ball, but Rasheed Wallace was not used to the defense this time, and subconsciously went to make up for the defense.

When Kobe passed the ball to O'Neal, he practiced almost all the ways to pass the ball to the inside.

When the Hawks attacked, Liu Mang continued to drop to the low post. After McGrady passed the ball to Liu Mang, he cut in from the middle. At this time, Liu Mang just turned around, and Luke Walton, who was defending McGrady, came up to double-team Liu Mang. Liu Mang passed the ball to the free throw line. McGrady withdrew immediately when Luke Walton double-teamed him, and received the ball very tacitly, and scored two points!

At the beginning of the third quarter, both teams scored consecutively, 44-4!

The head coaches of both teams made gestures to their players on the sidelines to strengthen defense.

When the Lakers attacked, the Hawks' actions began to increase, increasing the confrontation. Kobe encountered McGrady's more fierce defense. Kobe chose to continue to break through and wanted to pass the ball to Yao Ming, but this time only Liu Mang came to assist. Kobe passed the ball to Luke Walton, and Luke Walton immediately passed it to Odom. Odom rushed to the basket and wanted to layup, but was interfered again!

It was still Liu Mang!

Liu Mang's defense in the three-second zone has entered a different state, as if the entire three-second zone is under control!

That feeling, to use the words of some veteran superstars, is called "domain"!

Odom is so tall that his layup was interfered.

Although Yao Ming got the rebound first, he did not make up the ball. He made a crossover. Liu Mang turned around and got up again after landing and defended the rebound.

Liu Mang passed the ball to McGrady and continued to fall to the low post. The physical contact between the two teams was greater. This time, as soon as Liu Mang received the ball, Odom double-teamed him. Liu Mang passed the ball to Rasheed Wallace, who received the ball and made a three-pointer...

Finally scored!

Started to grind the rhythm again!

But the Hawks' defense is even better than the Lakers, mainly because of Liu Mang!

The original Hawks' three-man defense was strong, but their functions overlapped. All three of them defended the outside and helped defend the inside. But now, Liu Mang went to the three-second zone to defend, and Prince and McGrady had better defensive options. Liu Mang's defensive dominance in the three-second zone allowed McGrady and Prince to focus more on defending Kobe's shots, and Kobe's breakthroughs were covered!

In addition, Rasheed Wallace and Kwame Brown took turns to help Liu Mang defend the inside. Liu Mang played a real three-second zone defensive dominance, forcing Kobe to start shooting singles in the mid-range again.

The two teams continued to be anxious, but the Hawks had a slightly higher success rate.

After Liu Mang scored a goal in the low post, he forced the Lakers to double-team and defend. Obviously, even Kobe could hardly defend Liu Mang, and at most the two of them would explode against each other.

Another reason why Liu Mang's first low-post single was so easy was that this was the first time Kobe personally experienced the fantasy footwork of an outside player. However, even if Liu Mang's hit rate dropped later, the Lakers still had to double-team him. Liu Mang's low-post success rate of about 50% was not something the Lakers could bear.

McGrady no longer controlled the ball. He now played very simply on the offensive end, complementing Fisher, dribbling across half court, receiving the ball and shooting, and occasionally cutting in the air, mainly to defend Kobe.

Liu Mang now focused on defense and single-handed passing, and was not so deliberate about blocking Yao Ming. Liu Mang received the three-second zone, and the defensive effect was improved, leading the whole team to play better defense.

In addition, compared to Kobe's brainstorming to deal with McGrady and Prince's round-robin defense, Liu Mang played relatively easily against Kobe, who needed to invest a lot of energy on the offensive end.

It was this little bit that allowed the Hawks to take the initiative!

If Liu Mang was double-teamed, he would pass the ball. If he was not double-teamed, Liu Mang would play low-post singles with a hit rate of about 50%!

A 50% hit rate at the basket is indeed quite miserable, but in such a game, Liu Mang's 50% hit rate is like a death warrant. Slowly, the Hawks began to take the initiative.

After three quarters, the Hawks led by 5 points, 66 to 61!

The most important thing is that Liu Mang continued to evolve in the third quarter, playing the feeling of combining offense and defense in one!

After three quarters, Liu Mang scored 21 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 8 blocks and 5 steals!

The commentators of major TV stations were all calling it incredible! !