Chapter 1143 1142. Unforgettable All-Stars
Come back from the break.
The Eastern team sent out a lineup of Liu Mang, Wade, Tracy McGrady, Rasheed Wallace, and O'Neal.
For the Western Team, Popovich sent out a lineup of Nash, Kobe, Marion, Garnett, and Duncan.
Popovich did not replace Yao Ming at the beginning of the fourth quarter, saving it for critical moments.
Popovich’s goal now is to win! The consumption of Yao Ming is the second best.
The main reason is that this guy's physical fitness is worse than Popovich imagined!
Yao Ming played 8 minutes in the third quarter and was very tired. He played 24 minutes in the first three quarters, and he played in the main attacking position, so he was very tired.
Popovich now feels that coaching super centers like O'Neal and Yao Ming is really troublesome. They can't play after a while. Coaching Duncan is more enjoyable. I can't adjust it easily, so I can use it however I want, and my physical fitness is pretty good.
Popovich admires this very much about Kobe. In the first three quarters, except for a three-minute break at the beginning of the second quarter, he kept playing and worked hard on offense and defense for 33 minutes. He is still very active now. Compared to Ginobi Lee could only be hard for twenty minutes, and Kobe's grass tolerance made Popovich obsessed...
Popovich, the pitcher of Ray Allen, was not substituted. Ray Allen could not cut through the air, and when he met Liu Mang, he did not have a tacit understanding with his teammates from the Sonics team, so his movement was not easy.
…
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Western team attacked first.
Nash and Garnett are now the core of the offense. Facing Liu Mang's defense, Nash looks for Garnett to pick and roll.
After the two used the pick-and-roll to rush inside to create a threat, Kobe on the outside used Duncan's pick-and-roll to get to the free throw line, received a pass from Garnett, and hit an open long two-point jumper!
Garnett is excellent in pick-and-rolls with the ball, Duncan is awesome in off-ball pick-and-rolls, and Popovich takes full advantage of the twin towers.
121 to 124, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the point difference narrowed to 3 points!
The Western team successfully brought the score to within 5 points, and 3 points did not count as a point difference! If you guard against one, you will have a chance to tie!
Playing with a group of superstars, Kobe had a great time, and most of his points were easy shots.
When the Eastern team attacked, Liu Mang passed the ball to Wade, ran to the frontcourt empty-handed and cut towards the basket. With the help of O'Neal's big body, he blocked the chasing Marion, and the Western team shrank!
At this time, Wade lobbed the ball into O'Neal's hands, and Garnett, Duncan, Marion, and Kobe all stepped in, trapping Liu Mang and O'Neal under the basket.
This time O'Neal did not break his promise. After receiving the ball, he immediately distributed the ball to McGrady who ran to the baseline so that Kobe could attack the inside and was free. McGrady made a mid-range jumper from the baseline...
Come in too!
42 points!
126 to 121, still a five point difference!
Just like the Eastern team can't guard against the Western team's positional warfare, if O'Neal plays seriously and plays well, the Eastern team can't guard against the Western team's positional warfare!
The key is that O'Neal rested for more than an hour, has sufficient physical strength, and has been fine for the whole quarter!
The Western team did not continue to cut sharks. This is also very important. Popovich almost never cut sharks against O'Neal in the fourth quarter. This guy's free throws in the fourth quarter are really powerful. There is also the impact of cutting sharks in the fourth quarter. Once the rhythm of your own team is reached, it doesn't matter in the first three quarters. You can still adjust before the fourth quarter. But cutting the shark in the fourth quarter may put the whole team into a foul crisis. As long as the opponent causes them to foul, they can make free throws. Secondly, Come on, you can't use the shark-cutting tactic in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, otherwise it will be a physical foul and two free throws.
When Liu Mang returned to defense, he high-fived O'Neal in celebration.
The fans at the scene were very surprised when they saw this scene. Didn't they start fighting just now?
Wade was also shocked. O'Neal suddenly became less childish? Are you still the fat guy who likes to act mischievous whenever he has nothing to do?
Unscientific!
If O'Neal's psychology could be understood by ordinary people, he would not be a member of the OK group.
The two teams began an anxious battle.
When both teams strictly follow tactics, the other team has no way to prevent the other team and can only limit it as much as possible.
Kobe's catch-and-shoot and singles play, Garnett's mid-range play, Marion's air-cutting, and Duncan and Nash's distribution of the ball are quite tacit!
These five players are all truly top stars.
When truly top stars come together and are willing to sacrifice something, there is no problem of poor integration.
Generally speaking, players whose statistics are not well adjusted and look similar to superstars are actually mostly stars from bad teams and have never even played in the playoffs.
The East team can't guard the West, but the West team can't guard the East either.
In addition to fearing the threat of O'Neal's basket, the Western team also began to defend McGrady's scoring. However, the Eastern team was no longer obsessed with McGrady's scoring. When the player who originally blocked Liu Mang went to block McGrady, Liu Mang came out from under the basket. At that time, he used McGrady to attract the defense and ran outside the three-point line to receive a pass from O'Neal. The three-pointer was also accurate!
Popovich really has a headache for O'Neal. Now there is Kobe and the opponent also has O'Neal. O'Neal needs to double attack at the basket. There are two times when he did not double attack. Once O'Neal hit a small hook with force, and the other time he hit Garnet through the defense. The special dunk was 2+1 and he also made a free throw!
Not as Popovich expected, in the fourth quarter, the situation can be reversed by focusing on defense and accelerating the retreat!
Instead, because of O'Neal's 5 points, 2 offensive rebounds and 1 assist, as well as Liu Mang's 6 points, the Eastern team scored 16 to 12 in the first five minutes!
142 to 133, the point difference was widened to 9 points by the Eastern team!
McGrady, who the Western team focused on guarding, only scored two points in the fourth quarter, and then he was just passing the ball!
Popovich called a timeout!
O'Neal's aggressive play and calm passing when encountering a double attack were the keys to the Eastern team's ability to surpass Popovich and widen the 4-point gap after the start of the fourth quarter!
Liu Mang put his arm around O'Neal's waist, but he couldn't hold him over. O'Neal put his arm around Liu Mang's shoulder, and the two of them walked back to the bench as if they were good brothers.
It was as if nothing happened before, and they felt like good brothers for a lifetime.
When the referee saw O'Neal on the field in the fourth quarter, he was worried that Liu Mang and O'Neal would cause trouble. Unexpectedly, the two of them started hugging each other!
The world is changing too fast...
Kobe Bryant of the Western Team also felt that the world was about to collapse, and those two guys actually got together!
Is there any justice?
…
After the timeout, the Eastern team sent out a lineup of Liu Mang, Jason Terry, Tracy McGrady, Bosh, and O'Neal.
For the Western Team, the lineup of Nash, Ginobili, Kobe, Garnett, and Yao Ming took the field.
The two teams have just the last 8 minutes!
Yao Ming's first shot was very hard. O'Neal turned around and squeezed to the other side of the three-second zone when he was single, and smashed the ball into the basket with one hand.
135 to 142, the point difference narrowed to 7 points.
Yao Ming is totally worthy of O'Neal! 28 points!
However... the Eastern Team had no intention of letting O'Neal return the favor. Liu Mang received Jason Terry's serve and advanced toward the frontcourt. As he advanced, he asked, "Who's coming?"
Jason Terry sped up and ran to the left corner to get in position. Liu Mang understood, advanced to the frontcourt, and continued to dribble the ball while facing Ginobili's defense.
McGrady and Bosh began to run towards the inside.
This is... Kobe was very familiar with this scene and quickly shouted to Ginobili: "Stick up there!"
Ginobili turned around when he heard Kobe's voice and realized what was happening. He immediately turned around and pounced on Liu Mang, but it was already too late!
Liu Mang took a big step away from the top arc, grabbed the ball and threw the three-pointer directly!
Unfortunately, it didn't go in, and it hit the basket with a "bang" sound.
At this time, McGrady and Bosh went to attack the offensive rebound. The other four members of the Western Team pressed in to grab the rebound. O'Neal played a key role and hit the ball to the left baseline!
Jason Terry received the ball, did not pass it, caught the ball and took a step back to the three-point line, jumped up and shot a three-pointer...
Hit!
145 to 135, the point difference widened to 10 points again after the middle of the second quarter!
Why did it suddenly become popular?
Even with O'Neal, he's still so arrogant!
Popovich is going to vomit blood!
Use O'Neal as a blue-collar worker! This is too luxurious!
The Eagles have a double wave in the backcourt and are starting to show off their power!
The Western team was not given a chance to chase points after taking advantage of Yao Ming's weakness inside to make up for it. Liu Mang and Jason Terry began to shoot when they had the chance, and when they didn't have the chance, they made hard shots!
O'Neal and Bosh, two players who average 10+ rebounds per game, have excellent offensive rebounding abilities, giving Liu Mang and Jason Terry the opportunity to waste their time!
As for McGrady...
In the fourth quarter, it was mainly used to defend Kobe Bryant alone and use his height to cause trouble for Kobe. The offensive end was just a cover to attract defensive firepower!
McGrady was a huge threat on the offensive end. After all, he scored 40 points on 16 of 27 shots in the first three quarters.
The Western team wanted to chase points, but was confused by the Eastern team's unreasonable play style!
Liu Mang, the No. 1 player in the history of unpredictable players, once again used his unpredictable and unpredictable characteristics to catch the Western team off guard!
With three minutes left, the score became 154 to 142, a 12-point difference!
Kobe was anxious and hit McGrady's long arm with a three-point shot...
Missed!
O'Neal shot the ball out, McGrady grabbed the ball and quickly advanced towards the frontcourt, stopped outside the three-point line and shot a three-pointer...
Come in too!
The Eagles' Three Eagles soared in points like crazy!
157 to 142, the point difference widened to 15 points!
The Western Team called a timeout!
On Liu Mang's side, McGrady was replaced, with 45 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Jason Terry was also frightened. There was no suspense if the Eastern team won. Liu Mang replaced James, and O'Neal and O'Neal were replaced in the paint. Rasheed Wallace, seek stability at the last moment!
Pressure and defense on the outside, Rasheed Wallace on the inside to help defend, and O'Neal on the basket to protect the basket and grab rebounds.
The Eastern team went from extremely turbulent to extremely stable, completely in Liu Mang's playing mode.
In the last three minutes, the Western team did not make any waves, and the point difference was kept at more than 10 points!
In the end, the Eastern team defeated the Western team 163 to 152, a score difference of 11 points!
Kobe scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, made 18 of 34 shots and scored 46 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, but lost!
For the Eastern Team, McGrady scored 45 points!
Liu Mang had 21 points and 12 assists. The two played extremely well!
The Western team fought hard for a whole game, but finally lost! Popovich was speechless, Yao Ming was in pain, he already had 33 points, and he and Kobe scored nearly 80 points together, but still couldn't win.
Kobe was sitting on the bench with a livid face. He stared at Liu Mang and O'Neal, who were working together, and he hated them even more! This hatred lasts forever!
After the game, David Stern came onto the court with a bright smile.
Although there were some hiccups in the second quarter, the ratings for today's game hit a new high, and except for the two minutes of shark-cutting time, the rest of the game was exciting!
David Stern was in an extremely good mood and came to the court to prepare for the award.
This time the guest of honor during the All-Star Weekend was former Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich.
Kobe saw David Stern coming and stared at David Stern, wanting to hear with his own ears that McGrady won the MVP to deepen his motivation.
David Stern took out a hand card with the result of All-Star MVP written on it. In fact, it was just for show. He already knew it, but the show still had to be done.
David Stern turned over his card and took a look at it and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, the MVP winner of the 2006 Houston All-Star Game is..."
David Stern deliberately lengthened his voice and finally said: "...Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O'Neal!"
They both won the award together!
This is surprising, including Liu Mang!
Liu Mang looked at the data on the big screen. McGrady scored 45 points, O'Neal had 16 points and 15 rebounds. In the crucial fourth quarter, he had 6 offensive rebounds and 4 defensive rebounds!
O'Neal's rebound protection in the final quarter and 7 points under the basket, 7 points and 10 rebounds in a single quarter, became the key to the game!
O'Neal was very passionate and worked hard during the game, but he was still a little depressed after the game. He was unhappy about helping the Hawks players win the MVP.
But unexpectedly, he and McGrady won the MVP together!
Even if they win the MVP together, O'Neal still thinks it's Liu Mang, but he didn't expect it to be him!
O'Neal instantly became energetic!
After playing 20 minutes, 16 points and 15 rebounds, O'Neal and McGrady, who played 36 minutes and scored 45 points, were awarded this year's All-Star MVP!
Kobe is going to vomit blood!
Seeing this scene, he felt it was better to leave early! This is going to piss someone off!
Kobe felt that this All-Star Game would be something he would never forget from the beginning!