Chapter 1155 1154. I Would Never Pass the Ball to This Guy Even if I Had No Chance.

Fans don’t quite understand why Coach Kruger insisted on sending Horry out during the rest period.

If it was Horry two or three years ago, he could defend against Rahim with strong defense and could assist with three-pointers with strong offense, and there would be no problem in starting.

But now, Horry, who is about to turn 36, has no defense, no three-pointers, and no passing skills like the average of 4 assists per game in his peak period.

Horry has become the biggest "bug" in the Hawks lineup. This bug does not mean how powerful he is, but that he has become a loophole for opponents to exploit!

The Cavaliers took the lead at the beginning!

After the Cavaliers scored, the inside line quickly retreated, and the outside three-man team began to press the whole court!

In terms of forcing the opponent to make mistakes, the Cavaliers ranked first in the league after the All-Star Weekend!

Compared with the Hawks, who occasionally look down on the opponent's defense becoming lax, the Cavaliers have always maintained a very oppressive defense. Unlike the Hawks, they don’t have the capital to look down on their opponents.

Liu Mang ran quickly, creating a chance to receive the ball. After receiving the serve from David Lee, he advanced to the front court under the full-court pressure of Larry Hughes, and barely pushed the ball across half court before the eight-second violation.

It's not that he didn't want to pass the ball to other teammates in advance to bring up the rhythm, but there was no chance!

The Cavaliers' perimeter defense pressure was too great. In the original time and space, the Cavaliers were able to step on the Wizards with Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison's new three musketeers because Snow, Larry Hughes, and James' perimeter pressure defense was really strong.

This time, the Cavaliers' perimeter trio's defense became stronger, and the defensive coordination was more targeted.

After Liu Mang arrived at the front court, Larry Hughes quickly retreated to the three-point line to prevent Liu Mang from taking the opportunity to break through. Liu Mang couldn't be stopped at this position.

Liu Mang took a big step outside the top arc and saw Larry Hughes' small steps. As long as he forced a shot, Larry Hughes would rush over in the first time.

Feeling the defensive pressure from Larry Hughes, Liu Mang did not choose to continue shooting. This guy's defense against the ball handler is really good. He was able to win the best defensive team at the beginning of the century. It was not given casually.

Looking at the space that was so big, Liu Mang chose to accelerate and break through!

"Ding... The strongest first step is triggered, the host's speed +5 in two seconds..."

Top defensive players are very confident in their defense. Larry Hughes is confident that he can block Liu Mang when Liu Mang accelerates, but when Liu Mang's speed really soars, Larry Hughes just stuck to Liu Mang, and Liu Mang has occupied the entire breakthrough space!

Fortunately, James knows Liu Mang better, and he let go of Horry to make up for the defense at the first time, and it was very fast. The double team was completed very well, and together with Larry Hughes, Liu Mang was sandwiched on the right side of the free throw line.

Liu Mang jumped up to meet James...

He did not get the shooting space, and only found an open space for Horry in the air. Snow restricted Prince's poor running very well, and Liu Mang passed the ball to Horry.

After landing, Liu Mang immediately retreated. The Cavaliers could not play fast break. James and Larry Hughes were still good at fast break, so it was necessary for the Hawks to retreat from the outside.

But just as Liu Mang ran to the center circle, crazy cheers rang out at the scene!

Liu Mang turned his head and saw Horry flicking his hands, with a look of contempt, and making a helpless look.

That look was exactly the same as the expression when he defeated the Kings in 2002!

Watching Big Z pick up the ball and retreat out of bounds, Liu Mang knew that Horry had made his first open three-pointer today!

Horry played 50 games this season, averaging 2.6 three-pointers per game, throwing a total of 130 three-pointers, and making 29 three-pointers, with a hit rate of less than 25%, and he never made the first shot. Either he had less playing time and did not take a three-pointer, or he made one of four or five shots. Today, he actually made the first shot at the beginning!

Regardless of whether it was a blind cat meeting a dead mouse, Horry made a three-pointer, and the fans at the scene were very happy!

Complaints aside, most fans are still looking forward to Horry's key ball ability. Having a key killer like Horry in the team, more options at critical moments, is always a good thing for the Hawks. Whether it is needed or not is one thing, but whether it is there or not is the most important, so fans are relatively tolerant of Horry. If someone else dared to throw like that with a hit rate of more than 20%, he would have been criticized to death, just because he is Horry.

It is normal for Horry not to score, and it is a profit if he scores.

Liu Mang's action of returning to defense after passing the ball is usually ridiculed by fans and TV commentators, but this time, it looks like "trust" in teammates.

It is indeed trust. Liu Mang trusts that Horry will never score, while others look very different.

Fans watching this game on the spot and fans watching the live broadcast of American cable TV stations across the United States looked at Liu Mang and Horry as if they were pretending together...

Attack and defense switched, the Cavaliers attacked.

Horry's three-pointer was quite unexpected by the Cavaliers. They double-teamed so decisively because Horry was in very poor condition this year.

But it doesn't matter if it goes in, he's not good at defense, James pushed forward and passed the ball to Larry Hughes, Larry Hughes continued to single out Horry, Liu Mang quickly double-teamed, Larry Hughes passed the ball to Snow at the baseline, Snow made a mid-range jump shot.

4 to 3, the Cavaliers still led by one point at the start.

Then the Hawks attacked, Liu Mang broke through to the mid-range. This time, James did not dare to double-team immediately. Horry had just made a shot, so he had to let his hands cool down for a while before double-teaming.

Liu Mang broke through to the mid-range, and because there were a lot of people under the basket, he chose a quick stop jump shot from the free throw line...

The start was a bit bad, and the habitual slow heat after playing against a strong team appeared. Gooden defended the rebound.

The offense and defense changed, and the whole team could not fight back. James received the ball and came on his own!

A one-stop counterattack!

Prince did a good job of retreating and defending James' layup in the first three steps. Liu Mang also rushed back, but James took two steps and then jumped in the third step and then got up and shot the backhand layup.

James' four-step layup is already part of the rules. After taking the first two steps of the three steps, anyone can jump in the third step and then shoot, which is not considered a traveling step. But the only one who can use this trick is probably James.

The players in the league are already used to this.

However, James's dunking move is really amazing. There are only three points in James's skills that are recognized now, good ball control, strong breakthrough and passing, and this dunking move. As long as there is space for him to dunk after entering the basket, it seems that he can put the ball in no matter what.

3 to 6!

Seeing James' layup, Liu Mang has nothing to say about James' layup ability.

But think about it, if James can't even layup, without mid-range shots and three-pointers, he won't attract so many double-teams.

The Cavaliers played a bit powerful at the beginning!

Although James and his teammates did not have particularly high expectations to beat the Hawks, they worked hard and scored three goals in a row at the beginning, beating the Hawks 6 to 3!

Coach Kruger was wandering in the sky, and did not call a timeout. He handed the game to the players on the court. The tactical structure has been arranged, and it depends on the players' performance.

Liu Mang received the serve and continued to advance to the front court under the defense of Larry Hughes.

Larry Hughes' defense is still the same, mainly defending three-pointers, and defending breakthroughs if possible.

Liu Mang accelerated to the mid-range, and made a quick stop jump shot...

Still missed!

The fans at the scene were just excited after Horry's three-pointer, and couldn't help but let out a disappointed "Oh..." again.

However, this time Liu Mang felt something was wrong when he shot. After landing, he rushed into the inside like an arrow, and grabbed the rebound that he had thrown and hit the left inner edge of the basket on the right side of the three-second zone.

At this time, James, Larry Hughes and Gooden came together to attack, and Liu Mang was strong!

"Ding... The 5th level of the aerial magician is triggered. The host can deceive opponents when he jumps forward and teammates when he retreats..."

The three Cavaliers jumped towards Liu Mang, but Liu Mang threw the ball behind his head...

Horry ran to the right sideline at a 45-degree angle to receive the ball. When he turned around, he could no longer control his body and flew out of bounds, but Horry pushed the ball towards the basket in the air...

Just when the fans thought that Liu Mang's pass was too casual and would lead to a mistake, Horry's three-pointer fell into the basket!

Horry scored two three-pointers in a row!

6-6 tie!

The Cavaliers made a beautiful start. Liu Mang made two shots and none of them, but Horry helped Liu Mang add two assists twice when he received the ball from Liu Mang!

The Hawks players on the sidelines were crazy and all stood up. Jason Terry leaned back on his teammates, looking like "Don't pull me, I want to give Horry a heart."

It's incredible!

These were just two open three-pointers. If Horry was two years younger and had a faster pace, he would not have said that he almost lost the ball because he ran too fast. These were two very good passes. If it was Korver or McGrady, it would be normal for both of them to go in. Even if it was a more ordinary three-point shooter, it would be normal for them to go in.

But this is Horry!

The pit who has practiced a hundred three-point shooting postures in Los Angeles!

After scoring, Horry got up and retreated as if nothing had happened, retreating as if he had done nothing, showing off his strength!

It was the Cavaliers' turn to attack again. The Cavaliers had a really good start today. James received the ball and shot a three-pointer directly from one step across the three-point line.

James had a really good touch today!

But then, Horry, who received the pass from Liu Mang using David Lee's off-ball pick-and-roll, faced the switched defense of Gooden and made another three-pointer!

9-9 tie!

The Cavaliers scored four consecutive goals at the start, but the Hawks still did not fall behind!

Liu Mang had cursed Hori countless times in his heart, but now he felt... it was so good to have Hori!