Chapter 1577 1576. Fear Is Coming!

After playing for a long time and thinking about how to deal with the fierceness of the Kasha combination, it was not as effective as Liu Mang's two three-pointers, which immediately made the Suns call a timeout.

"It was a close call."

Liu Mang pinched his thigh. It was really exciting to shoot this kind of ball. Jason Terry and McGrady couldn't do it, so Liu Mang had to do it. If it went in, it would be awesome, if it didn't go in, it would be stupid...

But it went in, Liu Mang pinched his thigh to relieve the excitement, then made a gun finger and blew it, and made a gun-retracting gesture, which caused another round of cheers from the scene.

To grind the rhythm, you must also balance the strength of the opponent.

Originally, relying on the Kasha combination with two pitchers and a power forward who can cut and pass, the Suns' second lineup could compete with the main lineups of most teams in the league, at least when O'Neal was in sufficient physical condition. After all, O'Neal is still an All-Star at this stage, and many teams don't even have an All-Star player that season.

But Liu Mang seems to be going up, which is not something that the starting lineup of most teams can withstand, or even... no team can withstand it!

The Suns' head coach Gentry could only call a timeout to try to interrupt Liu Mang's touch, and then he had to replace him with a lineup with the same firepower, or at least a lineup that could compete, that is, their running and gunning team.

If we really talk about stability, the Card-Shark combination is the most stable core lineup of the Suns. At critical moments, it is often the double point guard combination of Calderon and Nash, and Nash has to play as a shooting guard as a fixed-point shooter.

But in terms of explosive scoring ability, the bombardment is obviously more than a level ahead of the Card-Shark combination.

Coach Kruger saw the Suns call a timeout and predicted that the opponent would most likely make a substitution. He also made a substitution. Gasol, who played nearly half a quarter, was replaced. Jason Terry and McGrady, who had a mediocre touch, were also replaced. They were replaced by Rondo, Liu Mang, Grant Hill, Marion, and O'Neal.

After the timeout, the Suns really replaced Nash and Dio, with Calderon, Raja Bell, and Josh Smith.

The Suns sent out three outside players with a three-point shooting rate of more than 40% and an average of more than 1.5 three-pointers per game, and matched them with two inside players who can pass and advance, Dio and Josh Smith. The purpose is obvious.

The strongest pitching lineup to challenge the soaring Liu Mang!

Liu Mang felt that the Suns really thought highly of him, such a luxurious treatment...

The Suns' frontcourt ball, Nash received the ball and played an outside pick-and-roll with Josh Smith. There was no other way. In order to block the pick-and-roll between the two and guard Dio under the basket, Grant Hill had to let go of Raja Bell to double-team Nash who was holding the ball.

Nash passed the ball to Raja Bell, and Raja Bell decisively shot a three-pointer from the bottom corner...

The cooperation was very good, but it didn't go in!

O'Neal's condition declined, and he was almost rebounded by Dio, who was hit by 8 centimeters. At least he hit the ball out. Liu Mang grabbed the ball over Josh Smith's head, swung the ball behind him after landing, and avoided Josh Smith's steal. The Suns had retreated back. Liu Mang was not in a hurry, and slowly pressed the 8-second violation time to cross half court.

Raja Bell was waiting outside the three-point line, waiting for Liu Mang to pass.

Suddenly, Liu Mang accelerated!

Liu Mang rushed to Raja Bell and jumped with both feet. Raja Bell jumped up quickly as if he was electrocuted, but when he saw that Liu Mang did not pick up the ball, he immediately knew that he had been tricked, and quickly reached out to grab Liu Mang.

But Liu Mang turned 360 degrees to the left at this time. Raja Bell, who could not move his body in the air, could only watch Liu Mang turn around and break through from the right side of the top arc.

Liu Mang rushed into the inside line quickly and jumped towards Dio. Dio couldn't stop him and could only stretch his arms to interfere as much as possible. At this time, Josh Smith rushed in. Liu Mang switched the ball to his left hand and pulled the ball. It was the same action as the last time Josh Smith pulled the ball, but this time Liu Mang pulled the ball after Josh Smith rushed over. Liu Mang saw it the first time Josh Smith came to assist, otherwise he would have shot a mid-range jump shot.

Moreover, Liu Mang's hands were better than Josh Smith's. The ball he threw out rotated and hit the basket and rolled into the basket!

The three-pointer was open, everything was open!

As long as he was not stuck to death by Raja Bell, the sticky guy, Liu Mang had countless ways to put the ball into the basket!

48 to 41, the score difference reached 7 points!

Liu Mang's personal score increased to 23 points!

7 of 12 shots, 5 of which were three-pointers!

It was less than halftime!

Liu Mang's performance, although the Suns were determined to stick to the run-and-gun style and not let the score difference widen, and were ready to fearlessly rush for victory in the first game.

But... Liu Mang had already scored 23 points in one and a half quarters!

If the Suns continued to stick to their style of play, the Hawks might not have a good chance to continue to widen the score difference.

But... the players on the Suns field began to waver! If this continues... the single-game scoring record in the finals will be refreshed!

The wavering mentality caused some problems in the Suns' offense, and Josh Smith's cut-in layup was lost! The ball flew in from under the basket, and the Suns committed an offense violation!

Seeing Rondo advance to the frontcourt and pass the ball to Liu Mang, the Suns began to get scared. Raja Bell stuck to Liu Mang desperately, not allowing Liu Mang to have space to jump from the outside, and would rather give Liu Mang a breakthrough.

If Marion goes out to screen and roll for Liu Mang to create shooting space, they would rather leave Marion open to double-team Liu Mang.

Liu Mang saw the defensive tendency of the Suns at a glance. Except for Raja Bell and Josh Smith, the other players in their lineup have poor defensive awareness and obvious movements. Moreover, Josh Smith and Calderon have the tendency to shrink under the basket and double-team the mid-range...

Liu Mang, who just scored 8 points in a row and reversed the score difference by 7 points, reminded the Suns players of the scene in the second round of last year's playoffs when the Bulls, the first defensive efficiency in history, were unable to take care of themselves!

What else can Liu Mang do? Break through resolutely!

Sure enough, he was double-teamed by Calderon in the mid-range. Liu Mang did not rush to pass the ball. He was well prepared and grabbed the ball when Calderon came up to defend, jumped one step to the left, and changed direction to jump towards the basket!

Sure enough, except for Dio who held O'Neal on the left side of the three-second zone, Josh Smith and Raja Bell who rushed from behind double-teamed him!

Liu Mang threw the ball to the right side of the basket in the air, Rondo cut in from the right, received the ball and jumped to shoot with one hand...

The ball went in! It also caused a foul on Calderon who rushed over!

Two three-pointers, a breakthrough layup and a breakthrough pass, Liu Mang helped the Hawks to score 10-0, and there was also a not-so-reliable free throw!

The tense situation was broken by Liu Mang's unreasonable attack, and the balance of victory tilted towards the Hawks!