Chapter 211 Li and Ma Blossom

On May 12, Game 2 of Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets officially started.

There were not many changes in the lineups of both sides, but in view of the experience of the previous game and Li Shengli's suppression of Olajuwon, all the spectators and fans watching the live broadcast focused on the inside line of this game.

…

Beep!

As soon as the whistle blew, Li Shengli won the jump ball again, and it was the Jazz who launched the first-round attack.

Nowadays, the Jazz's offense basically revolves around the three players of Limas. Stockton advances with the ball, Malone supports the pick-and-roll in the high post, and Li Shengli waits at the edge of the penalty area.

Speaking of which, Li Shengli's height is the best for pulling out pick-and-rolls, but Jerry Sloan considered that Li Shengli also had to protect the team's offensive rebounds. If the shot from other positions missed, the Rockets would get the defensive rebound. The Jazz's offense was in vain. After all... no one can underestimate Olajuwon, a top center.

After the pick-and-roll, Stockton broke into the inside and Thorpe came in to defend. From a tricky angle, he passed the ball back to Malone, who ran back after the pick-and-roll.

Boom!

Malone's first strike.

Although Malone has a top mid-range shooting percentage, no one can hit 100% of the time. The ball bounces out of the basket. As a defender, Thorpe naturally rushes to the basket to grab rebounds before Malone.

After the collision in the previous game, Olajuwon did not dare to push too hard and used all his strength to block the ball. Because the opportunity to rebound was just a split second, Li Shengli was blocked and the rebound was stolen. Generally in the pocket.

Offense and defense change sides.

Facing the Jazz's airtight defense, it was difficult for the Rockets to find an open shot, so the ball was handed to Olajuwon. This is the role of the core players. They must become the team's sharp knife when the situation cannot be opened. , tearing apart the opponent's defense with a strong attack.

"Boy, you can't guard me today!" Olajuwon lowered his focus and beat Li Shengli with a back-up shot. Although he couldn't see the expression on his face, he could feel his confidence.

Can't guard against it?

Why can't I guard against it?

Li Shengli does not believe in evil. You have to know the matchup between Olajuwon and him. It is difficult to squeeze further into the penalty area. The only thing that needs to be paid attention to is his tricky back-turning steps. But at this point, Li Shengli also found a way to deal with it. .

Again, under normal circumstances, just push forward without retreating at all. As long as Olajuwon changes his footsteps, he will take a small half step back to leave enough room for response. Anyway, with height suppression and blocking affecting the shot, he can still do it. of.

However... to become a superstar, every player's golf quotient is amazing. As a leading center, Olajuwon's offense is so comprehensive that it is terrifying. In the last game, he may have had poor touch, but this game is different.

Turning his back and seeing Li Shengli retreating, Olajuwon decisively chose a jump shot. When taking off, he chose to extend one leg forward to create a foul. This is the best way to deal with close defense.

Olajuwon took action, Li Shengli jumped to block it, and the referee's whistle came.

2+1!

Less than a minute into the game, Li Shengli got a foul.

Olajuwon's free throw shooting percentage is not high, but it is the highest among several top centers. This season, Admiral Robinson has 73.2% and Gorilla Ewing has 71.9%, but Olajuwon has reached 77.9%, which is enough to be called the strongest center this season, while Li Shengli’s free throws are lower than Ewing. 71.2%.

With the extra penalty, the Jazz's bad start continued until the end of the first quarter, and even tended to extend to the back.

…

One trick that can be eaten all over the world?

This is definitely a misconception.

Everything is in a process of development, and the so-called experience is not static. The defensive experience that Li Shengli gained in the first game was obviously broken by Olajuwon in this game.

With a good touch and offensive fouling, Olajuwon abandoned the dream dance moves he became famous for and used hard-hitting mid-range shots to lead the team to a wave of offensive climax in the first quarter.

He alone... took 7 shots, made 5 hits, and also committed two fouls, one 2+1, one free throw and two free throws. He made all three free throws and scored 13 points in the first quarter.

The Rockets played bravely. On the other hand, the Jazz team was not in a sluggish state, but it could only be regarded as a normal performance. Malone scored 8 points, Li Shengli also scored 4 points against the cunning Olajuwon, and Li and Ma scored 8 points. The score was also suppressed by Olajuwon alone.

Throughout the first quarter, the Jazz only suppressed the Rockets on the rebounds, and this was also the reason why the point difference was not widened too much.

As for fighting for rebounds?

Olajuwon also wanted to compete, but unlike offense, he didn't have many fancy skills except for position prediction and positioning skills. He only focused on physical fitness, and Li Shengli took the lead in this regard.

It is worth mentioning Rodman, the regular season rebounder. This guy is not outstanding in height, but he is desperate for rebounds, and he does it while abandoning offense. He is not in the same level as Li Shengli and Olajuwon. Compare.

…

Falling behind by 5 points in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Rockets still handed over most of the offense to Olajuwon. After all, Rockets head coach Rudy is not stupid. There is no reason to leave such an efficient offensive firepower unused.

Defense?

Li Shengli really felt the difficulty, so he simply gave up the idea of ​​retreating to create space, and directly pushed forward, refusing to give up any ground on the edge of the penalty area, while Olajuwon also responded to the situation...

Malone stepped forward to help, and Olajuwon didn't rely too much on it. He directly distributed the ball. If he was one-on-one with Li Shengli, his footsteps could point out Li Shengli's center of gravity and rush into the basket to cause damage.

Li Shengli encountered a crushing blow for the first time.

The Jazz's playoff journey also encountered its first tough battle.

Until the end of the second quarter and entering halftime, the Jazz's deficit widened. They fell behind by 5 points in the first quarter, fell behind by 8 points in the second quarter, and were beaten by 13 points in the first half.

…

Inside the Jazz locker room.

Jerry Sloan arranged the offensive and defensive tasks in the second half without a smile. Olajuwon, who was in full condition with the Rockets, seemed to be unable to defend and limit the situation. If the Jazz wanted to come back, they must hit a climax on offense.

Of course, this means completely giving up defense. You still have to defend when you need to, but the offense must blossom. If you blossom at one point, it is easy to be restricted. Obviously it won't work. So what Jerry Sloan wants is for both Li and Ma to blossom...

"Li, don't be too anxious, just keep calm and fight." Ma Long has rich experience in the game. It is common to beat others or be beaten by others.

After all, in this three-point land in the NBA, no one can be a winning general, and in his opinion...Li Shengli, a rookie with no experience in competitions, may suffer a little loss but it will be an advantage.

"I'm fine!" Li Shengli frowned, "I promise, he will never be so relaxed in the second half!"

The confrontation with Olajuwon, in Li Shengli's view, was more like a duel between masters, a battle of wits and courage, and showing off their tricks.

In the first game, he knocked Olajuwon into a low state, but in the second game, Olajuwon regained the dignity of a top center and defeated him offensively, and then... it was his turn to split the game.

"What? Have you thought of a way to deal with him?" Ma Long glanced at Li Shengli in confusion, "To be honest, he has already played smoothly in this game. It will be the same no matter who is on defense. No one can defeat him in single defense." .”

This is not because Malone has the ambition of others and destroys his own prestige, but that Olajuwon is like this when he is in full condition. Just like Malone himself, as a top power forward, it is useless to win over anyone.

If you are in good shape, you can make a blind throw with your eyes closed, and if you are not in good shape, you can hit the iron when you are in an open position.

"It doesn't matter. If you can't defend well, then go on offense. I can't stop him, and he can't stop me! No matter what, I still have to win this game!" After saying that, Li Shengli stopped talking.

…

Until the start of the third quarter, Malone and Stockton hung behind, staring directly at Li Shengli.

"What's going on with this kid?" Stockton asked.

"The devil knows what's going on. It's a good thing to have the desire to win, but... I still don't think he can fight against Olajuwon!"

"Ignore all that. I'll give you the ball. In the second half, it's up to you and Li's performance!"

"Being trailing by 13 points at halftime, and with Olajuwon in full condition, it will be difficult to win this game."

"Don't talk nonsense, this is our championship season, we can't lose every game, and your idea is very bad." Stockton frowned, "You have played too many playoff games, right? Look, Carl, we need passion, the passion of someone like Lee who refuses to admit defeat, otherwise... you're going to be our weakest link."

I am the weakest link?

Are you damn sure this isn't... farting?

"Shut up!" Ma Long rolled his eyes at his partner, "Who said I have no passion? Just watch. I'll let you take a good look at this second half. Li and I are invincible inside. It's useless for anyone to come, Ola." Neither can Zhu Wang.”

…

To be honest, if the Jazz continue at their current pace, defeat is already a certainty if the Jazz don't change, and the coffin board prepared by the Rockets has already hit their heads, and the second half will be a coffin-sealing battle.

The teaming up of Li Shengli and Malone is the only chance. It also depends on Stockton's organization. After all, the game is not all about singles, and the cooperation of teammates is more important.

And Limas linked up, and the coffin board was perfect enough for the Rockets to send out... Play sit-ups, no matter whether it is a sliding cover or a flip cover.