basketball pope

Chapter 347 [Feeling cold, moving fast]

On the 5th, the Wizards played away to the Timberwolves.

There is good news, the Timberwolves starting small forward, Wally Szczerbiak, who was an All-Star last season, is out due to injury.

Looking at the Timberwolves' starting lineup, Yang Rui was determined and felt that he would definitely win.

The starting center is Rasu Nesterovic, the power forward is a marginal man last season, Lauren Woods, who is 216cm tall and weighs 111kg, Garnett has moved to the position of small forward, and the guards are Anthony Peeler and Lauren Woods. Troy Hudson.This is a big man lineup with poor mobility.

Yang Rui arranged the outside movement tactics of Hamilton and Wesley, catching and shooting the ball and cutting to the basket. No matter how you look at it, he has the upper hand.As a result, the Timberwolves blocked the Wizards' attack with a 122-zone defense.

Wesley felt cold in his hand and struck iron many times on the outside. Although Hamilton kept running and was very active, he was mainly a mid-range shooter, and his opponents could also save and interfere at any time when they huddled near the penalty area.

The Timberwolves were also weak in breaking the zone defense, and the Wizards trailed 21-25 in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Timberwolves still had a 122 zone defense strategy, preventing Alston and Boozer's high pick-and-roll.If Alston can't break through, he can't play a role. Although he made no mistakes in passing the ball, he couldn't create space. Everyone was shooting under the premise of interference.

Boozer and Maggette took turns to strike, and the Timberwolves played a wave of 11-0 under the leadership of veteran Kendall Gill.

Yang Rui called a timeout in time to adjust tactics and lineup, and prevented the Timberwolves' offensive in the second half, but could not change the players' icy feel. The team only scored 11 points in a single quarter, trailing 32-49 at halftime.

Wizards did not make a three-pointer, except for Hamilton, all blacksmiths.Garnett focused on Jordan, and his defense was very successful. He could not only block Jordan's breakthrough, interfere with shooting, but also interfere with passing.

Relying on height, wingspan and flexibility, Garnett's defense is like a net. It is difficult for opponents to get rid of without screens. He is a player who can really defend from the 1st to the 5th.He can block shots in the restricted area and is good at rebounding. His only weakness is his weight, and he can't guard against a center like O'Neal.

At halftime, Yang Rui went to the locker room to teach the players a lesson and changed his tactics.

"If you have a chance, run and shoot, don't give the Timberwolves a chance to place the defense, even if Garnett is in front of you, don't hesitate as long as you play more and less, go to the basket, try to make Garnett foul, Stoudamire center , Marshall power forward, Jordan small forward, Maggette shooting guard, Tyron Lue is in possession of the ball, everyone must run, try to counterattack, open the pick-and-roll when the position is in war, and the forward cuts on both sides."

Yang Rui called the three frontcourt players to his side and instructed: "Remember the essentials, observe the opponent's defense after taking the ball, and if the opponent reaches out to cut the ball, directly take the ball and hit their arm."

He looked at Jordan again, and said sternly: "Michael, you don't have to run, protect the backcourt and pass the ball, find the teammates who run in front, and the organization of the positional warfare also depends on you, come on, we haven't lost yet."

"Of course we didn't lose," Jordan shouted. "Everyone cheer up and run!"

Yang Rui recently instructed several physically strong players to make fouls and practice free throws, but he did not let them practice the "European step".

Because not everyone has power with the Eurostep, only Manu Ginobili and Harden.Ginobili is a snake-shaped breakthrough, twisting his body into a twist and changing directions, which ordinary people can't learn.

Harden is even more powerful. His Eurostep can take one more step than others. As long as the four-step layup is consistent, the referee will not blow.Because he can layup with three or four steps, defenders can't count step points, and even if he can't break through, he is prone to fouls, which has become a major stunt in the league.

The Timberwolves lacked three-pointers, and their play was very similar to the Wizards' first half. Garnett played as a point forward, and his teammates ran to catch and shoot. If no one was double-teamed, Garnett singled with the ball.In this case, putting in Tyron Lue will not be a big defensive loophole. The Wizards are guarding the penalty area and interfering with the opponent's mid-to-long-range shots.

In the second half, the Timberwolves players' shooting touch began to decline, and Garnett's several jumpers missed the basket under Marshall's interference.Peeler hit the iron three times in a row. Point guard Hudson is a small speed guard who mainly relies on breakthroughs. After being entangled by Tyron Lue, it is not so easy to excel.

In Yang Rui's previous life, the Timberwolves always lacked the ability to attack in the low post, even in the era of the Big Three. Garnett was a big swinger, and it was difficult to hit the basket.

Although many people say that Garnett is tough, calling him a "tough special", his main scoring method is actually to swing his shoulders and turn around to shoot, using his height and wingspan to create space for shots.

Watching Garnett's game, you will see countless such scenes.

I squeezed and squeezed with my back, but the other party didn't move at all, then I turned around and wiped it in. MD, if the left turn is blocked, then turn right... I'm rubbing it, Niu B, how can you keep up?I'll turn left again... No, I can't make it through, let's make a jumper, I'll throw it!
The ball was scored, and Garnett acted like a bigger Jordan, with a picturesque posture. He beat his chest and roared, and he was more bloody than many people who completed a dunk.

Most of the time, Garnett's shooting feel is good, and when he doesn't feel good, it's hard for him to score.He doesn't score much in the penalty area, his lethality is low, and he averages only 6.7 free throws per game at his peak.

The Wizards' shooting touch was still bad, but they took advantage of their mobility, grabbed the rebound and immediately counterattacked, at least three people quickly got down.

Marshall's physical fitness is also very strong, and he is still at his peak this year.In college, Ray Allen could only give him a bag for the first year. When he rushed up, Lauren Woods couldn't catch up. He attracted defense and he would also score the ball.

No. 2 Peeler can't catch up with Maggette. He is 193cm tall and weighs 94kg. He is relatively strong, but Maggette is the strongest swingman in the league. The price of this foul, a total of four foul troubles, went to rest.

The substitute veteran Kendall-Gill is 196cm tall, weighs 88kg, and is thinner.

Marshall, Tyrone Lula opened and other opportunities to shoot three-pointers in the positional battle. Jordan organized a high position, Stoudamire and Maggette cut to the basket, and directly received the ball and played hard.

Garnett can't control the basket when defending Jordan. If Garnett goes with Stoudemire, there will be obvious dislocations on the field. Maggette or Jordan will face Nesterovic.

Timberwolves coach Philip Saunders was forced to make adjustments, but Szczerbiak was not there, Garnett played the power forward, and the small forward had to replace Reggie Lester.This was a fringe of the Raptors at the time, excluded from the playoff roster, with average physique, ordinary shooting and breakthrough.

As soon as Leicester came out, the Wizards could shrink even more on the defensive end to protect the penalty area.

The Wizards scored 30-23 in a single quarter, trailing 62-72 in total, and the outcome still remains in suspense.

At the end of the quarter, Yang Rui changed another person to attack the basket. Hamilton, Wesley, and Bell played together. This was because the Timberwolves did not dare to send Garnett to play small forward.

They didn't play much in the third quarter. They were full of energy and kept running to find opportunities. The inside line was Stoudamire and Wallace, and they cut from time to time.

The Timberwolves' perimeter players are average, and the Wizards' small lineup can shrink and defend. The inside line Wallace and Garnett are also good at interfering shots.

At the end of the game with 2 minutes left, the Wizards were only 84 points behind 88 to 4.

(End of this chapter)