From today on is the king

Chapter 1575 1574. The duel between two fat centers

After the first quarter, the Eagles and the Suns scored 36-32. Relying on Wade, who came off the bench, to break through the two three-point opportunities created by Liu Mang, Liu Mang scored two three-pointers in a row, overtaking the original two-point lead to a four-point lead.

Such a score in a single quarter of the finals... is really rare in several years.

Liu Mang felt that the Suns were unexpectedly difficult to deal with!
Liu Mang did not underestimate the Suns, and has been preparing carefully. The Eagles will not belittle any teammates in the finals. The Suns made it to the finals in the West. It is much more difficult than the Eagles in the East.

But the ferocity of the Suns' offense is even more terrifying than the Eagles imagined!
After half a quarter of the first quarter, the Hawks called a timeout and replaced Wade. Together with Liu Mang, McGrady, Marion, and Kwame Brown, they tried to use defense to contain the opponent's fast break, but found it very difficult.

The oppressive defense is not very useful for Nash, but is often used by Nash to play sharp cooperation.

Replaced with a big lineup, using O'Neal and Kwame Brown to partner inside, and the stability of the offensive end is completely ignored by the Suns.

The Suns are now in their first away game. Those with bare feet who are not afraid of wearing shoes just want to start a fast break.

The two major pitchers of the Suns, Raja Bell and Barbosa, have opened their hands in the Western Conference playoffs and are now in good shape. This season is basically the peak time of these two players.

At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles replaced Jason Terry, Liu Mang, and Wade's perimeter combination. Wade suddenly used Jason Terry and his own defense to give Liu Mang two three-point opportunities, allowing Liu Mang to throw the ball before Raja Bell, who had not yet been chased.

The Suns are playing tricks, and the Eagles can only use superstars to solve the problem.

The Eagles feel a lot of pressure here, but the Suns are actually even more distressed.

Gentry saw that his own touch was so good that he made 8 of 5 three-pointers in a single quarter. He finally took a two-point lead with 41 seconds left in the first quarter, and finally was "easily" overtaken by Liu Mang with two three-pointers.

Running and bombing didn't seem to work, and Gentry was going to replace Calderon, Gordon Kiliesek, Jason Richardson, Josh Smith, and O'Neal during the intermission.

On the Hawks side, Coach Kruger learned about the Suns' thoughts in the first quarter. The opponents will try to play a hard game regardless of 21-[-]. The Suns are not afraid of losing an away game, but Coach Kruger is afraid of losing a home game!

But no matter what, Coach Kruger was not in a hurry and replaced Liu Mang, Jason Terry, McGrady, Scola, and Gasol. Coach Kruger estimated that the opponent would definitely replace O'Neal at this time. Even if O'Neal didn't play, just replace Gasol later.

At the end of the intermission, Liu Mang saw that the opponent really replaced O'Neal, and his coach's prediction was correct.

The Suns attacked, and Liu Mang stayed at the top arc, waiting for Calderon to advance.

O'Neal didn't go out to pick and roll Calderon. When he gave Calderon a pick and roll in the regular season, Gasol completely ignored him and stood still outside the inner three-second zone. O'Neal was embarrassed.

O'Neal came to the right side of the three-second zone this time and asked for the ball.

Calderon immediately lobs the ball over.

this location?
Gasol still stayed in the three-second zone, ignoring O'Neal.

O'Neal did not choose to shoot at this position close to the middle distance, but broke through inside!

"watt?"

Little Gasol saw that O'Neal's big lump was able to dribble in flexibly!
I didn't expect O'Neal to fight like this at all. Gasol could only take a step and block in front of O'Neal. He was really rushed...then...

But after Gasol took a step to stand up straight, O'Neal played a flexible right turn before touching Gasol, and shot with a small hook with his left hand...

Hit the board!

Yao Ming was in tears watching this ball...

The dreamy footsteps that have been practiced so hard for so long, the result is not as good as others' innate talent!

Anyway, it’s been a season, and the Suns have thought about many ways to deal with Gasol, but after all, Gasol has the top defensive awareness, which can make up for many lacks in footwork.

Moreover, Gasol still has a tonnage, and it is difficult for O'Neal to hit him.

The Suns coaching staff didn't think of a good way to solve this problem, but O'Neal thought of a way himself.

O'Neal also tried Yao Ming as Gasol when he was playing against the Lakers, and it worked!
If the opponent doesn't defend, O'Neal will have room to speed up, and the opponent will defend... That's more in line with the Suns' wishes. If O'Neal can open up space in the middle distance, the Suns will play better offensively. In the Western Conference finals, O'Neal averaged 3.2 assists per game, the highest in the playoff series in the past four years, thanks to pulling Yao Ming out.

It's just that not many people noticed this, and the Eagles didn't notice it either.

Who would have thought that the 36-year-old O'Neal could break through with the ball like this?
Because O'Neal didn't play well offensively in the Western Conference Finals, he only scored around 10 points in the first three games, but after Yao Ming's physical strength declined in the fourth game, he scored 18+10.

Seeing O'Neal flinging his big butt back to defend, he looked very proud, and Gasol, who had grown a beard, was very upset!
Picking up the ball and sending it to Liu Mang, Little Gasol ran forward with his head sullen.

Liu Mang felt that he had to help Gasol get back to the field, and after advancing to the frontcourt, he directed Gasol to a high position.

Little Gasol didn't expect him to play a part in the offensive end!Immediately beyond the free throw line, Liu Mang immediately broke through from the right side when Gasol ran out. Calderon quickly retreated before it was too late. O'Neal, who wanted to defend, quickly retracted to prevent Liu Mang from hitting the basket.

Liu Mang passed back to Gasol Jr. at the free throw line, and Gasol Jr. shot from the free throw line...

The movements of straightening his arms and puffing out his cheeks when shooting the ball are the same as his brother's, and he scored!

After the shot, Gasol slapped his hands hard twice and ran back hard.

O'Neill feels that this kid's brain is not working!What are you doing so excited about hitting an open mid-range shot?He looked even more proud than when the center broke through and turned for a layup just now!
Needless to say, O'Neill was really irritated.

After Calderon advanced to the frontcourt, O'Neal continued to ask for the ball towards Calderon!

As long as O'Neal can get into the basket and lift the ball up, there is basically no solution. Now that trick is also effective against the Eagles. Calderon immediately passed the ball to O'Neal.

(End of this chapter)