From today on is the king

Chapter 517
Iverson wasn't surprised to see Liu Mang's dunk. He knew about Van Horn's defense. He might be blown 2+1 if he went up.

The key is Liu Mang's change of direction just now!

In just one second, Liu Mang's whole body seemed to be making fake moves!

And this kind of breakthrough action, Iverson thought of an old opponent in the same class, Stephen Marbury, who competed with him for the No. [-] pick!
Liu Mang's action just now looked too much like Marbury's probing breakthrough!
Although Liu Mang and Marbury's change of direction may not look alike to ordinary people because of the surprising size of the two, but Iverson and Marbury have played against each other too many times, and they are too familiar with this breakthrough method that defeats the opponent's defensive predictions.

"This kid is really scary!" Iverson had nothing to say about Liu Mang's learning ability!It can only be described as terrible.

The 76ers attacked, and Iverson didn't press the rhythm when he received the ball. They advanced to the frontcourt at a normal speed. The 76ers averaged 99 points per game this season, almost breaking the 76 mark. This is the highest scoring average since Iverson joined the 76ers.

Liu Mang returned to the defense quickly, waiting for Iverson at the top arc. The ball just now made him a little excited. He didn't expect that at the moment of desperation, he really made the usual incoherent moves. Marbury's breakthrough move is indeed not low. Liu Reck used it occasionally before, but the defenders were all opponents whose speed and reaction were not as good as his. It was surprising that he could do so well against Iverson.

Iverson pushed forward, and Liu Mang immediately pressed him up. It doesn't matter if he is stepped over, it's better than being dizzy by Iverson's flower-piercing butterfly step.

But Iverson didn't take the opportunity to pass Liu Mang directly. He saw the Eagles' defensive trend of shrinking double-teams, took a step back, opened the distance with Liu Mang, and gestured for Van Horn to come over for the pick-and-roll.

Liu Mang saw Van Horn coming up for a pick-and-roll, and wanted to bypass the pick-and-roll early, but Van Horn delayed Liu Mang for a few tenths of a second, which was enough for Iverson to rush into the interior unimpeded, and Muhammad, who came out of the defense, was passed by Iverson with one step, and he did not have the speed of Liu Mang who could force Iverson to go off the line and break through after being passed. Ratliff could only step up to prevent Iverson from stepping. , A beautiful break through the lob was completed.

The Eagles originally planned to defend Iverson single-handedly by Liu Mang from the outside. After Iverson broke through, he double-teamed. Taking advantage of Iverson's weakness of short height and limited vision, he forced Iverson to take a shot against the defense. The most perfect result was to directly steal or block Iverson. I didn't expect Iverson to pick and roll!
This is completely inconsistent with the Eagles players' impression of Iverson!
In fact, Iverson's ability to read defense is not bad at all. If his ability to read defense is poor, can he have so many assists?
It’s just that he used to be more superstitious about his personal ability. At the same time, he was the best scorer in the league. He was not one of them at one time. Coupled with the 76ers’ defense that used to be the best in the league, he didn’t have to think too much about reading the opponent’s defense and then slowly defeating the opponent.

But now Iverson has gradually become obsessed with this small-scale cooperation with his teammates. He likes this brisk style of play. Of course, scoring is still his favorite. He still averages 22 shots per game, but it is already a new low since Jordan retired.With a relatively reasonable style of play combined with passing the ball, with such a group of teammates, Iverson played well and had a chance to hit the top four in the Eastern Conference. His strength is indeed strong!
But Larry Brown doesn't like to play pick-and-rolls, because teams that play pick-and-rolls and encounter fast-paced offenses will become miserable if they don't have a defensive center with strong athletic ability.

After McCloch scored, Raheem immediately rushed to the basket to pick up the ball, and threw it directly towards the frontcourt. Liu Mang was about to get off, and it was too late for Van Horn to pull Liu Mang.

Because of Iverson's pick-and-roll, Liu Mang was left in the top arc by Van Horn's three-point threat that opened up the space. Liu Mang, who could slightly limit Iverson's speed, was not able to chase and defend.

Larry Brown doesn't like the small ball era very much. Since he was the best coach in the league in 04 and 05, but after 06, no matter where he coaches, his record is very bad. It can be seen that he belongs to this era. After the rules change, he is completely out of date.

Of course, he doesn’t like it. It doesn’t mean that he won’t coach a brisk team. He just doesn’t like it. Like the current 76ers, his offensive structure is also very good, but he can’t defend against opponents on the defensive end, so he doesn’t like it.

The current lineup of the 76ers, with the combination of Iverson's sudden shot, is indeed playing very well on the offensive end, but on the defensive end, no matter whether it is defending against the Eagles' positional battle or counterattack, they can't defend it. The game has entered a confrontational situation from the beginning.

The overall defense of the Eagles is a level higher than that of the 76ers. From time to time, it can limit Iverson's organizational offense, but the 76ers can't stop the Eagles' offense at all. After the official timeout of the first quarter, the Eagles lead the 14ers 9 to 76 by 5 points.

After Liu Mang was on the starting lineup, the defense really became very different. When Jason Terry was playing the starting lineup, his opponents often made up for the breakthrough. He forced Iverson to use pick-and-rolls to completely get rid of the defense when he fell into a positional battle. Although it was still difficult to defend Iverson, he was more sharp when counterattacking.

With 7 points and 1 assist, Liu Mang is ready to open the gap in one fell swoop during the next rotation.

It is true that the gap between the 76ers and the top teams is still obvious. Although Iverson is there, most of the teammates who can't stand up are mainly defensive.

Except for Van Horn who is good at offense, most of the original 76ers players are not good at offense, especially outside shooting. Only a few players such as Van Horn, Coleman, and Snow have a stable three-point ability.

But just when Liu Mang was about to defeat the 76ers with his teammates, coach Kruger put him in the tactical position of corner shooter and counterattack point!
Liu Mang was a little surprised when he heard this arrangement at first, but only then did he realize that he had already become the tactical starter!
Although he also played the starting lineup before, his tactics have not changed. He has to lead the offense when he goes up.

This means that Liu Mang is not afraid of physical energy consumption. For another player, he has such a long playing time as a fake starter. With his offensive style of play that dominates the offense and the defensive end defends desperately, his physical fitness can never keep up. Kobe was not very good at holding the ball at the peak of the team. Fox, Odom, Gasol and others were all handed over to Fox, Odom, Gasol and others.

Coach Kruger is afraid that Liu Mang will play more playing time after starting the game. Part of his concern is the exhaustion of his energy. Liu Mang has always dominated the ball and is easy to be targeted. The overall strength of the Eastern Conference is not strong. Except for the Pistons, Pacers, and Nets, he does not worry about being targeted when he plays against other teams, but what should he do when he meets these three teams in the playoffs?What if you are really targeted?
Therefore, with a dozen or so games left in the playoffs, Coach Kruger put Liu Mang in the starting position ahead of time to enhance the defensive dominance of the starting lineup and at the same time let Liu Mang start adapting to this change in advance.

Liu Mang had no problem adapting to this change for a while, and played with the rotation lineup of Jason Terry, Prince, Raheem, and Boozer.

The Eagles sent a small lineup, and Liu Mang was rarely placed at the shooting guard position.

The 76ers replaced Snow, Iverson, Kenny Thomas, Teiro Hill and Coleman.

Larry Brown just didn't want to send out a small lineup. Coleman, who is [-] meters tall and has a wingspan of [-] meters, is still on the court. This is his last insistence on maintaining a big lineup in the compromise of offensive basketball.

After a timeout, the 76ers attacked. Snow pushed forward and immediately gave the ball to Iverson. Liu Mang and Iverson faced off at the shooting guard position.

Liu Mang accepted the change of position, devoted himself to defense, and stuck tightly to Iverson. Iverson took a look at the Eagles' lineup. This time, he didn't want to pick and roll, but a change of direction to kill Liu Mang into the inside!
Liu Mang immediately followed up, sticking closely to the breakthrough Iverson, and pushed Iverson down the line. Together with Boozer at the basket and Raheem who defended Teiro Hill at the bottom line, Iverson was sandwiched on the right side of the three-second zone!

At this time, Iverson has no chance to pass to the inside or the corner teammates. Liu Mang is ready to block the shot at any time, Raheem blocks the pass space from the bottom line, and Boozer blocks the pass space to the basket.

But unexpectedly, Coleman actually left the basket and ran to the top arc!

Iverson returned the top arc in time, and Coleman ran to the top arc to catch the ball and turned around to shoot a three-pointer!

The 76ers felt really good on the outside today, and Coleman hit a three-pointer.

After the shot, Coleman immediately returned to defense, and the rest of the 76ers quickly followed up, not giving the Eagles a chance to play a fast break.

The Eagles fell into a positional battle, Liu Mang and Prince pulled to the two bottom corners to open up the space, Jason Terry held the ball, Boozer and Raheem pulled the basket very empty.

However, at this time, Jason Terry also became uncomfortable playing. It’s not that he hasn’t played as a substitute, it’s not that he didn’t come up and take the ball and wave, but since the establishment of the three kitty eagles as the core of the offensive structure, he has never had such a highly concentrated possession of the ball. Usually, only Liu Mang has such a possession.

Jason Terry is a little uncomfortable when he can make a few waves without any scruples. There are too many offensive methods to choose from, such as pick-and-roll, breakthrough, emergency stop jumper, three-point direct shot...

Although this matter was emphasized during the training before the game, there were too many choices, which made Jason Terry a little hot-headed, and he threw a three-pointer directly.

The key is not to enter!
Iverson retracted to the basket and got a defensive rebound. The 76ers quickly pressed in. Iverson broke through again to attract the defense away, and then passed back to the top arc. Kenny Thomas also hit a three-pointer!

15 to 14, after the timeout came back, the 76ers overtook the score!

Seeing Jason Terry a little annoyed, his teammates went up and patted Jason Terry on the shoulder to give him confidence.

Jason Terry said that he was fine, and slowly pushed forward after receiving the ball, not in a hurry to make a decision, and slowly adapted to his new identity.

In the past, Jason Terry was very envious of Liu Mang's position of dominating the ball as he pleases, but now he finds that it is not so easy!

Such a sixth man with highly concentrated possession of the ball should play well. After all, there are so many possessions, but if he does not play well, he has to take the blame.

And this kind of ball possession requires making correct decisions and mobilizing the team's overall offense. Ability is one thing, but the main reason is that there is a lot of pressure!

This new style of play Jason Terry has only played one round, and he feels the pressure rolling in. At this time, Jason Terry should not admire Liu Mang too much, he has such a big heart, he can play whatever he wants.

Jason Terry felt that he was really happy to play the first game before. Most of the time, he just caught and shot the ball, and he didn’t have to worry so much. Except for the first quarter of the starting stage, which required more than one quarter to organize the offense, Liu Mang would handle these pressures well for the other 345 minutes.

But we have come to this point. This kind of need to lead the offense in the second team, and help the starters relieve the pressure of scoring and organizing offense. Isn’t that what a best sixth man should do? Jason Terry knows that the team’s current record pressure has passed, and continue to work with the ball!

……

The Eagles' offense has become much more unstable than before. Coach Kruger sat on the sidelines, and it was not much of a surprise.

In the last eight games, the Eagles’ record is not under much pressure. The Magic are only 37 wins and 37 losses. The Eagles are already 39 wins and 35 losses.

The Magic's remaining 8 games are almost all playoff teams.

So the Eagles have plenty of time to grind in slowly.

Originally, coach Kruger planned to complete this matter gradually at the beginning of the season, but who knew that the record pressure was so great this season, and the record pressure was not lifted until April, and it was still No.8.

The Eagles don't plan to hit the seventh or sixth position, so the team's ball-handling core is diversified and well integrated, which has become the key to the last few games!

(End of this chapter)