From today on is the king

Chapter 945

"We can't give up! Basketball is round, as long as we work hard, there will be hope!" Jamison cheered his teammates loudly.

The Wizards are a young team. Except for the old Lakers player Samaki Walker, the oldest players are Antawn Jamison and Larry Hughes who entered the NBA in 98.

Although Jamison's leadership ability is average, the Wizards players are young and can easily be mobilized.

One man who was desperate but eager to break free from this miserable fear was Gilbert Arenas.

In the past, he was only beaten by Liu Mang in the regular season, but now he meets Liu Mang in the playoffs. After this match, two situations may arise.

One is to defeat Liu Mang and break the demons; the second is to be defeated by Liu Mang, and there will be no redemption from then on...

Arenas was almost depressed when facing Liu Mang. Originally, this depression was caused by him being beaten into depression when he met James in the playoffs for three consecutive years since the 05-06 season. Some fans joked that he drew his gun in 09 because he was depressed by James and couldn't bear it...

Arenas is more eager than anyone to defeat Liu Mang now. As a rookie of the same class, he is not in the same position as Liu Mang like Gasol, nor does he want to be Liu Mang's teammate like the No. 01 pick he hates. He also does not have the kind of luck that Parker won the championship with Duncan within two years after entering the NBA.

Arenas came out of the second round, and his fate is very similar to that of Liu Mang. They both performed far better than their picks in their rookie season. However, Liu Mang is the more dazzling one, and Arenas has always been in Liu Mang's shadow.

Arenas can only defeat Liu Mang, even if he can win one game, his inner demons can be resolved, but four years have passed, and he has not yet had a victory against Liu Mang.

Arenas doesn't want to go on like this, he wants to win!

……

……

Watching the flag of the regular season championship rise, the Eagles players are very excited, mainly the new players, including Alonzo Mourning, who has never won the regular season championship.

The championship banner is embroidered with the names of every player, coaching staff, and owner of the Eagles, including the names of Tony Allen, Trevor Ariza, and Kevin Willis who have left the team, leaving a small mark in the history of the NBA. Even old players are full of excitement.

Liu Mang, Jason Terry, and Muhammad, the three players who have been on the team all the time, are generally in good spirits and have already won the third regular season championship banner.

If it weren't for his team being one of the 11 established NBA teams, a veteran team that doesn't have many honors, and the arena is empty, Liu Mang would have suggested that the Celtics and Lakers should directly hang the championship banner.

After the championship flag was hoisted, the pre-match activities were almost over. Waiting for the Perfect Empire song to be played, get ready, and the game is about to start.

When the American Empire song was played, Liu Mang took a look at the strength of the Wizards' lineup.

Arenas, ability evaluation 87, Jamison, ability evaluation 86, Larry Hughes, ability evaluation 88, the trio is still so good, others are not good, Haywood ability evaluation 73, Jarvis Hayes, ability evaluation 69.

After finishing the regular season this season, Arenas averaged 25.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, but the best performer of the Wizards was Larry Hughes, who averaged 23 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.8 steals per game. His offensive and defensive versatility is the real core of the Wizards. Relatively speaking, Arenas is a weakened version of Liu Mang who passes a little more.

As for Jamison, who only averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game this season, his tactical status is not high, his offense is strong and his defense is weak, and his blocks and steals are almost equal to 0. But with a good attitude, at least he will not become a black hole.

I think Jamison's data in the first three years of his career was much better than Nowitzki's, but he was in the Warriors, and the Warriors' determination to wait for Curry to throw away any star made them let go of top-notch stars or star embryos one after another.

Arenas was compared with Liu Mang for no reason. Players in the same class were both top scoring point guards and second-round picks with the highest and second highest salaries in the 01 class.

Looking at the strength of the main force of the Wizards, there are only three stars, role players, except Heywood and Antonio Daniels on the bench, there is no player with average starting strength. The main reason is that the team is reluctant to spend money.

……

The pre-match preparation time was over, and with Prince dancing and Kwame Brown slapping chalk flying in the air, the lights dimmed and the scene became quiet.

Rasheed Wallace's rough face appeared on the big screen, and with a roar, the arena, which was extremely quiet just now, suddenly exploded!

Liu Mang sprinkled chalk into the air, and walked onto the court with McGrady, who had discussed with the referee for a softer ball with a little less gas.

"Ding... The Eagles Devils triggered at home, and the morale of the Washington Wizards dropped significantly, from Rasheed Wallace and Phillips Arena fans."

"Ding... Gilbert Arenas has entered a state of last stand. This round of the series ignores any external interference and offsets the home pressure of the Eagles Devils."

Liu Mang did not expect to hear this prompt!

"Hey, is this guy going to eat people?" Only then did Liu Mang notice the desperate look in Arenas' eyes when he looked at him.

Arenas was also a top-level star in his peak period. At that time, Arenas, Liu Mang felt that he could give some threats, but now Arenas...

beat him!

Arenas is now judged by the system to be in a stand-to-stand state, but Liu Mang doesn't have much fear. Liu Mang's current thought is to do it!
For the Eagles, Liu Mang, McGrady, Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Kwame Brown all started.

Wizards side, Arenas, Larry - Hughes, Antawn - Jamison, Jarvis - Hayes, Brand - Haywood's starting lineup debut.

"Ty Sean, do you defend Arenas or me?" Liu Mang asked Prince.

"All right," Prince replied.

The main reason is that Arenas and Larry Hughes are about the same strength, McGrady needs to defend Jamison, and it is the same for Liu Mang and Prince to defend Arenas or Larry Hughes.

"Then I'll defend Arenas!" Liu Mang wanted to face Arenas. Anyway, these two are the best players in the perimeter.

"it is good."

Prince is as cool as an emotional killer.

Who is the boss!Liu Mang felt severely frustrated, he thought about whether he should be cooler?
After seeing Liu Mang glanced at him, he began to lose his mind, and Arenas's pent-up energy was ignited, wanting to win!

Kwame Brown and Heywood, the two "old enemies", came to the middle circle. Of course, the old enemy is Heywood's perspective. Now Kwame Brown doesn't care about the grievances with Heywood. After his vision is higher, he doesn't care so much about the dirty things before. Kwame Brown's view of Heywood is to deal with this guy well. This guy's ability to block people and block shots is very good.

The referee came to the middle circle, pointed to both sides, blew the whistle to start the game, and threw the ball into the air.

Haywood struggled to take off, but as players in the same class, they were all men with physical fitness. The reason why the No. [-] pick was because his physical fitness was better than other men with physical fitness in the same class!

Kwame Brown slapped the ball back with a small gap of palms. After receiving the ball, Liu Mang passed it to McGrady and ran forward.

As soon as Liu Mang crossed the center line, he was posted by Larry Hughes.

Liu Mang's continuous horizontal movement, rapid acceleration and deceleration running, did not get rid of Larry Hughes. Larry Hughes focused on defending Liu Mang, and his consciousness was great!
And the Wizards did a good job defensively. Liu Mang went inside and wanted to use the pick-and-roll, but the opponents used the method of blocking the man in advance. In the playoffs, the referee's whistle scale became looser, and the referee did not blow the whistle for this kind of physical confrontation.

He is indeed the guy with the best defensive performance among outside players this season!Liu Mang sighed secretly. Larry Hughes used his own consciousness, physical fitness, and his teammates' defense to run to the left 45-degree angle, which is the best two-wing 45-degree angle three-point line, to open up space.

McGrady saw that there was no chance for Liu Mang. When Liu Mang led Larry Hughes from the inside to a 45-degree angle on the left, he immediately chose to make a strong attack, easily leaving Jamison behind, and rushed to the inside to score two points.

The opponent's inside and outside teams defended Liu Mang, McGrady only needs to pass the defender from the other side, and it is too easy to score inside!
Offensive and defensive transition, the Wizards attack.

Seeing Arenas pushing forward, Liu Mang defended beyond the three-point line. This season, Arenas ranked eighth in the league in three-pointers per game, averaging 2.6 per game, with a shooting rate of 30.00%, which is also a very accurate three-pointer.

The thing fans love about Arenas the most, and what makes him unloved by Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan, is his signature long-range three-pointer.

After halftime, Arenas saw Liu Mang's expectant expression. Arenas tried hard to suppress the indignation in his heart and the fear that he had never won against Liu Mang, and observed Liu Mang's defense.

Arenas knows Liu Mang's defense very well. Liu Mang is very good at defending technical and speed singles players. Unless his skills are as good as Ginobili's, or he deliberately relies on his body to directly force him like Kobe, Wade, and Francis, it will be very difficult to single him out.

Arenas held his breath and waved for a pick-and-roll.

Haywood came out to block Liu Mang. Liu Mang was afraid of Arenas' jump shot, so he didn't go around the pick-and-roll from the front, but leaned on Haywood to quickly bypass the pick-and-roll and block Arenas' breakthrough route.
Arenas was in a straight line with Heywood and the basket, and pulled up a three-point shot across the three-point line!
"bang"

"Swish"

It's a good shot!The positive three-pointer hits the little rectangle on the backboard and bounces into the hoop!
Arenas came up and scored a three-pointer!
How dare you throw it!
Kwame Brown defended Arenas for a pick-and-roll and Liu Mang defended Arenas for a pick-and-roll and broke through. As a result, Arenas saw the Eagles' defensive intentions and directly forced a three-pointer and scored!

After the offensive and defensive transition, the Eagles attacked. After Liu Mang came to the frontcourt, he immediately attracted most of the Wizards' defense. McGrady used Liu Mang's containment force to break into the inside again.

Rasheed Wallace cut in, McGrady gave the ball to Rasheed Wallace, Haywood, who had just blocked Liu Mang for Larry Hughes, turned around and blocked Rasheed Wallace again.

At this time, Liu Mang, who had just run back, cut in again. Kwame Brown helped Liu Mang block Larry Hughes for the second time. Liu Mang cut into the basket from the left side of the basket. Rasheed Wallace was blocked by Haywood and threw the ball to the left side of the basket.

4 to 3, the Eagles scored two goals in a row.

The Eagles retreated quickly. Liu Mang, Prince and Kwame Brown spoke a few words and adjusted their defensive strategy.

When it was time for the Wizards to attack again, Liu Mang waited for Arenas to advance. Sure enough, as soon as Arenas came over, he asked Heywood to pick and roll again, but this time Kwame Brown did not come out, and continued to defend in and out of the three-second zone.

Arenas used the pick-and-roll and the threat of a breakthrough to throw Liu Mang away, but Prince directly stuck in front of him!
Seeing Prince's long arms and long legs, Arenas was stuck in his throat and dared not speak!
As for?Prevent me from using two single defense masters?Arenas immediately passed the ball to Larry Hughes, who did not play a role in opening up the space on the right baseline.

Larry Hughes received the ball and rushed to the basket, and Kwame Brown defended outside the three-second zone on the right.

Good physical fitness means that you can do whatever you want. Kwame Brown's lateral movement is too good. He is fully prepared to switch to defend Larry Hughes, and he blocks Larry Hughes outside the three-second zone!
Larry Hughes stopped in the three-second zone, constantly changing directions left and right to shake Kwame Brown away, but Kwame Brown just didn't move. Kwame Brown's defensive talent is really nothing to say. In the past two seasons, his defense has become stronger and stronger. He knows the perimeter of the basket very well.

Larry Hughes was at a loss. He didn't expect Kwame Brown to move so quickly and predict so accurately. He blocked him all at once. Seeing him spend seven or eight seconds here, he could only find his teammates.

Jamison was circled by McGrady, Haywood who cut in was blocked by Prince, and Larry Hughes could only pass to Arenas who was running.

Arenas received the ball, and Liu Mang blocked him like a shadow. After Arenas received the ball, he made a sudden stop and shot a jumper within the three-point line!

Liu Mang's blocker level 5 anticipation ability is very good. When Arenas took off, Liu Mang jumped up at the same time. He jumped a little higher than Arenas.

The ball flew past a few centimeters above Liu Mang's fingertip and fell into the basket again!
Still in!

Seeing that Arenas landed and didn't stand still, he took a few steps back, sat down on the ground, then got up and quickly retreated.

The head coach of the Wizards, Eddie Jordan, used to be Byron Scott's assistant coach. He is good at defense and the triangle offense that he may not understand.

Looking at Arenas who scored two difficult shots in a row, this is really... a blast!Liu Mang was surprised by Arenas' singles!

In fact, this is the normal performance of Arenas when he played against other teams. It's just that Liu Mang crushed Arenas too badly. Before reaching the edge of the cliff, it was difficult for Arenas to play a normal performance against Liu Mang.

But this time when Arenas met Liu Mang in the playoffs, he was really on the verge of a cliff!

The Eagles attacked, McGrady continued to use Liu Mang's threat to create opportunities for his teammates or to score for himself. In the playoffs, being able to score is king. Neither Liu Mang nor McGrady cares about who scores and who gets assists.

Moreover, even if Liu Reck is a threat to contain the defense, Liu Reck has a lot of scoring opportunities. After more than two months of tactical running training and running in with his teammates on the court, Liu Reck's running ability is stronger than the first half of the regular season. Playing against a team like the Wizards who has no defensive enthusiasm but does not have a good defensive system, Liu Reck only needs a few more off-ball pick-and-rolls.

When the first quarter hit the official timeout, Liu Mang easily scored 6 points, McGrady scored 5 points and 3 assists, and the Eagles scored 7 points in 16 minutes, with a very high offensive efficiency.

However, the Wizards also scored 16 points!
Arenas exploded!Score 10 points and 2 assists in more than half a quarter!

It wasn't that Liu Mang didn't defend well, nor that Prince's attack was not fast enough, but that Arenas was too accurate!6 of 4 shots in the opening game!The Eagles were double-teamed, and Arenas scored 10 points and also got two assists!

The Eagles focused on tactical coordination. The Wizards played Arenas singles. The fans were very excited and cheered.

But after playing for 7 minutes, the fans who had been watching the excitement saw the enlarged score on the big screen after the official timeout, and the score between the two teams was actually even!
It's incredible!Is this still the Wizards?Or that Arenas who is so afraid of the cold?
(End of this chapter)