NBA: Duncan feels uneasy coaching Warriors

Chapter 98 A Brand New Defense
To be able to give Josh Smith a starter is to give him the face of an old player.

There are many people in rotation, it must be that competition for employment will be more conducive to the team environment, and everyone will be more active in defense.

At this time, the two sides jumped the ball.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is tall and long, successfully jumped to the ball for the Timberwolves.

McCollum got the ball.

But Luol Deng reached out for the ball at this time, and McCollum had to give the ball to him when he saw this.

Su Chen didn't respond.

Because the offensive end was originally some free and simple tactics, Su Chen didn't give McCollum any possession of the ball.

Luol Deng is the most famous player in the team today, and he has no problem reaching out for the ball.

Iguodala was basically not interested in the possession of the ball last season, and he didn't really want to play if he was asked to play.

Iguodala liked Penny Hardaway since he was a child, and asked him to be a tough attack, but he was actually not that happy.

As long as Luol Deng can really integrate offense and defense on the ball-handling end and the offensive end, then Su Chen is also willing to give him the ball. After all, this year's goal is the playoffs.

Too much pressure on old players to practice rookies will make the old players in the team lose their fighting spirit.

The reason why the Warriors suppressed the old players so decisively was because Su Chen knew what kind of goods they were and was not going to use them anymore.

Whether it was Luol Deng or Iguodala, they were bought by Su Chen with chips, and they were to be used.

The tactics are very simple.

The rest were opened to Luol Deng, and only one Giannis Antetokounmpo was called to pick and roll.

Although Giannis Antetokounmpo was promised the core position by Su Chen, he also knew that the NBA is a place where seniority is ranked.

Luol Deng called him, and he only had the past.

But Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't practice the pick-and-roll according to the actual situation. Su Chen arranged him to practice and didn't let him do it.

If you block it, won't you become a blue-collar worker?
This is also the reason why Wiseman later was unwilling to pick and roll to block people. If you block, you still have your chance to attack.

But Giannis Antetokounmpo's pick-and-roll is at least not a void pick-and-roll, and it can still block some people to some extent.

After Luol Deng ran a pick-and-roll, he directly chose a mid-range shot.

But Batum squeezed over. Batum was tall and long, and interfered with Lol Deng's ball.

clang!
Timberwolves' first offensive strike.

Lopez Jr. received the rebound.

Compared with his older brother Lopez Jr., Lopez Jr. is a mediocre player.

He doesn't have any tactical status. After getting the ball, he gives the ball to Lillard, and then finds a place outside the three-second zone to squat.

The Blazers' first ball was also a pick-and-roll.

Lillard and Aldridge hit a pick-and-roll.

After the breakthrough, Lillard attracted a double-team, a ground pass, and passed to Aldridge.

Aldridge made a mid-range shot.

Timberwolves 0:2 Trail Blazers.

McCollum looked a bit disappointed that the ball was passed because he missed a step and Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to chase it.

Su Chen sat off the court, observing the performance of the players on the court.

After Luol Deng hit the last ball, Josh Smith came to ask for the ball again.

Facing Lopez Jr.'s shrinking defense, Josh raised his hand and made a three-pointer.

clang!
Strike the iron again.

And this time the Blazers launched a fast break.

Batum passed to Matthews on the perimeter, and Matthews drew the defender, then passed the ball to Aldridge on the inside.

When Josh Smith was out of position, he planned to jump from behind to catch up, but Aldridge clicked smartly.

Josh - Smith was pointed up.

beep!
The referee blows the whistle.

At the same time the ball scored.

Aldridge walked to the free throw line and completed this 2+1.

Timberwolves 0:5 Trail Blazers.

Su Chen didn't call a timeout either, and let the players play freely.

Soon, halfway through the first quarter.

Timberwolves 10:18 Trail Blazers.

The starting performance, except for the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo did his job well even when he didn't have the ball.

The performance of the rest was too bad.

Both Luol Deng's and Josh's offenses were inefficient.

At the same time, after hitting the iron, the defensive enthusiasm was not enough, and they were often beaten defensively and counterattacked.

The score would have been even worse if Giannis Antetokounmpo hadn't used his athleticism to back off and hold some balls.

Iguodala is quite satisfactory, and he is not considered a stroke, but he can't mobilize his enthusiasm when his teammates play like this.

He himself doesn't have much desire for the ball, and he runs back and forth with the team without much passion.

If Luol Deng and Josh are due to lack of concentration in defense, then McCollum seems to have not adapted yet. McCollum will be blamed for Lillard's ability to lead the Blazers to play this rhythm.

Although McCollum's defensive conditions are relatively poor, his defensive attitude is not the hard-working one.

beep!
Su Chen chose to call a timeout.

Su Chen's expression was not very good, obviously he was dissatisfied with the performance of the players on the court.

It's not enough to say that they are very angry. After all, Luol Deng and Josh are playing with the ball, how can they be compared to Lillard and Aldridge.

But this expression is to be made, to shock these old players who don't work hard.

"You guys come down, you guys go up, I don't want to see the defense remain the same as before."

Su Chen took out the tactical board and emphasized the defensive strategy.

Luol Deng and Josh didn't say anything when they learned that they were replaced.

They would have been dissatisfied if they had been asked to come off the bench in the first place, but now the fact is that they really played poorly.

But they didn't make a sound, they wanted to see how those rookies would do.

back on the field.

Minnesota lineup: Rudy Gobert (C), Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF), Robert Covington (SF), Khris Middleton (SG), Jimmy Butler ( PG).

Trail Blazers Lineup: Robin Lopez (C), LaMarcus Aldridge (PF), Nicolas Batum (SF), Wesley Matthews (SG), Damian - Lillard (PG).

The lineup on the Blazers field has not changed.

But on the Timberwolves side, there is almost a lineup full of rookies.

The one who has played in the league for the longest time is actually the one who got back when Luol Deng was traded last time.

Butler in third grade.

"The Timberwolves' lineup is really getting younger and younger. This lineup will be scored more points by the Blazers."

The commentators at the scene couldn't help but smile.

The Timberwolves have the ball.

Su Chen drew the tactics for this ball.

After Butler dribbled the ball past halftime, he gave the ball to Middleton, who made a 45-degree three-pointer on the right, and ran to the bottom corner at the same time.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gobert, a double pick and roll.

Gobert's fake pick-and-roll cuts directly to the basket, while Giannis Antetokounmpo did a real pick-and-roll.

Lopez made a mistake in judgment and missed Gobert, which forced Aldridge to choose to retreat.

Lopez Jr. saw that Aldridge stepped back to help him defend, so he wanted to go to Aldridge's defender, but at this time Giannis Antetokounmpo had already slipped in.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is very fast, not as strong as he was at his peak, but good enough to fight Aldridge.

Lopez Jr. was out of position. Facing Aldridge's defense, Giannis Antetokounmpo directly chose a tough layup.

beep!
Foul by Aldridge.

Giannis Antetokounmpo also made it.

2+1!

Giannis Antetokounmpo's free throws were still poor at this time, but he stumbled and made this free throw.

Timberwolves 13:18 Trail Blazers.

After scoring, everyone retreated quickly.

The Blazers entered a positional battle.

The Blazers still planned to repeat the same tricks. Facing Butler's defense, Lillard called Aldridge.

Lillard successfully used the pick-and-roll on this ball, but this time the Timberwolves switched defenses very resolutely, and Giannis Antetokounmpo directly switched to Lillard.

For Giannis Antetokounmpo's single defense, although Lillard wanted to challenge it, but seeing Aldridge get a chance to play big and small, Lillard chose to lob the ball in.

But the moment Aldridge received the ball, he was attacked by Butler and Covington.

Both Butler and Covington have been blessed by the fetters of the striker, and their speed and defensive strength have been enhanced, especially Covington's timing of assisting defense is perfect.

Aldridge got stuck with the ball and couldn't even turn around.

Aldridge, who was still looking for a passing route, was directly poked by Covington with the ball in his hand, and the ball loosened from his hand immediately.

Aldridge tried to get the ball back, but Butler had already snatched the ball.

Butler picked up the ball and went straight to the fast break.

Only Batum and Matthews were the only ones who successfully returned to the Blazers. Matthews had to pay attention to Middleton's three-pointer, and Batum retreated to the basket alone.

Butler passed the ball directly to Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis Antetokounmpo strode towards the hoop, and Batum tried to force it, but he couldn't get the ball in Giannis Antetokounmpo's hands.

boom!
Giannis Antetokounmpo directly completed the fast break dunk.

Timberwolves 15:18 Trail Blazers.

After returning from a pause, the effect is immediate.

beep!
This ball also stopped the Blazers.

Terry Stotts belongs to a coach with a high lower limit and a lower upper limit, and his style is relatively stable.

Seeing that there was something wrong with the intensity of the Timberwolves, he immediately called a timeout.

Aldridge was a little depressed when he walked off the court. Before scoring points, it was as easy as chopping melons and vegetables, but now it suddenly becomes difficult.

The flanking attack by the two strikers made him uncomfortable all of a sudden.

Giannis Antetokounmpo excitedly gave Butler a high-five. He was uncomfortable playing with a few old birds just now, but he was very comfortable playing with this third-year rookie.

Butler also responded to Giannis Antetokounmpo's high five. Giannis Antetokounmpo's defensive performance in the first half was also seen by Butler sitting off the court.

Defending something like this requires the hard work of the whole team to be motivated.

You are fighting on the court, others are paddling on the court, and those who want to defend have no energy to defend.

(End of this chapter)