Grab Curry at the start

Chapter 100 Western Theory Team

The most successful thing for the Timberwolves in the second half was not to limit Nowitzki, but to get Terry and other Mavericks off the bench.

Terry didn't feel as good as in the first half, but he took as many shots.

Players of the sixth man type have problems and like to make random shots, and Terry certainly cannot avoid it.

So this kind of players are double-edged swords. They can hurt others if they are used well, but they can hurt themselves if they are not used well.

The Mavericks are also relatively single, which can only allow Nowitzki to play longer.

There is no doubt that the players from the Wizards feel that their strength has shrunk and they cannot fully assume the responsibility of the team's second or third leader.

In fact, it's not that their strength has shrunk after changing teams, and they can easily swipe their stats when they are weak teams.

For a team that intends to compete for the championship, it is best to have two good All-Stars, so that they can rotate.

Of course, it’s not a fixed model. It’s okay to have a few useful quasi-All-Stars, or like the Big Three model that the league liked very much later, three All-Stars plus a group of role players.

It is too difficult to have only one superstar, and the players are not hard-core and need to rest.

During the rotation period, because the Mavericks used a small lineup, Brewer's unstable striker with a basket got a chance to play instead.

He hit the Mavericks' penalty area several times and played very tough.

As a result, the Timberwolves' rotation exploded with enough energy to suppress the Mavericks beyond expectations.

"Very good. Every player must show his abilities boldly." Zhang Sixin applauded the players.

"Now we have to stabilize, and we can't give the Mavericks a chance."

After the Timberwolves took the lead, the Mavericks replaced Nowitzki in advance, and the Timberwolves responded by keeping a tighter watch on Nowitzki.

The opponent's core players are just to change the situation, and of course they won't just watch.

Of course, Nowitzki also has other tactical meanings. He will also get more opportunities for other Mavericks on the court.

Therefore, the Timberwolves' team defense can't go wrong, and they can't give the opponent an easy shot.

After the team slowed down and focused more on defense, Milicic was brought on again.

Milicic has already fouled four times, but it is not a big problem.

It doesn't matter if he is not on the court at the last moment, so Zhang Sixin dares to use it.

In fact, Milicic has much better control over fouls now, and Nowitzki is also very good this time.

After the Timberwolves changed, the Mavericks are still a small lineup.

They can't defend against the Timberwolves. In fact, Milicic and Love are not so easy to defend.

Of course, they are not the kind of bulky meat shield centers, and they can still go out.

However, it is difficult for the Mavericks to grasp the opportunity, because Marion is not allowed outside the three-point line, and the Timberwolves can open up a little distance to defend from the inside. The speed of Love and Milicic is almost enough.

And whether the Mavericks have a good passer, they can't make offensive and defensive transitions, and it is difficult for a small lineup to overwhelm the Timberwolves' defense.

In the first half, Terry played an unreasonable ball. In the second half, if he was reasonable, the Mavericks would have a hard time playing.

In terms of positional battles, the Mavericks do not have an advantage, and the Timberwolves' current lineup is still very good in defense.

Even Nowitzki was relatively troublesome, and after Love made four fouls, Zhang Sixin asked Brewer to defend for a few minutes.

Brewer's defense against Nowitzki is still a bit weak, but his height and wingspan are still ok.

Anyway, as long as you hold on for a few minutes, it doesn't matter if you get fouled.

After all, relying on Nowitzki alone, the Mavericks' offense cannot be fully rolled out.

On the Timberwolves side, Curry hit a three-pointer again.

Even if the acceleration stopped, the Timberwolves always put enough pressure on the Mavericks on the offensive end.

The Mavericks' current guards don't even talk about defense. Even if Kidd with good defensive experience is on the court, it is impossible to completely lock Curry.

Against Curry, it's not good to be short, or slow.

Kidd can still top the striker now, but he really can't keep up with Curry.

Halfway through the final quarter, Love assisted DeRozan to hit the basket and the Timberwolves had already led by 9 points.

Nowitzki didn't feel very good today, so he focused on hitting it.

He can play, the key is how to catch the ball.

If you go out to the three-point line to catch the ball, it is difficult to rush in.

Nowitzki can only find a way to catch the ball near the free throw line, and it is too difficult to go directly inside to catch the ball.

But when he catches the ball like this, he is directly in the defense, and it is really difficult to explode.

The outside Mavericks also had some chances, but they just missed.

Terry hit one, but both fell 20 points for the ball.

Because of the unstable shooting, the Mavericks are now killing others in it.

After all, Milicic and Love both fouled a lot. If they can beat them down, the Mavericks must still have something to do.

However, the Timberwolves controlled the rhythm steadily.

By the time someone inside commits his fifth foul, the game time is running out.

The Mavericks could only try another three-pointer, but under the strict defense of the Timberwolves, they didn't hit a single three-pointer.

The result is that this strong matchup in the West is over, somewhat anticlimactic.

The two teams played inextricably in the first half, and when the Mavericks still had a bit of an advantage tactically, they didn't find too many opportunities in the second half.

The Timberwolves' offense may explode at any time, and then they can use defense to stabilize their advantage, which is really difficult to play.

After the game, Nowitzki was also dissatisfied with the team's performance. He said: "We did not show enough determination. The playoffs are getting closer and closer. We must play tougher."

Zhang Sixin was very humble in an interview. He said: "This is not the complete Mavericks. I don't know if I will meet them in the playoffs, but they will definitely be a completely different team at that time. I told the players that every game must be won, but the next game after the victory is still unknown."

Three days later, the Timberwolves played against the visiting Rockets at home.

The Rockets are now a little far from the eighth or even ninth in the Western Conference, but they have not given up hope of the playoffs. The mid-season trade for McGrady is to get players who can play and continue to hit the playoffs.

After all, their winning percentage is still more than half. The Hornets and Grizzlies are in a similar situation in the West. They both retain their hopes for the playoffs, but because the competition in the West is very strong, the possibility is unlikely.

This season, the Western Conference is going to enter the playoffs, and the winning percentage must be at least [-]% to have a chance.

The Rockets passed a trade in the middle of the season, mainly to get Kevin Martin, as well as some extra heads Jeffries and Jordan Hill, etc. and draft picks that can be used a little bit.

As far as McGrady is concerned, they are more profitable in this deal.

But if they had made up their minds to trade this guy earlier, the team might be more competitive now.

After all, McGrady came to the Rockets, and his efficiency has not been very good.

(End of this chapter)