Soul of the Golden State

Chapter 440
As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continues to age, the Lakers' offensive system is no longer as rich as it used to be. The lack of inside offensive strengths makes their offense gradually move outward and tend to be flat, which also makes it easier for the Warriors to defend the Lakers. .

In comparison, the Warriors' offensive system is more three-dimensional and full of layers. Although, like the Lakers, they also start from outside offense, Malone can still act as a strong offensive point in a certain period of time. You can mobilize the opponent's defense by pulling space.

The Lakers suffered a lot at this level tonight.

The pick-and-roll between Li Weisi and Ma Long is one of the tactics often used by the Warriors, but facing the aging Jabbar tonight, this tactic is used even more frequently.

Regarding the defensive strategy of this pick-and-roll tactic, the general consensus reached by the league today is that after Li Weisi and Ma Long complete the pick-and-roll, the center must spare no effort to switch defenses and interfere with Li Weisi's shooting. Wait for the original defender to come back.

Although doing so will make Ma Long's pass easier, it is better than being shot by Li Weisi for a three-pointer.

After all, Li Weisi's three-pointers have been paid more and more attention by the coaches of the league teams. Even if there is only a slight shot, he will be punished. Immediately squeeze past the defender and continue to interfere with Li Weisi.

The Lakers fell into the threat of this tactic at this time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who used to move at the forefront of the league, was at a loss in defense at this time. Accompanied by this pick and roll, the Warriors' offense has been revitalized.

The tactical defeat was directly reflected in the scores of the two teams. At this time, the game went on for about 6 minutes, but the score was 20:12. The Lakers were 8 points behind the Warriors.

In fact, the offensive efficiency of the Lakers is not bad. Worthy, the best performer, made 3 of 3 shots and scored 7 points. However, the gap between the team and the Warriors widened. In the Warriors' offense, the Lakers couldn't defend at all.

Therefore, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played only 6 minutes, was replaced after the round.

In fact, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for a long time tonight. This season, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s playing time has dropped to the bottom of history, averaging only 22.9 minutes per game. In the rest of the time, the Lakers rely more on the inside Michael Thompson and Ulrich.

Although Michael Thompson is 34 years old this year, he is at least younger than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and has a lot faster pace. Therefore, his big delay is relatively better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers' defensive crisis is finally Come to an end.

However, the Warriors' offensive methods have never been this kind.

Unlike today's teams that focus on one tactical system, the Warriors' tactical system has always been different. It seems to have everything, but not all.

No, the effect of the pick-and-roll tactics is not as good as before. The Warriors quickly changed their style of play, and the tactics became simpler, that is, star singles.

Some people may ask, is singles also called tactics?
However, in the eight offensive systems of basketball, the inside line and the outside line are two kinds of offensive systems.

Compared with other teams, the advantage of the Warriors is that there are too many people who can play singles with the ball. Li Weisi, Malone, Mullin and even Richmond can all play singles in the starting lineup. This needs to be based on the opponent's defensive weakness. , to select.

Comparatively speaking, the Lakers' starting single defense is not bad, and the only comparatively short board Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also replaced, replaced by Michael Thompson, who has the body of the No. [-] pick, and the defensive enthusiasm is enough, not weak .

But everyone is afraid of comparison. These Warriors stars are all singles players, especially basketball, which itself is biased towards the offensive side. Therefore, even in singles, the Warriors can still maintain a relatively high level of offensive efficiency. Anyone can even come.

Now the Lakers are completely out of luck.

The Warriors led the Lakers by 35 points at 25:10 in the first quarter. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers took the opportunity to catch up to the point difference after the Warriors started.

This situation has not changed much at the end of halftime. At halftime, the Lakers trailed the Warriors by 50 points 64:14.

However, the Lakers are a team that will be tested to the end after all, and their ability to win two consecutive championships is naturally supported by their impressive strength.

Therefore, facing the situation of falling behind by a large score at halftime, the Lakers launched a counterattack in the third quarter.

In order to be able to chase points as soon as possible, they adopted a very direct method, which is to increase the rhythm, forcefully push and switch, and rely on Worthy's impact and Magic Johnson's organizational ability to forcibly pull up the rhythm of the game.

The Lakers want to increase the pace, but it is difficult for ordinary teams to suppress it, because the Lakers' ability is too strong. Often when your side just scores a goal, the Lakers will quickly serve and pass the ball directly to the frontcourt in a quarterback style. , The defenders are not in place, and the Lakers have already scored.

But the Warriors are not an ordinary team. Of course, their solution is more special, that is, I don't press the rhythm, and I also rely on you to improve the rhythm. After all, the Warriors also like fast breaks.

It can be said that this season, the two teams with the highest average fast break points per game are the Lakers and Warriors.

However, although the Warriors are not afraid of the Lakers' fast breaks, some accidents occurred in this quarter. The Warriors actually made mistakes or failed to make empty baskets in many fast breaks, which caused the Lakers to seize the opportunity , In the middle of the third quarter, a wave of 10:0 was played.

Sure enough, facing the Lakers, he couldn't relax for a moment. He was like a poisonous snake that had been hiding in the shadows.

Fortunately, the Warriors maintained their lead until the end of the third quarter. Although the Lakers scored 32:21 in this quarter, the Lakers still trailed the Warriors by 82 points at 85:3.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Lakers compressed the eight-man rotation to the extreme, and wanted to completely complete the overtake in the transition period.

But the Warriors' substitutes insisted on withstood the Lakers' counterattack, so that the Lakers were still unable to complete the tie or even overtake even though there was only a 3-point gap.

Afterwards, with the return of the Warriors starting, it became more difficult for the Lakers to chase points.

In the end, the Warriors sealed the victory with Malone's two offensive rebounds at the last critical moment and Li Weisi's key goal.

In this way, the Warriors defeated the Lakers 117:110 without any risk and won the first game of the Western Conference Finals.

(End of this chapter)