Versatile Point Forward

Chapter 141 The playoffs are coming

54 wins!Fourth in the West!

At the beginning of this season, no one thought that the Blazers could play such a record, especially after they traded a starter and an important substitute for a rookie.But the fact is right in front of our eyes, with the same record as the Spurs and Nuggets, and the home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs, all belong to Portland.

In fact, many experts don't understand this team very well. The five starting players are only slightly older than Blake, but it's not much better. Since entering the NBA in 2003, this is only his sixth season. That's all, not to mention the two 2006 rookies Roy and Alder.As for Ye Feng and Oden?Forget it, this is still their rookie season.With just such a bunch of melon eggs, how did they achieve such an awesome record?
Rockets coach Rick Adelman is the most unhappy one. With just one win, the Rockets become fifth in the Western Conference. Although they can get revenge in the first round, home court advantage is still very important in the playoffs, even if it is not Every team with home court advantage will inevitably win the entire series, and one more home court advantage will add a guarantee.After all, the format of the playoffs is 2-2-1-1-1, that is to say, the top-ranked teams will play two games at home, and then the teams at the bottom will play two games at home. The home courts of the two teams are spaced apart, so it can be seen that the home court still has some advantages.

There is no reason for the Rockets to drop to fifth. The top eight in the playoffs are actually divided into two categories. The first place in each division plus the second best record in the division sweeps the top four, and fifth goes to No.8. Sort by record.The Spurs and the Trail Blazers also won 54 games. The Rockets only need to win two more games to securely occupy the top four in the Western Conference, and then squeeze the Trail Blazers to fifth.But who told you not to live up to your expectations?Just obediently stay in the fifth position!
For the upcoming playoffs, the entire Blazers team was very excited, so excited that McMillan had to hold an internal meeting to appease these screaming kids.No way, in the playoffs, as long as they don't focus on rebuilding, which team is willing to toss outside the top eight?What's more, they are still advancing to the playoffs as the No. [-] seed in the Western Conference, so it is understandable to be excited.You must know that many people in the team have never tasted the taste of the playoffs. Among the core members, only Blake has played in the playoffs in the Wizards and Nuggets, but there are only nine games in total. Experience, do not mention worth mentioning.

Any team that aspires to win the championship values ​​the experience of the playoffs or even the finals, otherwise there would not be so many old guys who have entered the twilight of their careers to easily get a pension contract.In fact, their role on the field is already very small, and they are old and strong if they average more than 10 minutes per game, but their experience is an inestimable wealth. These experiences include how to deal with the game, how to adjust their mentality, and other things Things, for rookies who haven't experienced the playoffs, this is what they need most now.

It's a pity that the Blazers don't have such players yet. It can be said that they should be the weakest existence among the top 2004 teams in the East and West this season in terms of playoff experience, at least one of them. Looking forward to the playoffs, but I don’t understand that the postseason is a more terrifying meat grinder than the regular season. If you can get a good ranking in the regular season by relying on tribute, then you can only rely on iron blood in the playoffs. The defense does the talking.Prior to this, almost every championship team was not partial (maybe the [-] Pistons were a little bit like this), and they were at the top level of the league on both offense and defense. The so-called "offense wins the box office, defense wins the championship" It is not empty talk.

Fortunately, there is another experienced person in the team, that is their head coach McMillan.Since joining the Seattle SuperSonics in 1986, McMillan has followed the team to the playoffs for 98 seasons and played a total of 1989 games. Strictly speaking, he is the person with the most experience in the playoffs.Look at when he entered the playoffs. Except for the 90-1986 season, from 1998 to 96, McMillan worked hard in the playoffs almost every year. At that time, there was a powerful Bulls dynasty and a shooting star. The Rockets dynasty, with four major centers, and the [-] golden generation... It can be said that the intensity of the playoffs at that time was much higher than it is now.

Moreover, the 20s should be regarded as the last era in the NBA where defense was regarded as life. Not to mention anything else, the Heat and the Knicks, the two tough and tenacious teams, caused the other 90 teams in the league to suffer. Needless to say, Jordan and Pippen are a historical duo on both offensive and defensive ends, as well as Olajuwon, the most terrifying shot-blocker inside the Rockets.As for the current playoffs?It is only occasionally that a team plays a strong defense that dreams of returning to the previous dynasty, and other teams are relatively not so advanced in this area.

There are still a few days between the end of the last regular season game and the start of the first playoff game. McMillan intends to let everyone rest, but it is not too presumptuous. In vain.His method is very simple and rude but also very effective: reduce the number and frequency of training and increase the intensity of training.This so-called increase in intensity is not just for fun. McMillan asked his players to be more ruthless and tougher in training, not to be afraid of getting hurt, and to use his greatest courage to kill the opponent... ok Well, even though the opponent is still his teammate.

Although this kind of training cannot quickly adapt to the intensity of the playoffs, it is better than nothing, and reducing the number of training sessions can also allow them to have more time to rest.At this time, one of the benefits of getting home court advantage is reflected. The Blazers players can safely wait for the Rockets to come to challenge you in Portland. In other words, they have more time to prepare for the playoffs , Of course, there is more time to rest.

Ye Feng didn't feel much about the head coach's adaptive training. His physical fitness was not enough to defeat him under such intensity. He only occasionally thought about the situation of this year's playoffs and their opponent, the Houston Rockets. .The Rockets finally got rid of their old enemies this year. They had to meet the Jazz every time they made the playoffs, and they lost more than they won. They were also very happy to meet the Blazers this time. They felt that they could finally change their luck. Into the second round of the playoffs.

But who knows what will happen in the future?
(End of this chapter)