NBA Legends Manager

Chapter 423 First Defeat
On the second day, the Pelicans played back-to-back against the Magic. In this game, Presti still played the magic ball by running and bombing. The defense was to speed up the rotation of the outside line and not give the Magic a chance to make an easy shot from outside!
At the beginning of the game, the Pelicans easily suppressed the Magic. Only Oladipo and Fournier could attack the Magic with the ball, and both of them had mediocre shooting. Oladipo's real rise in his previous life was in the 2017-2018 season. At that time, his shooting made great progress!
And the Magic's Vucevic is very difficult to play Green or Davis at the basket. The Magic's strengths were pinched, and the game completely lost suspense. In the end, the Pelicans once again defeated their opponents by 20 points!
库里只打了28分钟，14投10中，三分球7中5，罚球3中3，得到28分4篮板6助攻。

戴维斯打了31分钟，15投11中，三分球2中1，罚球7中7，得到30分9篮板2盖帽。

汤普森则打了26分钟，10投7中，三分球7中6，罚球1中1，得到21分3篮板2助攻。

In addition, the most surprising thing in this game is Porzingis, who played 18 minutes, made 8 of 6 shots, 4 of 3 three-pointers, scored 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks!Porzingis' defense at the basket is full of deterrence, and one of the blocks is still a catch, showing his talent to the fullest!
And Jokic played equally well, scoring 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists!

Many media talk about Jokic being the most rookie, because Jokic's support, organization, and quality of coverage are very scarce in this era. People can't help but sigh that the Pelicans are another cornerstone of the team!
But what they don't know is that Presti is giving Jokic playing time now to let him play well and then sell it!

Is Jokic good? Of course he is great, but his shortcomings are also quite obvious. It is not a problem to build a team with Jokic in the playoffs, but it is difficult to go further, because Jokic's shortcomings will be wirelessly magnified in the playoffs!

The Pelicans rely on multiple rotations to reduce the playing time of the players, so that no one has been injured so far, and even Davis, who is the most fierce insider, has not had any minor injuries!
However, the data of the players has all come down. Only Curry and Davis are left on the top ten scoring list for the Pelicans, and the rankings of Curry and Davis are also declining, but no team and the media dare to underestimate the Pelicans.

On December 12th, the Christmas game, Pelicans VS Spurs!This season, most people think that the Spurs are the only team that can challenge the Pelicans in the West after getting Aldridge, so this Christmas game can also be regarded as a focus battle!
In the opening game, the Spurs' main strategy: Anderson/Mills+Adelaide launched a high-position pick-and-roll, and the Twin Towers pulled out completely to the outside of the three-point line, leading the team's offense with Mills and Danny Green's breakthrough points. ——The twin towers played the role of high forts on the outside, supplemented by Anderson's mid-range chaotic singles, the Spurs actually took the lead in the start!

The Pelicans' main strategy: Davis' high position support, Green and Clay counter-run and cut to the basket, supplemented by Curry and Paul George's breakthrough points to echo the internal and external ends.

The Spurs slowed down the pace, relying on the twin towers to control the offensive rebounds and limit the Pelicans' offensive and defensive transitions; the Pelicans' defensive transition was weak, and the Spurs once again expanded the point difference.

Presti immediately suspended the adjustment. After returning, Presti mainly played Curry + Davis to launch a pick-and-roll attack. Curry suddenly scored and connected with Green for the second support, and Davis went down to finish;

Paul George singled out a feint with his right waist, diverted the ball in a wide range to find Clay who was ambushing on the weak side; the Pelicans stepped up to counterattack, and Paul George took the lead!
During the rotation period, the Spurs sprinted for offensive rebounds, and fought at the basket to control the rhythm; when they switched offense and defense, Danny Green, Leonard, and Manu chased for three-pointers;

Pelicans chasing points period: improve defensive strength, switch defenses infinitely, supplemented by low-post flanking Aldridge, take advantage of the Spurs' continuous pass mistakes to push back;
整个首节，马刺投篮命中率为50%，三分球13中6；鹈鹕投篮命中率为38.1%，三分球8中4；马刺篮板球15-7领先。

During the rotation period of the second quarter, Green + Clay led the Pelicans' bench lineup; the Spurs used Duncan to lead the guard group.

The number of offensive ways of the Pelicans' bench lineup: Barea + David West high pick-and-roll, David West pulls out a mid-range shot; Green's waist is used as the axis, echoing Clay's mid-range shot.

The Spurs mainly played Mills + Duncan to launch a high pick-and-roll. Mills used a single block to grab a three-pointer or Duncan went down to end; Anderson broke through and connected with Danny Green for a mid-range emergency stop jumper;

Since then, Presti has used Curry + Thompson + Paul George + Antetokounmpo + Green's death five small lineup, and the Spurs have used Aldridge + Leonard + Danny Green + Manu + Mills' one big four small lineup.

The Pelicans mainly play Curry + Green/Antetokounmpo to launch a high pick-and-roll. Curry uses a single block to grab a three-pointer or Green goes down to support Paul George, who is ambushing on the weak side of the line, to end the three-pointer;
The Spurs played Adelaide's low-post singles, fighting the penalty area by rushing to grab offensive rebounds. ——Both sides adopted a defensive strategy of unlimited defense changes, and the five dead Pelicans narrowed the point difference to 5 points.

整个半场，马刺投篮命中率为42.6%，三分球18中7；鹈鹕投篮命中率为50%，三分球15中8；马刺篮板球27-16领先。

In the second half, the Pelicans increased the intensity of the game, continued to use unlimited switches to limit the Spurs' individual offense, protected the backcourt rebounds, and accelerated the offensive and defensive transition. Paul George made 8 of 7 shots in the third quarter and took over both offensive and defensive ends. The point difference gradually smoothed out!

The Spurs relied on high pick-and-rolls to create mid-range singles opportunities for Adelaide, and relied on multiple breakthroughs to hit the penalty area and kill a bitter stalemate. The Spurs fell behind and entered the fourth quarter.

After entering the fourth quarter, the Spurs fell into a scoring drought, and the bench lineup led by Clay relied on multi-point reciprocating stabs to kill the Spurs penalty area to expand the point difference to 12 points;
Popovich used Aldridge + Duncan + Leonard + Ginobili + Mills to put all his eggs in one basket, and the Pelicans ended the game in a row.

整场比赛，鹈鹕投篮命中率为51.8%，三分球28中14；马刺投篮命中率为39.1%，三分球24中7；马刺篮板球46-40领先，前场篮板14-4领先鹈鹕；鹈鹕快攻得到24分，马刺快攻仅得到7分；鹈鹕送出30次助攻，马刺助攻19次。

Although Parker did not play in this game due to injury, this game is also very meaningful!
After the game, the media commented: The Spurs have the advantage of the height of the two towers inside, so they have the advantage in rebounding, and they are fierce in frontcourt rebounds; the Pelicans have a small lineup that is flexible and flexible. ——The influence of the inside line is increasingly reduced by the mobility of the small lineup.

And another media said this: The overall offensive and defensive level of the Spurs' existing strongest lineup is far from the Pelicans' death five.

The five small lineups that the Pelicans put up at the last moment once again made other teams sigh with emotion. The rapid rotation on the defensive end, keeping the position, the offensive pass and cut coordination, and the chasing three-pointers again and again, the tidal tribute is shocking!
Since seeing the Pelicans break the best regular season record again last season, many teams have changed their team-building ideas. Of course, shooting is becoming more and more important, and the power of traditional big men is decreasing.

After defeating the Spurs, the Pelicans easily won the Wizards and Nuggets, continuing their undefeated streak. In these two games, the Pelicans still easily clocked in three quarters and won 31 consecutive victories!Many people thought that the Pelicans were about to achieve a new winning streak, but on December 12, the Pelicans' winning streak was terminated by the Thunder!

From the beginning of the game, Presti could feel the determination of the Thunder players. At the beginning, the Thunder's main strategy: Westbrook + Jr. high pick-and-roll, Westbrook used the cover to "feed the cake" to the end of Jr. Jordan who was running down; Jordan singled out Davis in the low post.

The number of Pelicans' offensive methods: Paul George + Green launched a pick-and-roll attack, Green followed along, and connected to Clay who was ambushing in the bottom corner; pushing the offensive and defensive transition, Curry quickly grabbed the shot.

The Pelicans' defensive layout: When Westbrook launches a pick-and-roll attack, Curry or Thompson bypasses the screen to chase Westbrook, shrinks the penalty area inside, and lets Westbrook come in and shoot mid-range.

The Thunder crazily rushed to grab offensive rebounds, limiting the Pelicans to counterattack; Westbrook pushed the speed at the beginning, reached the penalty area and released the ball in time, and the Thunder took the lead in the start! .

In the first quarter, Jordan made two early fouls, and Donovan had to play a small ball formation: Ibaka + Collison + Paul George + Robertson + Westbrook
This caused the Thunder to lose the threat of an important offensive rebound rush, the Pelicans were able to increase their speed, push the offensive and defensive transitions, Paul George took the lead to take over the offense, and the Pelicans overtook the score! .

The Thunder immediately suspended the adjustments. After returning, Presti replaced Davis with Goporzingis, and the positions 1-5 were infinitely switched;

The Thunder flanked Paul George on the defensive end, forcing others to end the offense; on the offensive end, Westbrook + Ibaka's high-position pick-and-roll was used as the offensive initiation method.

The Thunder pinched Paul George with a double attack, the Pelicans' offense briefly stalled, and the Thunder instantly led by 10 points!
Prestico was helpless, Westbrook played rationally tonight, the key is to shoot accurately, so Presti used Thompson to lead the defense against Westbrook;

But tonight's Westbrook is fierce, scoring 21 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds in a single quarter!Thompson's defense is no problem at all. Except for counterattacks, these goals are basically made by jumpers!
首节战罢，雷霆领先鹈鹕12分。雷霆投篮命中率高达64.3%，三分球7中4；鹈鹕投篮命中率为50%，三分球9中3。

At the beginning of the second quarter, Antetokounmpo rushed to the basket and made Jordan three fouls.

Donovan sent Ibaka + Collison + Paul George + Morrow + Harden's rotation lineup, the main player Paul George + Ibaka launched a high pick-and-roll, Durant used the screen to attack the basket with the ball-the Pelicans' defensive response: pinch Durant, forcing others to end the offense.

The Pelicans use a second lineup of David West + Green + Antetokounmpo + Clay + Barea, focusing on pick-and-roll passes, Green's high position support, Clay and David West make air cuts to attack the basket!
The Thunder's defensive response: Morrow and Harden chased Clay, shrunk the penalty area, and bullied everyone except Clay who had no three-point range.

After a few minutes in the second quarter, under the targeted defensive layout of both sides, the Thunder only scored 3 points and the Pelicans scored 2 points.

The adjustment was paused, and Donovan instructed to speed up: the Thunder rushed to switch offense and defense, and stayed in position to avoid Durant being flanked; Durant singled out shots from outside the three-point line consecutively, and the Thunder opened up a double-digit point difference.

Presti replaced the "Death Five", Green supported the high position, and set up an off-ball screen for Clay on the weak side, cutting out and catching the ball to end with a three-pointer;

半场结束，雷霆已经领先鹈鹕13分。雷霆投篮命中率为53.8%，三分球14中6；鹈鹕投篮命中率为47.5%，三分球16中6；雷霆半场失误6次，鹈鹕半场失误12次。

In the second half, the Thunder used the Westbrook/Durant+Jr. Jordan pick-and-roll as the offensive launch method, with multiple points and sudden stabs to kill the Pelicans penalty area; the Pelicans used Green's high position support as the axis, echoing Curry and Thompson's three-pointers who were cut out by the weak side with off-ball screens, supplemented by Paul George's 45-degree one-on-one takeover from both wings.

The Thunder changed defenses infinitely outside, and did not give the Pelicans an open three-pointer; once Curry/Paul George broke through and entered the penalty area with the ball, the strong side crazily contracted and pinched; Durant singled out to take over the Thunder's offensive end, and the Thunder expanded the point difference again.

When the Pelicans fell behind, Presti dispatched Gobe + Paul George + Antetokounmpo + Thompson + Curry to chase points, changing the focus of offense to breaking through and hitting the Thunder penalty area; the Thunder shrunk the penalty area and did not hesitate to foul the Pelicans from attacking the penalty area.

In the last quarter, Presti still used the "five small lineups" to speed up and chase points, but tonight the Thunder Westbrook, Durant, Harden and even Ibaka felt very good. Whenever the Pelicans set off an offensive climax, the Thunder's Durant or Westbrook will always respond!

In the middle of the fourth quarter, the point difference was still 18 points, and the Thunder became more and more courageous, and their defensive actions became more and more aggressive. Presti immediately gave up the game!
In the end, the Pelicans lost to the Thunder 101:119, and got their first defeat since the start of the game!

(End of this chapter)