Jim Bass Ambition

Chapter 64 Targeted Strike
After Crazy Fan joined the team of mad scientists, the Mavericks had more confidence to carry out their running tactics to the end. As a result, poor Philip Sanders and his Timberwolves became the souls of the hooves, which should have been the most intense. The series between the fourth No.5 in the Western Conference was turned into a one-sided massacre.

Facing Kevin Garnett, Nowitzki played a historic performance, averaging 33.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per game, plus a terrifying 72.7% three-point shooting percentage.

In contrast, the Wolf King's 24 points, 18.7 rebounds and 5 assists are not so gorgeous, and his shooting percentage is only 42.9%.
Holding a super contract, but fell in the first round of the playoffs for six consecutive years, and this time he was brutally suppressed in a head-to-head confrontation with the young Nowitzki, and the team was also swept out. Garnett's recent doubts have already More than the compliments received during the season.

"As an owner you have to have a vision, you have to make sure you hire the best people, you can't just listen to the manager, because the coach may only focus on the current game, you have to add people who can help the team in the long run, sometimes , You have to exclude emotional factors.” Timberwolves owner Glenn Taylor said the above paragraph in an interview with ESPN reporters.

This aroused the dissatisfaction of head coach Philip Saunders, because Taylor pointed the finger at him and the core of the team Garnett.

There are many reasons why the Timberwolves have had difficulty making breakthroughs over the years. In Sanders' view, the management's chaotic team building ideas and endless fatuous operations are the root of everything.Joe Smith, who caused the team to suffer heavy losses, plummeted in performance after returning to the team, while Billups, who had just made a name for himself, announced that he would not renew his contract with the Timberwolves because he felt disrespected, and became a free agent after the season.

For a time, there were rumors in Minnesota, and the arrows all pointed to Garnett. In addition, the Clippers seemed to have taken action, and people were ready for the super power forward to leave the team.

Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale is struggling, the boss's attitude is obscure, and it is true that the team has not made a breakthrough in six years.But head coach Saunders and Garnett are wearing a pair of pants, and pushing the trade will completely cause turmoil in the team.

McHale can only temporarily put the Clippers' trade proposal on hold. Anyway, the season is not over yet, so it can be delayed.

The transfer market is undercurrents, and the playoffs are full of swords and guns, and the killing is in full swing.

The Lakers and Mavericks in the first half swept their opponents respectively, and joined forces in the second round. Mark Cuban's new lineup had a record advantage over the Lakers in the regular season. In addition, Nowitzki was in a hot state, and Van Exel led the way. The bench is also full of vitality, and the Mavericks came to Los Angeles with confidence.

In addition to the solid Nash, Finley and Nowitzki troika in the Mavericks lineup, the small forward and center positions are held by Najera and Lavrentz respectively.

Lavrentz can shoot three-pointers and blocks shots well. He is a legendary 3D center. The problem lies with Najera.

As a blue-collar who couldn't be more blue, Najera has two main scoring methods, rushing to grab offensive rebounds for a second offensive score and eating cakes at the basket to score. The Lakers' change is also aimed at this point. Mason To defend Ravlenz, Big Ben pestered Nowitzki, O'Neal shrank under the basket, and Najera didn't care as long as he didn't enter the three-second zone.

Big Ben and Mason can safely and boldly defend against the shots of the Mavericks' anti-aircraft artillery regiment, and get on their bodies unscrupulously. Anyway, O'Neal is the one who guards the inside.

Nowitzki is fine. As an offensive kaleidoscope, he has enough means to single out the big players to score, while Lavlenz is more miserable. He is already soft in his style of play, and then he is rubbed so targetedly by the tough guy Mason. It's gone.

Najera tried a few mid-range shots in the opening game. O'Neal didn't even bother to stretch out his hand and turned around to grab a rebound. Najera did not disappoint the Lakers. He hit the iron frequently and finally lost his confidence in shooting.

Nowitzki, who was under double pressure, did not maintain the high efficiency of the first round. Although he scored 26 points, he only made 24 of 9 shots.

Lavlenz was even worse, making 9 of 2 shots, scoring only 4 points, and missing all 4 three-pointers.

In the second half, Nelson simply put Najera on the bench, and arranged a lineup of Nash, Finley, Van Exel, Nowitzki, and Lavlenz to play against the Lakers.Helplessly, the anti-aircraft guns misfired, and Nash and Finley were suppressed by Kobe and Arenas. The Mavericks relied on Van Exel's outstanding performance and barely kept the suspense until the fourth quarter.

O'Neal scored 38 points and 16 rebounds, turned the Mavericks inside upside down, and officially announced his return as king.Help the Lakers win the first game 115 to 106.

Cuban has a hard time saying it. After the team traded Juwan Howard, the small forward position was completely empty, and they could only rely on Najera to comeo. This weakness has been magnified infinitely in the playoffs.

In the second game, Nelson Sr. benched Najera and sent out 39-year-old veteran Johnny Newman.This is also the only player in the Mavericks' small forward rotation other than Najera.

Being able to play in the league for more than ten years, Newman naturally has two brushes. He maintains two records of free throws and free throws made in a single quarter, which makes O'Neill envious.

As soon as he played, Newman announced to the Lakers with a three-pointer that he could not be left empty.

However, the Lakers really let him go. The response given by the Zen master was that he would rather be shot to death by a role player than let Nowitzki fire.

The 39-year-old Newman has been out of battle for a long time. He can be a surprise soldier, but he is almost out of breath when he really fights with the bayonet.

The old Nelson was helpless, and he didn't dare to go to Najera. In the end, he sent Van Exel to play against. The Mavericks scored relatively more points, but their defensive strength was not good. Compared with the Lakers' tough defense and unsolvable O'Neal and Kobe, the Mavericks have explosive power but lack stability.

In the playoffs, stability is obviously more important. After the Mavericks changed, the Lakers used defensive expert Bowen to deal with Finley tit-for-tat, while Kobe took on the heavy responsibility of blocking Van Exel.

Facing Kobe, Van Exel was so angry that he wanted to blow up the kid who pushed him away, and started to go it alone ignoring his teammates, but the effect was not good. He only made 18 of 7 shots and 5 three-pointers. Lose it all.

The Mavericks repeated the script of the first game and surrendered in the fourth quarter, 110 to 102. The Lakers made another victory and kept the home court advantage.

Mark Cuban secretly made up his mind that he must get a few reliable small forwards in the future.

(End of this chapter)