The world's best combo guard

Chapter 219

To be honest, although the Memphis Grizzlies have a big gap with the Lakers in terms of hard power, it is not without reason that they were able to beat the Lakers once in the regular season.

After Rudy Tom and Norwich offered a lineup of one big and four small, Mike Frattero immediately made another adjustment, that is, defensive counterattack.

With Sean Battier as the axis, the Grizzlies quickly formed an iron barrel lineup. To be honest, this made the Lakers' offense really come to a standstill.

Throughout the second quarter, the two sides almost staged an iron fight.

The Lakers scored 15 points in the second quarter, and the Grizzlies scored 13 points.

Although relying on the advantage gained in the first quarter, the Lakers still had an 8-point lead at halftime.

But people have to applaud the Grizzlies, perhaps tenacious defense is their victory over the Purple and Gold Corps a great weapon.

The Lakers even realized this. During the halftime break, Rudy Norwich was very difficult for everyone's performance in the second quarter. He even publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Li Hao.

Rudy Tom and Norwich felt that Li Hao did not play the role of a team's offensive organizer on the offensive end in the second quarter.

Li Hao nodded.

He admitted he didn't play very well in the second quarter.

Of course, he didn't tell others that the reason why he didn't play well in the second quarter was entirely to cooperate with Odom as much as possible.

From Li Hao's point of view, he knew that even if the Lakers pass the Grizzlies level, there will be a stronger team waiting for them next.

Then Odom must adapt to the rhythm of the playoffs as soon as possible at this point, and must enter the state as soon as possible, otherwise, the Lakers will be completely blown inside.

During the third quarter of the game, Li Hao suddenly became irritable, and his fadeaway jumpers burst out in an instant, one after another, instantly helping the Lakers eliminate the suspense of the game.

Before the start of the game, the Grizzlies had prepared for Li Hao's offense and defense, but for Li Hao's mid-range, especially the mid-range fadeaway jumper that is difficult to defend, they were prepared but helpless.

…………

The first contest between the Lakers and the Grizzlies ended with the Lakers winning at home without much surprise.

Of course, just like some wonderful pictures that appeared in the game, it also aroused heated discussions among many people after the game.

For example, Li Hao's mid-range fadeaway jumper and so on.

"The Los Angeles Lakers showed a good competitive state in the first game. There is no doubt that they are strong contenders for the Western Conference Finals and they are strong contenders for the championship"

"In fact, this is not surprising at all. We are used to the rhythm of the Lakers this season. We can only say that this is the Zijin Army."

"We have to applaud the Lakers No. [-]. He is really a superstar with a picturesque fadeaway jumper. Since Michael retired, few people in the current league can do it."

…………

The other three games that started at the same time as the Lakers-Grizzlies game also had their results shortly after the Lakers-Grizzlies game ended.

Let’s first look at another matchup in the West. The Spurs are playing against the Timberwolves at home. The San Antonio Spurs at home, from the very beginning of the game, under Tony Parker’s powerful tandem, rained three-pointers from the outside like crazy. After the first quarter of the game , 35:18, and achieved a 17-point lead.

As for the final result of the game, there is not much suspense. Kevin Garnett is lonely and can only watch weakly as the Spurs win the first victory with a huge point difference.

The Eastern Heat played against the Nets at home, but the result was a bit unexpected. The Heat, who had an overall strength, unexpectedly collapsed at home.

In this game, the head of the Nets star Carter showed great power and made a huge contribution to the team's offense, which allowed them to defeat the Heat in an away game when they were not optimistic.

In another matchup in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers played against the 76ers at home. The two teams played inseparable from the beginning of the game. Until the last moment, the 76ers relied on the outbreak of Allen Iverson to win with difficulty!

And looking at the first four matchups, it is not difficult to find that the Lakers won the most easily!
…………

On April 4th, BJ time, the Lakers were at home, and the second game of the playoffs against the Grizzlies officially started.

In this game, the Lakers kept the starting lineup of the last game unchanged, while the Grizzlies, Mike Fratello made some adjustments for the losses suffered in the last game.

In this game, from the very beginning of the game, Li Hao was strongly defended by the Grizzlies. The one responsible for defending Li Hao was James Posey, whose defensive ability was stronger than that of Grizzlies point guard Mike Miller.

Under James Worthy's strong defense, Li Hao was indeed greatly affected at the beginning, but obviously such a strong defense would not last for too long.

When James Worthy was replaced for a rest, or when he switched defenses, or when James Worthy's physical strength had problems in the second half, this gave Li Hao a chance.

Once Li Hao got the chance, it would be a fatal blow. Whether it was a breakthrough, a mid-range shot, or a three-pointer from the outside, he fired all round and performed very well.

In the end, Li Hao scored 25 points in the whole game. After Kobe scored 35 points in the last game, he scored 33 points in this game. Coupled with the performances of Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and others, even the Grizzlies The pair of Bears Battier and Pau Gasol scored 55 points together, and it is difficult to save the Grizzlies from losing another game.

114: 104!

The Lakers won another game and led by a big score of 2:0!

"Not surprisingly, people will not be surprised by such a big score in the series. Looking at the Lakers in the playoffs, their performance is at the championship level. Now it seems that it is only a matter of time before the Lakers advance to the Western Conference Finals."

"Undoubtedly, we have enough reasons to look forward to the Western Conference finals this season. The rematch between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, the two old enemies of last season, is likely to become a reality. This is destined to be another series that will be recorded in history. game"

"That's right, since entering the playoffs, the two most powerful teams in the Western Conference, the Lakers and the Spurs, have both shown great strength. The Lakers are now leading the Grizzlies with a big score of 2:0, while the Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves Although it is difficult to deal with, but in the face of the strong offensive and defensive balance of the San Antonio Spurs, there is almost no power to fight back, and the Spurs also lead 2:0."

In the series match between the Spurs and the Timberwolves, which many people are very concerned about, there was no such scene as some people predicted before the game, that is, the Spurs were upset at home and were strangled by the strong defense of the Timberwolves.

On the contrary, the first two matches between the two teams were not intense. In other words, the suspense was lost from the very beginning of the match.

Because not only the Lakers completed the upgrade in the playoffs, but the Spurs, the Lakers' potential biggest opponent in the Western Conference Finals, also completed the upgrade.

In the series against the Timberwolves, from the beginning of the game, the Big Three of the Spurs headed by Tim Duncan all showed a very good competitive state. Among them, Ginobili, in particular, showed great prowess. In the two games that ended, he averaged 26 points per game, and his performance was comparable to that of Li Hao.

"This is the San Antonio Spurs, this is the championship contender"

"The Western Conference finals have not yet started, and the smoke is already filled. If there is no accident, the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers will meet again in the Western Conference Finals. This is what everyone expects and is also destined."

Obviously, judging from the performance of the Spurs and the Lakers in the first two games of their playoff journey, most fans are optimistic that they will finally stage a strong dialogue in the Western Conference Finals.

"They performed well, the Western Conference Finals? Haha, to be honest, I don't think this issue should be talked about now. We are still working hard to advance to the second round."

On April 4, BJ time, the Memphis Grizzlies home court, FedEx Arena, the third game of the series between the Lakers and the Grizzlies is about to start. Li Hao, who is preparing for the final warm-up, accepted the media interview and faced the reporter's question about the Spurs Li Hao did not express any opinion on the performance and the hotly discussed Western Conference Finals, but only indicated that everyone's attention from the Lakers is now on the series against the Grizzlies.

Ten minutes later, the third game of the Grizzlies-Lakers series officially began.

This is the first game for the Grizzlies back home. From the beginning of the game, they launched a crazy counterattack at home, but this kind of madness did not have much impact on the Lakers.

104: 99!

The Lakers made another victory in the away game, leading by a big score of 3:0, and they are close to advancing to the second round.

As far as the Grizzlies are concerned, they are completely cornered!
"I think we still have a chance. In the first three games, we did not do well enough in many areas. As far as we are concerned, in the fourth game, we will definitely go all out."

"There is no doubt that we have the ability to move the battle to Los Angeles, this will not be the last game"

"I always believe in my players, I think they are ready, Paul is a qualified leader, we will win this game"

This is the statement made by Grizzlies star Pau Gasol and head coach Mike Fratello before the start of the fourth game of the Grizzlies-Lakers series.

From their statements, it can be clearly felt that in the fourth game, the Grizzlies will definitely fight to the death.

It can also be called the battle to defend dignity!

"We won't underestimate our opponents, we won't relax because of 3:0, man, this is the playoffs, there are no weak teams here"

The Grizzlies are making a tragic declaration, but the Lakers are not arrogant, they are still low-key and beautiful!
On May 5, the Memphis Grizzlies' home court, the FedEx Arena, officially kicked off Game 2 of the Lakers-Grizzlies series.

"Okay, fans and friends, judging from the broadcast footage, the game has already started. This is the fourth game in this series between the Lakers and the Grizzlies. Before the game started, the Lakers had already led by a big score of 3:0, so, For the Lakers, this game holds the match point. If they can make another victory, they will immediately advance to the second round. , the Lakers will definitely not win easily."

"Well, Brian Cook and Paul Gasol jumped the ball in the middle circle. Paul Gasol got the first wave of offensive balls for the Grizzlies in this game. Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both sides in this game."

"Look at the Grizzlies starters at home, Mike Miller, James Worthy, Shane Battier, Jason Williams, Pau Gasol, and then the Lakers starters on the road: Li Hao, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Brian Cook"

"Both coaches have continued to use the starting lineups of the previous three games. Indeed, this is the strongest starting lineup that the coaches of both sides can come up with."

BJ studio, Zhang Weiping and Xu Jicheng are in the passionate commentary.

Why passion?
Naturally, it has a great relationship with Li Hao. For today's Chinese basketball players, Li Hao has become their pride.

.........

"Boy, there are no softies in Memphis. You won't win this game easily."

When Pau Gasol grabbed the first offensive ball for the Grizzlies, Li Hao took the initiative to face him after Mike Miller advanced the ball to the frontcourt.

Facing Li Hao's strong defense in front of him, Mike Miller smiled lightly and said disapprovingly.

"Really? Mike, so what, we are the final winners. However, I am very envious of you. After this game is over, your vacation will begin, and we have to continue to fight."

Li Hao's current level of trash talk is also "excellent", and this unified counterattack directly made Mike Miller's face green.

Why is it so green?
Obviously Li Hao was angry.

"Huh, I hope your game skills can match your eloquence"

Mike Miller slammed towards Li Hao's left front, and while dribbling the ball with his left hand, he pushed Li Hao's body away with his right hand. Just when Li Hao thought that Mike Miller was going to continue to break through to the inside, Mike Miller Le suddenly stepped back quickly and hit a three-pointer.

"Mike hits a [-]"

Li Hao spread his hands. He really tried his best on this ball. It can only be said that it is almost an impossible task to get into the state completely at the beginning of the game.

Kobe singles Shane Battier with the ball and misses a mid-range fadeaway jumper.

It was Li Hao vs. Mike Miller again. This time, Mike Miller also chose Li Hao in singles.On the right side of the paint area, Mike Miller dribbled the ball with his right hand, brushed against the left side of Li Hao's body, and quickly wiped it up.

Li Hao leaned back a little, but still stretched out his hands, trying his best to interfere with Mike Miller's breakthrough.

"Hmph, you can't stop me"

Obviously, Mike Miller broke through again.

Being defeated by Mike Miller in singles twice in a row, this made Li Hao's desire to attack suddenly explode.

"Derek"

After Fisher controlled the ball and advanced to the frontcourt, Li Hao quickly got rid of James Worthy and quickly stepped forward to take the basketball from Fisher's hands.

After Li Hao received the ball from Fisher, James Worthy, who was mainly responsible for defending him before, did not take the initiative to approach him, but it was Mike Miller, who was mainly responsible for defending him, who found him.

"It's really a narrow road to friends"

Li Hao sneered in his heart!
"Boy, I will not only blow you up on the offensive end, but on the defensive end, I will also make you doubt your life"

Weird, Mike Miller was talking a lot of trash tonight!

You must know that compared with Li Hao's current super giant status, Mike Miller is only a quasi-All-Star player, and it stands to reason that he is not qualified to make such a clamor.

Li Hao didn't answer Mike Miller's trash talk, but focused on this attack.

The big fights the small, and Mike Miller defends himself. This is a typical big fight, so how can he fix it.

Because Li Hao's height is considered tall among point guards, when he faces most players at the same position in the league, it will always be a scene of big and small.

This is a face-to-face defense. It is obviously difficult for Mike Miller to block directly, so let's shoot directly!

After making a decision in an instant, Li Hao held the ball 45 degrees outside the left three-point line, and swayed it in front of Mike Miller. Watching Mike Miller make a tough three-pointer.

"clang"

"beep"

Li Hao missed a three-pointer, but it caused Mike Miller's shooting foul, and it was still a three-pointer.

"brush"

"Swish"

"Swish"

Li Hao made all three free throws, which was the first record for the Lakers in this game.

"Well, this is the so-called star player, what else can he do except ask the referee for a whistle?"

When Li Hao caused a shooting foul, Mike Miller was very angry. At this time, he naturally sprayed on Li Hao.

"Funny Mike, only dudes don't stop complaining"

…………

Mike Miller finally chose to be quiet, because he seemed to have discovered the fact that talking trash, he might not be Li Hao's opponent, and if he continued, he would only be asking for trouble.

In the next few minutes, the shooting percentages of both sides were good, and in general, the reason for this situation, on the one hand, has something to do with the hot hands of the players on both sides, and on the other hand, it has something to do with the rhythm of the game.

After the start of the game, the Grizzlies' defensive strength was not high, and the Lakers' defense was not high, which naturally accelerated the pace of the game.

And the score also rose alternately in this fast-paced game.

It wasn't until the 8th minute and 35th minute of the first quarter that the situation on the field changed suddenly...

(End of this chapter)