basketball kingdom

Chapter 39 Narrowing the Difference
Clarkson is a combo guard (point guard/shooting guard), but his style of play is more inclined to a shooting guard, and his organizational ability is undoubtedly much worse than that of Huertas and Xu Tian.The reason why Byron Scott let him play is to help the team break the scoring shortage, so as not to be widened by the Timberwolves.

Although Rubio's shooting is not good, his free throw percentage can always be maintained above 80%, which is a very impressive data.His two free throws at this time also illustrate this point.

Rubio made two free throws, the Timberwolves 107-100 the Lakers!

5 minute and 28 seconds left.

Lou Williams had come to the table to replace Hibbert on the next stoppage.

Since the Warriors sent five small lineups to win the championship last year, many teams have begun to make such attempts, leading to a wave of small balls in the league.Byron Scott also wants to try this tactic in order to chase points.

The effect of Clarkson's playing is obvious. In the first offensive round, he broke into the inside and made a throw under Towns' defense, helping the Lakers break the scoring drought.

Xu Tian clenched his right fist, but secretly celebrated in his heart.But Thackeray next to Xu Tian was not so calm.He picked up the towel and waved it vigorously to cheer for the players on the field.

Looking back, Kevin Martin made a mid-range shot while traveling, not only that, but also tricked Clarkson into a defensive foul.

"Jordan Clarkson is still too immature! In front of Kevin Martin, he is like a primary school student, who doesn't know what to do at all." Mike Breen added a little emotion when explaining, probably because Xu Tian was in the Because of the Lakers, he supports the Timberwolves more.

Van Gundy Jr. said: "Kevin Martin's ability to gain a foothold in the league relies on his ability to cheat fouls. Although James Harden is better now, this expert cannot be ignored."

The fans who were facing Kevin Martin started making noise, trying to interfere with his free throw, but he was not disturbed by any interference, and he made the extra free throw.

The point difference that Clarkson narrowed just now was expanded by the Timberwolves by another point.

Xu Tian was still a little annoyed. If it wasn't for the foul trouble, he would have fought with the team on the field.But now, he can only watch from the sidelines.

Louis Williams replaced Hibbert when Kevin Martin made a free throw. Randall took the center position and switched to a five-small lineup.

The advantage of a small lineup is that the players on the field will move faster, they can be more flexible when rotating and defending, and they can run out of better offensive space when attacking.However, there are two weaknesses in the Lakers lineup. One is that Kobe's mobility is not as good as before, and the other is that Randall's defense is not particularly good, so it is still unknown what effect he can achieve.

Louis Williams and Nick Young crossed positions, Kevin Martin and Wiggins didn't communicate well on defense, and when they switched defenders, Wiggins didn't keep up.

Lou Williams received the pass from Kobe, bowed his bow and arrow from beyond the three-point line, and shot directly.

Basketball hollow into the net.

The Lakers 105-110 Timberwolves, with 4 minutes and 48 seconds left.

At this stage of the game, the referee will relax the whistle scale, so both sides have strengthened their defensive strength.Naturally, the hit rate dropped.In the next few rounds, both sides failed to score.

Byron Scott called the Lakers' last timeout of the game with 3 minutes left in the game, a short 20-second timeout.

Scott has told Xu Tian that after the timeout, he will replace Nick Young and join Randall, Clarkson, Kobe and Lu Wei.

The 20-second timeout passed quickly, and it was time for players from both sides to play again.

After Xu Tian came on the court, he naturally gained possession of the ball and dribbled the ball across the half.With five criminals on his back, he still had a little psychological pressure, but he soon forgot about it and devoted himself to the game.

Rubio is a very smart player. He knows that Xu Tian has five fouls. When defending, he tries to put physical confrontation on Xu Tian.

Kobe saw Xu Tian's embarrassment at this time, took a position in the low position and yelled, attracting Xu Tian's attention.

Xu Tian hit the ground and passed it to Kobe. Kobe played Kevin Martin in the low post.In this attack, Kobe relied on his rich experience to successfully deceive Kevin Martin's thug foul and stood on the free throw line.

Bryant missed his first free throw, bumped his second free throw a few times, and went into the basket.

The Lakers 106-110, with 2 minutes and 45 seconds left.

Rubio dribbled the ball across the half, and Towns took the initiative to block it, allowing Rubio to attack.

During the timeout, Sanders expected that Scott would replace Xu Tian. His arrangement was to let Rubio step up his offense and try to trick Xu Tian into his sixth foul.

Xu Tian was a little hesitant when passing the screen. Kobe's help defense came soon, and he decisively blocked Rubio's attack with a foul.

Kobe saw Xu Tian's psychological burden. When Rubio was on the free throw line, he took the initiative to walk over and said, "Xu, don't feel pressure! There are 82 games in the regular season. It's okay to lose this one. Don't worry."

Xu Tian didn't say anything. He knew the purpose of Byron Scott replacing him, and he knew what he could do. He said, "No problem, I can adjust it."

Sanders saw the exchange between Kobe and Xu Tian, ​​and he already had an idea in his mind.Since Kobe just used a foul to protect Xu Tian, ​​it proves that the Lakers' ability to control Xu Tian's fouls has no bottom, which can be used.

Kevin Martin is now standing outside the three-point line, Sanders called him, beckoning Kevin Martin to his side.

Sanders cut to the chase and said: "Tell Ricky (Rubio) not to trick Xu Tian into fouling, and let Xu stay on the court. When the Lakers are rotating defense, you try to hit this mentally burdened person."

Kevin Martin nodded and returned to the Timberwolves' offensive half to watch Rubio make the second free throw.

Rubio is a player with a big heart. These two free throws also made two free throws, widening the point difference to six points again.

Xu Tian received the serve, but soon gave the ball to Kobe, and started running at the same time.

Kobe and Xu Tian had practiced this tactic during training. He knew that Xu Tian was also top-notch off the ball. He dribbled the ball outside the three-point line and aimed at the three players who were running.

Kevin Martin received Sanders' instructions and unconsciously focused on Xu Tian. In this way, he relaxed a lot in defense against Kobe.

Seeing Kevin Martin's inattention, Bryant pulled up and shot directly from beyond the three-point line.

Now that the game is at the final stage, he is not afraid of taking the blame.

Taking advantage of Rubio's inattention, Xu Tian quickly rushed inside.

The basketball bounced a few times on the rim, and just when Xu Tian, ​​who was jumping, was about to touch it with his right hand, the ball entered the rim.Xu Tian withdrew his hand urgently in the air.

If the offensive interference ball is blown, this crucial three-pointer will be gone.

The referee originally wanted to blow the whistle, but now it is the Lakers' home court, and Xu Tian's right hand is still far away from the basketball, so he still didn't blow the whistle in the end.

The Staples Center is boiling again, and now it's critical time, and the score is so close, causing the Lakers to tug at their hearts every time they play.Now seeing Kobe's goal that narrowed the point difference to three points, the fans are all very excited.

The Lakers 109-112 Timberwolves, with 2 minutes and 11 seconds left in the game.

Sanders stood on the sidelines, debating whether to call a timeout.

Garnett stood up from the bench and tried to cheer on the young people on the team when the Timberwolves attacked.

Rubio did not attack rashly, but wanted to pass the ball to Towns, but Randall had already circled forward to defend, blocking Rubio's possible passing position.This caused him to stop the ball at the top of the key.

Kevin Martin hurriedly ran towards Rubio's position. Only in this way can Rubio pass the ball to him smoothly.

Xu Tian did not invade Rubio's offensive space as before.Three of his five fouls were called for this type of foul.

Louis Williams followed Kevin Martin very closely, and the moment Kevin Martin received the ball, he stabbed the ball in his hand from behind.

The basketball ran out of Kevin Martin's hands and became a temporarily free sphere, flying towards Rubio and Xu Tian's position.

Xu Tian let go of all distracting thoughts, stretched his hands forward, and quickly ran over to grab the ball.Rubio, who was not fast enough, pulled Xu Tian behind him.

Xu Tian, ​​who was holding the ball with both hands, heard the referee's whistle, and his first reaction was, it's over, I'm going to be sent off.He was relieved when he saw that Rubiola had been fouled.

The number of fouls by the Timberwolves has reached five times, and Rubio's foul sent Xu Tian to the free throw line.

Sanders could no longer hold his breath and called out the last 60-second timeout of the Timberwolves.

When Xu Tian was off the court, he looked at the time on the off court. With 1 minute and 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Lakers trailed by three points 109-112.

Scott stood in the middle of the five and immediately began to arrange tactics, "Xu, first of all, you have to try to hit two free throws, so that we can narrow the point difference to one point, understand?"

Xu Tian hadn't played for a long time, and there was no sweat on his face, so he nodded and said, "Try your best!"

Kobe has been on the court for a long time in the fourth quarter, and he kept wiping his sweat with a towel, but he still did not forget to communicate with Xu Tian, ​​"They must think that you are a defensive hole now, and they will arrange someone to attack from you. If you can defend the next round, we should be able to win this round."

"learn!"

In order to make Randall pay more attention on the defensive end, Scott is encouraging him.

Sanders continued the previous arrangement, but at the most critical time, he replaced his favorite disciple-Kevin Garnett.

(End of this chapter)