basketball never sleeps

Chapter 42 The finals are in sight.

Carlisle didn't make excuses for the team's first two losses. He knew very well what kind of strength the Pistons' own lineup, together with Rasheed and reinforcements like Mo Wen, could bring out.

At the press conference, he blamed all the reasons for the defeat on his own mistakes in tactical adjustments, hoping to minimize the blame on the players.

But public opinion will not give up criticizing other Pacers players just because Carlisle took the blame.

The first person to be "named and praised" was O'Brien, who ranked third in this season's MVP selection list. He was completely unworthy of the "superstar" title in previous games, especially G2's performance in the second half was disastrous.

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He couldn't score a single point in the second half, and even the local media in Indiana didn't know how to help him.

Secondly, Artest, the second in charge, was also subject to a meeting. His 17 irons in a single game broke Kobe's record of 16 irons in this year's playoff game against the Spurs.

When Yang Yi was commenting on the game, he also joked, "I originally thought Kobe was invincible, but I didn't expect someone to be more stubborn than Kobe. Whose general is this?"

As for Reggie Miller, people are discussing whether it's time for the old guy to retire.

As for the rest of the Pacers, role players do not take the blame in this era.

Many experts believe that the Pacers may be swept in the series. They have not shown much enthusiasm at home. They have the best record in the regular season but cannot defend a home court. This is not only ridiculous, it is simply ridiculous!

In contrast, the Pistons, a "grassroots lineup" with many ordinary fans who don't recognize the players, actually became the favorite to win the "Asia" title in the mouths of various basketball critics after showing the league's best defensive suppression in the second half of G2.

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Big Ben received the most praise. He averaged 15 rebounds per game and scored in single digits. He became the "No. 1 C in the Eastern Conference" in the media. The photo of him and O'Neal's baby face together in the newspaper further highlighted this.

His ferocity.

Ben often laughed out loud during the team's training these past two days - he finally found an inside player with a lower shooting percentage than him.

Your brother averaged 40% shooting in the two games, while Ou's shooting percentage in these two games was only 38%. Let's see who dares to say that I can't attack in the future!

Hamilton, who has been playing steadily, is becoming more and more famous as the "Mask Man". If it weren't for his inability to shoot 3-pointers, the media would have given him the title of "Reggie Miller's successor".

And Mo Wen became the rookie that the media couldn't understand the most. He is the only player in the Pistons who can guarantee double figures in every game, and he is like Wade, who can "change the world with one new trick"

Different players, Mo Wen's stability depends entirely on his versatility, which is counter-intuitive.

According to common sense, the more difficult the game, the more specialized "tricks" are needed to overcome difficulties. Players who are versatile in this period will often become useless.

···

On May 22, in G3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers, who had no way out, could only fight with their backs against the wall.

In the playoffs, no team has ever been able to complete a comeback at 0:3. On the contrary, there is a high probability of being swept by 0:4.

In the Pacers' general manager's office, "Big Bird" leaned on his office chair and watched the live broadcast of the game.

He didn't expect to reach this level in the Eastern Conference Finals. The entire team's player configuration in every position was better than the Pacers that he led to the Finals in the 1999-00 season.

Carlisle also has real stuff, at least it's much better than the Isiah who is messing around in New York now.

But if we really want to talk about this team's first two games, it can only be described in two words - disgraceful!

Larry Bird no longer expects the team to win the championship. The Pacers in this state are just giving away food when they go to the finals.

However, you have to have some face when you come out to play. If you win one or two games, you can also give an explanation to your fellow villagers and give you something to look forward to next year.

Carlisle summarized the reasons for the defeat in the previous two games, adjusted the lineup, abandoned Foster, who is more balanced in offense and defense inside, and mentioned the pure defensive blue-collar Clothier, who has stronger rim protection ability and better athletic ability, into the starting lineup.

At the same time, a new offensive line was developed based on the defensive habits of the Pistons players in this year's playoffs, which reduced Artest's task in attacking tough problems. Judging from Artest's shooting percentage in the first two games, who will this tough attack help?

It's really hard to say.

If your Pistons play defense, then I, the Pacers, will follow. If you have dpoy, so will I!

The two sides launched a heart-wrenching feast of blacksmithing. There was no fast break, no tactics, only defense, life-threatening defense.

The Pacers' overall defensive ability is definitely weaker than that of the Pistons, but the Pistons' offensive ability is not necessarily that good either.

In the first half, except for Hamilton who had a certain hit rate after catching the ball and shooting after the screen, the other starters all relied on Hamilton to score; the Pacers killed 1,000 enemies and lost 999, which was not much better. The defensive intensity at the Pistons' home court

They've seen each other before in the regular season, and if they can take action, it's considered a success.

In the first quarter, the Pistons trailed the Pacers by 1 point, 17:18.

In the second quarter, Mo Wen rarely replaced Hamilton and played for 5 minutes. This actually told Hamilton that you would not be able to rest for a minute later.

In a game of this intensity, Mo Wen didn't have many opportunities, and the referee only relaxed the penalty standards and didn't give many home whistles. Mo Wen made 1 of 3 shots and only scored a 3-pointer before he was replaced.

At halftime, the score between the two teams was - Pistons 34:36 Pacers.

Not to mention the audience watching the game at home, the fans at the scene were all sleepy.

The commentators in the studio are all predicting how long the two teams can maintain this intensity of defense.

The answer given by the two teams is-until the end.

The final score between the two teams was 67:71. The Pistons, who felt worse, lost by 4 points, and the Pacers struggled to regain a victory.

"Well, although the game was difficult for a time under the high-intensity defense, I have to say that this game is definitely the most valuable game in the Eastern Conference this year."

"Both the Pistons and Pacers showed their suffocating defense. In this game, you can't see wild dunks, elegant passes, and smart breakthroughs. What you can see is just the defense of players from both sides that obliterates everything.

and the determination to die.”

"I think all coaches should record the video of this game and watch it over and over again. This is every defensive battle without mistakes."

TNT commentator Albert was still trying his best to whitewash the game, saying some nonsense that even he himself didn't believe.

"Oh, it's almost the groom (Albert), if you ask me to say this game is the shit among the shit, it can't be any worse than this." Barkley, who was dragging his face with his arms and a big face, would rather be fined than complain.

.

"Ben and Ron showed the strength of their best defensive players. Rasheed and Xiao Ou also devoted their energy to defense, and then everyone else had no time to play. I feel like I can explain this in four words.

Game: shooting - interference - iron - rebounding, oh, in order to be worthy of my salary, add the corresponding names of people to these three words."

"Jermaine (O'Junior) shot, Rasheed interfered, the iron was knocked out, and Ben grabbed the rebound."

"Hamilton shot, Miller interfered, hit the ball, Ron's rebound."

"Okay, okay, stop talking about Charles, I'm already sleepy." Kenny Smith quickly interrupted Buckley's spell-casting.

Larry Bird, who had finished smoking a whole cigar, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the game was over, finally saving his face.

But the team's problems are still there.

The Pacers lack reliable attackers or isolation players. Miller is already old. In the three rounds of the playoffs, Miller's performance has been worse than in the past. It is impossible to expect him to constantly run out of open spaces and score from the outside like he did when he was young.

Realistic and unreasonable.

Larry Bird was also very coveted on the Pistons bench. He saw his own shadow in Mo Wen, but it was impossible for the Pistons to trade with them, and Bird also knew that many teams were interested in the Chinese.

The price given was something Bird could not give.

Fortunately, he still has options.

·······

In the next two games, the Pistons gave the Pacers no chance to make a comeback.

Carlisle gave up his habit of beating the main force to death, and kept trying to change formations, but failed to break the high wall he had built himself.

Xiao Ou finally stood up in the last game and scored 20+10, leading the team to a 10-point lead before the end of the third quarter.

But after the start of the fourth quarter, Mo Wen made a three-pointer behind a screen and Rashid made a corner three-pointer, which instantly melted most of the point difference between the two teams. If it weren't for Miller's roar, the Pacers' morale might have dropped.

Disintegrated instantly.

At the last moment, Prince, who replaced Mo Wen, also completed the greatest save of his career so far.

He chased Miller who made the winning shot, although he was thrown into the crowd of fans for this.

The final whistle of the game sounded, and the silent Conseco Arena heard the roar of the Pistons players.

The finals are just around the corner.

Hehe, I forgot to post it

(End of chapter)