Bulldozer of the NBA’s Restricted Area

Before the game, the Lakers made it clear that they would change the defensive lineup depending on the status of the opponent's main scoring position. But when Pierce broke out... Crotty could have been replaced by Artest. After all, Green defended Garnett in the first quarter. The effect is good, but the problem is that Green's timing needs to be carefully planned.

It's best to let Artest play at this time, because Garnett is really afraid of confrontation.

Get back on the field.

The Celtics also guessed the Lakers' substitution.

Pierce felt hairy all over when he thought about Crotty. It wasn't that he couldn't fight, he was afraid that Crotty would trade injuries and lives with him, and Crotty's gangster-style defense actually caused more damage to him. There is a lot of psychological pressure, so the Celtics are also thinking of a solution. The solution they came up with is to let Garnett take part of the shots that Pierce gave up.

Will Artest switch to the fourth position?

The Celtics know this, but Garnett feels that he is not afraid. If even a first-year rookie is afraid, then the ball will be unplayable, and the significance of his increased shots is not only to boost himself. For offense, you know...if he gets into the area near the basket and takes a shot, he can also force Li Shengli to participate in the defense and free up the blocked O'Neal.

…

"Crotty is on?"

"Really, it looks like Phil Jackson doesn't want Pierce to have an easy time!"

At this time in the TNT studio, when Barkley saw Crotty on the court, even though the Celtics were still 6 points ahead, he felt that the advantage was tilting towards the Lakers, because during the Lakers-Kevin finals last year... Crotty But he managed Pierce, who was in the first grade at that time, to be obedient.

"Charles, you played for the Lakers last year. What do you think of Crotty's defense? Can he guard Pierce?" Kenny Smith asked.

"I remember you also fought against him, what do you think?"

"I think? Well... to be honest, this guy's defense is not the strongest among the backcourt players, but he is the most desperate. I don't think Payton can compare with him. Of course, maybe Payton He's worth more and pays more attention to his health, but with Crotty, I don't see what he's afraid of, he's too crazy."

"Yeah, I was surprised at the beginning why there was such a lunatic! But now the focus is not on the matchup between him and Pierce, but on Artest and Garnett... They will determine the direction of the second quarter. "

…

The game entered the second quarter.

Both sides were rotating except for the main position, and Artest moved to the fourth position, and he had the same miraculous effect as he did against the Spurs in the previous round, and his defensive effect on Garnett was surprisingly good.

Let’s talk about O’Neal first. Among his shots, the total proportion of basket and short-range two-pointers reached an abnormal 90%. At the beginning, Olajuwon, Ewing, and Robinson were 50, 65, and 61 respectively. This shows that This guy's offensive range is extremely inside, and his damage in the penalty area is outrageous.

In this case, in order to open up the defense for O'Neal, Garnett's shots became more and more outside. That season, the proportion of two-pointers from mid-range and long-range reached 65%, and O'Neal's abnormal basket and The proportion of close range is reversed.

But the problem is that Artest's defensive position when guarding Garnett is farther inside than when guarding Pierce. The reduced range of activities required for defense negates his speed disadvantage to a certain extent. He pursues Garnett to find a confrontation. Garnett I'm almost bored to death, and my shots during the confrontation are very bad.

However, after his achievements on the defensive end, Artest also took advantage of his strength on the offensive end.

Garnett's single defense ability is far worse than that of assist defense, and Artest has figured this out... When Kobe and Li Shengli can't find a chance to cooperate, as long as the attack time passes 15 seconds, the points will be scored immediately. The ball went to Artest to back up Garnett.

The Lakers' backs play one after another. This is tradition!

So when faced with Artest's back attack, Garnett couldn't withstand it and would soon be pushed into the penalty area. The real problem was... no one could help him.

If O'Neal moves, Li Shengli can kill them.

If peripheral teammates, including Pierce, help, the Lakers are too accustomed to finding the weak side of defense, and Kobe immediately gets the best opportunity.

But what if I defend myself alone?

To be honest, no matter how weak Artest's offense is, he can beat him when he gets to the basket. Even if Artest only made 54% of his shots at the basket as a rookie this season, it was still better than other shots. It's more stable, not to mention that Li Shengli's frontcourt advantage is greater than that of O'Neal. The actual efficiency of 60% in the game will definitely not be suppressed.

What about transfer?

But Pierce was a little timid when he encountered Crotty, and the other two couldn't be counted on. After all, Kobe's defense is also very strong, and the remaining O'Neal... seems to be the hope of the whole village?

…

"Oh my God, this effect is great, isn't it?" Kenny Smith in the studio was surprised.

"This little guy..." Barkley also said in surprise: "To be honest, I feel that after a few more seasons of training, this guy will also be a DPOY player. But Kenny, think about this guy Ben Wallace. Having already won this season’s DPOY, Lee has even reached the point where he doesn’t need to use DPOY to prove his defensive strength, and there is also Crotty who has entered the secondary defense this season.”

"The Lakers have all the defensive heroes?" Kenny Smith blurted out. Not counting the temporary joining of Rodman and Barkley last season, Los Angeles alone has produced a group of defensive troops. Several of them were placed in other places. The team can all be the defensive core, including Kobe, who is now both offensive and defensive, and Eddie Jones, who was the second defense.

"Let me see... Now the Celtics' 6 points in the first quarter have been wiped out, and they have reversed by 5 points. After this, the Lakers' victory is basically determined. At least in this game, the Lakers have a high probability of winning. If we win, the 3:0 situation last year will not happen!" Barkley said firmly.

"Then this is different from what we all predicted before the game. Can the Lakers really win four consecutive championships?"

"No, it's hard to say!" Barkley explained more objectively: "If you think about it carefully... In fact, the Celtics can solve this situation, as long as they can create some good shooting environments for Garnett or Pierce. That's good, of course there is a more direct way... Don't forget that the Celtics still have O'Neal. As long as the outside is in a small area and pick-and-roll is allowed, and Pierce misses Crotty to attack the inside, the Lakers' defense will loosen."

"Pierce charges inside?" Kenny Smith immediately slapped the table and said, "Yes, as long as Pierce dares to charge, the Lakers' inside defense... whether it is Artest's defense or Lee's defense, it will make O'Neal and When one of Garnett makes room, the offense really opens up."

"Yes, of course this is just conjecture and there are more variables in the game than we think, but at the end of the day... Pierce's bravery is the key."