I’m Really Playing Basketball

The first quarter of G1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Bobcats and the Magic was obviously a wake-up call for the American expert media.

The Bobcats, who were thought to have no chance at all before the game, did not lose at all in the first quarter, and even looked better than the Magic.

After all, when forced by the Bobcats to play singles in position, the Magic really couldn't compare to the Bobcats.

Bobcats eat this bowl of rice, and this bowl of rice is just one of several staple foods that Magic eats.

The Bobcats' five starters, Chen Xiao, Randolph, Paul, and Granger, are all capable of positional isolations. Even Bynum, although he is a bit of a rookie, is also capable of positional isolations!

As for the Magic's five starters, the only players with stable singles abilities are Duncan, Hamilton and Parker. Such a comparison is indeed a disadvantage.

Therefore, it may not be surprising to see the Bobcats leading in the first quarter, but if you think about it carefully, it is actually very reasonable.

Playing at the Bobcats' pace is indeed not easy for the Magic.

However, after all, the Magic are now known as the strongest team in history. This team has never been the kind of team that puts all its fighting power in the starting lineup.

For Magic head coach Doc Reeves, losing 4 points in the first game is acceptable to him. He is a chicken soup type head coach, and now he has accepted this setting.

Therefore, in this game, he definitely has no way to find a way to break the Bobcats' style of attack and defense that puts the rhythm on the position. Therefore, his only choice now is to motivate his team's players to compete with the Bobcats at the Bobcats' pace. fight.

The starting lineup did suffer a bit. Although the Magic's starting players worked very hard, they really couldn't beat the Bobcats in positional singles.

However, he also has the bench lineup of the Magic team led by Ginobili!

Jamal Niers, Ginobili, Turkoglu, Gooden, Pachulia!

Look at the five rotation players of the Magic on the court. Let's put it this way, the starters of many playoff teams in the NBA may not be able to beat this rotation of the Magic.

This is the conclusion that Rivers has tried in many games this season, so Rivers is very confident about the team's rotation.

It is precisely because of this very strong rotation lineup that Duncan and Ben, two insiders who are not so young, can get enough rest time and ensure that they are in good competitive shape in every game. and physical reserves.

In particular, the Bobcats' singles pace in this position is very energy-consuming. In this case, the Magic's strong rotation lineup with all substitutes is particularly important.

Rivers has been blindly confident in the strength of the Magic's rotation this season.

"Perhaps, when the rotation time is over and the starting lineups of both teams come back, the Magic will already be in the lead!"

But soon, Roy and Aldridge pulled Rivers out of his dream.

The Bobcats' rotation for this game is point guard Jack, shooting guard Roy, small forward Barnes, power forward Aldridge, and center Gortat.

This rotation is the Bobcats' rotation with the strongest shooting ability.

The attack ability is quite strong.

Obviously, Jordan is preparing to compete with the Magic's rotation.

After all, the Magic's rotation lineup is indeed strong, and many NBA playoff teams' starting lineups cannot defend them. In this case, entering the defensive lineup is too passive, which is equivalent to actively looking for opportunities.

Of course Jordan, who has always been fierce and tough, would not do such a thing.

passive?

Jordan's team has always been proactive!

It was like this when I was a player.

After becoming a head coach, Jordan's style was also the same.

I have to say that Jordan's style matches well with that of the Bobcats. The Bobcats players are all a group of talented young players. If you let Bobo or other mature and steady head coaches lead these players, maybe they will be better at playing. Steady and reasonable, but definitely not as strong as it is now.

Therefore, in the second quarter, Ginobili, who wanted to use his own efforts to reverse the current predicament of his mentor Rivers, soon discovered that he had met his opponent!

Roy didn't come on the court until the eighth minute of the first quarter. He played 1-for-0 in four minutes. When it came to the rotation in the second quarter, he took the lead and succeeded in hitting Ginobili with his back, changing the score of the game to 30 to 24, the point difference was widened to 6 points.

And Roy is not the kind of reckless man who only works alone.

This time he back-up Ginobili in the corner is actually testing the flexibility of the Magic's defensive lineup.

Obviously, the forward line of Turkoglu, Gooden and Pachulia is strong, but their defensive ability is quite average.

It should be said that the defense cannot come out.

If so, it would be easy for Roy.

Whether it's a pick-and-roll with Aldridge, a pick-and-roll with Gortat, or even a pick-and-roll with Jack, you can use it multiple times.

After all, Gortat, Aldridge and Jack all have very good mid- and long-range shots.

Therefore, as the game progressed, Rivers, who was confident before, found that he was now a little panicked.

The rotation has been played for three minutes in the second quarter. Not only did the Magic fail to come back as he expected, but just as the starting lineup was somewhat suppressed, the rotation lineup that he had high hopes for was also suppressed!

Seeing Roy, a rookie on the court, leading the Bobcats' rotation like a veteran, and Ginobili, perhaps the best sixth man in NBA history, were inextricable, and even slightly suppressed the Magic with more suitable teammates. To be honest, Roy, Barkley and Kenny Smith on the sidelines looked at each other a little bit.

After the game started, the Bobcats really shocked everyone.

"Kenny, there is no doubt that all of you underestimated the strength of the Bobcats, including me who always thought the Bobcats could win. There is no doubt that maybe when facing the Heat, the Bobcats did not have any fight back. power, but this does not mean that the Bobcats can only lie down and wait for death against magic, they can even restrain magic!"

"Yes, they are very restrained in magic!"

Kenny Smith nodded heavily, not to mention the restraint of the players, even Bobcats coach Jordan could suppress Rivers!

This is no joke. What a rookie head coach fears most is a head coach with a tactical system. If you put Jordan against Popovich and Pat Riley, if Jordan runs out of three goals, he will have to kneel down and beat the Nets. At that time, if G6 was not the home court of the Bobcats, Jordan and the Bobcats would have knelt down.

Jordan coached the Bobcats by relying on his own nature and instinct, without so much technical and tactical content. Therefore, when his opponents made moves and asked questions, and they were very complicated tactical system questions, Jordan would definitely not be able to give the answer. .

But Rivers is not a systematic or academic head coach like Pat Riley, Popovich and Carlisle.

Rivers is just a chicken soup head coach.

Compared with chicken soup, Jordan will lose?

Not only does Jordan know how to win, he also knows how to win better than Rivers!

At least, he, Jordan, will never panic when encountering a problem, then magnify the problem and be constantly reversed.

Therefore, when the Bobcats met the Heat, they were restrained in every aspect. The players were restrained, the tactics were restrained, and the head coach was also restrained. It was strange that they could beat the Heat.

But it's different with Magic.

The Bobcats are players whose players are not afraid of the Magic. The Magic have no tactical system to be afraid of. Likewise, the head coach of the Magic team is not so unpredictable. In this case, the Bobcats know their opponents in the Eastern Conference Finals. When it comes to the Magic, although the outside world is looking down on them, no one among the Bobcat players looks down on themselves.

even……

"Without the Heat in the playoffs, I feel like we are already invincible!"

Yes, after the Heat were eliminated by the Magic, many Bobcats players even felt that they were invincible in the playoffs this season.

34 to 40!

When Duncan returned to the court again, the rotations of the Bobcats and Magic had already played for five minutes. Instead of chasing the score, the Magic even lost by two points.

According to Rivers' plan, he was going to let Duncan rest for at least six minutes.

Because Duncan played really tired in the first quarter.

Don't look at Duncan's 4-for-4 and 8 points in the first quarter, but as long as you look at Parker's 1-for-6, you will know why Duncan only took four shots in the first quarter but was very tired.

Parker is not a cancerous Marbury-style point guard. He will not miss a shot and still take crazy shots. Since he still takes crazy shots in such an inaccurate situation, there is only one reason, and that is, Duncan and Hamilton Not finding a singles opportunity, he had to.

No matter how inaccurate it was, he still had to go. In the end, he shot 1 of 6 in the first quarter.

Therefore, regardless of the fact that Duncan was 4-for-4 in the first quarter, like Chen Xiao who was 4-for-4, his shooting percentage was 100%, but Duncan was pestered by Randolph throughout the first quarter.

Chen Xiao was also pestered by Prince in the first quarter.

But is Prince's confrontational ability comparable to Randolph?

With Randolph's weight and confrontation, being entangled with him for a whole section, to be honest, any insider would feel uncomfortable.

Randolph is indeed a very good weapon in defending Duncan.

Although Duncan's offense in the first quarter was very efficient and focused.

However, it doesn't matter what Duncan's shooting percentage is in the first quarter. The key is that Randolph can really stand up to Duncan and make Duncan uncomfortable.

It is impossible for Duncan to be so focused for the entire game, and it is impossible for his physical strength and state to be at the peak for the entire game.

Therefore, although there is a lack of ability, Rivers, who is not blind, can see this, so I hope Duncan can rest more in the second quarter.

However, seeing that the Bobcats' rotation of players did not take the lead in the game, and Chen Xiao and the Bobcats' starting lineup were ready to start, can Duncan sit down?

"Doug, I know what you mean, but I have a hunch that if I don't play at this time, then there is no need for me to play in this game."

Seeing Duncan's resolute appearance at this time, in the end Rivers could only let it go.

No kidding, singles, the Magic really can only point to Duncan.

Unless he makes a tactical change in this game and puts Ginobili in the starting lineup instead of Prince.

Jordan dared to use Parker, Ginobili, Hamilton, such an outside line, but Rivers definitely did not dare to use it.

At least, he didn't dare to use it in this game.

Thinking of the situation of the Magic at this time, he thought of Tracy McGrady, who was sent away by the Magic this season. If McGrady was still there, he would definitely not be afraid of the Bobcats' shrinking position in singles!

Rivers has never wanted the team to trade McGrady, and has always had objections to the team trading McGrady. He even once refused to start Hamilton to protest, although he was finally suppressed by the Magic's management.

But obviously, he is still not relieved about McGrady's departure.

However, if McGrady had not left and Ben, Hamilton and Prince had not come, could the Magic have surpassed the Heat?

If McGrady had not left, the Heat would definitely be the champion this season!

This is no joke.

Back to the game.

Because of Chen Xiao's appearance, Duncan was forced to play early.

As soon as the game started in the second quarter, Duncan took the initiative to assume the responsibility of singles.

In the next seven minutes, the Magic took a total of 11 shots, and Duncan took 6 of them, hitting 2 of 6 and scoring 4 points.

Compared with the first quarter, this efficiency can be said to have dropped off a cliff.

Obviously, it was abnormal for Duncan to go 4-for-4 against Randolph's confrontational defense in the first quarter.

Of course, it was also abnormal for Duncan to beat Randolph 2-for-6 in the second quarter. Randolph's defensive confrontation was very strong and he made big moves, but because it was the Bobcats' home court, the referee was very lenient.

Given Randolph's defensive intensity in this game, Duncan didn't even make a single free throw in the first half. Can you believe it?

Although it is one thing that Randolph can perform, it is also an important reason why bald Crawford does not sound the whistle at all.

Duncan tried hard, but couldn't open the ball. Duncan couldn't open the ball. In the second quarter, Hamilton had a bad touch and went 0 for 2. Parker had no good chances and could only score 2 points on 1 of 2 sporadicly. Lins and Big Ben also scored sporadic points.

In this case, in the second quarter, although Duncan came up with the desire to change the situation of the game.

But Duncan came on in the second quarter and it didn't change the situation.

However, although the Magic did not play well offensively, their defense was still very good.

The offensive feel was not good, and the Magic focused more on the defensive end. In the second quarter, the confrontation between the players on both sides was very intense.

Under such high intensity, Xiaopao transformed into Parker in the first quarter, shooting 1-for-4, while Granger shot 0-for-1, and Bynum didn't even take a shot.

The offensive performance of these three people in the second quarter was not good, but two people deserve praise. One was 3 of 4 and scored 7 points. Chen Xiao, and the other was 2 of 2 and scored 4 points. Lan. Dove.

Randolph likes this kind of hand-to-hand attack and defense with Duncan so much!

Really, he has a lot of flesh. What he is least afraid of is the collision of flesh and flesh. What he is most afraid of is Yao Ming's kind. He doesn't touch him at all. He takes advantage of his height and watches him squirm there, and then looks for opportunities. It's just a risk.

Dayao could put on a hot pot feast when facing the real O'Neal, let alone Randolph, the little O'Neal.

For Randolph, playing against Duncan and playing against Yao Ming are really two completely different experiences.

Because he can pin Duncan firmly under the basket, Chen Xiao can easily beat Prince in the corner. Because of Randolph, Chen Xiao is not afraid of Duncan's help when playing alone on Prince.

Without the help of defense, Chen Xiao's indiscriminate singles can beat the tall and lanky Prince to call daddy.

No kidding, Prince's three-point restriction on Chen Xiao was very good, but against Chen Xiao's back-up from the corner, there was really nothing he could do.

Therefore, although Xiao Pao and Granger Bynum performed averagely on the offensive end in the second quarter, under the leadership of Chen Xiao and Randolph, the Bobcats still led the Magic 54 to 45 by 9 after the first half. point.

For the NBA, 9 points is not a big halftime difference.

However, you have to look at this individually. The team that is 9 points behind is not an ordinary team, this team is the Magic!

The Magic have never trailed by 9 points at any time in the playoffs this season!

Moreover, this 9-point deficit is not the most critical thing.

The most important thing is that the audience who watched this game can clearly feel that it is very difficult for the Magic to defeat the Bobcats!

"The Magic may really lose this game!"

"It would be okay if they just lost one game, but the cruelest thing for Magic fans is that the current feeling of this game is that they will probably lose this series!"

Will the Magic lose this series?

Let alone this series, the Magic don’t want to lose this game!

In the second half, the Magic went all out from the start.

Added to the pressure of facing Duncan in the first half, Randolph continued to fight with Duncan in the third quarter.

Facing such a physical defense from Randolph, Duncan recovered a lot after the halftime break. In the third quarter, Duncan regained his efficiency, shooting 2 of 2 in a single quarter and scoring 4 points.

Duncan and Hamilton encountered a lot of defense in this game. This is for sure. The Magic have only two players with stable singles ability.

So it is not easy for the two of them to make a move.

In the third quarter, Duncan hit 2 of 2 and Hamilton hit 1 of 1. Although they couldn't get in, they scored 3 points. These two people showed their all.

The Bobcats were too crowded inside. Hamilton pulled to the three-point line, and Duncan gritted his teeth and struggled inside. Why did these two work so hard in the third quarter?

Of course it is to allow Parker to have more breakthrough opportunities!

I have to say that although Rivers has no tactical ability, Duncan and Hamilton are really high in golf intelligence.

There was no magic change in tactics, and this strategy in the third quarter was very successful.

Parker used Ben's excellent pick-and-roll and Hamilton and Duncan's no-nonsense screens to score 1 of 3 in a single quarter and 7 of 10 free throws. He scored 9 points in a single quarter. At the Bobcats' home court, he took 10 free throws. This is too impressive. .

In addition, Ginobili was also a beneficiary in the third quarter, scoring 6 points in 2 of 4 in a single quarter.

So in the third quarter, the Magic launched the most ferocious counterattack of the game, scoring 31 points in a single quarter in a tough battle like the Bobcats.

After the third quarter, the Magic chased the score to 76-78.

In a single quarter, the Magic beat the Bobcats 31 to 24, catching up with 7 points.

I have to say that the Magic are still strong.

However, the final winner of this game is the Bobcats.

Because Randolph, who was 1 for 4 in the third quarter, shot 4 for 5 in the fourth quarter.

After the rotation in the fourth quarter, the starting players of both sides came up, Chen Xiao and Duncan, it was really watching Randolph show off.

Catching the ball with his back under the basket, constantly twisting, resisting, and bumping, he seemed to be a smaller O'Neal, as if he had endless physical strength.

In this game, he spent 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, which Duncan had worn out, and only took one shot, and he hit the iron.

And he himself, in the fourth quarter, can still be so lively.

In this game, Chen Xiao had a good touch, but seeing Randolph like this, Chen Xiao decisively only took 2 shots in the fourth quarter, hitting 2 of 2. The rest of the time was spent watching Randolph and Bynum. Group 'Black Wind Shuangsha' Tiger Roaring Forest.

The two "dark winds" of the Bobcats were really overwhelmed in the previous two series. They didn't have much playing time and their performance was not good. Now, against a team like the Magic where they can perform well, the two Don't people work hard?

So in the fourth quarter, Randolph scored 9 points on 4 of 5, while Bynum scored 5 points on 2 of 2.

Coupled with Chen Xiao's 2 for 2, this efficiency...

How can the magic that has already run out of fuel be able to withstand it.

So in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats responded to the Magic with an identical 31-24.

In the end, in this much-anticipated game, the Bobcats beat the Magic 109-100 at home.

In this game, Chen Xiao scored 10 of 13 and scored 26 points. This statistic can only be average for Chen Xiao.

But in this game, Randolph, who scored 10 of 15 and scored 25 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks, was amazing.

You know, Duncan, who faced him throughout the game, had only 8 of 13, 16 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks!

In other words, in this game, Randolph even slightly suppressed Duncan!

Even though Duncan had just played the game two days ago and was indeed not that physically full, this was still shocking enough.

So at the end of the game, Barkley said something that was quite heartbreaking for Magic fans.

"When your team's top player is slightly suppressed by your opponent's top four, it's difficult for your team to win."

After hearing this, many Magic fans in front of the TV wanted to cry.

Of course, what Barkley said was wrong. Randolph is not the bobcats fourth in command.

Although after the first two rounds, everyone laughed at Randolph as the Bobcats' senior player. Not only was he inferior to Chen Xiao and Paul, but he was even inferior to Granger. If Roy hadn't been a rookie and a substitute, Randolph would have become a new player. Old five.

But, as far as this game is concerned, Randolph's performance is worthy of being a top player!

The Bobcats were able to suppress the Magic for the whole game, not because of Chen Xiao's singles, but because Randolph on the defensive end could wear down Duncan and stand up to Duncan one-on-one without the need for defensive assistance.

At the same time, on the offensive end, Randolph can also beat Duncan one-on-one, creating singles opportunities for outside players like Chen Xiao.

Therefore, this game all depends on Randolph, so the Bobcats can win so easily.

So after the game, Chen Xiao was full of praise for Randolph.

"This is the first time I have watched such a wonderful performance from my teammates on the court. Zach, you are a god tonight!"

"Chen is right."

Jordan followed suit.

! ! ! ! !

Chen Xiao's words made Randolph so excited that his scalp went numb!

God damn actually said I was a god!

However, for the Magic, in tonight's game, Jordan, Chen Xiao, and Randolph are all amazing!

That's why, after the game, Rivers' eyes were so resentful and helpless.

This game was so heartbreaking!