I’m Really Playing Basketball

Relying on Chen Xiao's crazy playoff performance of 60 points in a single game, the Bobcats defeated the Raptors 131-130 in the G1 contest with difficulty.

The two teams actually played such a big score during the regular season, which is rare even in NBA history.

In this game, five Raptors scored 20 points, which is a miracle in the history of NBA playoffs.

On the Bobcats side, Chen Xiao scored 60 points, Roy scored 26 points, Aldridge scored 20 points, and Granger scored in double figures.

Judging from the data, Chen Xiao defeated the Raptors on his own.

However, judging from the course of the game, whether it was Roy's 26 points in two quarters, the destruction of the Raptors in the third quarter, or Aldridge's 5-for-5 in a single quarter, they were all very important.

It can be said that not only Chen Xiao, Roy and Aldridge also played the best form in the playoffs of their careers.

It may be difficult to say whether the Raptors gave their all in this game, but...

For the Bobcats, this game can truly be said to have given everything.

It can be seen that the Raptors, the team with the best record in the league, are really strong.

The Raptors without Nelson last season were the Bobcats' nemesis.

And now after having Old Nelson...

Therefore, after the G1 match between the Bobcats and the Raptors, the betting company's odds for the Bobcats to advance fell instead of rising.

Yes, many people are not sure what the Bobcats will do to defeat the Raptors in the next game.

Two days later, on May 8, 2008, the Eastern Conference Semifinals G2 between the Bobcats and the Toronto Raptors continued at the Toronto Flight Center.

The Raptors did not change the starting lineup in this game. Nelson did not put Josh Smith in the starting lineup because of the failure in the previous game. Nelson still insisted on the strategy of focusing on offense against the Bobcats.

I have to say that the old Nelson is indeed much more determined than D'Antoni when facing difficulties.

In the last game between the Bobcats and the Raptors, there were many reasons why the Raptors lost. The Bobcat players were in great shape, and it was also related to the fact that the Raptors allowed the Bobcats to steal too many rebounds in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, Chen Xiao's crazy rush led to a game that took away a lot of rebounds, allowing the Bobcats to maintain the score advantage with an ultra-low shooting rate.

It stands to reason that the inside combination of Milicic and O'Neal is one of the strongest rebound protection combinations in the league, and even one of them can be removed.

So for the Raptors, letting the Bobcats grab so many offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter of the last game is simply a humiliation to them.

So as soon as the G2 game started, Milicic and O'Neal, two insiders who felt humiliated in the fourth quarter of the previous game, showed a very strong desire to fight.

When the first quarter ended, the Raptors grabbed 17 rebounds in this quarter, of which Milicic and O'Neal each got 3 offensive rebounds. Many people know that Nelson's persistence And the gamble was successful.

There is no need to make changes to the Raptors' lineup. Relying on his motivation, the Raptors can overcome the huge problems that occurred in the fourth quarter of the last game.

Therefore, in the first quarter, driven by Milicic and O'Neal, who were ashamed and then brave, the Raptors can be described as crazy.

A total of 29 shots were taken in the whole quarter. Although the shooting percentage was not as high as the previous game, but 16 of 29 shots were taken, and the single quarter still scored a record 38 points.

On the opposite side, the Bobcats had a slight problem with their offense after being blasted on the rebound.

Let's put it this way, when your rebounds cannot be effectively protected, you need to invest more energy in defense. When you miss the basketball, you will definitely not be able to grab the offensive rebounds, so you will not be able to grab the offensive rebounds when you shoot. There will be so much confidence.

In addition, the defense of the inside combination of Milicic and O'Neal is indeed powerful.

So in the last game, Aldridge, who was 5 for 5 in a single quarter, actually shot 0 for 5 in a single quarter.

It can be seen how much inside pressure the Raptors put on the Bobcats in the first quarter of this game.

The game was 38 to 22 in a single quarter, and the Bobcats trailed by 16 points in a single quarter.

It can be said that G1 lost the Raptors at home and scored the game into garbage time as soon as it came up.

In the end, in this G2, the Bobcats lost 100 to 120 to the Raptors by 20 points in the away game, which was considered a big defeat.

In this game, Chen Xiao scored 8 of 15 and 4 of 7 three-pointers. He scored 23 points in three quarters.

In addition to Chen Xiao, Roy, Aldridge, Granger, Jack and Daniel Gibson scored in double figures.

It can be seen from those who scored in double figures that the Bobcats players are not bad in this game.

The reason why they will be kicked out of garbage time is mainly because the rebounding gap between the two sides in this game is too large.

The Raptors grabbed 58 rebounds and 20 offensive rebounds, while the Bobcats had only 26 rebounds.

How to fix this damn thing?

However, the loss of the Bobcats in this game was not all fruitless.

Bobcats backup point guard Daniel Gibson came off the bench in garbage time in the fourth quarter. He made 5 of 7 in a single quarter, 5 of 6 three-pointers, and scored 15 points in a single quarter!

Originally, after the first three quarters of the two teams, the Bobcats were almost 30 points behind.

Unexpectedly, it was led by Gibson to recover 10 points.

Aldridge's college teammate and younger brother has basically been a transparent person since he came to the Bobcats. This playoff is the first time he has had the chance to play the main offense in garbage time on the team. If the cannon doesn't leave, , Livingston cannot play without being reimbursed for the season. Even in garbage time, he can only play for two or three minutes.

After all, Gibson's physical talent is not good, his skills are average, and his shooting is very good, but...

Chen Xiao's younger brother Novak shot so well in college, is it useful in the NBA and playoffs?

Boss Joe doesn't like Gibson.

Gibson's systematic ability evaluation is not outstanding, and Chen Xiao's attention to him is limited.

I just didn't expect that this little guard had such a big heart.

It has to be said that this harvest is a big surprise for the Raptors.

A role player with a reliable three-point shooting ability is a very important strategic supplement for any team in the league today, and is very useful when the team is desperate.

After the G2 game between the Bobcats and the Raptors, the Raptors' inside advantage over the Bobcats made the entire NBA look askance.

There is really nothing we can do about this. When the Bobcats still had Randolph last season, the Raptors hammered the Bobcats on rebounds and in the paint.

Now it is normal to press the Bobcat hammer like this. The G1 Bobcats actually had a rebounding advantage in the fourth quarter. That is abnormal. It is entirely because Chen Xiao and Roy gave everyone a dose of chicken blood.

The chicken blood state is very difficult to last long.

So after the G2 game between the Bobcats and the Raptors, the NBA experts agreed that the Bobcats would be eliminated by the Raptors in five or six games.

Maybe the Bobcats will lose four games in a row in the next game after their miraculous victory in G1.

And it was in this atmosphere that the Bobcats returned to their home court on May 10 to face the Raptors in the G3 game.

Before the start of this game, Jordan constantly emphasized the team's rebound control. In order to protect the rebounds, the defense can shrink appropriately to bet on the touch of the Raptors' outside players.

For Nelson's crazy rebounding scheme in G2, Jordan can only choose one of two poisons.

I have to say that although Boss Qiao is very good at gambling, he has very good luck on the court.

The Raptors' outside touch in this game was also really good.

Nash, the Raptors' most accurate three-pointer, made 0 of 4 three-pointers in this game. The Raptors team made 7 of 27 three-pointers, with a shooting percentage of just over 25%.

According to Jordan's pre-game arrangements, maybe the Bobcats can win another game with luck.

If there are no accidents.

However, the Raptors' head coach this season is not D'Antoni, but Nelson.

How could this game be without surprises?

Jordan believes that the G3 stadium switch is not good for the visiting team. Wouldn't Nelson think of that?

You Jordan will bet on luck.

Will Nelson depend on luck?

If Nelson is really so conservative and conventional, then he is not Nelson anymore.

In this G3, although the Raptors didn't feel good, during the game, Milicic and O'Neal were frantically looking for opportunities to single out Bynum in the paint.

Although Bynum got a record 5 blocks in this game, Bynum also played only 30 minutes before being beaten for six fouls.

As the Bobcats' only reliable big center, Bynum's departure is fatal to the Bobcats.

The final result was that in order to prevent the Raptors' inside advantage, the Bobcats committed crazy fouls in this game. They committed 26 fouls in a single game, 10 more than the Raptors as a whole.

This still has the home field advantage, and the on-site referee has been very merciful, otherwise the Bobcats who were beaten inside in this game may have exploded in foul play.

In the end, in this G3, the Bobcats lost to the Raptors 91-100 at home. In this game, Chen Xiao made 13 of 25 and scored 38 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks.

It can be seen from Chen Xiao's data that after Bynum went down for the Bobcats, it was Chen Xiao who protected the frame under the basket.

It's so draining.

Although Chen Xiao did well, Milicic and O'Neal are not ordinary insiders after all.

O'Neal Jr. scored 32 points and 20 rebounds on 12-for-25 shooting, while Milicic scored 20 points and 14 rebounds on 7-for-17 shooting.

In this game, Nelson's targeted arrangements for the Bobcats almost maximized the Raptors' inside advantage.

Taking advantage of Aldridge's weakness of being unable to protect Bynum and attacking Bynum crazily, as long as Bynum is beaten down, the Raptors can pay any price.

Aldridge has worked very hard defensively this season, but his current defense, especially the protection of his inside partners, is still too weak.

"I have to say that Nelson is not D'Antoni..."

At the end of the G3 game, Jordan also sighed for a while.

If it were D'Antoni, the Bobcats would definitely win this game.

On May 12, 2008, the Bobcats continued to face the Raptors at home.

For the Raptors, before G4, there was a lot of praise.

Most people predict that the Raptors may sweep four games and advance 4-1, and this is also the best result for the Raptors. The Raptors fight hard to be first in the league in the regular season, and even if they are sure of first place in the last two games , in order to compete for the MVP for Nash, he did not rest but fought for 70 wins. After all, it was 70 wins. Even if there was no MVP competition for Nash, no one would be willing to give up easily.

Moreover, the Raptors also feel that they can get a chance to rest by playing the Bulls in the first round.

But no one thought that the Bulls would be so difficult to beat. They almost capsized in the gutter, and in the end they didn't dare to rest in this round.

Now, they finally got a chance. As long as they beat the Bobcats 4-1, they can still get a chance to rest before the battle with the Heat.

Of course, for the Bobcats, G4 can be said to be their last chance.

After losing this game, the score was 1 to 3. It would be impossible for the Bobcats to continue to come back in G5 at the Raptors' home court.

Therefore, faced with this situation, in G4, Jordan made the most significant adjustment to the Bobcats in this series.

Jordan took Aldridge out of the starting lineup and put Battier in the starting lineup.

Chen Xiao serves as the team's power forward.

Well, when the situation is desperate, change positions for Chen Xiao. This is Boss Qiao's final core tactic.

I have to say that this tactic of Boss Joe has been criticized by Barkley, but it is still effective in terms of results.

The Bobcats' inside line, which had collapsed in the previous two games, was under control after Chen Xiao became the power forward.

Chen Xiao playing power forward and partnering with Bynum may not be able to gain an advantage in the paint.

Chen Xiao is definitely stronger than O'Neal Jr., and his offensive area is also larger. O'Neal Jr. definitely can't guard against Chen Xiao. However, O'Neal Jr. is not an ordinary insider after all. This power forward who has not been injured like in history is still there. At his peak, he is a superstar. Just at the basket, Chen Xiao may not be able to take advantage.

However, for the Bobcats, the inside combination of Chen Xiao and Bynum does not need to have an advantage between the two inside players.

Even if the two big men are slightly weaker than the Bobcats, Battier, Granger, and Roy's height, weight and athleticism are also super strong.

As long as Chen Xiao and Bynum are restrained, Battier, Granger, and Roy can rush and grab.

Therefore, the Bobcats, whose rebounds were blown out in the previous two games, actually grabbed 56 rebounds in G4, while the opposite Raptors only had 38.

In this case, the Bobcats actually fought back in such adversity, 114 to 110, and tied the score to 2 to 2!

The Bobcats pulled back and tied the score to 2-2, but Jordan knew that the Bobcats were still in danger.

Chen Xiao plays inside, and his opponents are opponents of the same level as O'Neal Jr. and Milicic. This consumes a lot of Chen Xiao's physical strength.

In this game, Chen Xiao made 11 of 23, and scored 30 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. The statistics were comprehensive and the performance was really outstanding, but it greatly affected Chen Xiao's offensive power.

Fighting Milicic and O'Neal for the whole game, and letting Chen Xiao score 40, 50, or even 60 points in a game is too harsh.

The Bobcats won this game thanks to the support of Roy, who made 9 of 20 shots and scored 28 points and 9 assists. Granger, Battier, Bynum and Gibson scored in double figures.

If the other players of the Bobcats don't support enough, and Chen Xiao cannot attack with all his strength in order to stabilize the inside, then the Bobcats will be suffocated by the Raptors even if they stabilize the inside.

And can the Bobcats players provide Chen Xiao with enough support like this game every game?

Jordan was sure that was impossible.

Of course, the end of G4 is also very detrimental to the Raptors.

Although the Raptors still firmly occupy the initiative in this series, this series has been dragged down to at least G6.

On the other side, the Heat already lead the Nets 3-1, and promotion is in sight.

In this series with the Bobcats, the Raptors, who needed a rest the most, still didn't get any chance to rest.

Moreover, judging from the G4 game, how could Nelson not see that the Bobcats have the possibility of defeating the Raptors again.

After all, the Bobcats still have a home court!

I have to say that Nelson's prediction was still very accurate.

In G5 on May 14, the Raptors returned to their home court and used two overtimes to defeat the Bobcats 125-120 at home.

In this game, the other Bobcats really couldn't support Chen Xiao like they did in G4, but Roy scored 32 points and 8 assists in this game, and also played 40 minutes.

As for Chen Xiao, he played 55 minutes in the game, making 15 of 32 shots and 14 of 19 free throws. He scored 44 points and 25 rebounds in the game.

In this game, Chen Xiao didn't make a single three-pointer.

It's not that Chen Xiao didn't want to, but that O'Neal was too fierce. The home court advantage does not need to be expired. As long as he is not as crazy as Bynum, a veteran like O'Neal will certainly have a perfect grasp of the scale.

Although the Bobcats did not win this game in the end, the Raptors also won very miserably.

This directly led to May 16, two days later in G6, the Raptors were in a sluggish state and were beaten 120 to 106 by the Bobcats in Charlotte.

It can be seen from this game that in the long run, the Raptors have already declined.

But in the short term, the garbage time of this game gave the Raptors a short break.

In this victory over the Raptors, in addition to Chen Xiao's 30 points in three quarters, the other one who scored 20 points was Gibson. This kid made 7 of 8 in a single game, 6 of 7 three-pointers, and 5 of 5 free throws. 25 points. At the same time, he only played 25 minutes, and his efficiency was simply explosive!

This guy was a very unexpected help to Chen Xiao in this series.

While the Bobcats pulled the score to 3-3, this series also ushered in the most brutal tie-break.

In fact, this series is not just the Raptors reaching a critical point.

In fact, the Bobcats have already reached a breaking point.

The Raptors had just seen their remaining blood, while the Bobcats had already lost their blood.

This is true whether it is Chen Xiao, Roy or other starters, otherwise Jordan would not reuse Gibson so quickly.

May 18, G7 between Bobcats and Raptors.

There was no miracle. Under the leadership of Nash, the Raptors played at home. All seven players on the court scored in double figures and defeated the Bobcats 128-118 at home.

At the end of the game, Chen Xiao sighed and regretted. In 48 minutes, they scored 38 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. They tried their best.

Nelson's heart was bleeding as he looked at the sweaty Raptors players on the court.

“This is a series full of winners!

This is also a series without a winner! "

These were the words of Nelson after the game. They were very philosophical, but the reporters in the audience felt that they were right.

The Raptors won, the Bobcats earned respect, they were both winners.

The Bobcats lost the series, the Raptors were beaten to a pulp, and they were all losers...