I’m Really Playing Basketball

On May 22, 2016, the conference finals between the Warriors and Clippers started on time at the Oracle Center.

This is the fourth consecutive season that the Warriors and Clippers have met in the NBA playoffs. The previous three times were in the Western Conference semifinals, and this time, it is the Western Conference finals.

It can only be said that the Warriors and Clippers have really transformed from two weaklings into a bunch of old enemies in recent years.

Now if you go to Los Angeles and ask Clippers fans who their least favorite team is, it will definitely be the Warriors.

However, in the past few seasons, there was indeed a gap between the Clippers and the Warriors, which made it difficult for Clippers fans to have unrealistic ideas about the Warriors.

But things are different now. The Clippers just defeated the Spurs, and they defeated the Spurs, one of the top two players in the Western Conference, by a very large advantage. This gave the Clippers players and fans huge confidence.

Therefore, before the start of this series, many Clippers fans expected the Clippers to give the Warriors some eye candy, so that the Warriors would be kicked out by the Clippers like the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.

In fact, before the Western Conference Finals started, many people had this idea, and even many experts felt that the Clippers could be expected.

The Clippers played really well in the playoffs this season.

Both internally and externally, both offense and defense are excellent. More importantly, the entire team seems to be very well-coordinated and highly motivated.

It can only be said that the chicken soup brought by the Clippers' new head coach Doc Reeves has indeed made the Clippers different from before, becoming stronger and fuller.

There is strength, morale, and mental outlook.

Such a team is actually difficult to deal with.

And this is why even though Rivers has been controversial since leaving the Magic, he has always had many suitors.

Let’s not talk about the strength of the coach. In the NBA, as long as you can understand the chicken soup, then you are an excellent head coach.

For many teams and players in the NBA, they don't actually need you to teach them how to play basketball.

What they need is you to teach them how to defeat their opponents and win the game.

And Rivers is undoubtedly such a head coach.

Before the game started, although the fans of the Warriors and Clippers were rivals, the players on both sides were still very friendly.

There is no way, four of the Clippers' five starting players are Chen Xiao's former younger brothers and teammates.

The starting players for the Clippers in this game are Tyson Chandler, Stoudemire, Granger, Finson, and Cannon.

Except for Fensen, the other four have deep relationships with Chen Xiao.

In addition, the Clippers also have Jamal Crawford, Chen Xiao’s younger brother in the Cavaliers, sitting on the bench.

It can only be said that Chen Xiao has been in the NBA for so many years and can really be described as a disciple and former official all over the world.

Otherwise, many people now say that Chen Xiao is the real king of the NBA.

In the NBA, or in the American basketball world, Chen Xiao is really a super big brother-level figure.

In the center of the court, after the players of the Clippers and Warriors had a friendly exchange before the game, the starting players of the two teams also stood on the court, ready to start the game.

Clippers center Tyson Chandler beat Warriors starting center Jokic on a jump ball, giving the Clippers the first possession of the game.

Facing the Clippers, their old rival, the Warriors did not look down upon them, nor were they too afraid of them just because they defeated the Spurs.

In fact, the Warriors and Spurs are completely different teams now. The Clippers restrain the Spurs in every point.

But that's not the case against the Warriors.

For example, it was quite uncomfortable for the small cannon who was dribbling the ball at this time to face Bill's pressing.

Bill is different from Parker. Not only is he taller, he is also more aggressive.

Although Xiaopao's ball control is now invincible, it is really uncomfortable to encounter a young man like Bill who does not hesitate to defend with physical strength.

It is impossible for Parker to put such pressure on Xiaopao on the defensive end.

There is also Stoudemire against someone with thick eyebrows. Although the power of thick eyebrows is not that strong, Stoudemire doesn’t have that strong back-up ability either.

It's really not that easy to pluck thick eyebrows.

Tyson Chandler's defense is indeed very good, but at Tyson Chandler's age, it is impossible for his defense to defend beyond the three-point line, and the Warriors' offense is mainly outside the three-point line or outside. attack.

As for the individual defense at the second and third positions.

Finson versus Clay, Finson is brave, but Clay doesn't play with him at all.

And Granger versus Chen Xiao...

Well, Chen Xiao's current speed and explosiveness have indeed dropped compared to their peak, but Chen Xiao's strength and shooting ability are definitely stronger than Leonard's.

Granger's defensive effect against Leonard was very good, but against Chen Xiao, the effect is hard to say.

So, for the Clippers, who have been highly praised for their recent victory over the Spurs, the Warriors are really not scared.

Although it's bad to say this, the Warriors do not regard the Clippers as their opponents.

Of course, as a team that can surpass the Spurs and reach the Western Conference Finals, the Clippers are certainly not weak.

In the first attack of the game, Xiaopao and Stoudemire set up a pick-and-roll, and scored two points for the Clippers through Stoudemire's mid-range shot.

The Clippers are not idiots. Obviously, from their first attack, they were attacking in a completely different way from the Spurs.

Against the Spurs, the Clippers actually didn't use Paul and Stoudemire's pick-and-roll too much.

What's more, it's actually the use of small guns and Chandler's pick-and-roll.

He kept pulling Al Jefferson out to be trained by the small artillery.

Against the Warriors, Xiaopao didn't have that much confidence in training Jokic.

Although Jokic is not as famous as Al Jefferson, he is younger, taller, faster, and better defensively.

And the Warriors' help defense is stronger.

Therefore, despite the fact that the Clippers played very well against the Spurs, when they met the Warriors, they still played the same way they did before.

Because only that style of play is the most useful.

So the question is, will the Warriors be afraid of the Clippers' style of play?

Of course I'm not afraid.

Although the Warriors couldn't guard against the pick-and-roll of Xiao Pao and Stoudemire.

But, you can’t fight against each other!

Looking back, Jokic held the ball in the high post. Bill and Clay were running on both sides. Chen Xiao lightly blocked Clay on the left, and Clay reached outside the three-point line to receive Jokic's pass. The ball came up and down, almost unguarded, and he hit a three-pointer!

3 to 2!

When the Warriors attack, they use Chen Xiao to cover their teammates. This is a new style of play developed by Cole.

It is also a very heart-wrenching way to play.

Because Chen Xiao's offensive threat is too great, when Chen Xiao is blocking a small player like Finson who is chasing Clay, Granger, who should logically switch to defense and assist defense, is not at ease at all. Chen Xiao handed it to Fensen.

Chen Xiao is the king of middle distance!

With Fensen's height, it would be a waste to let him face Chen Xiao one-on-one here.

Therefore, after Chen Xiao blocked Finsen like this for Clay, Granger, no matter how experienced he was, would still hesitate and lag slightly.

And this is Clay's chance.

It can only be said that it is too foul for the Warriors to use Chen Xiao to cover for their teammates.

As the first player in the history of the league and the first active player, Chen Xiao is actually willing to cover and support his teammates in this way. This is also incredible and respectable.

You know, even though the Warriors just hit a three-pointer and scored three points, the data assigned to Chen Xiao was none.

In the Warriors' offense just now, it was Jokic who assisted and Klay who scored. From a statistical point of view, this offense has nothing to do with Chen Xiao.

But everyone knows, even Rivers, the Clippers head coach on the sidelines, knows that the most critical thing about this offense is Chen Xiao's careful cover for Clay to block Finson.

Otherwise, Clay would definitely not have such a good opportunity.

Therefore, after the Warriors' attack, Rivers felt very uncomfortable on the sidelines.

This Chen Xiao is completely different from the Chen Xiao who once made him tremble, but this Chen Xiao also scares him.

For such a great player to be willing to do such a job on the court, this is a greater sacrifice than Jordan's without the ball.

Moreover, Chen Xiao's sacrifice for this Warriors team was not only on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end.

In the next Clippers offense, after Stoudemire and Xiaopao picked and rolled, Bill switched defense very timely. Stoudemire had no chance to misplace the shot. However, offensive players like Stoudemire quickly found another opportunity, that is, a smooth shot. Immediately after the attack, he leaned against Nongmei with his back, preparing to use his strength to hit Nongmei with his back.

Although Stoudemire is not that good at backing up, he is still confident about thick eyebrows after so many years of study and experience.

But before Stoudemire could sit down, he discovered that the defender behind him had changed from thick eyebrows to Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao and Nongmei changed places, Nongmei was in front of Granger, and Chen Xiao was in front of Stoudemire.

And it's not just this round. After this game, it was Stoudemire and Chen Xiao who came to defend.

Stoudemire averaged 28 points per game against the Spurs in the last round, and can be said to be the Clippers' number one offensive point.

It is also the most difficult point to defend, and Chen Xiao took the initiative to take over Stoudemire's point in his own hands.

Facing Chen Xiao, to be honest, Xiaosi is still a little timid.

After all, who in the entire league recognizes Chen Xiao's strength the most is actually not his opponents, but his teammates.

Even the mentally retarded Bynum has great respect for Chen Xiao's strength. Bynum never thought that he could be Chen Xiao's boss. He only caused trouble to be Chen Xiao's second child.

Others only knew that Chen Xiao played against a team in the pre-game warm-up last season. For Stoudemire and his teammates, they had already experienced Chen Xiao playing against a team.

When training with the Bobcats, he was one-on-one with Chen Xiao. Stoudemire remembered that he was either directly intercepted or blocked, and there was almost no chance of scoring. At least he did not remember that when he was training with the Bobcats, he had a pair of 1 chance to defeat Chen Xiao.

In this context, Stoudemire did not dare to attack Chen Xiao, but the Clippers had already opened up their tactics. It would be impossible for him not to attack. After all, he is taller than Chen Xiao. Such a one-on-one low post is actually an opportunity.

But in the end...

Stoudemire chose the most difficult turn-over jump shot, without even facing back against Chen Xiao.

Stoudemire's offense is indeed too weak.

But I really don’t blame him, because he feels that if he dribbles with his back two more times, Chen Xiao will probably intercept the ball. He has too much experience in this kind of experience.

For Stoudemire, such a golden rooster stand-up jump shot will definitely miss with a high probability. Although he is good with his back now, he is not that strong.

So, with a bang, after Jokic grabbed the backboard, he quickly launched a counterattack. At this time, Bill, Clay, Nongmei and Chen Xiao had already shot out like four flying swords.

To be honest, Bill, Clay, Nong Mei and Chen Xiao are not absolutely explosive players.

But the fast attack of four people is still quite terrifying.

Because for the Clippers, these four people can pass and shoot, and they are also tall and have good catching ability.

When they start running, even if you can keep up, you can't stop them from transmitting and cooperating with each other. The Clippers have no chance to get into position.

So when the Clippers players were frantically returning to defense, Clay received a pass from Chen Xiao who rushed into the penalty area, made a simple three-pointer from outside the three-point line, and hit again!

6 to 2!

The Warriors' fast break was not that fast, but it was as ferocious as waves and ocean waves, which made Clippers coach Rivers despair on the sidelines.

When he led the Magic, as one of the head coaches who had played against Chen Xiao the most, Rivers really had expectations for this game and this series.

He also thinks this Clippers is very good. Although it is not as good as the Magic team, if the Warriors' three-point shooting is not good or there are some other reasons, the Clippers will have a chance.

But from now on, the Clippers' chances seem to be quite slim...

Just like the Clippers restrained the Spurs, this Warriors restrained the Clippers too much!

Take the G1 game as an example. After Stoudemire took a 2-point lead in the opening game, the Clippers never led the Warriors again throughout the game.

In the end, in this away game, the Clippers lost to the Warriors 100-115.

And it’s not just this one game that’s cool.

In G2, the Warriors defeated the Clippers 118-104.

G3, back at the Clippers' home court, the Warriors defeated the Clippers 126-113.

In G4, the Warriors were unstoppable, 108 to 94, easily defeating the Clippers.

In four games, the Clippers led by one round, the round in G1.

In the four games, the Clippers seemed to lose by a dozen points in each game, but anyone who watched the game knew that the Clippers' actual gap was much larger than the score.

Such a huge gap makes it hard to imagine that the Clippers are a team that just defeated the Spurs in the conference semifinals.

Even fans of the Bucks and Bobcats, who were playing in the Eastern Conference finals next door, looked confused as they watched the Warriors and Clippers chopping up melons and vegetables.

After all, they had just finished G3, but the Warriors had already swept the Clippers!

In this season's playoffs, the strength displayed by the Warriors is indeed terrifying.

The Warriors this season can simply be described as overwhelming!

The Warriors, who were the first to enter the finals, are indeed unstoppable!