I’m Really Playing Basketball

On May 19, before the start of G3 of the Western Conference Finals, the series between the Warriors and the Lakers had completely gone to the Lakers.

In this series between the Warriors and the Lakers, the Warriors were almost systematically suppressed by the Lakers.

As long as the Lakers use this defensive method to defend the Warriors, and then let Chen Xiao play singles in a tight defense, and choke other players' singles, as long as other people's singles cannot be opened, the Warriors will almost certainly lose.

In G2, Wade and Ron Howard both played 37 minutes. The two scored 44 points together and finally lost. It was almost a microcosm of this series between the Warriors and Lakers.

Facing the Lakers, one of the strongest defensive teams in the league and one of the fastest-rotating defensive teams, the Warriors are currently playing extremely embarrassingly.

Even playing against the Bucks wasn't so embarrassing.

To be honest, playing against the Bucks, because the Bucks center Green can shoot, Antetokounmpo can shoot, the Warriors actually have a way to play.

But the Lakers...

Jokic cannot be released, and Siakam cannot be released either. Leonard, Paul George, and Lowry all have very strong singles abilities.

For the Warriors, the Lakers may be the most difficult team for the Warriors to beat in the league.

Just like for the Lakers, the Jazz may be the most difficult team to beat. When the Lakers first formed the team last season, Kobe said he would rather play the Warriors than the Jazz.

And this is the dilemma the Warriors are in after losing their absolute dominance. The current Warriors really do not have the strength to suppress all opponents.

Therefore, it is precisely because of this that before G3 started, most experts and celebrities had already turned to the Lakers.

Although this is a team that has won four consecutive championships and its three leading players are all over 37 years old, it will not be a shame even if they lose in the Western Conference Finals.

But if you really lose four games in a row after winning one, to be honest, it would be a bit embarrassing for Chen Xiao, Wade and Ron Howard, the three top ten players in history.

Therefore, many experts are now curious and looking forward to how the Warriors team of Chen Xiao, Wade and Ron Howard will end this time.

The much-anticipated G3 between the Warriors and Lakers, just as many experts predicted, it will be difficult for the Warriors to beat the desperate situation in this game.

In fact, this is indeed the case. The Warriors lost 113 to 125 in this game. At the end of the game, at Staples, the Warriors lost by 12 points.

Chen Xiao made 15 of 25 in the game, 6 of 15 three-pointers, and 5 of 5 free throws. He scored 41 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists in the game, but he still failed to change the decline of the Warriors in this game.

Because apart from Chen Xiao, only Clay scored in double figures for the Warriors.

Clay's touch returned in this game. He made 9 of 17 shots in the game and 6 of 10 three-pointers. He scored 25 points.

Apart from Chen Xiao and Clay, Nongmei scored the most among other players. Nongmei made 4 of 12 shots in this game, scoring 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals. This data is very comprehensive. In addition to offense, other The defensive organization data can be said to be quite beautiful.

But obviously, in this game, when Wade and Ron Howard did not play much time due to fatigue, the Warriors need a third point that can stand up.

But whether it was thick eyebrows, Devin Booker, or Curry, Jaylen Brown failed to stand up.

More importantly, the Lakers' bench, which had not stepped up in the previous two games, stepped up in this game.

Kuzma and Nick Young scored 18 and 17 points respectively in this game.

Although three of the five Lakers starters scored in double figures in this game, Leonard scored 19 points on 6-of-13 shots, Jokic on 6-of-11 points and 17 points. In fact, the offense can only be said to be average, while Siakam 3 of 6, Paul George 4 of 6, these two people focused on defense and did not attack much in this game.

But Lowry made 6 of 11 in this game, 3 of 7 three-pointers, and 10 of 10 free throws. He scored 25 points in this game. It can be said that he defeated Devin Booker.

Lowry's performance in this series is really outstanding. He has speed, strength, three-pointers, confrontation, and breakthrough. He is almost omnipotent. Devin Booker is almost allowed to do whatever he wants.

It's just because the confrontation can't keep up that Lori, an old steel cannon who has become a monster, can do whatever he wants.

In G1, Devin Booker didn't dare to fight. If he took a step, Lowry would shoot three-pointers like crazy. He made 7 of 9 three-pointers in the game.

In G3, in this game, Devin Booker gritted his teeth and worked hard, but because the confrontation was really bad, his defensive actions were deformed. Lowry made 10 free throws and made 10 free throws.

In fact, Lowry made 4 of 7 in G2, 3 of 6 three-pointers, and scored 11 points. This is not because Devin Booker defended well, but because Lowry spent most of the game against Luo Ge, who was beaten by Luo Ge. He was taught a lesson by using his jammed Joe's magic trick of drawing fouls. He committed 6 fouls and left the game early.

To be honest, against a player like Lowry, Luo Ge is very useful.

Although Luo Ge can't stop Lowry's breakthrough now, he can block his shot and let Lowry behind him. Behind him are Chen Xiao, Thick Eyebrow and others to protect him. In fact, Lowry can't make a big wave, so facing Luo Ge's defense, even if the outside shot is not easy to shoot, Lowry did not dare to go too deep, but used the screen to take 7 shots and 6 of them were three-pointers.

Therefore, Luo Ge can indeed restrain Lowry.

However, Luo Ge has no system and no locked-in endurance. At the age of 37, it is indeed difficult for him to play more than 37 minutes in two consecutive games and still show a high level.

What's more, the problem between the Warriors and Lakers is not a problem between Luo Ge and Lowry.

This problem is all-encompassing.

That is, except for Chen Xiao, the singles ability of other players is one level worse than that of the opposing Lakers players.

After Kobe Bryant turned this series into singles, the Warriors, whose singles ability is not as strong as the Lakers, are still worse anyway.

Even if Chen Xiao performed magically in three consecutive games, he would still be powerless.

38 in one game, 26+23 in one game, and 41+16 in one game. To be honest, in these three games, Chen Xiao has achieved the ultimate in what he can do.

However, it still cannot affect the trend of the series and the situation of the game.

G3 lost, and they still lost so ungratefully, just when everyone thought the Warriors might really lose four games in a row.

In G4, the Warriors defeated the Lakers 125-115 on the road at Staples, tenaciously chasing the score to 2-2.

The reason why the Warriors won this game was not because of other reasons. In this game, Warriors head coach Cole took the initiative to change the lineup and replaced the starting lineup with Mitchell Robinson, Big Eyebrow, Chen Xiao, and Klay. and Ron Howard.

This change really disrupted the Lakers' rhythm. The Warriors led by 12 points 64 to 52 in the first half.

The main reason is that the Lakers did not adapt to the Warriors' changes in the first half. The combination of Mitchell and Big Eyebrow was extremely strong in protecting the frame, and Jokic and Siakam were greatly restricted.

Ron Howard, who came up against Lowry, also blocked Lowry's offense. Lowry made 4 of 13 shots and 2 of 9 three-pointers in the game, which was the worst game in the series.

There is really no way around this. The Warriors are so strong in protecting the rim inside, and they use Ron Howard to block him from three-pointers outside. Even though he knows that three-pointers are difficult to shoot, Lowry can only gamble on three-pointers, just like the Warriors in the previous two games. Same as the team players.

It can only be said that such a change of formation by the Warriors is not friendly to Jokic, Siakam and Lowry.

But they are quite friendly to Leonard and Paul George.

Because the Warriors' perimeter has changed to Chen Xiao, Clay and Luo Ge, the defensive movement speed is basically focused on the head and not the butt, and the middle is empty.

Leonard shot 15 of 24 in this game and 1 of 4 three-pointers. He scored 38 points just by using a one-step mid-range shot or a one-step mid-range shot around the screen.

Paul George, on the other hand, used a similar method, shooting 10 of 18 and scoring 24 points.

In this game, the two forwards Leonard and Paul George scored 62 points together.

In the third quarter, the two scored 27 points together, leading the Lakers to a score of 39-31 in a single quarter.

That is to say, the score difference in the first half was too big. Otherwise, if the Lakers find a way to change their formation against the Warriors in the third quarter, maybe the Lakers can come back in this game.

To be honest, Cole's change of formation was originally meant to muddy the waters. It was a bit of a paper tiger and could only frighten half the game. In the second half, it was not just Leonard and Paul George who stormed the Warriors' joint.

Jokic is also increasing his singles against Mitchell. Let's put it this way, no matter how strong Mitchell blocks shots, he is still a rookie. His defensive skills are not that outstanding and he is prone to fouls. He was cheated, and Jokic is one of the centers with the strongest singles ability in the entire league.

Therefore, after this game, the Warriors' danger is still not lifted.

But there is no doubt that this change of formation has made the gap between the Warriors and the Lakers not so big. It should be said that they have the strength to fight.

In G5, the Warriors lost to the Lakers 109-115 at home. In this game, Jokic made 6 of 17 and 3 of 11. The two shot very poorly.

However, the two men's attack and containment of Mitchell and Big Eyebrow created opportunities for the three Lakers outside players.

Lowry made 4 of 11, 2 of 8 three-pointers, 7 of 8 free throws, and 17 points.

Leonard made 11 of 25, 5 of 8 three-pointers, 8 of 9 free throws, and 35 points.

Paul George made 10 of 24, 8 of 13 three-pointers, 7 of 10 free throws, and 35 points.

In this game, Kobe and the Lakers coaching staff stepped up their attack on the Warriors' wings.

The inside doesn't care about the shooting percentage, suppressing Mitchell and Big Eyebrow, while the outside uses the advantages of speed and movement to crazily attack the Warriors' three outside lines.

In this game, Lowry, Paul George and Leonard were almost either impact or three-pointers.

Paul George is particularly obvious at this point. He made 10 of 24, 8 of 13 three-pointers, and 2 of 11 two-pointers. Paul George rushed the hardest in this game. Even if he kept hitting after the impact, he was still rushing.

The one with the best impact is Leonard. Leonard sent 9 assists in this game. Everyone knows that Leonard's passing is actually second-rate. He was able to score 9 assists in this game because After impact, he can brake, and after causing the Warriors to shrink, he can distribute the ball.

In this game, the Lakers made 18 three-pointers and made 31 free throws, and this was the Warriors' home court.

It can be said that in this game, Kobe and the Lakers thoroughly defeated the Warriors' new formation.

The Lakers didn't lose much in this game, but they had almost no chance in the game.

At this point, Cole has actually become very clear that this year's playoffs are over.

This series is already out of reach.

If the Warriors still have peak Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao's mobility will definitely not disjoint the Warriors' defense inside and outside.

But now Chen Xiao's mobility can no longer connect the inside and outside of the Warriors.

And this is also the difference between Chen Xiao now and Chen Xiao at his peak.

The current Chen Xiao and the peak Chen Xiao still have a very strong dominance in the NBA, but now Chen Xiao, really, can no longer play five positions. Wherever the Warriors are short of players, they can play No. 1 in the league. level.

Without such Chen Xiao, the Warriors' ability to change is greatly reduced and becomes easier to deal with.

In G6, the game returned to Staples. Although the Warriors were forced into a desperate situation, they still did not give up. Even in the first quarter, the Warriors took the lead in the away game and played a surprising performance of 31 to 18, leading by 13 points in a single quarter. But like this The biggest surprise is that Wade and Luo Ge were once again pulled into the starting lineup, and Chen Xiao returned to the center position again.

When the Warriors became familiar to the Lakers, the Lakers still defeated the Warriors 110-106 in the end.

In the end, the Lakers defeated the Warriors 4-2 at home and entered the finals.

After the game, Kobe was so excited that he cried, just like Kobe applauded him back then. Although they lost in the Western Conference Finals, Chen Xiao and the Warriors stayed to applaud Kobe and the Lakers.

For a professional player, being able to win and lose is the most basic quality. Real professional quality can only be reflected when you lose.

Whether it is Kobe or Chen Xiao, they are both people with this quality.

Therefore, although they lost the series, the Lakers fans at the scene still gave Chen Xiao and the Warriors players applause, especially Chen Xiao.

In this series, Chen Xiao averaged 36 points, 18 rebounds, 3.5 blocks per game, and a 55% shooting percentage. This performance really shocked a lot of people.

With such great intensity, is this the kind of data a 37-year-old player can produce?

The best performer on the Lakers side is definitely Leonard. Leonard averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in this series. He shot 45% from the field and 35% from the three-point field. The last round was a cliff-like decline.

However, in this series, the shooting percentages of the players on both teams were not high. Except for Chen Xiao, the shooting percentages of the main players did not exceed 50%.

The Lakers shot 41% in this series, while the Warriors shot 42%.

With Chen Xiao shooting so high, the Warriors' shooting percentage was only 1% higher. Their three-point shooting percentage of 31% was 5% lower than the Lakers' 36%. This is the key.

Although Chen Xiao stands out among the two teams.

But under Chen Xiao, the strongest singles players in this series are almost all Lakers players. This is the key to this series.

"This series shows that the Warriors, a system in which all players have offensive capabilities, already belongs to the Lakers."

Yes, in this system, whoever is stronger belongs to whom.

The Lakers are better than the Warriors now.

Therefore, Cole needs to continue to find a new tactical system for the Warriors.

On the other side, the Bucks also eliminated the Cavaliers 4-2 and entered the finals.

Lakers vs. Bucks.

For the second time in the past 17 years, the NBA Finals is without Chen Xiao, Wade and Ron Howard.

"Is the Mitaka era finally over?!"

When all the trembling people ruled by Marquette's Three Eagles wanted to be happy, they suddenly discovered that Durant and Curry of the Bucks...

“They seem to be the second generation of Marquette Three Eagles!”

Good guy, the old Marquette Three Eagles are gone, but now the NBA has ushered in a new Marquette Three Eagles!

This whole Marquette-Mitaka thing is over.

The NBA is trembling once again.

It's just obvious that none of this matters to Curry, Durant or the Lakers' Leonard, Jokic and Paul George.

What matters is the championship!

In the past 17 years, the second championship does not belong to Chen Xiao, Wade and Ron Howard!