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After the warm-up, players from both sides stand on the field, and the game is about to start.

Lance looked at the information and wondered, "Today the Knicks adjusted their starting lineup and added an inexperienced fringe player. Neither Oakley nor Mills are on the injured list?"

Arnold said: "The Hornets also have a non-draft rookie who entered the NBA, let's see how it works."

Five Knicks: Charlie Ward, Houston, Bowen, Johnson, Ewing.

Hornets Five: David Wesley, Glenn Rice, Tony Farmar, Anthony Mason Jr., Verratti Divac.

It just so happens that the rookies on both sides are small forwards.

Farmar entered the NBA as a non-draft. He is 206cm tall and weighs 111kg. He is tall and strong, and he is 27 years old. He played in the European League for several years before, good at defense and low attack.

The Hornets want to replicate the Knicks' formation of three sluggers in the frontcourt, better protect rebounds, and defend the striker combination of Knicks Johnson and Oakley in a targeted manner. Now, Hornets coach Dave Cowens is a bit confused.

What's happening here? Who is Bowen?

The Knicks didn't play their cards according to common sense?

Van Gundy left a rigid impression on many people, always starting with that set, as long as no one is injured, he will not adjust for a season.

The Knicks are markedly different this season. Ward was a substitute last season and replaced Childs today. He can organize and wait for three-point opportunities from the outside to shoot, which is more stable than Childs. This is how Kidd will be used when the Mavericks win the championship in the future, without occupying the ball.

On the sidelines, Van Gundy was expressionless, and whispered to Yang Rui: "Can you have a sitter? Don't cross your legs, you are not a fan."

"Jeff, the opponent is just a wasp. Don't frown deliberately, as if you care about the opponent?" Yang Rui crossed his legs and crossed his arms, as if he was at home.

Van Gundy snorted: "This is a game, you better be serious, otherwise once you lose, the media will definitely not say anything good."

"No? You think we will lose to the Hornets?"

"..."

"There will be a wonderful goal in a while, do you stand up and celebrate?" Yang Rui asked.

"What do you want to do?"

"Make sure the safe distance, I even have a towel ready, I'm afraid I'll get too close and throw you." Yang Rui took out a towel and lit it up.

Isn't throwing the towel something fringe players do? ! Van Gundy suddenly felt that there was an insurmountable age gap with Yang Rui.

Yang Rui didn't think there was any shame in this, could it be that he had to hold back when he was happy? He can do whatever he wants. In his previous life, he never had the chance to watch the NBA live, but now he is excited.

Ewing beat Divac with a jump ball. "Ghost Hand" is a famous floor center.

Ward caught the ball and led it across the half court, covering his back and waiting for the players to pull away. Ewing covered Houston without the ball on the left side according to the arrangement. Johnson ran to the middle and made a pick-and-roll for Ward.

The two screens were played almost simultaneously, Mason switched on Ward, Ward took a step pass to the side, Houston got rid of Rice, caught the ball and made a three-pointer.

Divac stood near the penalty area, two steps away to watch the excitement, did not change defenses, and the ball went into the net hollow. 3 to 0.

This tactic has been tried and tested. In fact, it is a set that Divac is good at in the Kings in the future. He will cover Bibby, Bobby Jackson and others on the outside to help his teammates catch the ball. Yang Rui has experimented with the Knicks in advance.

To prevent off-ball screen runs from the side, a slow center will not work, and Divac can never get up fast.

The Hornets attacked, and the Knicks used their "pseudo-zone defense" that they are good at. This is Van Gundy's tactic, and Yang Rui has benefited a lot.

Yang Rui's defensive tactics are mainly man-to-man, and the strategy of quickly switching defenses after encountering a pick-and-roll. As long as the opponent is good at supporting the pass in such a tactic, there will inevitably be gaps.

Unlike the Hornets, most teams lack support inside. Divac and Mason are both excellent support insiders.

In Van Gundy's defensive tactics, the center is near the penalty area, protecting the frame at any time, doing rotations on the outside, and when necessary, let people who are not good at shooting shoot mid-range and long-range shots.

Divac pulled out, and Ewing stepped two steps away, looking at each other. On the surface, it looks like man-to-man, but in reality, this distance can't stare at anyone. After passing a few times, Divac was about to make a mid-range shot, and Houston let go of Farmar from the side and rushed to interfere.

Divac's vision expanded and he accurately passed the ball to the open space. Farmar caught the ball from the baseline and didn't shoot when no one was defending. He dribbled the ball and rushed to the basket. Farmar failed to make a layup and had to pass the ball again.

The NBA clearly stipulates that zone defense is not allowed. In fact, many tactics are not man-to-man, and no one has ever been blown by the referee. If this is a violation of the law, this league should not be called the NBA, and it is more appropriate to call it a heads-up game. When Jordan played for the Pistons, he was often accompanied by two people without the ball.

With 24 seconds to go, Rice's jumper missed the basket under Bowen's interference, and Johnson grabbed the backcourt rebound.

Ward took the ball to the frontcourt, and Ewing on the left helped Houston get rid of it.

Mason switched to the pick-and-roll and Houston took a step pass to Johnson, who ran to the right 70 degrees. He stepped inside the three-point line and made a mid-range shot.

Divac came out and stretched out his hand, slightly interfered, and the ball scored. 5 to 0.

Van Gundy understood that Yang Rui was right again. It is because Oakley does not play that the team can have this dislocation single-handed advantage. Divac struggled to defend against Johnson or Houston, and his speed was too slow.

Wesley took the ball to the frontcourt and played a pick-and-roll with Divac. Johnson switched defenses much faster. As long as he didn't encounter a super guard with a particularly sharp breakthrough, he would not be easily passed.

The ball passed to the middle, Divac faced Ward and used his height advantage to hit the iron with a jumper. Ewing protected the rebound in the backcourt, and then fell to the ground.

With a side screen, Ward passed to Houston. The latter attracted Mason to switch defenses and did not pass to Johnson. He took two steps and waited for Ewing to make an air cut, and gave it to the low post.

Rice is 201 cm tall, and he was at a disadvantage in defending Ewing in the low post. The other three Knicks all pulled out the outside line. Divac retreated to make up the defense.

Rice let go of Ewing in the low post on the left to chase and defend too far away, so he had to hand it over to his teammates. How could Mason, who is the closest, dare to let Houston go?

Johnson glanced at it, made a three-pointer, and hit it again! 8 to 0.

The commentator Arnold said depressingly: "The Hornets' defense was too slack at the beginning, so they can't play like this. The Knicks' two three-pointers are good shots."

Lance said: "The Knicks were uncharacteristically today. Van Gundy used Ewing as a blue-collar player, and they started the game with perimeter players shooting. The Hornets are in a bad situation. The rookie Farmar can't shoot. I don't understand why he should start."

With that said, Farmar was emptied again. He tried a mid-range shot on the right side, but no one was defending or missed the basket. Ewing caught Divac and got the rebound.

With excellent defense and sharp offense, the Knicks clearly have the upper hand.

P.S.