The rest is just noise

The Knicks' game intensity returned to the level of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Under that kind of intensity, the Celtics only lasted until the fifth game before being defeated. Except for the tragedy maker, no one else on the Lakers was used to games of this intensity.

In the first quarter, 29 to 16, the Knicks led the Lakers by 13 points.

"Without the tragedy maker, the Lakers might not have scored more than 10 points in the first quarter."

Hubie Brown said exaggeratedly.

The crooked butt of Brown has the style of Tom Heinsohn back then, but he is not as serious a double standard as Heinsohn.

I say this because, except for the tragedy maker, the performance of the Lakers in the first quarter was simply a piece of shit.

Of the Lakers' 16 points in a single quarter, the Tragedy Master accounted for 12 points and the others 4 points.

No matter how powerful the tragedy maker was, he could only stop the Knicks' 11-0 momentum in beating the Lakers in the first 4 minutes. However, if his teammates did not provide help in the subsequent 8 minutes, the point difference was only widened by 2 points. It was him.

's limit.

"Except for Patrick, everyone else performed very well in the first quarter." Louis said with satisfaction.

McHale asked: "What happened to Patrick?"

"Oh, I don't want to say it, and he won't be happy if I do." It seemed like Louis would take care of other people's moods when he messed with them.

Ewing frowned coldly and ignored him.

Louis continued: "In my opinion, the Lakers can't break our pocket formation, so we have to stick to the current style of play. On the offensive end, except for Earvin Johnson, everyone else can let them shoot. As for our offense

On the other end, the Lakers will adopt a similar strategy to ours, but as long as our long-range shooting is not as outrageous as the first game, their plan will soon go bankrupt."

"So, the lineup for the second quarter is as follows..."

Louis asked Wilson, who took a 4-minute rest in the first quarter, to lead the second team, paired with Hornacek, Rodman, Reggie Williams, and Sam Bowie.

After they all left, Ewing asked glumly: "What happened to my performance?"

"Don't you care? Why are you asking now?" Louis smiled.

"Damn it! You're just avenging yourself!" Ewing knew his statistics clearly. "I scored 6 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in the first quarter. What do you think I didn't do well?"

Louis' chatting skills turned like the wind: "No, I remember your draft template was Russell, why did you get the blight? Wilt Chamberlain's greed for data is so evil, Patrick."

"You are changing the subject!"

"You are really unreasonable." The most unreasonable professional basketball coach said seriously, "The person who wrote down these data is not me, but you, so I hope you will give up your thoughts on the data and think more.

Thinking about how to help teammates in the game is Bill Russell's thinking mode. Guys who only think about data will have no future."

Ewing said angrily: "It's as if people who can't lose weight will be successful."

"Patrick Ewing, me!@#%@#%"

If Zhao Yuanzheng and the others hadn't stopped him, Louis could have continued the incident of spraying Ewing until the end of the first half.

Opposite them, the Lakers coaching staff saw this movement and suddenly felt something.

"Now I know why the Knicks guys can treat the game like dead warriors." Pat Riley watched Louis blasting Ewing, and Ewing didn't even dare to look at it, and he felt in his heart.

A glimmer of realization, "Because Little Lu has absolute control over this team, even if Ewing's performance is flawless, he will still be scolded by him. Look, he has been scolding Patrick for several minutes. I can't imagine it."

That young man is so strict."

Riley's chief assistant Bill Potka nodded: "Yes, Little Lu is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the world. He dares to face problems head-on, so he will criticize some of Ewing's mistakes during the game.

"

Lakers trainer Gary Vitti said in surprise: "The criticism is so intense, and it's not over yet."

"Did Patrick Ewing make any mistakes in the first quarter?" The tragedy expert frowned, "No, right? That guy is really overwhelming in the paint and it's hard to deal with him!"

It was not Louis's original intention to cause misunderstanding.

But since he's been misunderstood, let's just misunderstand him. He doesn't care anyway.

On the contrary, the Lakers' second team lacks a tragedy maker and is led by KJ and Pippen. Although there are two ball handlers, there is a clear quota of ball rights between them.

KJ and Pippen seemed to know exactly when to get the ball, so there was never any conflict over possession of the ball.

What if the tragedy maker is present? If he wants the ball, will anyone be able to fight for it?

This question is worth pondering.

Riley can't see that right now. He's blown away by the Knicks' performance, both off and on the court.

Louis was doing something he rarely does - spraying key players for 5 to 10 minutes.

It's not that he won't criticize the comedian if he doesn't perform well, but he won't find fault with the comedian. Ewing was criticized even though he played so perfectly, which shows how much prestige Louis has in the Knicks.

.

As for the field, it is purely a matter of the difference in physical strength between the two teams.

The Lakers mainly play an 8-man rotation. At this time, Tragedy and Derek McKay are off the court. With Pippen, KJ, and David Robinson on the court paired with Derek McKay and Divac, it can be considered a strong second team.

, but facing the Knicks’ second team, there seemed to be gaps everywhere.

When they attacked, the Knicks' second team strictly implemented the pocket formation required by Louis.

The Lakers' second team lacks a tragic player. The only reliable space point on the court is McKay, but his shooting rate is only 33%. This can be left out in the Knicks' strategy.

McKay was really left open, and the Knicks' pocket formation expanded from the paint area to the free throw line. Away from this position, the Lakers can shoot casually, but if they get close to or enter this position, they run the risk of getting dumped.

Fortunately, KJ's athletic talent was fully unleashed after he freely controlled the ball.

Hornacek, like Stockton, cannot guard against a flying beast like KJ.

It was easy for KJ to beat him, and Louis didn't ask anyone to switch defenses. He deliberately let KJ play as he pleased.

During this period, Zhao Yuanzheng suggested several times to let Wilson, Rodman or Williams switch defenses, but Louis did not adopt it.

"Strange..." Zhao Yuanzheng said to Tomjanovich in confusion, "It stands to reason that Coach Lu shouldn't be unable to see this (Hornacek can't be guarded). Honey is more suitable for defending average-speed secondaries.

No. 1 position or a No. 1 position with average explosive power."

Tomjanovich also couldn't see what Louis was thinking, but his trust in Louis was unlimited: "He must have his reasons for doing this. Just make suggestions and let him decide the rest."

"

Because KJ was too bright with the ball, the two-minute ball quota in the second quarter was broken.

Pippen took the initiative to give the ball to KJ and went to play without the ball.

KJ just outplayed Hornacek and went through all kinds of things. In five minutes, he scored 12 points and led the Lakers to catch up.

His last goal of the 12 points was a counterattack tomahawk dunk after stealing a pass from the Knicks, 34-41.

The 13-point gap was reduced to 7 points by his own efforts.

Only then did Louis act anxious and get angry and asked for a timeout.

"Kevin Johnson is undoubtedly the most underrated player of the Lakers. He has averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game so far in the playoffs. As a substitute, can you expect him to contribute more?" Dick Stockton

exclaimed.

Hubie Brown pointed out the important point: "Even in the Knicks, he can start, but in the Lakers, he cannot start, because there are two tall ball handlers in their starting lineup, one of whom is not good at long-distance shooting.

If he is allowed to start, difficult situations like the first quarter will happen frequently in the Lakers."

"I think Ervin should be back." Louis believed that Riley would regard KJ's wave of offense as their opportunity.

Since it is an opportunity to chase points, of course we have to exchange our trump card.

Louis picked up the tactical board and said: "If Erwin comes back, Dennis, you have to guard against him. Remember, no matter which direction he breaks through, as long as he breaks through, everyone must have the momentum to sleep with four women.

When he comes to these positions, I have to make sure that he has two to three people flanking him every time he attacks!"

"Is he worth it?" Ewing asked.

Louis was unhappy when he saw the gorilla: "You think it's worth it if someone is as rough as you!"

"What about KJ?" Zhao Yuanzheng was still confused, "Should we change defense?"

Louis looked at Hornacek: "Honey, if you can't stand it, I understand. We have many people who can help you."

A few seconds ago, Jeff Hornacek still had the "I don't know if I can handle it" expression on his face like the third brother in "Shaolin Soccer".

After Louis said those few words, Hornacek's face became more and more gloomy: "I can do it!"

"Really? Don't force it."

"real!"

"Seriously, if you can't guard against it..."

"Go to hell!" Hornacek shouted angrily, "I can guard against it!"

"Jeff, I think you're usually a very smart person, but why are you so vindictive like Patrick?" Louis finally said, "Don't force it."

"I never force it!"

Hornacek said to his teammates: "No one can help me defend!"

Wilson, Rodman, and Williams expressed admiration for his courage, but all of them turned to Louis with a firm look on their faces that said "he will definitely not be able to guard against him." They did not speak, but asked Louis for instructions with their faces and eyes.

:Do you want to help with defense?

"Why are you looking at me? Since Horry won't let you help defend, then you don't need to help defend, but trust your teammates!"

Zhao Yuanzheng really couldn't deal with this, "Lao Lu, Lao Lu, what are you planning on doing?" (Mandarin)

"You little bastard, I'm not even 30 years old yet, don't you call me old?" Louis glared dissatisfied.