The rest is just noise

Game 2 has basically become Jordan’s showtime.

What's surprising is not that he dominated the game, but the way he dominated the game.

Three points, three points, still three points.

Jordan suddenly became a shooter, and he was the kind of terrifying marksman who could score three-pointers in a row.

Louis was surprised by how quickly his shooting skills improved.

In the last half of the second quarter, his three-pointer was unstoppable.

Whether it's the bottom corner, a 45-degree angle on the right wing, or the top of the key, as long as the ball comes to his hand, he basically throws it.

Whenever the Knicks give him an opening, he will take action decisively.

When he hit his fifth three-pointer in a single quarter, he raised his eyebrows and challenged Wilson: "The era of you showing off your power with one-handed shooting is over!"

Is Wilson indifferent?

Of course he will not remain indifferent. In fact, he has always wanted to respond to Jordan.

This is what Louis can't understand.

In a sense, Wilson and Jordan's roles have been reversed.

Jordan has become like Wilson in last year's Finals, and Wilson is like Jordan before this year.

He became egotistical, alienated his teammates, and was eager to use his personal ability to take over the game.

Judging from the data, Wilson is not responsible for the Knicks' collapse.

At halftime, Wilson scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

However, Jordan, who was on the opposite side, used less possession of the ball and a more efficient and concise style of play, scoring 38 points in the half.

Every one of his three-pointers is frustrating.

The most frustrating scene for New Yorkers occurred at the buzzer of the first half.

Jordan received the ball from the outside and Wilson rushed to defend him. In just 1.7 seconds, Jordan dared to make a fake move to pass him, then quickly shot a three-pointer, and took a lightning shot before the last 0.1 seconds.

The lights came on, the ball went in, and Jordan shot 8 three-pointers in the half.

"Jordan took seven three-pointers in the second quarter, and all of them hit! His hot touch on the outside reminded me of Benj last year!"

"Now, three-pointers are no longer MJ's weakness, and it will become more difficult for the Knicks to defend."

After hitting this three-pointer, Jordan also broke the record for three-pointers made in the first half of the Finals set by Benjamin Wilson last year (5 goals). It is worth mentioning that last year Wilson made it in the last half of the second half of the tiebreaker.

A record was set, and Jordan made eight of eight three-pointers in the second quarter like a miracle. Moreover, this was not only a half-time record, but also a single-quarter record in the Finals.

Even for shooters in the small ball era, it is extremely difficult to challenge seven three-pointers in a single quarter in the finals.

This state of never missing a shot made Jordan couldn't help but turn sideways, shake his shoulders, and spread his hands, with an expression like "I don't know why I can't miss a shot."

Wilson looked serious.

He takes more shots and scores less.

The Trail Blazers led the Knicks by 16 points at halftime.

It looked like they were going to be taken away in a wave.

"That's where Portland's strength lies. Their best players are willing to lower their profile to serve the team." Louis said sincerely, "They have really grown a lot."

"But New York won't bow down here."

Even though he was 16 points behind, there was still light in Louis' eyes.

"This is msg, our home court!"

On his way back to the locker room, Louis met the autistic Wilson.

There was pain and loss on his face because he knew that his playing style affected the team's rhythm.

Obviously he got more shots, but he wasn't as calm as before.

Instead, Jordan stepped into his own role.

This is one of the many counterintuitive things about basketball—people who take more shots don't necessarily score more points.

"Coach, what do I do?" Wilson asked.

If Louis shows him the way now, the Benj from the past might come back.

He will still be the most reliable player, everyone relies on and believes in him.

Of course Louis is willing to embrace Benj, whom everyone loves. If he had never seen Benj's true face, if he didn't know that Benj was suffering for this, he would accept it.

The Knicks dynasty is in tatters, and they're either going to die from scratch or find a path to redemption that can reconnect the franchise.

"Over the years, I have always told you what to do." Louis walked to the door of the locker room, "Benj, you should find your own way, and I believe you will find it. No matter where this road leads, you

Just need to move forward."

Louis pushed open the door of the locker room and asked loudly: "Are you ready to fight back?"

"ctmd!" Miller responded loudly, "I've been wanting to do something for a long time!"

"Then give me a hard fucking!"

In the second half, Louis started with Mohammed Rauf, Miller, Wilson, Stevens and Ewing.

In this lineup, Stevens plays the fourth position.

But he basically doesn't do the job of the fourth position, and all the fighting inside depends on Ewing alone.

Stevens' strategic value is to allow the Knicks to have a stable three-point threat on the offensive end - his corner three-point shooting rate has been stable at 38% this season - and can make unlimited changes on the defensive end.

Riley's infinite defense strategy is a Pandora's box in Louis' eyes.

Once it is opened, the nature of the game changes.

The 2018 Western Conference Finals is a symbol of the annihilation of tactics in the small ball era and its return to the original.

Against the Warriors' heavily armed Rockets, the same five small lineups were used to play unlimited switching defenses and destroy the Warriors' passing and cutting. All strategic points of both sides were destroyed and strangled. It eventually evolved into a one-on-one duel between one star and a pick-and-roll roll call. Before Paul fell.

, the Rockets are the dominant side.

In theory, this is similar to how the Knicks defeated the Celtics in 1988.

Any sport that is played to the extreme has a back-to-nature aspect.

The Knicks brought the Celtics back to the original basketball rhythm of "no blood, no foul", while the Rockets brought the Warriors to an isolated island with no ammunition and food. The two sides only relied on their personal abilities to attack each other. Compared to the Warriors, the Rockets lacked

They had some luck, and now Louis wanted to know what their luck was.

Is it self-destructive to play with the Trail Blazers, who have two unsolvable players, with unlimited defense changes and the star's personal ability to exploit defensive weaknesses?

The answer did not disappoint Louis.

On the defensive end, there are unlimited changes of defense, forcing the Blazers to change their game rhythm and allowing the stars to engage in more one-on-one duels.

This is the way they like to attack.

The personal ability of the stars is their advantage. If the Knicks suddenly come here, of course they will take it all.

But when it comes to the defensive end, the Blazers have a bigger problem.

The Knicks' 1-4out lineup can easily name one of Sabonis, Thomas, or Barkley through the pick-and-roll.

Sabonis occupies the penalty area and cannot come out, so Ewing or others take the ball and shoot.

It doesn't matter whether Barkley comes out or not. How strong Barkley is on the offensive end, he will stretch his hips on the defensive end.

The Knicks took advantage of his vulnerability and played as they pleased.

Thomas is the type who looks amazing on defense, but has average results.

Miller, who claims to "vote for something", has no time for big talk.

In the second half, it was he who responded with five three-pointers that sounded the clarion call for the Knicks' counterattack.

Riley never thought that Louis would suddenly use their infinite defense, let alone that infinite defense could have this kind of gameplay.

Forcing the Blazers' five-star formation to use their individual abilities for a one-on-one challenge may seem like seeking death, but it is actually an effective solution to break the game.

Because in the first half, the Trail Blazers played well with the selfless cooperation between the stars. Just when they were about to continue the momentum and expand their lead, suddenly, the Knicks used defense to tell them: Don't think about cooperation, you have the ability.

You use your personal ability to kill me.

A 16-point lead turned into 7 points in one quarter.

The Trail Blazers' lead was in jeopardy. In the fourth quarter, Thomas and Jordan stepped up.

First, Thomas scored 7 points, bringing the Trail Blazers' advantage back to double digits.

Then, Ewing dominated the penalty area, and Wilson's mid-range shot was extremely accurate.

This also aroused Jordan's sense of crisis.

Jordan, who scored 38 points at halftime, only scored 4 points in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he scored 10 points in a row when the Trail Blazers were most dangerous, and helped the team win the series with a great performance of 52 points.

’s first victory.

119 to 108

This was the final score, and Jordan perfectly balanced the trade-off between individual and team.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jordan tonight is the most powerful perimeter player Louis has ever seen.

Wilson's performance was good. Whether it was his personal offense in the first half or his integration into the team in the second half, he helped the team at critical moments.

If the comparison object is not Jordan, his performance should be regarded as the best in the game.

Putting aside Jordan's 52 points, Wilson had 38 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists tonight.

"MJ is always MJ, he helped the Blazers win a game."

"However, if the Trail Blazers want to defeat the Knicks, others also need to work hard." Hubie Brown said objectively, "Last year's Finals has proved that if you want to defeat the Knicks, you can only rely on the power of one or two superstars.

It's not enough, the Blazers have to become a better whole."

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