The Way of the Center - Chapter 818
When Oladipo swayed Courtney Lee and used a step-back jumper to score two points. The first quarter of the Blazers and Oklahoma City team battle also officially ended.
An Jie stood up and made a high-five with the rest of the teammates. Ricardema grinned, not looking very happy. The score on the big screen on the scene has now become 25 to 20, with the away team in front and the home team behind.
The Trail Blazers, which are known to play in the first quarter, are rarely behind at home. In the past, the Blazers took the lead in the first quarter, and then the coaches of other teams sought a way to reverse the situation. But today, the situation is completely reversed. The leader became the visiting team, and the person who needed to find a way to reverse the situation during the inter-quarter break became Ricard.
Shabaz Napier is now burying his head deeply, knowing he has screwed everything up. If it weren’t for the incompetent master control, the team’s defense would not be a mess. When Westbrook broke through with ease, everyone on the Trail Blazers had to react.
And these chain reactions often allow Westbrook to find a gap.
“Okay Shabaz, don’t blame yourself. The team’s backwardness is not the fault of one person, we are all responsible.” While Napier was thinking about it, Anjie patted the small guard on the shoulder.
From the first game of the first round of the series, Anjie will always take the trouble to comfort Napier. Living in the shadow of Lillard, Napier is indeed not easy. He and Lillard are not at the same level, but fans often like to compare him and Lillard.
No way, who made this guy the only point guard in the Trail Blazers outside of Lillard? At the beginning of the season, Ricard had thought that George would be reimbursed for the season, Morris would be reimbursed for the season, and even Angel, Ricard had prepared his plans after the reimbursement of the season.
Only Lillard was the only one that Ricard had never thought of. Under such circumstances, Napier had to bite the bullet and push forward.
In the past, the Trail Blazers always had an experienced number one who will lead the team in the second team. But now, the Trail Blazers have only one relatively immature young point guard.
The pressure he was carrying was already great enough, and An Jie didn’t want this guy to be crushed before he even played. Therefore, always encouraging him and helping him solve difficulties is Anjie’s solution to this.
But Anjie himself knew that only encouragement was not enough. Now the Trail Blazers must come up with a substantive plan to break through the tight defense of the Thunder before it is possible to move back to the situation.
Napier certainly can’t continue to serve as the starting point for the offense, either Iguodala will control the ball, or Anjie will once again play a cameo. Thinking about it, An Jie couldn’t help but look up at Ricard. By coincidence, Ricard also looked at himself. It seems that this guy already has the answer in his heart.
“Ann, George, you two come in the middle.” Ricard beckoned and called Anjie and Paul George to the front of the two strongest scoring points.
“In the second quarter, I want you to have more interaction on the court like Anthony and Westbrook. Ann, you will continue to pass the ball later. But today, your task is not to revitalize the team, I just want you Is it possible to revitalize George?” Ricard knew that when facing the high-intensity defense of the Thunder, the star was the only choice to break the situation.
If you continue to let others waste opportunities, the Thunder will only play more smoothly. Rather than that, it would be better to let George and Anjie attack. Maybe the two of them can really make a hole?
“Only invigorate George?” Anjie frowned. He originally thought Ricard would tell him to drive the entire team.
“Yes, I only need George and you to score. Others, try to find a gap for me. If the ball hits you, you must also hold it for me!” Ricard glanced at the other people again, what he meant It is clear that although George and Anjie will be the main points of attack, this does not mean that others can stand and watch. When George or Anjie encounter double teams, the others will get their chance!
The red light on the backboard suddenly lit up, and the electronic buzzer in the arena also rang harshly. The break time is over, and the battle between the two sides is about to continue.
“Okay guys, we all heard what the boss said! Get your energy up, the battle has just begun! 1, 2, 3, Trailblazer!” An Jie stood in the middle, mobilizing everyone’s morale. After that, he turned and walked into the court.
Do you use your stars to break the opponent’s defense like a copper wall? This style of play is very unusual in the Trail Blazers.
The game restarted and the Thunder took the lead. At this moment, Anthony is resting on the bench, and the Thunder’s lineup on the court has become the same as last year.
Oladipo’s breakthrough layup was easily blocked by Morris. Without Anthony’s restraint, Morris can concentrate on defending the penalty area. His current counterpoint, Jeremy Grant, is a strong forward swingman. Although this guy is very defensive and can run and jump, his shots are too bad.
Morris didn’t care about him at all, so he directly guarded Oladipo who was visiting in the future and blocked the door.
After a successful defense this time, Anjie and George ran to the front court immediately. The time to verify that tactics are effective is here!
Anjie suddenly stopped outside the three-point line, and Donovan immediately directed Adams to press against Anjie. Even if it is outside the three-point line, it is better to have someone staring at Anjie at any time.
Adams did a great job, even though An Jie didn’t seem to be threatening now, but Adams was always close to An Jie. After An Jie was seen dead, he kept running, trying to find a gap. However, Adams’s perseverance in defense prevented An Jie from even running out of position.
Seeing Napier staring at himself at a loss, Anjie blinked his eyes slightly at the little guard.
Napier suddenly realized that he looked at An Jie’s direction and started to pass the ball!
“Idiot!” Adams cursed secretly in his heart. It seemed that the guard was so nervous that he lost his ability to think. If he posted Anjie so deadly, his ball would definitely not be passed over!
Adams was ready to steal the ball, and everyone turned their attention to Angel and Adams. However, the basketball flew in the opposite direction.
“Never watch people pass the ball! Napier’s real goal is Paul George! Good guy, Napier’s eyes made him play with the entire Thunder team!” Jeff Van Gundy cried out in surprise, he really didn’t know, this How did the guy who was so nervous that he couldn’t open his legs in the first quarter managed to control the ball calmly.
Only Napier knows that he has to thank Anjie for all this! Had it not been for Anjie’s trust and encouragement, Napier would now let alone pass the ball, he might even be shivering when he dribbled the ball across the three-point line.
After receiving the basketball, George suddenly accelerated and passed the Thunder substitute forward Andre Robertson in one step.
Adams has been sent outside by Angela, and Jeremy Grant is stuck behind him by Morris. In other words, what George is facing now is an empty basket!
Westbrook tried his best to chase it back, ready to make up for it with a chase. But George, who leaped high, did not give Westbrook any chance.
This superstar who followed in An Jie’s footsteps parachuted in the City of Rip, with a tomahawk-style split, tore through the Thunder’s defense like a copper wall and iron wall!
“Nice dunk!”
“Wow, I can’t believe what I just saw!”
“Perfect offense, this is the true strength of the Trail Blazers!”
For a time, all the commentators in the commentary area uttered surprised shouts. George lit his head rhythmically, enjoying the endless applause in the Moda Center.
Ricard waved his fist, and it seemed that his strategy was completely okay!
After switching to the Thunder’s offense, Westbrook, who was eager to score, did not continue to pass the ball this time, but rushed to the basket directly with the ball. In normal times, Westbrook can draw a foul even if he doesn’t score this goal.
But Anjie, this guy has blocked Westbrook since college. He knew Westbrook’s habits too well, and saw Anjie slap the basketball in Westbrook cleanly. After Oladipo picked up the basketball, he was stabbed by the aggressive Napier before he could hold it firmly. go!
“Oh my God, I don’t know what Ann said to Napier during the break. The only thing I know is that this kid will cause a lot of trouble to the Thunder now!”
Before Napier had time to get up after stealing, the Thunder’s defense quickly settled in. Ricard had to admire the Thunder’s defense speed, and almost instantly, they completed the transition from offense to defense.
But no matter how fast the Thunder return to defense, Ricard is no longer afraid. Now, the Trail Blazers are fully capable of opening the gap in a positional battle!
Napier’s continuous crotch dribble in front of Westbrook made everyone grow their mouths. It’s not how difficult Napier’s movements are, but people didn’t expect that this nervous guy would dare to play in Westbrook. Do actions in front of you.
When the number one is not restricted to death, George and Anjie can calmly move and wait for the pass.
Anjie took the ball-free pick and roll from Morris and walked outside the three-point line. Napier made an easy pass and delivered the basketball safely.
Adams, who had just squeezed out from Morris, immediately raised his upper arm to stick it up, but An Jie passed the ball again.
George received the pass from Anjie in the front of the basket. Before Robertson could relax, George threw the ball into the air.
Just now, Anjie took advantage of Adams’s chance to lean forward too far and suddenly cut to the basket. George’s throw, which is neither high nor low, just enough to allow An Jie, who cut in, to receive the basketball.
An Jie grasped the basketball firmly in the air, and he saw the expressions of everyone on the Thunder team caught off guard. This kind of moment is really enjoyable!
An Jie’s arm used force ~www.mtlnovel.com~ to slam the ball into the basket, and then, bang!
“Good cooperation! My goodness, after a season, I have never found that the connection between George and Ann will be such a tacit understanding!” Mike Brin hugged his head with his surprised hands. Throughout the offensive process, the Trail Blazers did not Any stop of the ball. Basketball is always moving, but the positions of the Trail Blazers have never been chaotic.
In the next round, An Jie, who entered the penalty area, assisted George and made a shot from beyond the three-point line. Not long before the start of the second quarter, the Thunder’s five-point advantage disappeared instantly. In the first quarter, the Blazers, who were weak offensively, managed to overtake!
Billy Donovan won’t wait until the team is six or seven points behind to react. He immediately called a timeout, hoping to change his strategy and destroy the strong momentum of the Trail Blazers.
At the end, Anjie and George put on each other’s shoulders and smiled. People have always missed the unmatched performance of the trio of Lillard, Aldridge and Anjie on the offensive end. But now, Anjie and George have used practical actions to tell everyone that the Blazers have entered a new era long ago!
Ricard happily patted the shoulders of his two leading scorers. He knew that these two guys could do much more than that…