358. Opportunity

Here it comes! Jeff Bzdelik’s anticipatory defensive preparation!

The fans at the scene were cheering for Liu Xiu to score 6 points in a row, but Liu Xiu felt that the credit should go to the defensive assistant coach.

Compared to the last time they played against each other, Bzdelik was better prepared this time.

Bzdelik has a very good ability - after fighting once, he can always prepare better before the next fight.

Like tonight, Bzdelik predicted the opponent's offensive changes in the first two rounds!

It's a pity that the opponent's coach didn't do anything for nothing and called a timeout in time.

The Trail Blazers coaching staff also regretted that although the opposite coach was young and had just turned 40 and lacked experience, his on-the-spot reaction was very good and he was very decisive in calling a timeout.

The next defense will have to rely more on the players' independent adjustments and the coaching staff's on-the-spot response. The coach chose to make adjustments on the offensive end during this timeout.

…

After the timeout, neither team made any substitutions. Although the score difference was as high as 6 points, they only played for more than 1 minute.

The game continues, the Sonics attack and serve from the center line.

When Ridnour received the ball, he was stuck by Liu Xiu. Faced with Liu Xiu's rough defense, Ridnour ignored the issue of face and stood sideways with his butt stuck out to separate the space. He skillfully controlled the ball to protect it and waited for an opportunity to break through.

Liu Xiu used rough confrontation as a pretense to reach out for the ball and was seen through, so he immediately returned to the normal defensive distance.

Ridnour was hit a few times. Compared with the match two weeks ago, he could feel Liu Xiu's improvement on the defensive end!

It's simply unreasonable.

Ridnour carefully controlled the ball and reached outside the three-point line. Nick Collison took the initiative to move and helped Ridnour block Liu Xiu. The timing was very good.

Ridnour used the screen to break through, and Nick Collison did not cut inside. Instead, he took Liu Xiu, who was changing defense, to the left side of the three-second zone. Ray Allen happened to run here and circled Nick Collison.

!

Liu Xiu immediately changed defense and blocked Ray Allen who was running towards the three-point line. Payton also ran around the pick-and-roll to catch up, but Ray Allen suddenly stopped and ran back to cut towards the basket!

Nick Collison picked and rolled again, Liu Xiu was blocked, and Payton could no longer catch up after circling the pile and changing direction.

Ridnour distributed the ball in time. After receiving the ball, Ray Allen took a step and stepped on the left sideline of the three-second zone to stop suddenly. He quickly stopped and shot a jump shot. Kwame Brown was unable to cover up, and Ray Allen hit a jump shot from close range.

!

The emergency stop technique of moving without the ball is used to change direction and move! This is really amazing. Liu Xiu shook his head and ran to pick up the ball and send it to Payton.

Payton advanced to the frontcourt, and the Sonics' defense changed. Lewis returned to the small forward position to defend Rahim. Rahim moved to the high post, and Payton passed the ball.

Raheem feinted a shot. Although Lewis tried his best to restrain himself from being knocked away, his center of gravity was lifted unconsciously. Raheem accelerated to the right, made a strong breakthrough in the middle, and distributed the ball...

Liu Xiu circled the baseline and used Kwame Brown's screen to block Ray Allen. He ran out from the right side of the three-second zone and circled up the line. He received a pass from Raheem on the right side of the three-second zone and then made an emergency stop. He pursued it with all his strength.

Radmanovic couldn't stop, Liu Xiu turned around and took a step to the right to avoid Radmanovic. Liu Xiu had already taken off when Ridnour, who was helping to defend him, came up with a double attack, and his 'Talent: Quick Pitch' was triggered.

A 20% accelerated mid-range shot, Ridnour didn't even bother to interfere...

Liu Xiu hit a jumper from the free throw line at a 45-degree angle on the right!

4-for-4 from the field, Liu Xiu scored 8 points in a row at the start!

The Trail Blazers players marveled at Ray Allen's ability to move without the ball on the last goal. This time, the Sonics players wanted to curse Liu Xiu's progress when they saw it.

Naturally, Sonics players paid special attention to the battle for first place in the division and started preparations a few days ago. When they watched the videos of Liu Xiu's previous games, they discovered that Liu Xiu, who had switched to shooting guard, was learning from Ray Allen.

The SuperSonics are a team that relies on off-ball movement shooters, so they are naturally particularly sensitive to this aspect.

It’s normal to study top players in a certain area and learn their opponent’s techniques, and it’s normal to learn them.

But Liu Xiu is too fast! This is during the season!

The feeling of jealousy makes the Sonics players more competitive. If they don't win tonight and take first place in the Northwest Division tonight, they won't have a clear idea.

You can't let the warden take all the good things!

A 2-8 deficit at the start did not discourage the Sonics players, and they attacked with jealousy.

The Trail Blazers, who were leading by 6 points, were not careless. If they changed their opponent, they might be able to give the opponent more opportunities. However, the SuperSonics, the top competitor in the Northwest Division, did not dare to underestimate their opponent.

Ridnour advanced to the frontcourt, and after a few rounds, he figured out the opponent's defensive strategy - focusing on defending the basket and three-pointers!

Ridnour continued to launch a pick-and-roll attack with Nick Collison. With his excellent pick-and-roll skills, the Trail Blazers had no choice but to switch defenses.

It is difficult for opponents to have any specific restrictions on their pick-and-roll. The two simply organize the offense in the pick-and-roll. Both of them have certain shooting abilities, solid basic skills, excellent skills, strong effects, and are the key to the rise of the Sonics. However,

It's just difficult to limit their role. They are the kind of core combination whose role won't be weakened too much even if they are locked.

At the same time as the dual-core pick-and-roll, the three Musketeers started running... No! Radmanovic stood firm! He stood in the bottom corner and pulled away without moving!

Radmanovic did not move, and although the Sonics lost a certain amount of ability to tear apart the Trail Blazers' defense, Radmanovic himself avoided the dilemma of being forced to take a long two-point shot.

Nick Collison did not cut in after setting up Ridnour's pick-and-roll from the top of the arc, and participated in the wing pick-and-roll, making up for the lack of a 'post' on the left wing after Radmanovic stood up.

As the Sonics thought, the Trail Blazers focused on defending three-pointers and the basket, but they also tried their best to make up mid-range shots. Except for Radmanovic, several Sonics players had mid-range shots.

Of course, defense has its focus. If Nick Collison or Ridnour can't make up for his mid-range shots, he won't make up for them; Ray Allen can't make any mid-range shots; Lewis can't make mid-range shots but can let them cut in.

Just let the defenders under the basket pay attention. Not counting the forwards who average 2.8 points per free throw at close range, there is really nothing to pay attention to when attacking under the basket. The probability of being blocked on a shot under the basket is enough to go to Syracuse University for two years.

Already.

The plan was rich, but the reality was harsh. Lewis still ran out of position, received the ball from the right baseline close to the three-point line, and hit a long two-point shot!

Patience, tacit understanding, and strong ability! As a pure shooter who averages 20+ per game, how can Lewis be restricted so easily? His resistance to the "roll call tactic" is ineffective, but if he wants to score, it will be difficult for the Trail Blazers to restrict him!

When the Trail Blazers attacked, Liu Xiu received the ball from the top of the arc. Payton moved to the left side of the three-second zone. Liu Xiu did not play singles or use a pick-and-roll, but passed it to Nick Collison in the low post on the right side of the three-second zone.

Randolph!

After passing the ball, Liu Xiu cut in from the middle. Randolph passed the ball back to Liu Xiu and pulled away. Nick Collison could only follow out. Radmanovic and Ridnour, both of whom had difficulty defending, moved towards Liu Xiu to cover.

Up there, including Ray Allen who was leaning on Liu Xiu, Liu Xiu attracted three people to defend him and distributed the ball... Payton ran back to the high post on the left side of the free throw line and made a jump shot after catching the ball!

After scoring 8 points in a row at the beginning, Liu Xiu did not continue to attack. Instead, he chose to take advantage of the threat brought by 4-for-4 shooting in the beginning. He switched back to the point guard style and attacked in series. He made good use of the SuperSonics' greatly improved ability.

Tendency to flank.

It took less than three weeks for Liu Xiu to score 72 points. No matter which team saw him go 4-for-4 in the opening game, his liver would tremble, and the Sonics were no exception.

Trailing 4 to 10, with a 6-point deficit that was barely narrowed, the Sonics resigned themselves to their fate. If they couldn't defend themselves, they couldn't defend them! Then they went on the offensive!

The Sonics turned on the offensive mode. The Trail Blazers defended very hard, but they still couldn't defend. This was expected. After all, they are a top team with 17 wins and 8 losses. However, the Blazers also defended against the Blazers' offense.

Can't stop!

And the Trail Blazers have a clear advantage.

The Sonics still need to think hard to find a way to deal with the Trail Blazers' constantly adjusting defense, but the Trail Blazers don't need to!

The Blazers' attack around Liu Xiu's threat is enough to compete with the Sonics' "Three Musketeers" style of play in onslaught mode. The Blazers players can focus their limited thinking time on the court on how to give the 'Three Musketeers' a try.

The Musketeers' more restrictions did not allow the Sonics to fully surge!

At the end of the first quarter, the Sonics scored 26 points, which was not as good as their average in the first quarter of the season. They averaged 27.2 points in the first quarter of the season, second only to the Suns, while the Trail Blazers scored 35 in the first quarter.

point!

35 to 26. Liu Xiu made 6 of 6 shots in the first quarter, including 1 of 1 three-pointers. He scored 13 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in a single quarter, leading the team to widen the point difference to 9 points entering the second quarter!

In the nearly 10 minutes after the first quarter, Liu Xiu made a three-pointer from the wing and a counterattack layup. He would not take the shot if the opportunity was not good. He would switch back to his previous point guard style of play, attacking in series, and not getting the ball.

For the purpose of assists, maximize the role of offensive threats!

The Blazers coach enjoyed the joy of coaching Warden, while the SuperSonics coach was numb. The opponent's roll call tactics + Warden's threat to go berserk at the beginning nearly defeated them in the first quarter.

But there is still good news for the SuperSonics coach - both teams started at full capacity in the first quarter!

…

After returning from the break, the Trail Blazers sent out a combination of Flying Squirrel, Liu Xiu, Outlaws, Raheem, and McDyess.

The Sonics fielded a combination of Antonio Daniels, Ray Allen, Lewis, Danny Fortson, and Reggie Evans.

At this stage of the lineup rotation, neither team could really do anything to the other. Liu Xiu switched to a supporting control style and cooperated with the little flying squirrel in singles. The little flying squirrel led the team to play well.

The Sonics used the impact of Danny Fordson, the shooting of Ray Allen and Lewis, the rush of Reggie Evans, and the all-around skill of Antonio Daniels to deal with the Trail Blazers.

Halfway through the second quarter, thanks to Ray Allen's three-pointer, the SuperSonics chased the score to 40-50 and clenched the score. The Trail Blazers called a timeout to rotate the lineup.
Chapter completed!