At 7:30 in the evening, the game started.

The Hawks sent out a lineup of Liu Mang, Prince, Korver, Horry, and Kwame Brown.

The Cavaliers fielded a lineup of Snow, Larry Hughes, James, Gooden, and Big Z.

Kwame Brown easily defeated Big Z to win the jump ball.

Liu Mang received the ball and advanced towards the frontcourt.

Just after crossing the halfway line, we encountered Larry Hughes' half-court press!

The pressing defensive counterattack tactics of Larry Hughes and James on the forward and defensive lines were the Cavaliers' regular tactics in the first three games after Larry Hughes returned.

Liu Mang carefully protected the ball and advanced to the right side of the top arc. Larry Hughes' hand was too fast and almost hit the ball.

Moreover, unlike Baron Davis and Iverson, Larry Hughes' steal is not a tackle, and he does not lose his position. He relies on seizing the opportunity to do it unexpectedly when pressing the defense.

Fortunately, Liu Mang was very afraid of this top defensive player who still had a defensive ability rating of 90 even after recovering from an injury. He protected the ball when Larry Hughes came forward.

Unlike last season when he was with the Wizards, Larry Hughes had to worry about Liu Mang passing the ball, worrying about teammates being thrown away by players without the ball, and thinking about making up defense. After coming to the Cavaliers, Larry Hughes

Si, you can devote yourself to single defense.

Liu Mang made a fake move and tried to take a step back, but he was stuck to him and couldn't get rid of Larry Hughes!

After Liu Mang took a step back, he wanted to use his strongest first step to accelerate, but Larry Hughes was very close, leaving no room for Liu Mang to trigger his strongest first step, and he did not allow Liu Mang to have any chance just because of his close defense.

Opportunity for immediate breakthrough!

In the first attack, Liu Mang felt a sense of suffocation from Larry Hughes' single defense!

Larry Hughes, a player on the first team of the All-Defensive Team, is really good at single defense!

According to statistics from last season, Kobe, Wade, and Carter faced Larry Hughes, and their shooting percentages did not exceed 40%!

Liu Mang's offense was too sticky this time. He only had seven seconds to attack. He could only choose to break out. With Larry Hughes's defense, he rushed to the right side of the free throw line, but failed to get rid of the defense and get up.

The fadeaway jumper...

"Bang..."

Ironclad!

Gooden grabbed the defensive rebound!

Liu Mang glanced at Larry Hughes' dull face and immediately retreated.

Liu Mang found that he still underestimated Larry Hughes. He had the impression that Larry Hughes' statistics plummeted after he came to the Cavaliers, but now he discovered that it was only on the offensive end, but he could do better on the defensive end!

Because Arenas won't hold him back, he can focus on defense, and the whole team won't be intimidated when encountering Liu Mang just because Arenas is the core of the team.

The Cavaliers wanted to counterattack, but fortunately Liu Mang deliberately reached the mid-range before taking action. The ball did not bounce too far, giving the Eagles time to retreat.

James received a pass from Gooden and advanced to the frontcourt. Seeing James coming, Liu Mang decisively ran towards Larry Hughes, and Prince went to guard James.

Faced with Prince's defense, James did not choose to attack. He rushed to the basket to face Prince and Kwame Brown. Even James felt it was enough.

James beckons for a pick-and-roll.

Liu Mang is always ready to help defend, but he doesn't know whether it will be Gooden or Big Z who will pick and roll. Both of them have excellent mid-range shooting ability.

But! Liu Mang actually saw Larry Hughes running towards James!

Liu Mang hurriedly followed up. Larry Hughes, despite his thinness, fought very well and blocked Prince. Liu Mang and Prince immediately switched defenses.

Then……

Liu Mang defends James alone!

"Oh, this shameless old high school student treats me like a soft persimmon!"

Liu Mang cursed secretly and stayed within the three-point line, ready to fight.

It wasn't enough if we didn't switch defenses just now. Larry Hughes and James are both very capable players. If we didn't switch defenses, there would always be one who couldn't stop him. He would rush directly to the inside, and Kwame Brown didn't have any good options.

Just when Liu Mang lowered his center of gravity and prepared to block the impact, James, who still had one foot on the three-point line, suddenly put away the ball, stepped back, and shot a three-pointer half a step away from the three-point line!

"I go!"

Liu Mang immediately pounced on him, but he lowered his center of gravity before, in an accelerating position, and took off a beat slower, and the opponent was probably more than ten centimeters taller than him! The key is that although James is tall,

Maybe he can dance better than Liu Mang!

Liu Mang stretched out his hand to block James' eyes as much as possible, and James stepped back and shot a three-pointer...

The ball hit the inner edge of the basket, spun twice at high speed, made a "buzzing" sound, and then fell into the basket!

The scene immediately burst into loud cheers!

When James singled out Liu Mang, he still used a step-back three-pointer to score the ball!

Seeing James kicking his knees and pressing his hands down in celebration, Liu Mang was so angry!

This guy actually stepped back and made a three-pointer!

so funny!

In fact, although there is no mid-range shot, James's three-pointers are already good in his sophomore year. Last season, he averaged 1.4 three-pointers per game with a 35% shooting rate. This season, he averaged 1.6 three-pointers per game.

I just don't have the confidence to shoot.

But against Liu Mang today, as long as there is a chance, I have to shoot decisively even if I have no confidence.

When Horry played today, he couldn't even raise his counterattack speed. Of course, the tactical intention was not to have too many counterattack opportunities with the first-generation pressure defensive counterattack combination of James and Larry Hughes, so the Eagles sent out a positional battle lineup.

.

After receiving the serve, Liu Mang advanced toward the frontcourt, and continued to encounter Larry Hughes' defensive defense. This time, Liu Mang's offensive choice was clearer, and he waved Horry to come out for a pick-and-roll.

Horry came to the right side of the top arc to help Liu Mang block Larry Hughes, and Liu Mang accelerated his breakthrough!

"Ding...Pick-and-roll master level 5 trigger, speed 8 within two seconds..."

Liu Mang's speed increased to the limit of 102, and he rushed to the inside like lightning. Guden switched defense and was passed by Liu Mang before he could stand firm.

The Cavaliers had been prepared for this for a long time. After Larry Hughes was blocked, he immediately rushed to the inside. Gooden also immediately caught up with him. Together with Big Z who stepped out of the reasonable collision zone, the Cavaliers three-man team attacked Liu Mang!

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! After Liu Mang entered the free throw line, because the big Z inside the line covered too much area, he could not see Kwame Brown, so he immediately distributed the ball to the top arc. Huo Huo

Li received the ball, and before James' defense was in place, he caught the ball and shot a three-pointer...

Damn it again! Horry has played three consecutive games without scoring a single three-pointer.

Liu Mang's ass hurts. The lineup that was promised has very good space, but they just let Horry go, and this guy can't even make a shot!

Fortunately, Liu Mang excellently judged the landing point of the rebound. He jumped high to collect the rebound before Gooden, and then passed it to Korver on the right sideline. Korver caught the ball three times.

Break up...

Finally got in!

3 to 3 tie!

The Eagles retreated quickly, switched offense and defense, and James received the serve and advanced toward the frontcourt.

Still look for Larry Hughes to pick and roll, James just wants to beat Liu Mang.

Liu Mang also accepted his fate and quickly switched defenses without giving the opponent a chance to easily break through.

When Liu Mang encountered the pick-and-roll, he immediately moved towards James, unable to give this social butterfly whose petals withered prematurely a chance to shoot a three-pointer.

James made such a decisive three-pointer for the first time because of this!

When Liu Mang sticks to the defense, James is no longer afraid and can crush Liu Mang to break through! Moreover, leaving Liu Mang behind, James does not have to worry about being stuck by Liu Mang and then being blocked by Kwame Brown.

James rushed to the right side of the basket. Kwame Brown was already rushing towards this direction. James passed the ball to the middle distance of the baseline on the left side of the three-second zone. Big Z caught the ball and made a mid-range shot from the baseline!

5 to 3!

The Cavaliers started with an advantage!

Although Larry Hughes came to the Cavaliers, his talents on the offensive end were limited. From an offensive end, he may be able to play more freely as James' substitute, but this does not mean that he is useless to the Cavaliers. On the contrary, he is very useful.

A player who is defensive and can average 20 points per game is a supplement to any team, but he can only use his full strength.

Although Larry Hughes lacks the ball, his defense and cutting threat are the best outside teammates James has ever had, allowing James to perform better!

From the beginning of the game, the game became anxious. I originally wanted to see how Liu Mang tortured the Cavaliers fans who were their little emperor, but I found that today was a little different from the last time they played against each other!

After a while, Cavaliers fans discovered that their team was missing a superstar when the opponent was missing Tracy McGrady. James, Larry Hughes, and Big Z could compete with Liu Mang and Kwame Brown!

Although Liu Mang made a 2-1 in the first seven minutes of the first quarter and also got two offensive rebounds and two assists, Kwame Brown also got 1 offensive rebound and scored 5 points in the beginning. The Eagles' first seven

Minutes scored 13 points, but the Cavaliers did not fall behind and were still 1 point ahead. James scored 5 points and 3 assists, helping the Cavaliers enter the official timeout 14-13!

…

During the break, the head coaches of both teams were arranging their defenses.

James was eating popcorn that he got out of nowhere. It was very delicious. He was in a good mood today!

Liu Mang is also having a headache on how to guard against the pick-and-roll of James and Larry Hughes. This is completely a poor version of the Heat's Big Three!

Coach Kruger was also helpless. Horry made 0 of 3 three-pointers. Liu Mang did not dare to pass the ball to him. The two breakthroughs were forced shots. Fortunately, Kwame Brown grabbed the rebounds both times.
To be continued...