Los Angeles, Lakers and Spurs face off in Game 4 of the playoffs.
The Staples Center is packed, and for many Lakers fans, this may be the last Lakers game they see this season.
Regret, of course, there is, after all, not seeing the Lakers go further in the playoffs. However, being able to reach the playoffs is already a big surprise for Lakers fans. No fan will complain that the Lakers stopped in the first round of the playoffs. Although they are a little frustrated, they are still cheering for the Lakers wholeheartedly. Cheer.
This match is also Zhang Guan's first game after returning from injury.
In fact, Zhang Guan didn't have any serious injuries, it was just an ordinary sprain. If it were left in China, he might only need to apply a plaster and rub an egg on it. Besides, with Zhang Guan's physique, even if he was really injured, it would be worse than The average person recovers faster. However, Zhang Guan simply took this opportunity to rest for a few days.
Zhang Guan also found that his style of play was not compatible with Kobe's. One team could not accommodate two Kobes, so Zhang Guan simply chose to hide and let Kobe lead the team. He knew that with the current Kobe's , it is impossible to lead the team to defeat the Spurs, so it is better to wait until Kobe can't handle it anymore and then clean up the mess by himself.
The fact is as Zhang Guan expected, Kobe scored high points, Kobe tried his best, but the Lakers could not win. In a high-intensity confrontation like the playoffs, facing a defensive expert like Leonard, who averages more than 40 minutes per game and takes more than 40 shots in a game, if it was Kobe Bryant ten years ago There is definitely no problem, but now Kobe is 36 years old, and he has been out for most of the season due to injury. It is already very good that he can compete in three consecutive games.
Now, it's Zhang Guan's turn to clean up the mess.
Zhang Guan knows that this year's Spurs team is impeccable both in terms of lineup and tactical coordination. This does not require much detailed analysis and can be reflected just through the record. The record of 62 wins and 20 losses in the regular season, the 4-2 victory over the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals of the playoffs, and the 4-1 victory over the Heat in the Finals can all prove this. You must know that this year's Thunder's two young players have reached their peak level; and the Heat's Big Three are the defending champions, but in the hands of the Spurs, they all lost without suspense.
Zhang Guan feels that if he wants to defeat the Spurs who have been playing for several years in a series, it is not enough to have strength, talent, and tactical coordination. What is needed more is luck.
The so-called luck means that you can score the goals you should score, and you can score the goals you shouldn't score.
Once the luck of a run-and-gun team gets better, there is really no solution, not to mention that the Lakers have no shortage of talented players.
…
The Spurs obviously intend to sweep the Lakers 4-0, but at the Lakers' home court, this goal seems a bit difficult. The Lakers were already 0-3 behind, and they had to fight back no matter what in the fourth game to avoid being swept.
After Zhang Guan replaced Kobe, the Lakers' offensive methods also underwent some changes. Kobe shot more jump shots. Although his posture is picturesque, his shooting percentage is a bit worrying. Zhang Guan is superior in physical fitness and movement speed, so there will be more breakthroughs with the ball. Compared with the picturesque jump shot, breaking through with the ball will definitely cause more damage, and it is easy to get free throws through "touching porcelain".
Free throws are the easiest to score among all offensive methods and the one with the highest shooting percentage. In the future, Harden will be called the number one shooting guard, not because his shooting percentage is higher than others, but because of his league-leading "touch" level. During the Rockets era, Harden's field goal percentage was around 44%. Comparatively, Wade's field goal percentage was 47% in a low season and 54% in a high season. However, Harden averaged more than 10 shots per game. Wade could only do free throws at his peak, and at that time Wade partnered with O'Neal to win a championship ring.
Today, Zhang Guan adopted a breakthrough method.
The Spurs' insiders are still quite afraid of this kind of breakthrough player. Duncan is older, and his three-point defense relies on strength and seven points on experience; Split's average blocks per game are not as good as many outside players. However, Leonard can make up for this shortcoming in the vast majority. Coupled with the team defense that the Spurs rely on for survival, it is enough to deter those first-class breakthrough players.
Zhang Guan is undoubtedly the world's top breakthrough player. With Leonard alone, it is still a little difficult to defend Zhang Guan. Unknowingly, Duncan, Splitter and Leonard each received a foul, and in terms of score, the Lakers also suppressed the Spurs.
"Zhang Guan's breakthrough is really sharp, it's time to use that move! It was originally a feast prepared for James, but I didn't expect to use it now." Popovich took advantage of a dead ball opportunity to beat Leonard He called to his side and arranged it carefully.
When the game restarted, Leonard did not continue to defend Zhang Guan, but adopted a defensive method of taking a step back. The Spurs also used team defense tactics. As soon as Zhang Guan broke through, double-teams came immediately. Leonard and another player will cut off Zhang Guan's passing route and slow down Zhang Guan's impact, and then Split or Duncan will appear behind to cover.
Double-teaming, supplementary defense, and teamwork are the Spurs' consistent methods of defending their superstars. If faced with an opponent who is good at breakthroughs, the Spurs can take one step or even two steps back to defend, allowing the breakthrough player to face the obstruction of two or even three people every time he breaks through. And if the opponent is good at shooting, the Spurs' rotation defense can also interfere with their shooting space.
In this year's playoffs, this defensive method made many superstars miserable. In the Eastern Conference finals, Durant's three-point shooting percentage was less than 30% by the Spurs. In the finals, Leonard even more He successfully restrained James and won the FMVP.
Now, the Spurs use the same defensive method on Zhang Guan.
…
How to break the Spurs' defensive system is a topic that every coach in the league is studying. The Spurs' defense is the most targeted defense, and judging from past examples, the best way to break the Spurs' defensive system is accurate mid-range jumpers. Therefore, for a long time, Kobe was known as the Spurs' nemesis.
However, the emergence of Leonard has made up for this weakness of the Spurs. Leonard's defensive ability can at least limit the shooting percentage of those precise mid-range shooters. At this time, Popovich's defensive system can be considered a success. . It's a pity that Duncan is a little older, otherwise it would be really unsolvable.
The future Warriors once used pick-and-rolls to break down the Spurs' perimeter defense. Of course, this was based on the Warriors' high shooting percentage. In addition, there are also people like Stephenson who rely entirely on intuition to break the Spurs' defense. This is pure bad luck.
And tonight, Zhang Guan used another way to break the Spurs' defense, one word: fast!
UI.
If a breakthrough with the ball is blocked, it is not necessarily because the opponent does not take advantage of it, but it is probably because the breakthroughr is not fast enough! When the speed is fast enough, you don't have to dazzle people, you just need to take one step and that's it.
Just like Iverson's ecstasy step, everyone knew he was going to break through, but they still couldn't guard against that step.
…
"Beep!" The whistle sounded, and Leonard turned to look at the basket, only to find Split with a sad face and raised hands.
"Thiago (Split) committed five fouls! Zhang Guan's speed is so fast, I can't keep up with this rhythm at all!" Leonard knew that this goal was his fault, precisely because he didn't Only by guarding against Zhang Guan's breakthrough would Split, who was defending behind, commit a foul.
Zhang Guan once again stood on the free throw line and made two free throws.
"This is Zhang Guan's 18th free throw! He made 16 of 18 free throws. With free throws, Zhang Guan scored 16 points."
"Isn't that right? Split alone gave Zhang Guan 10 free throws."
"As soon as Split comes off the court, the Spurs will rely on Duncan alone inside. It looks like the Lakers will not be swept!"
In front of the bench, Popovich sighed.
"How could there be such a fast guy! He broke my defensive system just by relying on speed!"
Popovich knows that the Spurs are already in danger in this game.
On April 28, the Lakers defeated the Spurs 112-105 and tied the score to 1-3.
Chapter 2 has been delivered, please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket.
(End of chapter)