Chapter 508 Passing Master

At this time, on the SuperSonics bench, Payton was breathing heavily.

After all, not everyone in this world is Jordan. He is 37 years old. Although this season, Payton can fully feel the ill will from the league towards the Sonics and the huge challenge that lies ahead of the Sonics, which makes him want to fight for his old age. Losing his life would help the team more, but to be honest...

I can’t practice anymore.

In the past, he could squat up to 210 kilograms and could do four or five. Now he can squat up to 170, and he can hear the bones in his whole body ringing. In the past, he could sprint back and forth for 30 times on the court, but now he can sprint back and forth for seven. After eight times, you will be out of breath and your heart will beat violently.

There are many more like this.

In addition, my son has just entered adolescence and has been at his most rebellious recently, which has caused him a lot of trouble. He is often in training and the school calls him.

At home, my wife is as old as a wolf, and she is currently investing in some business fields... After all, it is impossible to play basketball for a lifetime, there will always be a time to retire, but for any player with some brains, the focus at this time has already been on the past. Business or other avenues of retreat are closer.

Old knee injuries are not suitable for overtraining or high-intensity confrontation. You should also be more careful about other injury risks and seek happiness and stability for yourself and your family for the rest of your life.

I have long passed the age of passion and recklessness. Basketball is my true love, but it is not everything in life.

All of this is eroding Payton's will and desire to win all the time, and it also affects his training and overall condition.

Halftime? Being able to survive this half is already quite extreme.

The Sonics need to change their second lineup.

Rukawa Kaede had already completed the warm-up during the halftime break, and he had to step up in the second half.

"Kaede Rukawa," Payton gasped while negotiating the details alone: ​​"The trick of defense is to make choices. If you want to guard against everything, then you will not be able to guard against anything! You can put a little distance when guarding against Nash. It doesn't matter even if he scores a few 3-pointers. You have to understand that the most terrifying thing about this Lakers is that Nash uses his passing to completely twist him into one, not his 3-pointers. If he really turns himself into a Being a pure pitcher is not scary anymore.”

Lin Dong smiled and said: "Yes, real defense is not to guard against one person and one ball, but to guard against rhythm and efficiency. But Rukawa, you don't have to guard Nash, just keep an eye on Doug Christie and lock him down on the defensive end. Just make a three-pointer, and be careful to block his receiving route at any time. When I hold the ball, the Lakers will most likely double-team, so I need someone to share the offensive pressure. For the Lakers, your defensive priority is not as good as that of Iguodala and Iguodala. Sakuragi, you are not even as good as Chandler, you will be the main attack point at the beginning... Seize the opportunity and let this alliance see your true strength!"

"Okay!" Kaede Rukawa's eyes shone brightly. Since he entered the NBA four years ago, this is the first time he has shouldered a heavy responsibility in such a crucial game in the playoffs.

"It's time to make some changes on the defensive end." Lin Dong said, looking at Sakuragi and saying: "Sakura, you go and guard Kobe."

"Ah?" Sakuragi Hanamichi was slightly startled. Although he has always been able to defend from position 1 to position 5, isn't the ace usually dealt with by the ace?

"Okay." He agreed subconsciously, but couldn't help but ask: "Brother Gao Ren, are you going to guard against Yao?"

I feel like Gao Ren is not tall enough...

"No, Yao belongs to the boxing champion."

Chandler said, "Fake...got it!"

"Andre," Lin Dong continued to tell the last person: "Go and keep an eye on Odom. He is no match for him in the basket. You can make more small moves..."

"No problem!" Iguodala patted his chest confidently. He learned his defense from McMillan, and also stole a few tricks from Sakuragi. Even though he couldn't move from the 1st to the 5th position without any difference, he would be surrounded by death. level, but when it comes to small actions, they are professional.

"As for me." Lin Dong laughed and looked at Nash, who had long hair and was drinking water on the other side.

Although Kobe led him away from the defensive system most of the first half, after observing the half, I already have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this Lakers.

Perfect offensive tactics and 'almost' perfect lineup combination.

On the pure offensive end, this Lakers is probably comparable to the perfect Warriors of 2017!

Is the only difference between the fourth layer and the third layer really only technical refinement and perfection?

No, you have more vision and choices!

While the third level is still obsessed with personal competition, the fourth level is already looking at something else...

There are still two changes hidden in the Lakers' running and gunning system. One is that Yao Ming returns to the inside, but that has to be done after the SuperSonics' rotating defense is completely broken up.

Another change is to replace Nash with the young Andrew Bynum, reduce the offensive and defensive rounds, and use the three long men to fight inside position battles. However, there is a high probability that it will be used to change the rhythm at the last moment to handle key balls and ensure It's time to hit.

The two ultimate moves are hidden at the last moment, and the best way to deal with this kind of change of moves is to prevent them from even having a chance to appear.

It's time to end the fight with a mighty thunder strike.

Lin Dong said calmly: "I'll lock their engines!"

——Compared to the Lakers generals who came on the court with great momentum and shouted that they must win, the Sonics seemed a bit bland when they came on the court.

But such plainness does not give people a feeling of weakness, but rather shows a kingly bearing.

momentum? Only challengers shout.

King, just smile and face it!

The calm attitude was in sharp contrast to the cheers of the fans in the stadium, and it also made countless fans in front of the TV feel an inexplicable threat.

——What are you pulling on? They are still 3 points behind!

——They can't restrict the Lakers on the defensive end at all. This quiet look is just an act!

"The SuperSonics were very calm when they were 3 points behind." Doris said: "It seems like the Lakers are behind, but after all, they are a team that has won three consecutive championships, and each position is at its strongest peak. This confidence seems to be natural.”

"Little Doris, I think you are connoting the Sonics." Barkley is now a huge fan of the Sonics. He must be a fan. If he is not a fan, he will have to kiss a cougar!

Barkley smiled and said: "I know you support the Lakers, but the result will let you down."

"I have been following the Sonics for 4 years, and I have seen many different looks on the court. I can responsibly say that Lin Dong's calmness at this time does not mean that he is pretending, but that he has found the right person. How to crack the Lakers' run-and-gun game."

"What can he do?"

"If I knew, I would have defeated that guy Michael a long time ago." Barkley laughed and said: "Look, the SuperSonics will definitely have a big change. In the third quarter... No! Maybe within 5 minutes, this There will be a result in every game!”

beep!

The referee blows the whistle.

Yao Ming jumped to the ball in the first quarter, so the ball rights in the second and third quarters belong to the SuperSonics.

SuperSonics had the ball, Chandler threw a baseline ball, and Lin Dong held the ball.

Payton didn't play in the second half, and another main player was replaced. This has been the norm for the SuperSonics this season. Most of the time, Payton will take a break in the second quarter. The old guy's physical problem has exhausted the entire league. Everyone knows it, so it’s not a strange thing.

When Lin Dong holds the ball, the Lakers' defense immediately changes accordingly.

Payton's end was expected, and the Sonics were left with only one stable ball-holding point. These were already in the Lakers' calculations.

Phil Jackson clenched his fists tightly on the sidelines.

Lin Dong is impossible to guard when he is playing the 3rd position without the ball. It is impossible for you to double-team a person without the ball with two people, not to mention that you may not be able to trap him.

But if Lin Dong is holding the ball... it will be different!

Double team!

Kobe and Nash immediately attacked Lin Dong.

Stop Lin Dong!

In the backcourt, there is a triangle area defense carefully deployed by Phil Jackson. The scattered triangle positions seem to be guarding the SuperSonics' perimeter, but in fact, they can move inside at any time to double-team Sakuragi Hanamichi under the basket, but that requires reaction. time.

Therefore, as long as it creates enough ball-handling problems for Lin Dong, increases the distance between him and the receiver, and forces Lin Dong to move the ball in a wide range, the Lakers can easily complete the choice of defending inside or outside.

And if Lin Dong's choice is to stabilize the rhythm and let Chandler enter the offensive position before playing, it will be equivalent to interrupting the SuperSonics' fast break rhythm, which will inevitably affect the SuperSonics' offensive feel and make them uncomfortable. , thereby reducing their hit rate!

Although the Lakers' tactics are run-and-gun offense, the defensive end still needs to try its best, not to mention that it is always easier to defend Lin Dong with the ball than to defend Lin Dong without the ball.

Kobe and Nash both had fire in their eyes.

The defensive cooperation between the two is one of the Lakers' trump cards when facing Lin Dong. They have practiced it thousands of times. At this time, it is as if they have a clear understanding of each other, and their blocking actions are in perfect harmony.

Don't think that Nash is a defensive colander, just because he really can't do anything on the defensive end.

He is indeed a colander in one-on-one situations, but that is mainly due to physical confrontation. After all, this guy is probably the player with the lowest physical fitness in the entire history of the NBA.

The strength and wingspan are not enough. No matter who plays Nash alone, they can beat him if they use more physical confrontation.

But if he is just assisting in defense, this guy has extraordinary defensive intuition.

The worse his physical fitness is, it means that Nash needs to become smarter on the defensive end. When Kobe Bryant is the main defender against Lin Dong, Nash can help him fill in all the gaps in the auxiliary position. He only needs a little If Lin Dong is blocked, Kobe can make up for the loopholes that were torn apart by Lin Dong.

Exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses, avoid the disadvantages of strength confrontation, and choose to use awareness and skills to fill in the gaps.

Maybe it can only make up for a moment, but this moment is enough for Kobe to adjust and reorganize a new round of defense.

The two were well prepared and were already double-teaming almost the moment Lin Dong held the ball.

At this time, Kobe was mainly defending the left side, occupying about 2/3 of the defensive area, and was always ready to deal with the physical confrontation from Lin Dong. Nash was responsible for blocking 1/3 of the right side, checking for leaks and filling gaps at any time.

The movements of the two of them were natural, with no flaws at all, but the next second...

call!

Facing the natural defense, Lin Dong chose to make a sudden move without hesitation.

I have hidden something this season, or in other words, I am hiding everything...

Because I have to train my perimeter and give some people an illusion, I was missing an honor last season and this season: the assists king.

This often leads to some misunderstandings, and people always think that they are the most threatening when they play the No. 3 position.

But for a 'basketball god' who has truly reached the peak and has already controlled everything on the court, Lin Dong feels that except for not being able to fight against a large-ton center like O'Neal, any other position and any other skills are no problem.

One door, all doors!

The Lakers' super run-and-gun is driven by Nash, so while blocking the opponent's engine, he can also be a supersonic engine!

At this time, he broke through in the direction of Nash without hesitation!

Kobe and Nash couldn't help but smile.

The two of them practiced to deal with Lin Dong's defense, so they naturally took all possible changes into consideration. Moreover, with Nash's natural attribute as a 'defensive bait', it was normal for Lin Dong to choose to find a breakthrough from his direction.

But since it was a flaw visible to the naked eye, it was naturally the most practiced defense method for the two.

At this time, the two of them moved to the right side to defend very smoothly, and their movements were so tacit that they blocked Lin Dong's super low-body breakthrough.

Kobe's eyes were fixed on Lin Dong's feet. The breakthrough was blocked, and the next step must be the opponent's famous change of direction. He was already pulling the center of gravity, and he had already seen Lin Dong's change of direction.

At this time, almost everyone on the court was staring at Lin Dong's movements, but the next second...

Whoosh!

Lin Dong, who was changing direction, stepped on a rhythm that made Kobe feel extremely awkward.

Changing the rhythm, not changing direction!

Kobe knew very well that the terrible guy in front of him had already reached the level of perfection in controlling the rhythm and pace. At this time, Nash beside him could not keep up with his defensive awareness, so he reacted half a beat slower. When Kobe had chosen to turn back to the center of gravity, he squeezed together with Nash.

He wanted to turn back to the right!

At this time, Kobe didn't care about maintaining his center of gravity. He pushed Nash hard, trying to make Nash, who was half a beat slower, take advantage of the change in the defensive center of gravity. Although it was inevitable that he would still miss some positions, he could always find another chance to block Lin Dong with his own help.

But the next second, Lin Dong's body came out, but he didn't break through. Kobe's pupils suddenly shrank because he saw Lin Dong with nothing in his hands.

The ball was not in Lin Dong's hand? When was it passed? Who was it passed to? !

The pass was so weird. Kobe and Nash were clearly blocking Lin Dong. He clearly had no route to pass the ball and was changing direction, so Kobe and Nash only heard the sound of the pass but didn't see the basketball passed.

The fans at the scene, and even the other players who were watching the changes in the front court, didn't even realize that Lin Dong passed the ball. Instead, their eyes were involuntarily attracted by the guy's change of direction to the left, and they followed his people to move over.

Kobe was shocked.

The purpose of blocking Lin Dong is to give his teammates in the frontcourt more time to adjust their defense. But if everyone is attracted by Lin Dong's actions and ignores his pass, then...

It's not only Nash who can pass the ball that makes people confused... This guy in front of him seems to be omnipotent since he stepped into the league. He can play any position except center and even won the assist king twice!

Lin Dong's pass may not be as frequent as Nash's amazing legends, but it is definitely exciting enough.

It is really not easy to block this guy, even if he is double-teamed with the ball.

However, if he wants to remind his teammates now, Kobe himself didn't even see where the ball was passed in such a hurry, how can he remind them?

This is not the time to marvel at Lin Dong's strength. Kobe's mind is racing.

Who will he pass to?

Is it Sakuragi Hanamichi, who has become a master at eating cakes under the basket and is now facing Odom instead of Yao Ming?

Or to Iguodala, whose 3-point shooting rate has exceeded 40% this season?

Or...

Before Kobe's thoughts were finished in his mind.

The next second, the ball was in Rukawa's hands!