The Basketball Court Swordsman

With 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, Joel Embiid's performance in the first quarter was perfect. With Ben Simmons basically becoming transparent, it was his and Jimmy Butler's play that gave the 76ers a 5-point lead.

Therefore, Embiid kept talking during the interviews during the intermission. He is an extremely confident and outspoken person, Embiid doesn't care about his face.

Let the defending champion fall from the altar, this is what he plans to do with Jimmy Butler today.

But in the other half, the Pacers players were ready to make Embiid unable to eat. They believe that as long as Embiid falls into the defensive trap set by Henson, this African genius will not take long to shut up.

It's just that Joel Embiid doesn't know this huge crisis. He still thought that he could continue to make waves in Indianapolis.

The second quarter of the game officially began, the coaches of both sides did not change the lineup, continue to use the first quarter of the starter.

Embiid was very happy to see this situation, because in the first quarter, he basically had to eat and drink when facing Lopez's defense.

Lopez is good everywhere. He can effectively protect the frame and open up space. But after all, this white center's athletic ability lies here, and his movement speed can't be achieved by training.

So at the beginning of the second quarter, Embiid planned to use his advantage to continue to bully Lopez. In this game, he was destined to score high points!

So this time Embiid just ran to the middle distance and rushed to Simmons for the ball. Simmons was forced by Antetokounmpo and had no chance of scoring, so he had to pass the ball.

Embiid held the ball and turned to the frame. Last summer, he learned a lot of dribbling skills with Jason Tatum. Using those actions to bully Lopez, who is moving slowly, couldn't be more appropriate.

Embiid dribbles the ball alternately with left and right hands, and his ability to handle the ball is indeed amazing in the center position. Seeing Lopez's center of gravity began to sway, Embiid suddenly crossed steps and then accelerated, instantly wiping out half of Lopez's body!

This guy is not like a center at all, he seems to be a smart small forward.

According to the situation in the first quarter, Embiid should comfortably enter the penalty area next, and choose whether to layup or dunk according to his mood. After scoring, don't forget to turn your head to provoke that silly dabai, and then pretend to be a celebratory action by the way.

But this time, Embiid had just arrived at the basket, only to find an uninvited guest approaching-Yannis Antetokounmpo.

"what!?"

Before Embiid could realize what was happening, he was already caught in a double double team between Antetokounmpo and Lopez.

Brett Brown and Jimmy Butler both frowned. Sure enough, Henson would not let Embiid do whatever he wanted on his home court!

"Double double team, and it is a very decisive double double team. There is no doubt that this must be the strategy arranged by Coach Henson. Otherwise, Antetokounmpo and Lopez will not be so decisive."

Yes, Henson's method of dealing with Embiid is to double-team. This tactic may sound simple, but it is the best decision Henson made after careful consideration. And for this double-teaming, Henson has just spent a whole section preparing for it.

Embiid and Tatum practiced a bunch of fancy small forwards last year. They did look good, but they needed too much space to do them. But now facing the Pacers' defense, Embiid just has little room for display.

Lopez and Antetokounmpo double-teamed before he made the face-to-frame action. At this time Embiid had only two options, pass or jump shot. Embiid's low jumper is not so killing, and the pass is not destructive, just passing for the pass. Therefore, as long as the timing of the double-teaming is right, Embiid is basically locked.

As for why Antetokounmpo defends Ben Simmons, in addition to containing Simmons, it is also to contain Embiid. Antetokounmpo made up the defense to the inside, no matter whether it was strength or height, Simmons, who was missed by him, could completely ignore the three-point line. And in the first quarter, Simmons' offensive enthusiasm and confidence have long been worn out. So, from the beginning of the game, Henson has been in the game.

This is why, after the first quarter of the game was suppressed on the scene, Henson was not nervous at all. Because even if it is behind, it is still behind in his plan.

Facing the sudden double-teaming, Embiid chose to turn over a jumper. Unfortunately, the African genius's low jumper is not superb. But because of fouling in the first quarter, Embiid has become very irritable. Therefore, Henson believes that he will definitely choose his own jump shot!

Embiid has suffered multiple knee injuries. Although his speed is very fast, his core and explosive power are actually not very sufficient. In the low confrontation, his posture cannot be guaranteed and his movements are not concise enough, so his hit rate is not good enough.

"Boom!"

As Henson analyzed, Embiid's turn-over jumper ended up with an iron. At the beginning of the second quarter, the ambitious Embiid suffered a slump! Every path he took was counted by Henson to death!

In the low post, Antetokounmpo easily took off the rebound with a hand and then quickly controlled the ball.

Compared to Simmons, Antetokounmpo is better at holding the ball to counterattack after grabbing the rebound. In terms of the efficiency of hitting the basket, Antetokounmpo is better than Simmons.

Simmons is averaging 56.3% from the field this season and his efficiency is very high. But again, his shots are not many.

And Antetokounmpo has an average field goal percentage of 57.8% this season, a career high. While shooting higher, Antetokounmpo averaged 5 more shots per game than Simmons, which shows how big the gap between the two sides in the finish rate at the basket is.

Antetokounmpo pushed all the way, and Simmons couldn't bear the impact of this guy. Finally, the "Greek monster" simply and rudely hit the basket and succeeded. The camera was given to Simmons, and the champion was very helpless.

Before the draft, people called him a top talent. But just now, he was crushed by his true top talent.

Most of Simmons' top talents are "hidden talents", such as golf quotient and overall outlook.

Most of Antetokounmpo's talents are "dominant talents", such as height, wingspan and wild athletic ability.

Whether the top-level "hidden talents" can be honored is not certain.

"Damn it!" Embiid was also very irritable when he saw the team counterattack because of his failure to shoot.

Don't forget, Embiid was already angry in the first quarter, and he couldn't let go so easily.

So in the second round, Embiid continued to play singles. But like the first time, Antetokounmpo's double-teaming is almost seamless. As soon as Embiid received the ball, a "monster" with tall and long arms suddenly appeared next to him.

Embiid was in a dilemma, Jimmy Butler actually got a chance to cut in, but Embiid did not have the ability to pass the ball in double doubles. His coping ability is not particularly good, and it is easy to make mistakes when facing double teams.

Embiid was forced to be unable to move due to insufficient lower limb strength. In the end, he had no choice but to pass the ball for the sake of passing and hand the ball to Ben Simmons, who was not threatening beyond the three-point line.

After Embiid passed the ball, Antetokounmpo didn't mean to make up for it. In other words, there is no Pacers player defending within two meters of Simmons.

Being so ignored by the opponent, how can young players bear such insults? Ben Simmons gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, and shot!

It's just a pity that Simmons failed to get the ball in. There are different opinions on why his shooting is so bad.

But in fact, this problem is not complicated. When you can get a triple-double without shooting, and when you can beat most opponents without shooting, do you still practice shooting hard?

Maybe in the future, Simmons can develop his shots. But at least now, you can completely ignore Simmons' three-pointers.

Once again, the only data generated by Simmons' shooting is to add a rebound for Antetokounmpo.

Just two steps after Antetokounmpo got the rebound, he raised his long arm and threw the ball forward.

Because in the frontcourt, "Little Peja" Bogdanovic is ready! He stood on the right horn, unmarked, just waiting for the "ammunition" to be delivered.

"When did he run over!?" Reggie Miller and most of the fans looked horrified.

But this question is not important anymore, because Bogdanovic's open three-pointer directly wiped out the 76ers' efforts in the first 12 minutes.

The 76ers worked hard to get the advantage of a game, the Pacers wanted to equalize, only need two attacks!

Seeing Bogdanovic raised three fingers to celebrate the goal, Henson sat back on the bench with confidence. Now, Simmons and Embiid both turned off, and Jimmy Butler had only one way to go.

But even that road, Henson has prepared Jimmy Butler for many difficulties.