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On the 16th, the focus game of this round of NBA began, Lakers VS Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers are currently performing well, with 22 wins and 12 losses, ranking fourth in the Eastern Conference.

The media praised "Little Emperor" LeBron James for his rapid progress. In Yang Rui's view, this is also incredible, because the Cavaliers' lineup is so bad that they have no impression of many of the Cavaliers' substitute players.

In this game, Yang Rui gave Kobe a rest.

Kobe Bryant injured his right index finger when playing against the Timberwolves, which was the reason for his decline in shooting percentage. Instead of playing with the injury, it is better to rest for a few more days and fully recover.

Kobe didn't want to rest, but the team doctor had no choice but to support Yang Rui, so he had to be put on the injured list to wait for activation.

Kobe was not used, not only because of his fingers, but also because Yang Rui didn't want to take risks.

In Yang Rui's previous life, the Cavaliers were Kobe's victims. In a game against the Cavaliers in January 2004, Kobe used a fake shot from beyond the three-point line to deceive Kendrick Brown. As a result, Brown hit him hard on the shoulder when he fell. After the game, he was diagnosed with a right shoulder muscle injury. Strain, sidelined for more than a month.

?On January 13, 2005, against the Cavaliers, with 5 minutes and 39 seconds left in the first quarter, Kobe accidentally stepped on Nubel's foot while driving for a layup, causing a severe ankle sprain, which forced him to rest for a month.

Kobe Bryant's truce can avoid historical inertia. Yang Rui suggested Ewing do this when he was in the Knicks. The gorilla is two years more powerful than in his previous life.

After the players appeared, TNT's Barkley expressed regret for Kobe's absence, while CCTV5's Zhang Li had a different view and thought it was a good thing.

"Last time Yao Ming was absent, Kobe Bryant scored 84 points against the Rockets. Today, Kobe Bryant is resting, and Yao Ming can get more shooting opportunities. I hope he seizes the opportunity and has an amazing performance today."

Yu Jia smiled and said: "Maybe Yang Rui asked Kobe to have a truce just to help Yao Ming have another big game."

The two aroused the emotions of the fans. Everyone was waiting to see Yao Ming show off his power and score high scores. Although "Big Z" Ilgauskas is a famous center in the league, he is definitely incomparable to O'Neal. Yao Ming can beat O'Neal, but he can't beat Big Z?

Many people underestimate Big Z's defensive ability in the penalty area. Yang Rui will not arrange for Yao Ming to attack him.

"Big Z" and Yao Ming are both over 2.20 meters tall. They both wear No. 11 jerseys and have similar styles. Although their physical fitness is relatively average compared to black players, their excellent skills and footsteps have allowed them to make a name for themselves in the NBA. .

Comparing the statistics of the two men's career confrontation, Yao Ming averaged 18.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.2 blocks per game against Big Z, with a shooting percentage of only 45%. Big Z also had 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2.1 blocks, and his shooting percentage was 42.2%, which was almost the same.

Big Z can use his height and wingspan to block Yao Ming's fadeaway shot. In some games, Yao Ming's shooting rate was only over 30%.

In the 2008-09 season, the last time the two competed, Yao Ming violently abused the declining Big Z, scoring 28 points on 13 of 15 shots. Without this game, his hit rate against Big Z would have been even lower, just over 40%.

After the warm-up, the starting lineup of both teams came on stage.

Cavaliers five: Jeff McGinnis, James, Ira Newbell, Drew Gooden, Ilgauskas.

The Cavaliers' substitutes are terrible, and the starting lineup is not too strong. McGinnis, who is 193cm tall and weighs 86 kilograms, had the highlight of his career when he served as the starting point guard for the Clippers for two years. At his peak, he scored 14.6 points and 6.2 assists, and shot 41.3% from the field. Now with the Cavaliers, his shooting percentage is also very low, only 41.2%, and his three-point shooting percentage is 34.5%. He averaged 34.9 minutes per game, 12.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 5 assists.

Small forward Newbell is a defensive blue-collar player, averaging 25 minutes per game, 6 points and 3 rebounds. He has no highlight moments in his career. His peak of 8 points and 5.3 rebounds was achieved in the last season of the Hawks.

Newbell's offense is poor, but his reputation is not small, because in the game against the Warriors on November 16, 2004,

His "jaw-crushing kick" in the face of Dunleavy, coupled with Dunleavy's wonderful eye-rolling expression, made him forever the undisputed leader on the "NBA Kung Fu List". Whenever people mention the NBA No matter the defense or the wonderful action moments, Newbell's name cannot be avoided.

The magic weapon for the Cavaliers to win is James' personal offense and two inside players who can evacuate.

The media analyzed the Cavaliers and believed that head coach Paul Silas copied Yang Rui's tactics with the Wizards. The two inside linemen were responsible for screens, air cuts, and mid-range shots, creating enough space for James to break through. The defenders moved and relied on off-the-ball Break off the screen, catch and shoot.

The Cavaliers' outside depth is incomparable to that of the 2003 Wizards. The advantage is that James' breakthrough ability is better than that of the 40-year-old Jordan, and he can tear open the opponent's defense.

This season, James is the only core of the Cavaliers. He averages 42.4 minutes per game, scoring 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.7 blocks. His statistics have improved across the board and he looks like a superstar.

The Lakers' starting five: Mo Williams, Hoiberg, Iguodala, Rasheed, and Yao Ming.

Yang Rui replaced two players in the starting lineup and arranged tactics according to the characteristics of the Cavaliers. Mo Williams is fast, can break through with the ball, can play pick-and-rolls with teammates, and assumes outside offensive tasks.

"Big Z" could no longer jump after two serious injuries. Yao Ming reacted faster and won the ball.

Momo was brought to the three-point line, McGinnis was on defense, the Cavaliers were man-to-man, and James was guarding Iguodala.

Xiao Mo passed the ball to Yao Ming, who was outside the three-point line in the middle, and ran to the left to open up space. Yao Ming turned around to face the frame. Big Z kept one and a half steps away, not close to his body.

Hoiberg reached 70 degrees on the right side, and Iguodala was in the right corner, both wide open.

Rashid on the left gave Mo Williams a ball-free screen, and the latter stood from the baseline and ran back to the upper line.

After studying the Lakers game video, Silas knew that zone defense was not good. If the Lakers pulled out the two inside lines, it would be easy to create a baseline mismatch. Big Z is not good at defending baseline three-pointers and defender breakthroughs.

Mo Williams caught the ball at a 70-degree angle on the left side, and Gooden changed his defense to block him, preventing him from taking a direct shot. Xiao Moyun passed a step to Yao Ming in the middle. Yao Ming received the ball and took a step forward. He leaned against the big Z at the free throw line and passed the ball to the low post on the left side at close range with one hand.

Rasheed cut the ball and made a three-step layup, relying on McGinnis to score easily. 2 to 0.

Barkley said: "Yao Ming's support ability has improved significantly. Jerry is very good at coaching centers. In the first two seasons, Yao Ming could not assist his teammates like this. This step forward for him is crucial. If there is a relationship with Big Z, With the distance, the opponent can interfere and wait for opportunities to steal.”

Smith smiled and said: "Brad Miller, an undrafted rookie, was turned into an All-Star by Yang Rui, let alone the top pick in the draft? James followed Iguodala too far from the basket to cover, and Newbell was also Hoiberg drew away and it was a perfect fit."

When the Cavaliers attack, the Lakers use a mixed defense. Yao Ming moves on the bottom line and guards the penalty area. Iguodala defends James on the outside and is inseparable.

All four Cavaliers players pulled away, and James held the ball in the middle and played singles.

He first dribbled the ball under his crotch to his left hand, took a small step to the left, then quickly handed the ball to his right hand and changed direction to the right. His explosive power was amazing, and he made a little space. He started with his shoulder against Iguodala and pulled in one step. He took off the ball and rushed inside.

Compared to face-to-frame attacks, James is at the top of the league this year, even first. His mid-range shooting is unstable and he depends on the sky for three-pointers. He averages 27.2 points per game and relies on unsolvable breakthroughs.

Iguodala's physical fitness is equally amazing, but his strength cannot be compared with James. He was squeezed and couldn't jump. James picked the basket with his right hand and scored on the board. 2 to 2.