This Forward is Not Serious

In the time it took for a few commentators to speak, the opening ceremony had already begun, and the starting lineups of both sides were also announced.

Raptors: Lowry, Danny Green, Leonard, Siakam, Gasol;

Nets: Caruso, Crabbe, Lin Ying, Tucker, Jokic.

Gasol struggled to move the ball back to the Raptors' half, and the curtain of this focus battle officially opened.

In the Raptors' frontcourt attack, Gasol held the ball directly at the top of the arc to support.

Their previous transactions were seriously underestimated. The arrival of Gasol not only improved the team's internal strength, but also added a new style of play for them.

Gasol's height allows him to bring better frame protection, and his current organizational skills allow him to push Ibaka to the bench.

You know, this is Ibaka who has never been closed.

However, past games have proven, and the Raptors' offense in the opening game also proved that such adjustments are worthwhile.

Leonard made a reverse run without the ball to get rid of Tucker's defense. Gasol's pass was given early. After receiving the ball, he took a step into the air and directly glided and dunked the ball with one hand. Basket!

The Raptors come out on top!

Leonard took the initiative to high-five Gasol while retreating.

His face still has the same expression as it did during the Spurs days, but it can be seen from his body language that his current mood is happy.

Fans like to watch stars play one-on-one and difficult goals, but for players, they obviously prefer the opportunity to score after catching the ball.

Even the stars are the same. After all, for them, the game lasts four quarters. In order to help the team win, they need to save their energy as much as possible in the front, and then use them in the final decisive moment.

The Nets advanced to the frontcourt and played a mirror image. Jokic also held the ball at the top of the arc to organize the offense.

However, unlike the Raptors, this wave of tactics did not create direct scoring opportunities.

The Raptors' defense, especially the forward defense, is better than the Nets!

Riley's classic theory believes that the ultimate development of basketball in the future will be five forward players about 2 meters tall.

This is not only offensive flexibility, but more importantly defensive mobility, echoing each other.

At this point, this Raptors team is as close as it gets.

The defensive combination of Danny Green, Leonard, and Siakam is like a big net, and it is extremely difficult for you to get through.

This is also an important reason why the person Gasol squeezed out in the starting lineup was Ibaka, not Siakam.

Not because it's stronger, but because it's more suitable.

The Nets' attack ultimately came to nothing.

Raptors head coach Nurse was obviously prepared. With Siakam's main defense and Leonard's quick defensive interference, even Jokic didn't have a good chance to give the ball to Lin Ying in the end.

These two opening rounds also set the tone of the first quarter.

The Raptors' offense is very flexible and they can always seize opportunities to score.

Especially Leonard, Tucker, who almost despaired of defending Tatum, did not form an effective defense against him.

Leonard's state after entering the playoffs is definitely at MVP level!

On the Nets side, Lin Ying was very uncomfortable being entangled by Siakam and Leonard.

Especially Leonard, whose big hands intercepted passes to Lin Ying twice from his teammates in the first quarter alone.

Moreover, the Raptors' substitutes are also underestimated. Ibaka has the upper hand in the confrontation with Anunoby and Zhou Qi.

Moreover, VanVleet, who had an average performance in the first round, also ushered in a strong recovery in this round. He came off the bench in the first quarter and scored 5 points from inside and outside.

At the end of the first quarter, the score on the field was 28 to 21, with the Raptors leading.

Over at the commentary box, Smith and McGrady were laughing from ear to ear.

Facts have proved that although the two of them combined have far fewer championships than the other two, their predictions are much more accurate!

"Shaq, no team is always at the top, and you should have more say than anyone else about this."

McGrady even said to O'Neal.

The reason why he said this is also very simple, because it was as strong as the "OK" group, and it was only three games in a row at that time.

And at that time, the Lakers did not have a core exodus like the Nets do now, and they did not even encounter any major injuries, but they really failed to take a step further.

Because three consecutive years is incredible, but four consecutive years, there are too many variables.

Take now, for example, who could have thought a year ago that the league structure would become what it is today?

Winning four consecutive championships is more difficult than imagined.

"No, Tracy, you don't know Lin well enough."

Before O'Neal could speak, Barkley couldn't help but start to retort.

After hearing this, Maddie just smiled and said nothing.

Of course he knows that Barkley is the number one player, but basketball games are not decided by one person.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Nets' bench was in good shape. Rose and Gay scored consecutively to quickly close the score, and the Raptors had to call a timeout.

After the timeout, Nurse directly replaced Leonard.

This substitution had an immediate impact. Leonard was in hot form and scored consecutively. Just when Lu replaced Lin Ying on the court, the Raptors had already opened the score again.

"This Raptors team is much better than we thought. I can see the shadow of a championship in them."

The situation in this period finally succeeded in impressing the Sharks, and O'Neal also turned his support to the Raptors.

Among the four giants in the commentary box, only Barkley looked longingly at Lin Ying, who had just replaced him.

Although the Raptors' defensive strategy in the first quarter was successful, it was only the first quarter, right?

In the first attack after the substitution, Lin Ying held the ball outside the three-point line.

His move immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the commentary box.

It looked like the Nets were preparing to let Lin Ying take over the game.

However, in the first quarter, Lin Ying played a lot with the ball, but he was also limited by the Raptors' tall and flexible forward line, and the effect was not very good.

Will this work in the second quarter?

But just after Lin Ying reached out to say hello, they quickly discovered the difference in the Nets' tactics this time.

Jokic mentioned the high post and set up a pick-and-roll for Lin Ying!

In the past, the Texas Twins' pick-and-roll was unsolvable. After Durant left, Lu developed the pick-and-roll style of Lin Ying and Jokic.

Although the flexibility is not as high as the Gemini pick-and-roll, Jokic is better than Jokic because of his large size and good pick-and-roll effect, which naturally creates more opportunities for Lin Ying.

This was quickly demonstrated on the court. Siakam had seen Jokic's coming up in advance and had the awareness to bypass it in advance. However, Jokic was too big and he didn't squeeze through.

After taking it apart, Jokic also bounced directly to the top of the arc and beyond the three-point line, and Siakam had to follow.

Lin Ying got a chance to hit Gasol out of position.

To say that Gasol is tall and powerful, he is more effective on both offense and defense than Ibaka, but there is one thing that he obviously cannot compare to Ibaka, and that is that he is big but small in defense.

Ibaka was born as a power forward, and his flexibility is enough to deal with mismatched defenses under normal circumstances, but Gasol is too big.

The moment the dislocation was formed, Lin Ying accelerated to the right, forcing Gasol to retreat.

That is, after he retreated, Lin Ying changed direction and pulled back again, and then retreated back to the three-point line.

This move was a bit big, and Gasol was almost knocked down with his hands on the ground.

But even if he wasn't knocked down, by the time he stabilized his body and straightened up again, Lin Ying had already shot from outside the three-point line.

Moreover, from the pick-and-roll to the retreat, Lin Ying's movements were very fast. The rest of the Raptors had no time to help defend and could only watch Lin Ying take action.

They could only leave the decision to God, and God quickly gave them the answer.

"Uh-huh!"

With a crisp sound of hitting the net, Lin Ying's three-pointer came down!

The scene was suddenly filled with cheers from the fans.

This three-pointer is very crucial.

Because the score on the court at this time was 40 to 32.

If the goal had not been scored, then if the Raptors continued to score, the point difference would have reached double digits immediately.

But now the ball went in, and the score difference suddenly became 5 points.

This is critical, both situationally and psychologically.

After returning to the defensive end, its effect was also reflected.

The Raptors' same tactical moves failed to create opportunities. In the end, Leonard's face-to-face singles were blocked by Tucker!

And on the offensive end, Lin Ying and Jokic continued to play pick-and-rolls.

This time Siakam was blocked solidly by Jokic, and Lin Ying got another opportunity to play Gasol in a misplaced single.

Although the Raptors' flank Green's defense was quick this time, Lin Ying's change of direction on the other side was enough to pass Gasol before that happened.

With the Raptors wide open, Lin Ying reached the basket almost instantly and then ended the offense with a light dunk.

He scored 5 points in a row in the second quarter!

The cheers of the fans at the scene could not be stopped.

Over in the commentary box, Kenny Smith touched his chin with his hand and gave an evaluation of the Nets.

"They played smart."

In the past two offensive rounds, it was not that the Nets' offense suddenly got better, or that the Raptors' defense got worse, but that the Nets adjusted their offensive ideas.

To use popular words nowadays, Gasol is being trained by the military!

An eternal topic in the small ball era, when big players encounter mismatched defenses with fast breakthrough speed, "military training" is basically inevitable.

It is more common for defenders to train inside, but Lin Ying's first step is very fast, and his breakthrough effect is better than most defenders!

Moreover, Jokic is so effective in pick-and-rolls because of his big size, and the Raptors basically don't do anything about it.

Of course not entirely.

For example, in the next defensive round, the Raptors attacked in advance, forcing Lin Ying to pass the ball to Crabbe on the wing.

Well, then Crabbe used a precise three-pointer to tell the Raptors that this wouldn't work!

The two guards of the Nets basically have no ability to attack with the ball, but as 3D, if you let them shoot like this, the consequences will be terrible.

Ever since, relying on this move alone, the Nets quickly reversed the situation.

At halftime, the score on the field became 48 to 53.

In this quarter, the Raptors lost to the Nets by 12 points.

"Lou's adjustments in the second quarter completely defeated Nurse."

At the end of the half, Kenny Smith also summarized the situation in the second quarter.

Compared to what Barkley said, the Nets' tactical adjustments are the key to reversing the situation.

However, the 5-point difference at halftime still made the game very suspenseful.

It just depends on whether the Raptors can take effective measures in this half.

Returning from the halftime break, the Raptors quickly showed their adjustments. Nurse replaced Gasol with Ibaka in the starting lineup!

This adjustment can be said to be the simplest and most effective way.

If you want to hold on to my big man for military training, then I will just replace him!

But while this may seem like a simple adjustment, a key point is that you can do it.

The Raptors meet this condition precisely, and Ibaka's comprehensive ability is stronger than the current Gasol.

However, the impact of this adjustment can also be seen. The Raptors' interior height has dropped, and they need more isolations on the offensive end.

The ball was more concentrated in Leonard's hands, and Leonard once again did not disappoint Nurse and the Raptors fans. He scored several consecutive offensive rounds, including difficult goals.

In the blink of an eye, he had scored a game-high 28 points.

The Raptors reversed the situation once again and took the lead back.

Lu was forced to call another timeout.

"I'll look for opportunities to fight Kawhi."

It was during this round that Lin Ying's words made Lu's mouth seem to have something falling out.

Leonard's offense in the playoffs has been good enough, but in comparison, what he is better at is defense.

Lin Ying saw a wall appearing in front of him, and was about to rush forward and kick him away.

But Lu was Lu after all, and he soon knew Lin Ying's purpose for doing this.

Leonard is in such good shape that instead of trying to defend him, it would be better to spend more time on the offensive end.

After all, even for Leonard, it is not easy to guard Lin Ying.

"go a head."

Lu threw the tactical board away, patted Lin Ying on the shoulder and said.

So in the end, all those tactics were in vain. What could be a more effective tactic than giving the ball to Lin Ying!

Back from the timeout, the Nets have the ball.

Lin Ying once again held the ball outside the right three-point line.

His decision once again attracted the attention of a group of people in the commentary box.

Because there is no Gasol on the court to beat Lin Ying at the moment.

Then, their expressions were the same as Lu's before, as if something fell out of their open mouths.

Lin Ying singles out Leonard?

Lu Zhen is really a goddamn tactical genius!

Leonard also didn't expect that Lin Ying's pick-and-roll was to beat him in isolation.

Although his face was still expressionless, it could be seen from his lowered center of gravity and the gestures of his open hands waving up and down that he was ready to make Lin Ying fail.

At this time, the fans' eyes were also looking at the two of them, their eyes shining brightly.

Since the start of the game, Lin Ying has not faced Leonard head-on.

The direct collision between kings and kings is so exciting!

Lin Ying broke through. After three threats, he chose to break through on the right.

Leonard's defense is very tight, and his big hands are always placed in a very aggressive position, ready to steal at any time.

Moreover, he also took action.

The moment Lin Ying stopped and prepared to lower his center of gravity and turn around, he took action.

That ghostly strike directly knocked the ball out of Lin Ying's hand!

The fans at the scene were stunned. Is this Leonard going all out?

What is death coil!

But the next second, something happened that shocked them even more.

Although the ball in Lin Ying's hand was knocked away, he reacted very quickly. After regaining control of the ball, he turned and leaned back in the opposite direction!

The difficulty of this ball is straight up!

And this time, even Leonard lost his defensive focus and had no time to pounce on him. He could only stretch his arms as much as possible to interfere with Lin Ying's shooting vision.

The ball flew out of Lin Ying's hand and spun past his head.

Then, under the gaze of everyone present.

"Uh-huh!"

Hollow into the basket!