Chapter 409: Chapter 409: O'Neal Blocks Curry
The day after the game.
The Trail Blazers rented a stadium in Phoenix. They will train here, continue to find a way to deal with the Suns, and strive to beat the Suns in the next game.
The same stadium was rented by the Mavericks last time.
"Our weakness has been exposed. We have too little experience in the playoffs."
"The Suns' full-court press in the second half made us lose our composure... The price we paid was losing to the Suns."
"Actually, we played very well in the first half, and the score was very close."
"....."
Before training, the entire Trail Blazers team was watching the game video from yesterday. Stotts was holding the remote control, constantly pressing pause.
"Look at this play. After Wade Dong broke through, everyone's attention was focused on him, but Curry sneaked to the three-point line... Look! Wade Dong passed the ball to Curry, and Curry made the shot."
"Why did you shift your focus, Batum? You should have been defending Curry at that moment."
"Look at this play..."
"This time on offense! Frye was completely open beyond the three-point line. Why didn't you pass the ball to Frye, Matthews?"
"Blah blah blah..."
The Trail Blazers spent over two hours analyzing the reasons for their defeat in the previous game, and the final conclusion was: too young, no playoff experience.
After watching the game video, Stotts said, "Gortat, Frye, you two are the only ones on the team who have played in the Finals, and you've both made it to the Finals twice and won the championship. Share your thoughts first."
Not only did the Trail Blazers players lack playoff experience, but even head coach Stotts, who began coaching the Hawks in the early 21st century, is having his best year as a coach.
It can be said that this young team, even the head coach, has little playoff experience.
Gortat spoke with little confidence, "During the two consecutive championships, we were just supporting actors and didn't contribute much to the team."
Stotts, "???"
Aldridge said, "What we need is your playoff experience."
Gortat thought for a moment before saying, "Experience isn't the most important thing. I think the more you get into the playoffs, the more you need your star player to step up! Just like when the Suns won the championship for the first time, if it wasn't for Wade Dong stepping up, the Suns wouldn't have been able to advance from the Western Conference's eighth seed all the way to the Finals and eventually win the championship."
"???"
The Trail Blazers players looked at each other, and finally their eyes settled on Lillard and Aldridge.
The entire Trail Blazers team spent half a day studying tactics in the stadium and then conducted half a day of tactical training.
After they left, the stadium owner turned off the surveillance video in his office and muttered, "No substance! Do they still think they can beat the Suns?"
"Jack, close the door. I'm treating everyone to drinks tonight!"
....
5th of May, clear skies.
The Suns' games have the highest ratings all over the world.
In M country, basketball has always been in the embarrassing third or fourth place in terms of sports ratings, with American football and baseball taking the top two spots. However, since Wade Dong entered the league, basketball has surpassed baseball this year and is now second in M country's sports ratings.
This game was also broadcast live throughout M.
O'Neal and Barkley came to the game to commentate.
During the players' warm-up, the 'treasure' O'Neal sneaked onto the court.
"Slap!"
Curry had just taken a three-pointer, but O'Neal swatted it away from behind.
In fact, when O'Neal sneaked up behind Curry, everyone on the Suns noticed except for Curry. Curry turned around with a dark face, which caused his teammates to burst into laughter. "Haha..."
"La la la~"
After blocking Curry, O'Neal twisted his shoulders, happy as a 400-pound fat man.
The retribution came quickly...
O'Neal was still twisting on the court when he felt someone propping him up from behind, and then someone flew over his head.
"Ouch, damn it~"
O'Neal saw that the person who jumped over his head was Wade Dong, and he chased after him to beat him up!
However, O'Neal couldn't catch Wade Dong. The two circled the court, causing the fans to laugh, and it ended with O'Neal panting and unable to run anymore.
Ten minutes before the game, the starting lineups of the two teams appeared on the big screen in the stadium:
Suns: Wade Dong, Thompson, Durant, Curry, Green.
Trail Blazers: Aldridge, Matthews, Lillard, Batum, Gortat.
"Beep!!!"
With the sound of the whistle, the game began.
The Suns got the ball.
Wade Dong dribbled to the frontcourt. While defending, the Trail Blazers also focused their attention on Durant, Curry, and Thompson, no longer fixating on Wade Dong alone like in the previous game.
"Hmm?! They've expanded their defensive range..."
Wade Dong has over a dozen coaching skills, and his ability to read the game is unmatched by the Trail Blazers' coaching staff, players, and janitors combined.
Sam Gold!
Wade Dong easily shook off Lillard and stopped for a jump shot!
"Swoosh!!!"
The basketball swished through the net!
2:0!!!
The Trail Blazers were on offense. Facing Wade Dong's defense, Lillard first performed a dribble move.
As the ball hung in his hand, Lillard was observing Wade Dong's position and center of gravity. The side step-back jumper is Lillard's signature move.
If Wade Dong's center of gravity shifted upwards, Lillard would quickly release the ball and break through Wade Dong's defense. If Wade Dong's center of gravity shifted backwards, Lillard would quickly bring the ball in and step back to the three-point line for a shot.
If...
Lillard encountered the current situation, where Wade Dong's defensive center of gravity did not move.
"How could this be?"
Although he was puzzled, Lillard still made a decisive offensive choice, quickly bringing the ball in and making a fake shot.
According to Lillard's idea, Wade Dong would be faked out by this forced shot, and at that moment, he would quickly connect with a SOMA step to finish the play.
But!
Wade Dong still didn't move!
"Are you a wooden dummy???"
Lillard really wanted to make a sarcastic comment because when he made this series of moves, Wade Dong stood in front of him like a wooden dummy, not moving at all!
The ball became dead!
The Trail Blazers' offensive rhythm was disrupted, and Lillard couldn't even pass the ball. He could only force a shot.
Just as Lillard lifted his wrist, Wade Dong sliced the ball off his hand with one hand, and then with a quick tap, the ball went behind Lillard.
He split the defense!
"Oh yeah~~~"
The Western Arena instantly boiled over, and Wade Dong dribbled forward and dunked with a windmill.
"Time out!"
Less than a minute into the game, Stotts called a time out!
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