NBA peak Jordan template

Chapter 136 The Western Conference Finals begins, Kerr’s test paper for Walton
"Master Long, were you number one in the West?"

"What do you think?"

"Just today, just today!"

Zheng Long woke up from this interesting dream. He was awakened by the deafening cheers of fans outside the team bus.

He saw the madness on the faces of thousands of fans, and the desire for victory in their eyes.

in case.

Really won the championship this year.

The shouts of the Lakers fans may shake the whole earth.

After the bus arrived at the parking lot, Walton hurried to the pre-game press conference, while Zheng Long followed his teammates back to the locker room.

The Lakers players are very excited. This excitement is not blind confidence, but they can't wait to start the game now and compete with the Warriors with real ammunition.

"I feel like my heart is beating so fast!"

"We will win G1, then win the Western Conference finals, and advance to the finals!"

"I'm really going to work hard today, brothers!"

The same is true of the atmosphere on the Warriors' side.

Draymond Green is giving a passionate speech in the locker room: "We came to Los Angeles today with only one purpose-to win the Lakers and let those home fans who came to watch the game shut their mouths!"

As the spiritual leader, Curry stood beside Green and supported him.

The Warriors players responded in unison.

Just as the players on both sides were "peeling themselves up", Walton and Cole were also fighting openly and secretly at the pre-match press conference.

Both sides "touted" the opposing team in their speeches.

Cole: "The Lakers beat us twice in the regular season. They also broke our record of 73 wins last season. They have the quasi-MVP Zheng Long. The strength of this Lakers team is historical!"

Walton raised his eyebrows, and did not dare to show weakness when he came on stage: "In the past two seasons, the Warriors have entered the finals twice and won a championship. This season they also have a superstar like Durant. For the Lakers, this series may be the biggest challenge of the season!"

The media reporters in the audience listened to the head coaches of the two teams praising each other.

Secretly scolded the hypocrisy of the two.

The two teams had fought to the death in the final game of the regular season, and they wished they could stomp on each other's face in this series.

Walton and Kerr, former masters and apprentices, have gradually fallen out with each other in the regular season showdown between the two teams.

There were media reports two days ago that Wharton had blocked Cole's contact information.

For this kind of gossip that can add a sense of gunpowder.

The fans couldn't get enough of it.

In order to add fuel to this series, NBA officials even brought out the playoff records of the two teams in NBA history.

As a traditional giant with many strong periods, the Lakers have defeated the Warriors several times in the history of the NBA playoffs.

After the Celtics ended their unprecedented 8 consecutive championships, the NBA ushered in a situation of separatism.

The Lakers are one of the powerful teams. They are also warriors in the Western Conference. If they want to break out of the Western Conference, they cannot avoid facing the Lakers.

The two teams have played against each other seven times in the postseason.

Except for the first meeting in the 1966-67 season, the Warriors won the Lakers.

In the 1967-68 season, the Warriors, which had just lost team superstar Rick Barry, relied on the cohesion of the entire team to finish third in the Western Conference that season. After reaching the Western Conference Finals, they were swept out by the Lakers in four games. .

In the 1968-69 season, they were defeated by the Lakers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals.

In the 1972-73 season, the Warriors re-owned Rick Barry and once again reached the Western Conference Finals. They met the Lakers again. This time, the Lakers easily won the Warriors in only five games.

In the 1976-77 season, in the Western Conference semifinals, the Warriors and the Lakers completed a fierce battle in seven games, but they were unfortunately eliminated.

In the 1986-87 season, the Warriors made history in the first round against the Jazz by allowing two to chase three, and fell under the knife of the Lakers again in the Western Conference semifinals.

In the 1990-91 season, the Warriors, who had the trio of "Bombarding TMC" - Hardaway, Richmond, and Mullin, defeated the powerful Spurs in the first round. They met the Lakers again in the Western Conference semifinals and were eliminated 1-4.

There have been 7 meetings between the two teams.

The Lakers won 6 of them, and 6 times prevented the Warriors from making further progress.

In order to attract more attention, the media will naturally not miss this topic at today's pre-match press conference: "May I ask Mr. Walton, what do you think of the two teams' performance in the past 6 years after 1 wins and 26 loss in the playoffs? What about another playoff matchup?”

Wharton had an idea and made a "7" gesture, ending today's interview handsomely.

Stop pretending, it's a showdown, the things I said at the beginning are just words, I want to win!

Cole was a little annoyed when he saw Walton leaving the interview with a "7" sign.

Let the kid Wharton pretend to be there again.

The Lakers players are like this, they always like to play tricks with gestures.

Kobe:? ? ?
In the verbal confrontation, Walton won the opportunity on behalf of the Lakers. He believes that as long as the Lakers win today's game, the picture of him being more handsome than "7" will appear on the headlines tomorrow.

When the time dialed to eight thirty.

The opening ceremony of the Western Conference Finals ended, the players from both sides stood still on the court, and the exciting moment finally arrived.

In recent years, the commercialized NBA has added a lot of pre-game advertisements. The audience who came to the scene early have been waiting for a long time, and they are very hungry at this time.

Damn let's get started!

I'm in so much pain!

The on-site commentator shouted: "Welcome to the audience friends to come to the scene of the Lakers VS Warriors at home in the Western Conference Finals of the 2016-17 season!"

"This battle for the top spot in the Western Conference has officially begun!"

Beep----

Even the referee whistled harder than before, the basketball was thrown directly above the arena, the center Jokic and Pachulia of both sides took off at the same time, and the two felt the fierce confrontation from each other in the air .

Snapped!
The basketball flew out!

"Pachulia won the ball first for the Warriors!"

"Curry took off and took off the basketball!"

"Warriors push the fast break!"

On the court, Curry, who got the ball, yelled "go go go!", and all the Warriors pressed forward. The Lakers expected that Jokic would not be able to win this jump ball. After all, Jokic won the jump ball this season. The number of times was only 15, so they withdrew their defense at the moment Jokic took off.

But the Warriors advanced faster than the Lakers expected. Thompson and Durant quickly settled on the left and right flanks, Pachulia stood at the top of the arc as a cover, and Green rushed to the basket.

Just a moment of pick-and-roll pull.

Curry, who got a short shot, made a three-pointer without hesitation.

The three-pointer failed to hit, and the basketball bounced up. Under the basket, Green, who knew that he was not as tall as Jokic, chose to take off and shoot the basketball out.

It's a smart decision.

The basketball just flew past Zheng Long's fingertips and came into Clay's hands. When Clay saw Zheng Long still falling with his back to him, he realized that his chance had finally come.

Take off, take off!
Hand up and down!
As one of the fastest men in the league from receiving the ball to shooting, I am afraid that only Clay can complete the movement from raising his hand to shooting before Zheng Long can react to this defense.

Because when Clay shot, Zheng Long's hand had already patted him.at the same time.

Swish!
Snapped!
The two completed a high five and the basketball fell into the hoop.

Lakers 0-3 Warriors.

"Three-pointer from Klay!"

"Before the start of the game, the statistics also showed that under the defense of Zheng Long, Clay's three-point shots and hits were zero percent."

"Some fans questioned that Clay will play the worst performance in the Western Conference Finals in his career history."

"But today, Clay smashed this doubt with his own hands at the beginning!"

This goal made many Lakers fans hold their heads. In more than two games against the Warriors, Clay was completely restricted by Zheng Long.

But today, Clay scored from the start.

This is not a good sign.

After scoring the goal, Clay couldn't help but clenched his fist and hammered the air. God knows how long he waited for this goal.

Compared to Clay.

Zheng Long, who was "faced", had no reaction. The Warriors' offense today was more decisive than they thought. Winning the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals further increased their confidence.

Everything is as Zheng Long thought.

In the next few offensive rounds, the Warriors continued to speed up and were extremely decisive. Even in the ultra-long three-point position from the outside, as long as he could make a shot, Curry would definitely send the basketball in his hand to the basket.

Let’s not talk about every time Curry takes a shot, the Warriors players choose to return to defense without looking back, and Pachulia even gave up offensive rebounds.

His task in these few rounds is to create room for Curry at the top of the arc.

"Cole is playing something new with the Warriors in today's opening team."

"Their tactics and style of play these few rounds are very special."

"It's just a cross-over to make Curry lose three points."

"Then try our best on the defensive end, even if Curry misses the shot, it doesn't give the Lakers any chance to counter the fast break."

This style of play made the on-site commentary a little confused.

Walton frowned at the Lakers 6-9 Warriors on the scoreboard. As a head coach, he is familiar with various tactics and naturally knows what Cole is playing.

This is nothing new!

Cole used the 7-second run-and-gun tactics that D'Antoni used to lead the Suns.

The original tactics of the Warriors have some shadows of the seven-second run and bomb, and it is even said that Cole developed it based on that set of tactics. Regarding this point, Walton, who was once the chief assistant coach of the Warriors, couldn't be more clear.

But today.

Cole chose to go back to his basics and just copy it!

And it works great!

It was Steve Nash who led the Suns to play a 7-second run and bomb, and it is Curry who now plays the role of "Son of the Wind" for the Warriors.

In terms of advancing speed alone, Curry is not inferior to "Son of the Wind" Nash, and the offensive range has to be expanded a circle!
At that time, the Suns won the first place in the regular season with a seven-second run and bomb, setting the best record in history.

And the current Warriors are like an enhanced version of that Suns team!
This is both a "scientific research" by Cole and an "examination paper" that Cole gave Wharton.

Now is the time to test Wharton's on-the-spot adjustments.

"Think about what Popovich did."

Walton closed his eyes and began to recall the Spurs' game against the Suns in his mind, even though the Suns were at their peak during the regular season.

However, they were sanctioned twice by the Spurs in the playoffs.

Videos of those games played back in Walton's mind, including approximate statistics for each game.

On the field, the game continues.

Curry felt really good today, and the Warriors are gradually expanding their lead.

Halfway through the first quarter, the Warriors had taken a 15-9 lead by 6 points. Zheng Long had once again got hold of Clay, but his teammates were a little confused by the Warriors.

Beep----

The Lakers finally called a timeout, and the Lakers players were able to breathe. They walked off the field, looking at Walton expectantly, and Walton looked at Zheng Long.

Zheng Long understood: "I will do what I need to do."

Walton's answer was concise and concise: "Speed ​​up, we need to speed up. If possible, we need to be faster than the Warriors!"

"Faster!"

"Higher offensive efficiency."

Hearing Wharton's words, Zheng Long understood instantly, but the other Lakers players were still a little dizzy. Jokic couldn't help asking: "Coach, I don't quite understand what you mean."

Zheng Long answered Jokic's doubts for Walton: "If I'm not wrong, the head coach wants us to play like the Spurs who defeated the Suns in the 04-05 season."

Crowd: ? ? ?
At this time, on the other side, the players of the Warriors were panting and resting. The 7-second running and bombing was extremely exhausting, but the expressions on the players' faces were very excited.

Because they saw the panic on the faces of the Lakers players today.

The new tactics and style of play are very effective!

Green did not forget to brag to Cole: "Coach, you are too awesome. Maybe we can get a lead of more than 20 points in the first half. We will win today!"

Cole just smiled and said: "It's just a 6-point lead. Keep this offensive rhythm. The Lakers are not that simple. They will never sit still."

After saying this, Cole looked towards the Lakers bench in the distance.

Walton is waving his hands passionately, holding a tactical board, and explaining something to the Lakers players.

Seeing this picture, Cole put away his smile.

Did Wharton figure out how to deal with it so quickly?

Today, he took the risk of letting the team adopt a 7-second run-and-gun tactic. Cole is confident that he is definitely ahead of Walton in terms of on-the-spot adjustments and tactical reserves.

I didn't expect to use this offensive rhythm throughout the game to win today's game.

But the 6-point lead obviously has not met his expectations.

in case.

Wharton realized how to fight so quickly.

Maybe I need to reposition this former "big disciple".

The referee blew the whistle, and the Lakers players returned to the court with expressions of confusion and understanding. Walton was still giving instructions behind them.

"Trust me, trust Zheng Long!"

"Let's fight like this!"

"start running!"

"Run like crazy!"

(End of this chapter)