NBA: I just want to play soy sauce, you let me win the championship

Chapter 109 Nelson’s first scientific research

On May 2002, 5, at the American Airlines Center Stadium, the third game of the playoff series between the Mavericks and the Kings officially began.

There was a change in the Mavericks' starting lineup. The mad scientist Nelson started his scientific research again, and brought the 39-year-old veteran John Newman to the starting lineup.

This can't be blamed on Nelson. The Mavericks' salary is really limited, and they really can't find a suitable player at the small forward position.

Nelson can only try and make mistakes one by one to see who can adapt to the other four starters.

The Kings remain unchanged in response to all changes, and they still have the same familiar starting lineup.

Within 3 minutes of the opening game, the old Newman was blown away by Stojakovic.

Since his "enlightenment" that day, Stojakovic has participated more in the team's offense, no longer waiting for the ball outside the three-point line to shoot three-pointers as before.

With the first ball in the opening game, Stojakovic entered the three-point line. Just when Newman let down his vigilance, the Yugoslavs relied on Weber's cover, slipped into the inside line, received a pass from Divac, and easily scored a layup. , scored the Kings' first point.

In the last game, both teams scored hundreds of points, making them unique among the playoff matchups.

Especially compared to the drowsy defensive battle between the Green Kai and the Pistons, the game between the Kings and the Mavericks is obviously more popular with neutral audiences.

Therefore, in this game, TNT still sent the golden pair of Barkley and Smith to explain this focus battle.

"Hey, Charles, have you noticed the changes in Stojakovic?" Kenny Smith was originally an outside player, so he was naturally particularly sensitive to Stojakovic's changes.

"Really? Did he have pigtails or a bald head? I don't think there is much change." Barkley was not so sensitive to Stojakovic's transformation and told jokes he thought were funny.

"I'm talking about the style of play," Smith finally waited for this opportunity to highlight his professionalism, and of course he would not miss it. You can see that he keeps setting screens for his teammates, and he also uses Webber's screens to attack the basket and score."

"This is very important for a three-point shooter whose outside touch has declined. Constant shooting will make you impatient and you will shoot harder and harder. So how can you help the team on the offensive end? Stojakovic's first A goal gave him the answer."

"Yes, as Kenny said, the Yugoslavs did play differently today, but what I want to say is," Barkley paused intentionally, "Does this style of play look very similar to Max? -land?"

Smith was stunned for a moment and then immediately realized, "Indeed, if the number plate had been covered, I would have thought that the attack just now was caused by Max!"

"No, no, no," Barkley continued, "If it was Max, it would be a slam dunk!"

"Hahahaha!"

Amid the banter between Barkley and Smith, Stojakovic indeed changed his style and began to attack the basket more.

And his reputation as the new three-point leader also allows him to deliberately pull out fake moves, which can deceive defensive players even more.

In the next few attacks of the Kings, Stojakovic used this three-point deterrence to keep running back and throwing off the old Newman, and kept scoring in the paint.

When Nelson saw that the situation was not good, he directly replaced Newman within 3 minutes. But to everyone's expectation, he replaced Najera, who started the first two games, with Van Exel.

Substituting the starting player in just 3 minutes, in the entire NBA, Nelson is the only one who dares to do this, right?

Van Exel came on to mark Christie, while Finley swung up to Stojakovic.

"Hey, Kenny, the Mavericks have made a huge change in their substitutions. Van Exel was replaced so early." Barkley quickly realized that something was wrong, "Old Nelson is going to make another surprise move today!"

It is indeed a strange move. Although Van Exel is not very good at defense, Christie does not have a particularly strong offensive ability, so it is just right.

On the offensive end, Van Exel's appearance brought huge changes.

The Kings have a big problem with their matchup defense.

If he defends like the Mavericks, Finley will be able to mismatch Stojakovic naturally, and if Stojakovic guards Exel, he will not be able to keep up with Van Exel. footsteps.

In the end, the players on the Kings field decided that Stojakovic would try to defend Finley.

Finley got the ball at the corner, and other Mavericks players pulled to the weak side, while Nash came from the weak side and stood outside the three-point line on the strong side to threaten the Kings.

Bibby didn't dare to let go of Nash to help defend Finley. Nash made 12 of 7 three-pointers in the first two games, an amazing shooting percentage and a lot of shots.

Finley was facing the rim, comfortable isolating Stojakovic.

Stojakovic has a height advantage, but his steps can't keep up with Finley. Finley is a triple threat and then breaks through to the right. Stojakovic quickly slides to keep up.

But after Finley gave Stojakovic a physical confrontation, he immediately retreated, and then shot a fadeaway jumper.

Stojakovic was already half a step behind Finley, and was bumped again, making his center of gravity unstable. At this time, he couldn't keep up with Finley's movement speed at all, so he stretched out his hand in vain, and then looked at Finley. Jumper hit.

How he bullied Newman to walk slowly just now, now Finley has returned all of it.

Adelman frowned, feeling that something was wrong with the situation, but an attack didn't mean anything, so he resisted the urge and continued to watch the development of the situation.

On the offensive end, the Kings could no longer find a soft persimmon like Newman, so they could only fight tough battles obediently, but this was not a problem. Bibby and Webber felt hot and kept scoring.

On the defensive end, it was more struggling. Stojakovic was constantly pulled out by Finley to eat alone, and the Kings tried several times to double-team the defense. Finley was also able to quickly release the ball and find an open teammate.

Is that how you cope, old Nelson?

What a wonderful idea!

In 6 and a half minutes, the score between the two sides was 16:18, and the Mavericks led by 2 points at home.

Adelman can't stand his team being singled by Finley infinitely, this guy has now scored 8 points!

Is it possible that we still want to set a new playoff scoring high on our head?
Don't be wishful thinking!
Adelman replaced Lu Yuanzhi, Turkoglu and Pollard, and continued to play his "Four Deaths". He mainly played one, you beat yours, and I beat mine, to see who couldn't handle it first.

Nelson took a look at the Kings' lineup and continued his first scientific research without making any adjustments.

(End of this chapter)