NBA: Start by torturing Jordan and add points to upgrade

"In the end, it was the Cavaliers who drew Bynum's fifth foul first! Now they can be more decisive and aggressive when they attack the paint!" Van Gundy said as Anthony was shooting free throws. "With Bynum at five fouls, his defensive moves will definitely be smaller and more careful."

"He might even become hesitant and timid due to fear of repercussions, which would significantly reduce his defensive threat and allow the Cavaliers to improve their offensive efficiency considerably."

"It's the same on offense!" Miller said. "Bynum used to be able to play very aggressively and wasn't afraid of contact on offense, but now he has to be careful. He got three offensive fouls tonight, and who can guarantee he won't get a fourth?"

"But the Cavaliers' situation isn't that good either," Jackson added. "There are still 5 minutes and 50 seconds left, and they're down by 14 points. Even if Anthony makes both free throws, it'll still be a 12-point difference. After all, Bynum only has 5 fouls and isn't out of the game."

"As long as he's on the court, even if his threat level drops, he's still a solid 7-foot giant. Continuing to attack the paint might not be a good idea. The Cavaliers need to figure out how to play. But Bynum's 5 fouls are definitely a good opportunity to break through."

Anthony calmly made both free throws at the free-throw line; a free-throw shooter of his caliber certainly wouldn't falter at this moment.

As Lin Tian dribbled the ball up the court, he noticed that the Cavaliers' defense was more aggressive and ruthless. However, he wasn't in a hurry. At the moment, time was on the Lakers' side, as they had a large lead and didn't need to rush to score.

While Lin Tian was observing the situation and thinking about what tactics to use, the referee blew the whistle first.

The incident occurred on the inside line!
Bynum and Gasol both fell to the ground and tumbled together.

The referee frantically blew his whistle and rushed over to separate the two men to prevent the conflict from escalating.

Even Lin Tian didn't realize what was going on.

His eyes weren't looking at the basket; they were looking at the left corner, where he thought there would be an open shot.

But before he could even turn his gaze around, the two of them collapsed to the ground.

Even Lin Tian couldn't possibly have a complete view of the entire court every single moment.

Fortunately, there is a replay of the scene.

Lin Tian only needed to look up once to know what had happened.

Kobe was making a run, using Bynum's screen to try and break out of bounds, which was the opportunity Lin Tian had just seen.

However, Gasol's defense was unusually tough this time, blocking Kobe from getting past him.

Kobe then had no choice but to turn around and run towards the top lane as Chalmers caught up behind him.

At this moment, Bynum also turned and took a step toward Gasol, intending to take a few steps in another direction to provide a screen for Durant.

But this time, Gasol just wouldn't let him through!

Gasol used every trick in the book, pulling and tugging, until Bynum, feeling incredibly uncomfortable, couldn't take it anymore and slapped Gasol's arm away. Gasol then somehow lost his balance, and the two became completely entangled.

Finally, they all collapsed to the ground in a sorry state.

If this had happened at Staples Center, the referee would most likely have called a blocking foul on Gasol the moment the two players made contact, as his action to prevent Bynum from getting past him was indeed a bit too aggressive. However, this is Quicken Loans Arena, so the referee chose to turn a blind eye to Gasol's action.

It was precisely because of this that Gasol made even bigger moves, and Bynum finally retaliated, with both of them falling to the ground.

Given how badly the fall was, the referee couldn't possibly ignore it. After reviewing the replay and discussing the matter, the referee couldn't openly show favoritism towards one side on this stage.

Especially such a crucial ruling!

The referees are knowledgeable about basketball; they know that this call could very well change the course of the game or even the entire finals! That's why they are extremely cautious and careful.

In this play, Gasol committed a foul in the first half, Bynum committed a foul in the second half, and in the final stage, both players tangled up and fell to the ground.

After a two-minute discussion and repeated reviews, the referees finally reached a consensus and issued their ruling.

Both sides committed fouls!

The referee signaled a double foul!
As the name suggests, this means that if both players commit a foul, they are each penalized equally and each receives a foul.

Normally, such calls are made for collisions or physical contact between players without the ball. It's not unreasonable to call a foul on both sides in this play.

The problem is that Gasol picked up his fifth foul, while Bynum did it on his sixth!
He's going to be sent off!

In less than 30 seconds, Bynum committed two fouls and was ejected from the game by the referee!
Who knows how many Lakers fans were furious and cursing the referee for being biased after this call was made, and who knows how many Cavaliers fans were spreading the news and celebrating wildly.

At this moment, the people of Cleveland all thought: the opportunity has arrived!
After all, while the Lakers have an incredibly strong perimeter, their interior defense only has Bynum as a competent center. The rest, whether it's Murphy, McRoberts, or Turiaf, are all fringe players who might occasionally make some contributions.

But to expect them to be the team's mainstay in the paint for an extended period of time is undoubtedly a joke.

They don't have that level of skill or ability!

Facing the Cavaliers, who possess exceptional penetration ability and a formidable interior presence, the Lakers' weakened interior, now without Bynum, will inevitably become the Cavaliers' primary target.

No wonder Gasol looked smug while waiting for the referee's call on the sidelines, and his teammates kept praising him.

This guy did it on purpose!
His exceptional basketball IQ was on full display once again. Gasol calculated the officiating advantage brought by home-court advantage, took into account Bynum's personality and condition, and also calculated the referee's officiating standards tonight. After everything was calculated, he chose to trade one of his own fouls for one of Bynum's!
Of course, this choice is risky, because the referee could call a foul on Gasol the moment he makes his first move.

But for Gasol and the Cavaliers, the team is in trouble and they need a chance to break the deadlock and change the current situation. Gasol has to take a gamble.

Anyway, I only have 4 fouls. Even if the worst happens and I get my fifth foul, the team won't be completely doomed. They will still have a chance and a margin for error.

In summary, while Gasol's choice may not be a sure thing, it is definitely more beneficial than harmful.

"An incredibly smart choice and a deliberate foul!" Van Gundy calmly commented: "Gasol's basketball IQ is truly enviable! I believe every coach would love to have a player like Gasol on their team."

Even if Bynum was indignant and aggrieved, he couldn't change the referee's call at this point. But at least he remained calm and didn't keep going to the referee to protest or argue. He knew that if he went there now and got a technical foul, it would only make things worse for the team.

He could only shake his head and smile wryly, then helplessly retreated to the sidelines to sit down, escorted by his teammates.

After returning to the bench, Bynum angrily threw the towel handed to him by the ball boy onto the ground, then shook his head and cursed.

He might get a technical foul for letting loose on the court, but off the court, he doesn't need to hold back anymore.

After all, not every referee will issue a technical foul to a player off the court.

After Bynum left the court, possession of the ball remained with the Lakers.

This is determined by the rules of double fouls. If the offensive team happens to be shooting when both teams commit a foul, possession will change regardless of whether the shot goes in or misses.

If the attacking team has possession of the ball, the ball is inbounded after play resumes. If possession is uncertain and the ball is still contested, a jump ball at center circle determines possession.

Right now, the Lakers still have possession of the ball.

Jackson sat on the bench without speaking or sending any players to fill Bynum's vacancy, leaving the Lakers with only four players on the court for a time.

The referee came over and reminded Jackson to make a substitution, repeating the reminder several times, but Jackson ignored him and did not respond. This meant that the referee knew that the Lakers had just suffered a loss due to the officiating, which is why he was more accommodating and did not issue a technical foul directly.

But even a good attitude has its limits. Seeing that Jackson was sitting there and not going to move, the referee who came over to remind him got impatient and raised his hand to give Jackson a technical foul to remind him that the game was not over yet.

"Timeout!" But this time, Jackson's hand was faster; he made a T sign before the referee could, calling a timeout.

Without Bynum, Jackson needs to make some serious adjustments. "The question now is, how should the Lakers play?" Miller asked curiously. "Jeff, if it were you, what would you choose?"

"Keep bringing on Murphy, who had a great night. He hit four three-pointers, a career high for the playoffs. He was in his best form tonight. Then bring on McRoberts or Turiaf to maintain our height and depth on the court."

"Then we'll launch a fierce offensive attack on Gasol and try to take him down as well."

Jackson shook his head and said, "I don't think Jackson will play a two-center lineup anymore. He will bring in Barnes and continue to play a big-small lineup. Anyway, the Lakers have played a lot of big-small lineups this season, so they are not unfamiliar with this style of play."

"Given the Lakers' current level of interior play, playing with twin towers would be tantamount to handing over their advantage. So instead of that, it would be better to increase their mobility and leave only one big man, Murphy, to guard the paint."

"Murphy's defense is indeed average, but his height of 210 centimeters is a real thing. With him around, there's at least one absolute height advantage!"

Miller said, "I also think Jackson will continue to play with one big man and four small men, but I don't think he will pick Barnes. Given Jackson's crazy and gambling nature, he is more likely to pick a guard at this point!"

"Terry or Isaiah Thomas are both possibilities! Continue playing with three guards, maximize your mobility and shooting range, and have the whole team run to completely negate the Cavaliers' height."

All three commentators' proposals were quite plausible and made some sense. The three of them continued to argue, but none of them could convince the others. Fortunately, the timeout was only one minute long, so they didn't have to wait too long. When the timeout ended, Jackson's lineup on the court would speak for itself!
"Haha! I won!" As the timeout ended, Miller glanced at the Lakers' lineup and immediately exclaimed triumphantly, "As expected, it's a three-guard lineup!"

"You'll win my ass!" Jackson glanced at the Lakers players on the court and sneered, "Open your eyes and take a good look!"

"He's insane! Jackson's insane! He's crazy! Unbelievable!" Van Gundy shook his head repeatedly in surprise. Jackson's lineup on the court at this moment had truly shocked him.

"Is this a mistake?" Miller, having finally seen the Lakers' lineup, couldn't help but say, "Playing like this in the last five minutes of the game is insane."

The Lakers' roster surprised the three commentators so much because none of them guessed correctly! Jackson's lineup took them, and all the fans, by surprise!

The Big Three of Lin Tian, ​​Kobe, and Durant are all on the court, but what about the remaining two?

The commentators had all guessed they would play, but they never expected them to come up together.

Terry and Barnes!

After Bynum was ejected, Jackson immediately fielded a five-outside lineup with no interior players!
The Lakers' final lineup consisted of three guards and two small forwards!

Not only were the commentators stunned, but Lakers fans watching on TV, fans at Quicken Loans Arena, and even Cavaliers players were also taken aback when they saw the Lakers' five-man lineup.

What are you doing?

Completely abandon defense and rebounding, abandon inside offense, and then focus entirely on speed and offensive battles?
But the Lakers are leading by 12 points right now! Is it really necessary to play like this?
While everyone was still puzzled, all five Lakers players had already taken to the court. Durant was standing on the sideline preparing to inbound the ball, while the other four were scattered around the four corners of the three-point line, standing quite far apart from each other.

However, because all four players pose a significant three-point threat, the Cavaliers' defense is positioned quite far out, leaving the entire paint wide open.

"Is this the Lakers' idea? To use a five-out lineup to draw the Cavaliers' players out of the three-point line, and then attack their paint with drives?" Miller tried to guess, but no one answered him.

Everyone was watching the court with bated breath, eager to see what tricks the Lakers' lineup could pull off.

Soon, the referee passed the ball to Durant, and the other four Lakers players simultaneously sprinted towards the basket, as if they were all cutting to the basket at the same time.

After the four of them took two steps toward the inside, they all stopped at the same time. Then Lin Tian and Terry ran outwards again, while Kobe and Barnes made a pause and then continued their cut!

This move, which involved two inside and two outside runs with a fake cut, immediately created a clear gap in the Cavaliers' defensive formation, giving both Kobe and Terry space to receive the ball.

This is all because the Lakers' outside shooting ability is too strong, which creates openings for the Mavericks.

Without hesitation, Durant immediately passed the ball to Terry, who was closest to him.

After receiving the ball, Terry quickly turned around, glanced at Sessions who was rushing towards him, Terry used a crossover step to get past him, then took a step forward and immediately pulled up for a confident mid-range jump shot!

A guy who sat on the bench for the entire fourth quarter, and who had only been on the court for less than 5 seconds and received the ball for the first time, just so effortlessly took a shot!
Confidence! Terry's confidence has never wavered because of changes in his status or performance within the team!
"Shh!"

Then came a crisp sound as Terry's confidence turned into a hot hand, shooting right from the start and making it!
The score difference between the two sides remains at 14 points!
The Cavaliers' offense didn't give them time to think about why the Lakers were playing this all-out perimeter lineup at this moment; they just knew that the two points Anthony had just scored were wiped out again.

They need to catch up now!

After Wade arrived at the frontcourt, he immediately waved to his teammates to set a screen. Time was running out, and they had to play more decisively!

Gasol stepped forward to set a screen for Wade and then immediately moved to the side. However, Wade did not get a chance because Barnes almost seamlessly stepped in front of Wade and immediately spread his arms to interfere with him.

On the other side, Lin Tian held his position firmly, preventing Gasol from making any cuts.

Meanwhile, Wade noticed that neither Zydrunas Ilgauskas nor Carmelo Anthony, who had set off off-ball screens on the other side, had gotten any space.

Because Kobe immediately positioned himself behind Zydrunas Ilgauskas and pushed him out of the three-second zone, while Durant seamlessly transitioned to follow up with Anthony.

If fans see this scene more than 10 years from now, they will find it incredibly familiar.

Isn't this the most popular switch-everything defensive tactic 10 years from now?

When faced with pick-and-rolls and screens, switch decisively, preferring to give the opponent a mismatch rather than any open shot or cut opportunity.

This kind of defense requires a high level of teamwork and strong defensive skills from the players!

First and foremost, you must not be afraid of misalignment!
The Lakers can obviously do that.

Wade, standing beyond the three-point line, paused for a moment, somewhat surprised by the Lakers' extreme defense. But he quickly regained his focus, reminding himself that time was running out and he had to seize the opportunity to attack!

So Wade ignored the fact that Barnes was a whole size bigger than him, accelerated and drove hard, and successfully shook off Barnes near the free-throw line, gaining half a body length of space to shoot.

That's more than enough!

Knowing the opportunity was rare, Wade gathered the ball and jumped as soon as he got space, heading straight for the basket.

But before he could even shoot the basketball, a tall figure blocked his way.

Durant!
"Boom!"

Because of Durant's timely defense, Wade's layup was successfully disrupted, and Kobe Bryant grabbed the rebound.

Lakers' counterattack!

Kobe dribbled forward at high speed and found Terry immediately. Terry took a few steps with the ball and then passed it to Lin Tian in the middle. Lin Tian took the ball, changed direction, accelerated and shook off Chalmers, and drove straight to the basket.

"boom!"

After a loud bang, Lin Tian completed a fast break dunk, widening the gap between the two sides to 16 points!
"I get it!" Van Gundy finally understood at this moment. He slapped his thigh and stared wide-eyed, saying, "I understand what Jackson meant! A madman, a real madman! So audacious! Absolutely outrageous!"

"Is this the gap between me and top head coaches?"

Miller and Jackson waited for Van Gundy to explain what he had understood, but instead of saying what he had understood, Van Gundy started to share his inner monologue with everyone.

"Just tell us already! We don't have time to listen to you analyze your coaching performance. Tell us, what's on your mind?" Miller immediately interrupted Van Gundy's train of thought, urging him to explain what was going on. (End of Chapter)