I am Rick Adelman.

Until this series against the Lakers began, I was still worried about how to twist these Trail Blazers stars into a rope.

I pondered countless times in my mind.

Because I knew that if I couldn't unite the Trail Blazers' stars, we wouldn't be able to defeat the Lakers at all.

However...

Although I recently talked to Kevin, Vince, Paul, and Chris many times in private...

But the result after each conversation...

Made me feel physically and mentally exhausted.

At this moment, I couldn't help but think of the happy times when I led them to the Finals last year.

That was my lost youth, the glorious years when I ran with these Trail Blazers under the setting sun.

Trail Blazers, what exactly happened to you?

Why...

Why would you become like this in just a few months?

Uh...

Alright!

Staples Center.

Adelman never expected that this group of Trail Blazers stars would eventually unite.

Just...

What differed from Adelman's thoughts was that after these stars twisted into a rope...

On the evening of the 3rd, he had already been reduced to a tool man specializing in handing tactical boards to Coach Paul and Coach Pierce.

And at the Staples Center...

After the Lakers showed their championship form in the series against the Grizzlies, the Lakers fans, who thought that they would easily solve the Trail Blazers as predicted by the experts...

Also never expected...

That "Lakers champions" that they had been holding back all night, they really didn't get to shout it out all night.

So...

Calling the Trail Blazers winning against the Lakers an "upset" is outrageous.

On the 3rd, in the first game of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, the Trail Blazers "upset" and beat the Lakers 117 to 109 on the road.

In the whole game, Paul and Carter respectively got 19 points, 9 assists, and 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.

In addition, Garnett also had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists.

And Battier, who unexpectedly appeared in the Trail Blazers' starting lineup that night, shot five three-pointers for the team, and in the final quarter, he created Marion's fifth and sixth personal fouls of the game through two successful positioning plays.

In this game, Su Feng and Kobe didn't have ideal shooting percentages.

The former made 11 of 23 shots, including free throws and three-pointers, scoring only 37 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Lakers.

The latter made 5 of 19 shots, barely getting 21 points relying on free throws.

Through the change of formation, the Trail Blazers effectively restricted the Lakers' offensive and defensive rhythm on the court.

Although the weight-increased Garnett was still ten kilograms lighter than Little Gasol, Little Gasol couldn't do anything to him in the low post relying on his excellent experience and control of position.

And turning around, Little Gasol, who usually likes to fly kites outside the three-point line...

Was completely outplayed by this iron-blooded wolf king.

Pierce didn't score much in this game.

However, with the help of his teammates...

He greatly increased the cost of Su Feng's every shot on the court.

I have to say that after jointly Banning the head coach, the Trail Blazers have already found their most correct way to play.

Because Garnett and Battier are both good at helping with defense.

Therefore, on the evening of the 3rd, the Trail Blazers, who adopted a mixed defense throughout the whole game, not only successfully defended their restricted area, but even on the court, when the Lakers broke their zone defense in the traditional way, they could always resolve the Lakers' offense in the first time.

At critical moments, Coach Lue and Van Gundy didn't want to directly unleash the strongest form of the Lakers...

Why did the Trail Blazers "suddenly" become so strong?

That's of course because they have such a foundation.

It's just that...

They hadn't integrated their own advantages before.

After the first game, targeting the Trail Blazers' infinite rotation and mixed defense, in fact, Van Gundy had already put forward some very constructive suggestions to Coach Lue.

For example, how the Lakers players on the court should use Su Feng's Buff to attack.

For example, how other Lakers players should make decisions when the situation can't be opened up.

However, no matter how insightful the suggestions Van Gundy put forward on the 4th were...

On the internet, some people firmly believe that after the first game against the Trail Blazers, the Lakers have been eliminated.

Because after putting out a bunch of high-level data and various unfavorable first game statistics for the Lakers...

These "great gods" not only successfully discovered the various problems that currently exist in the Lakers.

And, under their description, the Trail Blazers' defense is simply impossible to break.

"Trust me, the Lakers are going home in this series because the Trail Blazers' infinite rotation is too perverted!"

"I feel that the Lakers are completely cold, even if Su and Kobe break out at the same time, it will be difficult for them to defeat the Trail Blazers."

"So, the series in which the Lakers beat the Grizzlies 4-0 was too detrimental to their character. If they had let the Grizzlies win a game, would they have fallen to this point?"

Emmm.

If saying that blowing the Trail Blazers and belittling the Lakers' point of view, in Su Feng's view, at least it can be regarded as barely understanding a little bit of the fur...

Then the argument that beating the Grizzlies 4-0 would be detrimental to their character...

Is really something only a moron could say.

On the evening of the 5th, the Lakers and Trail Blazers' Western Conference Semifinals g2 battle continued at the Staples Center.

In this game, in addition to continuing the starting lineup from the first game, Adelman was still that tool man who was put aside.

It's just on the court, with the change of the Lakers' employment ideas and play style.

On this night, where was the magic of the Trail Blazers' defense that the two teams had in the first game?

On the court, according to the advice given by Van Gundy, Su Feng increased his three-point attempts after using off-ball screens to get out.

On the other side, Kobe also adjusted his shooting structure.

Because in Van Gundy's view, the real strong points of the Trail Blazers lie in Paul and Garnett.

So as long as the Lakers can play their advantages on the wings, constantly giving pressure to the Trail Blazers through outside shooting, the Lakers can promote the Trail Blazers to change their defensive structure.

Of course.

For this suggestion given by Van Gundy, before the game, Coach Lue also gave his own doubts.

Because once the Lakers' outside shooting can't force the Trail Blazers to change their defensive structure...

Then next, the Lakers will definitely be infinitely passive on the court.

At that time, after staring at Coach Lue for several seconds, Van Gundy always felt that this guy should go to be a commentator for two years before becoming a coach.

"Tyron, I know, you want to say 'You can't win a championship by relying on shooting', right?" Before the game, looking at Coach Lue, Van Gundy asked.

Coach Lue nodded, "This tactic is good for everything, it's just that the risk is too great."

"Then Tyron, what kind of tactic has no risk, what kind of game style can guarantee you can win 100%?

Su is the best shooter in the league today. In his thirteen-year career, he has made more than 3000 three-pointers.

And even if Kobe is not as accurate as Su, as long as Kobe wants to shoot outside, then why should Vince stop him?" Gazing at Coach Lue, Van Gundy asked.

And at this time, Coach Lue was speechless.

Because in basketball games, there is no tactic that can guarantee that you can win against the opponent.

Especially in this kind of game where everyone's overall strength is very close.

In Van Gundy's view, rather than being passively beaten, at least choosing to take the initiative to change, the Lakers' fate is in their own hands.

Fortunately, on this night, not only was Su Feng divinely assisted...

On the court, facing Carter, Kobe scored 3 three-pointers for the Lakers in the first quarter alone.

And at this time...

As Van Gundy expected...

As the Lakers' outside shots opened up, the Trail Blazers' inside couldn't provide endless support to their wings like before.

In addition, in the second quarter, once there was an opportunity on the court, the Lakers' substitutes also played more decisively than the other.

On the sidelines, on the Lakers' bench, looking at this Trail Blazers that could have become better, Van Gundy couldn't help but sigh: "I have to say, we are really lucky."

Hearing this, Coach Lue was stunned at first, then startled, and then asked: "Jeff, what do you mean by this?"

Van Gundy shook his head and said: "Because if Rick is a coach who understands defense, then with the personnel composition of this Trail Blazers, he can completely increase the team's defense by another level.

And in that case...

The cost of gambling that we need to pay in the game with them is also different."

In Van Gundy's view, if the basketball game is compared to both sides going to the gambling table to gamble...

Then at this moment, facing the Lakers' all-in...

The Trail Blazers led by Adelman have already panicked.

Especially in the second half of the game.

In order to prevent Su and Kobe from shooting wildly outside, the Trail Blazers repeatedly inexplicably allowed Marion to complete cuts on the court when defending inside.

In the end, what differed from what those cloud experts who thought that even if Su and Kobe broke out at the same time, the Lakers would have a hard time winning against this Trail Blazers after the g1 war was...

This night, the Lakers not only won.

And in the view of the cloud experts after the g2 war, Su and Kobe were far from breaking out at the same time.

In this game, the final score of the two teams was 104 to 121.

In the whole game, Su Feng scored a total of 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Lakers.

Kobe scored 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists for the Lakers.

Just looking at the score, it seems that Su Feng and Kobe didn't score much more than they did in the g1 war.

But with the change of the scoring structure of the two people in this game, the other members of the Lakers were fully mobilized.

Just...

Speaking of which, it still feels a little unbelievable.

Because on this night, it was not someone else who made the Lakers players have to shoot decisively from the outside...

It was Jeff Van Gundy, who forced Alan Houston to shoot "step-on-the-line three-pointers".

And Van Gundy's reason at the time was very sufficient.

"Isn't a three-pointer one point more than a two-pointer?

In addition, don't you know that a three-pointer that makes 3 of 10 shots is basically as efficient as a two-pointer that makes 5 of 10 shots?" Before the game, just as Coach Lue was hesitant...

Van Gundy looked at Coach Lue with a puzzled expression and asked.

As a result, the facts proved.

On this night, the 11 three-pointers that Su Feng and Kobe jointly made did destroy the Trail Blazers' defense to a great extent.

"You said, why didn't I understand these principles when I was coaching the Knicks back then?" On this night, looking at Coach Lue, Van Gundy asked with a curious expression.

Coach Lue: "......"

You're asking me...

Who can I ask?

"By the way, Jeff, do you have any ideas for the next game now?" After the game, putting his arm around Van Gundy's shoulder, Coach Lue asked.

On the sidelines, after shaking his head, Van Gundy looked at Su Feng, who was still fighting with Kobe on the court.

"He can guide us to a farther future.

Tyron, if you haven't figured out that the hero of this game is Su instead of me...

Then I suggest that you retire as soon as possible and give me the position of Lakers head coach as soon as possible!" Looking at Coach Lue with a serious face, Van Gundy revealed his true intentions.

Coach Lue: "......"

Indeed!

Ever since I became the head coach of the Lakers...

Every day, some troublemakers want to harm me!

However...

What Coach Lue, who thought that Van Gundy was taking the opportunity to tease himself, didn't know was...

The words that Van Gundy just said were by no means flattering Su Feng.

Because the more he chatted with Su Feng about the details related to tactics during the chat...

The more Van Gundy felt that the terror of this man exceeded the imagination of the world.

"There is no problem that a three-pointer can't solve.

If there is, then score another one."

On the morning of the 4th, before the other Lakers players arrived at the training hall, looking at Su Feng, who was warming up with Kobe by playing one-on-one, Van Gundy would never forget the look in Su Feng's eyes when he looked at him at that time.

And it was at that moment...

Van Gundy discovered...

John Davis, who is respected by the world, and Spoelstra, who has been recognized as a famous coach...

Seems like...

There's nothing great about it.

"Damn, how could it be cheaper for this kid Tyron?"

On this night, looking at Coach Lue's silly look...

Van Gundy was very desperate.

And what made Van Gundy even more desperate was...

After the game, at the press conference, when people asked why the Lakers shot so frantically from the outside in this game...

Coach Lue copied his words verbatim.

Van Gundy: "......"

No!

Can't you have a little bit of your own understanding and stuff?

Coach Lue: A head coach, copying the tactics of his assistant coach, can that be called copying?

That's called being good at listening to suggestions and analyzing and integrating them, do you understand, you assistant coach?

Van Gundy: "......"

……

ps: There were still a few words missing to pay back yesterday's short chapter =. =, but the schedule can't be messed up, so on the 24th, let's directly use 10,000 words to do it! Mwah!