Chapter 165 Utah Jazz 2.0

Early in the first quarter, after the Lakers went on a 9-2 run, Coach Sloan quickly made a substitution.

Jefferson and Yi Jianlian came in, replacing Okur and Boozer.

In Su Feng's previous life, during his peak, Jefferson was one of the few low-post technicians among American power forwards. He was Marc Gasol's natural enemy.

In their 21 career matchups, Jefferson often dominated Gasol.

Later, after Jefferson's prime, Gasol, like Sima Yi, outlasted this "little Zhuge of the interior."

This season, as the Jazz's true secret weapon off the bench, Jefferson is ostensibly Okur's backup, but everyone knows that Okur, who only plays 16 minutes per game, is just a placeholder.

So far, Jefferson is averaging 18.8 points and 8.4 rebounds for the Jazz.

Meanwhile, Yi Jianlian, whose elbows are much thicker than in his historical counterpart, has earned the nickname "Little Malone" on the team.

Style-wise, the Yi Jianlian of Su Feng's memories is no longer relevant.

Because both his playing style and tactics...

Yi Jianlian has undergone a radical transformation compared to Su Feng's previous life.

This season, Yi Jianlian is averaging 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Jazz.

Statistically, it doesn't seem much different from his rookie season in Su Feng's memories.

However, besides the fact that Yi Jianlian is currently playing for one of the strongest teams in the West...

His ability to play physically and make high-post steals means that if the Jazz let him go when his rookie contract expires, many teams would be willing to offer him a long-term deal.

At the EnergySolutions Arena, the game continued after the Jazz made their substitutions.

Deron Williams dribbled past half-court. Jefferson and Yi Jianlian executed a cross screen on the wing.

Because both have some range and are more agile than Gasol, Ben Wallace had to extend his defense.

At the high post, Yi Jianlian turned and ran towards Deron Williams, screening off Su Feng, who was closely guarding him.

Fortunately, Su Feng managed to avoid Yi Jianlian's screen and chased after Deron Williams again.

But as Su Feng closed in, the ball disappeared from Deron Williams' hands.

This is a classic high-low post play.

The Jazz's movement had disrupted the Lakers' defensive formation.

At the top of the arc, after receiving Deron Williams' pass, Yi Jianlian quickly lobbed the ball into the paint.

On the baseline, as Jefferson prepared to attack, he successfully baited Gasol, leaving Evans as the only player who could help defend.

However...

As Evans rushed towards Jefferson...

Jefferson quickly passed the ball to Miles, who was wide open.

As a shooter with a three-point percentage over 40%, Miles didn't miss the opportunity.

Swish!

9-5!

This is the Utah Jazz of the Jerry Sloan era.

Strict discipline, clear division of labor.

Perhaps Yi Jianlian's individual stats won't be great playing for this Jazz team.

But this season, where can you find the Yi Jianlian who didn't know what to do with the ball when he played for the Bucks, as Su Feng remembered?

No more looking around after catching the ball.

No more hesitation when passing or shooting.

Yi Jianlian, having found his role, has become an indispensable part of this Jazz team.

Back on offense, the Lakers attacked.

To stop Su Feng's penetration, the Jazz deployed their zone defense.

Compared to other teams' zone defenses, the Jazz's positioning and rotations were textbook perfect.

Therefore, after dribbling to the top of the arc, Su Feng wisely held up a finger to his teammates.

Do you know why Michael Jordan didn't want to run the triangle offense in the Finals?

Because against Jerry Sloan's teams...

The more complex the tactics...

The more superfluous they are.

On the court, while dribbling and observing the distance between him and Kirilenko, Su Feng made several deceptive dribbling moves.

Kirilenko didn't fall for it.

But the moment Su Feng accelerated, Kirilenko found that his body was uncontrollably lunging to the other side.

Was it because Kirilenko reacted too quickly and couldn't control his momentum?

No...

In fact...

Su Feng initially intended to drive to his left...

However, just as he was about to collide with Kirilenko, Su Feng's knee forcefully directed his feet to change direction!

And, upon receiving the turning command, Su Feng's waist immediately mobilized all parts of his body!

This isn't a crossover...

This is a basketball version of the "pendulum dribble"!

While dramatically shifting his weight low...

You won't know which side Su Feng will drive to until the last moment.

Of course...

Because this move is particularly hard on the knees...

In the NBA...

Players who have used this move can usually be found on the list of the most regrettable talents.

At the top of the arc, a step inside the three-point line, Su Feng pulled up and hit the shot before the Jazz's help defense arrived.

11-5.

On the sideline, after shaking his head, Coach Sloan sighed, "Life is indeed a constant cycle."

If the Lakers of tonight are like the Bulls of the past...

Although Karl Malone and John Stockton have long faded from the league...

The "Malone Gang" composed of Iverson, Boozer, Yi Jianlian, and others, plus Deron Williams, whom Jazz fans call the "Stockton successor"...

Isn't it Jazz 2.0?

In recent years, the NBA has been evolving with rule changes.

But the classics are always the classics.

Because the reason why old things are old...

Is precisely because they are classic enough.

Like...

Sloan and his pick-and-roll offense.

In the second half of the first quarter, the Jazz gradually stabilized and suppressed the Lakers' aggressive start.

At the end of the first quarter, it was 27-27.

In the second quarter, Sloan subbed Boozer back in after he had rested for half a quarter.

The Lakers, on the other hand, fielded a lineup of Su Feng and Mo Williams with three role players.

Previously, to allow Su Feng to perform more efficiently in the remaining games, Coach Lue would have Su Feng rest during the second quarter when Mo Williams led the team.

But tonight was different.

Because in basketball, even the best tactics need to be adjusted based on the opponent's level.

The Jazz may only have one true star in Deron Williams.

But...

Their roster depth...

Is far superior to the Lakers'.

Before the All-Star break, in the Jazz's game against the 76ers, Yao, who had been dominating the league, felt what it meant to be faced with "if one falls, a thousand more will rise."

During that game, Okur, Boozer, Jefferson, and Yi Jianlian took turns playing against Yao.

And whenever Yao managed to beat one of them, another would charge at him.

After the game, on TNT, Barkley summarized the game, "Even the strongest elephant can't withstand the tearing of a pack of wolves."

Back at the EnergySolutions Arena.

In this quarter, with Sloan constantly making substitutions, the Jazz outscored the Lakers 28-19.

At Utah's high-altitude home court, the Lakers players, who have been on a tight schedule, couldn't maintain their good form as consistently as they did during their previous winning streak.

But in the second half, the Lakers players, whose spirit was already different from before, infuriated Sloan, who stamped his feet on the sideline several times.

There are many annoying old men in the NBA.

But for some reason...

Every time he played against Sloan's team, Su Feng liked to take a peek at the old man's anxious look on the sideline after scoring.

In the third quarter, relying on Su Feng's hot touch, which even the altitude couldn't stop, the Lakers managed to close the gap to 75-77 before the start of the final quarter.

Unfortunately, in the final quarter, the Jazz's younger players, who had more stamina, had the last laugh.

Gasol, whose mentality was broken by Jefferson, received his sixth foul with about seven minutes left in the final quarter.

And although Wallace and Mbenga barely managed to hold down the fort in the paint for the Lakers...

But if faith alone could win basketball games...

Then Jordan, who has been giving away money recently, would still want to say that he wants to come back and beat Su Feng again...

Under Deron Williams' orchestration, the Jazz's interior players scored easily after Gasol left the game.

In contrast...

Kirilenko, that "comrade," was really messing with people's minds.

Because in the final quarter...

He outrageously went for Su Feng's waist!

And the referee didn't care!

Come on!

You're a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year!

Can't you fight me fairly, openly, and justly?

Perhaps sensing Su Feng's dissatisfaction, Kirilenko said to Su Feng in his few broken English phrases before the end of the final quarter, "But comrade, we are in America now!"

Su Feng: "..."

Alright!

Never mind then!

After all, in the U.S....

Even the most upright comrade must learn how to protect himself.

In the end, the Lakers lost to the Jazz 111-103 on the road.

However, compared to the final result of the game, the Lakers' progress during the game gave the Lakers' fans hope for the team's rise.

Although many casual fans who didn't even watch the game would definitely start ranting...

But does that matter?

After the game, in the small visiting team locker room in Salt Lake City, like in the old days, Wallace, holding his shower gel, walked into the bathroom with Su Feng, grinning.

And Marion, taking out his little notebook, was recording every day he fought alongside Feng Huang.

Look, what is business acumen?

Although Marion doesn't seem very smart.

In reality, he is a very smart man who knows that his diary will sell for a high price when he retires.

And after showering, Marc Gasol hesitated for a moment, but still made a call to Pau Gasol.

Because he was having a hard time dealing with Jefferson in this game...

Gasol wanted to ask his older brother how he managed to beat Jefferson 28-6 in the game against the Jazz.

"Just play normally, what's wrong, Marc?"

However...

Gasol felt that his older brother's answer was too perfunctory.

What do you mean just play normally?

If I could beat him by playing normally, would I need to call you?

On the other hand, looking at his stat line of 3 for 11 in this game...

Mo Williams' mood was uneasy for a long time.

Because as a Feng Mi (Su Feng fan)...

How could he accept such Kobe-like stats?

...

Leaving Utah, on February 29th, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Grizzlies, who were in the midst of a "rebuild" in Memphis.

As everyone knows, because the Grizzlies' "rebuild" is not the same concept as other teams' "rebuild"...

After this game, many Lakers players felt like their skin had been peeled off by their opponents.

This season, after joining the Grizzlies, Zach Randolph has performed well, averaging 22.5 points and 11.4 rebounds for the Grizzlies.

And the young Conley seems to have unremarkable stats, but in reality, he has gradually grown into the brain of this Grizzlies team.

The only regret is that Logo Man has left Memphis this season.

But in Su Feng's opinion...

As long as the Grizzlies maintain their team-building philosophy after coming to Memphis...

This Grizzlies team will eventually become the team that all Western Conference teams don't want to face in the first round.

In March, the Lakers continued to push towards the upper half of the Western Conference.

And originally, the Warriors, who had been losing games like crazy in February...

Were reinvigorated by Nash's previous declaration.

From the current Western Conference landscape, the Mavericks, Trail Blazers, and Jazz, who are in the top three in the West, are firmly positioned.

Therefore, Su Feng and Nash engaged in a war of words in March of this year.

On March 1st, Nash scored 33 points in the game against the SuperSonics and led his team to victory...

The next day, Su Feng scored 47 points in the game against the Spurs and led the Lakers to a triumphant return.

Then, on the 3rd, shortly after the Warriors defeated the Nuggets in three overtimes, the Lakers in Los Angeles also avenged the 76ers in a four-overtime battle.

In these two games, Nash and Su Feng scored 41 points and 54 points respectively.

From a performance perspective, Su Feng was better.

But if you open Nash's stats, you will find...

His efficiency can only be described as outrageous.

In the game against the Nuggets, Nash shot 14-19 from the field, including 6-7 from three-point range and 7-7 from the free-throw line.

Although Chauncey Billups, who was matched up against Nash, also scored 30 points due to Nash's air-like defense...

As the captain of this sinking Warriors ship...

Nash used his slender body...

To make a young man who was about to usher in the "Davidson Fairy Tale" in March Madness feel what it means to never give up.

In March of this year, the NBA was full of excitement.

Stars shone brightly.

But as March Madness of this year began...

Even the Lakers, who had just ushered in the rising sun...

Were destined to be overshadowed by the boy who was born in the same hospital as LeBron James...

Because this kid...

He decides his own fate.

...

ps: First update!