Champions Creed
Chapter 405 Chapter 404: The Beast and the Three Little Pigs
Chapter 405 Chapter 404: The Beast and the Three Little Pigs (ask for monthly tickets!)
Throughout history, there are very few players who care so much about the disappointment of fans, let alone buy newspaper space to publish an apology letter.
Such behavior has brought the support of the Warriors among Bay Area fans to its peak, and has also made the Warriors players more eager to win than ever before.
They all hope that Cleveland will be the turning point of the season, but as Charles Barkley said on the show: "The Cleveland Cavaliers are like an armored vehicle, and so far all teams have been using the raw firepower of spears against them."
The Cavaliers have not encountered any strong challenges so far, and their defeat to the Spurs in the second game was more due to the Cavaliers' own poor offense.
In other words, no team can really threaten the Cavaliers' defense.
In just 10 games this season, the Cavaliers have twice held their opponents' total score below 80, and only in three games have they allowed their opponents to score over points.
At the game, coach Mike Brown was wearing glasses and spying on the Warriors' half like a sleazy single middle-aged man staring at a young woman.
If Doug Rivers lowered the standard of NBA head coaches, then Mike Brown lowered the standard of their image.
NBA head coaches have always paid attention to their own image, and this emphasis on image reached its peak under the influence of Pat Riley.
Even an old guy like Phil Jackson would dress up carefully before every game.
As a young coach who is only five years older than Roger, Mike Brown has neither the steadiness and generosity of a traditional coach nor the elegance of a young coach.
He always wore unattractive glasses and a dirty-looking gray suit, with a belly that looked like it was about to burst through his shirt, a stubbled face, and a tattered tactical manual in his hand.
However, it was this unkempt guy who transformed the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before this season, he served as the Spurs' defensive coach, responsible for collecting videos and analyzing games, and was particularly good at arranging defense.
When he arrived in Cleveland, he brought all his strengths into play and turned Cleveland into an iron defensive team.
Now, Mike Brown is staring at the Warriors' half court, observing whether the Warriors' three-point shooting is good tonight.
He knows too well how to contain the Warriors. If the Warriors' three-point shooting is not ideal today, he will shrink the team as a whole to lock down Roger.
Fortunately, during the Warriors' warm-up phase today, most players had average three-point shooting percentages - of course they can shoot accurately, and as NBA-level outside players it is absolutely impossible for them to miss shots continuously during training, just like it is impossible for the President of the United States to make funny and low-level mistakes during a speech like ordinary people.
But most of the Warriors' outside players found it difficult to hit multiple three-pointers in a row today, which is enough to show that there is a problem with their touch.
Maybe it was because of the long journey, or maybe it was because I wasn't used to the renovated Quicken Loans Arena.
In any case, Mike Brown believes the Warriors' three-pointers tonight are not trustworthy.
Except for Jason Richardson, everyone else's touch was average.
He decided to boldly use the strategy of shrinking and clamping. As for Jason Richardson, he could not kill the game alone.
The warm-up is over and the game is about to begin. The cheers of Cleveland fans have already heated up the atmosphere.
LeBron James sat on the bench with his hands clasped together nervously.
Although he has repeatedly stressed that he will fulfill his promise this season, he still can't help feeling worried.
After all, his opponent is the strongest basketball player in the world, and LBJ has not come close to winning against Roger in the past two seasons.
Michael Jordan's words began to echo again at an inopportune time: He is my curse and yours.
Mike Brown grabbed LeBron James' shoulders hard to stop him from thinking about it.
LBJ looked at the fat man with glasses, and the head coach said firmly: "What do you think is the most romantic story in NBA history?"
"Huh?" LeBron James was stunned by the question.
But Mike Brown didn't really wait for No. 23 to answer, he just continued talking on his own.
"I think it's the story of the Detroit Pistons and another No. 23. The Bad Boys used brutal defense and Chuck Daly's Jordan Rules to keep that lone genius out of the championship. He suffered a lot and felt hopeless for a while, but he persisted and didn't run away or give up. In the end, the ending of the story was as beautiful as a fairy tale: in 1991, MJ ended his nightmare with a sweep, defeated the team he had to beat, and started a brilliant story of dynasty and conquest."
"LeBron, if you want to succeed and create a legend like MJ, this is the team you have to beat," Mike Brown pointed at the Warriors. "Beat them, and we can take a historic step!"
Mike Brown is not the kind of coach who is good at making chicken soup. He is a coach who is like an old scholar. Compared with controlling the locker room, he is better at studying tactics themselves.
But on a night like this, he felt he had an obligation to say something to the young core.
For the first time, LeBron James discovered that he trusted a coach so much.
Just last summer, he was discussing "escaping Cleveland" with Rich Paul.
But now, take a look at what you have.
He has excellent teammates, fans who support him, and a coach he can trust.
LBJ replied: "I won't run away either. I know there are a lot of rumors recently, but I won't leave until Cleveland wins the championship."
God knows why he keeps emphasizing this.
The starting lineups of both teams were in place. The Warriors sent out the starting five of Roger, Jason Richardson, Tayshaun Prince, Stephen Jackson and Marcus Camby today.
Big Z got the ball first and the Cavaliers attacked.
The Cavaliers' offense was led by James and Larry Hughes in turn. In the first round of the game, James decided to give power to Larry Hughes.
Then, through quick movement and screen, he went around to the left side outside the three-point line, received the basketball, and made a three-pointer!
3-0, the little emperor tried hard to fulfill his promise in the first round.
This season, with Larry Hughes helping to share the organizational tasks, James has reduced his ball possession and increased the frequency of his three-point catch and shoot shots.
This year he's averaging one more three-point shot per game than last season, but his hit rate has remained virtually the same.
Al Michaels admitted: "LeBron's progress every year is amazing. Maybe in the past two seasons he exposed various problems. But now, he is gradually becoming perfect and great."
After scoring the goal, James deliberately glanced at Roger.
He had come to regard Roger as his own smiling assassin, an embodiment of evil.
He decided to declare war on evil, and like Mike Brown said, he had to beat this guy.
"Roger, you are not the Big Bad Wolf, and we are not the Three Little Pigs. We will fight back, and we will try to kill you."
Roger just smiled. "Is the Big Bad Wolf the scariest metaphor you can imagine? I've met many high school rookie LeBron, but you're the least cultured one."
The game continued, and the Cavaliers' iron wall stood in front of Roger.
Nowadays, the entire league has reached a consensus. To limit Roger, at least two people are needed, one to press and one to help defend.
So, the Spurs have Raja Bell + Bruce Bowen, the Lakers have Caron Butler + Shawn Marion, and the Knicks have Dwyane Wade + Shawn Battier.
The Cavaliers also have a similar configuration. Larry Hughes will oppress Roger madly, and AK47, the super Spider-Man, is ready to strangle him at any time.
Theoretically, this configuration is enough to bring down Roger.
A first-team defensive guard and a second-team defensive forward, such a configuration is as precious as a luxury.
Apart from the Spurs and the Warriors themselves, no other team can come up with such a perimeter defense configuration.
This is also the key to Mike Brown's confidence in winning the game. He will make the Warriors experience the feeling of having fewer wins than losses.
If he attacks forcefully, Roger won't gain any advantage.
Larry Hughes is an excellent "thief", and you can't easily use complicated dribbling under his pressure. If you force a breakthrough, Andrei Kirilenko, who has a wide defense range, will quickly lock and strangle you.
The first thing to do to take down Cleveland's fortress is to make a hole in it.
Jason Richardson was the key to taking down the fort.
He lived up to expectations and became the first person to say "no" to losing.
He used active running to get rid of James, then received a pass from Roger and made a steady three-pointer.
3 is better than 3!
Jason Richardson is not just spending $10 for show. With Alan Houston leaving and Amar'e Stoudemire injured, Jason Richardson believes he has an obligation to take on the responsibility of becoming the "Hand of God."
Since the whole world says that Roger lacks a number two person, then fine, I will be that number two person!
Jason Richardson also yelled at James who was defending him: "You are the weakest part of the fortress."
LeBron James was very angry. He had just spoken harshly, but he was immediately attacked by the other party.
He decided to fight back on offense.
LBJ held the ball and prepared to attack, but Jason Richardson fought with him at all costs, and Tayshaun Prince also swung his long arms to clamp down.
Both James and Mike Brown were caught off guard. In the past ten games, the Warriors would not carry out such extreme pressure and double-teaming.
Besides, this is the fucking regular season!
What team would adopt such an extreme defensive strategy in the first quarter of the regular season?
James had to choose to pass the ball under the high-pressure double-team. In any situation, facing a tight double-team, the best way is to choose to withdraw and avoid an early collapse.
LBJ, who wanted to respond to Richardson, passed the ball to AK47 who was left open. The latter took a three-point shot but missed.
The Warriors' pressure defense worked. Their three-point shooting may be unstable, but their defense will never betray the team.
Spoelstra imagined that as long as this kind of defense could continue, the Warriors could win the game even when their three-point shooting was not good.
Marcus Camby grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Roger, who took the ball and launched a counterattack.
But under the pressure of Larry Hughes, Roger was unable to speed up.
He wanted to change direction and pass Hughes, but just as he passed by him, Andrei Kirilenko blocked Roger's way again.
Roger carried the Russian into the paint, and LBJ, seeing this, ran hard to the basket, wanting to perform his signature chase-down shot over Roger's head.
But in the air, Roger, who had already raised the basketball, forcibly stopped the attacking action, took the ball back to his waist, looked at Stephen Jackson in the left corner, and passed the ball to the right corner in the opposite direction of his sight. There, Jason Richardson was unguarded. LBJ, who was responsible for defending him, had just landed and looked in Richardson's direction with an incredible expression.
Jason Richardson showed no mercy and made his second consecutive three-pointer!
6 is better than 3!
"LeBron, keep an eye on your opponent!" Mike Brown couldn't help but yell. He couldn't bear the fact that his iron wall was so vulnerable.
To be honest, whether it is AK47 or Larry Hughes, their off-ball defense is better than LBJ at this stage.
His physical fitness and energy can give him an advantage in one-on-one defense, but off-ball defense requires excellent defensive enthusiasm and defensive awareness, and defensive awareness takes a long time to truly mature, even for Roger.
The reason why Mike Brown asked James, who is weaker in off-ball defense, to defend Jason Richardson was mainly because he wanted James to avoid Roger and save energy.
But now, his core seems to be being targeted by the opponent.
Roger deliberately mocked: "Jason, you are so lucky to meet the dumbest of the three little pigs."
"Are you saying LeBron's defense is as fragile as a thatched hut?" Jason Richardson deliberately talked to Roger.
"Yes, one breath can destroy him!"
LBJ was fed up with it all. His team had a record of 9 wins and 1 loss, better than the Pistons and Knicks, but these guys from the Bay Area still didn't respect him.
"Give me the ball!" No. 23 rarely yelled at his teammates.
But once again, he was pressured and forced to pass the ball just after crossing half court.
Moreover, the pass was too high, and even Kirilenko with long arms couldn't catch it when he jumped. The basketball went out of bounds and the Warriors got the ball.
All the advantages of forcing the opponent's top star to give up the ball, forcing the opponent to make mistakes and oppressing the opponent are showing on the court.
Jason Richardson and Tayshaun Prince worked together to keep the usually aggressive James out.
Spoelstra's defensive strategy was initially effective, but he still had to see if such defense could last for 48 minutes.
"What's the point of giving you the ball?" Roger's voice came as expected, "You are nothing but bragging."
The ball changed and the Warriors attacked.
Mike Brown roared on the sidelines and asked AK47 and James to switch defense.
He knew Jason Richardson was in great form today, and when a player is in great form, the best way is to stop him immediately. If you ignore it, you will end up ruining yourself.
AK47's pursuit and defense are indeed much stricter. In fact, James' physical fitness is stronger than AK47, so it stands to reason that his pursuit and defense will not be bad. But compared to LBJ, the Russian can use his physical fitness more unscrupulously on the defensive end.
Seeing this, Roger used a behind-the-back pass to get past Larry Hughes, then stopped suddenly at mid-range, ready to pass the ball and make a jump shot!
Jason Richardson finally blasted a hole in the Cavaliers' impenetrable fortress - he successfully hooked AK47 away, and Roger faced much less defensive pressure. Under AK47's terrifying defensive range, Roger's pull-up mid-range shot was easily interfered. But when the double-teamer was replaced by LeBron James, everything became much simpler.
James immediately came over to interfere with the shot, and Larry Hughes was also ready to seize the opportunity to cut the ball.
But after the young No. 23's feet left the ground, Roger dribbled through!
He did want to shoot just now, but James dived too aggressively, so Roger chose to break through at the moment when he was about to put his hands together for the ball.
Big Z was blocked by Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas was pulled to the outside by Stephen Jackson, and the Cavaliers' basket was empty.
AK47 eventually had to rush back to assist, even though this would miss Jason Richardson, but it was the lesser of two evils. It was better to let Jason Richardson shoot the three-pointer than to let Roger shoot directly.
But after reaching full speed, Roger did not choose to pass the ball like he did in the first two rounds. Instead, he rushed forward towards the AK47 and dunked directly!
The Russian jumped hastily to block the shot, but he had the same shortcoming as Tayshaun Prince. Although he was tall and had long arms, he was too thin, so his confrontation ability was not at the top level.
After the mid-air collision, he was completely suppressed by Roger, and both of them had a short pause in the air, like the last silence before the explosion. Then the entire Quicken Loans Center made a loud "bang" and Roger scored a powerful dunk directly on the Russian's head!
After dunking the ball, Roger, with his adrenaline pumping, took a big step towards James and roared like a wild animal: "You weak thatched hut!"
The beast ate all three little pigs in one go!
"Damn it!" Mike Brown cursed helplessly. He just pulled out an AK47 and Roger couldn't hold it down anymore.
Even if Jason Richardson is the only starter with outstanding touch among the Warriors and he is the only one who can create space, it seems to be enough for Roger.
On the bench, looking at the roaring LeBron James, Gary Payton was very familiar with this scene, and the beast in Roger's heart was awakened again.
And those who awaken the beast usually do not end well.
The glove knew what LBJ was thinking, beat Roger, and create a beautiful fairy tale like the last time No. 23 beat the Pistons.
But LBJ seems to have forgotten one thing:
Due to Roger's intervention, Michael Jordan's fairy tale eventually turned into the fairy tale with the most tragic ending in the world.
(End of this chapter)
You'll Also Like
-
Douluo: Evolve into Dragon God from Luo Sanpao!.
Chapter 376 4 hours ago -
Douluo: Soul Power Lock, intercepting the Zhu sisters
Chapter 233 4 hours ago -
Divine Seal: Married Moon Night, but she refused to consummate the marriage!
Chapter 69 4 hours ago -
Fire Monster
Chapter 398 4 hours ago -
At the beginning, he was chased by Tang Hao and obtained the inheritance of the Five God Kings.
Chapter 179 4 hours ago -
Douluo: Wuhun Shuihan Sword, Tianshui Seven Beauties Begins
Chapter 85 4 hours ago -
Peninsula Girlfriend Development
Chapter 132 4 hours ago -
After creating a weird sequence, the whole world regrets backstabbing me
Chapter 202 4 hours ago -
Living in the Thunderbolt
Chapter 103 4 hours ago -
The King's Avatar: Ye Xiu is so stupid, this guy has such a dirty heart
Chapter 509 4 hours ago