Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 176 Three Core Elements
Like Rivers, Jackson was also afraid of accidents.

During the two-minute break, when Kobe was panting heavily, looking at you with resentment in his eyes as if saying "do something," Jackson's mind went blank.

He couldn't think of a solution.

Just dealing with Brown and McGrady alone has already given him a lot of headaches, mobilizing all of the Lakers' defensive resources.

Then who else can target Billups?

Fisher?
If he's good, he'll have contained Billups in the third quarter.

"Kobe, you have to run, be more aggressive," Jackson said, snapping out of his daze and crouching down in front of Kobe.

Sasser has no offensive capabilities, but Kobe can do more on the defensive end.

Kobe didn't speak, he just nodded.

And Shaquille O'Neal.

Jackson glanced at O'Neal, sighed silently, and said nothing more.

Let O'Neal and Brown wear each other down.

Once the balance is broken, collapse follows.

Billups's outburst was sudden.

Most importantly, he's not some role player who suddenly finds his rhythm and explodes, only to immediately go silent when targeted.

Even if he really goes cold, Billups can still help.

Because he's a point guard, the Magic's on-court brain, and he can also pass the ball.

When Kobe was exhausted from running around and trying to target Billups, Billups always managed to find an opening and get the ball into an open position.

For example, Sasser, and PJ Brown.

And given the opportunity, he will never hesitate to act decisively.

His three-pointer was still fatal.

He truly created the threat.

When the Magic have two threats, the Lakers can barely manage.

But when the third threat appeared, the Lakers' defensive system collapsed.

In the fourth quarter, Billups went 3-for-5, including a three-pointer, for a total of 7 points.

The Lakers finished the quarter 22-21 and never took the lead until the end of the game.

They lost in the third quarter, because of Billups' outburst.

Jackson stood there with a blank expression.

They're down 0-2.

The sky collapse begins!

The key point is that he really didn't expect Billups to have such a breakout performance and step up to help the Magic win the game.

He couldn't help but wonder if Billups was also a secret weapon the Magic had prepared for the Lakers.
It's possible!
Everyone in the league knows that Townsend created a training method specifically for Billups.

Moreover, he was traded to the Magic earlier and trained with Townsend for a longer period.

Over such a long period of time, McGrady has already mastered the fadeaway jumper, so what's so strange about Billups mastering the three-pointer?

It can organize offense, defend, and also has the ability to break through defenses.

Jackson gasped sharply.

That magic isn't dual-core, it's clearly triple-core!

And this was only the second game.

If PJ Brown suddenly explodes again in the next game, Jackson wouldn't be surprised.

Jackson clenched his fists, a chill running down his spine.

Is the Lakers' three-peat dynasty about to fall apart?

Jackson didn't come to his senses until Rambis slapped him.

He took a deep breath and quickly adjusted his mindset.

He's not old enough to be defeated.

Over the years, Jackson has seen all sorts of storms, and this is by no means the most difficult moment of his career.

Thinking of this, he immediately went to the group of players and comforted each of them.

Don't give up! Back on home turf, we still have a chance!

As he shook hands with Rivers, looking at the smug Rivers, Jackson silently encouraged himself.

……

6 month 8 number.

The Magic have moved to Los Angeles.

They arrived at the hotel at noon that day and went to the reserved stadium for acclimatization training in the afternoon.

For the first time this season, Townsend stood on the sidelines, overseeing the Magic's team practice.

He trained half of the team himself, and Tang Sen was equally indispensable in the last few games of the season.

The Magic want the championship, and so does Tang Sen.

If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have rejected the Lakers' multi-million dollar contract in the first place.

After training, the key players received physical therapy and massage.

Tang Sen watched from the side.

Everyone is in good condition, and no one has any injuries or illnesses.

Being located in the Eastern Conference, the Magic had the advantage of being well-rested and ready to play.

"Tang, I feel like we're really lucky," Rivers remarked casually as he chatted with Tang Sen.

Tang Sen looked at him.

“Isn’t that right?” Rivers retorted.

Last season, the Magic were eliminated in the first round of the Eastern Conference.

They'd be eliminated in the first round in the East; in the wild West, they wouldn't even make the playoffs.

As a result, this season, they soared to new heights.

Good fortune began with a gamble on Brown, trading for an All-Star caliber player like Hill.

At that time, I guess all the teams in the league were waiting to see the Magic make a fool of themselves.

Then the magic took off.

No players were injured throughout the season, and the trades were all smart; the only gains were improved players.

Then they fought their way into the finals.

Despite the toughness of the last game, Billups stepped up and helped the Magic win, giving them a significant lead.

Of course, the biggest stroke of luck must be that Townsend's hometown is Orlando.

If it weren't for this, magic wouldn't be where it is today.

So Rivers really thinks the Magic had incredible luck this season and deserved to win the championship.

"Doug, don't be too optimistic. The Lakers are not easy to deal with."

Tangsen poured cold water on Rivers's complacency, saying that this was the Lakers, and even if the Magic were leading 3-0, they couldn't be careless, as the Lakers could still come back to win.

And there's also an alliance.

Tang Sen is quite worried that the league will intervene and disrupt the Finals.

Just like the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers can win, but they need to get the ratings maxed out.

There are also underhanded tactics involved.

Jackson wasn't a coach who liked to use underhanded tactics, but he did use them during the crucial moments of their three-peat, which is understandable.

So don't get cocky until the very last moment.

Rivers shook his head and said, "Don, I'm not optimistic, I'm confident."

With a 2-0 lead, how can the Lakers possibly come back to win?

Tang Sen silently rolled his eyes, knowing he wasn't as optimistic as Rivers.

As it turns out, confidence is good, but one should not be overconfident.

Game 3 of the finals will begin on the 9th.

As McGrady circled out and missed a three-pointer, Walker leaped up and grabbed the rebound. Brown reacted quickly, turning around and hugging Walker.

foul.

But it's no longer useful.

The entire Staples Center erupted in an astonishing roar of cheers, like a volcanic eruption.

Tang Sen stood there forlornly, watching the fans in the opposite stands cheer and the Lakers' bench erupt in cheers, while Jackson shouted excitedly.

With 6 seconds left in the game, 94-91, McGrady's missed three-pointer cost the Magic a chance to tie the game.

Walker stepped to the free-throw line and, to the breath of the entire arena, made both free throws.

There's absolutely no chance anymore.

Even with no timeouts left, the Magic still had to inbound the ball from the backcourt.

McGrady is leading the charge and hasn't given up yet.

Brown inbounds the ball and throws it powerfully to Billups. Without stopping the ball, Billups makes a long pass that accurately reaches McGrady in the frontcourt.

Kobe stood in front of McGrady, and Fisher rushed over as well.

The moment he received the ball, McGrady's pace was disrupted, but his amazing coordination allowed him to regain control of his body. He dribbled behind his back, took a step to the side to avoid Kobe, and time was running out.

McGrady took a leap.

A fadeaway three-pointer!
That shot was too difficult; it hit the inside edge of the rim and bounced out.

O'Neal leaped up and grabbed the rebound, and the game was over.

He slammed the ball to the floor, rushed to the scorer's table, then ripped off his jersey, held it up to the camera, and yelled incessantly.

Behind him, all the Lakers players rushed towards him, surrounding O'Neal in the middle.

Jackson raised his arms as if in response to the cheers of the crowd.

Even when in dire straits and unable to find a way to defeat his opponent, Jackson still believed that the star player could solve everything and win the game.

Throughout the game, the Lakers focused all their efforts on O'Neal, doing everything they could to set up him and provide him with scoring opportunities.

Kobe became a pure passer, relying on off-ball movement to get shots off.

And then they guessed right.

O'Neal went 22-for-34, scoring a whopping 51 points!
That's insane, the entire Lakers team only scored a little over ninety points.

"Tang Sen, are you alright?" Tang Ling nudged Tang Sen when she saw him standing there.

Tang Sen shook his head.

Seeing Brown and the others standing blankly on the field, especially Brown, who was frowning and looking remorseful, Tang Sen felt extremely bad.

Tang Sen glanced at Rivers, who was equally stunned on the sidelines.

Throughout the season, Tangsen occasionally felt that Rivers' coaching level was insufficient.

But I also think he has his own strengths. He is good at inspiring people, maintaining good relationships with everyone, and uniting all the players to work together.

But today, for the first time, Tang Sen felt that this guy's skill level was so bad.
After watching the entire game today, Tang Sen felt that the reason for the loss lay with Rivers.

With a 2-0 lead, the Magic have no reason to adjust their tactics.

no problem.

Then everyone played normally, even Billups, who wasn't just a flash in the pan in the last game, and he was very effective with several key three-pointers today.

Brown scored 34 points, McGrady 26 points, no problem.

Tang Sen couldn't understand why, when everyone could see that O'Neal was in superb form and Brown couldn't handle him alone, they didn't double-team O'Neal.

Rivers didn't make such a simple choice.

And then we just watched as O'Neal scored 13 points in the final quarter, helping the Lakers win the game in one fell swoop.

Tang Sen clearly saw Rivers pacing anxiously on the sidelines when they were trailing in the fourth quarter.

But we have no idea what he's thinking.

Tang Sen was so anxious that he wanted to rush over and tell him what he was thinking, why not just double-team him?

Tang Sen really couldn't understand it.

The referees didn't steal the show, and the Lakers didn't resort to any underhanded tactics.

Kobe continued to struggle against Sather's defense.

The Magic have a very high chance of winning. They'll double-team O'Neal relentlessly in the final moments. If they go up 3-0, the Lakers might really be out of the game.

It felt like the magician was completely stunned in the last episode.

And Billups, as the on-court playmaker, should also coordinate in a timely manner to have PJ Brown double-team O'Neal.

Is it really because they trusted Brown too much and thought he could handle O'Neal?
He's only 20 years old, and he's already played exceptionally well. What more could you ask of him?

But the game is over, so what's the use of being upset?

Tang Sen first sent Tang Ling and her mother away.

When they returned, Brown and the others had not left.

They chose to stay and practice more.

"never mind."

Tang Sen waved his hand and refused him.

At this point, getting enough rest is more important than anything else.

Moreover, the next match isn't until the 12th, so there are two days to adjust my form.

“But…” Brown frowned, looking guilty.

But before he could finish speaking, Billups interrupted him.

"Kwame, it's not your fault today, it's mine." Billups said seriously, actually taking the blame.

He looked around and then said, "In the last quarter, I should have reacted in time and chosen to double-team Shaq. I misjudged the situation."

Tang Sen turned to look at Rivers.

Look at you, listen to you, you're the head coach, and look at how you've done it.

Rivers did hear it, paused for a moment, and immediately walked over.

"No, Changxi."

Rivers waved his hand and said seriously, "I'm the head coach, and today's loss is my mistake."

Tang Sen nodded secretly.

Rivers has another advantage: when he's wrong, he's genuinely willing to admit it, instead of being shameless and stubbornly denying it.

"Kwame, good boy, you've played very, very well." Rivers hugged Brown.

He praised McGrady again.

He sincerely apologized to everyone, saying that he had been too optimistic and had not made adequate preparations.

Tang Sen nodded silently, thinking to himself, "You're only just realizing that now?"

In three matches, look at the opposing team; they've made several adjustments to their lineup.

As for you, it all depends on the performance of your teammates.

But the next moment, Rivers’ tone became more enthusiastic: “Gentlemen, don’t be discouraged, we are still in the lead, and in my opinion, losing is not a bad thing.”

"Losing exposes our problems and makes us stronger."

Tang Sen rolled his eyes silently.

I knew you would say that.

But since they've already lost, Tang Sen can only hope that Davis and his teammates will step up and make some adjustments for the next game.

And Billups.

Tang Sen looked at Billups with some surprise.

Honestly, Tang Sen didn't expect Billups to have this kind of sense of responsibility.

It takes real courage for a team to admit its mistakes after a loss.

In this respect, Tang Sen felt that Brown and McGrady were both lacking in experience.

Brown has the will to win, but he's too young.

As for McGrady, he certainly has a competitive spirit, but due to his personality, he is somewhat too dull.

……

The Lakers' comeback has sent the previously quiet Los Angeles media into a frenzy.

The Los Angeles Times even boldly predicted that the Lakers would win three home games and then lift the championship trophy at the Waterhouse Center.

Some say the Lakers simply overexerted themselves in the Western Conference, allowing the Magic to benefit.

Now that we've adjusted, we can win the game immediately.

That's blatant lying.

Tang Sen felt that even if Jackson himself came, he wouldn't dare to say such a thing.

Two days flew by.

6 month 12 number.

G4 begins.

After the last game, Rivers apologized to all the players and promised to make adjustments.

He really made the adjustment.

However, they reverted to the Magic's playing style from the beginning of the season.

Tang Sen knew very well how the Magic played at the beginning of the season.

Armstrong, acting as a utility player, dribbled the ball across half-court and then passed it to McGrady.

Brown rushed out to set a screen for McGrady, and then McGrady drove to the basket and passed the ball.

Back then, the Magic were a team that initiated pick-and-roll plays.

But with the arrival of Billups, the Magic began to settle into a positional style of play, and pick-and-roll was no longer the only tactical option.

In Tang Sen's view, there was no problem with this change.

Billups can distribute the ball and execute more varied tactics, while Brown should stay in the paint and utilize his inside advantage.

They acquired PJ Brown in exchange for him, who can also run pick-and-rolls.

Moreover, McGrady's playing style has changed, and he drives to the basket less often.

Now that the ball is being handed to McGrady, wouldn't that be a waste of Billups' playmaking ability?

Tang Sen couldn't help but look at Rivers.

Brother, you can't just make adjustments for the sake of making adjustments. Making adjustments like this is worse than not making any adjustments at all.

However, as the game progressed, Tang Sen unexpectedly discovered that the Magic's adjustment was actually quite useful.

Brown abandoned O'Neal and rushed out to screen for McGrady.

His cover was of very high quality.

McGrady made a crossover and drove straight to the basket, then, in the instant O'Neal came to help defend, he passed the ball to the weak-side corner.

Billups appeared out of nowhere and hit a three-pointer.

Another offensive round.

Brown still pulled out to set a screen for Billups, then drove to the basket.

Drawing the defense away, Billups bounced the ball off the ground and accurately delivered it to Brown. Before O'Neal could pounce, Brown used his athleticism to take a step and score with a layup.

At this point, Tang Sen suddenly understood.

Rivers was exploiting O'Neal's inability to defend, using Brown to initiate the offense with a pick-and-roll, effectively shutting down both of the team's defenses.

No, three.

He should include Billups as well.

The three offensive cores were all linked together.

The effect is remarkable.

At the end of the first quarter, the Magic outscored the Lakers 28-21, taking a full 7-point lead.

(End of this chapter)