I'm not really a role player

Chapter 298 Tearing the Magic Line of Defense

After getting [-] wins, the Bobcats' regular season goal has been achieved.

Then look at the Magic and Cavaliers who are about to win 60 wins. The final goal of the Bobcats is to stabilize the top three rankings in the Eastern Conference.

On the 27th, in back-to-back battles with the Raptors, the Bobcats, who had a large rotation, lost this game.

Subsequently, the Bobcats started from the home game against the Celtics, went through an away game against the Pistons, a home game against the Raptors, a home game against the Bucks, and finally a key battle with the Knicks, winning a wave of five consecutive victories.

It was also this wave of five-game winning streak, and the Bobcats directly secured the top three rankings in the Eastern Conference, and even relied on this wave of five consecutive victories, approaching the current second-ranked Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.

It was also at this time that the magic came to the door.

"Now our win is 55 wins, and the Cavaliers' win is 56 wins. Our opponents in the remaining three regular season games are the Magic, Bulls and Nets, while the Cavaliers' opponents in the remaining three regular season games are the Pacers, Magic and Eagles."

"Considering that we have killed the Cavaliers four times this season, the advantage of direct confrontation has already been obtained, so we only need to tie the Cavaliers in record to be promoted to second place in the Eastern Conference."

This season, the league's ranking rules do not say that the division champion must be ranked before the non-division champion. Therefore, even if the Bobcats and Magic are in the Southeast Division, they will not be squeezed to fourth place by the champions of the Central Division and the Atlantic Division.

Therefore, if the Bobcats want to catch up with the Cavaliers, they only need to achieve a record tie with the Cavaliers.

To tie the Cavaliers in record, first of all, the Bobcats have to win these three games at the end of the season.

In these three games at the end of the Bobcats season, the opponents are from strong to weak, and the levels are decreasing.

Rivers knows that as long as he wins the Magic, the remaining two games are nothing to worry about.

It is not enough for the Bobcats to win all three games, and the Cavaliers have to lose another game. The remaining three opponents of the Cavaliers are really likely to make the Cavaliers lose that one.

The Pacers should not be able to pose any threat to the Cavaliers, but the Magic and the Eagles are not so easy to get along with.

"The possibility of the Cavaliers losing a game is still very high. Therefore, we must win these three games at the end of the season!"

In this way, the Bobcats first skipped the fact that the Magic is their biggest opponent in the East, and only from the perspective of qualifying for the playoffs, they issued a dead order to win.

Unlike the Bobcats, the Magic, which has won 59 wins and basically secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference, didn't take the Bobcats seriously.

"Yes, this game is very important. As long as we win this victory, we can completely secure the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but I don't think the Bobcats can threaten us. This season, we have killed the Bobcats three times, and we are only short of this victory."

"However, we have no interest in overkill. Our goal is already aimed at the playoffs. We will not waste too much energy in the regular season. All we have to do is to ensure the top spot in the Eastern Conference."

Before the game, Stan Van Gundy was still a little arrogant, but he was right in saying that the Magic, which has already killed the Bobcats three times, did not pay that much attention to this game.

Bobcats here, the press conference before the game, Rivers is still the focus.

First of all, the reporter asked, he played against his former club again, did he want to prove the same thing in this game.

Rivers was not that NT, so he waved his hand naturally: "It's been too long since I coached the Magic. When I dismissed from the Magic, Dwight hadn't joined the Magic yet..."

The implication is that in this game against the Magic, he doesn't need to prove it.

However, next, the reporter mentioned Stan Van Gundy's somewhat arrogant speech before the game, and Rivers was not so polite.

"Yeah, they've triple-killed the Bobcats, but that's not my Bobcats."

The implication is that at least the Bobcats coached by Rivers will not be triple-killed by the Magic, but everyone knows that what Rivers really wants to express is that the Bobcats coached by him will not only not be triple-killed by the Magic, but even counter-kill the Magic.

"So, Doug, are you going to defeat the Magic and break the magic's pass on you?"

"Of course!"

……

For this game, Rivers has already paid full attention to it.

He said that he didn't need to prove anything in front of the former magic team. Even in the press conference before the game, he also expressed the same idea as Stan Van Gundy, that is, the Bobcats need to focus on the playoffs.

But in this game, Rivers still played all his cards.

"The Magic's defensive system is built on Warcraft alone. They are strong in the penalty area, and the defensive strength on the outside is not high. Therefore, what we need to do is try to make as many mid-range shots from the outside as possible."

The Magic's defense is very strong, but as Rivers said, the Magic's defense relies on Sparks alone.

If the Bobcats can float and shoot with a touch, the Magic's defense will be nothing to worry about.

"As for the offense, their offensive points are scattered..."

The impact of Turkoglu's departure to Toronto is still great. This season's Magic, the offensive end is almost all kinds of chaos.

At the point guard position, they have two point guards who scored in double figures, Jamal Nelson and Little Black Bean Brooks.

At the shooting guard position, they also have the old Vince Carter, and the backup JJ Redick.

At the small forward position, they can only reuse Michael Pietrus, but the power forward, the trio of Lewis, Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson, also has a high offensive intensity.

Judging from the configuration of the lineup, almost everyone in this Magic is an offensive player, and the defense is indeed slightly insufficient.

Before the game, Rivers analyzed the Magic in such a general way, and the subsequent targeted adjustments and arrangements were the so-called exhausted cards.

"Vince Carter is the only core point of the Magic perimeter, and he will be handed over to you, Sheldon..."

Of course Li Ke nodded, an old Carter, he still has no pressure.

"Overall defense, we need to change the zone defense!"

After Rivers took office, the biggest change to the Bobcats was the offense, and the defense was basically unchanged.

For a long time, the Bobcats' defense has been man-to-man, supplemented by the striker's mid-range sweep, which has no gold content, but the effect is very good.

Rivers naturally has no reason to change.

But in this game, Rivers believes that zone defense is more suitable for dealing with the Magic's offense than man-to-man.

……

The Time Warner Center, Bobcats and Magic have all warmed up.

While Li Ke was shooting the basket, he couldn't help turning his head to look at the Magic in the other half.

At this moment, what he was thinking in his heart was that the Bobcats led by him, in terms of regular season matches, really didn't have many pure losers.

Even the Lakers had a 1-1 record last season, with both teams winning one game each.

Although the Lakers double-killed the Bobcats this season, in two games, the Bobcats and the Lakers fought to the last minute in one game, and lost the other game after a long rest.

As well as the Heat, although the Bobcats suffered losses in the first two matches of the season, the Bobcats came back in the last two matches, and the score of 2 to 2 in the four matches was considered a tie.

Like the Magic, all kinds of killers, this is the only one in the entire league.

To be honest, Li Ke was somewhat dissatisfied.

Because he knows what the Future Sparks will be like, and he knows that even if the Magic make it to the Finals, they will still be beaten by the Lakers.

Li Ke is definitely not willing to be killed by such a magic and spark.

"Counterattack, let's start with this game!"

After the warm-up, the starters of the two teams made their debut.

Bobcats here, point guard Curry, shooting guard Li Ke, small forward Hua Er Er, power forward Kenyon Martin, and center Jordan Jr.

On the Magic side, point guard Xiao Heidou, shooting guard Old Carter, small forward Pietrus, power forward Lewis, and center Spark.

Jordan was about to face off against the Sparks' jump ball. On the other side, Li Ke glanced at Little Black Bean, then scanned the Magic's bench lineup, and saw Jamal Nelson.

"Stephen, your stage is huge in this game!"

After patting Curry, who was a little confused, Li Ke went straight back to his seat without explaining much.

Why is it said that Curry's stage is so big in this game?
Whether it's Little Black Bean or the substitute Nelson, the two point guards of the Magic have a terrible defense.

Facing these two opponents, if Curry can't play the offense that the Bobcats want, then simply order, 15bdsm!

drop!
The referee blew his whistle, and the basketball flew toward the roof of the Time Warner Center.

Jordan responded faster and dialed the basketball, so the Bobcats went first.

Speaking of which, since Jordan Jr. entered the Bobcats in the draft, he and the Sparks have mostly lost games.

Li Ke even thought of the Bobcats' first-generation starting center, Emeka Okafor, the man who was in the same class as the Sparks.

Jordan is a bit like Okafor. He usually performs well, but he is suppressed when he encounters sparks.

But it's really hard to say how this game will end. After all, Jordan met the Bole who later fully activated him, Doc Rivers!

On the court, Curry had possession of the ball for half court.

Li Ke stood on the right side of the top of the arc for a while, then suddenly sprinted in, and Old Carter followed him fiercely with his stumped leg.

But the next moment, he turned back on a Kenyon Martin screen near the free throw line.

With the sudden return, the old Carter couldn't keep up, but the Magic switched defenses very quickly.

It can be said that in Stan Van Gundy's defensive system, what makes up for the lack of personal ability of outside players in defense is quick defense.

Almost at the moment when Li Ke turned back, Pietrus made up for it.

Li Ke also received a pass from Curry at this moment, and glanced at the empty second Hua, but he did not choose to pass the ball.

Hua's second three-pointer was not that good, which is why Li Ke didn't pass the ball, and in this game, Rivers' tactical idea was to shoot from the COSCO, and Li Ke naturally had to implement Rivers' tactical idea.

Outside the three-point line, without much hesitation, he scored a three-pointer against Pietrus!
Bang-dang-!
The sound of the basketball hitting the hoop was very loud, but Li Ke didn't take it seriously. Seeing the backboard caught sparks in his hand, he quickly retreated.

"Shelton pulled out a three-pointer at the beginning, which is a bit out of his usual style of play."

In the commentary, Barkley frowned, but Kenny Smith laughed: "It's normal. When your opponent has a center named Dwight Howard, your first choice will also become a long-range shot from the outside. In this game, the Bobcats' tactical strategy is to shoot from the long-range..."

Barkley still shook his head: "If it was me, whoever the opponent's inside line is, will not stop me from entering the penalty area!"

Uh, if Li Ke heard what Barkley said, he would definitely fight back: "This is why you don't have a championship."

At this time, his partner Kenny Smith obviously would not fight back like this.

Whether the Bobcats play is correct or not, it still takes time to test.

The game is still going on, Magic's round.

Xiao Heidou took control of the ball to the front court, made a quick breakthrough, and Curry's defense collapsed at the touch of a touch.

But then, in the middle distance, he ran into the help defense of the second Hua.

Against the help defense, Little Heidou also made a mid-range shot without hesitation.

With a bang, the Magic's attack also ended in a strike.

In the rebound competition, Jordan was smart enough to block Howard directly, and waited until Kenyon Martin rushed out and took off the rebound.

But Li Ke knew that this was Rivers' arrangement.

"If the Magic's starting four is Rashard Lewis, then their real rebounder is only Dwight Howard."

"So, DeAndre, your mission is to use your body from beginning to end to jam Dwight Howard!"

To put it bluntly, it is a self-destructive rebounding method, blocking Howard and throwing the rebound to Kenyon Martin or Hua Er.

I have more rebounders, that's my advantage!
At the basket, Kenyon Martin took off the rebound, and Li Ke caught the ball deeply, followed by a wave of counterattacks.

The Magic's reaction was also very fast. Howard charged directly, and the possibility of tearing through the Magic's defense by counterattack is still very small.

Li Ke took the ball to the front court, stopped for a while, and found the position of the spark.

He really didn't want to use a counterattack to tear open the Magic's defense, but it's not a big problem to take advantage of the Magic's defensive formation and rush directly.

"Sheldon took the ball and counterattacked to the frontcourt, followed by a breakthrough!"

The unstoppable breakthrough, the old Carter who was on the mark must not be able to stop Li Ke, so, from the side, Xiao Heidou rushed over.

In the chaos, Li Ke made a precise pass, pointing directly at Curry on the other side.

"Steph Curry, received a pass from Sheldon and made a straight two-pointer!"

Swish-!
The Bobcats opened the record for the first time!

During the Magic's offense, Xiao Heidou gave up the ball, and this time it was Carter who held the ball.

Although Carter is old, he averaged 16 points per game in the Magic with many points.

But in this game, he met Li Ke.

The breakthrough was weak, so he could only pass the ball, and what was passed was still a weak ball.

Pietrus, who came out from the bottom corner, successfully received the ball, and the Bobcats' zone defense quickly switched defenses and withstood Pietrus.

Pietrus had no choice but to defend against the defense and scored a three-pointer from the outside.

Bang-dang-!
The basketball hit the frame heavily and popped out. This time the pop-up distance was a bit far. Li Ke saw the timing, rushed over, and directly picked up the backboard.

"Rebound, Sheldon's!"

"The counterattack is coming again!"

It was another wave of counterattack. This time, Li Ke rushed forward. The Time Warner Center seemed to see a greater probability of success, and cheers like a tide gradually sounded.

It was also at this time that Li Ke, who rushed to the front court, directly chased a three-pointer with great confidence!
"Frontcourt, a direct three-pointer!"

Swish-!
"The ball went in!!!"

The Time Warner Center erupted completely, and Kenny Smith also shouted in the commentary seat: "At the beginning, Sheldon scored 3 points and 1 assist, and the Magic's defense has been torn apart!"

(End of this chapter)