Bishop: since 1998

Chapter 181 Kneading at will!

April 1, Life Bankers Arena.

The Magic finally met a tricky opponent in the East.

The reason why it will be tricky is not because of the strength of the opponent, but because the name of the opponent team is the Pacers.

The Pacers were a powerful team in the 90s. They just missed the 95/96 season and made the playoffs in other years.

Was an opponent of the Bull Dynasty.

Also served as an opponent of the Lakers dynasty.

In the future, they will still be the opponents of the Pistons.

Therefore, although this team can't win any honors, it is a good opponent in terms of strength.

The reason is because Reggie Miller's career is long enough.

This season, the head star of the Pacers can still average 19 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds per game, and there is still fuel in the fuel tank.

At the same time, he successfully renewed his contract with Jaylen Rose, a 20+ scorer.

Just looking at the outside line, to be reasonable, the Pacers are still very competitive.

However, the Pacers entered the reconstruction process and first changed coaches, Larry Bird became Thomas.

In fact, Mark Jackson left because Jaylen Rose gave the contract renewal condition to play the starting point guard.

As the league's second assist leader, he can only leave.

Rick Schmitz retired.

Dale Davis was traded.

Originally, the Pacers could have easily completely rebuilt the mission.

Because of Li Mu's interception, the Pacers lacked O'Neal who could rise.

10 wins and 19 losses!
The Pacers have not had an easy time recently.

Only won 7 game in the last 1 games, and the state is quite bad.

It seems unwise to change coaches this season. The smiling assassin's coaching ability is quite average.

During the simple appearance and warm-up, on the big screen in the arena, the starting lineups of both sides for tonight's match were displayed.

The Lakers started with 5 players, McGrady, Jackson, Hill, Duncan, and O'Neal.

The Pacers started with the Five Tigers, point guard Jaylen Rose, shooting guard Reggie Miller, small forward Austin Crohill, power forward Jonah Linbender, and center Jeff Foster.

beep~
In the jump ball, Duncan beat Foster to get the first attack for the Magic.

Facing Jaylen Rose, McGrady didn't wave, and gave the ball to Duncan.

Back the basket, turn around and break through, get stuck, hit the board and shoot...

Boom, swish—!
Duncan's low-post singles are mediocre.

Jonathan Bender was completely defenseless.

2 to 0! !
On the commentary stage, Mike Breen shook his head, "This kind of matchup is completely wrong formation.

I admit that Bender, as a high school draft pick, is not inferior to Garnett in terms of talent.

However, since Bender entered the league in 1999, he hasn't grown much yet. If he is allowed to face Duncan, isn't he afraid that his mentality will be broken? "

I have to say that Thomas is very strong in coaching, and the idea of ​​wanting Bender to quickly realize his talent is very good.

The reality is not so beautiful, and Bender's performance is average.

On the field.

The Pacers attack.

Jaylen Rose broke through, and his three-threat was useless against McGrady.

The Magic shrunk their defense, and McGrady simply let him go almost one step away.

Jaylen Rose was not fooled, forced to break through McGrady, and was immediately attacked by Jackson.

Snapped--!
One hit the ground, and the basketball was assigned to the outside line.

Reggie Miller catches the ball, lifts it up, shoots a [-]-point jumper...

Bang-dang-!
Not in.

Duncan took off the rebound.

Quickly pass the ball to McGrady, if he can't fight back, it's okay.

In the frontcourt, continue to play for Duncan.

Lift the ball, make a jump shot...

Bender jumped high, and Duncan received the ball and drove the ball inside to break through.

With a bang, he dunked with both hands and scored two points.

The Pacers fell apart inside and tasted the bitter fruit.

Bender was just a rookie in 99, and for a rookie like Duncan who joined the league after a good level, that little bit of strength was not enough at all.

4 to 0! !
At the beginning of the game, the Pacers seemed to have the possibility of being defeated inside.

Moreover, it is not possible.

Duncan couldn't stop it.

Thomas' face was calm, and now he could only attack.

Jalen Rose thought so too.

It's just that he was very depressed.

He wants to play point guard, but he just wants to misplace and bully those point guards who are shorter than him.

Unexpectedly, when playing against the Magic, McGrady will defend him.

With inaccurate shooting, he has no advantage in dry drawing and can only continue to break through.

Snapped--!
Duncan guarded the penalty area and directly slapped Jaylen Rose's layup.

Jackson got the ball and rushed to fight back.

Reggie Miller worked hard and retreated quickly.

Jackson took the ball to the frontcourt and didn't mean to choose to pass the ball.

Directly forced a breakthrough, carried Miller's body, made a three-step layup, and made a pick in the air.

Swish-!
6 to 0! !
Stephen Jackson played tough.

This season, he averaged 9 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds per game, showing a very versatile performance.

Offensive can be 1, 2, 3, physical advantage, very beneficial to Miller.

After all, Miller was on the thin side and old.

Thomas frowned.

The insiders of the Pacers are all basket leaders, so the offense cannot be counted on them.

Now the outside line can't open the situation.

How is this good?
At this time, the Pacers attacked and could only fight for stars.

Reggie Miller stepped up.

He jumped off the ball.

If the three-pointer is not accurate, the focus will be on the two-pointer.

With the cover of his teammates, in the horn area on the right, he received a pass from Jaylen Rose and made a two-point jump shot...

Swish-!
Have it.

6 to 2! !
As a historical level shooter, Miller did not pull his hips, hit a two-pointer, and scored in time to stop the bleeding.

Subsequently, the Magic continued to attack the inside.

The Pacers can only help defend, shrink up, and reduce the space inside.

Hill outside, received a pass from Duncan, caught the ball, and shot a three-point jumper...

Bang-dang-!
It's hard.

"Duncan, it's Duncan again, he dominates both ends of the floor, takes the offensive rebounds, and redistributes the ball.

Hill's three.

Bang-dang-!
short.

It's Duncan again.

He took off the rebound again.

Bender was like a puddle of mud in front of him, allowing him to knead.

Divide the ball out again.

Got it!

Hill turned his back on the three irons, and finally, he hit the basketball with iron and scored a three-pointer. "

9 to 2! !
Hill's three-pointers were mediocre, and even very inefficient, but this wave of offense was very heartbreaking.

After just a few rounds, the inside match between the Pacers and the Magic showed a gap between heaven and earth.

Outside the stadium, the fans booed.

Last season, the Pacers could create the best performance in history and reached the NBA Finals.

The record is still No. [-] in the East. As a result, after changing the head coach, even the playoffs seem to be a challenge.

Can this be tolerated?
Off the court, Li Mu felt that the game was stable.

In the Eastern theater in recent years, there is really no one who can fight.

The Pacers' offense has become simple.

Jaylen Rose broke through for a layup, or made a pull-up jumper.

Then, there was Reggie Miller's off-ball, catch-and-shoot jumper.

Even Crozier's jump shot...

In a word, it is floating to the outside to shoot.

The efficiency is not high, too far from the basket.

After the first quarter, the score was 33 to 22, and the Magic took an 11-point lead in terms of score.

邓肯制霸篮下，9投7中，罚球4中4，单节轰下18分7篮板3助攻1封盖。

Does this keep people alive?

本德2次出手，拿到到2分2篮板2犯规2失误。

With this data, is there any hope for the Pacers?
……

(End of this chapter)