Grab Curry at the start

Chapter 132 Roy Comes Back
The Blazers themselves may not be very sure about Roy's situation, so they didn't let him start.

Through the last game, they thought that Fernandez might be a wrong choice to start, so they made a change, but instead of Webster, who could play well, they chose Bayless.

Zhang Sixin really doesn't understand McMillan's thinking. What they need now is a three-pointer, and Bayless' three-pointer is far inferior to Webster and Fernandez.

Now that they have changed in this way, it is easier for the Timberwolves to limit Aldridge.

Maybe the old-school coaches don't think the three-pointer is really that important, and Zhang Sixin doesn't think too much about it, but he will definitely make use of it in the game.

In fact, the Blazers still let Aldridge start the main attack this time. The difference is that Aldridge really worked hard today.

The Blazers don't want to be swept, and the players are working very hard.

What made Zhang Sixin a little careless was that Bayless hit a three-pointer shortly after the start of the game, which was careless.

He found that there is still a difference in the attitudes of the players and the opponent. The Blazers are fighting to the death and are more determined today. The Timberwolves players are actually more excited, but a little bit too much.

They thought they could handle their opponents, so they didn't expect the Blazers' opening performance.

However, Curry stepped up on the offensive end.

The three-pointer raised his hand, which also cooled the enthusiasm of the Blazers players.

Zhang Sixin couldn't help applauding, he said to the people around him: "As long as Curry has a shooting touch, we don't have to worry too much."

Sure enough, a moment later, the leading party became the Timberwolves.

When Curry fires from outside the three-point line, he can attract a lot of defensive attention from the opponent.

If he passes the ball at this time, other players may get an easy shot.

Even if the Blazers' defense is really hard this time, there are some balls that can be blown or not, and the referee will not blow them.

Whether it is home court advantage or sympathy for the underdog, it will not be so easy for any team that wants to sweep the opponent.

With Batum also hitting a three-pointer, the Blazers caught up again.

The Trail Blazers fell behind by a big score in the series, and they let go. Today, both offense and defense are better than before.

However, although the Timberwolves did not fully attack, they kept scoring.

It is also very difficult for the Blazers to think about ease or an advantage in the score.

Shortly after halfway through the first quarter, the Blazers finally replaced Roy.

Roy also lived up to expectations and made a mid-range hit as soon as he came up.

This also greatly encouraged the rest of the Blazers, and their momentum became stronger.

However, after careful observation, it can be found that Roy's knee must still have problems.

He just came up to shoot and didn't dare to do many moves.

So Zhang Sixin also began to adjust, and the bench lineup speeded up.

In this case, the Blazers are indeed a little out of tune.

After Roy hit two goals, it didn't feel so right.

However, the Blazers still have an extra ball-holding point, and his tactical significance still exists.

After the first quarter, the Timberwolves relied on Brewer's quick counterattack at the last moment to overtake the score.

Zhang Sixin immediately decided that the team should play fast first, and then let Milicic partner Jefferson play the position.

In this game, the Timberwolves' bench lineup was faster than the starting lineup.

This is the case with a large number of players. It is not required that they all be in form at the same time, but as long as there are a few players in form, the game will be much easier.

Both Belinelli and Frye hit three-pointers, and for a while they felt that the Timberwolves were going to be imposing.

But the Blazers resisted and began to fight back.

Miller and Aldridge hardly rested, and they also did what the head coach asked, and when the team's three-point line was sluggish again, they began to score and create kills.

Before halfway through the second quarter, Zhang Sixin stopped his bombardment.

Frye can indeed score on the court, but he is easily bullied on the defensive end.

After the Blazers got consecutive opportunities to get to the free throw line, Zhang Sixin adjusted the team's strategy.

"It seems that we can't beat our opponent in one go in this game. We need to be patient now."

Zhang Sixin still likes to be more steady and did not continue to shoot fast.

He asked Curry and Love to rest successively, and then focused on the inside of the team.

On the one hand, the Blazers have few insiders, and on the other hand, it is to consume Aldridge.

Aldridge has less rest time and is the main attack point. Increasing his physical exertion is a more stable approach.

Teams use two offensive rhythms that can also disrupt the opposing defense.

The key is that the Timberwolves can do it, and both Jefferson and Milicic can create threats inside.

At this time, the Blazers were actually very nervous.

Now the score difference between the two teams is not big, but Roy did not continue to play. Everyone can see that he is not in good condition. If they can't lead in the first half, the second half will be difficult.

That's why the Blazers head coach McMillan directly played the main force, but the effect was not very good.

In other words, if they don't do this, it is estimated that they are now behind again.

For the Timberwolves, it is still necessary for the main players to rest.

When the Blazers showed off on the offensive end, they became the leading side again.

But Zhang Sixin was not in a hurry. After Curry and Love had had enough rest, they were replaced shortly before the end of the first half.

Switching it up has worked. After all, there are more threatening attack points, and it is impossible for the Blazers players not to have some psychological pressure.

After the two came up, Curry scored 2 points and Love didn't score, but the team's offense became more flexible.

DeRozan and Matthews got opportunities one after another, each hitting two points.

In this way, at the end of the first half, the Timberwolves caught up with the score, and the two teams stood on the same starting line again.

Back in the locker room, Zhang Sixin asked the players to relax first.

In fact, the situation of the opponents in this game is similar to what they expected.

However, the performance of the Trail Blazers players is better than before. Roy's comeback is not only a tactical impact, but more likely to encourage his teammates mentally.

Aldridge kept fighting at the basket today, which was not the case before.

"We must continue to defend well. The Blazers have only one breath left. They are now holding on. As long as we continue to exert pressure, they will always be unable to hold on." Zhang Sixin said.

"There is no need to change the tactics. They just resisted in the first half, and they just did better in the second half."

It's that simple to consume Aldridge, not give the Blazers a three-point chance, and then make the shot that should be made.

Unlike the relative calm in the Minnesota locker room, everyone in the Blazers locker room was encouraging each other, or forcing themselves to be excited.

"We're going to win, we're going to win..."

They have been yelling this sentence, and now they can only rely on willpower to drive out the bad things in their minds and go all out for the game.

(End of this chapter)