basketball player

Chapter 520 518 Opportunity Belongs to Antetokounmpo

Can Henson win his first game back?Most people thought it was unwinnable.

Although Hoiberg's coaching ability is not very outstanding, he has never left the basketball court anyway.This gentleman started his career as a professional player with the Pacers and retired after ten years in the NBA.Then, he plunged into the work of basketball coach.

In the past two years, Henson has hardly had any contact with basketball.Indeed, under his joint operation with Kobe and the Coca-Cola Company, BodyArmor drinks are now selling well.But no one thought Henson could replicate his commercial success on the basketball court.After all, business and basketball are two completely different things.

In the past two years, the NBA's game rhythm and game methods have undergone tremendous changes.No one thinks that a person who has taken a break for two years can achieve success casually.

People even think that Henson's coaching may not be as good as Frank Vogel.

But what they don't know is that in the past two years, Henson has studied a lot about basketball.
At the urging of the referee, the starters from both sides made their season debuts.On the Bulls side, the Big Three naturally all appeared on the stage.Rondo played the first position, Wade stood at the second position, and Jimmy Butler appeared at the third position.

Montenegrin big man Mirotic and the Bulls' newly introduced Robin Lopez guard the Bulls' restricted area.

On the Pacers side, Henson's starting lineup also made fans have infinite reverie.

Chris Paul still started, and Danny Green accidentally topped Oladipo.Paul George was pushed to the third position. Of course, his height of 2 meters is not a disadvantage in the third position.Antetokounmpo, who has grown to 06 meters and has grown significantly in size, was pushed to the fourth position.Robin Lopez's older brother, Brook Lopez, started for the Pacers for the first time.

"The starting lineups of both sides have their own characteristics. The Bulls are stronger in attacking the penalty area. The Pacers are more balanced, with three-pointers, offensive frame, defense, and organization. It is hard to say which team will win the final victory. But I am sure that this will be an opener performance that will not disappoint everyone!"

As soon as Kenny Smith finished speaking, the referee threw the basketball high.At that moment, Henson couldn't help standing up.It wasn't that he couldn't hold his breath, but that he was too excited.

Although the two Lopez brothers look similar, their personalities and technical characteristics are quite different.

Robin is arrogant and extroverted, while Brook is low-key and reserved.Robin is wild and rough, Brooke is technically delicate.

In terms of athletic ability, Robin is also slightly better than Brook.So in the scrimmage stage, Robin Lopez successfully won the first attack for the Bulls.

As soon as the basketball was in Rondo's hands, he made a quick layup to Jimmy Butler.Because almost at the moment when Robin won the basketball, Butler began to rush to the frontcourt.

Rondo's quick on-ball coupled with Butler's quick cut allowed the Bulls to make a quick attack as soon as they came up.

Butler took advantage of the opportunity to break into the inside, and in the blink of an eye, solved the first offense of the new season with a powerful one-handed dunk.

Just like last season, Jimmy Butler always has a lot of energy when he meets the Pacers.

"One-handed dunking, Jimmy Butler opened the new season for the Bulls with a wonderful shot. See? This is the offensive effect brought by Rondo + Jimmy Butler. Brook Lopez's defense is too slow. He has no way to protect the frame in time."

Kenny Smith started cheering for the Bulls' first drive, but Henson wasn't angry at all.Without this attack, the Bulls would have no chance of a successful attack.

It's just one ball, there's no need to get angry at all.

After that, Chris Paul started the ball, and Henson's Pacers were about to show their first offense.

It is generally believed that the Pacers' offensive effect today will not be very good.After all, the perimeter defense chain composed of Rondo, Jimmy Butler and Wade is very powerful.

Danny Green is an off-ball attacker, and Wade can handle it.Rondo naturally needless to say, every time he meets Paul, you don't have to worry about his state.

And Jimmy Butler is also considered a ruthless character who can fight George.

In Henson's final season coaching the Pacers, Jimmy Butler was already a member of the All-Defensive Second Team.In the two years since Henson retired, Jimmy Butler still won the honor of the best defensive second team.

In today's situation where there are so many birds and beasts on the outside, it is already very remarkable to be selected for the best defensive second team.You can see how terrifying Jimmy Butler's defensive ability is.

But today the Pacers attacked for the first time, and Henson just didn't let any one of Paul, George and Green take a shot.This season, Henson believes that the opportunity belongs to Antetokounmpo!

Just after halftime, Paul handed the ball to Antetokounmpo.After two years, the "Greek monster" that Henson was very optimistic about at the beginning has grown up completely.

Instead of fighting his brother in the paint, Brook Lopez floated to the three-point line and set up a screen for Antetokounmpo.

Mirotic is ready to fight, but the Montenegrin striker's movement is simply not comparable to that of Antetokounmpo!

In just one step, Antetokounmpo left Mirotic behind!
"Antetokounmpo's big step is equivalent to several steps taken by others!" Barkley said with emotion.

Seeing Antetokounmpo enter the penalty area, Mirotic had to chase desperately.And Robin Lopez also rushed to the penalty area unconsciously.

Both guys knew that Antetokounmpo's shooting was not stable, so they all went back to the penalty area to defend.But Antetokounmpo did not stop the ball because of this, but raised the corner of his mouth slightly, waved his long arm, and threw the basketball into the hands of Brook Lopez.

"Break through the ball! Unfortunately, Brook Lopez's shooting range cannot extend beyond the three-point line. The Bulls' defense is extremely successful."

As soon as Kenny Smith finished speaking, he was surprised to find that Lopez made a decisive move!

Everyone knows that Brook Lopez has a soft touch, but only for mid-range shots.It is inconceivable in traditional thinking to let a relatively traditional big man like him pull out to shoot three-pointers.

But with the Pacers, under Henson, the unthinkable is possible.

Lopez's shot is not only decisive, but also hollow into the net!With a three-pointer, the Pacers overtook the score with a simple breakthrough.But what is different is that this is a breakthrough from the [-]th position to the [-]th position.
Three or four years ago, no one would have deployed tactics like this.But in today's small ball era, the Pacers' tactics are logical.

"Brook Lopez received a pass from Antetokounmpo and hit a three-pointer. I believe this is not due to luck, but a special arrangement by Coach Henson. Have you all forgotten Al Horford? I think Brook Lopez has also practiced an excellent three-pointer in the Pacers!" Barkley laughed triumphantly.

"Who said that coach Henson has become an antique? Let me say, his tactical thinking is extremely avant-garde." O'Neill echoed.

Not to mention the fans and commentators, even Robin Lopez was surprised by the ball just now.He knows his brother very well, so he also knows that Brook has never been a so-called space five.

"Don't tell me, you've started shooting from the outside like those softies." Robin walked to his brother and whispered softly.

"Soft? There are no softies on the basketball court. There are only two types of people. Winners and losers." Brooke replied angrily. In competitive sports, there is no such thing as brotherhood.

The Bulls attacked for the second time, and they were forced into a positional battle.Henson's strategy is very clear, shrink the penalty area, and mainly defend the inside!
As we all know, Jimmy Butler, Rondo and Wade are not three-pointers.Henson let the players feel at ease and boldly let them shoot. As long as they are not allowed to burst, the Bulls' seemingly bluffing outside lineup will be useless.

Therefore, George did not press Butler, but deliberately let him take two steps.

But Jimmy Butler doesn't care about you, he gets excited when he hits the Pacers.But excitement sometimes just swallows his calmness
Seeing that no one was defending him, Jimmy Butler pulled up and shot.But how important is his three-point shooting, Henson knows best.Although Frazier made Jimmy Butler's shooting improve a lot back then, it only reached the level of just passing.

"Bang!"

Butler's three-point shot was simply smashed, and Hoiberg yelled anxiously from the sidelines.

"Breakthrough, you are a breakthrough! If you easily make a shot from outside the three-point line, you just fell into their trap!"

It seems that Hoiberg is still very accurate in seeing the situation on the field.But whether the players can listen to it is not certain.

Jimmy Butler's shot hit the iron, and Antetokounmpo directly grabbed the defensive rebound.Don't think that Antetokounmpo is not an orthodox insider, but he does not suffer at all compared to the orthodox insider in rebounding.This point was reflected in Antetokounmpo when Henson was still coaching.

His jumping height and wingspan make the bearded Mirotic unmatched.

The moment he grabbed the rebound, Antetokounmpo directly held the ball and started to break through!He's advancing faster than the Warriors' Draymond Green.No, maybe the 30 teams in the league can no longer find a fourth position that is faster than Antetokounmpo's counterattack!
Mirotic and Robin Lopez were left far behind, and Rondo, who retreated in time, could not pose any threat to Antetokounmpo.

I saw Antetokounmpo took a few strides to the basket, then shook Rondo away with a European step, raised his hand lightly in the opponent's desperate eyes, and completed a explosive dunk!

"European step dunk! Hahahaha, this kind of technical action is beyond the expectation of other players. His physical condition is really excellent. Antetokounmpo will definitely be one of the most dominant players in the future!"

"Yeah, the quick counterattack that Coach Henson is best at has reappeared. The Pacers played beautifully in these two offenses."

Antetokounmpo flexed his muscles and howled, while Henson clapped lightly, as if this was just the tip of the iceberg of what the Pacers really are.

Only 7 wins in 3 games in the preseason?Comparing the Pacers to the Warriors is a joke?To these doubts, Henson undoubtedly gave a response.

He said that whether the Pacers are strong or not is not up to the media.
(End of this chapter)