Chapter 472: One Vs. Two

Among the three major loopholes of the Cavaliers, Anderson Varejao is the first one.

Although he has a good basketball IQ, coupled with a younger and more impactful physical condition, he may have played better than several veterans on the bench of the Cavaliers in the team game.

At the same time, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. Varejao does not show any fear of Lin Dong, Sakuragi Hanamichi and others. Even if he loses the ball, he dares to curse "Fuck". These two points are probably the main reasons why Mike Brown put him in the starting position.

But the problem is that training and actual combat are different.

The relaxed atmosphere of the team game and the opportunities that will inevitably be given when considering newcomers are the main reasons why he performs better than other substitutes.

The fear of Lin Dong and Sakuragi Hanamichi by the other substitutes of the Cavaliers is indeed a big problem to some extent, which makes them play timidly. But from another perspective, the fear proves that they at least know how powerful the opponent is. They may not dare to choose to play against these two people, which will become a blank for the team at some time, but the problem is that blank is better than loophole...

The characteristics of the rotation defense of the Supersonics are enough to turn the empty position like Varejao into a real loophole at any time, and they can fill it at any time.

And those who are not afraid enough, vigilant enough, and dare to play like Varejao will obviously get worse when facing Lin Dong and Sakuragi.

As long as this loophole exists on the court, the Supersonics can calmly complete the five-on-four. Kidd must not give the ball to Varejao. If he really gives it to Varejao, it will let Varejao face the one-on-one with God, which will only be worse than four-on-five, and there will be no second result.

At the same time, it also involves the second loophole of the Cavaliers.

When Lin Dong retreated, he glanced at Mike Brown, the head coach of the Cavaliers, smiling. Mike Brown's brows were completely furrowed.

As a rookie, he had two key balls thrown into his hands right after he came on the court. This was a huge blow to the rookie. It was impossible for Varejao to adjust. Keeping him on the court would only continue to destroy him and the Cavaliers.

It was necessary to change players.

He swept his eyes around the bench. The Cavaliers were in trouble on the offensive end. The Big Four were defeated by the Big Three of the Supersonics... Don't say that Payton is not a super giant, but he can be counted as half. Lin Dong must be counted as one and a half. The Big Three plus two defensive stalwarts blocked the Big Four of the Cavaliers. This defense was really scary for Mike Brown.

The Cavaliers' offense had to be solved first, but who should be replaced?

Although Wilkes had a positive attitude on the defensive end, he averaged 1.1 points per game last season, 14.3% of his three-point shooting percentage, and 0.5 assists... This was obviously not the rotation role the Cavaliers needed now.

Newbell? Averaged 1.3 points per game, 3-point shooting rate of 23.1%, and even only 0.3 assists... This guy's offensive ability is even worse.

Hamilton? Oh, God, forgive this damn name, he is not a masked man. Although he has the same surname as that guy, the guy named Richard is very good at fighting, and this guy named Jiden Hamilton is a forward who averages 1 rebound and 0 assists per game. Letting him play will only provide unlimited emotional value to the opponent!

Damon Jones? Just transferred from the Heat this season, a shooting guard with an annual salary of 3 million.

The trade is to let him come to Wade as a substitute. His personal scoring ability is not bad. Last season, he averaged 11 points per game in the Heat. It can be regarded as a hand card that can be used on the offensive end.

But the problem is that this guy's performance in the team game is that his passing ability is very poor, and he is not very compatible with the team. Moreover, his attack method is more inclined to attack the inside line. Last season, his three-point shooting rate was only 23.5%.

Attack the inside... Does the Sonics' current defense seem to be afraid of you attacking the inside? What the Cavaliers want is to have someone go up to help the Big Four create some space and disrupt the Sonics' five-on-four defense.

Besides, Jones is 191 cm tall and 84 kg, which is obviously too petite and thin compared to the many giants on the court at this time, and he obviously can't provide any value on the defensive end.

Mike Brown struggled for a while, and finally only chose Alexander Pavlovich.

This guy is one of the more capable players on the bench. Last season, he averaged 4.8 points per game and had a 3-point shooting percentage of 38.5%. He can also play forward at 203 cm. On the defensive end, he inherited the European players' physical defense, which is active and tough. He has been running-in with the Cavaliers for two seasons. He has a good match with LeBron and Wade and can pass the ball. He is the best card in the Cavaliers' hands at the moment.

But the Cavaliers positioned him as a substitute for LeBron. Facing Lin Dong, LeBron will inevitably consume a lot of physical strength, and Alexander is the only guarantee for the Cavaliers to maintain basic operation in the second half. But now he and LeBron are on the court at the same time... There is no way, no matter what, he can only use him to break the current restrictions of the Supersonics on the Cavaliers.

"The Cavaliers change players, No. 17 off, No. 3 on!"

Seeing Alexander coming on, Lin Dong and Payton looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.

This is the second big problem of the Cavaliers.

Alexander Pavlovich was Lin Dong's international team teammate at the Nike Summit. He has been in the league for two or three seasons. He has trained well in these seasons. Lin Dong has always been paying attention to him. He is a rare European player, but his position is a key rotation player. If he is used now, the Cavaliers will undoubtedly be at their wits' end.

Besides... can Alexander really solve the current problem of the Cavaliers? Switching from the main rotation position 3 to the emergency position 4, are you sure he can really do it?

No one on the bench! That is the biggest problem of this Cavaliers! And the best way for the Supersonics is to take advantage of his weakness.

Lin Dong and Payton exchanged glances.

Continue to attack their weaknesses!

The Cavaliers have the ball.

The rotation defense of the Supersonics continues to press forward, and the victory or defeat will be decided within one quarter!

Payton and Iguodala's defense still makes Kidd feel like he has no way to start, and he can't break through. The other three giants are also blocked. The rotation of the Supersonics is too tight on the four giants...

No, no defense can be perfect.

Kidd observed patiently and didn't dare to make a decision easily.

Lin Dong was able to keep up with Wade on the defensive end, and he had a very tight control over the passing route. Some opportunities that seemed to be passable could be seen as traps in the eyes of a master like Kidd, and this was the point that Kidd was most reluctant to attack.

LeBron's situation was more complicated. When Wade pulled to the right and left Alexander to the left, Chandler was often the one defending LeBron, and Sakuragi Hanamichi was guarding the basket to keep an eye on O'Neal so that this guy could block Alexander Pavlovic on the left at the fastest speed. Although Chandler's defensive effect on LeBron was worse, the problem was that Lin Dong, who was chasing Wade, was also on the right at this time. With his assisting defense ability, if he dared to give the ball to LeBron, a double-team would form in an instant.

Lin Dong won DPOY twice like this, and he was absolutely a historical-level defensive master double-teamed... That taste was so sour. Kidd felt that even if he was double-teamed, he might not be able to pass the ball, let alone LeBron.

If Wade pulls Lin Dong to the left, it is often Sakuragi Hanamichi who defends LeBron. Since Sakuragi Hanamichi finally entered the league's first defensive team last season, LeBron's success rate in singles against him is not high.

As for O'Neal under the basket, if he pulls out to receive the ball, he will fall into the double-team of the Sonics rotation, but he can't receive the ball while guarding the basket. Passing to O'Neal is the most difficult. After all, Payton and Iguodala who are blocking Kidd are the first two lines of defense. The main defense is Kidd's pass to the inside, and Chandler or Sakuragi Hanamichi's interference with the basket makes it almost impossible to pass in.

To put it bluntly, it seems to be defending O'Neal alone, but in fact, the Sonics have three people blocking Kidd's passing route to O'Neal!

On both sides of the court, if Lin Dong is on the left, he is responsible for assisting Alexander, and if Lin Dong is on the right, he is responsible for assisting LeBron, and Sakuragi Hanamichi's role is similar.

With these two guys who ranked first in the league's defense to check for loopholes and fill in the gaps, the Sonics' five-on-four defense line was flawless, and even the Big Four couldn't find any flaws.

After looking around, they finally had to find the fifth man.

Even if they didn't dare to expect Alexander to take on the responsibility of scoring alone, at least he could hold on, and as long as he could hold on for a while...

Kidd silently calculated that the Sonics' style of play was indeed fierce, but it consumed too much physical strength, and it was even more of a limit for Lin Dong's physical strength. After all, he not only had to take on the heaviest work in defense, but was also the offensive core of the team.

Playing like this, the Sonics would definitely not last too long, at most one quarter, or even one quarter.

At this time, you have to be patient and choose to believe in Pavlovic, who is already the only one on the bench of the Cavaliers who can show off.

Swish!

The basketball was in Alexander's hands, and the ball was still flying. Sakuragi Hanamichi had already pounced on it immediately, but the 203-centimeter forward-guard swingman did not hesitate to pull up.

Before he went on the court, Mike Brown had already explained the importance of his position. If he couldn't open up, the Cavaliers' offense would completely collapse. As long as he could resolutely shoot in an open position, even if the hit rate was not enough, even if the score difference continued to widen by the Supersonics, as long as he could score, he could help the Cavaliers survive! He could wait for the Supersonics' weakening period!

As a European player, he played as a substitute for two seasons. It was rare for him to get a key position in such a game. Pavlovic was highly focused at this time.

He didn't pay any attention to Sakuragi Hanamichi who rushed forward. The distance between the two was two or three meters. No matter how fast the opponent made up, he couldn't shoot faster than him. It just brought him some pressure and psychological interference in momentum. Just ignore it.

There was only the basket in his eyes, and there was an "empty" in front of him...

Swish!

The basketball flew out of his hand and went into the net.

Pavlovic and Mike Brown off the court both clenched their fists with relief.

After getting 5 points at the beginning, it took more than two minutes to finally break the scoring drought, 15:8!

"LeBron! Wade!" Mike Brown shouted loudly on the sidelines: "Press! Full-court press!"

The situation that was finally opened on the offensive end must not be wasted. The Supersonics have a defensive trick, and the Cavaliers also have it!

Full-court press? That's all?

Payton took the ball and rushed forward. Kidd rushed into the Supersonics' half court and entangled with Payton.

Payton controlled the rhythm and broke through in one step, but Kidd blocked his way with faster steps and a younger and stronger body. He was stopped after only half a step.

Compared to Payton's death coil and Jordan's oppressive defense, Kidd's defense is relatively 'peaceful', not as aggressive and aggressive, but quite stable, giving the attacker a feeling of a wall, it may not hurt you, but it is enough to stop you.

Fortunately, there is Lin Dong.

As soon as Kidd was stopped, Lin Dong had already responded to the left side beside him.

Payton passed the ball behind his back, and the cooperation between the two seemed to be in sync. Lin Dong, who received the ball, did not even slow down his forward momentum, but the next second...

Whoosh!

Two figures blocked Lin Dong at the same time.

LeBron, Wade!

Lin Dong's eyes lit up slightly.

If there is anything that the current NBA needs to challenge for him, it is to go one-on-two like the combination in front of him.

At this time, the two defenders, LeBron is in front of Lin Dong's left, and Wade is on the right. As old opponents who have played two-on-one several times in the Olympics, both are very familiar with Lin Dong's technical characteristics, and their mutual defense is also coordinated as if it is natural.

But after all, they just blocked each other, and the two of them were not yet stable and had not yet controlled their center of gravity.

And the opportunity is often hidden in this moment... I am no longer the Lin Dong in the Olympics!

Lin Dong turned his back without hesitation, relying on the inertia brought by his body rotation, and instantly increased the speed of the rush to the limit, and rushed to Wade's right side.

It is obviously not appropriate to play fancy against a skill-based opponent. Although that is also his strength, after all, it is one against two, and attacking the enemy's weaknesses is the kingly way.

You have to rely on speed! You have to seize the initiative!

And this initiative is to attack you when you are not stable!

The opportunity is fleeting, perhaps only a short 0.5 seconds or even less time, but you have seized it.

Wade was also surprised. He didn't expect that facing the double defense of himself and LeBron, this guy would rush so resolutely.

He just rushed over to brake, and he didn't even adjust his center of gravity.

Fortunately, it was two-on-one defense, with LeBron guarding the other side, so he could pull the center of gravity without worrying about the other side leaking to Lin Dong.

Wade mobilized all his muscles and tried his best to block Lin Dong on the right side.

One was desperate, and the other was to leave room for change. Wade's speed was also top-notch in the league. If he could break through, he would not be a god, but a super god.

But Lin Dong smiled. What he wanted was Wade's extreme center of gravity pull. The more Wade went to the right, the more LeBron would need to move towards him.

One wrong step leads to another. If you can seize the opponent's 0.5 second opportunity to gain a firm foothold, you can break their double defense!

At this time, before his body came into contact with Wade, he felt the opponent's center of gravity pulling, and LeBron had already made up for it to the right. Lin Dong turned sharply again and turned to break LeBron on the left.

To deal with a big muscular man, delicate skills will be much more useful.

After all, Lin Dong's breakthrough had already begun, and he had already fought with Wade, which gave LeBron enough time to react. After all, the defensive fan of the two was larger than that of one person. LeBron quickly moved to the left to block Lin Dong.

But then Lin Dong's second change of direction came.

While LeBron went to the left and Wade went to the right, there was a little space between the two. Lin Dong dribbled through the gap in one step, and while shooting the ball from LeBron's crotch, his body had already forced its way into the gap between the two defenders.

Strong? Fast?

This cannot be achieved by just being strong and fast, but by the extreme softness of the body and the extreme elasticity of the skills. Each action, while pursuing the extreme speed, also leaves enough room for change, making all these actions appear to be done in one go and as smooth as water!

LeBron and Wade were shocked at the same time. The gap had already appeared, and it was too late to close it at this time.

Wade immediately turned around and blocked Lin Dong from another angle. LeBron took advantage of the three people being huddled together and suddenly stretched out his arm.

His five thick fingers grabbed Lin Dong's arm directly, and the strong force stopped Lin Dong's already speeding body. With the help of him and Lin Dong being huddled together, and Wade blocking the referee's sight in another direction, this grab was known only to heaven and earth, LeBron and Lin Dong...

The next second, Wade had already rushed to the front of Lin Dong to complete the interception.

Lin Dong secretly said it was a pity.

He forgot about LeBron's habits and strength... The defense that had been broken through was caught by this grab.

He had broken through the limit, but the two guys in front of him had obviously made great progress in just two or three months since they parted at the Olympics.

It seems that while the Cavaliers and the entire league underestimated him, he also underestimated his opponents.

It's not that easy.