Chapter 1200 Causing Damage

Suns offense.

Li Ba made a gesture to Nash and then started running towards the basket.

Duncan and Gasol followed up and cut off the passing and receiving lines at the same time.

At this time, Li Ba suddenly ran back, squeezed between Duncan and Gasol, and ran to the high position.

Duncan followed up, and Gasol stared at Ah Lian on the right wing while paying attention to Li Ba's movements.

At this time, the Arab League who was left empty quickly cut into the paint area, forcing Gasol to go up and block him.

At this time, Nash's ball was passed to Li Ba in the high position. The latter turned around very quickly, broke through Duncan and reached the basket.

Gasol returned to defense, and Li Ba jumped up first and slammed the ball into the basket with a bang.

4:4, the two tied.

Zhang Lijia shouted: "This shot was well played. It made full use of the mobility of the Hammers and the United Arab Emirates to beat Duncan and Gasol. After all, they are younger."

Xu Jicheng said: "This is how we fight, using our own strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses."

On the sidelines, Phil Jackson touched his chin.

The Suns' tactics just now have been used before, and the Lakers were not able to deal with it very well, because neither Duncan nor Gasol could defend Li Ba alone.

But if Li Ba is to be double-teamed around the clock, then Yi's point will be completely left open, which is also very dangerous.

Yi is different from Artest in that he has good air-cutting ability. It is possible for Yi to score 30 or 40 points in a game if he is completely left out.

So what to do?

"Tony, watch your man."

Phil Jackson shouted to Parker, who nodded.

The Lakers attacked, and this time Kobe broke through with the ball.

Ginobili's defense was stronger, and this time Parker set up a pick-and-roll for Kobe.

Nash and Ginobili switched defenses, but Nash's ability to defend against pick-and-rolls was zero. Kobe easily reached the wing with the ball.

It is better to break through along the bottom line, so as to stay away from the defense of Arab League and Li Ba above. If they want to go down to make defense, then Duncan and Gasol will be empty.

This is a tactic that Phil Jackson racked his brains to come up with. It targets the defensive vulnerability at the first position, and then allows Duncan and Gasol to leave the low post to empty the Suns' basket.

In the past few seasons, the Lakers' strong breakthrough ability was useless, but this season, the Lakers faced the Suns and their rise was endless.

The moment Kobe Bryant broke into the paint, UAE, who was close to the right wing, went down first to cover the defense.

He can't go to make up defense too early. Either sooner rather than later, he can go down to make up defense when he is in the position between Kobe and Gasol. If it is early, Kobe can pass, but if it is too late, Kobe can directly layup.

Li Ba watched with cold eyes as Kobe broke into the paint area, moved down a step, and was only one step away from the basket, right on the edge of the reasonable collision area.

Kobe passed through the UAE's defense, then passed through the basket, and suddenly turned around and took off.

He did not attack the basket directly, but after jumping up, his body lay back while continuing to fly backward.

The moment Kobe turned around, Li Ba reached Kobe's side and then jumped with Kobe.

But at this time, Kobe's hands holding the ball slammed to the floor, and with a bang, the ball was passed to Duncan.

Duncan rushed down with Li Ba, received Kobe's ground pass, and took the opportunity to lay up in one step.

"Snapped!"

Ah Lian on the right side of the basket jumped to block the shot and fanned the ball down.

"Beautiful!" Yu Jia shouted excitedly.

Seeing the position of the ball, Li Ba turned around and grabbed the ball in the air, then immediately threw it to Ginobili outside. The unguarded Ginobili immediately came down quickly.

Parker couldn't catch up and Ginobili made a layup.

6:4, the Suns lead.

Lakers offense.

Kobe didn't ask for Parker's pick-and-roll this time. He stepped past Ginobili without going around the baseline and went straight to the paint.

Gasol immediately retreated to the right wing, in the opposite direction of Kobe's breakthrough, to provide an offensive cover.

The United Arab Emirates chose to defend Gasol and handed the paint area to Li Ba.

Kobe and UAE staggered past each other and entered the paint area.

The moment his sight was blocked by Ah Lian, Li Ba rushed towards him and stood in front of him in one step.

With a bang, Kobe bumped into Li Ba's body, then rebounded and sat down on the floor.

Li Ba casually caught Kobe's out-of-control ball and passed it to Ginobili outside.

The Suns played a fast break from the outside. Ginobili, Nash, and Ray Allen quickly advanced to the frontcourt. Only Tony Allen and Parker of the Lakers had the opportunity to return to defense.

Ginobili advanced to the basket, encountered Tony Allen's defense change, and immediately passed the ball to Ray Allen, who made a three-point jumper.

9:4, the Suns lead.

"Kobe, follow the tactics." Phil Jackson shouted with a headache.

Kobe, who had just returned to guard the center line, nodded and raised his right hand, indicating that the ball was his.

Just now, he did not do what he was asked to do and did not go around the baseline. If he broke through along the baseline and entered the basket, Li Ba's defense would not have been so timely because the distance was farther.

The reason why he didn't go around the baseline was because he wanted to hit one by himself, because if he went around the baseline, Li Ba would definitely make up the defense. He wouldn't have a chance to play by himself, and would probably give the ball to Duncan.

Lakers offense.

This time, Kobe Bryant broke through according to the tactical requirements. Gasol pulled the Arab League to the right wing, and Li Ba made up the defense.

At this time, Kobe rushed through the basket and passed the ball to Duncan. Duncan attacked the basket and the former turned upward at the same time.

Li Ba returned to the basket, Duncan passed the ball back to Kobe who was behind him, and at the same time blocked in front of Li Ba, providing offensive screen for Kobe.

Kobe made a jump shot from two meters below the free throw line and hit the ball steadily.

9:6, the Lakers were 3 points behind.

Barkley explained: "This ball was played very patiently. Through multiple close-range passes and offensive screens, he finally got an open close-to-basket opportunity under the defense of the Hammer, proving that this tactic can indeed break the Hammer's paint defense."

The Suns attacked.

Li Ba moved under the basket, raised his right hand and made a gesture.

A-Lin, who was about to pull to the wing, immediately entered the paint area, made a pick-and-roll for Li Ba, and blocked Gasol.

At this time, Nash passed the ball in, Li Ba received the ball, and immediately forced Duncan.

"Snap!"

Duncan couldn't defend Li Ba alone, so he could only choose to foul.

The referee blew the whistle, and Li Ba made two free throws.

"Just play like this, if one of Duncan and Gasol goes down, the Suns will definitely win." Zhang Heli shouted.

Next, Li Ba continued to force Duncan under the basket.

The Lakers tried their best to double-team Li Ba, but Yi Jianlian's offensive screen was in place, and Gasol's double-team quality was not high, which put the Lakers' defense in trouble.

Phil Jackson frowned, because this kind of change was not available to the Suns in the regular season.

The Suns did not have this kind of offensive screen under the basket in the regular season. Once Yi Jianlian was left open, they would pull out to jump shot in an open position. But now they actually gave up this open opportunity and chose to let Li Ba force the basket, which made the Lakers more passive.