Chapter 884 Take the initiative
Chapter 884 Take the initiative
This season, the Sonics moved to the Key Stadium of the new arena, ending their one-year sojourn in the Tacoma Dome Stadium. Since the end of the use of the Seattle Center Arena in 94, last year, They all use the Tacoma Dome as their home stadium.
Perhaps the new arena has brought a new atmosphere. The Supersonics who moved to the new arena have achieved outstanding results this year that far exceeded their pre-season expectations. They ranked first in the Western Conference with a record of 64 wins and 18 losses. You know Prior to this, the Supersonics were established in 66 and entered the NBA in 67. They have never won the first place in the Western Conference.
In the first round of the playoffs, they easily swept the Suns 3:0, and it seemed that everything was going in a good direction.
However, in the semifinals, they actually met the defending champion Warriors in advance. If there is any team that the Sonics are least willing to face, the Warriors are definitely ranked in the top two in the league.
Unfortunately, due to the failure of the Warriors, the record fell to fifth, and eventually the two teams will meet early in the Western Conference semifinals.
Since it is unavoidable, although the Sonics do not want to face it so early, they also need to pack up their minds and seriously face this seemingly weakened Warriors.
The Sonics' lineup tonight continues with their regular starting lineup: Gary Payton, Jose Hawkins, Detlef Schrempf, Sean Kemp and Erwin Johnson.
The team's main insider Sam Perkins continued to play as a substitute.
The Warriors' starting lineup tonight has also not changed much, Li Weisi, Richmond, Finley, Rodman and Divac.
In terms of lineup, the two teams are equally matched, but in terms of state, the Supersonics swept their opponents in the first round, while the Warriors struggled to reach the fifth game. Although the opponents of the two teams are different, it undoubtedly proves that the Supersonics are still in good shape good.
However, after the game started, it was the Warriors who took the initiative in the game first.
At the beginning of the game, Divac beat Johnson with a jump ball, and the Warriors immediately made a fast break. Gary Payton, the best defensive player in the new division, immediately blocked Li Weisi.
However, Li Weisi didn't stick to the ball either. He made a long pass and transferred the ball to Richmond. After receiving the ball, the latter dribbled a step and directly chose a three-point shot.
At this time, the two teams have not yet entered the position and completed the positioning. For the Warriors, once they fail to make a shot, they will undoubtedly lose the rebound.
But as the so-called Yigao people are bold, the reason why Richmond dared to invest was because he believed that he would be able to invest.
Sure enough, the basketball flew over the heads of the Sonics players, and got into the basket. It started 3:0.
Then it was the Supersonics' turn to attack. In terms of offensive ability, the Supersonics and the Warriors' previous opponents, the Jazz, were actually at the same level. After all, the real killing knife for the Supersonics was defense, not offense.
However, what is different from the Jazz's offense is that compared to the Jazz's over-reliance on the Iron Triangle, the Supersonics undoubtedly have more offensive points and more scattered firepower. Although no one in the Supersonics has scored more than 20 points this season, they have 5 people scored in double figures, and 4 people scored 15+.
Therefore, when it was the turn of the Sonics to attack, although the point guard and the power forward were also performing pick-and-rolls, there were many more changes than the Jazz.
At the same time that Payton and Kemp were picking and rolling, Schrempf and Hawkins had already started running. The defense on both sides of the Warriors was completely mobilized, and it was difficult to provide defensive pressure for the Supersonic duo in the middle. .
At the same time, Payton saw that the tactics had been completed, and decisively passed the ball to Kemp, who started to go down. After Kemp got the ball, he chose to dunk against Divac who was coming.
The bodies of the two collided fiercely. As the taller and heavier side, Divac actually fell into a disadvantage when facing the impact of Kemp.
Kemp persisted and came to the basket, swung his thick arms, and smashed the ball into the basket hard. Hearing a "beep", Kemp actually dunked the goal that must be scored.
Everyone was stunned when they saw this scene, especially Kemp, the instigator, saw that he had actually kicked the ball away, and his old face blushed immediately.
However, not everyone on the field didn't react. Rodman was the first to wake up and came to the basket to successfully receive the rebound.
The Warriors immediately set off a new wave of fast breaks.
Another quick break, Li Weisi still seized the flaw in the Supersonics' return defense, and distributed the ball to Finley on the wing. The hand split was successful, 5:0, and the Warriors continued to maintain the lead.
It was the turn of the Supersonics to attack again. This time, Payton did not rush to pick and roll with Kemp, but turned his back to Li Weisi, pushing into the penalty area and watching.
At this moment, Schramf used the pick-and-roll to successfully get rid of Finley, who had been chasing him closely. Although Finley tried his best, he obviously couldn't compete with the old man who had been in the NBA for many years. Compared with the quack Schramf.
Finding that Schramf ran out of the opportunity, Payton immediately gave the ball to Schramf, who immediately turned around and made a three-pointer after receiving the ball.
This is the ability he relies on most for the Sonics to survive. However, the result of this shot is undoubtedly smashing Schramff's job. After the basketball hit the front of the basket, it bounced out again. Rhodes Mann took the rebound again.
Excited, he even almost kicked Kemp in the face when he jumped up to grab a rebound, and Kemp stared viciously in return. Start fighting back.
Rodman immediately found Li Weisi. After Li Weisi dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, he made an emergency stop and got rid of Payton who was chasing him.
Twinkle, twinkle, sparkle, let's have a three-pointer!
With this three-pointer, the Warriors have already led the Sonics 8:0 at the start.
Seeing this situation, Supersonics head coach George Karl quickly called a timeout. Although the point difference has not yet reached double digits, it is obvious that the Supersonics players have been rested for the past few days. Karl needs to Call a time-out, come and wind them up and refresh your spirits.
Come back from a timeout and continue the supersonic attack.
In the offense, Payton chose to come by himself this time, but during the layup, Li Weisi directly took out the ball. Payton made a mistake, and the two teams immediately switched offense and defense.
In the fast break, Li Weisi assisted Finley to dunk again, and the start was 10:0. Obviously, a timeout could not make the Sonics recover quickly.
At the beginning of the game, the Warriors turned away and took the initiative in the game.
(End of this chapter)