After defeating the Spurs and Thunder in two consecutive tough games, the Trail Blazers continued their visit to Los Angeles to challenge the current Los Angeles overlords, the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers have continued their steady performance in the Western Conference this season and their results are quite stable.

Although the team's record was not very good due to injuries at the beginning of the season.

However, relying on their recent outstanding performance, they currently have a record of 40 wins and 19 losses, stabilizing the fifth place in the Western Conference, and waiting for the teams in front to make mistakes, giving them a chance to rush to the front of the Western Conference.

As for the Trail Blazers, if they want to achieve a better position and gain home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, they absolutely cannot afford to lose in a direct match like this with the Clippers.

Judging from the fighting spirit of the Thunder at the beginning of the game, they were ready to make a splash on the road. The two teams fell into a head-to-head confrontation from the beginning of the game.

The playing styles of the Trail Blazers and Thunder are actually very similar.

Unlike other strong teams, which have mature tactical systems, for the Trail Blazers and Thunder, more depends on the performance of superstar players.

After just defeating the powerful Clippers, the Trail Blazers went to Texas to challenge the Spurs in the game.

The Spurs' record in the new season is not very good. They currently only have a record of 25 wins and 16 losses, ranking 7th in the Western Conference. Compared with the Trail Blazers, who are second in the Western Conference, it seems that the Trail Blazers are the dominant side.

But everyone knows that the Spurs' performance in regular season games depends entirely on their own will. The Spurs' goal has always been the playoffs, so when facing potential opponents in the playoffs, the Spurs will definitely play their best.

I tried my best to test the strength of the Blazers.

Won this offense for the Trail Blazers.

However, if they want to completely stabilize the situation, what the Trail Blazers need to do is defend.

This time, when the Trail Blazers needed a successful defense, Zhang Feng stood up again on the defensive end after completing an offensive score.

No, it shouldn't be said that Zhang Feng stood up on the defensive end, but that Cousins ​​once again failed in front of Zhang Feng.

In the Kings' offense, when Rudy Gay plays consecutive singles and needs to slow down for a while, the offensive initiative will naturally be handed over to Cousins.

Cousins ​​has been using his sudden positioning while running to break Zhang Feng's forward defense, and the effect is actually quite good.

After this time, the ball was immediately passed by Rudy Gay.

Cousins ​​went low from the left baseline and hit Zhang Feng in singles.

Facing Zhang Feng's defense, the situation unfolded directly during the game.

Seeing Batum coming to help defend, Cousins ​​gave priority to protecting the ball and dribbling to the inside to avoid being intercepted. If Batum dared to directly attack, Cousins ​​could quickly collect the ball and then pass it.

Pass the ball to a teammate on the outside.

Then when Batum had to go back to take care of the defender, Cousins ​​advanced and launched a strong attack.

However, it may be that Batum came back to help defend, which still interrupted Cousins' own offensive rhythm.

When the offense restarted, Cousins ​​was obviously unable to complete the offensive action as expected under Zhang Feng's top defense.

However, during the attack time and under the pressure of the Blazers possibly forming a secondary defense, Cousins ​​could only attack quickly.

Holding Zhang Feng's arm, he quickly completed the shot. When he came to the front, he threw directly with one arm and the ball hit directly.

However, the referee blew the whistle again at this time. While blowing the whistle, he made a gesture of Cousin's pulling a foul, and the goal was invalid.

Just now, when Cousins ​​turned around, in order to reduce the defensive resistance from Zhang Feng, he obviously made a hugging action, which prevented Zhang Feng from keeping up with Cousins. Therefore, this time Cousins ​​​​made unnecessary offensive moves.

Once caught by the referee.

4 fouls, Cousins' foul problem appeared again.

However, the Trail Blazers failed to seize the opportunity on the offensive end.

Aldridge cooperated with Batum in the pick-and-roll and took a long shot from a 45-degree angle on the left, but missed, causing the Blazers' scoring to stall again.

Just when Kings fans are still looking forward to the team seizing the opportunity to make a difference on the offensive end.

The Kings continued to make mistakes.

It cannot be said that it was the Kings, but it should be said that Cousins ​​made a mistake.

When Aldridge missed a long shot, Darren Collison quickly dribbled over to counterattack.

However, the Blazers' defense was quite good and they did not give their opponents a chance to easily launch a counterattack.

Without a chance, Darren Collison could only stabilize the offensive rhythm and wait for other offensive players to come up.

Darren Collison passed the ball directly to Cousins ​​​​who had just arrived outside the three-point line, with the intention of allowing Cousins ​​​​to provide support in the high post.

However, thinking about the last offense, he was unwilling to be called for a foul, so Cousins ​​directly held the ball against Zhang Feng's defense, using a breakthrough method to drive towards the Blazers' basket.

Indeed, Cousins ​​is a flexible fat man, but the Blazers' defense will not be directly broken by Cousins' recklessness.

When the breakthrough advanced to the three-second zone, Cousins ​​was directly surrounded by three people.

Cousins ​​still stepped up and tried to force a foul, but the Trail Blazers' defensive players acted in a very standardized manner. The referee did not blow the whistle. Instead, Cousins's layup this time was unexpectedly missed by three people because of his insufficient jump height.

He grabbed it, but Zhang Feng moved forward and pressed it down with his hand.

The ball was knocked down by Zhang Feng and was taken directly by Lillard next to Cousins.

There was no foul on this shot?

The referee didn't blow the whistle, making Cousins ​​think he was being treated unfairly.

I was blocked by my opponent?

This is the unhappy place that Cousins ​​immediately thought of again.

Cousins, who was instantly angry, did not pay attention to the referee first, but focused all his attention on the ball.

He cut the ball fiercely, trying to snatch the damn basketball from Lillard's hand, and then slam it into the basket.

However, Lillard's reaction speed was so fast. When Cousins' chip came over, Lillard directly moved the ball away. Cousins' forced action hit Lillard's arm firmly.

There is also a rather crisp "pop" sound.

"beep--"

The referee whistled another foul, and Cousins ​​committed another foul.

Due to the dead ball, the game went directly to a TV timeout.

The Kings coach on the sidelines was dumbfounded. What is going on? What just happened?

Originally, the Kings were chasing points very well, but Cousins ​​actually committed two fouls in two offensive rounds?

Is this how the internal protection ends?

Originally, the head coach of the Kings should have followed the unspoken rules of the NBA and replaced Cousins ​​when he committed four fouls to prepare for the final battle.

But considering that there was a TV timeout soon, and the team was in the process of chasing points, we planned to save a timeout and replace Cousins ​​when the ball died next time.

As a result, the timeout was saved, but the next dead ball opportunity was created by Cousins ​​himself.

The Kings coach was really on the verge of tears.

Cousins' five fouls were off the court and he may have to rest until the end of the fourth quarter before he dares to play.

However, although at this stage, the important task of chasing points for the Kings is not given to Cousins, Cousins' defense is really important to the Kings.

Without the protection of Cousins ​​in the paint, the Trail Blazers can continuously impact the Kings' paint to create opportunities.

And Zhang Feng even has the capital to launch further attacks on the inside.

After the timeout, the Blazers' offense was very targeted.

Veteran post player Reggie Evans, who replaced Cousins, is too short.

With a height of 2.03 meters, he plays the center position and is half a head away from his opponent Zhang Feng. This also allows Zhang Feng to have the ability to play low singles in the game.

Zhang Feng can create advantages in singles, but Evans's lack of air defense ability makes Lillard's breakthrough like a duck in water.

Lillard directly borrowed a pick-and-roll provided by Zhang Feng and accelerated directly to the basket. Evans' defense was chasing after him, and the defensive interference it could cause was extremely limited. Lillard directly succeeded in a layup, allowing the Kings to

There is no way to defend.

Without the restraint of Cousins, the Blazers can also shift more of their defensive attention to Rudy Gay.

After Rudy Gay passed the pick-and-roll with Thompson, he was double-teamed by the two defenders. After helplessly dividing the ball, Thompson took the ball and shot directly, but it came out.

During the scramble for rebounds in the paint, although Evans tried his best, Zhang Feng's height advantage was too obvious.

With his height and wingspan, and the fact that Evans couldn't jump anymore, Zhang Feng almost didn't even take off and just put the rebound directly into his arms.

During the transition between offense and defense, Lillard lobbed the ball to Batum, who was positioned under the basket.

Batum hit Darren Collison out of position, and the Kings defense double-teamed him, allowing Batum to pass the ball directly to Zhang Feng, who followed up and was unguarded in the penalty area.

Zhang Feng received the ball and directly made a free throw, hitting two points steadily and continuing to expand his lead.

The Kings were a little anxious. They were in a good situation before and were only behind by single digits. Now, the defense suddenly increased and their own offense began to become unsatisfactory.

This wave of conversion directly allowed the Blazers to re-stabilize the situation and stabilize their leading advantage.

The biggest reason why the Kings are back in trouble at this time is of course Cousins ​​who failed to control his emotions.

The camera turned to Cousins, who was still biting his braces. Cousins, who was a little confused off the court, might still be thinking, why did he commit five fouls like this?

With Zhang Feng on the court, Ziah can relax a little on the defensive end.

Veteran centers like Evans do the dirty work on the court.
To be continued...