Losing the seventh game against the Memphis Grizzlies marked the end of another year's journey for the Trail Blazers.

Although there are two All-Star players in Lillard and Aldridge, and the team has two core team-building ideas, one inside and one outside, it still lacks a little bit of meaning.

The team's upper limit does not seem to be enough to support the Blazers to advance further in the Western Conference surrounded by strong players.

As analyzed by the outside world, although Lillard and Aldridge are both All-Star players in the Western Conference, they only have the ability of stars, but they are just stars.

But like many other Western Conference teams, they don't have a superstar or a player of historical strength.

Moreover, although the combination of Lillard and Aldridge seems reasonable inside and outside, the degree of tacit understanding between the two and the linkage of tactics are not that outstanding.

The two men, who are often stuck fighting alone, cannot work together to bring out the greatest threat of both All-Stars.

You must know that during the game, what needs to be done is to complete a better inside attack during the game. There is no way to put enough pressure on the game during the game.

However, under such pressure, the team needs to complete the explosion.

Instead, what they want to do is to maximize their own offensive capabilities inside to make up for the points lost on the defensive end.

Although Curry and Thompson took most of the points, there is ample room for others to play in the team's offensive system.

Although when facing Jordan's defense, Zhang Feng may still lack the ability to attack the basket.

However, Zhang Feng's excellent long-range shooting ability since he entered the NBA can effectively contain Jordan's defensive range.

Not only does it open up space inside for the team, it can also effectively attract the opponent's defensive attention for Lillard.

However, there is not much time left for the Blazers to enjoy the joy of victory. The Blazers' devilish schedule has just begun.

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 Blazers.

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

This time, when the 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 ​​​​prioritized the ball protection and dribbled 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 to cause a foul by Cousins, 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 of 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.

However, 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 was dead next time.

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

The Kings coach was really on the verge of tears.

As for Cousins, who committed five fouls and rested, 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 and 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 create 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.
To be continued...