The Trail Blazers had just had seven games against the Grizzlies in the playoffs last season.

With their own characteristics, the Grizzlies ultimately relying on the double tower advantage in the inside, gaining some advantages and achieving the final victory.

In this offseason, with Aldridge leaving the team, the Trail Blazers' inside strength has actually declined further.

This made everyone not that optimistic about the Trail Blazers' inside defense before this game.

Judging from the opening situation, even though Zhang Feng has grown up in the new season, his defensive ability in the game has been further strengthened.

However, in the inside of the Trail Blazers, Zhang Feng still had no choice but to fight with four hands with two fists, and he could not completely limit the Grizzlies' inside duo attacks in the game.

However, when the Grizzlies rely on Gasol and Randolph to continuously score points in the interior on the offensive end.

For the Trail Blazers, they relied on the performance of the offensive group outside to complete the score more quickly and easily.

Moreover, although the combination of Lillard and Aldridge seems reasonable, the tacit understanding between the two is still not as good as tactical linkage.

The two people who are often caught in the lonely army cannot work together to exert the biggest threat of the double All-Stars.

You should know that in the game, what needs to be done is to complete a better inside attack in the game, and there is no way to put enough pressure on the game in the game.

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

Instead, what I want to do is to maximize the offensive ability of our own inside line to make up for the loss of points on the defensive end.

Although Curry and Thompson won most of the points, others also have room to play in the team's offensive system.

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

However, since Zhang Feng entered the NBA, he has excellent long-range shooting ability, which can effectively restrain Jordan Jr.'s defense range.

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

However, there is not much time left for the Trail Blazers to enjoy the joy of victory, and the devil schedule of the Trail Blazers has just begun.

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

The Spurs' record in the new season is not very outstanding. Currently, they are only ranked 7th in the Western Conference with a record of 25 wins and 16 losses. Compared with the Trail Blazers, which ranks second in the Western Conference, it seems that the Trail Blazers are the superior side.

But everyone knows that in the regular season, the Spurs' performance depends entirely on their own intentions. The Spurs' goals have always been in the playoffs, so when facing potential opponents in the playoffs, the Spurs will definitely exert their full strength to test the strength of the Trail Blazers.

This attack was made for the Trail Blazers.

However, if you want to completely stabilize the situation, what the 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 suffered a defeat in front of Zhang Feng.

When Rudy Gay's attack is required to slow down his physical strength, the initiative of the attack will be handed over to Cousins.

Cousins ​​has been using the sudden position during running to crack Zhang Feng's front-circling defense, and the effect is actually very good.

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

Cousins ​​is at the bottom line on the left, playing singles at Zhang Feng.

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

Seeing Batum's assisted defense coming, Cousins ​​gave priority to protecting the ball and dribbling the ball to the inside to avoid being cut off. If Batum dared to grab it directly, Cousins ​​could quickly collect the ball and then pass the ball to his teammates 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 assist in defense before, which interrupted Cousins' own offensive rhythm.

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

However, under the pressure of attacking time and the pressure of assisting defense with the Trail Blazers for a second time, Cousins ​​can only attack quickly.

With Zhang Feng on his arm, he quickly completed it. After coming to the front, he threw the ball directly with a one-arm shot and hit the ball directly.

However, the referee blew the whistle again at this time. While blew the whistle, he made a foul gesture from the Cousinslas, and the goal was invalid.

Just now, when Cousins ​​turned around, in order to reduce the defensive resistance from Zhang Feng, there was obviously a hugging move, which made Zhang Feng unable to keep up with Cousins. So this time, Cousins' extra offensive action was caught by the referee again.

After 4 fouls, Cousins' foul problem once again appeared.

However, the Trail Blazers did not seize the opportunity on the offensive end.

With the pick-and-roll cooperation with Batum, Aldridge made a long shot at a 45-degree angle on the left, but failed to hit, causing the Trail Blazers' score to be cut off again.

Just when Kings fans are still looking forward to the team, they can seize the opportunity and make a difference on the offensive end.

But the Kings continued to make mistakes.

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

With Aldridge missed a long shot, Darren Collison dribbled over and pushed the counterattack.

However, the Trail Blazers' defense is quite good and does not give the opponent a chance to strike easily.

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

Darren Collison directly passed the ball to Cousins, who had just reached the three-point line, with the intention of letting Cousins ​​support him at a high position.

However, thinking about the last attack, he was unwilling to accept the foul, Cousins ​​directly held the ball and pushed Zhang Feng's defense, and used a breakthrough to kill the Trail Blazers' basket.

Indeed, Cousins ​​is a flexible fat man, but the Blazers' defense will not allow Cousins' recklessness to directly break through.

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

Cousins ​​was still strong and wanted to force a foul, but the Trail Blazers' defensive players were very standardized. The referee did not whistle. Instead, Cousins' layup was not enough because of insufficient jumping height. This time, he actually grabbed the three of them. Zhang Feng reached out and pressed it down while he was marching directly.

The ball was beaten by Zhang Feng and was directly taken by Lillard beside Cousins.

There was no foul on this ball?

The referee did not whistle, which made Cousins ​​think he was treated unfairly.

I was actually blocked by my opponent?

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

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

A fierce cut wanted to snatch the damn basketball from Lillard's hand and then pour it into the basket.

However, how fast Lillard's reaction was. When Cousins's cutting ball came, Lillard moved the ball away directly. Cousins' forced action hit Lillard's arm firmly, and there was a very crisp "pop".

"beep--"

The referee sounded a foul again, and Cousins ​​fouled again.

Due to the dead ball, the game went directly to the TV pause.

The Kings coach on the sidelines was stunned. What happened? What happened just now?

The Kings' momentum of chasing points was very good, but Cousins ​​actually sent two fouls in two offensive rounds?

Is the inside line guarantee the end?

Originally, the head coach of the Kings should have replaced Cousins ​​when he was infringing four times in accordance with the NBA's unspoken rules to prepare for the final decisive battle.

But considering that the TV is about to be suspended and the team is in the midst of chasing points, we plan to save a timeout and replace Cousins's next time when the ball is dead.

As a result, the timeout was saved, and the next chance to die was created by Cousins ​​himself.

The Kings coach is really crying without tears.

Cousins' five offenders may have to rest until the last stage of the fourth quarter before he dares to let him play.

However, although at this stage, the Kings' responsibility to chase points was not to Cousins, Cousins' defense is really important to the Kings.

Losing Cousins' protection in the inside allows the Trail Blazers to create a continuous impact on the King's inside to create opportunities.

Zhang Feng even had the capital to further attack in the inside.

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

The height of inside veteran Reggie Evans who appeared as a substitute Cousins ​​is really too short.

The height of 2.03 meters and the center position are half a head away from Zhang Feng, which also gives Zhang Feng the ability to play singles at a low post in the game.

Zhang Feng can create advantages in singles, so Evans' lack of air defense capabilities makes Lillard's breakthrough even more like a fish in water.

Lillard borrowed a pick-and-roll provided by Zhang Feng and accelerated to the basket. Evans's defense chasing and defense could have extremely limited defensive interference. Lillard made a layup directly, leaving the Kings' defense with no way.

Without Cousins' restraint, the Trail Blazers can also shift their defensive attention to Rudy Guy.

After a pick-and-roll with Thompson, Rudy Gay was double-teamed and defended by two people. After having no choice but to pass the ball, Thompson received the ball and shot it directly, but it was a blacksmith.

In the rebounding game in the inside, although Evans tried his best, Zhang Feng's height lead was too obvious.

With his height and wingspan and Evans could not jump, Zhang Feng almost didn't jump, so he put the rebound directly into his arms.

During the offense and defense transition, Lillard lifted the ball to Batum who was placed at the basket.

Batum played Darren Collison in dislocation, and the Kings' defense came directly to double-team, allowing Batum to choose to directly allocate the ball to Zhang Feng, who was following up, and no one was watching the defense in the free throw area.

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

The Kings were a little anxious. The situation before was so good that they were only single digits behind. Now, the defense is suddenly increasing, and their own offense is beginning to become unsatisfactory.

This wave of conversion directly allowed the Trail Blazers to stabilize the situation again and stabilize the leading advantage.
To be continued...