Chapter 45
Being beaten by a rookie center who scored 3 consecutive goals in the paint, Speights was also disgraced. However, looking at Mark Jackson's angry look, Speights also knew that he would definitely be replaced and would have no chance to be present.
I have proven myself.
Regarding Zhang Feng's outstanding performance and the success of the three attacks in front of him, Stotts felt angry, unwilling, and actually a little happy deep down in his heart.
Finally, I can get off the field and no longer have to face Zhang Feng's offense. It is really difficult to defend this tall center with good skills...
In order to continue to give Bogut some rest time and not want to disrupt his substitution adjustments too much, Mark Jackson chose to let Draymond Green replace Speights and play a shorter center.
Although Green is not tall enough, his strength and explosiveness are stronger than Speights.
Green, who has better defense, is just limited by his limited offensive methods and cannot get enough time.
Green is the main defender and Speights is the main offensive player. This is the limitation of the Warriors' substitute interior line.
But now, it is necessary for the Warriors to send Green up to dispel Zhang Feng's offensive momentum.
After all, the Warriors are still an offense-oriented team. Even with an inside line like Green who "can't attack", but with accurate outside lines like Curry and Thompson, the Warriors' offense after the timeout can still score well.
Guaranteed.
While Klay Thompson was running without the ball, he used the screen to come out and hit a mid-range shot, which continued to ensure the points difference on the court for the Warriors.
Strike while the iron is hot, although the Warriors have strengthened their defense against Zhang Feng, McCollum still chose to pass the ball to Zhang Feng.
When a person's hand feels hot, put the ball in his hands without reservation until he can't make a shot.
This is the most common unspoken rule in the NBA.
Even if he is not a superstar, as long as he is open, then just pass the ball to him.
Zhang Feng hit Green with his back in the low post, and it was definitely difficult to hit him.
Although Green was short, he was indeed strong and pushed Zhang Feng outwards.
When Zhang Feng wanted to use all his strength to find a confrontation, Curry immediately came to help defend and wanted to steal the ball.
Fortunately, Zhang Feng's adjustment ability is strong enough and he has a good view of the overall situation. He did not give Curry a chance. Zhang Feng directly collected the ball high and passed the ball. McCollum succeeded in an open three-pointer, giving the Trail Blazers another blast.
3 points down.
On the way back to their own half, Green and Zhang Feng began to exchange "feelings" side by side.
"E ON!"
"ARE YOU SHY? ROOKIE!"
Zhang Feng didn't pay attention to Green's trash talk. Instead, he looked at Green as if he was watching a two-on-one match.
Why is it that I clearly assisted my teammate with a three-pointer, but Green was so arrogant as if he had successfully defended himself?
Zhang Feng, who has excellent mental quality, will not let his opponent's trash talk disturb him. He plays the ball how he wants to play. He doesn't listen to anything outside the window and only reads the books of sages. Oh no, he devotes himself wholeheartedly to playing ball.
In Zhang Feng's eyes, Green is just a tool man who is shorter and stronger than Speights. He is a stepping stone for him to become famous. He just needs to make good use of his weaknesses and play his own basketball well.
With an insider like Green who is still a burden on the offensive end, the Blazers can put more effort into the Warriors' perimeter defense.
Under the defense of the Trail Blazers, Klay missed a difficult shot, giving the Trail Blazers an opportunity to get closer to the score.
Dribbling past half court, Zhang Feng is still looking for the low post.
During this period, Zhang Feng, with his excellent low-post finishing rate, was treated like an All-Star insider. Of course, this may also be because Lillard was substituted during the previous timeout.
McCollum, who was in control of the ball, trusted Zhang Feng's offensive ability and delivered the ball to Zhang Feng very quickly.
Zhang Feng back-up Green, this time Curry was affected by McCollum's previous open three-pointer, so of course he did not dare to retreat too deep to help defend.
But this kind of pretense of assistance did not scare Zhang Feng.
After judging that the Warriors would not provide substantial assistance in defense, Zhang Feng began to exert force, trying to force the bottom line.
Green's confrontation was sufficient and he easily blocked Zhang Feng's path forward.
However, the previous strong attacks were all feints. Zhang Feng's real killer move was a turnaround jumper after exerting force.
The sideline turn-over jump shot in the three-second zone was a hollow hit. Green had no choice but to do anything.
"VERY EASY!"
After Zhang Feng scored a goal, he responded with a simple trash talk, then shrugged and spread his hands. His look like he didn't deserve a beating after scoring a goal directly angered Green.
However, Zhang Feng retreated very quickly, which only made Green feel sulky and unable to vent even if he wanted to.
Evil people need to be punished by evil people. Zhang Feng's provocative actions made Green somewhat lose his mind.
After being beaten by Zhang Feng, on the offensive end, Green actually held the ball from outside the three-second zone, trying to break through Zhang Feng and regain face with a hard hit.
But Zhang Feng kept retreating and retreating, never giving Green a chance to fight physically.
Then when Green took off and wanted to rely on Zhang Feng to complete a layup.
"Bang!"
A big block blocked Green's layup and hit it directly on the backboard.
The height of 15 centimeters and the difference in wingspan cannot be made up by simple explosive power.
Zhang Feng then made a long throw from the basket, finding McCollum who was counterattacking quickly in front. McCollum went straight to the basket where the Warriors had no inside protection, and succeeded in the counterattack, adding two more points to the team.
The Warriors are actually on the verge of collapse.
Mark Jackson did not make another timeout to adjust at this time, but chose to believe in his team's players and believe that the team could solve the current difficult situation by relying on offense.
Fortunately, taking advantage of the pick-and-roll mismatch, Barnes hit McCollum with a back-up shot, helping the Warriors once again stabilize the situation.
Just turn around, how to defend Zhang Feng?
Green's one-man defense did use his strength advantage to prevent Zhang Feng from entering the scoring area under the basket.
But Zhang Feng made another strong turnaround jumper. Green's height and arm length disadvantage was revealed, and Zhang Feng hit him again in the same way.
Today's Zhang Feng is the trumpet-sized Aldridge. He took advantage of his height in this position near the three-second zone and pushed Green to the ground.
In order to prevent the "top" Green from squandering the opportunity, this time the Warriors' offensive pass did not pass through Green's hands. Curry fired a three-pointer from the outside, but did not score any points.
On the contrary, it gave the Blazers another chance to catch up with the score.
Zhang Feng's back-up play was aimed at Green's height. Green, who was angry, did not call for help from his teammates, just to defend successfully once.
Same script, same flavor?
Zhang Feng forced the ball inside again, Green resisted it again, Zhang Feng turned around again and prepared for a jump shot. Green had already pounced on Zhang Feng's jump shot in advance.
But wait.
Zhang Feng did not perform any backward movements, but leaned forward to take off.
Green directly hit Zhang Feng and the whistle sounded, but after Zhang Feng took off and collided, when he was about to land, he still used his wrist force and threw the ball towards the basket.
Score in, Andervan!
It was another 2+1, replaced by Green who was good at defense, but it seemed to have no effect.
Chapter completed!