The Way of the Center

♂,

The game related to the ranking rise and fall has been in the third quarter. O'Neal's breathing has become heavier and heavier. Once upon a time, he would sweat profusely in order to maintain a ninth position in the west.

The Thunder's youth army, which has emerged from injuries and has gradually improved its lineup, has brought unprecedented pressure to the Suns. Especially for O'Neal, the 36-year-old O'Neal has obviously been unable to keep up with Angel's rhythm in back-to-back games.

The last time the two sides played against each other, the Suns scored 140 points, and O'Neal also showed great power in front of Anjie. However, within a few games of that desperate run and bombardment, O'Neal and Nash both clearly felt that they had physical problems.

The 147 kg behemoth, following the solar average of 17 points and 8 rebounds per game, is already very impressive. People say that this is simply a season of O'Neal's return to glory. However, with the rapid pace of the Suns, it is indeed difficult for the "big sharks" to perform at a dominant level in back-to-back games.

An Jie once again received a ball fed by Westbrook in the interior, and he leaned on O'Neal and played without fear in back-to-back singles!

O'Neill hurriedly adjusted his breathing. This Chinese man, whose legs were not as thick as his own arms, unexpectedly made himself very strenuous. In order to deal with O'Neill, An Jie used all kinds of physical contact and various small movements.

An Jie leaned back a few times. Although O'Neal had a huge advantage in tonnage, he still had to work hard to keep An Jie out of the penalty area.

Of course An Jie is not stupid. He doesn't expect that he can shake a "Roshan" weighing 147 kilograms. He played with these two backs just to disrupt O'Neal's defensive rhythm.

"Five seconds!" Jeff Van Gundy yelled from the sidelines, reminding Anjie that there was still offensive time left.

Five seconds, facing the "big shark" that can't swim, it's enough!

An Jie leaned on O'Neal's huge body and suddenly turned and cut into the inside. O'Neal would naturally not be confused by this kind of tricks. He clearly reminded himself in his mind that back hitting is just a feint, and now it must be posted!

"Damn it! Damn it!" O'Neill's consciousness is still the same as it was at his peak, but his body can't compare with the past. I can think of it, but my legs can't move. The agile Anjie easily surpassed O'Neal's half-length position, a low hand layup, and scored the ball before the offensive time was over.

The time left for the Suns was only 2 seconds. After receiving the ball from the bottom line, Nash went straight to the backcourt. The miracle did not happen. Nash didn't even touch the frame of the basketball.

82 to 72, at the end of the third quarter, the Suns still led by 10 points, but the Phoenix fans and the Suns players were very worried. Because of the three quarters of the game, the Thunder team's condition is getting better and better, and the Suns' fatigue is getting more and more serious.

In the first quarter, the Thunder played a lot of performance as soon as they came out, and Durant, who had just returned from injury, was also in a state of bravery. The exhausted Sun was completely unable to fight, and was beaten into chaos at the beginning of the game.

In the second and third quarters, Nash slowly controlled the rhythm. Not only did he score points crazily, he also helped the Suns to get off the ground again and surpass the score. But the Thunder were not defeated because of this. They insisted on their own style of play and did not follow the sun to speed up.

Two quarters of running and bombing have exhausted Nash, O'Neal and Grant Hill and others. Stoudemire missed due to injury, so they worry about whether they will be defeated by the strict rotation of the Thunder in the fourth quarter.

In the last quarter, Gentry couldn't figure out whether it was to fight a position or a runaway.

"We decide our tactics based on the situation! After the opening, we will slow down and fight the Thunder!"

A game has changed several rhythms and tactics, even a top point guard like Steve Nash, it feels very difficult to execute.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Suns played a "chaotic" character. Some people want to run, some people want to fall into position, which makes Nash do not know what rhythm to use.

The Suns have not been clear about their footsteps, the Thunder's counterattack has been fierce.

With 16 points and 6 rebounds, in just three quarters, Anjie scored such data on the legendary center of O'Neal. The three Thunder reunited, and the shooting guard was replaced by Weaver with a stronger Sefolosha. The increase in outside firepower can help Anjie disperse a lot of defensive pressure. Whether it is to pass or attack, An Jie can complete the task with ease.

As soon as the Thunder attacked, An Jie controlled the ball with his back to the basket. O'Neal had to post it. He hasn't been so embarrassed by a center for a long time. Is it rare that this is the difference between 36 and 20 years old?

Durant, Westbrook, and Sefrosa all started to run, while Krstic pulled to the middle distance position, and An Jie got an unprecedented amount of space!

Anjie has a lot of space, and other people have a lot of space to make breakthroughs. Kevin Durant's quick reverse run overwhelmed the elderly Grant Hill. He was thrown off by Durant again, allowing the No. 35, who had just returned from injury, to cut into the penalty area.

An Jie looked at Sefrosa who was standing at the bottom corner. He passed a pass, but the ball flew in the opposite direction. A hit came to Durant, who cut inside.

O'Neal, the only center forward, was attracted by An Jie. The Suns' inside line can be said to be completely undefended.

Durant took off with his feet, straightened his long arms, and buckled vigorously.

"Durant! There is no problem with his state. A small injury can't help him!"

"An Jie passed the ball beautifully. The young man is full of creativity!"

Everyone is complimenting the Thunder, as if the Thunder are also in the leading position.

As for the Suns, "Brazil Lightning" is undoubtedly the most suitable person for running and bombing tactics. After receiving the ball from the bottom line, he directly ran the field and made a direct layup before the Thunder were on the defensive position. .

But how many times can Barbossa be used for such an unexpected attack?

"Don't fight for offensive rebounds! I want you to quickly return to defense after your shots, and don't give the Suns a chance to switch offense and defense!" Jeff Van Gundy is not a fool. With just a timeout, he can solve Barbosa's problem.

Under the dual constraints of physical strength and the Thunder's defensive strategy, the Suns can't get out of the run and bomb. Position? How can they be opponents of the Thunder?

As soon as O'Neal received the ball, Kyle Weaver deliberately fouled him immediately, slashing the shark!

After the foul dead ball, Weaver was immediately replaced by Sefolosha, Van Gundy replaced him, it is entirely for foul use.

O'Neal was already quite familiar with such a tactic, and he walked to the free throw line depressed. Severe physical consumption made his already sparse free throws even worse. Two free throws were missed and An Jie scored a rebound. Van Gundy's shark slashing can be said to be a big win!

As time goes by, the Suns are still struggling to sustain themselves by relying on the advantages established in the front. When Van Gundy changed the main team to rest for five minutes in the fourth quarter, the Thunder had moved the score to 88. For five minutes, the Suns only had 6 points in the account. Durant alone scored. Exceed this data.

The depth of the Thunder's bench is naturally not comparable to that of the Suns, but the tenacious style of the bench players did not allow the Suns to take advantage of much. In the two and a half minutes that Jeff Van Gundy let the main force rest, the score has not been stretched again. The Suns only led by three points, three points during this period. For the Thunder in such a state, it is not counted at all. gap.

"Kevin Durant! He hit a three-pointer as soon as he came on the court. It was an assist from An Jie. This Eastern Tower seems to be able to connect with everyone!" Durant and An Jie cordially high-five. Although he didn't express it on the surface, Durant really likes An Jie, a foreign teammate.

After Stoudemire’s injury, O’Neal is the only insider in the Suns team that can be used. In fact, Robin Lopez is very good. Angel knows this. Unfortunately, the coach just doesn’t like to use it. He is a rookie. Gentry would rather let the tired O'Neal run back and forth on the court, and would not choose to trust Robin. His current situation is very similar to the situation when Anjie played under Carlesimo at the beginning of the season.

"Can't stand it anymore." This was the first time O'Neal had such an idea. There were four minutes left in the game, and the two sides tied again, but O'Neal seemed to have seen the end.

The Suns fought slower and slower, and the more they fought, the more chaotic they became. The Thunder became more brave as they fought, and shot more and more fire. The young Thunder rested for two days before the game, and the aging Suns rested for 18 hours before the game. Now it's Gentry's turn to complain about the league's **** schedule.

"Durant scored 10 points in a row!"

"Ann dunks at the basket! O'Neal is defending him!"

"Westbrook's desperate shock! If you enter, you will have to penalize it!"

"Sefrosa made a three-pointer, yes! The referee awarded a two-pointer, and the ball stepped on the line, but this has no way to affect the momentum of the Thunder's closing game."

In the last four minutes, the Suns players seemed to have disappeared from the commentators, and no one mentioned their names.

Nash and Barbosa, the two shortest guys on the team, are struggling to support ~www.NovelMTL.com~ to keep the Suns a glimmer of hope. But until the end, this hope was not realized.

When the Suns used all their resources to introduce O'Neal, it was largely in order to limit the Spurs' Duncan in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the current sun is getting farther and farther away from the playoffs.

O'Neill stopped running, he was akimbo panting, a sweat inadvertently flowed into his eyes.

Rubbing his eyes and opening it again, the score is still 106 to 95, and the time is still March 14, 2009. The Suns really lost, and he is really old.

Watching the No. 16 center in a blue jersey surrounded by teammates and laughing wantonly, O'Neal could only shake his head helplessly. Perhaps the NBA's inside dominance did not belong to him long ago.

The Thunder struggled for more than half of the season and finally surpassed the Suns and ranked ninth in the Western Conference.

Sir Jerry Sloan, must stabilize the situation. Otherwise, this blue and white lightning will rush to you soon! (To be continued.)