The Way of the Center

On January 4, 2013, the Blazers with a three-game winning streak arrived in Memphis that morning.

The fact that he didn't come to Memphis in advance was not because Ricard looked down on the strength of the Grizzlies. In fact, the Grizzlies' current record is an excellent 2o wins and 9 losses, they are undoubtedly one of the biggest dark horses this season. The current ranking of the Grizzlies in fourth place in the West is definitely enough to make Ricard nervous.

However, for the sake of the players' physical strength, Ricard decided to fly over again this morning. After all, the span from New York to Memphis is not small. Therefore, the Trail Blazers returned to Portland first, and then arrived here from Portland after a day's rest.

Time is tight, but Ricard's preparations are not sloppy.

The good news is that Zach Randolph, one of the "Black and White Bears" of the Grizzlies, is currently suffering from injuries and is unable to play.

The loss of Randolph is undoubtedly beneficial and harmless to the Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies are indeed very strong, but without the protection of a big bear, the Grizzlies' inside team may not be able to withstand the impact.

When Anjie had just walked into the lobby of the Memphis International Airport, the crowded reporters all gathered. Had it not been blocked by security and police, the Trail Blazers would not even be able to get out of the airport gate today.

"Oh my god, what's the situation?" Anjie smiled and waved at the fans, and asked Divac in a low voice. The Grizzlies are indeed strong, but Memphis has always been a small ball market, and the Grizzlies' low-key and conservative style has never made this team the focus of public attention.

Therefore, this game between the Blazers and the Grizzlies is not the focus of today. An Jie was surprised. Why do so many reporters go to Memphis to pay attention to a game with few gimmicks? You know, today nBa also has a strong dialogue between the Pacers and the Celtics in the East and the Los Angeles derby between the Lakers and the Clippers. Compared with these live broadcasts in the United States, the Grizzlies are too insignificant for the Blazers.

"They are not concerned about the game itself. You have to know that Sam Smith, the old man, has the ability to let public opinion follow him." Divac, wearing sunglasses, answered Anjie's confusion. Many reporters will come to Memphis because of Sam Smith's remarks!

"Mr. Ann! What do you think of Sam Smith's evaluation?"

"Sam said your success was accidental, what do you think?"

"Sam Smith can be said to be a highly prestigious expert. To be commented by an expert like this, Mr. An must be very uncomfortable in your heart, right?"

Sure enough, this group of people really came because of Sam Smith's remarks. Seeing that they couldn't break through the fence made up of airport security and Memphis police officers, the reporters went directly in the crowd, sticking out the microphone to Anjie's mouth.

With more and more people obstructing, Anjie and his teammates are also unable to move. It seems that these reporters will not let An Jie go without saying anything.

"Sam Smith? An expert? He knows me, maybe because I have a good reputation. But I'm sorry, I don't know who this Sam Smith is, and I am not interested in his remarks." An Jie After speaking lightly, he cleared the way for his teammates behind him, squeezed out the airport, and got on the team bus.

And those reporters who heard Anjie's answer? They all grew their mouths one by one, looking at each other. Sam Smith is still very prestigious in the American basketball circle. Even Uranus superstars like Jordan and Kobe have to sell him face.

However, An Jie, who has not played for five seasons in the league just now, actually spoke such outright to Sam Smith! This kind of thing was unheard of before! Even the rebellious Allen Iverson has never directly expressed his disdain for Sam Smith.

"Sure enough, you're in the right place! Where Sam and Ann are, there must be big news!" Some reporters began to rejoice, but fortunately they didn't go to Los Angeles or Boston. Otherwise, he would not be able to witness this wonderful farce...

....................

"No comment, I don't care about what the outside world says, I just want to play my game well." Like Anjie, he is indifferent to the media, and today's other protagonist, Marc Gasol.

This Spaniard has never been the protagonist of these lace news. He is just like the Grizzlies. He is usually inconspicuous. Once he gets crazy, he is extremely dangerous.

Joining the league with Anjie to the present, Gasol has also been growing step by step. It can be said that without Gasol Jr. on the inside, the Grizzlies simply cannot achieve 2o wins and 9 losses.

Although Gasol is not a superstar now, he is definitely a strong traditional insider. Such a guy is indeed not weak as An Jie's opponent.

"To be honest, I really like that kid." When warming up, Anjie would always look at Gasol from time to time. He has always responded to Gasol with respect, not hostility.

"But you have to beat him today, after all, Sam Smith has already guarded it." Lillard was shooting while chatting with Anjie.

"Don't worry Damien, even without Sam Smith, I will defeat him." Anjie stretched out his hand and fisted Lillard. An Jie has always believed that the best way to show respect for his opponents is to fight with him without spare effort!

"Those silly remarks are really annoying." As soon as An Jie walked into the middle circle, he heard Marc Gasol take the initiative to speak to him. This surprised An Jie, because Mark did not seem to be the kind of chatter, and in the previous encounters, the two rarely communicated.

"You mean..."

"Sam Smith." Little Gasol replied.

"Haha, the old man is just bored and panicked. Have some fun for himself. Leave him alone, we just need to play our game." Anjie is very happy to see Gasol reach a consensus with himself.

Afterwards, the referee asked if the two tall centers were ready. Watching the black referee lift the ball above their heads, Anjie and Gasol also put away their friendship, their eyes became focused.

Although his height is only three centimeters shorter than Anjie, Gasol is much worse than Anjie in terms of jumping. With ease, Anjie slapped the ball thrown by the referee into Lillard's hands. Mike Conley immediately set his posture to prevent Lillard's sneak attack. In this regard, this competition, which has attracted much attention because of one person's remarks, has officially begun.

This season, after sending away James Harden and O.J. Mayo, the Grizzlies are in better shape. They can distribute the ball reasonably and attack more calmly. Of course, the negative defensive attitude brought by Mayo and Harden also disappeared.

So when Anjie leaned on Gasol for the first time, he knew why the Grizzlies were able to succeed. Because they have it. Now many teams have abandoned something-defense!

It doesn't matter that Gasol is a big white man, but in fact his style is very tough. An Jie tried to push forward a bit before receiving the ball, but it ended in failure.

Little Gasol is not afraid of Anjie's advancement, his huge weight and core strength that can't tolerate Xiao Xu, Gasol will not suffer too much when fighting inside.

Seeing that An Jie didn't want to get to the position, Lillard beckoned and motioned An Jie to come forward for the pick and roll.

With the help of high-quality pick-and-rolls, Lillard started a breakthrough. The four Grizzlies contracted the penalty area and prepared to block Lillard, and by the way, beware of Angel who cuts behind Lillard.

Just before the encirclement was about to complete, Lillard passed the ball. But the person who catches the ball is not Anjie.

Due to the large-scale contraction of the Grizzlies, Wesley Matthews, who moved flexibly outside the three-point line, got an open shot.

After receiving Lillard's breakthrough ball, Matthews made a decisive shot. Without interference, Matthews shot a hollow basketball into the net, and the Trail Blazers took the lead.

Although the tactics of the Trail Blazers were very beautiful, the reporters were not interested in the goal. What they want to see is the match between Anjie and Gasol, not the open shots of outside players.

Next, with the Grizzlies offense, Gasol naturally didn't have the brainless singles to play Anjie. These two guys are not the kind of players that are easily influenced by the media. They don't care what the media wants to see, they only care how to better help the team.

Marris Speights, who replaced Randolph, played a very simple pick-and-roll match with Mike Conley. Conley returned the ball to Speights after the breakthrough, and Speights made a jumper from the mid-to-long range.

Speights also entered the league with An Jie that year. When the two were in the rookie season preseason, Speights was also "educated" by An Jie. But now, this seemingly chubby insider has found his own positioning and playing style, which also allows him to have a pretty good life in the Grizzlies.

Although they scored each other's goals, the Blazers and the Grizzlies played a little flat. These two teams are both teams that mainly play positional warfare, but positional warfare is a pasture that kills wonderful shots.

Compared to those fast-paced games, this duel was dull enough. Now that the two focal points of Anjie and Gasol are no longer confronting, the game is even more dull.

Sam Smith is right at least one point. The showdown between centers is indeed lacking in spectacle.

The two sides just played with you and me, and played a few rounds calmly. But Anjie and Gasol, apart from doing some auxiliary work, still did not start a duel.

However, in an offense by the Grizzlies, Rudy Gay again committed the old problem of unreasonable shot selection. Originally, Iguodala's defense was tight, and Guy still shot the ball defensively.

The basketball knocked out of the box without a doubt, but what Anjie didn't expect was that the basketball was hit on the neck of the basket and it was a long rebound.

As a result, An Jie, who was stuck in the position, was in a disadvantageous position. Gasol, who was behind An Jie, stepped back two steps, straightened his long arm and made a leap, and then picked off the rebound.

"Little Gasol grabbed an offensive rebound!" A reporter yelled at the court, and his colleagues who were about to fall asleep were also instantly energetic.

Little Gasol didn't hesitate after getting the ball, holding the ball and bowing to the basket to kill. Although Anjie lost the rebound, he was still serious in defense. He used his chest to block Gasol, but Gasol also refused to give in.

In the end, Gasol struggled to score the ball under Anjie's physical contact. He was the first to score two points and kicked off the center showdown!

"You're careless, Ann." Little Gasol spread his hands and rolled over to retreat.

The Trail Blazers immediately counterattacked, An Jie stood on the free throw line and held the basketball high, and the entire Trail Blazers revolved around An Jie.

"A command tower?" Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins held his chin and couldn't guess Anjie's next move.

Lillard took a lap, and finally ran behind Anjie. An Jie took the ball back sideways, looking like he was going to pass Lillard.

When Lillard passed An Jie, An Jie suddenly turned around and started! All these are just smoke bombs. This tactic was made by letting Anjie score points from beginning to end!

"Cunning guy!" Little Gasol thought that the basketball was in Lillard's hands, so he was shocked when he saw Anjie break through.

Now that Anjie has passed Gasol's half-length position, Speights also left Hickson and went inside.

After An Jie stepped into the three-second zone, his right hand was raised high, looking like he was going to make a layup!

Little Gasol took off from behind, chasing him, this is not just An Jie's patent!

Just when little Gasol "flyed" to the highest point ~ www.NovelMTL.com ~ Speights also raised his hands horizontally in front of An Jie, An Jie raised his right hand, but suddenly retracted it.

"What!?" Little Gasol's eyes widened. The next second, he turned around holding the ball, avoiding Gasol and Speights, dialing the ball with the three fingers of his left hand, and hitting the hook. .

"Pretty footsteps! Worthy of being someone who has gotten the true story of a big dream! Ann alone, played both Gasol and Speights!" The atmosphere of the game instantly heated up, and An Jie scored a wonderful goal. Little Gasol retaliated.

"You are too careless, Mark. I think we should all be more careful." An Jie blinked at Gasol, 12 to 1o. The excitement has just begun!

Is the center a knockout for modern basketball? Anjie and Marc Gasol disagree with this view.

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