svetikya Chapter 1059 The Key to Victory for the Lakers and Mavericks!
Chapter 1059 The Key to Victory for the Lakers and Mavericks!
Between the Western Conference semifinals and the conference finals, the Lakers had almost a week of rest. They won easily, while their opponents won with difficulty, which gave the Lakers more opportunities to rest and study their opponents.
So even though the Mavericks and Warriors have to play their first game of the conference finals 48 hours after this series, the Lakers actually started studying their two potential opponents a week earlier.
Two days after the Mavericks defeated the Warriors, the Lakers intensified their efforts, holding various tactical meetings to study the Mavericks' playing style and plan their on-court tactics.
Lin Tian, who led his team to victory against the Mavericks last year, and Terry, who was forced into betrayal by the Mavericks, became the key speakers at the strategy meeting.
They provided a lot of intelligence on the Mavericks, their weaknesses, and their tactical habits.
However, the Mavericks underwent a major trade midway through the season, resulting in significant changes to their roster compared to last season and even the first half of the season.
Of the five starters from last season, only LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki remain with the team this season. The other three have all been replaced, and there have also been significant changes on the bench. Therefore, the experience provided by these two may not be of much use.
In particular, James has made significant progress in his individual abilities this season. His mid-range and long-range shooting, which was previously criticized, has improved noticeably this season. If the Lakers continue to defend James by allowing him to shoot but not drive, they might get riddled with shots from James.
Fortunately, they have Durant!
With Durant, this spider-like monster, on the court, the Lakers don't need to worry about James' shooting. Durant is definitely the best player in the league to guard James closely and prevent him from easily taking mid-range and long-range shots.
What if James drives to the basket?
That's fine too. The Lakers have Bynum in the paint and Kobe and Lin Tian in the backcourt, who are good at help defense. Whether they're trying to shut down James' individual offensive routes or his passing lanes, they'll have no problem doing it.
For the Lakers, the most difficult person to deal with is actually Dirk Nowitzki, who has taken a backseat this season and whose shot attempts and other statistics have declined significantly.
During the regular season, Nowitzki averaged only 22 points and 8 rebounds per game. Although he still maintained extremely high efficiency, many people said: Nowitzki is old and his peak has passed.
Of course, this argument completely disappeared in the playoffs, especially in the second round, as Nowitzki proved with his brilliant performance that he still had some fuel left!
No one can match up against Nowitzki; this is the conclusion the Lakers reached after internal discussions.
"Let's start. Ronnie, you start the first game. Let's see how it goes. If it doesn't work, we might bring Matt in for the second half. The same goes for everyone else. Be ready at any time. I might put you guys in to defend Nowitzki at any time."
"Just limit him as much as possible. Then, on offense, Lin, run more pick-and-rolls and attack him! Wear him down! Use our offense to pressure him. Even if Nowitzki is consistent on offense, he's still a weakness on defense! We must exploit his shortcomings in lateral quickness and movement speed!"
Jackson's instructions were brief and forceful, and he seemed very confident, but only he knew that he was actually completely unsure of himself.
Because he watched more Mavericks game tapes than anyone else on the Lakers team, he was constantly studying his potential opponents.
Having seen so much, he could sense better than anyone how much the Mavericks had improved this season.
The simplest and most intuitive point is that if Lin Tian used the same tactics last year to deal with the Mavericks this year, he might just be feeding them.
What were Nowitzki's previous weaknesses?
They are afraid of tough, close-marking defense; if their playing style isn't tough enough, they'll be forced to twist and turn and then miss their shots.
This season, Nowitzki has clearly increased his strength and physicality, especially his lower body strength. Although his lateral movement speed has become slower as a result, Nowitzki has gained the ability to dominate heavy interior players in the low post this season.
He has been able to hold his own against many power forwards and center who are known for their strength.
Many teams that tried to limit Nowitzki by using smaller players have suffered the opposite effect, getting blown out by him.
Nowitzki is stronger and harder to defend!
What's even more commendable is that while becoming stronger, Nowitzki also relinquished his position as the team's number one core player, playing quite restrainedly in both the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.
More ball possession, more shot attempts, more opportunities to handle the ball, and a higher tactical status were all given to James by Nowitzki, who took a backseat. Jackson even believed that if the Warriors' offense hadn't been so fierce and powerful in the second round, Nowitzki would have continued with his previous performance and playing style.
Therefore, Lin Tian's strategy from last year—creating internal conflicts within the Mavericks team, causing James to lose his composure, and then defeating them one by one—is clearly no longer applicable.
The internal conflict had already been resolved beforehand, and Nowitzki's concessions brought in a stronger Mavericks team.
Terry was unwilling to give in; Terry didn't like it, so Terry left.
Terry's departure caused turmoil for the Mavericks, but they ultimately stabilized their core and secured the second seed in the Western Conference.
Speaking of Terry, the experience he brought to the Lakers and the tactical details he brought to the Mavericks were not actually that useful.
Because their tactical system has undergone significant changes, and their tactical focus has shifted considerably.
To put it simply, they've gone from having two stars last season to a single-core team!
James' presence on this team has been greatly amplified, and the Mavericks are playing a star-studded tactic somewhat similar to that of the Lakers.
However, unlike the Lakers' three stars taking turns to challenge one-on-one, the Mavericks' style of play revolves around James as the absolute core, with the other shooters and scorers scattered around waiting for an opportunity.
Lin Tian gave this strategy a name: One Star, Four Shots.
Jackson thought it was very apt.
But being accurate doesn't mean this team is easy to beat.
After all, LeBron James is a truly dazzling star, and the shooters surrounding him include Ray Allen, the league's all-time greatest three-point shooter, and Dirk Nowitzki, the top shooter among players over 2 meters tall!
This lineup, combined with James's playing style, is a perfect match.
The only solution we can think of is to limit James.
But how can James be limited?
Durant can certainly limit some of them, but what about the rest?
This team is really hard to beat!
Jackson was getting more and more of a headache, but even with such a headache, he still put on an expression and demeanor that said, "We're going to win, we've got the victory in the bag."
Jackson knew he couldn't panic or break down. His composure would definitely offer the players a final bit of comfort, help them calm down, and keep them confident.
Let's see how the game goes!
And the person who had the same headache as Jackson was, of course, the head coach of Dallas next door, Jason.
Just as much of a headache Jackson had for James and Nowitzki, it's just as disgusting for young James when he looked at Kobe, Lin Tian, and Durant.
How do you defend against or deal with a team like this?
James Jr. also watched countless Lakers game tapes and various analysis videos, but he still couldn't come up with any way to completely limit the Lakers' offense.
In particular, the Mavericks' defensive resources are not as good as the Lakers'.
In their starting lineup, James and Bogut can be considered top-tier defenders, Ray Allen is barely considered first-rate, and as for Nowitzki and Mo Williams, Jason thinks that if these two aren't exploited as weaknesses, it's a win.
My head hurts.
However, as the two head coaches struggled with their headaches, their ideas about how to play this round and how to win the game gradually became clearer.
The two people's brainwaves inexplicably clicked.
It's impossible to prevent it.
Let's do it the other way around.
Offense!
Forty-eight hours passed quickly, and both sides' bodies definitely recovered well during those 48 hours. However, for the players, their recovery was physical, but their minds did not relax; instead, they remained tense throughout.
At this point, very few people can truly relax.
Although neither team engaged in any high-intensity training, mainly just running and shooting to keep their bodies from completely cooling down, their training time was no less than usual, only it was moved from the court to the tactics room.
In short, after several days of preparation, the players from both sides gathered at Staples Center.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is about to begin!
"Just like in the last round, the Lakers have had a full nine days of rest since their last game, so they are definitely well-rested and ready to play." Before the game started, the commentators began their work as usual, and Van Gundy's voice was the first to ring out.
"The Mavericks fought their way through a grueling seven-game series to reach the conference finals for the second consecutive year. This year, their goal is undoubtedly to win the championship! After all, for this roster, not winning would be a failure, a disgrace!"
Last year, the Mavericks were upset by the Bobcats for various reasons and failed to win the championship. What about this year? Can they break through the Lakers' dominance, reach the Finals again, and win the championship?
"I have to say, this year's Mavericks are stronger than last year's," Jackson said. "They experienced some ups and downs before and after the trades this year, but as the season progressed, the Mavericks played better and better, and so far, their chemistry and team cohesion are impeccable!"
"This Mavericks team has a clear division of labor and a well-balanced roster. Everyone plays their role perfectly, and they have stars, role players, veterans, and promising young players. They still have a very good chance this year!"
Miller said, "Maybe the only problem for the Mavericks this year is the Lakers. Maybe people haven't noticed, but Jeff and Mark are both speaking up for the Mavericks and trying to find solutions for them. We know what that means."
"This means that, without realizing it, we all considered the Mavericks to be the challenger, and the Lakers to have a bigger and more obvious advantage!"
"Who can blame them when the Lakers are the best team in the league? Who can blame them when their roster is more luxurious and their composition more balanced than the Mavericks'?"
Van Gundy said, "My opinion is the same as in the last round. The Lakers are indeed well-rested, but they may not be at their best yet, while the Mavericks have just come through a do-or-die game, so they are in better shape and their players are more excited."
"Like I said before, if the Mavericks want to attack Staples Center and win on the road, tonight is their best chance!"
"If the Lakers fully recover, it will be even more difficult for the Mavericks to win Game 2!"
"Agreed!" Jackson said, "Just like the Grizzlies, although they lost by more than 20 points in the first game, they had a chance to win for most of the game. They just couldn't hold on in the final moments."
"But in the second game, I think everyone saw and felt it deeply. Although the Lakers didn't win by much, they completely controlled the game and dominated the Grizzlies from start to finish. The Grizzlies had absolutely no chance in the second game!"
"After losing the first game, the Grizzlies basically lost their competitiveness; they lost quite decisively. So what about the Mavericks? Can the even stronger Mavericks give the Lakers some trouble?"
"Come on, let's take a look at the keys to victory for both teams tonight, as provided by our back office!" Miller said with a smile. "The Mavericks' keys to victory are: 1. James, 2. Nowitzki, 3. Ray Allen."
"this……"
Miller was speechless as he looked at this winning formula that was neither analyzable nor even worth analyzing.
What the hell is going on?
Are the director and tech team all off work today? Are they here to slack off?
Let's add some technical skill, at least.
"Reggie, take a look at this!" Jackson, seeing Miller staring blankly, immediately said gleefully, "How about reading about the Lakers' key to victory?"
Miller glanced at the paper Jackson handed him and couldn't help but curse, "F*** you! I suggest deducting all those bastards' bonuses. How can they be so lenient? They've got no shame!"
Miller was so frustrated because the key to the Lakers' victory, as presented by the backstage team, was so similar to that of the Mavericks.
1. Lin Tian, 2. Kobe, 3. Durant.
Just like the Mavericks, it's completely unoriginal. They didn't even bother to write any extra details, like Lin's assists, Kobe's post-up moves, or Durant's shots. They just wrote down his name.
They've really lost all sense of shame.
However, complaints aside, there's nothing we can do about it.
The key to victory provided by the backstage team simply and clearly outlines the core highlights of this series and the biggest characteristics of both sides.
Lots of star players!
Top-tier players are clustered together.
At the very least, Kobe, James, Nowitzki, and Lin Tian are all top-tier stars of MVP caliber. Even if Durant is slightly weaker, he is still recognized as the future face of the league.
This series can be described as a free-for-all between five MVP-caliber top players, and that would not be an exaggeration at all.
Not to mention star players like Bynum, Ray Allen, and Williams, who could be the main star of any ordinary team. This series is absolutely star-studded!
For this reason, before the Eastern and Western Conference Finals began, ESPN launched a poll asking whether viewers would prefer to watch the Western Conference Finals or the Eastern Conference Finals if they could only watch one round of games.
Ultimately, over 85% of fans chose to watch the Western Conference Finals!
The Mavericks vs. Lakers matchup is undoubtedly the ultimate showdown of the league's highest caliber.
Not to mention the various grudges and conflicts among these people.
For example, during the years when Lin Tian retired, Kobe and James were called the two best players in the league and were considered the top two in the league. But who was better between them?
For example, last year the Mavericks made it to the Finals, and the team that defeated them was the Bobcats, led by Lin Tian! They handed the Mavericks a humiliating and painful defeat.
Of course, there's also the feud between Terry and the Mavericks, which is another point of interest for many.
What kind of sparks will fly between a discarded star player and his former team?
In addition, there's the matchup between Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant, both shooting guards from the 96 draft class, and the direct confrontation between Andrew Bogut, the number one pick in the 05 draft, and Andrew Bynum, the tenth pick, two centers that few people care about.
In short, there's so much to say and so many topics to discuss in this matchup.
Everyone is fully prepared and just waiting for the game to begin!
"I'll win this time!" James looked at Lin Tian, reached out and touched his hand, his expression full of confidence.
"If we win, it's all mine. But if we lose, I bet you'll say we won't lose next time?" Lin Tian said with a wicked grin. "When will you be able to tell the difference between 'me' and 'us'?"
"Basketball isn't like that. Basketball isn't about one person showing off, it's about the glory of a group." Lin Tian, with an air of profound wisdom, shamelessly plagiarized, "If you can't learn this, you'll never be our match! You might as well go play Tetris; that game only has me, not us."
Lin Tianyi's words truly baffled James.
No, how should I look at this? You'd be more appropriate to say that to Kobe, right? Dude, I've been playing basketball for so long, when have I ever been called selfish or selfish?
Lin Tian certainly wouldn't answer James's questions; he had no obligation to do so.
What Lin Tian needs to do now is to continue attacking others.
"Long time no see. It must have been 7 or 8 years since you last made the playoffs, right?" Lin Tian looked at Allen, acting as if they were old friends, and said, "I almost thought you had retired."
"Get lost." Allen curled his lip, the little parentheses on either side of his mouth were very obvious.
"Dirk, I heard you've been working on your lower body a lot since last year, afraid of getting shut down by smaller players?" Lin Tian smiled at Nowitzki, happily saying, "Does that mean your movement speed is even slower? Our plan tonight is for me to start with a pick-and-roll to bully you!"
"I'm looking forward to it." Nowitzki smiled, as always, he wasn't aggressive at all.
"Who...who are you?" Lin Tian finally walked back to his seat and stood with Mo Williams. He looked at Williams with a somewhat expectant expression, as if he was waiting for Lin Tian to trash talk. Lin Tian didn't hold back and directly gave him a question.
"Don't talk, I don't chat with nobodys." Just as Xiao Mo was about to open his mouth to reply, Lin Tian directly stretched out his hand, indicating that buddy should shut up, that he wasn't big enough to talk to him.
"Mo, don't waste your breath on him, just beat him to a pulp!" Bogut heard Lin Tian's words and kindly cheered on his partner.
"Then I'll talk to you." Lin Tian glanced at Bogut. Lin Tian hadn't forgotten how this bastard tried to bully Zhu Fangyu back then, only to be retaliated against by Zhu Fangyu's set of Sun-shaped punches. What happened on the court should be left on the court.
But Bogut, that bastard, clearly did more than just things on the field, so he doesn't deserve forgiveness!
A descendant of a criminal exiled to a place where he looks down on our ancient Chinese nation? Good heavens!
Lin Tian then turned to Xiao Mo and said, "You're just a nobody, but at least you're a person. The thing next to you isn't even a person; it's just an animal."
"What did you say!" Bogut roared in anger.
"Want to get whipped by a beast tamer? I'm best at that!" Lin Tian glared at Bogut, who dared to talk back, and said, "You can call me by my new nickname, Beast Tamer, or if you want to be more affectionate, you can call me Master."
"I'll show you what I'm capable of!" Bogut glared fiercely at Lin Tian, his eyes bloodshot.
"Was someone barking just now?" Lin Tian picked at his ear. "That sounded awful."
"Alright, all of you stop." At this moment, the referee walked over and forcibly halted the tense situation, looking at both teams and saying, "When the game starts, you all better behave yourselves!"
"You ruined this game, and I'll ruin all your hard work this season! I have a hundred ways to make you wish you were dead without you even realizing it!"
"If you behave yourselves, I guarantee you'll get a fair ruling and be able to win the game on your own."
"If not, heh heh, you know what I mean!"
No one ignored him.
They're all seasoned veterans; nobody would listen to a referee's threats.
But everyone was ready at this point.
The Western Conference Finals begin! (End of Chapter)