The atmosphere in the Lakers locker room seemed a bit solemn. The team was behind the score. Everyone except Shuai Tang and Gasol performed poorly, especially the other three, and even sat on the bench for nearly a full quarter. {[(((((((((({({({<({<

During the regular season, even if they were behind in the half, the players would still talk and laugh, but the playoffs were too important and no one was in the mood to make any jokes.

"Karl played so well. I can't find any way to limit him." Noel turned to Batum at this time and said.

"The Timberwolves are much better than I thought they would have beaten." Batum shook his head and said.

Tang Shuai frowned, and the players seemed to have agreed with the fact that the Timberwolves were better than themselves in their hearts.

At this moment, Billups came to the locker room.

"Hey guys, I have a few words to say."

Hearing what Billups said, the team members all looked at him.

"We did a good job on the defensive end in the first half, but we seemed very hesitant on the offensive end. It was normal to get a little nervous just into the playoffs, but if we want to make a difference in the playoffs, we have to put that emotion aside in the second half of this game, otherwise our efforts throughout the season will be in vain."

The team members nodded.

Billups then picked up the tactical board: "The Timberwolves are playing defensive counterattack now, so we have to do these things. First, it is to reduce and limit their defensive counterattack rounds as much as possible. Second, it is the success rate. When Tang encounters double-teams, other players must run and find opportunities. If you have a chance to take action, you must be decisive. Third, we shrink the basket on the defensive end. The Timberwolves' offense focuses on the inside. We defend a 3-2 joint defense at the beginning..."

The team members nodded again, and what Billups said were key points.

Tang Shuai frowned again at this time. When Billups said these words, he did not see the increase in morale in his teammates' faces.

After explaining some of the tactics in the second half in detail and reminding the players to adjust their mentality, Billups then left the locker room.

"Paul, do you think we have a chance to win?" As soon as Billups left, Noel turned to Gasol and asked.

"Work hard, there will always be opportunities." Gasol said with a wry smile.

Even Gasol doesn't seem to have enough confidence.

Tang Shuai finally couldn't sit still at this time. He could accept losing, but he would definitely not be able to give up so early.

"Tang, what's wrong with you?" Batum asked when he noticed that Tang Shuai got up and looked ugly.

Tang Shuai did not directly answer Batum's question, but looked around his teammates and continued: "Before the game started, weren't you asking me how to be unhappy?"

Hearing what he said, his teammates focused their attention on him.

"I said I was over-tough, that was just a joke. In fact, the situation was that I had no psychological burden, and I didn't have any questions about what would happen if I lost, or whether I could win. The situation I was in at that time was that no one thought we could defeat the Warriors, even fans and teammates. Before the game, my mentality was as good as possible to play my own style and my own characteristics were worse than what we are now, but..."

Tang Shuai said, and glanced at his teammates again, then emphasized and said, "I have never doubted myself just now, just playing half-time game. What can we afford to lose? What are we worried about? We are the sixth in the West, it is normal for us to lose, and if we win, we are the level swing. What are we nervous about?"

He became a little excited as he said that, and the expressions on the faces of the team members were also touched.

"When it comes to the playoff experience, many of you have much more richer people than me, but why can't you let go of yourself? Coach Changxi has already made it very clear just now. What's the difference between 10 points, 15 points, or even 20 points? Haven't we ever won the ball before when we were so much behind?" Tang Shuai asked in a stressful tone.

Batum wanted to speak but stopped.

"We have experienced a lot of changes in tactics, players' transactions, and even Paul's injuries, but we have all persevered. We have persisted for 82 games, and we only took one season to help the team return to the playoffs. Should we lose this game after working hard for a season just because of our nervousness?"

"My opponents are back into the playoffs after twelve years. They are less nervous than we are? But they are relaxed because they think less! Men, throw away all the messy worries! Guys, let's wake up! Wake up and win this game just for ourselves!"

A flash of light burst out from Tang Shuai's eyes, and he said firmly as he looked at his teammates.

While he was speaking, the Lakers players remained silent, but when he finished speaking, he could clearly feel that the decadent or ashamed expression on their faces had disappeared, replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

Most of the Lakers are veterans with playoff experience. Their previous nervousness was more because of their mentality. After all, they played third with the sixth position. After being scolded by Tang Shuai, they woke up immediately.

"Dang, I'm sorry, we didn't take the responsibility we deserve." Batum said at this time.

"I should say this." Deng then stood up and said. As the oldest player in the Lakers and the most experienced player in the playoffs, he performed like a newcomer on the field. After listening to Tang Shuai's words, he felt extremely ashamed.

"No, I should say that the person who apologized the most is me. I thought so much about the first time I played in the playoffs. I really..." Noel said with apologies on his face.

Seeing that all three of them expressed their opinions, Tang Shuai breathed a sigh of relief. As long as his mentality came back, there would be still some games. He nodded and said, "I don't want to say anything extra. We, including me, played in the first half, were not good enough. The good news is that there is time for halftime now. As long as we show our best form, it is still difficult to say."

The team members nodded, their faces full of resolute expressions.

Tang Shuai stretched out his hand, and the team members stood up and walked over and folded their hands on it one after another.

"Lakes!" Tang Shuai shouted.

"Come on!" the team members shouted in unison.

After the team members cheered, Tang Shuai noticed someone looking at them. He turned around and saw Billups appearing behind them at some point again, smiling at them.

Seeing Tang Shuai turn around, Billups sent a look of praise, and then said, "Guys, it's time."

The Lakers players shouted to each other, and then walked out of the field together.

"Chris, do you think the Lakers will make a strong counterattack in the second half?" After players from both sides returned to the court, the Timberwolves' home commentator David Benz turned to Webber and said.

"The Lakers will definitely fight back. They won't admit defeat so easily, but..." Webber said, "But it's really difficult. The Lakers have proved that they are not in form tonight in the first half. Tang alone is not enough to defeat the Timberwolves' defense."

"Chris, what you said is already very tactful. To be honest, among the Lakers players, it is probably only Paul and Don who know that they are playing in the playoffs. No one else talks about their state, but they have not even adjusted their mentality." Benz said bluntly.

"Hope, I hope there will be some more fierce confrontation in the second half." Webber said as he looked at the Lakers' bench. Just after the players returned to the schedule, he saw some different expressions from the first half.

When they came back in the second half, both sides still used the first half.

Because he was 15 points ahead, after returning from the second half, the fans whispered and chatted, and did not cheer loudly at the beginning of the first half.

The Lakers attacked first, and Tang Shuai took the ball to the frontcourt.

The Timberwolves' defense is not much different from the first half, and Rubio is the main defense of Coach Tang.

Tang Shuai asked Noel to have a pick-and-roll, and then broke through to the inside.

For his breakthrough, Towns and Lavine immediately double-teamed. In the first half, the Lakers performed poorly except for Shuai Tang and Gasol, allowing them to make up for double-teams at will.

Tang Shuai guessed the Timberwolves' defense and saw the opportunity. He passed through Towns' crotch with a beautiful blow, and the basketball followed him to the right wing, and Deng happened to appear in that position.

After being awakened by the scolding, the Lakers players' running position on the court became proactive and decisive. Deng Yi grabbed the ball and then chose to make a layup without hesitation.

Aldridge at the basket made up for defense and his big hand rushed towards Deng.

If this ball was placed in the first half, Deng would probably have to pass the ball at this time, or at least stop, but at this time, he did not hesitate at all and directly stepped on it.

The decisiveness of this ball was beyond Aldridge's expectations, and at the moment when both sides were in contact, Deng's experience was perfectly reflected. After he contacted Aldridge, he didn't look at the basket and directly threw the ball out.

"Bang!"

"beep!"

The crisp sound and the whistle sounded at the same time, and the ball went straight up and down. Aldridge had already made a blockage, so it was unlikely to dodge.

Aldridge hugged his head helplessly, it was a shooting foul.

Deng went to the free throw line.

There was a noise of interference at the scene under the guidance of DJ.

Deng defeated the pressure and steadily hit both free throws.

Looking back, the Timberwolves' offense, Towns asked for the ball at the low post on the right, and Rubio saw the opportunity to hand it in.

However, as soon as he received the ball, Batum quickly came to defend, and it was difficult for him to get the ball.

LaVine originally ran to the bottom corner on the left to open up the space. When she saw Towns being double-teamed, she cut directly into the empty space under the basket.

Towns saw a fake move that turned around and forced the ball to play. After turning around, he passed the ball directly to Lavender.

"Bang!"
Chapter completed!