…
The Suns locker room after the game.
The atmosphere was unprecedentedly dull.
In the game that just ended, in the game that they thought they could win and wanted to use victory to strengthen their championship goal, they lost.
Moreover, he loses without any temper.
102 to 121.
The Lakers' three highs, the unsolvable Kobe, and their broken defense.
It was like having a beautiful dream, but it was shattered in an instant.
Even Richardson didn't seem to know what to say to lighten the atmosphere at this time.
The outcome of a game actually doesn't mean much.
Just like when they lost to the Rockets and the Cavaliers before, they all knew that it was just a game.
But when you lose to the Lakers and basically have no chance, a championship?
They suddenly realized that what they had thought before was somewhat unrealistic.
After a while Gentry came, he said some words of encouragement and put the failure on himself.
But that didn't seem to ease the atmosphere in the locker room much.
Lin Ying was the first to get up and leave the locker room.
Stoudemire hesitated to speak, but finally said nothing.
Instead, Nash stood up and followed him out of the locker room.
"It's just a game."
Nash spoke, and he didn't know whether he was comforting Lin Ying or himself.
There may be more of the former.
After all, for him, he was almost numb to losing.
First there were the Spurs and then there were the Lakers. He is scheduled to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
"I know, I'm just a little bored and want to practice some."
"I'll accompany you."
…
"Bang! Bang!"
The floor made constant sounds as it hit the ground.
Lin Ying is still training on the court, and Nash is already lying on the court to rest.
For him, excessive exercise places too much burden on his spine.
Moreover, this should be the third position he has changed while lying down.
Originally, he thought that Lin Ying would be fine if he practiced more for a while.
Unexpectedly, it ended up being half an hour, an hour, an hour and a half.
This guy has so much energy and nowhere to release it!
Just when he could hardly lie down anymore, Lin Ying finally rested.
Panting and dripping with sweat.
Lin Ying was not training, but simply venting.
However, Nash could feel that Lin Ying's mood was much better than when the game just ended.
It is said that when people are unhappy they want to eat more.
But this is not accurate, because many people prefer to play games when they are unhappy.
So this sentence should be: When people are unhappy, they will want to do what they love.
Training is what Weiying loves.
"I don't think losing this game is a bad thing."
Lin Ying wiped his sweat and then spoke.
"Um?"
Nash didn't expect Lin Ying to say that suddenly.
"At least it's not that simple for us to win the championship. We still have a lot to do."
Lin Ying continued.
Nash looked at Lin Ying in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
"It feels like your mood changes a bit before and after."
Nash said with a smile.
"Well, I just couldn't accept it after the game. Although I don't think we can definitely win now, but at least we should have a chance, but we lost so completely."
"Um."
Nash nodded. This should be what most people in the Suns were thinking at this time.
"But I figured it out now."
Lin Ying raised his head and said.
"Figured out what?"
"The Suns have problems just like the Nuggets, but the Suns' problems have a chance to be solved, but the Nuggets don't."
"So you think the Suns have a better chance than the Nuggets did last year?"
"That's the truth."
Anthony: What, you want to eat shrimp and pig heart again?
After listening, Nash put his hand on his chin, thoughtfully.
There is nothing wrong with what Lin Ying said. Compared to the irreconcilable conflicts between Anthony and Lin Ying, the problems the Suns have now can indeed be solved.
However, it is only relative, it may even be more difficult on the sun side.
The Nuggets are a team with a higher ceiling and a lower floor. If the contradiction is resolved, the chance of defeating the Lakers is not small;
The Suns have a higher lower limit, but a lower upper limit. Facing the Lakers, winning may depend more on the Lakers' own performance.
Just like since the start of the season, they have won all the games they should win, but they have lost against the Rockets, Cavaliers, and Lakers.
"Injuries, strength, condition, tacit understanding, and luck, these should be the necessary conditions for winning the championship."
At this moment, Lin Ying spoke again.
"Luck is not something we can control. Injuries have been avoided as much as possible. The tacit understanding and condition will gradually improve over time, so the most important thing is strength.
This strength does not only refer to paper strength, but more importantly, it should be the strength we can play.
The Nuggets' strength last season was 90, but most of the time it was 80 or even 70.
The Suns' current strength is 80, but we can play 85 or even 90.
We just have to find those ways."
Nash seemed to understand a little bit, but he didn't seem to understand it very well.
"What method?"
Finally it turned into a problem.
"Targeted, this is what I'm thinking of now."
Lin Ying replied.
"How to target the Lakers' top three, how to target Kobe, James, Yao Ming, and even how to target the opponent's tactical weaknesses.
For example, when we beat the Nuggets in the opening game, we targeted Anthony."
This was what he had been thinking about during the training just now, and he figured out the difference between playing for the Suns and playing for the Nuggets.
Nash nodded, he somewhat understood what Lin Ying meant.
Speaking of which, both D'Antoni and Gentry are offensive head coaches.
Rather than targeting their opponents, they prefer to use offense to solve problems.
As long as I score more points than you, I can win the game.
But think about it carefully, their mortal rival, the Spurs, who beat them every time, played very targeted every time.
Popovich is a veteran in this area.
"I haven't figured out how to target them specifically, but neither the Lakers nor the Rockets are perfect."
Lin Ying hasn't figured out how to operate it yet.
But now that the regular season has just started, they have a season to think about and try this problem.
Before Xiaosi's family was in a group, he became much more patient.
He knows that it is not a simple mathematical problem that the Suns can reach the Western Conference Finals and that he can beat the Lakers.
Because basketball itself is not a math problem.
How to make the Suns team stronger than in history after he joins is the correct way to solve the problem.
"I will feedback this idea to Alvin."
Nash continued.
Lin Ying nodded.
Nash's status in the Suns is unparalleled, and his words are far more useful than his own words.
…
In the training session the next day, the Suns made a change, Tony Allen entered the team rotation.
It is normal for a strong defensive player with no offensive ability to have no playing time in a team with an offensive head coach.
Now Allen is suddenly enabled. Needless to say, Nash successfully convinced Gentry.
The Suns' opponent in the next game is the Hawks.
The Eagles during this period were at the peak of their strength after 2000.
Through a series of drafts and trade operations, they formed a lineup of Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford, with Jamal Crawford on the bench.
A super sixth man like Germany.
Since the start of this season, their performance in the Eastern Conference is even better than that of the Magic and Celtics, followed closely behind the Cavaliers.
This is a seriously strong team.
Of course, it is also a perfect test subject.
There is still one day left before the start of the game, and Lin Ying and Holiday are practicing in the training hall as usual.
Holiday has not had many opportunities to play so far this season. The reason is the same as Allen's: his offensive ability cannot meet Gentry's requirements.
In addition, there is Barbossa in front of him, and he doesn't know when he will be able to make his mark.
But his mentality is very stable.
It's the kind of "as long as I train hard", it's not even "if I train hard, I will get a chance".
This is consistent with Lin Ying's impression, conscientious and calm.
Lin Ying naturally liked this junior even more.
But there was one more person today.
Tony Allen.
Arunga practiced very hard and had a lot of exchanges with Lin Ying.
Lin Ying could completely feel his nervousness.
And it’s easy to understand.
His current situation is worse than at the same time in history!
Historically, in his last year with the Celtics, he performed well in the playoffs and was spotted by the Grizzlies.
But now, he has been sitting on the bench.
This is his contract year. If he never gets a chance to play again, he can say goodbye to the NBA next season.
So the next game is very important to him.
Don't say anything about not being ready yet, this is his last chance.
"Tony, believe in yourself, you are a man who will compete for the best defense in history."
After the training, Lin Ying chatted with Allen for a while, and finally encouraged Allen.
When he thought of targeting yesterday, the first thing that came to his mind was Allen.
The Suns have many people who can defend, including Richardson, Hill, and Dudley, but these are not enough in front of a scorer of Kobe's level.
The only one who has a chance to pinch Kobe is Allen.
As long as Allen can perform like he did in locking down Durant in history, the Suns will be much more likely to beat the Lakers.
"Lin, do you really think so?"
Allen's eyes were surprised. Although the two had a good relationship, he didn't expect Lin Ying to think so highly of him!
Lin Ying automatically entered the Sky Eye this time and forgot about Allen's current situation.
But he quickly nodded affirmatively, reached out and patted Allen on the shoulder, with sincere eyes, serious expression and firm tone:
"Of course, that's what I thought when I was in Denver."
"I see."
Allen looked excited, and most of his nervousness dissipated in an instant.
Lin Ying himself is a member of the best defensive team, so what he says is definitely true.
After the extra practice, Lin Ying and Holiday went back to rest, while Allen secretly ran to the video room alone.
The next day, the Nuggets faced the Hawks at home.
This day happened to coincide with Thanksgiving. Not only was the arena full of attendance, but the fans were also more enthusiastic than ever.
During the warm-up before the game, Lin Ying's eyes unconsciously focused on Joe Johnson.
The current star of the Eagles, the "Eagle King", is also called the "Singles King".
Speaking of Johnson, he also has a very interesting nickname in China: "Contemporary Jordan".
That's because a certain Comey said, "The most Jordan can do now is Joe Johnson."
But later, many people forgot the source of this ridicule, and contemporary Jordan became a kind of praise.
However, his style of play is indeed a bit similar to that of Jordan during the Wizards era. He has key ball ability, leadership temperament, and versatile skills, but... it is always a bit boring.
It is like water that has been boiled to 99°C, only 1 degree away from boiling.
Of course, that's from a big perspective. As far as tonight's game is concerned, he will be the biggest headache for the Suns' perimeter defense.
At the end of the warm-up, Nash and Richardson both went over to say hello to Johnson.
After all, Johnson was also part of the 62-win Suns team that year.
After the warm-up, the game between the two sides started quickly.
The Eagles' head coach is Mike Woodson, a defensive coach whose offensive style of play revolves around Johnson.
So as soon as the game started, the Suns were under great defensive pressure from the outside.
Richardson was hit several times by Johnson at the beginning.
As an old teammate, Johnson is very familiar with Richardson's defensive style.
Richardson was familiar with Johnson's offensive style, but he... couldn't guard against it.
Johnson's singles ability is really impressive.
Pull-up jump shot, breakthrough layup, low center of gravity and high frequency dribbling, post-ups, everything is possible.
His unique skill is to fake a half turn and follow up with a step back.
The key is that he is also calm and has a big heart.
Lin Ying tried to help defend, but Johnson's passing was also very good.
This is a standard weakened version of No. 24 Kobe!
Different teams, but it feels like they are playing the Lakers again.
If no one can stop him from the outside, the Suns will likely make the same mistake again.
Gentry finally called Allen from the bench.
Allen performed a one-second performance of taking off his jacket, and then ran quickly to the technical stage.
He was really a little nervous and a little excited.
When Lin Ying saw Allen coming up, he also took the initiative to clap his hands with him.
Then, he saw the light.
After Johnson faced Allen, he instantly felt like he had fallen from "Kobe" to "Aflalo"!
In the first round of the match between the two, he tried several times with the ball but was unable to get away from Allen, and he didn't even get a comfortable shot!
It's not just footwork and technique, it's concentration, willpower, and targeting!
Allen must have studied Johnson a lot!
And being on guard, Allen seemed to have entered a state of selflessness.
There was no game and no fans, just him and Johnson!
Bulldog!
Yes, he's like a pit bull now!
Seeing Johnson, who was killing everyone in front, being locked up and having trouble catching the ball even when he was running without the ball, the Phoenix fans at the scene burst into cheers.
Because Allen had rarely had a chance to play before, they didn't expect that the team would still have such a strong defensive player!
Allen is also becoming more confident as he plays.
Finally, in a one-on-one defense, he showed a "contemporary Jordan"!
Take it, my upgrade experience package!
After he steals the ball, he goes down quickly, and it feels like he's back to Boston's peak days.
"Bang!"
A beautiful meatball bomb exploded the frame, and the Aviation Center Arena was instantly set on fire.
After Bell, there is Allen!
After Allen dunked, he roared to the sidelines.
You are obviously venting emotions that you couldn't get over before.
But it seems like there’s more to it than that.
That's a bit like repeating what Lin Ying said last night:
Chapter completed!