When the Suns attacked, Grant Hill caught the ball and attempted a mid-range shot. Maggette rushed to interfere, but the ball missed.
On the next possession, Nash passed the ball to O'Neal because he found that O'Neal seemed to be facing the weakest defense.
When the ball came into O'Neal's hands, O'Neal took off in two steps and put the basketball into the basket. Kaman only blocked it symbolically.
This kind of defensive intensity is naturally no threat to O'Neal. He has just declined and is not really old enough yet.
Averaged 188 per game, just kidding, many centers couldn't get this number in their prime.
When the Clippers attack, their choice is very simple, that is, Zhang Zhiyuan plays with the ball.
Other teams also know the Clippers' style of play, but they just can't do anything about him.
The only way to reduce Zhang Zhiyuan's efficiency is to double-team, but double-teaming is a poison to cure a disease. It may cure the patient, or it may kill the patient first.
In this round, the Suns were double-teamed. Grant Hill cut the ball from behind Zhang Zhiyuan. Zhang Zhiyuan took a shot in a hurry and missed the ball.
"Ciel is so ignorant."
Buckley joked.
"If you don't speak, no one will think you are mute."
Smith complained.
There is no problem with Hill's choice, he just wants to win.
If donating money is impossible to prevent, then the finals every year will become a charity game.
On the court, the Suns were attacking. Stoudemire caught the ball in the low post and was about to single out Thornton, but Kaman came over.
Stoudemire did not pass, but chose to force the shot.
The posture was a bit substandard and the ball didn't go in.
After a few rounds, Nash was surprised to find that O'Neal seemed to be the most efficient on his side.
Then he passed the ball to O'Neal again, and O'Neal stepped on his tiptoes and threw the ball toward the basket.
The ball goes in.
20 to 19, the Suns took the lead.
"Does the Clippers want good people to fight to the end? Kaman almost doesn't guard O'Neal anymore. Stoudemire's game will be quite miserable."
Sun Zhengping explained the situation on the field.
"If you can strangle Stoudemire, there seems to be no problem with this choice."
Zhang Lili said.
"I think he probably didn't think that much and just wanted to tease O'Neal."
Sun Zhengping guessed.
On the court, O'Neal didn't care. Anyway, his physical strength is limited now, so he won't be able to play for too long and won't produce much blood.
When the Suns attacked, O'Neal even actively blocked the position and wanted to attack.
But this time Kaman did not let him shoot again, but stood in front of him, preventing O'Neal from getting close to the basket.
O'Neal caught the ball and pushed forward twice but failed to move, so he could only turn around and make a small hook.
This ball was a bit difficult, but O'Neal seemed to have good luck today, and he also hit the ball.
O'Neal showed a very funny expression.
Planting flowers with intention but not blooming, planting willows without intention to create shade is what he is talking about now.
The Clippers attacked, but Zhang Zhiyuan was still working hard to score.
Start the breakthrough, get to the basket and take off for a dunk.
"100,000, 100,000, 100,000."
The Chinese fans shouted this number, just like shouting "80" in the Spring Festival Gala skit. It was very rhythmic and funny.
After playing for 9 minutes, O'Neal was replaced and Zhang Zhiyuan continued to play.
The Suns attacked, and Stoudemire, who switched to the center position, finally scored and scored his first two points of the day.
In the transition between offense and defense, Zhang Zhiyuan ran without the ball, attracting all the Suns' defensive forces to the strong side. Maggette broke through on the weak side, leaving only one Barnes unable to defend.
When he stood still, Maggette passed by him.
Maggette made a layup.
25 to 26, the Clippers took the lead.
Suns offense, Nash
Breaking through Livingston and making a mid-range jump shot, Zhang Zhiyuan rushed to block the shot but was called for a foul.
Nash went to the free throw line and made two free throws steadily, and the Suns took the lead.
Both sides attacked fiercely and defended fiercely.
Zhang Zhiyuan broke through with the ball and jumped for a layup, but was pulled down by Stoudemire.
Zhang Zhiyuan stepped to the free throw line and made two free throws.
"This is even more of a loss. You only get two points for 200,000. A three-pointer is the most cost-effective."
Sun Zhengping said.
"Hey, let's not worry about it. Maybe Zhang Zhiyuan doesn't care about the money at all."
Zhang Lili reminded that this topic has been talked about a bit too much, and it would be boring to talk about it anymore.
On the court, the two teams continued to play for a while, and the first quarter ended.
33 to 35, the Clippers lead by 2 points.
This is acceptable to the Suns. Their bench lineup is better than that of the Clippers, and their bench time can equal or even lead them to gain an advantage.
After the first quarter, Barkley reported to the audience the number of shots made by O'Neal and Zhang Zhiyuan.
O'Neal made a total of 4 free throws, and Zhang Zhiyuan made 8 free throws.
"A little less."
Buckley said coquettishly.
In the second quarter, O'Neal and Zhang Zhiyuan were resting, Barbosa and Grant were playing as substitutes, and on the Clippers' side, Maggette and Hayes were on the bench.
In the first quarter, Zhang Zhiyuan was mainly attacking. Maggette did not consume much and still had strength at this time.
However, two fists were no match for four, and he alone could not withstand the bombardment of Barbossa and Grant.
Grant Hill is playing now@
Erwin recognized it.
Such an opponent is invincible and cannot be defended against.
The ball didn't go in.
Alvin felt a little embarrassed secretly. He felt that his strategy was okay.
The Suns attacked, Nash wanted to break out again, Zhang Zhiyuan came over to help defend.
Nash passed the ball to Richardson, and Richardson made a three-pointer.
His three-point shot was originally good, but he almost didn't take any shots in this game. At this time, his hand felt cold and he almost threw a three-pointer.
The Clippers counterattacked, and the Suns successfully forced Zhang Zhiyuan to shoot a mid-range jumper again, but this time Zhang Zhiyuan hit it.
"It's not a loss, it's better than him shooting three-pointers."
Alvin forced himself to comfort himself.
The Suns attacked, Stoudemire rushed up, Nash passed the ball accurately, and the Suns scored two more points.
Although Alvin is a defensive coach, the current Suns team is still strong in offense and weak in defense. This is determined by the abilities of the players. The role of the coach is really limited.
Stoudemire, the aging O'Neal, Nash, Barbosa, Grant Hill after a serious injury, and Richardson after a serious injury, how to defend against this?
When the Clippers attacked, even though Alvin asked his men to guard against Zhang Zhiyuan's three-pointer, Richardson still lost track of him.
Then Zhang Zhiyuan made a three-pointer and scored.
Alvin was vomiting fragrance anxiously in the audience.
When the Suns attacked, Nash's organization was still sharp. He accurately passed the ball to Richardson who was cutting through the crowd. Richardson caught the ball and scored a layup.
Zhang Zhiyuan's defense is very good, but occasionally he makes mistakes. As a result, he was distracted and Nash seized the opportunity.
Switching between offense and defense, Zhang Zhiyuan is still strong on the offensive end.
Relying on the advantage of physical confrontation, he squeezed away from Richardson, who almost fell down.
Then Zhang Zhiyuan went all the way to the basket. Facing Stoudemire's defensive pass, Jordan took off and dunked.
After landing, Jordan celebrated excitedly. Barkley complained: "Does this guy think that this goal is his credit? I can dunk this kind of ball now."
"Are you sure? Are you sure you can still dunk? How about I get a basketball stand and let you prove it."
Smith said sarcastically.
On the court, O'Neal also appeared again.
The game returned to the pattern of the first quarter, with the Clippers having a slight advantage.
At the end of the first half, 58 to 62, the Clippers led by 4 points.
Zhang Zhiyuan has already hit 15 goals. If this continues, he will have to donate 3 million. Some fans feel sorry for him.
In the second half, the Suns struggled to hold on, and Alvin also used his big move to defeat the main force.
When Zhang Zhiyuan was there, the main force of the Suns was there.
When Zhang Zhiyuan was resting, the Suns' main force was still there.
Their main firepower is very strong. Even against Zhang Zhiyuan, they can barely score a 50-50 draw without falling too far behind.
As soon as Zhang Zhiyuan comes off the field, they will launch a fierce counterattack.
This was the only way Alvin could think of to win, and by the third minute of the fourth quarter, his strategy looked pretty good.
The score was 92 to 88, and the Suns took a four-point lead.
However, Zhang Zhiyuan also appeared immediately and began the final decisive battle.
The Suns need to hold on for the final nine minutes.
"Can they hold on?"
Smith issued a soul torture.
"Nonsense, of course I can't hold on. The advantage of 4 points is only one half. Zhang Zhiyuan can finish it in thirty seconds."
Not long after Barkley finished speaking, Zhang Zhiyuan hit a three-pointer, narrowing the point difference to 1 point.
When the Suns attacked, Nash signaled to his teammates not to rush, they needed to hit success.
Facing the Clippers, the scoring efficiency must be high, otherwise it is impossible to win.
Nash patiently observed, and also moved the basketball, mobilizing the Clippers' defensive formation to create opportunities for his teammates.
It's a pity that his "mobilization" is of a deceptive type. If the Clippers don't fall for the trick, he has nothing to do, so he can only pass it to teammates who have relatively better opportunities.
Grant Hill hit from mid-range.
During the transition between offense and defense, Zhang Zhiyuan is also helping his teammates create opportunities, but the way he creates opportunities is much more domineering.
Breakthrough, rushed to the basket, Stoudemire covered the defense, Zhang Zhiyuan threw the ball behind Stoudemire, Thornton caught the ball and layup, and scored.
Nash looked at Zhang Zhiyuan and could only sigh secretly.
He couldn't use this method.
The Suns attacked, and Nash continued to organize the offense in his own way.
The Clippers defended well in this round, and Nash had no choice but to take action himself.
The chance wasn't very good and the ball didn't go in.
The Clippers immediately completed the lead, and the Suns only lasted 1 minute and 23 seconds.
The Suns counterattacked, and they relied on offense to overtake the score again, but this was the last time.
With Zhang Zhiyuan's three-pointer, the Suns fell behind by 2 points.
After that, they didn't overtake it.
First it was 2 points behind, then after a while it was 4 points, and then 6 points.
Chasing points, the point difference widens, and chasing again, the gap widens, and the game time is consumed little by little.
In the end, the Suns failed to catch up at the end of the game.
117 to 122, the Clippers only won by 5 points.
During the process, it seemed that the Suns always had a chance to win, but only the Suns players knew how frustrating this game was.
They played perfectly on the offensive end, but they still lost the game.
In terms of statistics, Stoudemire performed slightly worse, with only 18 points and 9 rebounds, Nash had 14 points and 10 assists, Barbosa had 15 points, Grant Hill had 12 points, and Richardson had 8 points.
O'Neal made 9 of 15 shots and 4 of 6 free throws, scoring a team-high 22 points, for which he had to pay $1.3 million.
Of course, this is nothing compared with Zhang Zhiyuan.
Zhang Zhiyuan made 21 of 40 shots, 8 of 18 three-pointers, 5 of 6 free throws, and scored 55 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
He hit 26 goals and had to donate 2.6 million, which was exactly twice O'Neal's amount.
"How many times has he reached 50 this season?"
Smith muttered while flipping through the statistics.
"There are too many, so I don't remember. His 50 statistics are meaningless. It's better to only count those above 70, which saves effort."
