After the continuous campaign in the Southwest Division, the Celtics' next schedule in March is relatively easy. They have four games in eight days, all at home. It is also a rare adjustment time. The Celtics won all four games.
, the overall record rose to 60 wins and 13 losses, locking in a playoff spot in advance.
With his performance in the second half of March, Yang Shuai once again defeated Horford in the Rookie of the Year selection in March, winning this honor for the second time this season. This month, Yang Shuai averaged 132 points and 67 rebounds per game, ranking first in scoring.
Ranked first among rookies in the Eastern Conference and second among rookies in the Eastern Conference in rebounding.
After nearly a season of fighting, Yang Shuai's popularity has continued to rise, and has surpassed Yi Jianlian in China. Yi Jianlian's performance declined in the middle and late seasons of the season, while Yang Shuai's performance has steadily improved, and the popularity of the two has naturally declined.
no the same.
Ray Allen has returned from injury, but his injury has sounded the alarm for Rivers. As the playoffs are approaching, the Celtics head coach does not want to have any more injuries in the team, especially the main players. The best way is not to
Too much rotation, with only 9 games left in the regular season, Rivers decided to carefully arrange the playing time of each player.
Rivers will definitely not change, and Ray Allen will return to the lineup. After all, this lineup has been used for a season. He needs to be stable before entering the playoffs. But playing does not mean that there will be a lot of playing time.
, Rivers decided to limit the playing time of several veterans to about 25 minutes.
This playing time is more reasonable in Rivers' opinion. It can not only ensure the condition of these people, but also allow them to have more physical strength to participate in the playoffs. Another advantage of this is that it allows the substitute players to find their condition better.
, entering the playoffs, Rivers firmly believes that the depth of the bench will affect the direction of the team.
In the first game in April, Rivers tried his first adjustment. When he challenged the Bulls away from home, Rivers still sent out a lineup of Perkins, Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rondo.
However, he started the rotation after playing five minutes in the first quarter. Yang Shuai was replaced and Pierce went off to rest. After 3 minutes, Garnett was replaced again and Bowyer was replaced.
Seeing this, the live broadcaster immediately saw through Rivers' thoughts. He immediately analyzed Rivers' approach and finally came to the conclusion that it was extremely correct.
The fact is exactly as Rivers thought. The Celtics played this game very easily. Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen all played between 24-28 minutes, and each of them scored 14.
Points, 17 points, 17 points, and Yang Shuai and Cassell, who came off the bench, both showed good form, scoring 15 points and 13 points respectively. In the end, the Celtics easily defeated the Bulls 106:93 in the away game. Update
The Celtics' adjustments in this game have attracted a lot of attention. People in the circle unanimously believe that Rivers is preparing for the playoffs in advance, but they have to admit that the Celtics do have such capital. Although this
At that time, many teams in the East and West were preparing for the final playoffs, but the Celtics were standing at the top of the league, watching these people compete with each other, and it felt like they were aloof.
From the first game on April 1st to the last game on April 16th, the Celtics won 8 out of 9 games, with a total record of 68 wins and 14 losses. There is no doubt that they are ranked first in the league.
Throne. Yang Shuai got plenty of playing time this month, averaging 28 minutes per game, scoring 139 points and 70 rebounds.
At the end of the regular season, Yang Shuai played 72 games, 15 games, and averaged 127 points and 60 rebounds per game. This performance was something that no one expected before the regular season. It is no exaggeration to say that the current Yang Shuai is Kyle.
An indispensable member of the Celtics, his contribution to the team on both offense and defense ranks first among all Celtics substitutes.
Yang Shuai's statistics are good, but he is destined to miss out on the major awards of the season. If nothing else happens, the best rookie will fall on Durant. The second place in the new division averaged 100 points per game in his first season.
With 200 points and 40 rebounds, no rookie can compare with him in terms of statistics.
Yang Shuai's performance as the sixth man is quite good, but it is obviously impossible for him to win the best sixth man award. The Spurs' Manu Ginobili is the best candidate for the best sixth man. He has played a lot of games this season.
He averaged 195 points, 48 rebounds, 45 assists and 17 steals, and he played a major role in the Spurs' third place finish in the Western Conference.
It’s even more impossible to win the best defensive player. The biggest favorites for this award are Kevin Garnett and Marcus Camby. Garnett, as the core of the Celtics’ defense this season, averaged 188 points per game.
With 92 rebounds, 12 blocks and 14 steals, the Celtics often played suffocating defense and he was a key figure. Marcus Camby was the best defensive player last season, averaging 91 points and 131 points per game.
He had 36 rebounds, 10 steals, and both rebounds and blocks were much higher than Garnett. However, considering the player's role in the team, Garnett may not lose in the selection.
After the regular season, each team's matchup in the playoffs has been decided. The Lakers, ranked first in the Western Conference with 57 wins and 25 losses, will face the Nuggets, ranked eighth with 50 wins and 32 losses. Kobe and Iverson
The two top scorers will face off again. The second-ranked Hornets are on the rise this season. They have 56 wins and 26 losses this season. Their opponent is the seventh-ranked Mavericks. The Dallas team is in
This season we had 51 wins and 31 losses.
Ranked third in the Western Conference are the Spurs with 56 wins and 26 losses. They will face the Suns with 55 wins and 27 losses. These enemies finally got together. The Spurs have been the Suns' nemesis in the past few years. The Rockets also won 55 wins and 27 losses.
Losing, they were ranked in front of the Suns and fifth in the Western Conference due to the difference in wins. However, due to division reasons, they were ranked behind the Jazz, who had 54 wins and 28 losses. The two teams also met in the first round for the second consecutive year.
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The overlord of the Eastern Conference is undoubtedly Yang Shuai's Celtics. With 68 wins and 14 losses, they will face the eighth-ranked Hawks with 37 wins and 45 losses. The second place in the Eastern Conference is the Pistons with 59 wins and 23 losses. Their opponent is
The 76ers, ranked seventh with 40 wins and 42 losses. The Magic, ranked third in the Eastern Conference with 52 wins and 30 losses, faced the Raptors, ranked sixth with 41 wins and 41 losses. The Cavaliers' record declined this year, and they finally ranked third in the Eastern Conference with 45 wins and 37 losses.
Fourth, the opponent is the Wizards with the Three Musketeers, who had 43 wins and 39 losses in the regular season.
A total of sixteen teams from the top 8 in the Eastern and Western Conferences were formed, and it was also announced that the summer for the remaining 14 teams was coming early. However, no one will pay attention to what these guys will do in the summer, at least not now. Everyone's attention is focused on
in the upcoming playoffs.
The sixteen teams participating in the playoffs are all making final preparations. They are practicing various tactics against their opponents, and the Celtics are no exception. They began to carry out targeted tactics after confirming that their opponent was the Hawks.
train.
Before that, Yang Shuai also improved his strength again. After the regular season, Yang Shuai once again challenged in space. After the three-pointer was upgraded to advanced, his blocks rose to advanced. Compared with the beginning of the regular season
, Yang Shuai’s ability has improved a lot.
In terms of physical fitness, speed and agility are still at the intermediate level, while strength, jumping and stamina have risen to the advanced level. Although Yang's physical fitness is not top-notch in the entire NBA, it is at least better than second-rate and close to first-rate.
In terms of offense, shooting skills are still blank. Basket attack, layup, dribbling and passing are still at the elementary level. Mid-range shooting and offensive awareness have reached the intermediate level, and dunking and three-pointers have reached the advanced level.
In terms of defense, there is no hierarchy in defensive skills and awareness, but one season of training is enough for Yang Shuai to step into the ranks of the league's top perimeter defenders. Stealing is a junior level, while rebounding and blocking shots are both advanced levels.
After sorting out his own abilities, Yang, who was already confident, had a sharp increase in confidence. He felt that with his own abilities, he could bring huge help to the team in the playoffs, and his next move
The key task is to make a mid-range shot, which is expected to be completed in early to mid-May. His offensive strength will further improve.
After the regular season, the Celtics have 4 days to rest. After 4 days, they will face their first opponent in the playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks. In the past few days, the Celtics have been actively training.
The good record made them start to look forward to more. Everyone believed that their team would go further in the playoffs until...the finals, or even the championship.
Although everyone believes that the Celtics are the favorites to win this year, Rivers told the Celtics players to calm down. Their goal is the championship, but what they have to do now is to eliminate their first opponent.
The NBA's official promotion of the playoffs has been in full swing, and the eyes of basketball fans from all over the world are focused here. On the first day of the playoffs, there are a total of five games to be played, but the game between the Celtics and the Hawks is not included.
, their game is on the next day.
After five games, the strength gap in the East was even more obvious. The Cavaliers and Magic each defeated their opponents and won, while the gap in the West seemed even smaller. The first-place Lakers won the eighth-place Nuggets, the Rockets lost to the Jazz, and the Spurs
Won the Suns, but it was a narrow victory by 2 points.
The situation in the Western Conference is not what the Celtics players need to pay attention to for the time being. Rivers told the players not to take it lightly because the Eastern Conference game is easy. He shouted loudly in the locker room: "Don't underestimate any opponent, this is
The playoffs are a completely different stage from the regular season. I need each of you to go all out, don't give your opponents any chance, and then win this victory!"
"Victory!" All the Celtics players shouted, and the roar echoed in the locker room. As Pierce waved his hand, 12 figures ran towards the outside of the locker room, and the smoke-filled 2007-08 playoffs began.
Now, handsome guy Yang will also usher in his first playoff trip in his life.