Kirilenko is the best candidate to defend Nowitzki!
Nowitzki is not afraid of tall centers or guards switching defenses, but he is very troubled by lanky forwards with strong shot-blocking abilities.
When the Rockets and Mavericks played in the playoffs, Van Gundy asked McGrady to guard Nowitzki.
McGrady is a forward with strong athletic ability.
McGrady is 2.03 meters tall, has a wingspan of 2.18 meters, and has amazing jumping ability. He is very suitable for defending Nowitzki.
Kirilenko's physical condition is better than Tracy McGrady!
Kirilenko is 2.06 meters tall and has a wingspan of 2.26 meters. His jumping ability is worse than that of McGrady, but his strength is better than that of McGrady.
More importantly, Kirilenko's defensive experience is much better than Tracy McGrady!
McGrady puts most of his energy on the offensive end, while Kirilenko can put most of his energy on defense. Coupled with his rich defensive experience and top-notch sense of blocking, Kirilenko can defend.
Nowitzki is a perfect fit!
Nowitzki's characteristic is shooting. What he fears most about shooting is the shot-blocking monster who is tall and has long arms!
Even when it comes to breakthroughs, Nowitzki mostly breaks through from behind.
If the opponent is playing singles with his back to the basket, Kirilenko may not be able to defend very well.
After all, back-to-the-basket singles rely more on strength - I just push the defender away and dunk, it doesn't matter how good your shot blocking is!
The face-frame breakthrough depends more on footwork!
Nowitzki is faster than most post players, but no matter how fast he is, he is still a post player, and he is also a big man of 2.13 meters!
In front of Kirilenko, Nowitzki's footwork advantage is gone!
Able to prevent breakthroughs and shots, it can be said that Kirilenko is the best choice to defend Nowitzki!
The Warriors' starting lineup is very targeted. Except for Curry, almost every position has advantages.
It is very suitable for Laga Bell to defend the old Kidd: Kidd is characterized by rich experience but slow speed. Laga Bell is not bad at all in terms of experience and has some advantages in speed!
Prince has no problem defending Marion: Marion's offensive characteristics are cutting without the ball and covering the ball. He is the lubricant of the team, but Marion has almost no singles ability.
Prince has rich defensive experience and can defend without the ball or with the ball. He plays the role of lubricant on both the offensive and defensive ends.
Letting one lubricant protect against another is the best option!
Kirilenko is also a very good choice to defend Nowitzki.
There is no problem comparing Lopez with Chandler: Chandler does not have any independent offensive ability, and his scoring depends entirely on alley-oops and secondary rebounds.
Although Lopez is slow, the old Kidd is not fast either. With the cooperation of Laga Bell, it is not a big problem for Lopez to shrink and defend Chandler. Even if he is grabbing rebounds, Lopez will not suffer.
Curry is slightly weaker defensively, but he is guarding DeShawn Stevenson, a shooter with little independent offensive ability. With Curry's enthusiasm, it is not a big problem.
The game was held at the Oracle Arena. More than half an hour before the game started, the arena was packed with people and very lively.
Since Deng Fang came to the Warriors, Warriors home games have become a sea of joy!
There is no way, as long as the Warriors play at home, they almost win!
Not just winning, but winning every game!
Who doesn't like this kind of home team game?
Is garbage time bad looking?
That's the lagging side or neutral fans!
For fans of the home team, a game with a scoreless quarter is the most enjoyable!
The garbage time does not matter, as long as the home team wins!
Compared to the first round series, this game is obviously more popular!
The Trail Blazers' strength is still much worse than the Mavericks, and they will also be squeezed into the playoffs.
The Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki has performed very well this season. Coupled with Kidd, Chandler, Butler and other capable players, it will not be easy to win against them.
Now the fans of the Warriors have been spoiled. Constantly winning games have made them dislike their opponents!
It’s not enough for Tai Cai’s opponent to win!
Coupled with Deng Fang's rare high praise for the Mavericks before the game, many people are looking forward to this game.
At 7:30 in the evening, Lopez and Chandler jumped the ball in the middle circle, and the game officially started!
The Mavericks got the ball first.
Kidd dribbled to the frontcourt, and Laga Bell took a step back to defend.
When he was young, Kidd's three-point shooting was average. As he got older, Kidd's three-point shooting began to become more accurate.
However, like most guards, Kidd can only shoot fixed-point three-pointers, and cannot dribble and stop three-pointers!
Of course, it's not that it's impossible to throw, it's just unreliable and almost like throwing away.
So Lagabel didn't stick too close.
For a player who is good at assists, being too close is not a good thing!
The more he wants to pass the ball, the less you can let him pass the ball easily!
The Mavericks' offense mainly consists of two, one is the pick-and-roll, and the other is Nowitzki's singles.
Without a shooter like the Splash Brothers, it would be difficult to execute tactics without the ball!
Kidd dribbled the ball at the top of the arc, and when his teammates were in position, Chandler immediately came up to cover him.
The Mavericks mostly let Chandler come up and pick-and-roll with Kidd.
There is no way, Chandler didn't shoot. If Nowitzki comes up to pick and roll, Lopez can ignore Chandler and just stay in the penalty area to help defend.
In that case, the Mavericks' offensive space will be very small.
Chandler blocked Laga Bell, and Kidd immediately dribbled to the side, trying to force Lopez to switch defense.
As long as the Warriors switch defense, there will be a mismatch.
If there is misalignment, it will be a breakthrough, and the offense will be easier to hit.
Of course, it would be better if the Warriors attack from a double flank!
For a passing master like Kidd, what he hopes most is for the opponent to flank him!
Kidd has a hundred ways to comfortably pass the ball to open teammates!
But it’s impossible for a warrior to do this!
Needless to say, the old Kidd is now, even if the young Kidd comes!
Isn't it crazy to flank a player who has no offensive threat?
A very famous saying in Jianghu can explain the problem very well: If you don't attack the base, you won't be able to defend it!
Nash doesn't defend well, Kidd never attacks!
Unless there is a big open space, Kidd will not shoot or break through and score by himself!
When I was young, I was unwilling to do so. When I get older, it is impossible for me to score!
Unless there is a wide open three-pointer!
Kidd has rarely scored layups this season. Even when he breaks into the basket, Kidd chooses to pass the ball 99% of the time!
Come and guard against me!
Come and flank me!
This is Kidd’s inner calling!
Of course Deng Fang would not let Kidd get his wish!
Deng Fang specially arranged it for the team, even if it allows Kidd to make a layup, it just can't flank him!
You can't give a three-pointer to a wide open space. If it's empty, just pounce!
Force Kidd to break through!
The less you like to do something, the more I want you to do it!
Kidd dribbled to the side, but Lopez ignored him at all and huddled near the free throw line waiting for Chandler.
After being blocked, Laga Belle immediately squeezed in from behind Chandler and quickly returned to Kidd.
I go around the screen and give you one second to shoot!
If it's a wide open space, if it's a ready catch and shoot, then Kidd is still a great threat.
But Kidd needs to dribble to the side, and if he wants to shoot, he needs to stop and collect the ball. This process takes 1 second.
It takes two seconds for Lagabel to come out, so Kidd only has 1 second to prepare.
This little time is not enough for Kidd!
After talking about basic non-attack for so many years, how could the style of painting suddenly change drastically!
Seeing that Lagabell was back in front of him again, Kidd had no choice but to reorganize his attack.
This pick-and-roll also ended in failure.
Chandler and Kidd ran a pick-and-roll again, with the same result.
Seeing that time was running out, Kidd quickly handed the ball to Nowitzki at the waist position and asked him to play in singles.
It was Kirilenko who defended Nowitzki.
There were only 7 seconds of attack time. Nowitzki held the ball as a triple threat. Kirilenko stretched out his arms and was ready to block the shot.
Nowitzki made two probing steps in a row. Kirilenko maintained his center of gravity very well. In desperation, Nowitzki had no choice but to choose his best golden rooster independence and throw the ball.
Kirilenko immediately jumped up to block the shot.
It has to be said that Nowitzki's golden rooster independence is really difficult to defend. Even if Kirilenko is well prepared, it only slightly affects Nowitzki's shooting.
I have one leg stretched out in front of me, and I am 2.13 meters tall. What can you do?
It would be nice to be able to interfere a little bit!
More people can’t even interfere!
This is the same as defending Curry.
If Curry wants to shoot a three-pointer, he can't be defended alone!
With Curry's shooting speed and movement control skills, no matter who comes, they will only interfere!
But the impact of this interference is huge!
As long as Curry's shooting can be interfered with, Curry's shooting percentage will drop from the elite level to the average level.
Same goes for Nowitzki!
Of course, not many people can do this!
Otherwise, why do people call him King Nuo?
Otherwise, why would Curry be nicknamed Curry?
It’s because it’s difficult to interfere even if you want to!
Nowitzki forced the ball out due to Kirilenko's interference.
The basketball hit the rim, bounced twice and rolled in.
The Mavericks scored two points first.
Deng Fang didn't care about this.
For a scorer like Nowitzki, you can only limit his shooting percentage.
What can you do with a superstar who can burst, shoot and pass?
It wouldn't be Nowitzki if he could be completely restricted.
Next came the Warriors' offensive round. Curry dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and the Mavericks' defensive formation was a zone defense.
However, what is different from the previous zone defense is that the Mavericks use a one-man-four zone, with DeShawn Stevenson covering Curry at the top of the arc, and the four people behind him are ready to help defend at any time.
This is a tactic designed specifically for Curry by the Mavericks!
What a zone defense fears most is three-pointers, and the Warriors have the best three-point shooter in the league—Curry!
With the old arms and legs like Kidd, Marion, and Nowitzki, it is absolutely impossible to mark people!
The Warriors were fully prepared for this, and Curry was not reckless. He handed the ball to Prince and started running without the ball.
The Mavericks immediately switched to zone defense, and Curry had people following him wherever he went!
I have to say that the Mavericks did a pretty good job in zone defense, but the Warriors were a little unprepared.
Although the Warriors practiced for several days in order to break the Mavericks' zone defense, it was still a bit difficult after the actual battle.
Why?
Because the Mavericks' zone defense is very good, the team members cooperate very well.
Zone defense is a great test of a player's intelligence, and most teams don't use it well.
The Mavericks are very suitable for zone defense: as a center, Chandler has fast movement and strong shot-blocking ability. Marion is a lubricant and can defend any position. Kidd has rich experience. Although he moves slowly, he can use his height and strength to
Switch to three positions on the perimeter!
Even Nowitzki and Deshaun Williams, under Carlisle's training, have clear judgments about their positions on the court.
Deng Fang knew that the Mavericks would use zone defense, and he emphasized it repeatedly to his players and practiced it many times during training.
But knowing it is one thing, practicing it is another!
The way the Warriors practice is to have the second team use zone defense and provide sparring training to the first team, and then the first team also uses zone defense, and then provide sparring training to the second team.
However, the Warriors have never used a zone defense before, and there are several young players in the team. The results in practice are much worse than the Mavericks!
So when it came to actually facing the Mavericks' zone defense in actual combat, the Warriors handled it very hesitantly.
Curry passed the ball to Prince at 45 degrees. Marion immediately stepped forward to mark him. Prince passed the ball to Lopez near the free throw line. Nowitzki immediately came over to block Lopez's path.
.
Lopez then passed the ball to Kirilenko in the bottom corner, and Stevenson rushed over immediately.
Although the running speed is not as fast as the passing speed, the Mavericks defend the position, and they have a tacit understanding with each other, leaving not much open time for the Warriors.
Can you take action?
Yes, but it’s very rushed!
If it was Curry, of course there would be no problem, but the Mavericks were guarding Curry very tightly, and Curry had no chance to take action.
The Mavericks' strategy is obvious: Curry can't shoot, and everyone else tries to save.
If it's man-to-man defense, the Warriors generally won't be so hesitant.
Now facing a zone defense, the young Warriors were a little hesitant.
To break the zone defense, you need to pass the ball more, but you also need to shoot decisively. What should we do?
It's easy to say it, but it's not so easy to make a judgment in a specific situation.
In the end, the Mavericks defended the Warriors for 24 seconds!
The game continues.
Since Chandler and Nowitzki's pick-and-roll was not effective, the Mavericks started to use Nowitzki and Kidd to pick-and-roll offensively.
After the pick-and-roll, Nowitzki bounced outside the three-point line, and now Kirilenko didn't dare to stay inside.
Nowitzki's three-point threat is great!
The Warriors can only switch defenses.
As long as the Warriors switch defense, Nowitzki can play Laga Bell alone.
Lagabell's defense was good, but he was too short against Nowitzki.
Nowitzki caught the ball at the free throw line and took two tentative steps before making a direct mid-range shot.
The basketball hits the net!
The Mavericks lead 4:0.
It was the Warriors' turn to attack, and Deng Fang called a timeout.
If you can't attack or defend, that's not possible!
It's obvious that the Mavericks' zone defense is doing a good job, but the players are hesitant.
Be brave and vote!
do not be afraid!
Their defense was a bluff!
To break the zone defense, you must decisively throw three-pointers!
Curry also needs to run more, and everyone else should cover Curry!
Deng Fang warned for a long time, but unexpectedly, after the timeout came back, the Mavericks switched to man-to-man marking!