If they continue playing like this, they only need to widen the point difference to 14 points, and they will definitely be first in the group!
But how could the coach of the Shimen team, who was dubbed the "Old Fox", let them succeed so easily?
In the fourth quarter, the Shimen team changed tactics again.
The opponent played two point guards, gave up the pursuit of winning the game, and played defense determinedly. They would rather lose than lose too many points.
At first, the two point guards passed the ball hand-in-hand to ensure that no passing errors would occur and the Thunder team would not have a chance to steal and counterattack.
Then their center hunkered down under his own basket and hardly participated in the offense, avoiding the defensive loopholes caused by running back to consume energy and being slow to return to defense.
The entire Shimen team is united: "I don't need to score, but you don't want to score either. Let's just wait for the final whistle to sound."
The two sides played three or four rounds, and the scoreboard did not move at all.
Long Xiaochuan confirmed that the opponent's ability to attack the basket inside was sparse, so he changed his defensive strategy and replaced Pan Lei with Liu Dingding, Gao Fu replaced Xue Zhuang, and Yang Yaye replaced Du Gangnan, using a full-court press to compete for the ball.
His adjustment was quite satisfactory. Although he also had breakthrough cooperation and scored wonderful goals in conjunction with Yang Yaye and Liu Dingding, he lacked the rim protection of the inside pillar, which also gave the opponent the opportunity to "sneak through the back door" from the bottom line.
The scores of the two teams increased alternately again, reaching 88:89. The players seemed to have entered a tug-of-war stage of mutual torture and competition.
Originally, the two teams had similar playing styles and similar overall strengths. Seriously, this game was a "50-50" situation. It was really difficult for the Thunder to beat the opponent by 14 points.
But competitive sports has never been about comparing big and small like playing cards. Its greatest charm lies in "uncertainty". There are always people who believe in miracles, and there are always people who try to turn the tide.
When there were only 5 minutes left in the game, Long Xiaochuan replaced Shi Lang and Du Gangnan who had recovered some strength, and replaced Liu Dingding with Luo Gaozhan.
This is a very risky move.
Everyone knows that Luo Gaozhan is short and is the biggest shortcoming of the Thunder. Any team can find shooting opportunities from him and directly score big points!
Therefore, the coach of the Shimen team immediately took command from the sidelines and asked the players on the field to concentrate their firepower to attack this point.
However, this happened to fall into Long Xiaochuan's trap.
Luo Gaozhan doesn't have much defensive ability, but Du Gangnan and Shi Lang do.
When a member of the Shimen team made a strong shot in front of Luo Gaozhan, the two of them defended and blocked the shot in time, creating an opportunity for a counterattack. At the same time, Luo Gaozhan's hard-practiced chipping and stealing also played a vital role.
function.
Their blocks and steals created opportunities for the Thunder to chase points in two consecutive rounds.
At this time, the score on the scoreboard became 88:93. The Thunder team finally made a breakthrough and was only 9 points away from the goal of winning by 14 points.
However, there are only more than 2 minutes left in the game, and both teams are facing severe tests on both offense and defense.
At this time, the coach of the Shimen team actually had a last resort. This "old fox" shamelessly used the weird tactic that Long Xiaochuan used to delay his first game against Yucun - the "human wall tactic"!
Five players stood in a tight row along the sideline, facing the spectators.
The basketball was passed back and forth in their hands, with the intention of waiting for 24 seconds written on their faces.
Long Xiaochuan was stunned and immediately fouled one of them and stopped the clock to call a timeout.
He never dreamed that the strategy he had in mind to deal with Yucun would be used on him.
The Thunder players gathered together to drink some water and adjust their rhythm. Shi Lang glared at Long Xiaochuan: "Retribution!"
Long Xiaochuan was confident: "Then let's break the move first. We'll do what you did when you broke this move."
Yu Yan was the most anxious one: "No, why are you so calm? There are only 2 minutes left, and we are still 9 points short! 9 points, even three-point shots will take 3 rounds. People are now
If we delay this for 24 seconds, we can only attack twice in one minute. How on earth are we going to attack?"
Long Xiaochuan reassured her that he knew something was right: "We use foul tactics to steal the round!"
He named Luo Gaozhan to take the lead, Shi Lang, and Du Gangnan must grab every offensive rebound. This game was destined to last minute from the beginning.
The two sides returned to the court, and the Shimen team players went to the free throw line and made one of two free throws.
89:93, the score difference between the two sides was 4 points, and the total score difference in the three games widened to 10 points again.
Luo Gaozhan served from the baseline and quickly passed it to the frontcourt. Long Xiaochuan once again tried to shoot a three-pointer. Unexpectedly, he had no touch at all and the ball hit the ball again.
Fortunately, Du Gangnan steadily grabbed the offensive rebound and dunked directly into the basket (89:95).
No one on the Thunder team returned to defense. After the Shimen team served from the bottom line, Luo Gaozhan fouled the small forward again and sent the opponent to the free throw line.
This time the Shimen team members served steadily and made two free throws (91:95).
With 1 minute and 45 seconds left on the clock, Thunder players and their families and friends are becoming more and more anxious. They urgently need a three-pointer to boost their morale.
However, Gao Fu's reckless shot missed again.
Shi Lang grabbed the rebound and looked back to the outside line, and found that all members of the Shimen team were guarding the outside line, with the intention of releasing two points and defending three points.
Seeing his hesitation, Long Xiaochuan immediately shouted: "Vote!"
Shi Lang scored the ball, but he was in a very bad mood. If he continued playing like this, he would lose. He had to shoot a three-pointer!
But Long Xiaochuan understands that the biggest problem at the moment is time. Stopping the clock after scoring a goal means an opportunity. If too much time is wasted because of the need to shoot a three-pointer, or even a passing error occurs, then it is really over.
The Shimen team served from the bottom line. Luo Gaozhan fouled again and was expelled because he had committed 6 times.
But it doesn't matter, Sun Changxing will make up for it immediately.
This time Shimen players made one of two free throws.
The score between the two teams was 92:97. The score difference in this game was 5 points. The total score difference returned to 9 points again, but there was only 1 minute and 22 seconds left.
Sun Changxing also committed continuous fouls at any cost, sending the opponent to the free throw line three times and leaving the field with six fouls himself.
During this period, the score between the two sides reached 95:101. Long Xiaochuan and Sun Changxing each attempted a three-point long shot. However, they tried their best to snipe the long shot. They were tightly blocked and failed to make any achievements.
The Thunder relied on Shi Lang and Du Gangnan to grab offensive rebounds and quickly attack the basket to maintain their weak hope.
With 53 seconds left, Gao Fu replaced Sun Changxing and left the field after using up his last two foul opportunities.
The Shimen team members scored 3 free throws in 4 attempts, but after Shi Lang reluctantly scored 2 points, Long Xiaochuan finally made a three-pointer!
The score between the two sides was 98:106, with the total score difference still 6 points away, but only 37 seconds left.
The Thunder have already sent off three players, but they are still continuing.
This time it was Yang Yaye who committed the foul at the expense of his own life.