Zhan Lin's pick-and-roll experiment failed, and Mike Brown decided to postpone testing this new style of play. Their first priority was still to win the game.
They lost their No. 1 spot in the league, and they don't want to lose their No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference again.
With the Celtics chasing after them, the Cavaliers naturally have to take every next game seriously, including this ongoing battle.
The Cavaliers, who returned to their regular style of play, quickly took the lead. In the second half of the first quarter, Lin Yu hit two three-pointers in succession, plus two mid-range shots, which brought his hit rate back to over 50%.
He scored 13 points in the first quarter on 5 of 9 shooting.
Lin Yu, who was gradually moving without the ball, could do whatever he wanted, but his physical fitness still restricted him. Lin Yu was substituted in the eighth minute of the first quarter.
While he was on the court, he guarded Larry Hughes and made 0 of 7 shots. Not only did he not score in a sports game, he didn't even make a free throw.
Lin Yu left the field, and Rashad Lewis, who came on the bench, cooperated with James to further expand the lead.
In the first quarter of the game, the Cavaliers took a 7-point lead after struggling in the opening game.
"The Cleveland Cavaliers are much stronger than Philadelphia. Larry Hughes played a terrible game. He was completely outmatched by China Lin on both offense and defense... Perhaps, this game started with the Cavaliers' counterattack.
, there is no suspense anymore..."
In the second quarter, Lin Yu, who reappeared, hit two mid-range shots and a three-pointer, raising his personal score to 20 points in the half, plus 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
As for his opponent, Larry Hughes, his personal performance and statistics were slightly better than in the first quarter. He made 2 of 12 shots and scored 4 points. He was able to score after all.
Lin Yu won a complete victory, and the Cavaliers expanded their lead to 16 points after halftime.
Then in the second half, the Cavaliers sent out their true full lineup, point guard Andre Miller, shooting guard Lin Yu, small forward James, power forward Rashard Lewis and center Big Z.
The main lineup came out not to completely seal the victory, but to continue to experiment with Zhan Lin's pick-and-roll. The 16-point lead gave Mike Brown the confidence to experiment.
"The second half of the game begins, and the Cleveland Cavaliers currently hold a 16-point lead. They are about to seal the victory of this game..."
The ball at the beginning of the third quarter belonged to the Cavaliers. Lin Yu received the ball in the backcourt and quickly advanced to the frontcourt.
Zhan Lin picked and rolled, Lin Yu controlled the ball and passed the screen, Andre Iguodala directly switched defense, and on the other side, Larry Hughes also delayed slightly.
Lin Yu, who was being marked, had no room to take action directly. He passed the ball directly to James.
James broke through, the offense and defense of this round, and the story came to this point. Everything that happened was exactly the same as the Zhan Lin pick-and-roll in the first quarter, but then, the changes brought by Rashard Lewis began to affect the strong side's offense.
Lewis appeared in the right corner, attracting Chris Webber's one-on-one follow-up.
Webber followed Lewis, Iguodala targeted Lin Yu, who was a huge threat, and Damon Jones was also involved in the mid-range on the weak side by Andre Miller.
On the court, the only substitute center in the penalty area who can help defend James is Steven Hunter. Steven Hunter glanced at Big Z buried deep in the penalty area beside him and did not move his steps.
.
Larry Hughes was passed by in one step. Two or three seconds later, there was a loud bang and James hung on the basket.
Mike Brown felt his eyes light up, as if he had discovered something different.
Phil Handy pointed out the difference sharply: "The space in the penalty area is completely released, and LeBron is unstoppable."
Space is the most critical factor in modern basketball, and what can easily create space is long-range shooting. However, Mike Brown has always failed to realize the importance of long-range shooting.
Now, because of Zhan Lin's pick-and-roll experiment, he finally realized something.
In the 76ers' offensive round, Larry Hughes decisively struck the ball. The Cavaliers grabbed the rebound, and they played another round of Zhanlin pick-and-roll.
The situation in this round was different from the previous offensive round. Lin Yu and James used pick-and-rolls, and the 76ers continued to switch defenses.
Lin Yu took away Andre Iguodala, but Larry Hughes still couldn't stop James.
Damon Jones gritted his teeth and went up to attack, but missed Andre Miller.
Old Miller then received a pass from James, but missed half of the shot inside the three-point line...
Mike Brown off the court shook his head: "This is a must-goal opportunity, but it's a pity..."
Brendan Malone reminded: "Mike, go to Daniel, Daniel is here, this time it will be a wide-open three-pointer."
Wide-open three-pointer? Mike Brown muses
If the point guard on the court is replaced by Daniel Gibson, then James will get even more space. Lewis occupies one corner, Daniel Gibson pulls to the other side, and Lin Yu is also outside the three-point line.
All three of them are among the best three-point shooters in the league (perhaps Daniel Gibson is a little worse), and opponents simply don't dare to miss any one of these three.
Although the big Z inside has a short range, he can always pose a threat to the basket as long as he stays in the penalty area.
Without assisting defense or flanking attack, James' breakthrough is unrivaled.
Soon, Mike Brown made a substitution, Daniel Gibson came on the scene, and Zhan Lin's pick-and-roll power finally came into play.
With the Cavaliers' full output, the game ended early.
In the end, they defeated the 76ers at home 113:90.
Lin Yu made 13 of 22 shots. He was in hot form and scored 32 points, plus 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks.
Larry Hughes, who was facing him, was directly blocked by Lin Yu and made 4 of 22 shots. He only scored 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. His performance was completely unqualified.
Lin Yu didn't feel too excited after winning this game, because winning was a given, and there was no suspense about beating Larry Hughes in a direct confrontation.
After the game, he kept thinking about what Zhan Lin's pick-and-roll, which gradually became successful in the second half of the game, brought to him?
"One obvious change is that my assists have increased."
After the game, a reporter asked the same question, and Lin Yu answered with a smile.
Because Zhan Lin is in the pick-and-roll, Lin Yu will pass many passes to James that may directly threaten the basket, which gives Lin Yu the opportunity to assist.
In addition, Zhan Lin's pick-and-roll also changed Lin Yu's tactical status from a pure shooter without the ball to an organizational player connecting internal and external lines. He holds the ball more, and naturally has more opportunities to assist.