Chapter 2233 - 38: Over 100_2

Chapter 2233: Chapter 38: Over 100_2

Try to make two players go one-on-one and avoid effective pick-and-roll cooperation, allowing them to score easily.

Therefore, Guoyang implements an aggressive switching strategy, as long as Nash pick-and-rolls, there must be a quick switch, no chance for cooperation.

Even if Yao Ming switches out and is outsized by Nash, Guoyang still resolutely implements this plan, allowing Nash to shoot.

The Suns started with three missed shots, and after being hit with a 0:6, Nash finally couldn’t hold back and stopped passing the ball.

Facing Yao’s mismatched single defense, he used a retreating mid-range jumper to score, giving the Suns their first point of the game.

Then, in a fast break, he did a stop-and-pop, hitting the board for two points.

Nash’s shooting level is quite high, with a free throw percentage consistently over 90%.

If he unleashed his offense rather than prioritizing passing, averaging 20 points a game would be no problem.

The Suns quickly caught up, but Guoyang also scored quickly. After Yao completed the initial tasks on offense, it was Iverson’s turn.

The Suns’ backcourt defense is not good, no need to mention Nash, Barbosa, or Matt Carroll, who are all average defenders.

Kobe could drop 36 points on average in the semifinals, and in terms of scoring ability alone, Iverson isn’t too far behind Kobe.

Mid-ranges, drives, dribbling like a butterfly through flowers, Iverson was in full power the moment the first quarter started.

Shoot whenever there’s a chance, without hesitation, he even hit a three-pointer on the fast break, forcing the Suns to call a timeout.

13:7, D Antoni knew tonight the Suns were in trouble; it wasn’t going to be easy to get rid of Guoyang.

The opening situation indicated that Little Spo’s strategy was right, heading in the correct direction.

Trying to fully suppress the Suns’ offense is unrealistic, controlling Nash and Stoudemire is very difficult too.

Therefore, the purpose of Guoyang’s defense is to prevent them from playing their accustomed game mode.

To not let Nash and Stoudemire form a chemistry greater than the sum of its parts.

Their chemistry is the root of the Suns’ strength.

That’s also why after swapping Nash for Parker, the Suns were transformed.

Parker went to the Celtics and proved he wasn’t bad, but he couldn’t form a certain synergy with Stoudemire.

Guoyang’s objective is to weaken this synergy and then attack fully, outscoring them.

The entire first quarter, Nash went all out, scoring 12 points but only getting 1 assist.

Suns 27:31, trailing Guoyang by 4 points, which was not the scenario Nash wanted to see.

He attempted to pass to teammates, but the pick-and-roll was blocked, and Guoyang just switched defenses.

The outside three-pointer was unstable, their touch was mediocre tonight.

Stoudemire could not get past Guoyang in the paint.

The 42-year-old veteran, still the strongest single defender in the league.

Guoyang scored only 2 points in the first quarter, and Kurt Thomas’ single-defense function was basically ineffective, leaving him on the court to drag down the offense.

Grant Hill had not found his rhythm yet; Nash, after looking around, had to take it on himself.

Mismatched against Yao, single against Iverson, fast-break three-pointers, when Nash decided to score, he was also a sharpshooter.

"Our offense needs to flow. If it keeps relying on me to score, it’s very tough to win this game."

Nash complained to his teammates during the break.

In the Suns, every time Nash scores a lot, the Suns ironically are more likely to lose.

In the start of the second quarter, the Suns tried to use Boris Diaw to turn the tide.

Last season, with Stoudemire injured, Diaw put up an all-around performance averaging 14 points, 4.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds.

Eventually, Diaw won the Most Improved Player award, becoming the biggest surprise for the Suns in the 2006 season.

With Stoudemire’s return, Diaw’s ball possession decreased, and his stats declined.

In the playoffs, he went from starter to the bench, becoming the sixth man.

Diaw made an immediate impact after coming on.

Hit a three-pointer from the top of the arc, then facilitated from the low post, assisting Hill for a layup.

The Suns finally played a bit of their style.

On Guoyang’s side, the substitute Robert Horry hit a corner three-pointer.

Arriving early in the game, Guoyang facilitated to Jerald Wallace for a dunk.

Both teams entered a scoring frenzy in the second quarter, trading baskets.

Guoyang consistently maintained a 5 to 6 point lead, firmly controlling the spread, not allowing the Suns to catch up.

This is when the Suns’ usual problem of mediocre defense began to show.

They can’t rely on defense to shut down Guoyang’s offense; they can only rely on a more efficient, crazier offense to surpass Guoyang.

The terrifying part is, Guoyang was silent the whole first half, with 5 points and 11 rebounds, certainly saving his strength for the second half.

Sure enough, in the third quarter, Guoyang entered scoring mode, continuously hitting mid-range shots from his hot zones at the top of the arc and corner to punish the Suns’ defense.

Kurt Thomas was quite good at low-post defensive turns, but Guoyang didn’t just force plays inside the three-second zone; he played smartly.

As a counter, the Suns couldn’t unfold on both wings; Nash and his teammates’ communication was cut, forced to continually rely on Nash and Stoudemire’s solo plays to maintain the situation.

Nash was fighting fiercely tonight, knowing that losing a home game would be dangerous going to Las Vegas.

This 18+11 player from the regular season scored 19 points in the first half, then went full firepower in the third quarter.

He knew it would be hard to force team play, needing to step up and stabilize the situation with scoring.

The scoring duel between Guoyang and Nash was unexpected for Guoyang.