frightfiction Chapter 564: The Five-Outside Lineup is a Special Counter to the Big Center
Chapter 564: The Five-Outside Lineup is a Special Counter to the Big Center
Intermission.
"Teacher Su, what do the Raptors need to do in the second half to change their losing streak?" Wang Zixing asked.
As usual, Su Qun adjusted his glasses first, then slowly said, "It won't be easy for the Raptors to break through. Having a big center is an advantage against the top teams in the East, but it becomes difficult against the Clippers. The Clippers' center hardly goes to the basket, so your rim-protecting center doesn't have much of a defensive advantage there. On the contrary, Gasol is easy to target because of his slow movement when defending pick-and-rolls, leaving him in a difficult position. I personally feel that they need to focus more on their offense!"
The third quarter began quickly.
The Clippers initiated the attack, and Beverley dribbled the ball over. Jia Fei came out to receive the ball.
Danny Green played very proactive defense. On the defensive end, he was Danny Green, an iron gatekeeper on the perimeter. But on the offensive end, he was like Zhang Tielin, sometimes a god and sometimes a ghost.
Jia Fei used Olynyk's screen to break through, slowed down while moving, used his hip to lean against Iron Green, took three slow steps, and launched a shot over Siaka's block, which went in off the backboard!
Jia Fei doesn't usually use this kind of offensive technique, but he's not incapable of it. He has a lot of weapons in his arsenal, and he can use the appropriate offensive techniques in the right situation, making him even more unpredictable!
49:60, a difference of 11 points!
Raptors are on offense. Gasol received a pass from Siakam at the top of the arc and unleashed a powerful three-pointer!
It hit the mark!
52:60, an 8-point difference! This is Jiasao's first 3-pointer of the game!
Gasol has a three-point shot, everyone knows that, but his three-point shooting percentage and volume are still not as good as those of centers like Olynyk and Brook Lopez. So many teams will still choose to let him shoot. He can shoot, but he can't really kill anyone with his shots.
Jia Fei brought the ball over, passed it to Olynyk at the top of the arc, and then suddenly gave a "Give and Go" and cut straight in!
Olynyk immediately passed the ball to Jia Fei, who received it, made a light turn, brushed past Siaka, and slammed it home with a powerful two-handed dunk, returning the favor!
52:62, a difference of 10 points!
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse on the sidelines was genuinely anxious. Olynyk's playmaking at the top of the key was really annoying, and Gasol was firmly pinned to the top of the key, leaving a vacuum in the paint.
While Sika is athletic and has the height and wingspan, his rim protection is really subpar. Especially against a rim-attacking player like Jia Fei, he's practically a free kill.
During the Raptors' offense, Siakam relentlessly attacked Gallinari, drawing Gallinari's fourth foul!
Gallinari is out, Jeff Green is in!
The Clippers' decision to acquire Jeff Green at the power forward position last summer on a minimum contract looks incredibly farsighted and has been a fantastic investment.
Gallinari's fragile defense and mediocre play make him a target for many teams, leading to frequent foul trouble. Jeff Green's presence is the perfect Plan B in this situation.
The Raptors inbounded the ball from the baseline in the frontcourt, and it went to Siakam.
Siakam tried to overpower Jeff Green but couldn't get past him, then made a difficult floater...
Jia Fei, who suddenly appeared from the side, delivered a powerful volleyball block, sending the ball out of bounds...
A scream erupted from the crowd, followed immediately by applause. That block was incredibly inspiring; the anticipation and execution were remarkably precise.
The Raptors continued to inbound the ball in the frontcourt. An expressionless man received the ball, dribbled against Paul George, and hit a turnaround mid-range shot!
His mid-range game is really stable, and he truly deserves the nickname "frame-perfect Jordan".
54:62, the score difference is back to 8 points!
Beverley brought the ball over and passed it to Jia Fei!
Jia Fei continued to coordinate with Olynyk, dribbling past him in the middle before being surrounded! He then passed the ball back to Olynyk at the top of the arc with one hand!
Olynyk receives the ball and takes a three-pointer—it goes in!
54:65, the score difference is back to 11 points!
This is Olynyk's three-point threat. Compared to Gasol, his three-pointers are more accurate and have a certain volume, making him a sort of semi-shooter. Most teams simply don't dare to leave him open. His presence is what the Clippers use to counter many teams' big centers. If the big center doesn't go out, the opponent will shoot; if he does go out, they'll play a passing and cutting game to attack your paint.
This means you're constantly faced with a "two-choice" dilemma: if you choose to collapse and protect the paint, you have to accept the risk of the opposing center shooting from beyond the three-point line; if you rush out, you have to accept the risk of other players attacking the basket.
So what's the best way to get Olynyk off the court? Like the Warriors and Rockets, they could play a small-ball lineup to prevent the Clippers from playing Olynyk. But the problem is that if they did that, the Raptors would essentially be giving up their rim protector, Gasol, and that trade would obviously be more disadvantageous for them.
When it comes to small-ball lineups, the Clippers are currently the best in the league. Even the Warriors' "Death Lineup" was defeated. How dare the Raptors play small-ball against them?
Lowry brought the ball over and passed it to Gasol at the top of the arc!
The young lady took a 3-point shot, but it wasn't enough!
Paul George grabbed the rebound and scored for Jia Fei to advance the ball.
Jia Fei dribbled the ball up the court and, with a no-look pass, passed it to Jeff Green, who was making a fast break down the other side!
Jeff Green caught the ball and executed a windmill dunk!
With the score at 54-67, the Raptors have a 13-point lead and are calling a timeout!
Staples Center erupted. This play brought the game to another climax. They say that after the climax comes a mess, but a climax is a climax. What girl could resist such physical stimulation?
"Jia Fei is amazing! I didn't even see how he passed the ball, but it inexplicably ended up in Jeff Green's hands!" Wang Zixing exclaimed with admiration.
"Jia Fei's ball-handling ability is too outstanding. Coach Nurse doesn't dare to double-team him precisely because of this. He can always accurately find teammates in better positions, and he can also score with ease against one-on-one defense. I don't know how the Raptors can adjust to solve this predicament!" Su Qun said frankly.
After the Raptors timeout, they couldn't resist dropping Gasol and putting Serge Ibaka in. Their small lineup features Ibaka, whose shot-blocking ability is excellent and he can protect the rim well. However, his footwork seems a bit slower than in his prime, making him somewhat less effective at switching onto perimeter defenders.
With Ibaka on the court, the Clippers still specifically target that weakness. In Jia Fei's eyes, Gasol and Ibaka are the same—both are equally slow.
Everyone says Ibaka is a 90s kid, but Jia Fei thinks he's older than Durant. Does this 90s kid go to college in the 90s?
Unable to shake off the pain of being dominated, the Raptors made another substitution, bringing in VanVleet.
The Clippers are also making changes, gradually switching to a smaller lineup, and soon their five-forward lineup is complete again.
The Clippers' five-forward lineup was a major headache for the Raptors. Ibaka couldn't get past Jabeur, and Siakam's efficiency dropped after being swatted by Kawhi Leonard's help defense. Only the expressionless player could score consistently, but it wasn't enough to quench the Raptors' thirst for a win.