freenovelworld 第430章 从2:1到2:2
第430章 从2:1到2:2
On the evening of May 21, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
With the first two games of the Western Conference Finals tied 1-1, the importance of this game was self-evident. Staples Center was once again a gathering of stars and a packed stadium.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was present, a satisfied smile on his face. Many had previously said that trading Blake Griffin would force the team into a rebuild, but now it seems the team isn't rebuilding, but rather has entered a championship window. Everything is so wonderful, almost unreal. Beside him, Jerry West was still there, the two chatting happily, completely devoid of any game tension.
From any perspective, even if the Clippers lose three straight games and are eliminated, their season will still be a success. Losing to the Warriors isn't the end of the world; they have plenty of assets to offer in the offseason, and with the influence of Jia Fei, arguably the league's best player, they won't have trouble strengthening their roster.
Besides, the Clippers aren't out of the game yet. While their chances of winning the series are slim, they're not entirely out of the question. If this roster can beat the Warriors and make it to the Finals, what more could you ask for!
Besides the usual few, Westbrook, Harden, and Paul George were also present today. Attentive observers will notice that all three are from Los Angeles, and their teams are all currently on strike, so they have plenty of time to spare.
The Clippers made a lineup change for this game!
The lineup change wasn't unfamiliar; Redick started in place of Wesley Johnson. This change was used before in the game against the Rockets, with Redick starting to create space and prevent Jia Fei from being double-teamed, thus limiting his teammates' ability to provide sufficient outside offensive firepower.
The Warriors didn't make any lineup changes, and Zaza Pachulia was still in the starting lineup.
But as soon as Zaza entered the arena, he was met with a chorus of boos. Clearly, aside from Warriors fans, fans of the other 29 teams didn't like this guy. Clippers and Spurs fans, in particular, loathed him.
But this guy has an exceptionally strong mentality. He remained calm, enjoying the boos from tens of thousands of people, and even had a slight smile on his lips! If this guy doesn't have top-notch mental fortitude, then he's probably a psychopath.
After the game started, the Warriors' strategy remained the same: double-team Jia Fei and leave the others open.
For the Clippers, Redick was very active after entering the game, effectively creating offensive space and disrupting the opponent's defensive formation. He's a sharpshooter, and not just limited to spot-up three-pointers. He can move in a figure-eight pattern, using screens to get to the corner, and you can't ignore him. In terms of three-point shooting ability alone, Wesley Johnson isn't even worthy of shining his shoes.
Redick's entry into the game and his three-pointer loosened the Warriors' defense against Jia Fei, which indirectly freed up this season's league scoring champion.
The Warriors' starting lineup had weaknesses in perimeter defense due to Zaza's presence, which allowed the Clippers to capitalize on the opportunity, launching continuous attacks from the perimeter and pushing fast breaks behind the opponent's defense whenever possible.
This forced the Warriors to substitute Zaza earlier and switch to a smaller lineup.
The Clippers are playing a small-ball lineup and are once again relentlessly harassing DeAndre Jordan.
The Clippers were put on the defensive, and Jia Fei was once again in a situation where he had to take on the opponent alone.
Fortunately, the Clippers' second unit played very well, withstood the opponent's offensive, and Jia Fei returned to help them close the gap.
At halftime, the Clippers trailed by 2 points, 60-58.
In the third quarter, when the Clippers used a small lineup to target DeAndre Jordan, it's unclear whether Jordan lost his temper or not, but he committed a series of fouls and fouled out of the game early.
After DeAndre Jordan left the court, the Clippers brought in Art Mayok and also used a switch-everything defense.
Art Mayork became a surprise weapon, and the Clippers managed to limit the opponent's offense by switching on defense.
Jia Fei took the lead after exerting his strength.
During the rotation phase, the pick-and-roll combination of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell overwhelmed the twin towers of McGee and David West, helping the Clippers gain a 10-point lead.
However, when DeAndre Jordan came on, he was targeted again and almost caught up.
In a crucial moment, DeAndre Jordan redeemed himself by fouling out, allowing Art Mayok to come on and withstand the opponent's offensive onslaught.
In the final crucial moments, Jia Fei calmly scored with a one-on-one attack, maintaining control of the game and holding onto the advantage until the end.
Ultimately, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Warriors by 2 points at home, bringing the series score to 2-1!
贾飞全场轰下47分12个篮板10次助攻2个抢断2个盖帽的40+三双，是球队获胜的最大功臣！
This is a night for Jia Fei, and also a night for the Clippers!
Before this game, many thought the Clippers had already finished their season, as the Warriors seemed to have found a way to win Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. But the game turned out to be incredibly dramatic, with DeAndre Jordan, the team's Achilles' heel, getting into foul trouble and catching the Warriors off guard.
DeAndre Jordan was in an awkward situation after the game. He didn't give an interview and instead left the arena, getting into his luxury car and driving away.
Jia Fei knew that even if DeAndre Jordan played terribly in this game, Coach Li would still start him in the next game.
As for the outside world's claims that the Clippers will defeat the Warriors and advance to the Finals, Jia Fei thinks that's incredibly naive. The Warriors haven't even used their strongest lineup yet!
When the "Death Lineup" starts, that's when they'll go all out.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals will be the starting lineup for this roster.
Many fans online are saying that DeAndre Jordan is a burden to the Clippers. Aside from his rim protection, he's a complete liability on the court; any guard can easily dominate him, and his ability to switch on defense is practically zero. Furthermore, he considers himself an All-NBA First Team center and can't let go of his ego.
May 23, Western Conference Finals Game 4.
For the Warriors, another loss in this game would mean facing the same predicament as last season's Western Conference Finals, but they won't be so lucky every time. Therefore, they must win this game, as returning home for Game 5 would be much more advantageous for them.
As expected, the Warriors started with their "death lineup," while the Clippers continued with the same starting lineup as the previous game.
After the game started, the Warriors used double teams and rotations to limit Jia Fei's individual offense, and resolutely executed pick-and-rolls against DeAndre Jordan on the offensive end.
Clippers fans felt like they were seeing the series against the Rockets again, except that the Warriors had a lot of players who could target DeAndre Jordan and "serve" him around the clock.
The Clippers were dominated, and after three games, their opponents showed their true colors and revealed their trump cards.
Although the Clippers were the first team to force the Warriors to reveal their trump card in this year's playoffs, the problem was that they had no way to break down the Warriors' "death lineup." DeAndre Jordan's presence naturally made him a target for the Splash Brothers, and there were no suitable alternatives for him. Meanwhile, Doc Rivers would never change his mind, unless he were to die.
The result of the game was not in any suspense; the Clippers lost at home, and the series is now tied 2-2!
What was even more devastating than the result was the process of the game. The Clippers truly showed no hope of winning throughout the entire match, leaving everyone feeling hopeless.