Chapter 543
"Rick, it looks like we're going to need to develop a special defensive strategy for this kid in the next game!"
"yes, I was careless in today's game, I was too negligent."
With one minute left on the clock, Nash once again staged a 1,000-mile solo breakaway, tossing and turning under the double block of Jermaine O'Neal and Nn Hilario to tie the score at 98. Seeing that the good situation was ruined by the Mavericks' guard, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle and assistant coach Lester Connell did not make adjustments to the court setup after the score was equalized, but began to review their mistakes on the sidelines.
The strength of the Mavericks is very strong, and the current record is second only to the Pacers in the league, so in order to win today's game, Rick Carlisle and Lester Connell studied the video of the night before the game, and under their careful arrangement, Antoine Walker, Michael Finley, under the Pacers' targeted defense, all performed very average in today's game, Walker scored 9 points on 4-of-15 shooting, and Finley only scored 6 points on 3-of-11 shooting, Although the Mavericks' core Nowitzki shot 13 of 19, 28 points and 8 rebounds are still very good, but under Meng Xu's deliberate targeting, Nowitzki only played 3 minutes in the crucial fourth quarter, and graduated with a total of 6 fouls, it stands to reason that the Pacers' tactical targeting is so successful, but they have not been able to kill the Mavericks with a stick, because they have ignored a key figure of the Mavericks, that is, Nash, who has scored 27 points and 23 assists in this game, In the case that Nowitzki could not play, and Walker and Finley were unreliable, Nash scored 19 points in less than 7 minutes in the crucial fourth quarter, 7 of 12 shots, 5 of 6 free throws, and Nash's excellent play.
However, review aside, Rick Carlisle and Lester Conor do not have the slightest worried look at the moment, although the two sides seem to be evenly matched at the moment, but in the hearts of Rick Carlisle and Lester Connell, the closer the game is to the end, the greater the advantage of the Pacers, because the Pacers have Meng Xu, and there is such a key Mr. Meng Xu.
57οΌ56οΌ55οΌγγγγγγ Time is passing second by second, Meng Xu, who has already dribbled to the frontcourt, but has been staying between the top of the arc and the center circle slowly slapping the basketball, obviously wasting time, no matter what the final result of this offense is, consuming 24 seconds of time is definitely the best choice for the Pacers.
"Block him!" A short dozen seconds is so long for old Nelson, just after Meng Xu consumed more than ten seconds in place, Meng Xu finally started, although it had been arranged, but Nash and Finley still failed to block Meng Xu's breakthrough, first made a blocking and dismantling cover with Jermaine O'Neal, Meng Xu quickly lowered his body's center of gravity, and after a continuous change of direction, Walker, who rushed over to make up for the defense, was also left behind by Meng Xu, and the old Nelson who was already a little frightened on the sidelines, Immediately yelled at Sean Bradley and Danny Fortson near the paint area, and waved to them to make up for Meng Xu.
"Wonderful breakthrough, very wonderful breakthrough, Meng Xu got rid of Michael Finley and Antoine Walker in a rowγγγγγ" Seeing Meng Xu's iconic breakthrough in the final moments of the game, Michaels in the commentary seat was already trembling with excitement.
"Hey, Meng Xu passed the ball? Meng Xu actually passed the ball? Like Michaels, he was extremely excited to expect Meng Xu to stage a continuous pull-up layup, or Magic Johnson who dunked from the other person, and immediately rubbed his eyes after seeing Meng Xu's action when he was about to rush in front of Danny Fortson and Sean Bradley, and at such a critical moment, Meng Xu actually passed the ball! This guy who grabbed the basketball and didn't let go at the critical moment actually passed the ball? After thinking of only 6 shots in the first three quarters of the game, Magic Johnson was a little skeptical that the guy in front of him was really Meng Xu?
"Reggie Miller hits a three-point shot!" Reggie Miller, who knew Meng Xu's style well, originally saw Meng Xu start, and then directly jogged out of the 45-degree angle area outside the left three-point line, ready to watch Meng Xu complete the offense there, but to Reggie Miller's surprise, after Meng Xu attracted most of the Mavericks' defensive attention, he passed the basketball to his hands without even looking at it, and after a short period of stunned, Reggie Miller, who had no defenders in front of him, easily hit.
"The calf is in danger!" After Reggie Miller hit a three-point shot, the old Nelson immediately called a timeout, Meng Xu's style of play is something that the entire league is clear, so at this critical moment, it is natural for the Mavericks to focus their defensive attention on Meng Xu, but to everyone's surprise, Meng Xu actually passed the basketball back to Reggie Miller after breaking the Mavericks' defensive line into pieces. And Meng Xu's move also invalidated the defensive strategy that Nelson Sr. had arranged before, and with 39 seconds left in the game, Reggie Miller's three-point shot undoubtedly pushed the Mavericks to the edge of the cliff.
Although I don't know how the old Nelson arranged it during the timeout, one thing is certain, that is, these players of the Mavericks did not lose their fighting spirit because they were three points behind, especially Nash, although he looked very calm when he came on the court, Meng Xu could feel the momentum that he exuded.
After the game restarted, Meng Xu tightly covered Nash, not only squeezing him with his strong body, but also trying to suppress him with his momentum, but Nash seemed to be unaffected at all, constantly pushing Meng Xu with his arm, waiting for Sean Bradley outside the sideline to send a sideline ball.
As the whistle sounded, Nash ran directly towards the middle circle after pushing Meng Xu hard, and Nash, who successfully received a pass from Sean Bradley, relied on Meng Xu's defense to protect him while beckoning his teammates to cover for himself. Through the blocking and dismantling cooperation with Walker, Nash successfully got rid of Meng Xu who was close to him, but as soon as he got rid of Meng Xu, James Posey, who changed the defense, covered Nash.
Shaun Bradley, who finished the sideline ball, immediately rushed over to block for Nash according to the old Nelson's arrangement, although after Shaun Bradley successfully blocked James Posey, Tyshawn Prince had already rushed over, but the time difference of nearly 1 second in the middle was enough for Nash, who rushed to the half-meter position outside the three-point line with a bow, and shot directly.
After watching Nash shoot the basketball in his hand in an extremely weird posture, and then draw a beautiful arc directly into the net, the Banker's Life Arena, which was originally booed after Nash held the ball, instantly quieted down, 29 seconds, 101-101, Nash scored his 30th point of the game at the same time, and once again helped the Mavericks equalize the score.
After seeing Nash live up to expectations and equalize the score, the old Nelson, who was originally standing on the sidelines with his hands on his chest, directly waved his arms and roared at the court, while the Mavericks players on the bench stood up from their seats with a bang, waving the towels in their hands frantically, and Nowitzki kept throwing punches into the air, more excited than when he hit the key ball.
"Meng, the game isn't over yet!" Glancing at Meng Xu, who was not far from him, Nash said lightly and then went back to the defense.
In 29 seconds, the two sides were tied, and Rick Carlisle did not call a timeout, because after Nash scored that goal, Rick Carlisle just wanted to call a timeout to adjust, but he saw Meng Xu's gesture that he didn't need to call a timeout, and looking at Meng Xu's confident appearance, Rick Carlisle was relieved to be on the bench chair, seemingly with a breezy expression, but in fact, Rick Carlisle was still a little apprehensive in his heart.
"It's the first time I've encountered this situation!" After receiving the baseline ball from Jermaine O'Neal, he looked up at the timer, Meng Xu sighed softly, 29 seconds, no matter how much Meng Xu delayed the time, the Mavericks still had enough time to complete the last shot, this kind of game in which the initiative is not in his hands seems to be the first time in Meng Xu's career.
In fact, Meng Xu also considered a quick attack, if he couldn't score, he would implement foul tactics, but this idea was only flashed in his mind and was given up by Meng Xu, Meng Xu is now the first person in the NBA, and he is a well-deserved king player, according to Jordan, the king must have the domineering and calm of the king, so this time, Meng Xu does not plan to leave any room for himself,