Chapter 218 Single Game Scoring Record
On the court, He Zhongqiu made another free throw, making it the second two-plus-one, 4:11, the Pistons attacked.

What to do if you can't defend it? You can't defend it when you pull it out, you can't defend it when it enters the penalty area, you can't defend it when it's neither inside nor outside. Larry Brown's head is buzzing.

After serving, he called a timeout.

After getting Rasheed Wallace, he saw hope of reaching the finals.

To this end, he studied how to play against the Lakers and developed a defensive tactic of using two Wallaces to double-team O'Neal in advance.

He knew very well that double-teaming with Wallace would not limit O'Neal's scoring at the basket.

His purpose was to limit O'Neal's access to the ball, sacrifice his two best defenders, and exclude O'Neal from the Lakers' offensive system.

The Lakers play a triangle offense, and O'Neal is very important in the system. Without O'Neal's strong point in the low post, the Lakers' triangle offense would be impossible to play.

Glove Payton and Mailman are both old and have limited offensive capabilities. With the defensive strength of the other three players of the Pistons, three guarding four, with the main defense being Kobe, the Pistons have a chance to beat the Lakers.

At the same time, the two Wallaces stayed in the restricted area. No matter how good Kobe was, he could only shoot from outside, and that would not be enough to kill the Pistons.

Before the Eastern Conference Finals began, he anticipated the worst-case scenario and used two Wallaces to double-team the Wolverines in advance to prevent him from receiving the ball.

However, from G1 to now, he found that his double-team tactics were useless.

When Wolverine pulled out for a mid-range shot before, he was worried that his double-team tactics couldn't be used.

Just now, the Wolverines rushed in with the ball and used the double-team tactic of the two Wallaces, with the addition of Billups, but they ended up with a two-plus-one.

If it was O'Neal, even if he couldn't be double-teamed, he would have been sent to the free throw line long ago. But Wolverine's free throws are just giving away points, so how could he dare to deploy the "Hack-a-Shaq" tactic?
After just one more game, he realized a serious problem: the current Wolverine is more difficult to defend than O'Neal.

How to defend against a monster that is stronger than the Great Shark, has more explosive power, moves more flexibly and faster, and can shoot from mid-range?
The player sat down, his mind still in a mess.

"Coach, how do we play?" Billups couldn't help but ask.

"From now on, once he gets close to the paint, double-team him. I don't want to see him catch the ball there."

Larry Brown's gaze moved from Ben Wallace's face to Rasheed Wallace's face, and his eyes were very stern.

Without waiting for the reaction of the two Wallaces, he said to Billups: "Chauncey, I want you to follow Nash to death. I don't want to see him pass the ball to the Wolverine casually."

At this point, he turned to Prince and said, "Tayshaun, you have to be careful about the pick-and-roll. Damn, Nash used Battier's pick-and-roll to pass the ball to the Wolverines twice."

"Yes, coach."

Young Prince nodded quickly.

Larry Brown roared in a low voice with a fierce look on his face: "From now on, challenge him and make every step difficult for him. Don't be afraid of fouling, otherwise we will be eliminated. OK?"

"OK."

Everyone said.

Billups reminded, “Coach Brown, if the Wolverine pulls out to catch the ball, what are we going to do?”

Larry Brown was in trouble, damn, he ignored the Wolverine's mid-range shot.

There was no time left. He thought for a moment and said, "One-on-one defense, I don't believe his mid-range shot can kill us."

At this time, the referee's whistle blew, and the time was up. He stood up and added: "Tayshaun, you can assist in the double-team appropriately."

"Yes, coach." Prince said quickly.

After the timeout, the Pistons attacked.

Billups used a pick-and-roll to get a small open space at the top of the arc. When he jumped to shoot, his vision was disturbed by the actions of the fans behind the baseline.

There were at least a thousand home fans waving their arms at him from behind the baseline, and a row of cheerleaders raised their legs high towards him.

"Rebound!"

As soon as he shot the ball, he shouted.

"Bang!"

The basketball hit the rim, Mutombo blocked Ben Wallace, and He Zhongqiu, who returned to the basket, grabbed the backcourt rebound.

When he came to the frontcourt, as soon as he got to the low post and approached the penalty area, he saw Ben Wallace blocking it and Rasheed Wallace blocking in front of him.

"Oh, double-team in advance." Zhang Heli shouted.

"A real early double-team." Xu Jicheng's heart trembled.

Before, no matter how the Pistons double-teamed, it was only close to being a pre-double-team, and they didn't really double-team in advance, but now the Pistons are trying their best to target He Zhongqiu.

The Pistons have the basis for double-teaming in advance, because Mutombo is still on the court and he has no ability to leave space.

When the Pistons double-teamed He Zhongqiu in the restricted area or at the edge of the restricted area, they could also take into account the defense under the basket, and Mutombo could not get a real open space.

In his opinion, He Zhongqiu must now move out to shoot mid-range shots. In the mid-range shooting area, the two Wallaces cannot leave the basket open.

Even if the Pistons still double-team the wing in advance, with only one Wallace, the intensity of the double-team will be much smaller.

He Zhongqiu got angry and double-teamed me in advance to prevent me from catching the ball, but I had to go to the basket to get a position. Let's have fun in the most exciting place.

Thinking of this, he immediately turned around and tried to slip under the basket.

Ben Wallace moved downwards, trying to block He Zhongqiu.

But He Zhongqiu was on the move, and the impact created by his strength and explosive power was so powerful that even Ben Wallace, who had just started and had not yet stood still, could not stop him.

As soon as the two of them came into contact, Ben Wallace was knocked away.

"It's in!" Yang Jian shouted happily.

Outside the three-point line, Nash was entangled by Billups.

"such a pity!"

He saw Wolverine enter the basket, but he was unable to pass the ball in the first place.

If he could pass the ball in at this time, it would be an alley-oop slam dunk, and the two Wallaces' defense would be unable to get in place.

The next moment, he immediately pulled to the right, and after staggering his position with Billups in front of him, he pulled up the ball with his right hand and swung it high into the air towards the basket, and the basketball flew in like a meteor.

At the basket, the pass was half a second slow, giving the two Wallaces the opportunity to double-team again.

Ben Wallace in front moved in front of He Zhongqiu, and Rasheed Wallace in the back moved to the right side of He Zhongqiu, and the two of them successfully double-teamed him again.

At this time the ball arrived, He Zhongqiu and Ben Wallace in front of him jumped at the same time.

Rasheed Wallace on the right side knew he couldn't touch the ball, so he didn't jump.

He was worried that Ben Wallace was too short to intercept the ball, so he reached out his little hand and quietly pulled He Zhongqiu's jersey.

But his little move still couldn't stop He Zhongqiu from jumping. The powerful explosive force made He Zhongqiu jump up, but not that high.

"Take it!"

The ball was lifted up by He Zhongqiu's fingers, and Nash passed the ball high according to his bounce, but Ben Wallace did not touch the ball.

"mine."

The ball went towards his head, and Rasheed Wallace jumped up excitedly while shouting.

"Dream on!"

He Zhongqiu had just landed when he jumped up again, cursing inwardly.

"No one can take my ball away from me."

He jumped a little bit late, but his bounce speed was faster, and he actually came from behind, touched the ball first and grabbed it.

"Damn Wolverine!"

Rasheed Wallace cursed inwardly after getting nothing.

He Zhongqiu grabbed the basketball with both hands and jumped for the third time under the basket. Ben Wallace reached out to block the shot, but he fell far short.

"boom!"

"Di!"

After a heavy slam of both hands, the referee's whistle sounded.

"Oh, two plus one again, Wolverine is playing crazy today." Michael Brin roared excitedly.

"Ben Wallace has two fouls and he has to go down before the first quarter is halfway through." Tom Howard shook his head.

Bill Walton said: "He is too short to defend against Wolverine, who has excellent physical fitness and is superior to him in all aspects."

Larry Brown's expression became dull and there was no anger in him anymore.

He silently called out Mehmet Okur and asked him to replace Ben Wallace.

The Knicks also made a substitution, replacing Mutombo with Doliak.

Rick Carlisle coached Okur last season and was well aware of his weaknesses, saying to Doleac:
"You go defend Okur. He's slow, his dribbling ability is average, and his ability to attack with the ball is average. Just follow him closely."

After the substitution, He Zhongqiu made a free throw and then made it again, making it the third two-plus-one.

"4:14, Wolverine scored 11 points. Under his leadership, the Knicks made a very beautiful start." Yang Jian shouted excitedly.

"Big Ben was beaten down. Now it will be more difficult for the Pistons to defend Zhongqiu." Zhang Heli said happily.

"Don't be careless, the Pistons have increased the height of the basket." Xu Jicheng said.

"Yes, the height has increased, but the defensive hardness in the penalty area has decreased, and the Knicks can break through from the outside." Zhang Heli said with a smile.

In the time without Ben Wallace, the Pistons' defensive intensity dropped a level. The Pistons with Ben Wallace and the Pistons without Ben Wallace are completely two different teams.

Taking this opportunity, Nash and Bonzi Wells took turns to hold the ball and attack, and played pick-and-roll tactics in the high post and on the wing with He Zhongqiu. After He Zhongqiu pulled Rasheed Wallace out, the two frequently broke into the basket.

Three minutes later, in the seventh minute of the first quarter, at 8:23, the score difference widened to 15 points, and the Pistons, who were beaten like a sieve, called the third timeout.

If they continue to play like this, the score difference will not be 20 points per quarter? Pistons general manager Joe Dumars is already as humiliated as a pot.

He fired Rick Carlisle and hired Larry Brown, but Rick Carlisle turned around and defeated Larry Brown. Isn't this a disgrace to himself?
Larry Brown forced himself to calm down. He had studied for so long and still had some plans on hand. If this defense didn't work now, he would try another strategy.

He decided to change his defensive strategy. Since he couldn't defend the Wolverines no matter what, he just ignored it and focused on defending Nash, the offensive engine of the Knicks.

In the Knicks' starting lineup, only Bonzi Wells has some ability to attack with the ball on the outside, and Battier's ability to attack with the ball has long been degraded.

As long as Nash is strangled, the Knicks' outside line will be paralyzed. If the outside line is strangled, the Wolverines will not be able to make any waves in the low post.

"Everyone listen to me, the game has just started, 15 points is not a lot, we can catch up." "We are now focusing on double-teaming Nash on the outside, half-court press, I want him to have trouble moving on the court, I want him to be unable to break through, shoot, or pass the ball."

"Rashid, you guard Wolverine and cut off the passing angle between him and the ball handler."

"Ben, guard the paint, especially the weak side."

After some arrangements, it's time to pause.

The Pistons were trailing by a large margin and fielded all their main players.

On the Knicks side, Mutombo continued to sit down, Alan Houston replaced Wells, Charlie Ward replaced Nash, He Zhongqiu and Battier continued to play.

The Pistons attacked, and the Knicks still used a three-two zone defense.

"brush!"

Hamilton ran out of a small space, received the ball on the right wing and made a jump shot, hitting a mid-range shot.

10:23, Knicks attack.

"With Nash and Wells not here, only point guard Charlie can hold the ball and attack from the outside, but now both Wallaces are on the court, and rushing in is courting death."

Zhang Heli said as Charlie Ward moved forward.

"It's hard for him to get in, he should just throw it outside, or... Ouch!"

When Xu Jicheng said this, the situation on the court suddenly changed, and he exclaimed: "Double-team, broken, the ball is lost! Charlie Ward's ball is lost..."

On the court, Charlie Ward was fiercely pressed by Billups as soon as he approached the top of the arc, and then Prince quickly formed a double-team and his ball was intercepted.

The Pistons quickly counterattacked, Hamilton cut in from the left wing, received the ball and made a layup.

"The double team attack was decisive and fierce. This is the real Pistons. The Pistons have woken up." Michael Brin said excitedly.

"From defending Wolverine alone to double-teaming the ball handler, Larry Brown changed his defensive strategy," Bill Walton said.

"Double-teaming can't do anything to Wolverine. If he doesn't change, the Knicks can defeat the Pistons in one wave." Tom Howard said.

12:23, Knicks attack.

"Charlie, be careful."

"Others, please pay attention to the response."

On the sidelines, Rick Carlisle warned loudly.

He Zhongqiu stood at the free throw line and did not go down to the low post, with Rasheed Wallace underneath him.

Charlie Ward changed direction continuously to get rid of Billups, but he was caught up. After crossing the center line, he accelerated and then quickly passed the ball before Billups could catch up.

He Zhongqiu positioned himself with his left arm, and without any hesitation, he received the ball with his right hand and immediately turned left and took a big step forward with his right foot, preparing to attack the basket.

Rasheed Wallace instinctively retreated to defend, but at this moment, He Zhongqiu braked suddenly, retracted his right foot, and then shot a bank shot at the free throw line.

"Bang! Swoosh!"

The basketball hit the backboard and bounced into the basket.

"Beautiful! The free throw line is one of the most accurate mid-range shooting areas during the Mid-Autumn Festival." Yang Jian praised.

When the Pistons were about to serve, Larry Brown waved to Hamilton who was nearby and said to him sternly:

"Tell them to step up their defense, press the whole court, and double-team the ball handler."

"what?"

Hamilton was stunned.

"Bang!"

Billups shot over Alan Houston's head with the help of a pick-and-roll, but missed.

He Zhongqiu grabbed the backcourt rebound and the Knicks attacked.

The ball was handed to Charlie Ward, and as he advanced downfield, the Pistons’ full-court press began.

Fortunately, old Charlie was experienced and quickly passed the ball to Battier before being double-teamed by Prince.

"ball!"

Battier took two steps forward and saw Wolverine running down from the top of the arc. He shouted and passed the ball to the basket.

He Zhongqiu and Rasheed Wallace rushed to the free throw line and jumped at the same time, but his bounce was better and he caught the basketball.

The first thing Rasheed Wallace did after landing was to wrap his left arm around He Zhongqiu's right arm and launch a strong confrontation.

But He Zhongqiu suddenly turned right, and under his powerful explosive power, Rasheed Wallace, who was at a disadvantage in tonnage and strength, staggered.

Although he temporarily broke free from his opponent's entanglement, He Zhongqiu had just turned around to face the basket when he found that Ben Wallace had already come up to him under the basket.

Doryak took the opportunity to enter the basket. He Zhongqiu threw the ball to the floor. The basketball bounced and was caught by Doryak.

Ben Wallace immediately turned around and returned to defense at a very fast speed. When Doriak made a layup, he was in position and blocked the ball with a shot.

But He Zhongqiu had already followed up to the basket in time. After grabbing the basketball, he jumped up and gave Ben Wallace under the basket a two-handed slam dunk.

"Snapped!"

Rasheed Wallace jumped from the right side and stretched out his hand to block the shot, but his shot was not high enough and hit He Zhongqiu's right forearm.

"boom!"

"Di!"

As the basket was blown up, Ben Wallace was knocked back and the referee blew the whistle.

"Oh ho!"

Madison Square Garden was instantly boiling with countless people standing up.

"Beautiful! Rasheed Wallace had three fouls and made a two-plus-one for the fourth time in the first quarter." Zhang Heli shouted excitedly.

"Fake!"

Seeing Rasheed Wallace being called for another foul, Larry Brown couldn't help but curse.

Not far away, a smiling Rick Carlisle kept applauding the call.

Although the Wolverines have developed mid-range shots and have the ability to handle more shots, their most lethal attack is still under the basket.

He knew that Larry Brown would definitely use double Wallace to double-team Wolverine, but Larry Brown overlooked one point: Wolverine was not the Big Shark.

Wolverine's athletic ability is much better than the current Shaq, and he has mid-range shots, threat, and tactical diversity, which are not comparable to O'Neal.

Let the Wolverines pull out first, use their mid-range shooting ability to separate the two Wallaces, and then use their excellent athletic ability to rush in and cause damage. This is his basic strategy of using the Wolverines to deal with the Pistons.

"The first quarter hasn't even ended yet, Rasheed Wallace has three fouls and Ben Wallace has two fouls. The Pistons are in real trouble," said Tom Howard.

"This is the Knicks' home court. Wolverine is now the most popular and influential player in the league. If he is fouled, the referee will not show mercy," said Bill Walton.

Michael Breen smiled and said: "This year's All-Star Game had an average viewership of over 30 million, the highest in league history. This is a symbol of popularity and influence.

While some of that ratings can be attributed to Dwayne Johnson and Statham, Wolverine was the star of the show.”

Before the free throw, Rasheed Wallace was substituted out.

This was also an important point in the game. As the Pistons' inside players committed too many fouls, the defensive intensity was forced to decrease, which was beneficial to He Zhongqiu's offense.

Of course, the Pistons did not surrender, and they still tried their best to double-team the ball handler on the outside. Nash was also greatly affected after he came on the court.

In the first few minutes of the second quarter, the Pistons used their strong perimeter defense to cause several mistakes on the Knicks' perimeter, and took the opportunity to narrow the gap to just 8 points.

But at this time, He Zhongqiu stood up.

After Nash's dribbling breakthrough was restricted, he went directly to the basket and launched a violent attack under the basket in the subsequent game.

Nash's offensive ability is still very outstanding. Even if the Pistons double-team him, at most they can limit his personal offense and breakthrough to a certain extent.

But they couldn't completely restrict him. He was faster than anyone else on the Pistons. After making two mistakes, he immediately sped up the offensive tempo, which made it impossible for the Pistons to surround and attack him with all their might.

And his passing and control ability is better than anyone else on the Pistons. He can still break through and use the breakout and point-and-shoot tactics.

As for He Zhongqiu, it is such a simple thing to pass the ball to the basket, he can do it even if he is double-teamed.

Another thing is that this is the Knicks' home court. David Stern is very much looking forward to the Knicks reaching the finals. With Los Angeles Lakers' Daley personally in charge, there is no shortage of home court whistle.

Nash forced a breakthrough, causing Hamilton and Billups to foul consecutively, and scored consecutive free throws, forcing the Pistons to reduce the intensity of the double-team.

In the 8th minute of the third quarter, Rasheed Wallace was fouled out with six fouls, and Ben Wallace also had five fouls. Then the game completely entered the Knicks' rhythm.

In the end, the Knicks won the Game 74 with a score of 106:2.

贺中秋全场42分钟，25投16中，命中率64%，16罚14中，轰下46分16篮板3助攻2抢断3盖帽3失误3犯规的数据。

After the game, Yang Jian said happily: "Congratulations to the Wolverines for winning two consecutive home games. He also broke the individual playoff single-game scoring record. One person's score accounted for almost half of the team's total."

Zhang Heli exclaimed: "This is the ability after having a mid-range shot. Tonight, Zhongqiu took the ball to attack more than 30 times.

If it's difficult to catch the ball under the basket, I'll just pull out to catch it. In the past, I didn't have the ability or the stamina to do that."

Xu Jicheng smiled and said, "It's also thanks to Nash's pass. If it was last season, even if Zhongqiu had the ability he has now, it would be useless."

"Yes, Nash's contribution is not small."

Zhang Heli nodded and said, "In this game, Nash scored 17 points, 15 assists, 5 turnovers, and shot 48%. His performance was pretty good."

Xu Jicheng laughed and said, "Larry Brown changed his defensive tactics and stopped double-teaming Zhongqiu. I don't know if he regretted it, but judging from this game, the effect was not very good."

Yang Jian said: "He wanted to lock down the Knicks' offensive engine, but he underestimated Nash's ability. And this is the Knicks' home court."

Zhang Heli nodded and said, "Nash is a speed-oriented offensive point guard who mainly passes and controls the ball. He is a typical player who is strong in offense but weak in defense.

Judging from his performance, he should be a top-level point guard on the offensive end, and combined with both offense and defense, he can also be considered a first-line point guard."

Xu Jicheng said: "If we play well in this playoffs, we should be eligible to start in next year's All-Star Game."

"There's great hope." Zhang Heli said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)