This is definitely the day the Warriors team missed Mike Dunleavy the most.
Because facing the impenetrable iron defense of the Supersonic...
Dunleavy's relentless running is the key for the Warriors to break through.
Before recovering from injury, Qin Yue indeed benefited from adversity, learning how to better use rhythm to break through the opponent's defense during ball-handling offense.
But as this series turned into classic matches one after another...
Since the first game, Qin Yue no longer felt positive feedback from teammates, he couldn't avoid the decline in his hard-breaking efficiency.
At the end of the third game, 90 to 95.
The Warriors failed to regain home-court advantage and quietly stood on the verge of a cliff.
Ray Allen's three-pointers in the final quarter made him the hero of KeyArena that night.
In such an intense, suffocating melee, Allen still maintained his touch and emotionally said after the game: "Tonight, God lent me his right hand! Thank God!"
The crucial fourth game for the Warriors will continue at KeyArena two days later.
And Little Deng Liwei will remain suspended.
At the end of the third game, the only good news for the Warriors...
With time passing, Qin Yue, who will continually "upgrade" due to injury recovery, is bound to play stronger in this Western Conference Finals.
However, to break the Supersonic's iron defense, the Warriors' outside shooters must throw the basketball into that damned basket like Ray Allen in high-intensity confrontations.
"Troy hasn't performed well in these two games... Should we consider using dual guards in the game and having Ron play the four-spot?"
Before the fourth game started, Qin Yue discussed the strategy to defeat the enemy with the coaching staff.
Since entering the league, Qin Yue has studied tactics every day. Although he can't compare to professional coaches like Mike Malone in tactical reserves, his suggestion reminded Malone at that moment...
Jack is a point guard who is actually over 190 cm tall.
In the game, he is just not good at defending those speedy guards, but speaking of the Supersonic's guard line...
Where do they get the speed to overpower Jack?
Moreover, Jack has always had excellent off-ball defensive abilities.
Thus, in Malone's view, compared to Richardson or Artest, Jack is more suitable to go all out against Ray Allen.
However...
If the Warriors use this big-small lineup, Malone is really worried whether Qin Yue's ankle injury can support him to complete rim protection for the Warriors as usual.
Regarding this, Qin Yue said: "The upcoming fourth game is a match we must give our all to win. Mike, you need not worry about the pressure I endure in the game, because it is the responsibility I need to shoulder."
Upon hearing this, Malone, who instantly felt what it meant to be a leading star, hesitated no more.
27th.
Seattle, KeyArena.
When the Warriors' five starters line up — Qin Yue, Artest, Richardson, Jack, Davis.
On CCTV, Zhang Weiping said in shock: "Are the Warriors playing for their lives? They are putting all defensive pressure entirely on Qin Yue?"
This is not the first time the Warriors used Artest to play the four-spot in a match.
But facing the Supersonic with players like Yao Ming and Garnett...
Not only Zhang Weiping... In fact, most neutral fans and experts don't understand why the Warriors dare to release this big-small lineup.
At center court, with Qin Yue's unhealed injury, Artest and Yao Ming will jump ball.
This could very well be the easiest jump ball Yao Ming wins since joining the NBA.
The "Alien" Cassell dribbles past half court, attempting to find Ray Allen to execute the pistol tactic.
However, under Jack's entanglement, Ray Allen's off-ball movement is no longer as effortless as before.
Such discomfort ultimately reflected in Ray Allen's following three-point miss.
The Ray Allen who exhausted full on confrontation at off-ball state can't possibly be unaffected by the impacts of high-intensity confrontation.
Under the basket, with early prediction, Qin Yue grabbed the rebound.
Davis took the ball past half court, with Artest circling to high position to receive the ball breaking Supersonic's one-on-four linkage.
At this moment, seeing Artest holding the ball high and directing teammates into position...
For a moment, Qin Yue even thought he glimpsed the future Chasing Egg-Green.
Especially when Supersonic, according to Warriors players' position, chose to shrink the defense line and actively let go of Artest...
Watching Artest suddenly prepare to punish Supersonic defense with a three-pointer, Qin Yue felt the moment precisely mirrored another moment.
Unlike Troy Murphy, who was tortured unbearably by Supersonic's high-intensity defense.
Due to Artest's long-standing practice of seeking confrontation, even if confrontation was not sought with him...
So Artest's three-point shooting mostly depends on whether he himself can seize the moment.
Swish—!
Accompanied by Artest's three-point shot swishing cleanly through the net at KeyArena, Supersonic's bench, Rick Carlisle furrowed his brow instantly.
Artest's three points and the Warriors' active lineup change... obviously indicate the Warriors want to create more mismatches, causing Supersonic unable to effectively match on the court.
Evidently, having had enough of playing classic basketball against Supersonic, the Warriors are attempting to steer this match back into the rhythm of seeing who knocks out whom first.
On the court, Supersonic's offensive round.
Yao Ming successfully positioned low and attacked immediately upon turning.
However...
Just when Yao Ming was prepared to score two points effortlessly as usual, a player with the ID "I'm Taller than Yao Ming" suddenly jumped up, sparing no effort to block Yao's shot in the air.
"Playing so casually, don't you know you are facing the world's best player?"
Within the Warrior Forbidden Area, having blocked Yao Ming, Qin Yue gracefully told Yao in elegant Chinese.
Next second, Qin Yue could confirm, his Brother Yao's response was:
"How the hell can you still jump so high?"
…
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