Chapter 496: The Rise of Thornton(2/2)
Li Feng quickly passed the ball to Thornton. Thornton's previous three-point ability had already moved the Rockets. At this time, Motiyunas could only save quickly.
As mentioned earlier, Thornton's shooting was like a powerful pass with both hands, and this time it was the same. Thornton raised his hand and flew. He took the opportunity to quickly stuff the basketball into Kirilenko's hand in the inside.
Kirilianko took the ball and turned around to make a weak point. Asik raised his hand to defend. Kirilianko took this opportunity to step forward and scored two points.
Douglas previously said that he would strengthen the periphery defense, but now the Rockets' periphery defense has risen, but it still has not achieved much defensive effect.
Mainly, Thornton made a contribution. Thornton's three-point shooting range and his identity as the No. 4 position are a huge misalignment for most teams.
With Thornton outside the three-point line, the Knicks' space is fast, and Kirilianko in the inside can also be used. It is smoother for Li Feng to make singles. Moreover, Thornton not only has three-point ability, but also has good support ability on the outside. In this way, it is very difficult for the Rockets to pounce outside. Big men's supporters will basically not be saved because they can pass the ball with high a high.
Seeing that the inside defense was difficult and the outward pounce was not effective, the Rockets were really in trouble at this time.
Douglas was at the Rockets' half again and immediately opened the formation and gave the basketball to Harden, who was 45 degrees behind the ball.
The Rockets' two defenders were pulled apart, the two forwards cut apart, and Harden's back-to-back singles tactics are actually a variant of the internal and external tactics. It's just lighter and more agile, but this tactic also reduces the offensive destructive power of the internal and external tactics.
At this time, Harden came up and was beaten, and Asik immediately cut in the air and went around the free throw line. Before, Kirilianko used his height to hit Asik, but now Asik got an open space and immediately hit Kirilianko with his mobility.
Asik went around, and Kirilianko couldn't keep up with it. Asik took the ball and immediately took the mid-range shot, but Li Feng went over to harass him. Asik didn't have a safe shot at this mid-range shot.
The Rockets missed the middle distance, and Thornton immediately received a rebound at the basket, and the Knicks turned around and attacked again.
Not long after the second quarter started, the pace of the game still belonged to the Knicks. The Rockets' two inside players still did not lock in the Knicks' inside combination.
The reason is that the Rockets' inside type is too single. The Rockets' three inside lines are basically all from the Brutals, and they are not lacking in athletic ability. However, when encountering the Knicks' two inside lines, one outside support type and the other inside skills type, the Rockets' three Brutals are powerful and unable to use it.
Therefore, the Rockets cannot defend the Knicks' two technical outside lines, and they cannot defend the Knicks' overall team.
At this moment, the Knicks obviously found some ways to deal with the Rockets. Since the Rockets couldn't play with our double-tech inside line, we just gave the ball to these two people.
Dragic dribbled over again, and even passed the ball directly to Thornton. Thornton got the ball outside the three-point line, and Motiyunas immediately rushed over.
At this time, Thornton's ability was revealed. Facing the rushing Mortiunas Thornton, he was calm and dribbling the ball and took two steps towards Li Feng.
Li Feng happened to use Thornton's cover to circle around for a half circle to get the position near the bottom line. Thornton then passed the ball with one hand to Li Feng.
Li Feng took the ball and forced Machaduo back two steps. Seeing that Li Feng was at the basket, Asik rushed over to double-team.
Li Feng passed the ball to Kirilenko who reached the free throw line.
Chapter completed!