bayedsolid Chapter 595 Mid-Season Tournament Final Four: Las Vegas as the Goal!
Chapter 595 Mid-Season Tournament Final Four: Las Vegas as the Goal!
July 12, late.
Mid-Season Tournament Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
The Bucks will host the Brooklyn Nets.
Just a month ago, the Nets lost to the Bucks 129-125 at home.
In that game, Giannis scored a double-double of 36 points and 12 rebounds.
New signing Damian Lillard also contributed 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Wang Xiucheng scored 44 points and had 11 assists in that game.
Whether it's Nets fans or Wang Xiucheng and others, everyone was somewhat dissatisfied with this loss.
Everyone has been waiting for the next match between the two teams.
Unexpectedly, the two teams met again so soon, and in the playoffs of the Mid-Season Invitational.
For Chinese football fans, this match is also a Chinese derby.
However, there are a total of 8 Chinese players playing in the NBA this season, so the hype surrounding the Chinese derby is much weaker than in the previous two years.
However, for teams that have Chinese players, these matches are still a good opportunity to make money.
So even if someone isn't good enough to be a rotation player on the team, they'll be recalled to sit on the sidelines in the Development League during the China derby.
Among the eight Chinese players, Wang Xiucheng needs no introduction.
The player who has developed the best among the remaining players is Yu Jiahao, who is sitting on the Bucks' bench today.
Yu Jiahao, who was traded to the Bucks along with Lillard, was a player personally requested by Lillard.
In fact, Yu Jiahao's stationary playing style and slow movement speed are extremely unsuitable for the Bucks.
Giannis's drive-to-the-basket style requires some open space in the paint, so he needs a center like Brook Lopez who can draw opposing centers to the perimeter.
Yu Jiahao's ability to stand almost motionless in the paint is extremely damaging to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, once Giannis Antetokounmpo is resting and Damian Lillard is leading the team alone, Yu Jiahao's screen quality makes it easy for Lillard to find space to shoot.
This is why Lillard took Yu Jiahao with him when he left Portland.
From the start of the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo employed an aggressive, attacking style of play.
The Nets' defense was completely overwhelmed, and neither Towns nor Durant could stop Giannis Antetokounmpo when he was on the offensive.
But starting from the 6th minute, the Nets' three-point shooting started to improve.
While the Bucks couldn't stop Giannis Antetokounmpo, they also couldn't stop the Nets' barrage of three-pointers.
Both Durant and Towns made three-pointers.
Especially in the last minute, Wang Xiucheng not only made a three-pointer but also drew a foul from Brook Lopez.
Thanks to Wang Xiucheng's 4 points, the Nets scored a high of 35 points in the first quarter.
However, the Bucks also scored a high of 37 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo alone scored 11 points.
On the contrary, Lillard, who went to rest early, only made one three-pointer, which missed, and then gave up more possession of the ball.
In the second quarter, Wang Xiucheng and Giannis Antetokounmpo both sat down to rest.
Westbrook and Durant led the team in the second quarter.
For the Bucks, Lillard, who only played 8 minutes in the first quarter, came on to lead the team, along with Yu Jiahao.
In the first round, Yu Jiahao set a screen for Lillard, and Westbrook, who was following Lillard, was blocked solidly.
After Lillard shifted to the side, his three-pointer went in perfectly, swishing through the net before the net could even react.
Lillard also scored the first point of the night.
Lillard, who only took one shot in the first quarter, will undoubtedly be the primary ball handler in this lineup at the start of the second quarter.
Of course, Yu Jiahao's playing style also has a major drawback.
Once Lillard misses a shot, it becomes very difficult for others to grab the rebound from Claxton.
In five minutes, Lillard took three shots, two of which were three-pointers and one was a floater after a drive, and he also drew a foul from Oubre.
When players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez were on the court, the Bucks led by 5 points at home.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez on the court, Yu Jiahao would have to be substituted.
Although his playing style didn't match that of the tall Chinese player, Giannis was still very satisfied with the quality of his screens.
Yu Jiahao patted Giannis Antetokounmpo on the hand, and Giannis returned to the court.
Wang Xiucheng has also returned to the Nets.
The two sides began to engage in a tense situation similar to that of the first quarter.
You can't stop me, and I can't stop you.
The two sides traded points, and with one minute left in the second quarter, the score was still 5 points apart.
However, in the last minute of the second quarter, Wang Xiucheng hit an unreasonable three-pointer from the mid-court corner, followed by a steal and fast break dunk from Beasley, giving him 5 points in "Wang's Time".
The Bucks only managed one shot attempt; Lillard's floater missed, but drew a foul on Wang Xiucheng.
Perhaps he was tired from running back and forth with Wang Xiucheng in the last minute, because Lillard only made one of his two free throws.
At the end of the second quarter, thanks to Lillard's free throw, the Bucks once again scored a high of 38 points in a single quarter.
The Nets also scored a high of 37 points.
At halftime, the Bucks led the Nets 75-72 at home.
I thought that the second half would be just as close as the first half.
However, the Bucks suddenly lost power for some unknown reason.
The Bucks, who scored 37 and 38 points in the first two quarters respectively, only managed 24 points in the third quarter.
Whether it's Lillard, Giannis, or Beasley, who was in excellent form tonight, their shooting percentages have all dropped significantly.
Giannis was forced to even attempt a three-pointer from the outside.
Although the shot went in, it was clearly not Giannis's usual style of play.
The Nets continued their barrage of three-pointers.
Wang Xiucheng and Durant each made two three-pointers, while Towns and Dillon also scored three-pointers.
This allowed the Nets to still score a high of 37 points in the third quarter.
Riding this wave of momentum in the third quarter, the Nets turned the tide and took a 109-99 lead.
At the start of the fourth quarter, while Giannis Antetokounmpo rested, Damian Lillard continued to lead the team alone.
Neither Claxton, Westbrook, nor Durant could effectively disrupt Lillard under Yu Jiahao's cover.
In just five minutes, Lillard hit two three-pointers and made several impressive drives to the basket.
One of those prizes was given to Yu Jiahao.
Although he looked a bit unsteady, Yu Jiahao still managed to put the ball into the basket, which can be considered a breakthrough.
Thanks to Lillard's performance, the Bucks managed to close the gap.
However, with Wang Xiucheng's return, the Nets' situation stabilized.
Wang Xiucheng's ability to shoot, pass, and drive forced the Bucks to commit more fouls to stop him.
However, Wang Xiucheng's greatly improved free throw percentage, compared to his rookie season, meant that most of these fouls were punished.
With one minute left, the Bucks were down by 4 points. In order to prevent Wang Xiucheng from taking a shot, the Bucks resorted to fouling tactics.
Wang Xiucheng did not attempt a single shot, but he made all four of his four free throws.
Even though the Bucks made a three-pointer, Wang Xiucheng's four free throws ruined their plan.
Ultimately, thanks to Wang Xiucheng's four free throws, the Nets defeated the Bucks 140-135 on the road.
With this victory, the Nets have officially advanced to the Mid-Season Tournament semifinals!