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Chapter 670 - 283. The embryonic form of the ’Bobcat System’_3

Chapter 670: 283. The embryonic form of the ’Bobcat System’_3

But because Millsap knew McGrady was unlikely to drive to the inside, after the switch, he focused only on disturbing McGrady’s mid-to-long-range shots. To avoid the defense, McGrady’s quick stop jump shot rhythm was almost like that of a pull-up jumper, meaning there was no shooting rhythm, relying purely on individual ability.

Of course, McGrady’s individual ability was strong, especially at mid-to-long-range two-point shots. This season, he averaged 5.2 baskets from mid-range and long two-point distance, compared with Kobe and Nowitzki, who were both at 4.7.

But even for McGrady, this kind of rhythm-less shooting, the consistency was hard to guarantee... Not driving towards the basket, and wanting good shooting space, McGrady had no choice but to play this way. Zhang Yang’s regret was that McGrady was no longer the spirited T-Mac of past years.

Besides that, Zhang Yang had a strange feeling—was Thibodeau working McGrady like a horse?

Since the beginning, there hasn’t been a single Rockets offense that didn’t start with McGrady; his offensive initiation rate was on par with Kobe’s in the previous two seasons.

But it seemed there was no problem, at 28 years old, it was his prime age...

The Bobcats settled into a half-court offense, continuing to run their plays.

David Wesley still chose to collapse and help delay Zhang Yang by using the screen, Millsap continued to pass the ball to the left... Yi Jianlian moved up to Felton!

To achieve the league’s second-best defense, Thibodeau’s defensive coaching ability was important, but the enthusiasm and toughness of the Rockets players, along with their on-the-fly defensive adaptability, were key.

Battier, Diaw, and David Wesley were all strong, experienced defenders who could make adjustments to the details at any time on the court.

Felton’s shooting space was covered, and he couldn’t pass the ball immediately, so he chose to drive!

Little bro said, you can’t let the ball stop!

Felton got past Yi Jianlian to close range, was blocked by McGrady... pass to the top of the arc!

Zhang Yang, after being delayed, still chose to run to the high post. He received the ball one step inside the arc, took a step out past the three-point line, avoiding David Wesley’s hustle, turned and shot a three-pointer... "Clang"... and missed.

Zhang Yang slapped his hands and fell back on defense, that shot was a bit too difficult, a bit too wild...

Zhang San blamed himself for a second for taking such a wild shot, while the opposing coach sweated bullets from behind.

Thibodeau: Wait, aren’t your plays usually full of variety?

He had previously analyzed the Bobcats’ real tactical intentions, utilizing space. He had already thought the bald coach opposite was quite formidable, but he hadn’t realized those were just the foundations of the tactic!

Carlisle: Joking, I’ve put the four strongest scorers on the team out there, it’s the strongest lineup!

Actually, Carlisle looked confident on the surface, but it wasn’t until after these three plays that he sighed in relief—Millsap hadn’t faltered!

Millsap had few tasks, but as the pivot of the tactic, he determined the upper limit of this tactical coordination.

If he had only completed the basic work, steadily passing the ball to the wings, without the initiative to choose the passing target or the timing, then this tactic would have been just a very ordinary team coordination, unable to tear apart the defense of the league’s second-best defensive team, the Rockets, as it had these past three rounds.

This awareness, either you have it or you don’t, it can’t be trained. Such is the so-called talent.

Of course, besides Millsap’s excellent tactical responsiveness, the individual abilities of the four players around Millsap were strong. That’s another reason why the Bobcats’ tactics ran so smoothly— the Rockets were completely unfamiliar with them.

They hadn’t played this way in their previous 14 matches. During the 13-game winning streak, they could win just by initiating offense with their three core ball-handlers; they didn’t need to play so intricately.

On the Rockets’ offense, McGrady’s shooting touch... cooled off! The ball hit the outside of the rim, bouncing towards the front of the basket!

Zhang Yang grabbed the rebound at the free-throw line, turned and dodged Yi Jianlian’s rush, starting the counterattack!

This ball, no matter how good the Rockets’ transition defense, they couldn’t stop it. After avoiding Yi Jianlian’s block attempt and picking up speed, Zhang Yang was already the closest to the opponent’s basket. Even if McGrady chased from the elbow area, he couldn’t catch up.

Zhang Yang, amid the cheering of the home crowd, charged to the opponent’s free-throw line, gripped the ball, took two steps, switched the ball to his left hand in mid-air, and hammered it down with a tomahawk dunk for two points!

When the ball smashed into the basket, the cheering reached its peak!

to 9, the Bobcats took a 3-point lead over the Rockets!

In the opening 7 possessions, only managing 5 points, but after returning from the timeout and changing their approach, in 4 possessions they scored 7 points, hitting the opposition with a 7-2 run!

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During this period, Carven was mainly considering tactics that would suit Zhang Yang, they had to be logical, comply with the NBA rules of the time, fit with the Bobcats players, align with the abilities of the players of that season... and most importantly, the tactics needed to be visualizable upon reading the text, to write with a sense of imagery...