In the 16-17 season, most teams will face a problem when encountering the Clippers: insufficient defensive resources.

Although Li Ze considers himself a shooting guard, he plays a point guard in the team. When other teams defend him, they have to use small forwards to counter him.

No one on the back line can match Li Ze. He is fast and lacks strength, and his strong body and lateral movement are too slow.

As for using small guards to defend Li Ze, it is no different from giving away points...

D'Antoni certainly knows that Chris Paul has excellent defensive skills, but the coaching staff does not want Paul to spend too much on the defensive end.

This season the Rockets have focused on offense, which is why they have achieved their current results. Defense has never been a consideration for them.

The game plan drawn up before the G1 game in the Western Conference Semifinals was that Harden would do his best to defend, and Ariza would try to limit Paul George.

Try not to double-team, don't give the Clippers role players too many opportunities, and draw the game into the 1-on-1 rhythm that the Rockets are good at.

After Li Ze's rise, head coach D'Antoni played against Li Ze's team for the first time. Within half a quarter of the game, he felt powerless.

Turning to look at Bobby Brown, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams on the bench, coach D'Antoni still didn't make any substitutions.

After Li Ze scored 7 points in a row after the start, the bearded golfer couldn't stand it anymore. Paul had no choice but to take over the defensive responsibility...

On the offensive end, the bearded player was misfired, and Paul began to control the ball. He passed the half court and looked at Jaylen Brown, who was like brown sugar in front of him, and cursed in his heart.

The difference in size is obvious. Jaylen Brown has been warned for a week not to cut the ball easily, but only uses his speed and wingspan to interfere.

Increase physical confrontation when leading the defense, and interfere with Paul's dribbling rhythm from time to time.

Paul, holding the ball in his right hand, reached the top of the arc with the ball. Before he could get close to the three-point line, Jaylen Brown suddenly defended him. The next second, Capela's pick-and-roll was stumbled past.

Although in the end Paul relied on his personal ability to make a hard stop at the free throw line and hit two points, such an offensive consumption was not small.

At 10:15, with 6 minutes and 32 seconds left in the first quarter, the game entered the official timeout.

Harden was a little embarrassed as he walked to the bench. He made 0 of 4 shots in the opening game, scored zero points, and didn't even get a free throw. Li Ze knew his playing habits too well, and his previous penalty shooting power was gone...

The Clippers still lost points in the mid-range, but this result is acceptable. Jokic has no foul trouble and the game can be played more easily.

"Jaylen, if you give him a confrontation, Paul will be tired, and his shooting percentage will drop under high-intensity confrontation!"

"It's not easy for him to retreat to mid-distance. Don't let him give out assists easily."

Returning to the bench, Jaylen Brown nodded immediately after hearing Li Ze's words. It was rare for him to enter the starting lineup. Even as a defensive engineer, he was very satisfied.

Head coach De Nagro also found that the Rockets did not pursue speed like they did in the regular season. The opponent's rhythm was getting slower and slower, and they used Paul's pick-and-roll to continuously chase points.

"Kayce, slow down the tempo first, play a few low-post tactics, and let everyone rush for rebounds. Don't forget that our talents are even better!"

The Clippers almost abandoned the low post during the regular season, but in the playoffs, head coach DeNagro will not be polite. When encountering a team that wants to attack the position, he will naturally have to change his strategy.

Li Ze nodded. There is nothing wrong with this adjustment. The Clippers throw a lot of three-pointers, but that doesn't mean they can only play transition offense.

"Let's go Clippers! Let's go Clippers! Let's go Clippers!"

After the timeout, the Clippers took the lead in attacking. At this time, Paul was facing off against Li Ze. As a former first-team defender, Chairman Pao, although short in stature, also has his own uniqueness on the defensive end.

When leading the defense, he secretly pulls the jersey and the ball protector, suddenly attacks from time to time, and then quickly returns to position.

This set of defensive processes makes Paul extremely aggressive. Coupled with his low center of gravity, he can even cut off one-on-one situations when faced with changes in direction.

But Li Ze was so familiar with Paul that he knew what Paul wanted to do next as soon as the opponent completed his move...

Simply protecting the ball with his back, interspersed with sudden stops and starts after a half-turn, Paul felt that he had no way to start. The ball seemed to be stuck to Li Ze's side. Whenever he wanted to steal the ball, Li Ze hid the ball.

stand up.

Li Ze came to the logo position and handed over the ball. Jokic at the top of the arc raised the ball. Li Ze, who was without the ball, immediately made a simple UCLA cut-in.

After a feint, Fatty White cut from the middle on the right side of his body into the paint. Harris from the right corner also cut in along the baseline without the ball.

The two completed a cross-cover near the baseline on the right side. Paul, who was familiar with the Clippers' tactics, immediately realized that Li Ze was going to play low-post tactics and quickly reminded Ryan Anderson loudly not to switch defenses.

Capela, who was at the top of the arc, hadn't realized the Clippers' tactics yet, so he kept a step away from Jokic.

He wanted to remind his teammates again, but it was too late. Li Ze had just turned his back to the left block to ask for the ball, and Jokic easily sent a semi-lob pass.

Paul behind him didn't have time to exert force. The moment he received the pass, Li Ze released the ball with his left hand and hit twice. Chairman Pao was suddenly knocked into the paint area...

Li Ze's shoulders shook and he pulled the ball back with his left hand. Paul failed to react defensively in time. When he saw Li Ze twisting forward quickly, he realized that he was about to suffer.

Using his right foot as the axis, he clicked twice with his left foot. After a large step up and down, Li Ze easily came to the bottom of the basket, exerted force with his feet, pulled onions on dry land, and directly made a one-handed slam dunk!

"Boom!" He stepped up and down and dunked!

The powerful dunk made the rim explode. From Li Ze catching the ball in the low post to dunking on the spot under the basket, it happened so quickly. The Clippers fans at the scene were stunned for a moment, and then screamed excitedly.

"God, I want to pray for Paul! It's been a long time since I've seen Kayce play in the post. It seems he hasn't forgotten this skill yet!"

Jeff Van Gundy also shouted out. The scene was so brutal that Paul was dunked on the spot...

Paul was a little confused when he saw Li Ze hanging on the basket with one arm. Why did he dunk?

When Li Ze completed his retreat, Paul, who had completely come to his senses, received the baseline serve and immediately chattered to Capela next to him:

"Concentrate on defense. I have said it many times. Don't let Jokic get the ball easily!"

Capela could only nod along, but his mind couldn't keep up with the rhythm on the court. When the Clippers fell into positional offense, there seemed to be too many routines...

Paul played several rounds on the offensive end and spent a lot of time on the defensive end. At this time, the bearded golfer took over the ball again.

The Rockets were still struggling. Everyone watched as Harden dribbled the ball from the right wing outside the three-point line, took a big step back, and shot a three-pointer against Li Ze's defense.

Seeing the ball fall into the basket, the Clippers fans immediately booed. Harden breathed a sigh of relief and made 1 of 5. He finally scored...

Although the Rockets threw in a three-pointer, Li Ze still dribbled across the half court unhurriedly, made a tactical gesture, and then played the same tactic again.

In the low post on the left, Paul hit Li Ze from behind. Chairman Pao used his full strength this time, but found that Li Ze made no extra moves after receiving the ball with his back.

The other Clippers teammates had already completed their off-ball movements. After Jokic completed the pass at the elbow area on the left side of the free throw line, he moved two steps up the line.

Capela still didn't realize the Clippers' tactics. He stood beside Fatty Bai, but half of his attention was on Li Ze.

Paul George at the top of the arc suddenly started and quickly moved to the left wing outside the three-point line. Ariza who was chasing was immediately delayed by Jokic.

"Change defense and get out!"

Colliding into the white fat man, Ariza quickly reminded Capela loudly, but it was still a step too late.

When the ball arrived, Paul George just stood still when Li Ze sent out a pass. The latter caught the ball and quickly made a jump shot from outside the three-point line!

"Whoa!" The three-pointer hit the net!

Paul George, who scored in response, immediately raised three fingers, then patted his chest and shouted, and the fans in the front row immediately stood up and cheered.

Coach D'Antoni didn't dare to replace the small guards on the bench at this time. He had already sensed the Clippers' intentions and just hoped that the offense on the court could withstand it.

"Defense!Defense!Defense!"

Seemingly affected by the defensive cheers, Capela finally got a chance, but almost missed the ball when he received a pass from Paul.

When the basket tried to get stronger, Jokic saw the opportunity and cut the ball away.

Watching the ball hit his foot and go out of the sideline, Capela slapped his thigh in annoyance...

Paul, who rarely sent out assists, twitched the corner of his mouth. He missed Jordan a little.

At this time, the Clippers' offense began to become simple and rough, and Paul George also began to receive the ball with his back in the blocking area.

Clearing the single on one side, he turned around and broke through toward the baseline. Paul George, who had taken two big steps, finally took a big step back, faced Ariza's defense, and shot a mid-range jumper!

"state!"

The ball hit the basket and Capela kept struggling with Jokic under the basket.

With great difficulty, he got the fat white man next to him stuck behind him. Just as he was about to jump up and take off the backboard, he was immediately hit and staggered.

Capela lost his center of gravity, and the basket exploded. Li Ze, who rushed into the paint, jumped up high. The latecomer came up and pushed the ball into the basket with his right hand with one hand!

"Wow!"

The continuous dunks also made Li Ze feel good, and he shouted happily after landing.

At 13:22, the score difference reached 9 points, Steve Ballmer got excited again, stood up and raised his hands in the air.

The old man knows that once the point difference reaches double digits, the Clippers will not capsize.

The Clippers fans at the scene saw Capela standing up in embarrassment and immediately started to boo. The atmosphere in Staples Center became more and more heated. The dishonest game has become the favorite of Clippers fans.

Paul George had a mediocre touch tonight, and he was solid in several singles in the blocking position. However, the Clippers made a sudden grab and made the Rockets' transition offense disappear...

At the critical moment, it was not the bearded ball player or Chris Paul who stepped up to score. Ryan Anderson made three-pointers from the left and right wings in several consecutive rounds to help the Rockets stabilize the situation.

The Clippers rotated in a step-by-step manner. For the Rockets, D'Antoni just stuck to the main force and didn't care about rebounding. Harrell sat back on the bench.

At 22:34, at the end of the first quarter, the Clippers led by 12 points. Some Clippers fans even started to celebrate the victory...

After playing the entire first quarter, Paul sat on the bench feeling depressed. In the second half of the first quarter, the Rockets were defeated by a simple shooting and grabbing tactic!

Ryan Anderson is both sweet and smelly. He really punches hard on the offensive end, but is submissive on the defensive end. Harris scored 6 points on him just by cutting in without the ball.

Paul wanted to scold his teammates and boost their morale, but in the end he chose not to say a word.

Many people in the Rockets locker room don't like his leadership style. Putting pressure on his teammates at this time may cause the opponent to break...

Coach D'Antoni expected to encounter difficulties, but he did not expect that Harden would suddenly pull away and even miss a free throw.
To be continued...