After Sloan called a timeout, there were no substitutions or tactics. He just seemed to emphasize that the players should focus on the game and treat it as a battle rather than a basketball game.
As a veteran coach, Sloan knows very well that at this point in the game, it is a competition of willpower.
In addition, Sloan also asked the players to abandon their distracting thoughts, which seemed to be addressed to Boozer. Boozer was obviously not focused enough on the defensive end in the past few minutes. He was preoccupied with improving statistics.
He has a good chance of scoring double 20 tonight. You have to know that Boozer will be better at the end of the summer.
There is a player option to opt out of the contract.
If he produces explosive statistics in the playoffs, it will undoubtedly help him get a high salary.
Boozer didn't have much identification with the Jazz. He joined the Jazz because they gave him too much.
In the summer of 2004, Boozer had already reached a verbal agreement with the Cavaliers to sign a six-year, $41 million contract. However, just five days later, Boozer suddenly changed his tune and accepted the Jazz's six-year, $68 million contract.
.
Boozer is like a mercenary. You can also say that he is a rebel. In short, he will go wherever there is a lot of money. There is no need for affection.
Of course, as a professional player, Boozer definitely has a desire to win, but this desire is not as strong as collecting statistics and getting a big contract.
The game restarted, and the Jazz's home court was full of momentum. With a three-point difference, the fans didn't think it was an insurmountable gap.
Deron called a double pick-and-roll and then used the screen to hit the inside. Boozer followed up again, but this time Deron chose to believe in himself.
He met Stoudemire with a high throw, and the ball passed through Stoudemire's fingertips and accurately hit the net!
Stoudemire knocked down Deron before landing, and the referee whistled 21.
Deron got up excitedly and bumped chests with his teammates. At this time, he also released all the energy in his body.
After the extra penalty hit, both sides returned to the same starting line.
When the Suns attacked, Chen Yan came out from the baseline. After receiving the ball, he first feinted a shot, and then withdrew to take a shot outside the three-point line.
"Clang!"
Blacksmithing!
Chen Yan has to absorb a lot of shots, and with the intensity of the playoffs, he cannot guarantee that every ball will be scored.
The Jazz attacked, and Deron's elbow jump shot after the pick-and-roll also missed.
The Jazz have a big hidden danger, that is, Deron and Boozer played almost full games, and they only got a short rest at the end of the first quarter and the second quarter.
Both sides' shooting percentages declined in the final stages of the game.
When the bayonet sees red, it depends on who can hold it steady.
…
…
In the last two minutes of the game, the two sides were tied at 92.
The competition has entered its most intense stage.
D'Antoni called a timeout. After the timeout, the Suns made substitution adjustments. D'Antoni replaced Azubuike to strengthen the offense. In fact, Azubuike's defense is also good. Let him play D'Antoni without worrying about being targeted by the opponent.
The Jazz lineup remains unchanged, and they plan to fight with this lineup until the end.
Deron and Boozer were already very tired, and Sloan asked them to hold on. It would be suicide to replace the core and rest at this time.
The Suns attacked, and after halftime, Nash lobbed to Chen Yan near the elbow.
Chen Yan leaned on his back and immediately turned to the front. He rarely used his back in this series. Fighting with his back was very energy-consuming, and neither Brewer nor Kirilenko had a physical advantage.
It's better to use a face frame that you are better at.
Chen Yan continued to test, and Delong on the flank was ready to double-team at any time.
Chen Yan took another tentative step and pulled directly towards Kirilenko!
"Whoa!"
Two points credited!
94 to 92.
The closer the critical moment comes, the more clean and efficient the attack method must be.
The Jazz didn't call a timeout. After halftime, Deron played a pick-and-roll with Boozer and passed to Millsap inside the three-point line.
Millsap has a certain mid-range ability, but he is a bit cautious in this white-hot stage and does not dare to take action.
Deron immediately stepped up to respond, and Nash pressed hard, almost causing Millsap to make a mistake.
In the final stage of the fight, both sides had no reservations and the intensity was at its maximum.
Deron stabilized the ball and then attacked Nash. Nash was stuck in a good position. Deron couldn't make a strong start, so he turned around and passed Kirilenko from the edge of the penalty area.
ak47 didn't dare to shoot. In the last three seconds, the blame was passed to Boozer, who reluctantly took the shot from the free throw line.
The ball hit the front edge and bounced into the frame.
Luck was on the Jazz's side this round.
94 square meters.
The Jazz's role players hesitated at the last moment, but the Suns' role players were different. During this period, the Suns truly had the temperament of a champion, and their role players were also very daring to take on defense-breaking roles.
After Azubuike helped Nash pick and roll, there was a mismatch, and Nash quickly hit the ball to the ground and passed it over.
At this time, Chen Yan is on the other side of the flank, and Azubuike has enough space to face Delong 1v1.
Azubuike does not have stage fright, he said he is afraid of birds!
Didn't the coach let him play for offense?
When will this kind of misplaced opportunity not come to pass?
Azubuike took the ball and took a step to the right. Then he dribbled the ball from his hip to his left hand and thrust his left shoulder. The movement was very smooth!
Azu trains with Chen Yan every day, and occasionally asks Chen Yan to give him some guidance. In the past two seasons, his breakthrough progress has been rapid, and Azu himself is very confident.
Taking advantage of the moment when Delong's center of gravity shifted to the right, Azubuike changed his direction and rushed in from the right!
Deron reacted quickly and caught up in time, but there was a size gap between him and Azubuike. Azubuike relied on Deron to score the ball.
96 to 94.
A very crucial goal!
The Jazz didn't dare to make up defense because they were afraid of missing Chen Yan or Nash.
Then the Jazz launched another pick-and-roll, and Kirilenko on the weak side cut in and dunked.
96 square meters.
Diaw and Chen Yan cooperated on the strong side. Chen Yan returned the ball and assisted Diaw to hit a three-pointer. The Suns once again took the lead.
99 to 96.
Chen Yan's shot was very hard, showing his true qualities as a killer!
The Jazz didn't panic. They played a gorgeous offense in the next round. Deron Boozer's pick-and-roll move, Kirilenko and Millsap cut in from various positions and attacked the basket from the air. This was very beautiful.
Team basketball, pick and roll, cut, man to ball.
The ball was eventually forced into the basket by Boozer.
99 to 98.
Chen Yan was also anxious. He turned on the individual singles mode at the last moment and ordered Delong after the pick-and-roll.
The sun cleared one side, Chen Yan sank to the baseline and hit Delong with his back.
Deron is very strong, but Chen Yan has a height advantage. Deron dare not use his full strength. He has to be careful of Chen Yan's turnaround jump shot.
The Jazz were slightly hesitant in their double attack, and by the time Kirilenko came up, Chen Yan had already completed his turn.
Without any false moves, Chen Yan took action against Delong!
This time, Deron was unable to interfere with his shot when he was leaning back. In fact, Deron couldn't block Chen Yan even without leaning back. His take-off height was very high, and it didn't look like he was going to fight until the end of the fourth quarter.
The basketball spins at high speed and hits the back edge into the bag!
101 to 98.
Chen Yan used two very hard shots to crush the Jazz's dream of winning step by step.
The Jazz trailed by three points with 37 seconds left before the end of the game.
The Jazz called a timeout, and various commentators predicted what tactics the Jazz would play.
Barkley felt that this was a good time for Deron to make a final decision. Kenny Smith felt that Deron was not very fit now. This ball might be a quick two-pointer and a steady progress.
In the cctv5 studio, Zhang Lili felt that this shot must have been made by Deron, because this is what stars do at the most critical moment. Director Xu felt that no matter who shoots the Suns, they only need to guard against three-pointers, as long as they don't let the Jazz score three-pointers.
The initiative lies with the sun.
D'Antoni arranged a man-to-man tactic during the timeout, and anyone could take the three-pointer at the last moment.
The game restarted and Jazz served from the center line.
Deron stepped out from the wing to catch the ball, and everything went as expected. The final attack was left to Deron.
Deron made a gesture to pull away, but the next second he distributed the ball to the bottom corner.
Korver quickly turned around after catching the ball, made no adjustments, and shot a jump shot directly!
Chen Yan was blocked by Boozer and Stoudemire did not defend him immediately. No one expected that the Jazz would steal a three-pointer, but they did just that.
Sloan's reverse thinking gave Korver valuable shooting space.
"Whoa!"
Korver raises the knife and drops it!
101 versus 101.
The entire energy center is boiling!
At this time, the broadcast camera showed a close-up of Sloan, and I can only say that he is still hotter with age!