Chapter 189 Desperate James!

James' history has enabled him to start his one-star-four-shooting style of play in advance.

But unfortunately, the teammates around me are really not strong enough.

The top four in the Eastern Conference are occupied by championship-level teams such as the Celtics and Heat.

The Wizards, Bulls, and 76ers.

No team is easy to deal with.

He is now competing fiercely with the Cavaliers and the Knicks for the last playoff spot.

then……

The Nets traded for Vince Carter, and then in the game at the end of December, Kidd also successfully returned.

And his next opponent is the Celtics.

James felt that it was too difficult for him!

With a helpless mood, James boarded the plane to Boston.

Regarding the Cavaliers 1.0 period of James' career, many James fans believed that the Cavaliers management was very weak and could not provide strong help to James.

In fact, this problem is not just about James.

Even when Kobe was at his peak, didn't the Lakers trade for David O'Neal in 07?
In the three seasons since the OK breakup, have the Lakers wasted Kobe's peak?
It's so difficult to recruit players in big markets, let alone a small market like Cleveland?
And not all teams are willing to bet the future on the present.

James really needs his Pippen now. Although Big Z is quite strong and has All-Star potential.

But James needs a teammate who can play one-on-one from mid-range without any distinction.

After arriving at the North Shore Garden, James once again heard the familiar insults.

"You Cleveland scumbags! You are doomed to fail!"

"Send the Chosen One home!"

"You'll never beat the Celtics!"

"..."

James was already used to all this and started warming up on his own.

Although James and the Cavaliers' record is not good, he is the chosen one of the beautiful family after all.

This game still attracted a lot of attention.

ESPN also sent Mike Breen and Amy Johnsun as live commentators.

"Mike, did you see that? Lin Yu is wearing a new pair of sneakers."

"Amy, I saw it. I have to say that Lin Yu's sneakers look really beautiful."

"It is said that Lin Yu's first pair of signature sneakers has sold more than 35 pairs in total. I wonder what the scene will be like when the second pair of signature sneakers is released?"

As the two chatted, the warm-up was about to end.

The Celtics' starting lineup: center Okur, power forward Dio, small forward Pierce, shooting guard Battier, point guard Lin Yu.

The Cavaliers' starting lineup: center Big Z, power forward LaFrentz, small forward James, shooting guard Ira Newbell, point guard Jeff McGinnis.

Although the trading market is open, it is clear that the Cavaliers have not made any reinforcements.

With Big Z's successful jump ball, the Cavaliers began to organize their offense.

James holds the ball, ready to organize an offense.

then……

James fell directly into an offensive stagnation.

After the Cavaliers used the bankrupt version of the one-star four-shooter strategy, their general offense was the high-post pick-and-roll between James and Big Z.

Big Z used his excellent shooting ability to pull the opponent's center out of the restricted area.

If the opponent's center does not come out, he will directly take a long two-point shot in an open position.

If the opponent's center is pulled out of the restricted area, James will break through and rush to the basket.

Ordinary blue-collar centers naturally cannot keep up with James' speed at this time.

If the opponent switches defense in time or double-teams in time.

James can pass the ball to LaFrentz in the corner or Ilan Newbell at the 45-degree wing.

But the Celtics are different. They start with five forwards.

No matter how James sets the pick and roll or how he plays the mismatch, his opponents are all forward players.

Seeing that the offensive time was about to end, James had to force a breakthrough.

bump!
With the sound of muscles colliding, Dio blocked James's powerful attack.

At this time, Battier also came to assist in defense.

He and Dio completed the double-team on James.

James was double-teamed and failed to pass the ball immediately, and the 24-second offense was about to end.

In the last 2 seconds, James passed the ball to Ira Newbell who was in an open position. After receiving the ball, Ira Newbell had no time to think and could only hastily complete the shot.

Bang!

In a hasty move, Ira Newbell's shot missed. After Lin Yu grabbed the rebound, the Celtics started a fast break counterattack.

Big Z had no time to return to defense and could only watch Lin Yu score.

Bang!

As Lin Yu landed with a tomahawk dunk, the entire North Shore Garden was instantly filled with cheers!
"Nice dunk! Lin Yu showed off his abundant offensive firepower right from the start!"

"It can be seen that LeBron played very passively against the Celtics. The Cavaliers should be in danger."

Mike Breen is no fool, he can naturally see James's struggle now.

James in the Cavaliers 1.0 period did not develop his post-up skills or shooting.

Basically it relies on a breakthrough pass.

This leads to James facing a team that restrains him.

The fight will be particularly difficult.

The Celtics' Death Five are naturally the most restraining force against James in the entire league.

The five starting forwards were all on defense, and there were no defensive loopholes.

There are also two of the league's top defenders, Lin Yu and Battier.

This kind of team is the one that can best restrain James during the Cavaliers 1.0 period.

No matter how James sets the pick and roll, the defenders he plays against are all forwards, and his defensive strategy is to let the players shoot and prevent them from breaking through.

Even James finally made it to the penalty area.

Lin Yu, the help defense monster, is always able to return to the restricted area to protect the basket in time and interfere with James' shots.

"Lin Yu's assist defense is amazing! Another block! LeBron was blocked by Lin Yu again today!"

"Dio grabbed the rebound and the Celtics started to fight back."

"Lin Yu holds the ball at the top of the arc, and Dio and Pierce cut to the Cavaliers' low post together."

"Paul and Pierce received the ball in the low post, and he signaled his teammates to open up offensive space, and he backed up LeBron James in the low post!"

"Beautiful! Paul Pierce made a successful back-to-back shot!"

"..."

As the voice of the live commentator Mike Breen continued to ring out, the Celtics continued to suppress the Cavaliers.

At the end of the first half, the Celtics led the Cavaliers by 55 points, 40:10.

James looked at the big score deficit and now had only one thought.

Why is he always pinned to the ground and beaten whenever he meets the Celtics?
In the Celtics locker room.

Rivers was also very excited at this time, but his excitement was not because he was leading the Cavaliers.

After all, the Cavaliers' real strength is not strong. They are just a team on the edge of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

What really excites Rivers is that Pierce finally stops falling behind!

After two poor performances, Pierce's condition finally improved, scoring 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the first half.

As long as Pierce doesn't drag down the Celtics, the Celtics' death five will have no major shortcomings.

(End of this chapter)