NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 735 Stifling the Opponent with Defense

The Clippers still used a 10-man rotation, with a small lineup in the second unit: Lee Kyle, Jaden McDaniels, Grant Williams, Bruce Brown, and Brunson.

The Clippers specifically targeted your second unit's lack of interior scoring ability. Naz Reed is indeed very useful; he can shoot threes and run fast breaks, but his ability to attack the paint is mediocre. Of course, if he could do everything, he should replace Towns in the starting lineup.

Brunson performed better in the playoffs than in the regular season; he's still perfectly suited for tough games. This is what everyone's saying, and it's proven true—he's even more like the Clippers' second option than George. He never falters in crucial games, while George's performances are inconsistent.

This is certainly a good thing for the Clippers. With Brunson, even if George rests or is injured, both of their lineups will have a core player, and there won't be a situation where there is no leader on the court.

In that sense, Jia Fei, Paul George, and Brunson could be considered a low-key version of the Big Three. Many people do not agree with the two "Big Three" players, Paul George and Brunson, but these three players do not conflict and can coexist. There is no huge controversy over ball possession.

At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers led by 10 points, with a score of 15:25.

The Timberwolves were held to 15 points by the Clippers in a single quarter, highlighting a major problem for their offense.

Jia Fei was quite satisfied with the team's performance in the first quarter. His idea was to not compete with the Timberwolves on offense from the start, but to increase the intensity of the defense and suppress the opponent, using defense to drive offense. This approach was more suitable for dealing with a young team like the Timberwolves.

The best way to deal with such a talented young team is to shut them down from the start, making their offense very difficult. This will frustrate them, make them doubt themselves, and disrupt their offense, which in turn leads to a breakdown in their defense. This is true for most young players, especially gifted ones. Once their offense gets going, their defensive intensity will be unprecedented. They will unleash their fearlessness and dare to score all sorts of unconventional shots, potentially defeating even the most experienced players with sheer brilliance.

The Timberwolves are undoubtedly a team with a deep roster full of talent. Even with Karl-Anthony Towns gone, they still have two number-one draft picks: Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Both are offensively gifted; one is a versatile modern basketball center, albeit somewhat soft; the other is a fiery, all-around offensive player with explosive scoring ability. If these two aren't contained, and they also get the rest of the team, including D'Angelo Russell, firing on all cylinders from the perimeter, the Timberwolves will be incredibly difficult to defend.

The Jazz and Pelicans serve as examples; they failed to defend Towns and Edwards, two number one draft picks, and ultimately both were eliminated.

The Clippers certainly have the offensive firepower to compete with their opponents, and even if they lose Game 1 due to a defensive lapse, they're not necessarily going to be upset in the first round. However, in Jia Fei's view, their goal isn't the first round; they aim for a five-peat. Getting bogged down in the first round and expending too much energy is neither suitable nor desirable. The NBA playoffs are a marathon, with series often going up to seven games. Deciding the outcome quickly is the best way to conserve energy and prevent injuries.

This was also part of Jia Fei's strategy plan when discussing the game with Coach Buden before the game. Therefore, he volunteered to guard Edwards. Against Towns, they used their upper body to force him to drive, double-teaming him when he got to the basket and leaving Vanderbilt open. They clearly intended to limit these two number one draft picks. As for you, Beverley or Vanderbilt, you can try and kill me if you dare.

This defensive strategy completely shut down the two number one draft picks. The Clippers' rotation speed was very fast, their defense was extremely flexible, their one-on-one defense was outstanding, and their help defense was excellent. This made the young Timberwolves feel like they were dying...

In the second quarter, the Timberwolves didn't have many effective strategies either. Their offense remained sporadic and unable to generate consistent scoring. Edwards was obsessed with one-on-one plays but couldn't beat Jia Fei, which frustrated him. He became more selfish during transition offense, further disrupting the team's offensive rhythm.

At halftime, the Clippers led by 17 points, with the score at 38-55.

Intermission.

"Mr. Yang, the Clippers held the Timberwolves to just 38 points in the first half. Can you give the Timberwolves some advice on how to adjust their offense in the second half?" Wang Meng asked.

Yang Yi twirled his pen and laughed, "I really can't say for sure, hahaha... The Timberwolves' problem isn't theirs; they're being defended too well. Their defense is too strong, not that you can't make your shots. Many times, we have offensive opportunities, but you can't make them, and you don't really have any opportunities! Is Vanderbilt's kind of opportunity? That's an opportunity given to you by others; everyone knows you can't shoot. It's not an opportunity you create. Do you see Edwards having opportunities? Do Towns having opportunities? Do Russell having opportunities?"

"So, bro, you're saying the Timberwolves have no chance?"

"The Clippers' pre-game strategy was excellent. Jia Fei personally guarded Edwards and shut down Towns. This serious defensive attitude meant they were unlikely to lose. Their offense was actually mediocre in the first half, but the Clippers' defense was solid, so the Timberwolves had no chance!"

The third quarter of the game.

The Timberwolves made adjustments in the second half, instructing Edwards not to go one-on-one against Jia Fei when he had the ball, but instead to use pick-and-rolls to target other Clippers players.

The Clippers' response was to use direct delays. Regardless of who Edwards was running a pick-and-roll with, they would delay the play and then quickly rotate to keep Vanderbilt open for three-pointers.

Vanderbilt obviously couldn't make the shot, and he was too afraid to shoot anymore. The Clippers exploited Edwards' weaknesses of slow passing and poor court vision, forcing him to either go one-on-one against Jia Fei or play off-ball.

Edwards' off-ball movement is mediocre, his positioning is problematic, and he's used to attacking with the ball. Furthermore, Russell's attacks don't draw double teams, and he doesn't have many open opportunities.

The real open shot opportunity is with Vanderbilt! But Brother Biao is too scared to even take it...

The Clippers' defense against Towns employed a mismatch defense at the 4/5 positions. When Towns was outside the three-point line, Grant would guard him, Hartenstein would protect the paint, and Vanderbilt would be left open; when Towns went into the paint, Hartenstein would guard him.

Towns possesses top-tier shooting ability among centers in the league, capable of both one-on-one and post-up plays. However, his preferred and strongest weapon is still shooting, specifically face-up offense. Against weaker opponents, he dominates. But against stronger players who engage in physical battles, his offensive efficiency noticeably declines. He is clearly vulnerable to tight defense, and the Clippers' ubiquitous help defense further hinders his offense. Furthermore, his lack of excellent passing ability makes him prone to turnovers when double-teamed. These factors make him unsuitable as the primary leader of a championship-contending team.