There weren't any special tactics assigned; it was just a matter of giving the players some encouragement!

The timeout is about to end...

Sloan added, "I won't go into the importance of this competition. If we lose another game, we can all go home and go fishing!"

......

The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.

Jazz on offense!

Deron passed the ball to Kirilenko after crossing half-court and then made a run towards the basket. Kirilenko drew Wei Guo's defense and immediately passed the ball to Boozer. When Boozer got the ball, Okur had already cut to the basket.

Pass the ball hand-to-hand!

"Whoosh!!!"

Okur received the ball and scored a layup.

The Jazz finally got their first shot... This offensive play was also very well executed, with all five players participating in the attack, and their positioning allowed Okur to find scoring opportunities.

Then...

Odom missed a mid-range shot, Boozer grabbed the defensive rebound, Deron Williams sprinted up the court, received the pass, and launched a three-pointer.

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball went into the net.

4:5!!!

The Jazz have taken the lead for now.

Pausing was very effective...

The audience erupted in excitement, chanting, "Victory! Victory! Victory!"

Gentry was combing his eyebrows with his middle finger. Although he was sitting on the bench, he had been watching the game closely. "The defense is so tight, are they betting on us to shoot?"

Cummings scoffed, "If Wei wants to play inside, no matter how tight the defense is, it won't help."

"If the Jazz defend like this..."

"They're going to suffer a lot," Turiaf said.

Do you really think a big man lineup can't shoot? Do you really think Kobe was a Los Angeles blacksmith?

If you dare to let the Lakers go, you dare to shoot...

Sloan is betting on the Lakers' shooting touch.

Lakers on offense!

Kobe shook off Kirilenko, received a pass from Wei Guo beyond the three-point line, and launched a fadeaway shot!

"bang~~~"

Forge iron!!!

Sloan was so excited he almost jumped up. This was exactly the effect he wanted... If Kobe wasn't having a good shooting night, the Jazz had a 10% better chance of winning. If Wei Guo was having the same bad night... the Jazz would have a 30% better chance of winning!

Boozer grabs the defensive rebound!

It has to be said that the Jazz played very aggressively. With Bynum and Boozer both under the basket, Boozer managed to block them from behind, which is why Bynum failed to grab the rebound.

Deron Williams breaks into the penalty area!

We've come full circle again...

Okur, Boozer, and Kirilenko were all making runs. Deron passed the ball to Kirilenko, who caught it and made a short floater!

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball went into the net.

4:7!!

The Jazz lead by 3 points.

This is interesting. After the timeout, the Jazz scored 7 consecutive points, especially Kirilenko. His strength lies in defense rather than offense. This catch-and-shoot floater was very decisive... Is the Jazz really going to replicate their miracle in the first round of the playoffs?

The audience is full of anticipation...

Sloan glanced at Gentry and saw him sitting on a small stool with his hands supporting his chin, enjoying the game with great interest, without showing any sign of urgency.

"Fuck..."

Sloan thought to himself, "Even a dog chained to the coaching bench will bark a couple of times, but what kind of attitude is Gentry showing?"

That calm demeanor is really infuriating!

Achoo!

Gentry suddenly sneezed, rubbed his nose, and muttered, "Who's messing with me behind my back?"

......

The Lakers called an official timeout after seven minutes of play in the first quarter.

16:17!!

The Lakers are down by one point.

Sloan called Korver, Harpring, and Millsap to his side and said, "The team needs you to perform. Treat this game like a Game 7. Can you do that?"

"able!"

The three nodded.

This kind of game doesn't suit too much rotation; an eight-man rotation is enough. The Jazz have many bench players, but only these three are truly reliable, especially Harpring. He was once Wei Guo's teammate and was a regular starter in his first year with the Jazz, averaging 17 points per game, second only to Malone.

It's worth mentioning...

Malone and Stockton both came to the game. Both have retired and were partners for twenty years, but they no longer sit together.

Lakers' bench!

Gentry was preparing to substitute Paul, and while the rest of the team was playing, Gentry shared a fable with Paul.

......

The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.

Players on the field:

Jazz: Deron Williams, Korver, Harpring, Millsap, Okur

Lakers: Paul, Walton, Ariza, Vujacic, Bynum

The lineups are so similar...

They all consist of a point guard, a center, and three small forwards.

Lakers on offense!

Paul dribbled past Deron Williams with a series of crossovers, then drove to the basket, dribbled the ball behind his back, faked a behind-the-back pass to fool Millsap, and then stepped forward for a layup.

18:17!!

The Lakers took the lead.

No applause...

It's an away game, so it's understandable!

Korver is a three-point specialist. Harprin and Okur moved to draw away the defenders, creating shooting space for Korver. Korver, ready to receive the ball, instantly received a pass from Deron Williams and shot over Ariza!

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball went into the net.

18:20!!

The Jazz have taken the lead again.

After scoring, Korver pounded his chest in celebration and gave Ariza an 'ok' sign, indicating that he had just made a three-pointer.

Ariza made 9 of 13 three-point attempts in the last game...

After the game, Sloan told Korver that if Korver could do that, the Jazz would definitely beat the Lakers. Korver was also secretly competing with Ariza.

For the Lakers...

Ariza received a pass from Paul and missed a three-pointer, but Bynum grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on the putback.

Gentry laughed and said, "Iza's shooting touch comes and goes; it's hard for him to go 9-for-13 every game."

You're kidding me!

Kobe jokingly nudged Gentry, "9 out of 13 every game? A 70% three-point shooting percentage... Even Wei can't do that."

......

Sloan kept glancing at the Lakers' bench; the more harmonious the atmosphere, the more annoyed he became!

These people...

They weren't taking the game seriously at all; this is the Western Conference semifinals!