Stealing is a risky defensive tactic.
If it fails...
Without teammates to help defend, you can only watch the opponent score.
Head coaches generally discourage players from gambling on steals in defense. Most of the league's best stealers are smaller players because they are faster and have a lower center of gravity, making it easier for them to steal the ball, especially when defending bigger players on the perimeter!
Wei Guo's steals relied on his hand speed and anticipation!
However, it is indeed more difficult for him to make a steal than for a smaller player. He must lower his center of gravity, and if he fails to make the steal, he will not have time to get back on defense.
This alliance... has no weaklings.
A successful interception opens up a wide-open space ahead; this is the moment for Wei Guo to shine!
Stackhouse slowed down after taking two steps. Putting aside Wei Guo's speed, just looking at his stride, it took Stackhouse one and a half steps to catch up with Wei Guo for every one step Wei Guo took.
They've reached the free-throw line!
Wei Guo slowed down, then tossed the ball onto the backboard and pulled off a self-alley-oop dunk!
Cummings smiled like an aunt, "Brother Wei really knows how to have fun."
Points +2...Rebounds +1...
Good heavens, no one thinks Wei Guo is inflating his stats, right?
Stackhouse looked at Don Nelson with a guilty expression. "I'm sorry, Coach... I was careless and didn't dodge."
......
Stackhouse plays with more composure than Billy, at least he doesn't get carried away.
The Mavericks stabilized the situation.
Although they were behind, the Suns did not manage to pull away completely.
......
The game remained close, going all the way into the fourth quarter. With 3 minutes and 9 seconds left in the game, Nowitzki hit two consecutive three-pointers, narrowing the gap to just 7 points.
Gentry called a timeout.
"Our lead was hard-won; we've persevered this far, and we absolutely cannot let victory slip through our fingers!"
"Steve...take the shot when you get the chance, don't hesitate! Even though you've already dished out 27 assists, winning is far more important than records."
“Learn from Wei Ge. He won every record-breaking night. Wei Ge’s life is all about milestones, not tragedies.”
This timeout was called by Gentry, not D'Antoni. The Suns players have a strong execution of their tactics, and winning or losing depends on sheer determination. The main reason for calling this timeout was to motivate the players and prevent them from letting their guard down in the final moments!
certainly...
While motivating the players, Gentry also made sure to praise the national team – that's standard practice, don't be silly.
This season...
The Suns have only lost one game so far.
The Timberwolves widened their lead in the final moments of that game due to a lapse in concentration and a series of turnovers. Even Wei Guo's three consecutive three-pointers in the last minute couldn't turn the tide.
......
The timeout has ended, and the game has resumed.
Suns on offense!
Nash has the ball, Wei Guo sets a high screen to facilitate, and the guard Guo rolls down the court to create space.
This is the Suns' most common tactic in positional warfare.
Nash bounced the ball down, and it passed between Stackhouse and Josh to Weiguo. Weiguo caught the ball and slammed it over Dampier with a powerful dunk!
"Bang!!!"
The basketball was smashed into the hoop.
When Wei Guo landed, Dampier accidentally bumped into Wei Guo's shoulder. Wei Guo turned his head and said, "Next time I dunk, stay far away!"
121:112!!
The Suns lead by 9 points.
Less than 3 minutes remain in the match...
The next defensive play will be crucial. If they can stop this play, the Mavericks' chances of taking the lead will be very slim.
Finley makes a quick three-pointer!
The shot was too powerful; it didn't even touch the rim, but bounced off the backboard... For a professional player, this shot was a bit outrageous. Even Wei Guo couldn't predict the ball's landing point and didn't position himself properly... The ball ended up in Nowitzki's hands.
"Whoosh!!!"
Nowitzki raised his hand and put the ball into the basket.
121:114!!
This is trying to force suspense into the game... Wei Guo disagrees, Gentry disagrees, and Nash disagrees too!
Offense and defense reversed!
Wei Guo, positioned to facilitate the play, executed an inside-outside pass with Nash, who then launched a three-pointer.
Hit!
124:114!!
The Suns are leading by 10 points.
Cummings stared at the statistics sheet in his hand and exclaimed in astonishment, "Old Jin, Nash has already scored 27 points and 28 assists!"
"Holy crap..."
Gentry snatched the technical statistics sheet from him. "You're not mistaken, are you?"
Cummings frowned. "Are you questioning me? I might not be that good at playing... but I'm a professional at recording statistics!"
Gentry only knew that Nash had delivered a lot of assists tonight because the Suns' offensive tactics tonight were all executed by Wei Guo and Nash. Wei Guo's off-ball movement ability ranks first in the league... his finishing ability ranks first in the league... he just doesn't have a strong offensive desire, but his shooting percentage is very high when he catches the ball and shoots immediately.
Nash dished out 28 assists tonight, nearly 20 of which were assists for Wei Guo's points.
Gentry didn't expect that Nash's score would quietly reach 27 points. So, most of the Suns' points tonight were related to Nash, either from his assists or from his own scoring.
That's terrifying!!!
Looking at the stats alone, the Suns' strongest man tonight was Nash, not Weiguo.
"you say..."
Cummings asked in a low voice, "Can Nash get 30+30 tonight?"
"It's necessary to remind Nash."
Gentry said, "There are still three minutes left, so theoretically it's possible."
If Nash achieves this, he will be the first player in the league to record 30 points and 30 assists in a single game. Keep in mind... before that, only Chamberlain and Wei Guo had recorded '30+30' stats, but the difference is... Wei Guo and Chamberlain both had 30 points and 30 rebounds.
......
Just as Gentry and Cummings were discussing Nash's stats, Finley scored two points with a mid-range shot.
On the Suns' side...
Wei Guo once again facilitated from the low post, assisting Nash to hit a three-pointer.
128:116!!
With the Suns leading by 12 points, the Mavericks were getting further and further away from victory. Don Nelson called a timeout, considering whether to persevere or give up the game.
after all...
The game will end in less than two minutes.
After the timeout, if the Mavericks substituted their starters, the Suns would also bring in their reserves. Just as Don Nelson was hesitating, the assistant coach reminded him: "Nash played exceptionally well tonight; he has already scored 30 points and dished out 28 assists!"
"Holy crap..."
Don Nelson and Alvin Gentry reacted in unison, exclaiming, "30 points and 28 assists?! Is that even a human being can achieve?!"
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