NBA: Opening breaks record

Chapter 20 Payne's Nightmare

After a timeout, the Suns replaced Booker and Payne.

Even if the Lakers are only 3 points behind, the head coach still dares to let Paul rest.

Because they have Payne on the bench.

Payne is also an inspirational role model.

That year's draft was the 14th pick in the first round, and he played for Westbrook in the Thunder.

Later, he was traded to the Bulls, was waived two years later, and started a wandering career.

After failing to play in the NBA, he played for the Shanxi team in the CBA.

Later, even the CBA looked down on him.

At the end of the day, the head coach of the Suns threw an olive branch to him.

There is no love for no reason. Monty Williams will look at him because when he was in the Thunder, the frustrated Williams was an assistant coach.

Payne lived up to Williams' trust and quickly adapted to the Suns' style of play. Last season, the Suns eliminated the Los Angeles duo, and he made great contributions.

It can also be seen from Payne's experience that the NBA competition is cruel.

Now, Payne, who has just gained a firm foothold in the team, will soon face competition from young people from other teams.

Payne holds the ball, and the defender in front of him seems to be taller and stronger than him.

He immediately signaled his teammates to pick and roll, and his basketball IQ has always been high.

The Lakers didn't switch defenses, Meng Hua passed through the screener and bit Payne tightly.

Meng Hua's lateral movement is fast, and Payne's dribbling ability is not as good as Paul's, so he can't dismantle the ball.

He wanted to move to the left, but found Meng Hua put his right hand.

Obviously, the rookie knew he was left-handed.

Payne slowly pushed to the right, trying to penetrate the enemy's inside line, but Meng Hua's strong physical confrontation made him very uncomfortable.

Worried about making a mistake, he received the ball and passed it to Booker, then went down the inside line, ran around Ayton and Warcraft, and then went to the outside line.

Looking up, Meng Hua was still in front of him.

Seeing that his teammates had no chance, Booker had to play singles with the ball.

As a top shooting guard, his singles hit rate is also very high, and he does not necessarily need teamwork.

If you hit 100% from the field, what kind of teamwork does the offense need?
It's a pity that Booker's shooting rate is not that high, and he hit the iron on Rivers' head.

The Lakers attacked, Melon made a screen, and Rivers, who had just successfully defended, rushed to the penalty area in a fit of anger.

Seeing the burly Claude flying over, Rivers yelled "to be strong to control the strong", hit the ground to the strong man of the team, and dunked with all his strength.

Meng Hua, who was outside the three-point line, quickly ran to the bottom line of the Suns, and almost hit James who was back on defense.

James said, you continue, I will retreat first.

Meng Hua and Payne were lingering again, and finally reached the backcourt of the Lakers.

Williams didn't expect Payne to be so embarrassed, but he couldn't call a timeout just because of this.

For Paul?
That won't work, Paul is the most reliable at critical moments, and Wang Zha can't show up now.

Williams thought about it, and then waited and watched, hoping that Payne could hold on.

Payne has a big head, and Meng Hua is fast on his feet, and he doesn't take fake moves or reach out to steal the ball, just like his shadow, lingering.

Even in the finals, he never encountered such a difficult opponent.

He thought of the mad dog in the Western Conference Finals.

The two dogs are so similar.

No, this one is younger and faster.

Payne continued to pass to Booker, and the situation couldn't be opened, so it should be resolved by the boss.

Booker killed from left to right, and Penn crossed positions, trying to help him lure the mad dog away.

Booker thought he was going to catch the ball. When the two were close, Booker passed the ball hand-in-hand. This kind of pass was very stable.

Payne hesitated for a moment, and at that moment, Meng Hua turned into a thief and slapped Booker's ball away.

He kept telling himself not to reach out, not to reach out.

But the ball was there, big and round.

He still couldn't control the primitive impulse in his heart.

Meng Hua took the ball, brought it back, avoided Payne's steal, and passed it to James.

James rushed up, he was like a tank running at high speed.

Booker desperately chased back, but this kind of ball, if you defend James, you will only get 2+1. He is just pretending, and he understands it very well.

James stepped on the colorful auspicious clouds, dunked with both hands above the nine-day sky, and screamed into the sky after landing. The difference between the two sides was only 1 point.

Paul looked at Williams and saw that he didn't intend to change, so he had to continue to sit on the bench.

Meng Hua also ran forward, but instead of attacking, he waited for the sun to serve the bottom line.

Since you want to be a mad dog, you have to be crazy to the end.

You can never be crazy when you see good things.

Booker, who sent the baseline ball, gave him a hard look, and threw the ball high to Payne.

Break this ball for me to see again?
The ball was in the air, and Meng Hua quickly chased after it. Of course, he couldn't be faster than the ball.

But as soon as Payne received the ball, he was also in place and continued to press.

Payne was unbearable, but if the pass was passed, it would be a bit embarrassing. To be on the safe side, he dribbled the ball with his left hand instead.

What about creating opportunities, go to hell, it is true to ensure that the ball is not intercepted first.

After the ball passed halftime, Payne breathed a sigh of relief and passed the ball to Bridges, finally not losing face.

After the ball was passed, Meng Hua was still like brown sugar.

The two were far away from the ball, and his position was not threatening, so Meng Hua still stared at him.

Seeing him so powerful and unforgiving, and thinking of all the unsatisfactory things in the CBA, Payne became more and more upset the more he thought about it.

Bridges shot a three-pointer, Payne was relieved, and Williams was also relieved.

Although the team's offense is a bit difficult to open the situation, it will happen in many cases, the tactical coordination fails, and the star singles are changed.

Going in is a good goal!

The Lakers attack, James holds the ball at the top of the arc, and Crowder sticks to the defense.

James tried, stretched his left foot, and Crowder stepped back with his right foot.

James withdrew his foot, and Crowder stepped on his right foot again.

The two danced tango tacitly. James suddenly raised his hands high and threw the ball to Tucker in the left corner like a medicine ball.

Tucker made a fake move, Bridges drove fast and drove out of bounds.

Tucker made a jumper and responded with a 3-pointer.

Here he comes again, here he comes again.

Payne blocked Meng Hua, made a fake shoulder to the right, and then ran to the left to catch the ball.

When Meng Hua was about to pounce on him.

Bang!
Hitting a wall, stomach churning.

Claude held up his hands, but I didn't do anything.

Suffering a dark loss, Meng Hua ignored him and continued to stare at Payne.

His goal is only Payne, and nothing can change it.

After chasing to the midfield, he caught up with Payne, who was slowing down, and reached out to signal Rivers: Thank you, I'll come.

The Suns used Claude to delay him, and the frontcourt was also four-on-four, and Rivers would of course make up for the defense.

Payne made three laps to the left and three laps to the right. Meng Hua danced perfectly with him.

Payne's anger was also ignited, and his eyes were full of fighting spirit.

I just didn't want to get entangled with you just now, did I really think I was afraid of you?
He changed direction with a right cross, followed by a crotch dribble to the left.

Opened the way with his right hand, bowed his head, slapped the ball with his left hand, kicked the ground with his right foot, and rushed to the inside line with Meng Hua on his shoulder.

beep!
Pfft!
The referee blew the whistle and dribbled the ball into someone.

The two got up, and Payne kept explaining to the referee that he thought the ball was a blocking foul.

Before he finished complaining, James assisted Melon and scored a three-pointer, and the Lakers led by 2 points.

Payne received the ball with majestic anger, and his movements and rhythm were significantly faster.

Unexpectedly, Meng Hua did not post defenses this time.

Payne breaks through, Meng Hua defends him on the left, how can he pass.

Payne changed direction to the right, and as soon as the ball hit the ground, Meng Hua made a shot.

As soon as he took the shot, he knew it was there. This was the feeling when he tried the Nether Ghost Claw card.

Meng Hua passed the ball to Rivers and waited slowly on the sidelines.

He knows that the sun will pause later, so he doesn't have to go to the bottom line to be a mad dog.

(End of this chapter)