Basketball boy, starting to shine from the slam dunk

The next day, the Lakers played at home.

Today they will face the challenge of the Boston Celtics.

The game is about to start at seven o'clock in the evening.

The players from both teams have finished their warm-ups and returned to the sidelines. Coach Scott glanced at Zhuang Yu and other players and said in a deep voice, "The All-Star voting event is over. We need to focus on the game now."

Everyone nodded.

Some of the smart ones had already understood the coach's hidden meaning and subconsciously looked at Holiday.

During this period, everyone was helping Holiday and Lopez to make the All-Star team, but Lopez was originally the team's No. 2 player and the inside pillar, so he also benefited during this period, but it was obviously Holiday who benefited more.

Well, if there are going to be changes, Holiday will be the one most affected.

"All right."

Coach Scott spread out the tactical board and began to arrange: "The opponent's starting lineup is very balanced, with Irving and Brown on the outside, Horford on the inside, and Tatum on the front. Of course, their offensive core is still Irving, but others can also score, so we can't relax."

"Zhu, you will be responsible for defending Irving and try to limit him as much as possible."

Holiday agreed.

Later, Coach Scott said: "On the offensive end, we need to play more resolutely, use more tactics, screens, pick-and-rolls, and play our tactical coordination. Although the opponent's lineup is balanced and the defense is also good, the lineup has just been formed. Irving and center Aron Baynes only joined the Celtics this season. Brown and Tatum are too young, one is a sophomore player and the other is still a rookie. Experience is their disadvantage, but it is also a point we can take advantage of."

"Zhuang, you need to attack more. The people defending you are either Brown or Tatum. You have an absolute advantage against them, so you need to attack more."

Zhuang Yu's heart moved, and he keenly caught the coach's meaning. He looked at the coach, exchanged glances with the coach, and then nodded and replied, "Yes, coach."

Coach Scott looked at Korver, Anderson, and Lopez and said, "Korver, take the shot when you have the chance. Your task is to shoot the three-pointer. Anderson, look for opportunities to cut to the basket and score actively when you have the chance. Don't worry about it. Brook, you have a considerable advantage against Baynes, but the opponent has Horford to help defend. Play more flexibly and score in and out..."

After some arrangements, everyone understood.

This is to abandon the playing style of the past period of time and return to the playing style before the All-Star voting, with Zhuang Yu as the absolute core, Zhuang Yu + Lopez as the inside and outside cornerstones, Korver assisting on the outside, Anderson defending, organizing, and cutting, Holiday defending, organizing... Several people work together and complement each other to form a lineup system that takes into account both offense and defense.

The most important person in this system is not Korver, Anderson, or Lopez, but Zhuang Yu.

So Coach Scott specifically emphasized that Zhuang Yu should attack more!

For a period of time before, Zhuang Yu made self-sacrifices, reducing his personal shots on the offensive end and giving the ball and opportunities to Holiday.

Now, Coach Scott needs him to become the absolute core of the offense again and prepare for the playoffs.

When it comes to the playoffs, the team's offense will not be able to rely on Lopez or Holiday.

......

Game start.

The Lakers still have their regular lineup, including Holiday, Zhuang Yu, Korver, Anderson and Lopez.

The Celtics' starting five are Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Aron Baynes.

Among them, Irving and Baynes are players who joined the Celtics this season.

Jaylen Brown was the third overall pick in the first round of 16. In his rookie season, because the team had Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley on the back line and Amir Johnson on the front line, Brown did not get many opportunities. He averaged only 3 minutes per game, with stats of 17 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Although he was selected to the All-Rookie Team, it was only the second team.

However, the Celtics' lineup has changed a lot this season, almost like a reshuffle. Players such as Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Amir Johnson, Jae Crowder, and Kelly Olynyk have all left the team, giving young players more opportunities.

This season, Jaylen Brown was promoted to the starting lineup, his personal talents were better utilized, and his personal data also improved a lot, averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

For a second-year player, that's pretty good.

Jayson Tatum also got a chance because of the lineup changes. As the third pick in the first round of 17, he became the team's starter in his first season. Obviously, the Celtics had high hopes for him. He also performed well, averaging 14 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, which was on par with Brown.

Although they are only first- and second-year players, they performed very well, which is one of the reasons why the Celtics have had such an excellent record this season.

Last season, the Celtics ranked first in the Eastern Conference, which was an excellent record.

The result was unexpected. During the offseason, the Celtics gave up the good situation and made a major change to the team. Many people thought that this was undoubtedly a stupid choice. They believed that even with Kyrie Irving joining the team, the team's record would definitely decline.

But unexpectedly, there was no decline. It’s just that the Raptors played too well this season, otherwise the Celtics might still be first in the Eastern Conference.

Now on the court, players from both sides confronted each other.

The two third overall picks both set their sights on Zhuang Yu, with excitement in their eyes. Facing Zhuang Yu, the scoring leader and top star, they couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but at the same time they were also very excited and eager to compete against Zhuang Yu on the court.

Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers!

Noticing the looks from the two, Anderson touched Zhuang Yu and said with a smile, "Brown and Tatum are both staring at you. Look at their eyes, they are full of fighting spirit."

Zhuang Yu smiled calmly: "Young people, it's normal."

Anderson rolled his eyes. What do you mean? You are not young yourself? You are not much older than Brown and Tatum.

......

First the jump ball.

This time Lopez won the jump ball and hit the ball to the backcourt. Holiday controlled the ball and started to advance, and the Lakers launched an attack.

Zhuang Yu came to the front court.

A figure flashed, and Brown rushed over quickly, directly to the three-point line, with excitement in his eyes, staring at Zhuang Yu without blinking.

"Well, the young man is good and energetic." Zhuang Yu smiled, and suddenly ran back to ask Holiday for the ball.

Since the coach told him to attack more, then he should attack more.