Capítulo 1339: Chapter 537: This Is the True Three Giants!

During halftime, Budenholzer sent in the lineup of Harden, DeRozan, Zhang Yang, Ed Davis, and Zubac; while Warriors Team had Curry, Thompson, Durant, Josh Smith, and Green on the court.

Zhang Yang noticed the short inner line on the opposite side, guessing that Kerr had likely predicted Gentry’s reactive strategy.

Back when they were with the Phoenix Suns, Kerr was Gentry’s direct boss. On this timeline, in the summer of 2012, after the Suns traded Nash and stopped the run-and-gun play, they also fired Gentry. Subsequently, Gentry was recruited by Mark Jackson to serve as an assistant coach and tactical advisor, providing valuable run-and-gun tactical experience for the Warriors’ creation of the “Death Lineup.” When Kerr became the head coach of the Warriors in 2014, he did not replace the old staff but instead promoted him to chief assistant. After the Warriors lost in the Western Conference Finals in 2015, Gentry chose to leave the Warriors.

At that time, multiple head coaches, including the Clippers’ Rivers, Cavaliers’ Tyronn Lue, and Knicks’ Fisher, sent invitations to him. The Pelicans even offered a head coach position. In the end, Budenholzer lured Gentry back by exchanging the Spurs system and run-and-gun system. Gentry made significant contributions to the Lakers’ dynasty aspirations in the 15-16 season and their great journey this season. Mike Brown, on the other hand, was signed back last summer under the Lakers’ small Buss family with a three-year, $12 million assistant coaching contract after Harden and DeRozan returned to Los Angeles to play hometown basketball.

Zhang Yang speculated that Kerr knows well about Gentry’s reactive thoughts, and knowing once the game becomes intense, Gentry would opt for an all-out attack, he prepared in advance, putting on a small lineup to try and restrain them. Even if Budenholzer didn’t adopt Gentry’s adjustment suggestion, Kerr’s small lineup could play offense, and based on Kerr’s on-spot strategy changes in the past two seasons, they’re basically a copy of Mark Jackson and Gentry’s reactive methods.

However, their rotation this time…

On the other side, Kerr looked at the Lakers’ lineup and admittedly didn’t quite understand it.

Ed Davis is the Lakers’ most excellent inside player in aspects like catching, counterattacks, and screens. He possesses great court awareness, physical fitness, and game experience. He was able to secure a 3-year $21 million contract as a top-quality role player in the old era and is the highest-paid player in the Lakers besides the Three Giants. Some media commented he got a big contract too early; if he signed another one-year contract in 2015, entering free agency last summer, he could’ve secured a ten-million annual salary deal.

Zubac is the most impressive rookie center this year. Although he just turned 20 in March, he began his professional league journey in Croatia at age 13. He doesn’t have strong skills by NBA standards but has them all, with a catch-and-shoot mid-range of over 40% shooting percentage.

The two don’t have a positional conflict, but Ed Davis doesn’t have passing ability, while Zubac has passing yet can’t handle the interior transitions alone. This season, Ed Davis usually plays when the Lakers are playing fast, while Zubac plays during pure half-court offensive sequences…

Do they want both a fast-play approach and room for half-court play?

This kind of not-so-decisive adjustment, being Western Conference Finals old opponents, Kerr felt this wasn’t Budenholzer’s character.

Amidst Kerr’s confusion, the third quarter began.

The Warriors attacked first. Durant emerged along the baseline, received a pass from Josh Smith who cut in the right side of the free-throw line, and swung the ball to the high left. Klay Thompson, using Green’s screen catch, turned and hit a long two-pointer.

69 to 69, the Warriors quickly tied the game in the second half, not allowing the Lakers to start with momentum.

As Kerr expected, they scored. Harden took the inbound and pushed up a fast break, charging with Zhang Yang on both wings, while DeRozan and Ed Davis darted down along the sideline.

With this formation, even if not defended, it’s very effective when hammering weaker opponents. The Lakers often trailed by a dozen points at halftime during regular-season games against weaker teams, leaving spectators bewildered. Then, as the third quarter started, they wiped the point gap in just a few minutes, and Zhang Yang opened up to finish the third quarter, harvesting the weaker opponents.

This kind of play was also used by the Warriors in the past two years, being neck-and-neck with everyone, mockingly called a ‘conscientious team’. However, after Durant arrived, their consistency improved significantly during regular time, rarely occurring again.

But this play is only effective against weaker opponents. As long as the defensive discipline is good enough, and they don’t miss a shot, most can block the Lakers’ strong fast break.

Not to mention it’s against their Warriors team, and they fielded a small lineup. The Lakers’ strong fast break with only 4 players was blocked without even messing up their defensive setup.

Harden rushed to the three-point line, protected the ball, and waited for Zubac to run over to position slowly, passed the ball to Zhang Yang, and then… went to block Thompson for Zhang Yang.

Curry adapted quickly with a numb expression, immediately sticking close to Zhang Yang around the post, avoiding the pick and roll exchange, only to be directly bulldozed by Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang pushed all the way to the free-throw line, Green quickly closed in for a block, and Zhang Yang penetrated the double-team, and after Curry and Green fully enclosed him, he jumped and passed the ball!

Durant actively shrunk, blocking the cutting Ed Davis, but Zhang Yang’s passing target wasn’t him.

Zubac pressed into the restricted area, squeezed Josh Smith who switched defense, caught the ball and finished with a high layup!

Standing at 213 cm in bare feet, with a wingspan of 226 cm, not many remember that when Zubac participated in joint drills, the team representatives gave him a perfect score of 120 for body stats, each team representative giving 3 full marks.

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