The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!

However, Thibodeau was clearly not fooled. The Bulls' defense at the start of today's game was focused on the Knicks' outside three-point line, with a very spread-out defensive formation.

Dior seized the opportunity to pass the ball to the cutting Su Wan on the wing.

Su Wan dashed into the free throw line, executed a "change hand layup," and easily scored in a relaxed manner.

Thibodeau watched Su Wan's attack but didn't seem too anxious.

The tactics the Bulls set before the game were to have Su Wan bear a large amount of the Knicks' breakthroughs early on, blocking others' three-pointers as much as possible.

The scoring points of the Bulls this season have greatly improved compared to when the two teams met two years ago, which is why Thibodeau believes that if only Su Wan goes crazy, the Bulls' offense can still hold up.

This was proven in the next attack:

Derek Rose, now in the fifth season of his career, is more experienced, averaging 27.6 points per game this season, ranking fourth in the league's average scoring, just behind Kevin Durant, Su Wan, and Carmelo Anthony.

Stephen Curry tried very hard to keep up with his speed, but unfortunately, he was still faked out with a single step.

That no deceleration change looks really scary!

As he rushed to the basket, Tyson Chandler's decline was evident at this moment.

In the past, even if he couldn't fully stand firm in front of Derek Rose, he could at least interfere from the side.

But this time, Tyson Chandler could only shield Rose's head with his hand.

This couldn't cause much interference at all.

He could only watch helplessly as Rose completed the attack.

Besides Derek Rose being indeed better, Tyson Chandler has regressed compared to before, and another important factor is the league's rule changes:

Tyson Chandler's defense this time was obviously cautious, not daring to move.

In fact, since the league's rule changes, Derek Rose has played two games, scoring 33 points in one and 35 in another!

Once he breaks through and reaches the opponent's basket, no matter how many opponents there are, it's like he enters an unguarded area and can do whatever he wants.

Thibodeau smiled, seeing that Derek Rose had reached the "superstar" level this season, and after the league's rule changes, he's become one of the league's top three "scorers"!

While the entire league was mocking LeBron for the official's temporary rule adjustments, Thibodeau couldn't suppress his smile.

He believes that after this rule change, the Bulls now have championship-level capability!

The addition of Derek Rose will make the Bulls' crucial time offense even sharper...

Before this game, he was a bit worried.

After all, the Bucks are not the New York Knicks.

But after seeing Derek Rose still scoring effortlessly at the basket like a routine, he was thoroughly relieved:

It's secure!

The game continued in the following minutes.

New York Knicks counterattacked.

The ball was given to Su Wan again.

Su Wan drove to the basket, and the Bulls did not double-team, allowing him to complete a layup.

This made Su Wan raise an eyebrow slightly.

So you really don't respect me?

Derek Rose responded 10 seconds later, looking at Thibodeau on the bench with a glowing expression, Su Wan nodded slightly:

Is this your confidence in not double-teaming me?

Su Wan continued to attack with the ball.

To say, Derek Rose's condition tonight is quite impressive, almost responding to every attack Su Wan made.

By the end of the first quarter, Su Wan had 14 points, and Derek Rose also had 12 points.

It's a close contest!

The New York Knicks were only leading by one point at this time...

At the start of the second quarter, Tyrone Lue first made tactical adjustments, starting to double-team Derek Rose.

But only after Rose's breakthrough!

The purpose of this is to continue to deplete Derek Rose's physical fitness, then redistribute the offensive pressure to others on the Bulls, testing the rest of the Bulls.

On their own offensive adjustments, the New York Knicks let Su Wan do more decoy running.

The first quarter Su Wan was too aggressive in attacking and needed a bit of adjustment.

The main thing was that the other side was clearly trying to make Su Wan attack alone, so they couldn't fall into the Bulls' trap.

Although they all believe Su Wan can single-handedly sweep the Bulls.

But the series has seven games, needing to win four of them.

If Su Wan plays this hard every game, it's too exhausting.

If someone on the New York Knicks can step up at this moment to help Su Wan, share the offensive pressure, similarly, it would also put pressure on the Bulls' defense.

Tyrone Lue was very sure that the Bulls' coaching staff clearly believed that besides Su Wan, the New York Knicks didn't have another qualified ball handler who could pose a threat by driving to the rim, which is why they were so blatant in blocking others' three-point shots.

Well, this targeting didn't just emerge this series, but had been ongoing since the end of the season.

The New York Knicks hadn't given a definitive answer, leading everyone to believe they had no response.

In fact...

They really didn't have an answer!

But...

In the past!

The original New York Knicks didn't have an answer satisfactory to the outside world.

But after the league recently revised the "vertical jump" rules for interior players, the New York Knicks can now provide an answer.

And that is...

"Two points scored, from Stephen Curry's layup!"

Yes!

This is the answer the New York Knicks gave:

Besides Su Wan, another "scorer" who can consistently offer ball-holding threats!

Stephen Curry's biggest problem in his driving breakthrough isn't the breakthrough itself.

His ball handling is already very proficient now.

His biggest issue is his mediocre finish after driving into the basket, and his anti-interference ability is... really poor.

However, now with the increased restrictions on interior supplemental defense, his threat after driving into the basket suddenly becomes prominent.

Mike Malone noticed this in the training games before the semifinals.

After serious discussions with Tyrone Lue, they believed Stephen Curry could bring this change into the game.

This was also why they initially went along with the Bulls' strategy, allowing Su Wan to keep attacking aggressively!

They weren't afraid of Su Wan getting drained too much physically from the start.

They knew that Su Wan could rest at some point.

Of course, before Stephen Curry completed this attack, they were still a bit worried.

But only a tiny bit!

Now, as Stephen Curry completed the first offense, they visibly breathed a sigh of relief...

Thibodeau hadn't realized the problem yet.

But as Stephen Curry scored with another layup, and in his backward transition defense, cheekily shook his shoulders, Thibodeau's expression turned serious.

Stephen Curry didn't have such a strong attacking capability before.

He first wound up Noah: "Joakim, damn it, what are you doing?"

But the effect was still unsatisfactory.

Stephen Curry quickly completed yet another ball-handling offensive attack...

Which made Thibodeau's face look a bit grim.

If Stephen Curry truly has attacking capabilities, it's not just about the Knicks having another ball handler...

This also pertains to the overall defensive strategy against the New York Knicks.

TNT Studio.

Barkley looked unsurely at Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal beside him: "Is it as I thought?"

Seeing Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith nod, he hesitated no more and said: "I now have reason to suspect who the league wants to support; their rule change this time greatly helped the New York Knicks!"