This is the key for the Warriors to gradually transform into a strong team this season.
Because when facing those teams that excel in defensive contests, the Warriors are not incapable of slowing down and patiently grinding in the positional ga against their opponents.
Except when facing this Suns team.
The Warriors’ defensive system would imdiately fail.
Then, in the offensive battle against the Suns, they would be overwheld by the Suns’ offense.
In the second quarter, as the offensive version of Thibodeau during this period, D’Antoni kept Marion and Bell on the court, and brought in Barbosa, Diaw, and Jas Jones.
As for the Warriors’ side...
Montgory originally wanted to give Qin Yue more playing ti, but the "executive assistant coach" Deng Liwei said, "Use Ande... The Suns’ second lineup only has that Brazilian who can drive to the basket, I think Ande can handle it, and when it cos to offense, Troy and I are not afraid of them."
In the first quarter, Qin Yue scored 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
As an observer, Deng Liwei knew very well that the Warriors’ offense tonight relied almost entirely on Qin Yue until now.
Such a burden is undoubtedly enormous and fatal for Qin Yue, who stands 211 cm tall and weighs 121 kg.
Because no matter how strong Qin Yue is, it is impossible for him to defeat this Suns team by individual performance alone.
However, what surprised everyone, including Deng Liwei, was...
Deng Liwei’s suggestion, which was initially just to conserve Qin Yue’s energy, unexpectedly had a significant effect.
This season, because the Warriors need to carve a path through the incredibly tough West, Biedrins had only appeared in 38 gas before this, averaging less than 10 minutes per ga and only posting 3.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per ga.
Fortunately, since Biedrins will only turn 20 next season and he usually stays calm within the Warriors, coupled with his good relationship with Qin Yue, his agent often advises him to be patient.
On the court, having rarely received an opportunity to play, Biedrins imdiately received a brilliant pass from Jack just after stepping in.
Although Biedrins lacked coordination while holding the ball, his ability to finish near the basket after receiving it was quite reliable.
Bang—!
Under the basket, Biedrins scored two points for the Warriors with a two-handed dunk.
And returning on defense, watching Barbosa streak past Jack, Biedrins quickly slid his feet and successfully blocked Barbosa’s underhand layup.
While going for the layup, Barbosa clearly forgot that Biedrins’ dominant hand is the left hand, or rather...
The Suns simply hadn’t studied this waterboy of the Warriors.
As a result, Barbosa’s intent to evade the defensive player’s block with a low layup inadvertently added to the young Biedrins’ block statistics.
Is there a difference between left-handed and right-handed players in defense?
Of course, there is a difference.
And the difference is significant.
Simply put, if Barbosa’s previous drive and layup on the left side of the court were against a right-handed player, his underhand layup would have a high chance of avoiding the block.
But it wasn’t the sa facing Biedrins.
Because Biedrins’ dominant hand is the left hand, which causes him to instinctively align his body weight closer to Barbosa when attempting a block, thus executing the block.
Although in the NBA, many top shot blockers can block with either hand.
But on the ever-changing court, in monts where reactions are too late, a player’s instinct will still reveal the difference of their dominant hand.
Additionally, as the Warriors’ interior player with lateral mobility second only to Qin Yue, under Qin Yue’s dominant play for almost half the season, Biedrins has rapidly improved as well.
This is the benefit of playing in the NBA.
Even if you’re the waterboy, the people you usually train with are the world’s top players.
Biedrins’ mobility ensures he can keep up with the Suns’ offensive and defensive rhythm.
In Qin Yue’s mory, though his pri was brief, old Nelson indeed did not misjudge him.
Because purely in terms of sweeping ability, even the current Brown may not match Biedrins’ effect tonight.
After all, the weight Brown had when traded to Oakland...
Unless he loses weight without gaining more, his agility and speed could not escape the impact from the consistent weight gain during his ti with the Wizards.
Midway through the second quarter, the Warriors made substitutions.
Thinking he was being subbed out for Qin Yue, Biedrins already ran towards the bench, only to be unexpectedly called back by Qin Yue, "Ande, you keep playing."
Upon hearing this, and watching Murphy tap his shoulder and then return to the bench to sip tea and chat with Brown, Biedrins said, bewildered, "I... keep playing?"
Seeing this, Qin Yue stepped forward and patted his back, saying, "You’ve been doing well tonight."
What’s the happiest thing in the NBA?
Recognition from an idol?
Or playing with an idol?
At this mont, looking at Qin Yue, Biedrins instantly experienced what it ans by double the joy.
And most crucially, in the next half of the quarter, Biedrins was quite satisfied with his performance.
By Qin Yue’s side, he was far more active than in the first half of the second quarter.
On defense, even if he was out of position due to lack of experience, Qin Yue would buy him enough ti to recover.
On offense, he only needed to lurk near the baseline based on the direction of the Warriors’ high pick-and-roll setup, as Qin Yue would draw the Suns’ defense and point him towards the basket to finish.
Throughout the second quarter, Biedrins accumulated a total of 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks for the Warriors.
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