Chapter 432: Chapter 344, Overbearing Pass.
The Nuggets fans are elated after winning Game 1.
The Nuggets fans can feel the strength of the Nuggets; they believe facing the Clippers in this series shouldn’t be too challenging.
"Nuggets defeat Clippers, take the first game of the Western Conference semifinals."
"Zeng Xingyang is Chris Paul’s nemesis, scoring 58 points in a single game, reminding Paul of painful memories."
"Another frustrating 58-point experience; the 58-point meme can’t be forgotten."
"Zeng Xingyang demonstrates MVP dominance, scoring the highest in the game and crushing the Clippers!"
This match didn’t exceed everyone’s expectations, and the news coverage wasn’t particularly sensational.
Now, the Nuggets’ strength only becomes news when they lose.
More media and fans stand by the Clippers, helping them find ways to defeat the Nuggets.
"In my opinion, to defeat the Nuggets, send Scarlett and Taylor Swift. Let them play a threesome with Zeng Xingyang and exhaust his stamina. That way, the Nuggets lose their combat power."
"Actually, if Chris keeps going one-on-one against Jokic, it’s possible, but it’s inefficient. Crawford needs to explode and take down the Nuggets’ second unit."
"Yes, for the Clippers to win, the whole team must explode. Just one or two alone won’t cut it, as the Nuggets have too many capable players."
"Let Little Jordan make an extreme two-for-one exchange. Bang Bang punches Jokic and Zeng Xingyang; they will definitely retaliate. That’s a brawl."
The online fans have many opinions, but they are not reliable.
In the face of hard power, all tactics seem clumsy.
After a day’s adjustment, the series welcomed the second battle.
The 0-1 deficit cast a shadow over the Clippers.
Of course, Clippers fans haven’t lost hope entirely; they believe in miracles...
As long as we haven’t played, it’s fifty-fifty between us and them.
....
The referee signals both teams’ starters to stay on the court, the other players to leave.
Soon, the referee throws the ball high into the sky.
There’s no difference between the two teams’ starters and the last game.
Jokic presses down Little Jordan, tapping the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
Upon receiving the ball, Zeng Xingyang hesitates not at all and directly accelerates.
Every game, when he steps on the court, Zeng Xingyang feels extremely excited; he thoroughly enjoys being on the field.
After reaching the front court, Zeng Xingyang doesn’t slow the pace but catches the Clippers off guard, quickly changing direction and charging towards the paint.
Chris reacts swiftly, positioning himself to block Zeng Xingyang, but his small frame is no match for Zeng Xingyang.
Even with Redick joining him, it’s futile.
Zeng Xingyang carries Chris to the basket, abruptly halts, sending Chris out of bounds driven by inertia.
Griffin attempts to block but is slightly too far, unable to even interfere with Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang rises from the ground for a single-handed slam dunk.
"Boom!"
The basketball makes a buzzing sound. Griffin arrives just in time to feature in Zeng Xingyang’s poster dunk.
"Beautiful dunk! Well done, that was a dominating play by Zeng Xingyang."
"Chris can’t stop him; how could Chris possibly stop Zeng Xingyang?"
The Denver commentator begins to howl.
"zeng, xing, yang" the Pepsi Center DJ screams wildly.
to 2.
"Zeng Xingyang is very excited, seeing the offensive opportunity, he decisively attacked."
"Chris can’t stop him; he’s only a target for Zeng Xingyang’s bullying."
"Clippers need to find a way to restrict Zeng Xingyang; otherwise, tonight won’t end well."
In the match’s first play, Zeng Xingyang ignites the Pepsi Center in Denver.
This is their MVP!
On the way back to defense, Zeng Xingyang shouts to Chris, "Chris, where’s your defense? Why can’t I see you? Where are you?"
Chris stands firm. Instead of responding to Zeng Xingyang’s taunt, he quietly takes Little Jordan’s pass and dribbles forward.
Chris isn’t without temper; he clearly understands engaging in trash talk with Zeng Xingyang won’t gain him any advantage; the best way is to shut him up with action.
If he leads the team to win against the Nuggets, he will definitely taunt Zeng Xingyang in return.
Chris organizes in the front court but suffers severely under Zeng Xingyang’s intense defense, feeling great pressure and discomfort.
Rivers doesn’t want Chris to directly match against Zeng Xingyang, the best defender; it’s too exhaustive for Chris.
However, it can’t be helped; Zeng Xingyang actively defends Chris on the defensive end, which is beyond Rivers’ control.
Chris faces stronger opposition than in the previous match; under Zeng Xingyang’s interference, his ball handling is somewhat staggering.
Thankfully, Little Jordan arrives just in time to set a screen for Chris, blocking Zeng Xingyang.
Chris feints right and moves inward, observing carefully.
Even when penetrating the paint, Chris doesn’t dare end the play easily; his height makes him prone to being blocked.
Chris opts to pass the ball to the cutting Griffin.
Griffin steps forward, rises intending to dunk.
Griffin’s dunk posture was full; everyone thought he was about to complete it.
However, Jokic extends his long arm at the basket, swatting the ball away.
Griffin’s leap speed has declined, coupled with his short wingspan, allowing Jokic the opportunity to block.
Jokic is evidently exhilarated today; his rim protection makes the Nuggets’ paint difficult to breach.
After blocking the ball, Jokic retrieves it via Gordon.
Gordon grabs the ball and passes it to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang swiftly dribbles to the front court, halts abruptly at the right-side three-point line, sending Redick flying.
Then, Zeng Xingyang rises to the occasion, throwing down a three-pointer that pierces the net.
to 5.
"Beautiful block, ultimate three-point counterattack."
"The Nuggets are too fast."
"Clippers resemble a clunky old car."
"Unstoppable."
Barkley shouts.
Nuggets fans are also in a state of frenzy.
Clippers on offense.
Chris dribbles to the front court.
Chris knows well the Clippers need to score quickly to regain rhythm; otherwise, the match may revert to the previous game’s tempo.
Chris still faces Zeng Xingyang’s defense at the top arc, finding it extremely challenging.
Zeng Xingyang’s long-arm interference makes Chris’s passing problematic.
Even if Little Jordan rises for a screen, Zeng Xingyang circumvents it, blocking Chris’s path.
Chris’s breakthrough route is tightly constrained.
Chris barely manages to pass to Redick.
However, Redick hasn’t found any space; he’s entangled by Butler.
Butler covers Redick’s shooting angle.
Redick can only pass to Griffin in the post.
Pope and Gordon continue double-teaming Griffin, who quickly attempts to pass to Bamot on the other side.
Just as Griffin passes, he realizes it’s a bad move.
Indeed, Zeng Xingyang comes flying over from defending Chris’s direction, directly intercepting the pass.
By the time Griffin and Chris try to surround Zeng Xingyang, he powerfully tosses the ball forward.
Directly triggering a fast break.
The ball from Zeng Xingyang appears thrown ahead; seemingly, no one is there.
But swiftly, Butler emerges in the empty front court, receiving the ball.
This pass anticipates Butler’s movement; Zeng Xingyang knows Butler can chase it down.
Butler grabs the ball and executes a flying two-handed slam dunk, sending it through the hoop.
to 7.