Chapter 901: Chapter 56 The Conviction of Certain Death_2
This will make the schedule more complicated and difficult, so in the second game, the Trail Blazers still need to fight for victory with all their might.
So in the evening, Beelman canceled his date with his girlfriend and locked himself in the video room, repeatedly reviewing the replay of the first game against the Bulls, hoping to discover more issues in the details of the team.
Gan Guoyang, however, went with Sabonis to Petrović’s home, as Petrović invited two friends and his family for dinner in the evening.
Petrović’s parents and brothers warmly welcomed Ah Gan and Sabonis and thanked Ah Gan for helping their family temporarily avoid the domestic turmoil in America.
However, when discussing the situation in Croatia, the Petrović family expressed that if war really broke out at home, they would instead find a way to return.
"At the most dangerous times, we must stand with our country, plus our home is there." Petrović’s mother spoke with firm words.
Petrović also expressed that after the finals, if Croatia becomes independent, they will return to support.
Gan Guoyang nodded, understanding their sentiments, and stated that if needed, he would do his best to help ensure the safety of their family.
Sabonis had similar concerns, as Lithuania declared independence in 1990, but the Soviet Union did not recognize it.
And Gan Guoyang knew that by the time the finals ended, the lifespan of the Soviet Union as a superpower was nearing its end.
While dining, they naturally discussed the finals and the confrontation with Jordan and the Bulls.
Both Petrović and Sabonis admitted that the intensity of the first game was too high, and playing like that for seven games would be exhausting.
"My knee still feels sore now; once I got back, I fell asleep, and when I woke up in the morning, my body felt a bit lightheaded."
"I’ve got several bruises all over my body; after the game, I was a bit dazed, the intensity was too much, and I almost collapsed."
But when talking about the second game, Gan Guoyang said without hesitation, "We still need to maintain this level of intensity; if we can’t take it, neither can the Bulls. It’s about who can’t hold on in the end. We already have the first move; we can’t give up. If we lose the second game, our home-court advantage will be gone."
The day after the first game, the Trail Blazers organized a tactical training session during the day.
After watching the first game’s video, Beelman requested a change in the defensive strategy against Jordan.
Although the Trail Blazers won in the first game, Jordan still scored the highest on the court and made numerous assists.
Theoretically speaking, the best approach for the winning side is to continue with the previous strategy without changes until it’s no longer effective before adjusting.
But Beelman believes that one should not be mechanically reactive but should be proactive, utilizing subjective initiative to address potential changes.
With any other opponent, Beelman wouldn’t do this, but the Chicago Bulls are indeed different; the more he watched the game footage, the more alarming it was.
This team has tremendous potential, shockingly large.
Once, in the second game, the Bulls’ other players adjusted their state and Jordan adapted to the rhythm, the Trail Blazers would certainly face big trouble.
The Trail Blazers need to proactively change according to the situation and cannot indulge in the previous victory, or they’ll surely fall into a predicament.
So Beelman made a proactive prediction. Through image analysis combined with data analysis, he believed that a three-man trap on Jordan had little benefit.
Compared to a two-man trap, the three-man trap not only failed to significantly reduce Jordan’s offensive efficiency but also caused defensive mismatches, giving the Bulls’ other players more opportunities.
If it weren’t for the Bulls losing rhythm at the start, Jordan playing more individually, and them failing to open up the inside and find their rhythm outside, the Trail Blazers would have faced much more trouble.
"If a three-man trap lets Jordan score 40 points, a two-man trap just lets him score 45 points; the extra 5 points can reduce others’ scores by 10. Our gain is still enough."
Beelman is good at yield analysis, which is a habit he developed over the years from gambling and playing Texas hold ’em.
After repeatedly discussing and demonstrating with the coaching staff, Beelman believed this was feasible.
Of course, Jordan has the ability to score 50 points, which is undeniable.
Therefore, the defensive intensity of the two-man trap should not be underestimated either.
In the last game, the three-man trap involved Lewis, Kossie and sometimes included Ah Gan.
This time, Beelman made a bold adjustment, assigning the task of closing in on Jordan to Reggie Lewis and Sabonis.
Sabonis has been playing the power forward position throughout the second half of the season and playoffs, and his massive size makes him feel at ease in that position.
His perimeter screens, handball passes, and mid-to-long-range jump shots make him suitable for high-position operations.
The seemingly clumsy Lithuanian giant has a wide defensive range; defending beyond the three-point line is routine for him.
This season, to keep his knees healthy, the coaching staff reduced his weight by 15 pounds, making him more agile.
Because the Three Second Zone is guarded by Ah Gan, the Trail Blazers don’t need another heavyweight center.
After watching the first game, Beelman realized that having Sabonis focus solely on Bill Cartwright or Buck-Williams was a waste of resources.
It’s better for him to use his huge body against Jordan—of course, this certainly comes with risks, especially the risk of fouls.
Once Sabonis gets two early fouls, the Trail Blazers’ inside will be in trouble and Ah Gan will bear much more pressure.
But with the home court advantage, plus a win in the first game laying the groundwork, Beelman believes it is worth the risk for a try.
