On April 27, Beijing time, the Battle of Tianwangshan between the Sun and pelicans officially began! Before the game, the NBA officially announced that Suns coach Monty was fined $15,000 for publicly criticizing the referee after the G4 game! G4 post-game interview Monty said publicly: "The Suns only have 15 free throws, the Pelicans have 42, and the first half free throws are 2-17, which is unimaginable in the playoffs." ”
Paul did not perform well in G4, playing 35 minutes, shooting 2 of 8 and 0 of 3 from three-point range, scoring only 4 points, 2 boards, 11 assists, 2 breaks and 3 turnovers. The last time Paul scored four points in the playoffs, it goes back to the first round of G4 in 2009, when Paul's Hornets lost to the Nuggets by 58 points. Since then, the number "58" has accompanied Paul as a lingering shadow.
Former Rockets head coach Van Gundy Jr. said: "In terms of offensive talent, the Pelicans are the better team. Now that Booker is injured and can't play, I think the Pelicans will win the series. If the Pelicans advance, it will be the first "black 9 miracle" in NBA history, because their regular season record is only 9th in the West.
The Suns shot just 29.3 percent from three-point range in the first four games of the series, and the Pelicans shot 39.4 percent. Crowder's three-pointers of 17 shots in the Series were just 1 of 17, which was too crotch-pulling! Cameron Johnson shot 35 percent from three-point range in the playoffs, well below his 42.7 percent regular season three-point shooting percentage this season. To take down Tenno Mountain, the sun must regain its feel!
Speaking of today's game, Monti sent two centers in the second half of the first quarter: McGee and Ayton, and the two towers against the Pelicans: Varan and Hayes. There were four centre-forwards standing inside the penalty area, and neither team had room to break through. Payne became the Suns' X-factor, scoring seven consecutive points in 2 minutes after playing. Ayton and Paul each scored 8 points!
In the first quarter, the Suns led by 12 points 32-20. While the Suns only shot 1-of-7 from three-point range, the Pelicans weren't much better at 2-of-8. The Suns improved their defensive intensity, causing the Pelicans to make six turnovers in the first quarter and the Suns to make four steals in a single quarter. The Pelicans had very little combination and were once in singles mode. The defensive end also did not resolutely pinch Paul, and the sixth did not play in the first quarter.
Paul quickly turned on attack mode, not letting his teammates attack first, as before. The Pelicans didn't think of Alvarado until the second quarter, when the old six played eight minutes in the quarter and once again turned on the mode of pestering Paul. The Suns had the ability to cope, reinforcing the cover given to Paul by interior players. Brother Gun also gave the old sixth a close rush on the defensive end...
In the second quarter, the Suns found their touch on the outside line, and it was 4 of 7 out of 7 in a single quarter. The Suns scored 1 point 27-26 in the second quarter and led by 13 points at halftime at 59-46. Paul scored 16 points, 3 boards and 6 assists on 6-of-11 shooting in the first half, Ayton 13+5+2, Ingram 13 points, 3 boards and 3 assists, McCollum 12 points, 3 boards and 2 assists, and Alvarado 5 points.
The Suns sent out the Twin Towers again, but McGee's defense of Varan was not very effective. Varan scored just four points and five boards on 2-of-5 shooting in the first half, and had 10 points and eight rebounds on 4-of-5 shooting in the third quarter. CJ felt cold in the hand and hit 0 of the first nine shots in the second half. Ingram scored eight points in the quarter, and under his and Varland's leadership, the Pelicans recovered two points 32-30 in the quarter.
89-78, the Suns went into the final game with an 11-point lead! It's Alvarado again, and after the last one, today's fourth quarter forced Paul an 8-second foul. Two consecutive games were defended as an 8-second violation, which may be the first time in the career of gun brothers. Don't understand, why did the Pelicans play Alvarado in the first quarter?
The Pelicans shot just 5-of-25 from three-point range and 10-of-27 from the opposite Sun! The Pelicans wanted to chase points in the last quarter, but unfortunately the outside line could not be opened! At the end of the game, the Suns easily defeated the Pelicans 112-97 to lead 3-2 on aggregate. Bridges played 47 minutes, 12 of 17 shots, 4 of 4 three-pointers, 31 points, 5 boards, 2 assists and 4 hats, which is called iron man!
Paul played 39 minutes, shooting 8-of-18, 0-of-4 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the free throw line, and had 22 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals and 1 turnover. Ayton had 19 points, nine boards, three assists, Payne 12 points, three boards and two breaks; McCollum shot 7 of 22, 1 of 8 three-pointers, only 21 points, 8 boards and 5 assists; Ingram had 22 points, 5 boards and 5 assists, Valanciunas 17 points and 14 boards, and the sixth six had 12 points.
You must pay tribute to jose Alvarado the elder six, of course you can also call him six brothers and six masters! If it weren't for his fight over Paul, the Pelicans might have been burned long ago. The Pelicans should let him play for a while longer...