129-109, the Suns beat the Lone Ranger, fixing the series at 2-0. Ayton and McGee both got into foul trouble, trailing 58-60 in the first half, and even after three quarters, they only led 89-83, the game was frozen in an instant, behind the "double odd", Paul (28 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal) once again decided the outcome of the game.
Paul led the Suns to victory over the Mavericks 28+6+8
In the second quarter of the game, the Suns were whistled for 3 consecutive offensive fouls in 35 seconds, so the third quarter only played 2 minutes, Ayton was caused by Powell again, the personal fourth offense can only be weighted; mcGee appeared, after the debut in the last quarter, the third quarter 5 minutes of the personal fifth offense, the Lone Ranger chased the score to 72-76, successfully beat the Suns' two major interior lines, Kidd seemed to see the hope of an equalizer away from home, as a result, Shuangqi and Paul began to control the trend of the game.
First, Monty's "strange trick".
Usually, facing Doncic, ordinary teams will implement pinch-attack defense, after all, the ability is too strong, but Monty's choice, the whole game is almost no pinch, by Bridges and Johnson alone defense, even if named by Doncic, but also resolutely implement this defensive strategy, the effect:
Bridges steals Doncic instantly
Doncic efficiently blasted down 35 points with 13 of 22 and 5 of 10 three-pointers, but the Suns' single-soldier defense did not pinch, Doncic could not connect with his teammates, once forcibly combed as shown in the picture, the Sun's three-dimensional defensive system could cut off his passing route at any time, so Doncic's 7 assists in the whole game but 7 mistakes, not only lost the role of the "engine", and was completely cut by the Suns' defense outside Kidd's "fast ball, collective cooperation" system, more typical scene:
Paul steals Doncic to help FlyBridge
Doncic's right arc was about to attack, Johnson forced it to block, Paul picked up the ball to fight back, and Bridges directly re-dunked. The Lone Rangers have been the team with the fewest turnovers since the playoffs, and as a result, 14 turnovers in this game, the Suns used the errors to score 21 points, and Kidd broke a corner of the five-small system.
Second, Biyongbo became a surprise soldier.
When Ayton and McGee are both trapped in foul trouble, Monty makes the flag waved and Billy Byombo appears. Fans know that after Joining Biyombo in the middle of the season, he once made a 17-game winning streak, as for the reason, the offensive end, he can eat cake; the defensive end, in addition to protecting the basket, he is even more practical than Ayton and McGee, and can change defenses to the outside line at any time, so:
East Doncic stronger than Yongbo instantly
After The debut of Biyongbo, he can protect the interior line at the same time, but also can change the defense to the three-point line at any time, the best effect, the Suns unlimited change of defense process, Doncic wants to name Ayton and McGee as in the first half? There were no goals, and Doncic scored 1 of 3 three-pointers throughout the second half, plummeting from the number of shots to the number of shots, and as for the breakthrough biyombo shown in the picture, the number is not much and the team can accept it.
Biyongbo's co-defense
More importantly, Biyongbo has a very good sense of assisting defense, Doncic has a hard time misplacing Paul to the basket, and as a result, he can only be forced to pass the ball in Biyombo's assistant defense, so the picture is too numerous to list.
In the whole game, Biyombo contributed 9 points and 3 rebounds on 4 of 4, the stats are not outstanding, but when the team leads 116-95 by 21 points to kill the suspense of the game, his on-field efficiency value is +16, after Bridges, Booker and Paul, the fourth man!
Third, Paul once again decided the outcome of the game.
Against the Pelicans, Paul decided the outcome of the game twice on his own, including an all-time recorded 14-of-14, and today, when the Lone Ranger trailed the score to 86-89 with just one goal, Paul:
Paul forced Doncic's 2+1
The right arc faced Brunson's direct three-pointer; Kleber hit the board in mid-range, Paul came back to help Johnson with three points; Doncic went beyond the three-pointer, Johnson forced a layup; Doncic made two fouls to stop the bleeding, Paul mid-range, help Bridges heavy dunks, free throw line small throws, face Doncic directly two mid-range, personal 6 of 6 alone 14 points and 2 assists to lead the team to a wave of 21-7 winning flow, fixing the score at 110-93, Booker returned two three-pointers, GAME OVER.
At this point, although the overall strength is dominant, but in the case of Ayton and McGee both falling into foul trouble, Monty's defensive "strange move" against Doncic, Biyombo became a strange soldier, and after the double "strange" effect, Paul once again decided the outcome of the game in the way of São Paulo.