Paul said, "I think we should start by trying a zone defense.
Their specialty is driving and kicking, endlessly driving and kicking.
Then we should just play zone, clog up their drives, and force them to shoot from outside."
Wang Yi thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, their outside shooting percentage isn't low.
All five of those players shoot over 37% from three, and the top two are both at 43%."
Chris Paul nodded. "I considered all of that.
If we focus entirely on protecting the paint and defending the interior,
we could get shot to pieces from the perimeter.
That's why I said we should try the zone first and test their outside touch.
If their outside shooting is off, we keep playing zone.
If they're hot, then we'll have no choice but to switch to man-to-man."
Wang Yi had only just arrived with the team, so it was not convenient for him to question Chris Paul's opinion too much. Besides, this was not an idea Paul had come up with alone. Rondo, Paul, and JJ Redick had already reached a consensus while studying their opponent before the game.
So Wang Yi nodded. "Alright, we'll do it your way."
Wang Yi did not attend the pregame press conference either. For the time being, the Lakers were keeping Wang Yi's role as the team's coach under wraps.
Finally, it was seven o'clock in the evening, and the players from both sides took the court.
Until five minutes before tip-off, hardly anyone noticed Wang Yi, because he had changed since three years ago.
Although he had worked to maintain his physique over those three years and his overall build had not gone out of shape,
looking much the same as before his retirement, his hairstyle had