roccoschili Chapter 394 Adjustment of the Spurs
Chapter 394 Adjustment of the Spurs
Chapter 394 Adjustment of the Spurs
Throughout the first three quarters, Popovich has been anxious.
There was his seat on the bench, but he basically didn't sit comfortably for 3 minutes.
The situation on the Spurs field made him unstable.
It wasn't until the fourth quarter of the game that Popovich sat down after playing a small half of the game.
Certainly not because things have gotten better for the Spurs, in fact, things have gotten worse.
Feeling Duncan's plodding footsteps and his declining shooting percentage, Popovich understood.
This game is over.
101:85
A 16-point difference is really rare in the Western Conference Finals, especially in this era of competition.
In particular, one of those teams was the Spurs.
As one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, on the stage of the Western Conference Finals, they allowed their opponents to score more than [-] points.
This is unsatisfactory.
Especially when I came back to San Antonio with my 0-2 deficit, it made everyone look down on the Spurs.
Duncan's performance is still impeccable.
With 33 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists, under his leadership, the team once completed the reversal of the score.
It's a pity that all this was obliterated by Wang Hao's 17 points in a single quarter.
Today's Wang Hao also had a 30+ performance, especially in the third quarter, when he once dominated the game.
Bruce Bowen is indeed a very good defender, but unfortunately, Wang Hao is not something he can defend.
In other words, no matter what kind of defender it is, it will be extremely distressing when facing Wang Hao.
His offensive methods are so abundant that you don't even know how he will end the offense.
He can play off the ball like Reggie Miller.
It can also be an excellent pitcher like Ray Allen.
He can also play singles with the ball like Kobe.
You can even pass the ball like a point guard.
……
In this case, besides calling someone to double-team, who can do anything?
In this game, Wang Hao scored a game-high 35 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
It was obvious that their own team won the game, but they were robbed of the best player in the game, which made people uncomfortable.
What's more, there are still some media talking nonsense there.
If you say you don't care about it, it must be a lie, after all, professional players are competing with each other.
Humans are social animals, living in a society, they cannot escape the disturbances in it.
At least Wang Hao couldn't be so indifferent and didn't care at all.
What he can do is to be as normal as possible and not change the purpose of playing because of this.
Winning is the most important thing.
Of course, being able to play better while winning is what he pursues.
Winning is because of him, that's the most important thing.
What lying to win, he completely disdains.
In this game, Wang Hao also consciously strengthened his aggressiveness and increased his number of shots.
Unlike the last game, as long as there is a double-team situation, he will pass the ball as much as possible.
He made himself look more reasonable.
This game is his true face. Compared with his teammates, he believes that he can solve the problem.
The same is true.
"Great job guys, we accomplished what we set out to do at the start of the game, defending the home court.
However, I have to remind you that the next game will not be our home stadium.
On the contrary, we will challenge opponents in San Antonio, and the court there will not be too friendly to us. "
Looking at the extremely excited teammates in the locker room, Wang Hao couldn't help but remind him.
Don't look at the Sonics winning two games in a row, and in every game, their advantage is not small.
But he also understands that this round of the series will not end easily.
Because their opponent is the Spurs, the Spurs with the combination of Popovich and GDP.
Although today's GDP has not yet fully matured, it cannot be underestimated.
Whether it is Manu Ginobili or Parker, there is no doubt about their ability, the only thing that is lacking is their adaptability.
"King, don't worry, we can solve all problems."
"Yes, no one can stop the footsteps of supersonic speed."
"Besides, Wang, don't we still have you? I believe you can solve the problem."
……
Hearing his teammates say so confidently, Wang Hao didn't know what to say.
Because in his heart, he also thought so.
As a championship team, it should have such an unrivaled belief.
The reason why he said such words was purely an ideal idea in his mind reminding him that he should say such words.
It's not that he wants to say it, but that he should say it.
The reason why he said these flowers was not because the Spurs team put so much pressure on Jean.
It's purely because he knows the record of this Spurs team.
In the history of the NBA, the only team that did not complete consecutive championships was hailed as a dynasty.
The strength of the Spurs does not lie in the invincibility of the Spurs.
To be honest, if you want to say that the most powerful championship team in NBA history, it is estimated that no one will choose the Spurs.
It's just that, if you want to say that the most powerful and longest-lasting team after the 20th century, it must be the Spurs.
Compared with the ups and downs of other teams, the Spurs have remained strong for more than ten years.
After understanding this truth, Wang Hao didn't force the ball, and his teammates became nervous.
As Gerani McCoy said, even if there is a problem, the Supersonics still have Wang Hao!
Wang Hao believes that no matter what kind of problems he encounters, he can solve them. He has such confidence.
On May 5, after two days, the Western Conference Finals continued.
The Sonics arrived in San Antonio yesterday, without much surprise, the Spurs fans warmly entertained them.
Last night, in the middle of the night, just outside the hotel where they lived, there were people holding a party.
Fortunately, the supersonic has long been prepared.
This is not the first time they have encountered this kind of situation. You can see all kinds of weird situations in away games in the NBA.
They also ran into trouble early the next morning when they were getting ready to acclimatise.
For a while, there was a problem with the power supply of the arena, and for a while, the key to the locker room could not be found.
Of course, the Spurs cannot be blamed for this, because these are the usual tricks used by the NBA in the playoffs.
It's useless except to get people's mentality.
Although San Antonio is a small ball market, there are not a few fans.
The reason, of course, is because of the performance of the Spurs.
Especially in recent years, with the arrival of Duncan, the Spurs have maintained very good results.
Coupled with the championship a few years ago, it naturally attracted a large number of new fans into the arena.
The home of the Spurs is called the SBC Center Arena, which was officially opened at the end of last year.
This arena was built by the city of San Antonio after the Spurs won the championship.
A championship is still very important to a city.
Before that, the Spurs didn't even have a professional arena, they could only borrow a rugby arena.
"Di!"
As the referee's whistle sounded, the Spurs' first Western Conference Finals at home officially started.
To be honest, for this game, the Spurs are fighting hard.
They changed the starting lineup, and it was a huge adjustment. David Robinson withdrew from the starting lineup.
You know, this is David Robinson, the greatest player in the history of the Spurs today.
Duncan is destined to surpass David Robinson, but it's not now, but in the future.
Manu Ginobili entered the starting lineup.
Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili partnered in the backcourt, with Bruce Bowen and Stephen Jackson up front.
As for the center, it is naturally Duncan.
At the beginning of the game, the Spurs continued the offensive tactics of the last game, allowing Duncan to participate more in the offense.
In the first offensive round, Duncan took the initiative to pick and roll Parker. One step inside the three-point line, Parker shot directly.
Because Gary Payton is shrinking the defense, the defense is Parker's breakthrough, and he directly releases his long-range shot.
Gary Payton's choice is naturally no problem, but the problem is that the goal really scored.
Looking back, the Spurs have also changed defensively.
Ginobili took the initiative to confront Gary Payton, and as for Parker, he focused on Michael Reid.
In today's Sonics system, Michael Redd is a spacer.
Needless to say, Parker has no problem defending him, after all, he has no chance to attack with the ball.
Obviously, this change is in response to the pick-and-roll tactics between Wang Hao and Gary Payton.
Although it may not be able to prevent it, the effect will definitely be better.
"Gary!"
Wang Hao did not directly pick and roll Gary Payton, but greeted Gary Payton and fell directly inside.
He is going to play singles with his back.
Gary Payton didn't delay, and quickly gave the ball to Wang Hao, but Ginobili immediately double-teamed him.
Wang Hao didn't delay, and immediately threw the ball to Gary Payton.
Ginobili reacts quickly, and his defense is not bad, but Gary Payton has long been prepared.
Taking advantage of Ginobili's unstable foothold, he broke through directly.
The two consecutive offensive arrangements have completely torn apart the Spurs' defense.
It's just that the Spurs are the Spurs after all.
At this moment, Duncan has returned to the basket extremely quickly, guarding the basket.
Facing Duncan, Gary Payton did not choose to play hard, but passed the ball, and he distributed the ball to Michael Reid.
It's a pity that Parker was still standing in front of Michael Reid, and he didn't make an open shot.
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the back edge of the rim and bounced out of the frame.
Without any surprises, Duncan alone was enough to dominate the basket and grab rebounds.
After grabbing the rebound, Duncan didn't rush to find someone, but hugged the ball firmly.
According to the rhythm of the Spurs, the ball was unhurriedly given to Parker, and Parker dribbled the ball across half court.
Parker took a look from beyond the three-point line, and without delay, he directly gave the ball to Duncan who was supporting him in a high position.
This is the Spurs' tactics, more passing the ball, more running off the ball.
The Spurs' tactics are all about sharing the ball, so the big core holding the ball is not suitable for the Spurs.
Duncan's previous style of play is not suitable for the Spurs.
Of course, this is not the reason for Duncan. If Duncan played alone, the Spurs would not even have a chance to score.
Duncan didn't delay, shifted the ball again, and gave the ball directly to Ginobili on the other side.
Ginobili did not delay, passed the ball again, and the basketball came to Bruce Bowen near the baseline.
At this time, Duncan was in position to ask for the ball.
Bruce Bowen didn't dare to delay, and directly gave the ball to Duncan, forming a one-on-one singles situation.
Bruce Bowen took the initiative to go online, this is to take Wang Hao away and prevent him from double-teaming Duncan.
To be honest, according to common sense, Wang Hao should double-team Duncan.
Even if Bruce Bowen is emptied, Duncan has to be double-teamed. It is too stupid for Duncan to play singles in this position.
It's just that, when he thought of the team's tactics, he gave up.
The Supersonic's tactics are still continuing the tactics of the previous two games, and Duncan is still allowed to play singles.
However, Wang Hao faintly felt something was wrong.
Today's Spurs are obviously different, not only the lineup has changed, but also the mental outlook has changed.
Among them, there is naturally a home bonus.
Not too much, Duncan turned around with a small hook and easily put the ball into the basket.
Singles in this position is not too simple for him.
0:4
Wang Hao also knows that the situation is not good, and in this case, the score cannot be opened.
Facing Bruce Bowen, he took the initiative to ask for the ball for singles, and made a steady mid-range jumper.
2:4
However, the Spurs scored again.
Somewhat similar to the situation just now, Duncan responded from a high position and gave the ball to Ginobili.
It's just that this time, Duncan didn't go inside, but came outside the three-point line to help Ginobili pick and roll.
Ginobili's speed is also not slow, and he broke through Michael Reed all at once.
There is no way, but Michael Reid dare not directly empty Ginobili's outside line. After all, Ginobili has three-pointers.
Ginobili easily drives past Michael Reid.
As for PJ Brown, he has to be busy defending Duncan, so he naturally relaxes the defense inside.
As a result, there is only one Lewis inside the Sonics.
Lewis reacted a beat slower and could only watch Ginobili complete the dunk.
2:6
After the opening game, the Spurs failed to defend even once in the three rounds of offense of the Spurs.
What does this mean?
It shows that their defensive strategy has failed.
Duncan did not give up singles, just like in the second round, he still scored in singles.
It's just that, before playing singles, he will cooperate more with his teammates first.
Duncan's singles have become one of the means of ending the Spurs' tactical system, not the only means.
Paul Westphal naturally sensed something was wrong.
It's just that he didn't make a change immediately, maybe it was just the Spurs scoring two goals by accident.
You can't really do everything perfectly in a game.
Just like in the previous game, the Spurs also had a counterattack, and even overtook the score.
It's a pity that they couldn't maintain this situation.
Even when it was the first timeout, Paul Westphal only made offensive adjustments, not directly changed the defense.
The tactics that have been arranged before the game are definitely not something that can be changed in a few words, at least until the halftime break.
(End of this chapter)