Chapter 228 227. The Oldest Idea King!

In the first half of the first quarter, the two teams were tied at 14-12, and the Spurs led the Bobcats by two points into the official timeout.

This score is higher than the score after half a quarter in the previous three games.

Because both sides continue to use their strongest scoring players in one-on-one singles.

But the Bobcats' style of play not only made Popovich wonder if the Bobcats were so frustrated by the loss that they wanted to give up, but also confused the commentators and fans who could understand the game.

One-on-one defense, using Zhang Yang and Felton, the two scoring pillars of the Bobcats in the finals, to compete against Parker and Duncan, isn't this just asking for trouble?
Without double-teaming Parker from the wing, his scoring performance would not be worse than Felton.

As long as Duncan's playing time is controlled within 40 minutes, his scoring continuity is the highest in the game.

They came up with the idea that "the Bobcats were so beaten in Game 3 that they broke down and gave up" because there is a precedent. Over the past ten years, the Spurs have broken down the mentality of many teams in the playoffs, such as this year's Nuggets, last year's Grizzlies, and the year before last Supersonics... These teams all gave up when facing the Spurs.

It was not until Ginobili missed two shots after coming off the bench and Rondo, who replaced Zhang Yang, launched two consecutive counterattacks to help Gerald Wallace score a goal to tie the score that Popovich finally reacted. It seemed that the opponent was mindlessly using Zhang Yang and Felton to fight a war of attrition with Duncan, but in fact they were betting that Ginobili was not in good shape!
It was the Spurs' turn to attack again, and Duncan had to drop back to the low post and ask for the ball for a one-on-one game.

Facing Okafor's defense, Duncan turned around continuously, seized the gap, took a step closer to the basket and made a layup.

It was the Bobcats' turn to attack, and Okafor also went to the low post for a single play. He turned around and made a hook shot under Duncan's defense...but missed.

Looking back, Duncan wanted to have another one. After leading by two goals, he passed the ball to Ginobili to highlight a steady and cautious approach.

But Duncan, who had already taken 7 singles shots in more than 8 minutes at the start of the game, missed the hook shot this time!
Okafor protected the defensive rebound, passed it to Rondo, and then ran to the frontcourt to continue playing one-on-one with Duncan.

This time, Duncan Jr. played well in the low-post offense. He turned around twice to create a gap, pressed forward actively, and made a layup!

Except for being slightly smaller, the action is exactly the same as Duncan's goal in the previous round!
16 to 16, the score is tied again!
It was the Spurs' turn to attack. Ginobili shot a three-pointer against Gerald Wallace's defense... but it missed!
In the offense-defense transition, Rondo passed Ginobili and went straight to the inside to make a layup... but was disturbed by Duncan, who also grabbed the defensive rebound.

In this shot, Duncan's dominance in the interior defense was fully demonstrated, but when the close-up shot was given to his face, the commentator and fans in front of the TV saw him gasping for breath!

In more than 8 minutes and 9 rounds of attack, Duncan also had to clean up the mess and protect the rim for Parker and Ginobili on the defensive end. He was extremely exhausted at the start of tonight!
Some commentators and fans also understood it.

In the Time Warner Sports commentary booth, Bill Walton was stunned: "Oh my god, no wonder I was rejected in the interview for the Celtics head coach position. I really don't have the talent to be a head coach. We analyzed so many possible methods that the Bobcats might use before the game, and I never thought that Bickerstaff would choose to bet that Ginobili is not in good condition!"

Before and during the game, the commentators were analyzing and discussing how the Bobcats could beat the Spurs.

Just like mocking Zhang Yang's bragging as "the right way for basketball", the way to help the Bobcats defeat the Spurs is also "the right way for basketball".

Hubie Brown: "No, this is not your problem. This is not a decision a serious head coach would make. Other coaches, including me when I coached the Grizzlies, faced the Spurs and thought about how to limit Ginobili's outbreak. Only Bickerstaff would bet that Ginobili would not make the shot.

And not only that, in the last game, the Spurs restricted the Bobcats' long-range shooting, cut off the Bobcats' inside-outside connection, and made the Bobcats' main scorers only score through singles. I thought Bickerstaff would find a way to connect the inside-outside scoring through tactical adjustments, but he didn't. He chose to use the same defensive method as the opponent, cutting off long-range shooting and making the Spurs only score through singles. "

Bill Walton: "He wants Popovich to figure out how to deal with his own defensive strategy? This is a crazy idea! Hubie, what offensive adjustments do you think Popovich will make?"

Hubie Brown: "Based on his previous coaching style, he shouldn't make any offensive adjustments, but he may have to make adjustments on the defensive end. If I'm not mistaken, Bickerstaff will become a pitcher..."

...

Ginobili's offense is very aggressive, with all kinds of unreasonable shots. When he is accurate, it is very scary and really undermines the confidence of the defenders, but when he is unsuccessful, his teammates are just as crazy.

In other words, Duncan can provide a backup for Ginobili.

Seeing that Ginobili continued his poor performance in the previous game and feeling his own physical strength declining, Duncan directed his teammates to adjust their playing style, switching from offense to defense, helping the Spurs to hold on to the situation.

In the first 6 minutes and 17 seconds, the score between the two teams was 14 to 12. At 10 minutes and 28 seconds into the first quarter, when Bickerstaff called a timeout, the score was 18 to 18. In more than 4 minutes, the two teams had a score of 4 to 6!
Bickerstaff replaced Rondo, Millsap and Okafor with a combination of Felton, Zhang Yang, Alan Anderson, Gerald Wallace and Perkins.

Zhang Yang took off his training clothes and walked onto the court to exercise.

Others were surprised by Bickerstaff's adjustments. Zhang Yang also exclaimed in his heart, "Wow!" when he heard the head coach's strategic adjustments during the preparatory meeting yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday morning, when he and the boss were helping others discuss how to play against the Spurs, they decided to increase the number of three-point shots. At that time, he thought they were already aggressive enough, but he didn't expect Bickerstaff to be even wilder!

His ideas were wild and his execution was reckless. But this coaching genius must have made the right bet!
Zhang Yang saw that Duncan on the opposite side had not been replaced, so he stepped onto the court again after the timeout!
The Spurs replaced the combination of Parker, Finley, Bowen, Elson and Duncan.

The timeout ends and the game continues, with the Bobcats attacking and serving in the frontcourt.

Felton passed the ball to Zhang Yang and ran to the left corner. Zhang Yang did not come back after receiving the ball, but passed it to Gerald Wallace who was at the top of the arc, and then ran to the right baseline with Bowen.

The one defending Gerald Wallace is... Elson, who is 213 cm tall and weighs 109 kg!

Elson is considered fast in the interior, but he is obviously far behind Gerald Wallace, who is top-notch in speed at the small forward position.

Gerald Wallace easily passed Elson and entered the three-point line and went straight to the basket!

Bowen immediately expanded from the baseline to block Gerald Wallace.

Gerald Wallace passed the ball to Zhang Yang at the front right baseline. Zhang Yang received the ball and was stuck by Finley who came over from the right sideline.

Zhang Yang received the ball and threw it to the right sideline from behind. Alan Anderson received the ball and made a three-point shot...and it hit!
Popovich puts on a mask of pain.

He guessed that the opponent would definitely send a shooter, and he would definitely expect that he would strengthen the inside defense and help Duncan share the pressure of protecting the rim.

But I didn't expect the opponent to be so aggressive, sending out a combination of one big and four small players, letting Gerald Wallace, the power forward, take the lead in attacking and scoring!
This is probably the most torturous series in Popovich's coaching career. They have clearly always taken the initiative from G1 to now. Even in the loss of G2, they only lost the opponent for a few minutes at the end of the first quarter and the end of the third quarter. Even in the fourth quarter of G2, the Spurs had the upper hand.

But he has been extremely nervous from G1 to now. The old man on the opposite side who is about to retire gives him some creative ideas from time to time. The key is that most of the old man's ideas in this year's playoffs can produce amazing results. He has to use his brain at full speed to find ways to deal with it. He has not been able to sleep well during this period and has insomnia every day.

On Zhang Yang's side, he was so moved that he almost cried when he saw the wing finally make a three-pointer.

He also didn't expect that the idea king among the big men in their Bobcats team would be the oldest Bickerstaff...

When the Spurs attacked, Parker passed Felton and rushed to the basket. Facing Okafor's rim protection and Gerald Wallace's close defense, his jump shot missed.

Felton chased in and grabbed the defensive rebound. Facing the Spurs' defense, he couldn't push for a fast break, so he didn't act recklessly. Instead, he steadily advanced to the frontcourt and passed the ball to Gerald Wallace, and continued to open up space in the left corner.

He made 10 of 4 three-pointers in the first 2 minutes of the game and estimated that he would have to play for a long time tonight, so he should conserve his energy.

Gerald Wallace continued to break through and score.

Seeing that Finley did not move in advance to switch defense with Bowen, Zhang Yang took the initiative to go around to the high position when Bowen retreated to the inside.

Gerald Wallace broke through to close range and passed the ball back to the high position. Zhang Yang received the ball and jumped on the right side of the free throw line. When Finley came over, Zhang Yang had already raised the ball above his head and jumped up. Finley's interference was ineffective, and Zhang Yang took a mid-range shot... and it went in!
23 to 18, the Bobcats lead by 5 points!
Parker received the serve and advanced to the frontcourt. Duncan came out from the inside with an expressionless face and set a screen for Parker.

Duncan pulled Gerald Wallace out of the paint, and Parker used the screen to break through, and the attack space was much better. Facing Okafor who was guarding the rim alone, Parker was a little excited, and took a step forward to shoot from close range... He was anxious! He didn't control the strength well, and hit the rim!
Just as the fans were about to cheer, Duncan rushed in from the outside and pushed the bounced ball back into the frame!
Gerald Wallace couldn't withstand Duncan's turning and cutting in, and when he chased him, he bumped into Duncan who was jumping for a tip-in and was fouled.

The referee ruled that Duncan's goal was valid and an additional penalty was awarded!
The fans at the scene were very upset because it was too difficult to prevent Duncan from cutting in because he was not a real inside player.

But the fans quickly adjusted their mentality and booed Duncan as he walked to the free throw line.

Duncan felt good about these two free throws, and he made the extra free throw again!
10投5中，外加2中2的罚球，邓肯单节得分提升到12分，帮马刺队将比分追至21比23。

Duncan retreated to the basket, controlled his breathing, and gritted his teeth to defend this round. There were only 17 seconds left, and the score difference had to be controlled to one goal to tie or overtake.

But there are some things that he cannot decide.

As an unconventional power forward with a center's physique and center's playing style, he can accomplish things that Garnett cannot, such as running over Gerald Wallace to get into the paint for a tip-in, which Garnett cannot do.

But Garnett can make up for the mid-range and even long-range and three-point defense, which Duncan can't do!

Zhang Yang continued to cooperate with Gerald Wallace and went around to the high position to receive the ball.

This time Finley blocked the ball in advance and did not give Zhang Yang the opportunity to catch the ball and shoot easily, but the cooperation between Zhang Yang and Gerald Wallace also worked and took Bowen away!
Zhang Yang played against Finley, stepped back and shot...and it went in!
The first quarter ended as Parker received the ball and rushed all the way to the opposite three-point line, but missed the buzzer-beating jump shot.

张杨8分、费尔顿6分、奥卡福4分、阿兰-安德森3分、杰拉德-华莱士4分，力压12分的邓肯、6分的帕克，山猫队以25比21领先马刺队4分进入节间休息！
(End of this chapter)