Super all-around point guard

Chapter 741 The king of the three quarters, the Lakers!

When other teams encounter Xie Chen, no matter if they are defending alone or double-teaming, no matter what methods they use to limit Xie Chen, they can't stop Xie Chen from running wild. He can score more than 100 points in a single game, but Popovich only sent Leonard to defend Xie Chen alone, and let Xie Chen, who can score 100 points, only score less than 40 points. I have to say that it is good to have the most difficult defensive player in the league.

Last season, if Xie Chen’s steals and block data were not too good, then Leonard would undoubtedly be the best defensive player. Even if Xie Chen beat Leonard in the end, the difference in vote scores between the two would not be much different. Leonard still got a lot of first-place votes. The development is not as good as Leonard.

Is it difficult to keep Xie Chen from getting mad?Popovich doesn't think so, sending one Leonard is enough, as for being so nervous?
Popovich asked Leonard: "How many quarters?"

Leonard said: "Within three overtimes, there is no problem."

Popovich also nodded in satisfaction after hearing this. He knew that Xie Chen's physical strength was amazing. He could still have amazing physical strength and state from the first quarter to the last quarter, but Leonard's physical strength was also at the top of the league. However, Popovich was still a little dissatisfied with Leonard's answer, because Leonard said that he could only last three overtimes. At that time, Xie Chen still had a good shooting percentage. Leonard said that he could only last three overtimes, and obviously admitted that he lost to Xie Chen.

I don't know if Leonard could see Popovich's mind, and then went on to say: "After three overtimes, I think I have already left the field with six fouls."

Only then did Popovich smile: "Well, go to training, remember to make it clear once you speak in the future, don't learn from Tim Duncan."

……

Finally came the day of the match between the Spurs and the Lakers. Yesterday, the Golden State Warriors also beat their opponents with a big score of 40 points. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant clocked out at halftime. It seemed that they were unwilling to let Xie Chen's Lakers dominate. They also stood up to prove that they can also defeat their opponents without any suspense.

When the Lakers met the Spurs this time, everyone generally believed that the Lakers were never so lucky to be able to clock in three quarters. The Spurs are definitely not a team that can be defeated in three quarters. As long as the Spurs play normally, they will definitely be able to drag the Lakers to the end. Then another question will come. If Xie Chen plays all four quarters, how terrible will his stats be?In the first few games with a quadruple-double in a single quarter, I didn't play much after that. If such statistics are staged again tonight, and they play the whole game, maybe they will break the record again!
But anyone who is familiar with Popovich knows that Popovich will never allow Xie Chen to be so presumptuous in front of him.

When the Lakers played, when Xie Chen appeared in front of everyone, there were both cheers and boos, especially after Xie Chen entered the field, all the fans at the scene urged Xie Chen to go to the Spurs bench to find Popovich.

In many consecutive games in the past, Xie Chen went to the opponent's bench to threaten the coach before the game. It has become an interesting scene in the game. Xie Chen threatened the coach of the Blazers. The coach of the Blazers was so angry that he called the NBA president to sue.
Popovich was born in the Air Force Academy. His university major was Soviet studies. His ambition was to become an agent in Moscow. He received professional training and started a spy career. After that, he worked as an assistant to Larry Brown and Nelson. After taking over as the coach of the Spurs, he has entered the playoffs every year since 97 and won five championships.

How could Popovich be frightened by Xie Chen's big words?
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" It was precisely because they knew that the Spurs coach was not afraid of Xie Chen that the fans at the scene began to shout Xie Chen's name.

This was the first time Xie Chen heard the away fans shouting for him before the game. Even at home, he had never been so enthusiastic.

Xie Chen stretched out his hand and waved to the fans, but the shouting continued, obviously not because of worship.

Luol Deng thought that Xie Chen didn't know the intention of the fans calling Xie Chen, so he walked over and said, "They want you to go to Popovich. In the past, you threatened the opponent's head coach every game. They really want to see what it will be like if you threaten Popovich."

Xie Chen said: "Of course I know what these people are up to, I don't want to threaten that old man, that old man can do anything!"

Seeing that Xie Chen didn't respond for a long time at the scene, the shouting changed to booing, and even the VIP fans yelled at Xie Chen that Xie Chen had no guts. Xie Chen was really annoyed!
"Isn't it just to chat with Popovich, these people are really persistent!" Xie Chen put down the basketball and walked towards the Spurs.

Seeing that Xie Chen was coming, the atmosphere reached a climax before the match.

Popovich had also been standing on the sidelines waiting for Xie Chen for a long time. Popovich looked at Xie Chen with a smile. Although Xie Chen had just entered the league for a few years, he already had two championships in his hands. This deserves the respect of a coach like Popovich.

Popovich reached out his hand and said, "Long time no see. I heard that you are very annoying tonight. You want to score 100 points and break records? No one in this arena has ever scored high scores or broken any records. I am actually looking forward to your doing so."

Xie Chen knew that Popovich couldn't believe a word of it. Maybe this old guy had already dug a hole and waited for himself to jump. Xie Chen said: "Why would I be annoyed when I meet you? Tim Duncan often said that'the future is yours'. He lied to LeBron James for so many years, but he really retired after telling me.

Popovich still heard Xie Chen's threat. Xie Chen was clearly telling him that he still had to clock in three quarters in this game!
What Popovich is thinking at this moment is that our Spurs are not a cat-and-dog opponent like the Blazers Jazz and Suns. Do you want to end the battle in three quarters against the Spurs?Let's dream!

But Popovich still smiled and said: "You are number one in the Western Conference. I know it will be difficult for us to beat you, but you know that your popularity is too high. This year's All-Star is also the top voter. Many people here want to watch you play, so I will definitely let you play in the fourth quarter."

Xie Chen didn't say anything harsh. Even if Popovich said that the Lakers would win this game, Xie Chen still had a way to question and refute. After all, the Spurs have the qualifications.

After the game started, Xie Chen encountered Leonard's death-wound defense!
In one-on-one defense, Leonard has the advantage of height and arm length against Xie Chen, but his flexibility is poor. Xie Chen's most terrifying scoring method is Curry's three-pointer.

It has to be said that Leonard's defense is not at the same level as the defense that Xie Chen encountered in the previous few games, because his long arms can break the ball in your hand at any time, so you have to be vigilant at all times.

Seeing this situation, the fans who were used to Xie Chen's madness were also relieved. They finally met an evenly matched opponent. The opponent was too weak and kept wreaking havoc, so it was boring to watch.

In fact, Leonard is more suitable to defend against small forwards like James. Defense against Xie Chen is still easy to be broken by Xie Chen, and it will greatly consume his physical energy.

No matter who Leonard is defending against, it will cause a phenomenon that the opponent's shot rate will decrease. Whether it is defending against Curry or James or defending Xie Chen today, this is the case. As long as you face Leonard, the probability of converting the ball into a shot will decrease.

Xie Chen and Leonard are fighting defensively tonight. If Xie Chen really wants to go crazy today, even if he can't score 100 points, it's okay to score 70 or 80 points. But doing this all the time is not conducive to the progress of the entire team.

After three quarters, Xie Chen only scored 20 points and had more assists, but he didn't score in double figures. Although Xie Chen's 20 points didn't look like much, it was already the highest score of the players in the game, because it was a defensive battle, and the scores of both sides were very low.

With only 1 minute left in the final third quarter, the Spurs still led the Lakers by one point.

"Recently, at the end of the third quarter, not falling behind by more than 15 points is pretty good. Only the Spurs can still lead the Lakers in three quarters. The strong team is really different."

"And Leonard's defense against Xie Chen was also very successful. Xie scored 20 points in three quarters. The key is to limit his outside shots very well. Popovich just made Xie Chen go to the basket again and again. He is probably very happy to see Xie Chen fall again and again, because Luke Walton will definitely be very nervous."

Wharton naturally doesn't want to see Xie Chen use his body to score every time. He knows that Xie Chen has a strong layup ability. If Xie Chen really wants to score in front of Popovich, he can also hang them with Leonard's defensive strategy.

"It is estimated that many people now think that I can't score under Leonard's defense. In the next minute, I will give them some surprises." Seeing that there is only one minute left in the third quarter, Xie Chen is used to leading the opponent at the end of the third quarter, so he will start to play more seriously next.

Xie Chen was lucky. He first saw the passing route of the Spurs, completed a steal, and immediately made a fast break. Leonard naturally followed closely.

During the half-court offense, Leonard's death entanglement gave Xie Chen a headache, but this kind of fast break started from the backcourt, with no one in the frontcourt, Xie Chen could give full play to his advantages in this huge and empty field, that is his speed and flexibility.

Xie Chen made a fast break to the three-point line, took the first step, and quickly changed direction to the left, shaking Leonard seriously, but after all, he is the strongest defensive player in the league other than Xie Chen, so he won't be able to solve it all at once. Leonard quickly adjusted his body and rushed forward again.

Xie Chen just pulled back and didn't stop the ball. He had already expected Leonard to follow. Then, Xie Chen saw that Leonard had just raised his foot, and made another right change. In fact, this kind of attack, when Leonard took the first swing, he had already lost. From that time on, all the initiative was completely in Xie Chen's hands.

Then, Leonard lost his balance and fell to the ground.

At the same time, after Xie Chen changed direction, he took another handsome step back, with both feet withdrawn beyond the three-point line, and Curry made a three-pointer!
Swish!
Hollow into the network!

"Xie Chen's footwork is so cool! Both of them are top-notch defensively, but in terms of offense, Leonard is much worse than Xie Chen!"

"It took three full quarters to score a good goal. What's there to show off! According to me, Leonard is just in case Xie Chen is a little bored and lacks concentration."

Xie Chen didn't know how Leonard felt after being knocked down by him, because nothing was written on this guy's face.

Regardless of his mood, after the Lakers successfully defended the next ball, Xie Chen faced Leonard again and made a jumper directly over his head!

"Be strong!"

"It's too much!"

Swish!
Hit another three-pointer!

What Xie Chen used was McGrady's three-point ability. Xie Chen copied McGrady's ability on that day. I don't know if this is the reason. The more time is running out, the higher the hit rate.

For the last attack, Xie Chen switched to the other side and made another three-pointer.

Xie Chen scored nine points in one minute, overtaking the Spurs by eight points. Those who questioned Xie Chen being guarded by Leonard all fell silent.

Even Popovich was a little nervous. He felt that it was too difficult for Leonard to limit Xie Chen to less than 40 points in a single game?

"The Lakers are still the kings of the three-quarter game. Even the Spurs couldn't lead the Lakers in the three quarters. Before, the Pelicans were only behind by single digits in the three quarters, but the fourth quarter was still garbage time. The Pelicans didn't force Xie to play. Can the Spurs do it?"

(End of this chapter)