NBA: Duncan feels uneasy coaching Warriors

Chapter 141 Still No. [-] in the West!

In fact, the Timberwolves are also the party that controls the initiative.

GDP sat for two, and Leonard also rested. If this game is still not won, the Timberwolves will be in the playoffs in this year's Wild West.

The Spurs still relied on the tactical system at the beginning, and they were able to play back and forth with the Timberwolves.

But after all, the core of the team is missing.

When the battle line is stretched, the Timberwolves' advantage comes out.

Especially without Duncan, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still quite difficult to defend. It is difficult for the Spurs' bench insiders to match Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Butler attacking the city on the offensive end, most of the Spurs' bench team can't match the strength.

Seeing the team leading the Spurs, Su Chen didn't care too much about this.

Su Chen rarely stood on the sidelines this time, and basically sat in his own seat, watching the game quietly.

It is certain that there is no suspense in this game, and the Spurs are not serious.

Su Chen is thinking about a deeper question, that is, what should I do if I meet the Spurs in the playoffs?
Now this Timberwolves, there is no doubt that Giannis - Antetokounmpo and Butler's double-star lineup, relying on the two men's containment on the offensive end to find opportunities for other positions.

Don't look at the Timberwolves playing as if it is easy now, but it is very difficult to really meet in the playoffs.

Needless to say about Duncan, Duncan still has the power to fight now. Whether Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is 80% of his peak ability, can beat the old Duncan is a question.

Then there is a more important question.

Let alone whether Giannis Antetokounmpo can beat the old Duncan, it is difficult to beat Leonard.

Su Chen still remembers, in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals.

When the Bucks 2-0 the Raptors, the Raptors changed their strategy and let Leonard guard Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Leonard can use his own strong body to withstand Giannis Antetokounmpo's back, and at the same time can block Giannis Antetokounmpo's face frame attack, facing Leonard many times Germany's defense directly stopped the ball.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has no three-pointers. When he can't break through the inside, his role on the court is only defensive.

Leonard this season has definitely grown to a very mature height on the defensive end.

In the original timeline, the Spurs could easily defeat the Heat in the finals this season because Leonard has been able to stop James' ability.

Maybe this season Leonard has not really matured on the offensive end, but he is mature enough on the defensive end.

Let Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has 80% ability value, face Leonard, Su Chen himself is not sure.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was in the peak MVP season, has never passed Leonard's level, let alone 80%.

Even an occasional game during Leonard's on-and-off Clippers career showed Leonard's edge.

Because Leonard entered the state of what a master does in the Clippers era, people have forgotten how good Leonard is.

Leonard's advantage is that he plays very well, and his disadvantage is that he doesn't play.

But Leonard in the Spurs era did not have the shortcoming of not playing. He was a powerful master with a guaranteed play rate.

beep.

With the whistle of the referee, this lackluster game is over.

Timberwolves 95:83 Spurs.

Although it was not a particularly large score to win, the whole game was relatively stable.

After winning the Spurs, the Timberwolves' record has also become: 27 wins and 7 losses.

And the Spurs became the same record.

The two teams have the same record in the match, and Su Chen doesn't know who will be ranked first. Anyway, it will wait until the league staff calculates the result.

after the game.

Su Chen also shook hands with Popovich again.

Players from the two teams also shook hands and hugged in greeting. This game is an ordinary regular season.

Just as Su Chen and Popovich were shaking hands, suddenly, there was a burst of cheers from the target center.

It turned out that it was at this time that the western rankings appeared on the big screen.

After a while of complicated calculations, the Timberwolves actually ranked first in the Western Conference, replacing the Spurs' ranking.

"Congratulations, young man."

Popovich patted Su Chen on the shoulder.

It can be seen that Popovich has no mood swings about this so-called No. [-] in the West.

On the contrary, I still have the mood, congratulations to Su Chen.

For Popovich, the title of No. [-] in the West is already used to it.

And the first place in the Western Conference in the 2011 season brought some unpleasant memories to Popovich.

That is, they were given a black eight by the Grizzlies.

Regarding the No. [-] record in the Western Conference being taken away by the Timberwolves, Popovich has no waves.

"Thank you, Coach Popovich."

Su Chen responded politely.

Popovich nodded, then turned and went back.

But the Timberwolves players celebrated happily at this time.

After all, there are many young players in the Timberwolves team, even if they are experienced players, their experience is not particularly rich.

The configuration of the entire team is relatively young.

Everyone is still very excited about returning to No. [-] in the West.

Su Chen looked at the players celebrating and couldn't help but smile, it's pretty good.

Returning to No. [-] in the Western Conference is just an episode for the Timberwolves.

The external media reacted quite strongly to this matter.

Some people are still not optimistic about the Timberwolves. Some people think that the Timberwolves have shown super strength and may already be a mature team.

Su Chen never responded to these words.

The Timberwolves still have a long schedule ahead.

The next ten games.

Kings 102-111 Timberwolves.

Raptors 90-99 Timberwolves.

Jazz 88-93 Timberwolves.

Jazz 97-111 Timberwolves.

Warriors 123-121 Timberwolves.

Trail Blazers 118-112 Timberwolves.

Bulls 80-95 Timberwolves.

Pelicans 88-100 Timberwolves.

Grizzlies 91-92 Timberwolves.

Eagles 100-113 Timberwolves.

In these ten games, the Timberwolves have achieved a record of 8 wins and 2 losses.

The total record came to 34 wins and 9 losses.

Facing the tank team, the Timberwolves relied on defense to make it difficult for the tank team to fight.

The reason why a strong team is a strong team is because it can maintain a high winning percentage against a weak team. First of all, it must have the ability to squeeze the soft persimmon instead of becoming a soft persimmon.

And some teams look good and can win against some very strong teams, but they don't have half the winning percentage against tank teams.

If you are strong, you will be strong, if you are weak, you will be weaker. These teams have a certain strength but poor discipline.

However, in the two games against the Warriors and Trail Blazers, Su Chen had no choice.

Those two games were back-to-back games.

Although the Timberwolves did not choose to rest players, but first the Splash Brothers felt hot, and then the Blazers Lillard also felt hot.

The current rules are more favorable for breakthroughs and three-pointers. Although the Timberwolves have abundant defensive resources, there is no way to really lock the opponent even if the referee blows the whistle.

Besides, it's not the playoffs now, and the regular season is actually not that friendly to the defensive team.

The defensive team itself consumes more energy, and it is relatively disadvantaged in the long regular season, and it is really weak when it is blown by the referee.

But fortunately, when facing the Grizzlies, Butler made a very tough close-range layback lore, allowing the Timberwolves to win that victory.

The Spurs have lost one more game than the Forest in the most recent game.

At this moment, the Timberwolves still stabilized their No. [-] position in the West.

(End of this chapter)