the great gatsby

Chapter 513 Popovich's plan!
Back in the third quarter, the game entered another level. The first half was just a mutual test.

Spurs ball rights.

The pick-and-roll between Parker and Duncan was just a starting move, and the subsequent handoff gave Parker a chance to rush to the basket and deliver ammunition to Howard. Once at the basket, the Knicks either chose to foul or allow Howard to score.

Howard pushed Whiteside away at the basket, avoided Green's block, and made a layup with a low hand.

Gatsby caught the ball and passed halftime quickly. Green came up to pick and roll. Gatsby was about to break through. Duncan and Danny Green let go of Green and directly pinched Gatsby.

Gatsby was quick enough to pass the ball directly to Green, but that's exactly what Popovich intended—no matter how the rest of the Knicks are playing, leaving Gatsby without the ball is the way to go. The only correct strategy!
Green was emptied and tried to shoot a three-pointer, but his three-pointer missed and the Spurs counterattacked.

Parker picked up the rebound and rushed across the frontcourt like a galloping sports car, and Gatsby followed, but this kind of fast offense and defense was too disadvantageous for the defense.

No matter how good the Knicks usually explain, but the instant judgment is ultimately for the players to make a decision. Both Thompson and Leonard rushed to Danny Green, and Belinelli was emptied!

Parker passed the ball and Belinelli made a three-pointer!

The Spurs instantly opened the score to 5 points!
D'Antoni quickly called a timeout, and only 1 minute passed at this time.

As soon as the third quarter came up, the Spurs scored a 5:0.

It is obvious that the Knicks' defense has a problem. D'Antoni quickly reminded him of the defensive problem. The offensive problem has not yet realized Popovich's plan.

It wasn't until Gatsby broke through and was flanked again, and had no choice but to pass the ball to Thompson, that D'Antoni suddenly realized this problem.

"Popovich is letting other people decide the game!"

D'Antoni's face was a little dignified.

This season, many teams have tried to use this method to limit Gatsby, pinch Gatsby, force him to hold the ball less, and let other people decide the game.

Although the Knicks still win more and lose less, it doesn't mean that this is no threat to the Knicks, at least not to the Spurs.

The Spurs are a special team. Their organization is strict. In the league, no team dares to say that their integrity is better than the Spurs, and the Knicks will not say so, even if their integrity is similar to the Spurs .

In addition to their integrity, the Spurs also have a chilling bench. The Spurs' bench gangsters are the new force that can fight and win if they stand up!

The point is, the Spurs seem to have brought in Howard specifically for this tactic to limit Gatsby. What is the characteristic of Howard, not his offense, but his defense, more precisely, his ability to protect the frame!
When he was in the Magic, he alone supported the defense of the Magic's entire penalty area.

Although he is no longer at his peak, his penalty area defense is still the best in the league.

Putting these together: Integrity-the bench gangster-Howard, built a tactic to restrain the Knicks at critical moments!
This point of Green is the key to the Knicks connecting the whole team. After Gatsby was flanked, Green could handle the ball, but now the Spurs let go of Green directly.

Green can either only shoot from the three-point line, or he can only get to the basket.

Green's three-pointers are not very reliable. Although Gatsby has been urging him to make consecutive three-pointers, the effect is not very good.

Then he can only break into the basket, but with Howard guarding the basket, his chance of success is not high.

In other words, no matter what Green chooses, it is not as good as Gatsby holding the ball in his hands. The Knicks must either replace Green and play a shooter, or play in this inefficient way.

But Green has a great effect on the Knicks. With Green on the court, the Knicks are the best in both offense and defense. This cannot be replaced by Harris, Iguodala and others.

Gatsby was also aware of this problem. He couldn't help but be shocked by Popovich's plan. Popovich was definitely not unintentional. The current situation was definitely a plan he had hidden for a long time before he brought it out in the finals. Knicks!

How to do?
D'Antoni was pacing anxiously on the sidelines, and the situation on the court took a turn for the worse. D'Antoni could only call a timeout, but he couldn't come up with a good plan.

"Gatsby, what can I do?" D'Antoni looked at Gatsby.

Gatsby didn't feel that D'Antoni was shirking responsibility, but trusted himself. He thought for a while and said:

“Two options, either Green comes off the court, gives up some defensive intensity, lets Harris come on, and adds a shooter;
Either I hold the ball and play hard, using a one-star, four-shooting style, but I may still be flanked, but Green can help Klay or Kawhi pick and roll in advance, and run out to catch and shoot. "

D'Antoni thought for a while: "Then try to play hard, Drummond, when Gatsby is singles with the ball, you have to go to the pick-and-roll first, and once they let you go, you must help Klay or Kawhi block it Location."

"Okay!" Green said, this time is very critical, and Green does not dare to lose his temper.

Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen discuss this strategy from Popovich.

"Coach Popovich is still very experienced. He has also seen the only flaw of the Knicks. Gatsby is the Knicks' strongest point. Not letting him hold the ball is the best strategy." Mike Breen said.

Jeff Van Gundy laughed: "Teams all over the league know this, but they only did one step, that is, they didn't let Gatsby have the ball, but there was no way to deal with other people.

The Spurs can not only limit Gatsby, but also prevent other Knicks from taking advantage of this opportunity. This is their strength.

In other words, Howard has really regained his life in the Spurs. After this season, his evaluation has returned to the top. possible.

Now it's up to D'Antoni and Gatsby to make moves. If they don't come up with a solution, the point difference will be more than ten points, and it will be difficult to finish by then. "

The Spurs lead by 8 points, but Popovich still looks quite serious. His strategy is effective, but he knows that Gatsby's adaptability is very strong, and it is difficult for his strategy to be effective for a long time.

If it is taken out this time, it may not be useful next time. He wants to use it at the most critical time, but if he does not take advantage of the first game when the Knicks are unprepared and wins the next game, it will become more and more difficult in the future. more difficult.

Speaking of Gatsby, Popovich's biggest headache is that even when Gatsby has no tactical solutions, he often uses his extraordinary strength to break it all. This is terrifying. place.

As an opponent, you are most afraid of such an opponent, because you don't know when he will explode, and once he explodes, you will take away the game, what can you do?
(End of this chapter)