unfinished glory

Chapter 192
The second half was about to start, and the Spurs changed the lineup, taking Salmons down and replacing them with Bowen.

Although the Grizzlies have found the problem, it is not realistic to solve it through a game. It must go through a long period of training and running-in.So Carlisle simply arranged for Li Chongxiao's singles tactics, allowing the whole team to revolve around him on the offensive end to help open up space.

But on the defensive end, it is impossible for him to relax, and he has repeatedly emphasized that players on the field must take every round and every opponent seriously.

After Li Chongxiao got the ball from beyond the three-point line, he directly shot a three-pointer. The goal was scored, which showed that his touch in the first half was still continuing.

After the Spurs failed to attack, Li Chongxiao took the ball and faced the Spurs' double-teaming tactics again. This time, as soon as Li Chongxiao got the ball from beyond the three-point line, he was surrounded by two people, and there were faintly other Spurs players beside him. Ready to step forward.

If it were someone else, the ball would have been passed, but Li Chongxiao was not afraid.He dribbled the ball back and took two steps back.Bowen and Mason rushed forward and hit Li Chongxiao's arms. Instead of retreating, he pushed forward, squeezed between the two, and broke into the three-point line.

Parker came after him, and Duncan hurried over to stop him.Li Chongxiao pierced his crotch, passed Duncan, and then took off.When Bonner jumped into the air and was about to block the shot, he realized that the height difference was too far, so he hurriedly dodged with his head in his arms.

Li Chongxiao chased the score to 46:56 with a gliding split dunk.

This scene did not exceed Popovich's expectations, and it is not a superstar who can be prevented from death.He just wanted to keep Li Chongxiao from getting high scores, and he also wanted the Spurs to win. One or two goals didn't affect the overall situation.

But Popovich obviously underestimated Carlisle. Although the problem of the Grizzlies' offense will not be solved for a while, the tone of defense has been set since he entered the team.

The Grizzlies averaged more than 120 points per game this season. It seems to be an offensive team, but in fact it was boosted by Li Chongxiao's strong personal ability.What the strong offensive ability conceals is their fifth-ranked defense.

Once it gets serious, it's not something a team with the lowest offensive rating like the Spurs can break through.

In the following situation, Li Chongxiao kept scoring, shooting, breaking through, and free throwing, displaying various offensive methods to his heart's content, tearing apart the Spurs' defense bit by bit, and approaching the score bit by bit.

There was nothing the Spurs could do. They had already used three players to double-team, but Li Chongxiao always had a way to get the ball in.More points in the half-quarter game have already allowed him to score 17 points.

What makes the Spurs even more unacceptable is that they cannot continue to score goals on the offensive end.Li Chongxiao volunteered to defend Ginobili himself. Relying on his personal physical fitness and experience, as well as his familiarity with his old teammates, he put the Pampas Eagle in a cage.

Only Duncan bullied Gasol Jr. based on experience, and barely scored two goals.

After Li Chongxiao made another mid-range shot, the Grizzlies played a wave of 19:4 attacks and successfully tied the score.

Popovich has already called the second timeout of the game. He really couldn't express his inner anger. When explaining the tactics, he smashed the tactical board to the ground: "Look at you guys! , playing like shit, how many more points do you want him to score?"

His growl almost reaches the Grizzlies bench: "I said it, tough, tough. Bruce, don't you understand what I'm saying?"

Popovich pointed at Bowen and spit in his face.

Of course Bowen knew what Popovich was talking about, but he didn't want to do it.

Li Chongxiao's defense was originally the same as Bao Wenxue's, and now both of them can be regarded as defensive masters.However, the outside world's evaluation of the two people is very different. Li Chongxiao has always been known for his upright playing style. Even if he once took revenge and hurt others, he never said that he played dirty.

Bowen is different. His defensive methods are notorious. There are many stars who have suffered from him, and he has been accused by many players in the league.

If it were the first two seasons, Bowen wouldn't know whether he would obey the coach's arrangement, but this season he has already been marginalized, and he doesn't know how many more years he can play. There is no need to consume a lot of Li Chongxiao's four years. Accumulated friendship.

Popovich looked at Bowen's reticent look, so he didn't vent his anger.He intended to let him off the field, but this was already the team's best perimeter defender, and Li Chongxiao missed several shots anyway. If he was replaced with someone else, I'm afraid it wouldn't have such an effect.

But he couldn't let Li Chongxiao continue to play like this, otherwise, if he scored 30 points in a quarter, Popovich felt that he and the Spurs would lose face.

So he replaced Marcus Williams, replaced Manu Ginobili, increased confrontational intensity.

……

Before the match, Carlisle gently reminded Li Chongxiao that Bowen would have bad intentions. After all, it was not the first time that the opponent had done this.

Li Chongxiao didn't care. He told Carlisle that he had always been in contact with Bowen. He might do this to other people, but he wouldn't do it to himself, even if Popovich strongly demanded it.

Not only Bowen will not, but other old teammates in the Spurs will not. It should be noted that the Spurs have a few new recruits. Last time, Marcus Williams stepped forward to provoke them recklessly.

The scene of Popovich's substitution in front of him just verified what Li Chongxiao said at the time, and made Carlisle frown.He substituted Warrick, who was due to play, and called Barnes aside a few times before substituting.

The Spurs' offense was very complicated. After passing the ball many times, Duncan finally got the chance to play Barnes one-on-one.Although Battier stepped forward to double-team, he scored the goal and made an extra penalty, giving the Spurs another 3-point lead, 63:60.

Li Chongxiao dribbled the ball across the half court by himself, and as soon as he passed the center circle, Bowen and Salmons stepped forward to double-team him.He dribbled to the left, opened up more space, and began to show fancy dribbling.

All kinds of crotch and low-level balls flashed past the opponent's stealing hand, then stopped and started quickly, flying Salmons, and then pressed Bowen to break through to the inside.

Before Duncan stepped forward to interfere, he suddenly pulled up and hit the ball.

Immediately afterwards, the team defended against Salmons' small throw. After getting the rebound, Gasol Jr. made a long pass. Li Chongxiao quickly caught the ball in the frontcourt. There was only Salmons in front of him, and Parker next to him.

Of course, Li Chongxiao would not let go of this kind of open space. He took the ball and went straight to the bottom of the basket, passing Salmons like a stake in several disguises.

Seeing that the situation was not right, the latter immediately hugged him, but Li Chongxiao had already handed the ball to his left hand, followed the trend with a toss, and the ball scored and a free throw was required.

Popovich jumped up all of a sudden. He called Salmons, pointed to his head and asked him what he was thinking, why he wasn't more aggressive when he fouled.

After the free throw, Li Chongxiao had already scored 24 points in this quarter, and the Grizzlies once again overtook their opponents by two points.

(End of this chapter)