Versatile Point Forward

Chapter 240 Really Tired
Even though the GDP trio have not averaged more than 20 points per game this season, their offensive firepower cannot be underestimated. Whether it is Duncan on the inside or Parker and Ginobili on the outside, they all have their own skills. Unique skills.So after calling a timeout, Popovich took the time to teach his disciples face-to-face tips. Now is not the time for a tug-of-war. The Spurs need to quickly tie the score or even overtake it, which requires some different tactics.

While drawing pictures on the tactical board nervously, Popovich said seriously: "We still have to play more efficient basketball, but I don't think this is a good opportunity to spread the scoring points. After the timeout ended, Tim , Tony and Manu will take on the offense of the team. Ian, you will take the place of Antonio. I need you to add some vitality and momentum to the interior, and at the same time liberate Tim from the defensive end. As for Richard , you still have to stay on the court, because I have no one to replace you, your mission is very important, hang on to that Chinese kid, don't let him pass the ball, that's fine."

This adjustment had an immediate effect. Mahinmi's appearance allowed Duncan to spend more energy on the offensive end, and he worked hard at the basket as a blue-collar insider.Under Popovich's behest, the GDP trio hit full firepower after their debut, hitting consecutive shots, and the point difference was only 2 points in an instant.It speaks volumes about how terrifying these three old guys are, they literally play with the attitude they play in the fourth quarter of every game.But doing so has an obvious weakness that the Blazers can exploit: the physical energy they accumulate after they leave the court will quickly be squandered.

McMillan, who also changed into the starting lineup, signaled the team to attack with all their strength, which is the only way to win.The Blazers' defense in the first quarter was once done very well, largely because they used their passion to make up for their lack of defensive ability. The Blazers' defensive system has not yet had a huge impact on the Spurs.For them, defense only needs to maintain a relatively positive attitude, and offense is the key factor for the team to win.Under Ye Feng's leadership, the Trail Blazers players began to run wildly on the field, and even Aldridge, the only insider, gritted his teeth and followed behind everyone.

The players of the Trail Blazers can all run and play. They seem to have given up all tactics and positions, and just run, run, and run crazily on the court, using running to get shooting opportunities, using running to grab rebounds, Use running to stretch the Spurs' defense.What bothered the Spurs the most was that whenever they took nearly 24 seconds to find an excellent shooting opportunity with a very rigorous attitude and hit the ball, the Blazers would serve from the baseline in a blink of an eye. Start sprinting in an instant and put the ball in the basket in less than 10 seconds.That means the Blazers can score as many points in less time than they do.

Such sharp running and bombing is a great burden for the Spurs, and it is also psychological.Whenever they worked so hard to create a shot through the ball, only to have the Blazers effortlessly wipe out their goal, it would be a little frustrating for anyone else.This is the Spurs. If you switch to a slightly younger team, such as the Nuggets, it will easily collapse directly.This is why the Suns' "seven-second offense" is unique in the league. Their scoring speed is so fast that they can do what their opponents can do in 7 seconds in 24 seconds.

And under Ye Feng's control, the Trail Blazers didn't rush around the field in a swarm. They could always find weak spots in the Spurs' defensive system under Ye Feng's command, and their speed made the Spurs exhausted.The Spurs' defensive system cannot rely solely on Jefferson and Mahinmi. Although Popovich hopes that GDP will take over the offense, they still have to contribute their own strength on the defensive end, especially Duncan. In a sense In other words, Duncan is also a player with a self-contained system like Garnett. The Spurs' inside line is supported by him alone. If he gives up defense, the inside line guarded by Mahinmi may be attacked by the Blazers players. Becoming a sieve, they are fully capable of killing the Spurs' inside line.

Therefore, Duncan is the first player in GDP to feel physical fatigue. Of course, this is normal. He is a big player, and his physical burden is far greater than that of small guards like Parker and Ginobili. Focusing on replenishing Mahinmi's defense will invisibly drain a lot of his physical strength.Ye Feng was keenly aware of this. He saw Duncan often running slowly across half court during the Spurs' fast break, and he knew that he hoped to recover some energy on the court, but Ye Feng would not give him a chance. The so-called taking advantage of your illness to kill you is the rule that professional games must abide by.

Jefferson couldn't prevent Ye Feng's breakthrough at all, so as long as Ye Feng rushed in, he would go directly to Duncan. Whether he could score a goal or not was the second priority. The main reason was to consume more of Duncan's energy and relieve the pressure on his teammates. .Ye Feng is very cunning, he either uses speed to directly break through, forcing Duncan to speed up his movement to surround him, or he slows down his speed, but he doesn't use technique to break through, instead he takes the initiative to fight with his body, aiming at Duncan. Hit it hard.Bayless, Roy and even Batum all followed suit. As long as they break through with the ball, they will definitely find Duncan. For a while, Mahinmi seems to be an insignificant little guy, who doesn't know what to do when he stays at the basket.

In desperation, Popovich could only replace Duncan with Blair, and the height of the Spurs' lineup dropped instantly.This is also something that can’t be helped. Duncan’s physical fitness is obviously drained and he must rest. This requires Popovich to choose to focus on offense or defense, because none of the Spurs’ backup insiders can play for both offense and defense. The team made a contribution, and the old man still chose Blair under balance, first to ensure the team's rebounds, and then to lower the height. Anyway, Blair is not a player who depends on his height.

But he overlooked one point. It is true that Blair does not rely on his height, but when he is defending one-on-one, he is facing Batum. Batum is taller and more flexible than him. He is still a small forward. So for a while, the Frenchman became the coolest guy on the court for the Trail Blazers, bar none.

(End of this chapter)