ace marshal

Chapter 1486 Popovich's Transformation (Part [-])
The 2012-13 playoffs are in full swing.

Both teams from Los Angeles have finished their first-round games with sweeps.

But the results were quite different.

The Clippers led by Lan Shengli swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4:0, while Popovich's Spurs swept the Lakers without Kobe 4:0.

Therefore, the two teams that completed the sweep met in the Western Conference semifinals.

The encounter between the Clippers and the Spurs can also be said to be a battle between young coach Lan Shengli and old coach Popovich.

After all, when Lan Shengli formed the Clippers, he used the Spurs as the template to follow.

Including some basketball concepts of Lan Shengli, some tactical strategies are imitated by Popovich.

Although Lan Shengli has never been a teacher of Popovich, you can still regard Lan Shengli as Popovich's apprentice.

After all, Popovich's coaching philosophy and the Spurs' team building ideas have deeply affected Lan Shengli.

Therefore, the contest between these two teams can also be regarded as a battle between two head coaches.

"The next game against the Clippers, what chance does the team have~?!"

At the press conference after the fourth game between the Spurs and the Lakers, Popovich was being interviewed.

"I'm the head coach, not a fortune teller~!"

Popovich still responded with "Popostyle humor".

Faced with some difficult questions to answer, Popovich has always answered in this way.

"Have you ever paid attention to the performance of the Clippers in the first round~?!"

The reporter continued to ask.

"No, I thought we would meet the Grizzlies in the semifinals, so we studied the Grizzlies for a long time, since the regular season, because we wanted revenge, but I didn't expect, such a situation didn't show up~"

Popovich continued to respond with a humorous tone.

"The old man is still so free to answer questions~, listening to his answers, I can't hear any valuable information at all~, haha~"

Lan Shengli was lying on the bed in the hotel, watching the live broadcast, and sighed.

Popovich claimed that he had never studied the Clippers, but Lan Shengli had already studied the Spurs.

After all, in Lan Shengli's eyes, the last opponent he wants to meet in the playoffs is the Spurs.

This is enough to show how "scared" Lan Shengli is of the Spurs.

But if you want to go further and win the championship, you must defeat any opponent that may appear. This is something that cannot be selected and escaped.

"Popovich, what are your real thoughts~?!"

Lan Shengli looked at Popovich with a gray beard and continued to sigh.

Perhaps even the assistant coach of the Spurs may not have thought of what Popovich was thinking.

But this is not derogatory. You can understand that in the Shu army camp, no one knows what Zhuge Liang is thinking.

The next day, the Clippers took a special plane back to Los Angeles early and returned to their hometown.

Because the Lakers were eliminated, the Clippers once again became the hope of all Los Angeles.

At the same time, this is also an important opportunity for the Clippers to carve up the Lakers market.

While speaking, preparations and the first training session of the Spurs series are about to begin.

"I really didn't expect to be able to sweep the Grizzlies~ Congratulations, Coach Blue, the team played a beautiful series~"

Before the start of the training session here, general manager Cole praised Lan Shengli.

"If it wasn't for Griffin's injury, it might not be that simple~ I think the team's current state is still not at its best~, so against the Spurs, we still need to be more cautious and fully prepared. It's the Spurs~"

Lan Shengli responded.

"Yeah, that's the Spurs team with unique charm in the NBA and a team with a very high team culture. You must not underestimate the enemy~ Because I have experienced such an environment, so for the strength of the Spurs team It will be more emotional~”

Cole also responded quickly.

"But you don't have to be too cautious. The Spurs still have their weaknesses, and we also have our strengths. I believe you will make Popovich suffer~!!"

Cole continued.

"Maybe~, haha~"

Lan Shengli sighed with a smile.

The training session will start soon.

The morning class is still physical recovery training.

Although the previous game was not very intense, it was the playoffs after all, and after playing two away games in a row, I was still somewhat exhausted physically and mentally.

And in the afternoon, it was time for the video class.

The Clippers and the Spurs have played against each other four times in the regular season this season, and the two sides fought to a 2:2 tie.

Both sides have won one game at home and one game away, and the scores of the four games are very close, so it can also be seen from this that the strength of the two teams is really equal to each other.

Just like the rankings of the two sides are next to each other.

As for whether the Clippers can overwhelm the Spurs like a ranking, it depends on the performance on the spot.

There are still four days before the first game of the series between the two sides. This is ample preparation time. For both sides, the things to be prepared should be enough.

With the floor of the Staples Center being replaced again, and the big makeup photos of the Clippers players hanging high in the sky, the Staples Center is about to enter the Clippers time.

Four days passed quickly.

The first game of the series between the Clippers and the Spurs is about to begin.

"For the Clippers in this series, what do you expect~?!"

Here the reporter found the fanatical boss Ballmer, who was already sitting in his exclusive seat and wearing a red cheering shirt, and asked.

"To be honest, I'm really super confident. Although the Spurs have always been strong, our Clippers are younger, more energetic, and more impactful~!!, we still have home court advantage, and we will suffer. Beat the opponent, we will win this series~!!, come on~!!"

Although Ballmer was sitting there with a gentle manner, as soon as he accepted the interview, he immediately stood up and waved his arms, and began to speak with great fanfare.

Ballmer is not low-key, he still says what he wants, he is very fanatical, and his love for the team is also very direct.

Then let the competition prove who beats whom.

"Our starting lineup remains unchanged, we can submit it~"

In the Clippers locker room here, Lan Shengli was talking to the team's public relations staff.

45 minutes before the game, the two teams need to submit their starting lists.

The Spurs also quickly handed over the starting list.

The starting rosters of both sides will be announced soon.

"What, what~?!, unexpectedly,, changed~?!?!"

(End of this chapter)