Starting from the last bus in the NBA

Chapter 158 Preliminary Probe
David Robinson's attention was highly concentrated, and at the moment Wang Hao double-teamed, he had already passed the ball.

However, Wang Hao's return to defense was fast enough.

After Mario Elli got the ball, before he had time to aim, Wang Hao had already returned to the defensive position.

In fact, at this time, there are many ways Mario can handle the ball.

First of all, it is natural to break through. Regardless of the defensive position Wang Hao seems to have returned to, he still has a weak footing.

At this time, if Mario can make up his mind to break through, he will definitely catch Wang Hao by surprise.

That's not what Wang Hao did in the past.

Even if the breakthrough is not sure, you can continue to pass the ball, and then pass the ball back to the inside to David Robinson.

Constantly dispatching back and forth, even Wang Hao can't stand it.

It's a pity that after receiving the ball, Mario obviously hesitated, as if he wanted to throw the ball directly, but he was a little unsure.

With such a delay, Wang Hao has already adjusted his state.

Moreover, as a player who has to face him throughout the series, Wang Hao has learned about Mario.

The defense is not bad, with certain shooting and air cutting ability, but the ability to hold the ball is relatively weak.

This is obviously a defensive player, and the offense requires teammates to feed the ball to the mouth.

Sure enough, with Wang Hao stepping forward to press, Mario had no chance to hold the ball and passed it out immediately.

Although the ball was not lost, this tactic failed.

Popovich suddenly stood up from the coach's bench, watched Mario want to say something, but forcibly endured it.

Because he also understands that this is Mario's strength, and it would be unrealistic for him to ask for more.

As for substitutions, don't even think about it. After all, this is the best lineup the Spurs have at the moment.

When the old basketball is in Duncan's hands, there is not much offensive time left, so he can only play hard.

Duncan still completed a hand-in-hand pick-and-roll cooperation with Johnson, and Johnson completed the offense.

It's a pity that although Gary Payton was blocked for a while, he was tall enough to cover Johnson from the flanks.

Johnson's shot missed, Horace protected the rebound, and it was the Sonics' turn to attack.

Compared with the Spurs' steady offense every round, the Sonics certainly can't compare with them.

The most feared thing in the game is to fall into the opponent's rhythm, so the strategy of the Supersonics is to open up as much as possible.

Here, Gary Payton speeded up immediately after receiving the ball, crossing the half court in three or two steps.

Not only him, but also other players in the Supersonics, the most prominent is the fast word.

It's just that the supersonic speed can increase the speed, but it is not so easy to play fast break.

Because the Spurs' defense speed is not slow at all.

As one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, the Spurs allowed only 90.2 points per game during the regular season.

The lowest points conceded in the league and the best defensive efficiency are already very telling.

Johnson kept up with Gary Payton for the first time. Although he was not physically strong, he was not slow.

Gary Payton leaned against Johnson with his back. Although he could easily advance with the ball, his speed slowed down.

Not only Johnson, but even Duncan and David Robinson completed the defense immediately.

There is no way, if you can't play fast break, you can only play slowly.

It can only be said that Paul Westphal is an old-school coach after all. Although he is not opposed to speeding up, his thinking has not completely changed.

If this is changed to the Suns team a few years later, he doesn't care whether you have completed the retreat or not, anyway, he will throw it if he has the opportunity.

The Supersonics obviously can't do that.

Gary Payton began to direct his teammates to run tactics. As for him, he broke through directly when he saw the opportunity.

Facing such a small man, he is still very confident.

Actually, what he did was not considered a breakthrough at all, but he just used his physical advantage to directly run into it.

At this moment, Wang Hao seemed to see Artest playing basketball.

Sure enough, the ultimate goal of basketball competition is the body, speed and strength, but not all of it is the body.

Seeing Johnson being crushed into the inside line a little bit, Duncan finally made a move and immediately double-teamed Gary Payton.

Gary Payton didn't dare to be careless and wanted to pass the ball immediately.

He actually wanted to pass to Wen Baker at the first time, because Duncan double-teamed, and Wen Baker must be the first to be emptied.

However, if Wen Baker can get open and easy shots, then this is not the Spurs' defense.

Sure enough, just as Duncan was preparing to help defend, David Robinson had already made a move.

Not only David Robinson, but the entire Spurs' defense has changed, and they are methodically making up defenses.

Under the high-speed rotation, not only Wen Baker was blocked, but everyone else had no chance at all.

I have to say that it deserves to be the best defense in the NBA.

No way, seeing that he was about to be completely double-teamed, Gary Payton could only pass the ball out.

Let alone whether you can assist and score a goal, not to make mistakes is the most important thing.

Ruben Patterson made an astute cut into the paint, just in time to receive a pass from Gary Payton.

But under Johnson's supplementary defense, he missed a mid-range shot!
David Robinson protected the rebound, and the offensive power returned to the Spurs again.

This time, Johnson simply gave the ball to Duncan at a 45-degree mid-range position.

In this position, Duncan can both attack and organize, and can shoot directly or break through.

Sure enough, Horace chose to let go, and it wasn't the first time he had fought against each other. He still knew Duncan's offense well.

Duncan was also polite, holding the ball with both hands and making continuous trial steps.

Of course, Duncan's technology is still very mature, a tentative step is a tentative step, and it will never be a hard step on the floor.

After several consecutive attempts, Duncan shot directly, and Horace was already prepared and sealed it immediately.

In fact, Horace didn't give much room for shooting, but Duncan still made it.

0:2
The Spurs took the lead, and the Supersonics were not polite. After a quick start, they immediately started a fast break.

This time, although the Spurs returned to defense quickly, they failed to put down the defensive formation.

Gary Payton found Wang Hao with a long pass from the backcourt, and Wang Hao went straight to the inside, and Mario couldn't defend at all.

Don't look at Wang Hao's body has no advantages among small forwards, but there are still some advantages when switching to guards.

Duncan, who returned to defense early after the goal, immediately double-teamed, but at this time, Wang Hao passed the ball out.

After the defense, Horace also followed up early. After Horace, who followed up, got the ball, he dunked.

2:2
Seeing this scene, Popovich frowned a little, not to say that he had to guard against the Supersonics in every round.

This is impossible and unrealistic.

It's just that the Sonics score too easily, which Popovich absolutely doesn't want to see.

After all, the easier the defense is to score, the higher the shooting percentage.

The meaning of defense is to make the opponent uncomfortable. The more uncomfortable the situation is, the lower the shooting rate will be.

(End of this chapter)