basketball player

Chapter 390: Chapter 388

The two offenses at the beginning of the first quarter set a basic tone for the rest of the game.The pace of both sides is not fast, most of the time they are fighting positional warfare.But the efficiency of both teams is very high, because they can always find the opponent's defensive space with superb passing.

After the first quarter, the Pacers only led the Spurs by one point 24-23.Originally, the point difference has been widened a little, but the "Demon Sword" Ginobili, who came off the bench, scored a lot of goals that were not very "Spurs".

Ginobili is such a player, he always made Popovich love and hate.His flamboyant passes are always free between turnovers and assists, and his scoring methods are not conventional.However, this is exactly why he is called the "Demon Sword".

"Sure enough, the Spurs' composure makes them unlikely to fall behind too much. Neither side made any mistakes today, so the Pacers didn't get any chance to counterattack. However, entering the position to attack is exactly what the Spurs want to see."

Mike Breen is right, slow-paced positional warfare, this is the Spurs' favorite rhythm.Although Henson doesn't rule out playing positional warfare, he doesn't want the Spurs to play this game comfortably.He needs to widen the point difference, and widen the point difference in the case of positional warfare.And there is only one way to quickly widen the point difference in positional battles-three-pointers.

"Look for more opportunities outside the opponent's three-point line, and be more active in off-ball screens and off-ball running. Seize the opportunity and stabilize the defense. As long as we can make a few damn three-pointers, the point difference will be widened!" During the break, Henson's arrangement was also very clear. He asked the players to take more shots outside the three-point line.

To this end, Henson replaced Ray. Allen and Danny. Green.Although Leonard can also shoot three-pointers, there is no doubt that Danny Green is more accomplished in three-pointers.And George played a lot of time in the first quarter and needed a few more minutes of rest, so Ray Allen continued to play.

The Spurs are the best mid-range team in the league, but don't forget that the former Pacers were one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league.

On the other hand, Popovich and his assistant Budenholzer are also trying to figure out Henson's psychology.In the end, the old man decided to focus on protecting the basket. After all, the offensive method of three-point shooting is extremely unstable.You can kill your opponent, or you can kill yourself.

"If the opponent really widens the point difference with a three-pointer. Don't hesitate, hit the ball as far as possible inside!" Popovich explained, and the intermission time just ended.

With brand new adjustments and strategies, the two coaches fought again!

With the first goal at the opening of the second quarter, Paul clearly saw that the Spurs' defense was still focused on protecting the basket, which boosted his confidence.In the first quarter of today's game, the Pacers' finishing rate at the basket is actually very average. The reason is that the Spurs' defensive system can instantly encircle players who break into the basket.

This kind of defensive mobility is absolutely not seen in the Heat.Indeed, the Heat's defense is very tough. Anyone who has watched the last round of the game knows how fierce the physical confrontation between the two teams is on the court.However, the Heat's defense is still unable to cause too much trouble to the Pacers because it is more than tough and lacks tactics.

But the Spurs are just the opposite. They give the Pacers a relatively moderate physical confrontation on the defensive end, but their tactics are very decisive.Use the power of multiple people to contain the powerful impact of the Pacers.Facts have proved that Popovich's defensive strategy is successful. The Pacers only scored 24 points in the first quarter, which is enough to explain the problem.

Therefore, Popovich has no reason to switch strategies in the second quarter.Even though, he more or less guessed that Henson would play a three-pointer.

Paul stopped at the distance between the three-point line and the midfield line so that his vision could see the conditions in the two corners.Both Ray Allen and Green are looking for opportunities through empty-handed running, but Paul is well aware of the extent of his responsibility.If your teammates run out of opportunities and you don't see them or the pass is not timely, then with the Spurs' defensive level, the opportunities will no longer exist.

So every goal in the offense seems to be the credit of the scorer.But among them, the screener and the passer are even the bait to pull the defense, and they actually have credit.

At this moment, Paul saw Ray Allen go through Horford's screen and a counterrun, leaving Gary Neal a little distance away.Chris Paul didn't hesitate, and didn't even use eye fakes to cover up his intentions.He used his waist to drive his arms, and threw the basketball towards Ray Allen, a veteran shooter!

Paul's passing speed is very fast!A shooter like Ray Allen is always ready to catch the ball.

"Snapped!"

Ray Allen steadily caught Paul's pass. At this time, Gary Neal had gotten rid of Horford, but he was still one step away from Ray Allen.This distance is enough for the player with the most three-pointers in the league!

"Look, I just said, that kid knows how to shoot three-pointers." Seeing Ray Allen shoot, Popovich shook his head.He knew that Gary Neal could no longer interfere with Ray Allen.What can keep Ray Allen from scoring now is only his own touch.

But unfortunately, Ray Allen felt hot today.As soon as the second quarter came up, it helped the Pacers hit a three-pointer!
"Good shot, Chris Paul is worthy of being a master of organization. On the offensive end, he can see the situation in any corner of the court! Ray Allen's last shot and Paul's timely pass are simply perfect!"

Henson is thankful that his tactics were successful from the start, but he is not complacent.In the regular season, a few three-pointers are enough to open the score and completely destroy the opponent's confidence.But his opponent today is Popovich's Spurs!
In the next attack, "French Trot" Tony Parker's layup was struck by Horford's active interference.But the Brazilian Splitter took advantage of the gap that Horford threw out and scored an offensive rebound.It's just a pity that Splitter is always just a blue-collar, and his finishing ability at the basket is not strong.

After getting the rebound and landing, Splitter immediately took off for the second time to attack.But at this time Horford has rushed back, raising his arms under the basket to interfere with Splitter's layup.In this way, Al Horford let Splitter's offense miss without jumping at all.

The Spurs did not convert offensive rebounds into points, and the Pacers have a chance to widen the point difference!
The Spurs' defense was not as fast as the Heat's, but it was steady.They can block the route and pass angle that should be blocked.

Although the Heat's retreat was fast, it was a bit messy.For example, on several occasions, Bosh and Joe Anthony quickly retreated to the basket, only to find that Al Horford stayed behind the three-point line, resulting in missed shots.But the Spurs' retreat will never make such a mistake.

Perhaps, this is why the Heat failed to reach the finals.These small details are sometimes enough to widen the gap between the two teams.

On the second offense in the second quarter, Paul still found Ray Allen.But with the lessons learned from the last time, the Spurs switched defenses the moment Ray Allen borrowed an off-ball screen.Stephen Jackson crossed to Ray Allen, while Gary Neal went straight to Green.

Ray Allen did not make a strong shot, but returned the ball to Paul, and Paul broke through directly after receiving the ball!
"It seems that the tactics of the Pacers have not been played out." Mike Breen shook his head. The same method cannot defeat the Spurs twice!
But people didn't see that at the moment of Paul's breakthrough, Danny Green circled along the bottom corner to the top of the arc, while David West raised from the three-second zone to a high position, just blocking Neal who was defending Green.

Paul, who was on the move, seemed to have eyes behind him, and moved the basketball to the top of the arc in a wide range!

"Danny Green, an open shot!"

Danny Green, the "runner" who had no team and played in the Development League, still doesn't know what kind of greatness he will create in this year's playoffs.

It was Gary Neal again. Henson decided that he was playing at his weak point in defense.To hit the weak point of the defense, you don't have to break through, you can also attack by shooting.

Green's shot is very stable. In fact, Green has always been a player that Popovich is very optimistic about.Since the addition of Henson in this league, Popovich has found it increasingly difficult for the Spurs to pick up low picks.

It's not because the Spurs' vision has deteriorated, but because they have another competitor who picks up the leak together.

Neil was sweating profusely. He knew that if he scored another goal, the team would lose 6 points because of him.He prayed countless times in his heart, praying that the ball would not hit.After all, this is a three-point shot, and the uncertainty of the three-point shot is too great.

However, Neil's self-comfort did not come true.Green's three-pointer was as steady as Ray Allen's, and the sound of the Nets tumbling made the entire Bankers Life Arena agitated.Of course, it also made Gary Neal and Popovich very heartbroken.

Counting the 1-point lead at the end of the first quarter, plus the two three-pointers now, the Pacers opened the point difference to 7 points in an instant!In another such round, the point difference will be in double digits.

"A timeout?" Budenholzer tensed, but Popovich took his time.

"Look again."

As a result, the Spurs' offense still failed this time, and Gary Neal got an open three-pointer.But I don't know if it was the defense just now that made Neal lose confidence. He didn't grasp the open three-pointer, which is a "compulsory skill" for every Spurs outside player.

The most terrible thing is that the ball also formed a long rebound.Chris Paul grabbed Parker's ball jersey with a small movement in the mid-range position, and then he jumped high to get the rebound!

After catching the rebound and landing, Paul didn't even stand still, so he directly launched a long pass from the backcourt!
In fact, when Paul was in the air, he had already seen Green running forward.He can pass the ball straight in the air if he wants to!But at that time, Green hadn't gotten rid of "Martial Saint" Jackson, so Paul didn't do that.

"Go straight to the offense, which Popovich doesn't want to see!"

Green ran with all his strength after receiving the long pass, and Stephen Jackson naturally refused to give in.Just when Jackson was chasing with all his strength, Danny Green suddenly stopped outside the three-point line!

Generally speaking, fast-break counterattacks will hit the ball inside, after all, this has the highest success rate.Chasing three-pointers is a great reward, but it is also more risky.

Therefore, Jackson never expected Green to stop outside the three-point line.He rushed over his head due to inertia, leaving Green with space to shoot!
This seemingly tepid, but in fact superior "3D guard" did not hesitate to stop and shoot a three-pointer!

This ball seems unreasonable, but Henson does not blame Green.When a shooter's hands are warming up, he can justify throwing anything!
Duncan and Splitter have rushed to the basket with their arms outstretched, ready to protect the rebound.However, the basketball fell directly into the net, and Danny Green made his second consecutive three-pointer!

"Green, this kid is on fire!" Mike Breen raised his arms and cheered.

"Hey." Popovich sighed, and then called a stop to the game.

Green's three-pointer allowed the Pacers to widen the point difference to double digits at the beginning of the second quarter!Using a three-pointer to open the score in the positional battle, Henson's plan succeeded again!Green's performance surprised Henson.This guy felt like a top shooter in the finals!
10 points, this point difference is not easy to equalize for teams that like to play positional warfare.Henson gave his own conundrum, and now it was Popovich's turn to answer.

(End of this chapter)