NBA: Starting with Jokic template

Chapter 80: Offense and Defense Domination! Barkley is shocked! (55)
"Shit, Lin followed Parker's shot directly. When Parker turned around, he pulled his left foot back first, and then followed with his right foot and stuck behind Parker. When he shot, it was as if Parker was shooting with his back to him. He blocked the shot easily!"

O'Neal shouted and gestured with one hand, imitating Lin Chuan's blocking action.

In the next round, Parker was much more cautious. He watched his teammates running around and knew that Duncan had run to the 45-degree position of the free throw line, but Lin Chuan had not arrived yet.

In this position, Duncan is in the 45-degree rebound position!

Parker locked eyes with Duncan and quickly passed the ball. Duncan caught the ball and quickly pulled up to prepare for the shot.

"Snapped!"

The basketball that Duncan was halfway pulling was slapped down by Lin Chuan, who then made a long pass to Ibaka, who dunked it one step before the free throw line.

This wonderful dunk excited the fans at the scene.

They all applauded and cheered.

Barkley sat up straight in shock. Ever since he lost money because of Lin Chuan, he specially watched the Chinese Olympic Games and was convinced that he did have strong offensive capabilities.

It is indeed worthy of the title to beat the US Dream Team.

But he did not show this level of defense at that time. There is no such thing as slacking off in the Olympics, which means that Lin Chuan improved his defensive level in just one summer.

"I think it was some targeted training. After all, I was mentioned in the Olympics..."

Barkley wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and touched his chest to comfort himself.

But he only remembered Lin Chuan's block, but completely ignored Lin Chuan's speed when he cut the ball to Duncan.

He still didn't believe that Lin Chuan could improve his defensive level to the elite level in just one summer. After all, he could only be considered as not lagging behind before. It was considered an effort on his part to be able to reach the league average level in two months, but it was still too exaggerated for him to be able to defend against other people's special moves at any time.

"Look again...look again..."

Although Lin Chuan blocked two consecutive shots and the score was 6-0 at the beginning, the Spurs were a veteran strong team after all and did not panic at all, and did not even call a timeout.

Parker dribbled the ball slowly across half court. After the Spurs made some runs, Ibaka missed the ball and Dio made a three-pointer.

Back to the Thunder's offense, this time Westbrook passed the ball to Lin Chuan as soon as he crossed half court, and Lin Chuan held the ball directly outside the three-point line.

The Spurs were well prepared. Dio, who came forward to switch defense, took three or two steps forward to start defending, while Duncan continued to stay in the inside.

Looking at Dio, who was a size smaller than him, Lin Chuan stood up and shot a three-pointer over Dio's head.

Hollow into the network!

"It's a good idea, but it can't defend me at all."

Lin Chuan looked at Dio who was trying his best to block the shot but couldn't even touch the basketball, shook his head and returned to defense.

"The Spurs shouldn't have put Dio on the court at this time. Although he is very flexible, he can't defend Lin Chuan at all. I think the Spurs should have put Split on the court earlier. At least his size can match Lin Chuan's and make his game more difficult."

O'Neill commented sharply.

"Although Duncan can match up, his movements are slow. Once he is pulled out, the Spurs' inside line will be empty, making it more difficult to play."

Popovich is not stupid either. After Durant caused a foul on a mid-range shot, he replaced Ginobili and Split.

The Spurs attacked, Split set a screen, Ginobili received the ball on the right wing, and Sefolosha ran around the screen to defend.

When the Thunder's defense was not yet formed, Ginobili made a snake-like breakthrough, using his full flexibility to pass through the gap between Sefolosha and Lin Chuan. But Lin Chuan followed closely behind, and turned around quickly when he was passed, with one arm already covering Ginobili's head.

Ginobili didn't expect Lin Chuan to move so quickly. After his hasty shot, he fell towards the basketball hoop.

Although Lin Chuan did not block the shot again, he successfully disrupted the offense and the rebound was grabbed by Ibaka.

"Shit, his defense has really gotten stronger."

Buckley exclaimed.

Ginobili's exquisite serpentine breakthrough, in which he completely passed two people at once, and the open basket with no one within a meter around him was disrupted by Lin Chuan who quickly followed up.

This kind of defense is not even at the elite level, it's at the master level!
There is no difference between him and Duncan on the opposite side!
Continuing the offense, Lin Chuan received the ball with his back to the basket in the high post, and Split quickly stepped forward to double-team Lin Chuan.

The moment Lin Chuan was double-teamed, he turned around and found some space, and passed the ball from behind his head to Durant outside the three-point line.

Facing the still somewhat green future superstar Leonard, Durant made another three-pointer.

The Spurs launched another attack, and this time the ball was finally given to Duncan. Duncan, holding the ball in the low post, began to back down Lin Chuan.

As the No. 1 power forward in history, Duncan has a very strong physique and can even compete with peak O'Neal. He knocked Lin Chuan back a few steps during several dribbles, and then pushed him back again. After getting space, Duncan turned around and made a layup.

But Lin Chuan's hand arrived first. Although the basketball was almost out of the baseline just now, his long arms appeared right above the basketball. He tapped the basketball with his fingers and Lin Chuan blocked it.

The ball fell vertically, Duncan received the basketball and passed it to Leonard in the corner, who made a three-pointer and the ball went into the net.

It was only through the second attack that we finally scored.

Lin Chuan pointed at Leonard and made a puzzled expression to Durant.

Durant spread his hands and apologized.
"Oh my, I missed someone."

"Shit, Lin has dominated both offense and defense from the start of the game to the present half quarter! Offense he can score and pass to open players, defense he can block and steal the ball, the Spurs can't find a solution at all!"

O'Neal was very happy and his tone was excited.

Not only because he remembered Yao Ming, the Chinese center with whom he had a good relationship before, and had a sense of déjà vu, but also because Lin Chuan helped him successfully earn Barkley's money!
In the first quarter, Lin Chuan dominated the offense and defense, and even with Duncan on the Spurs, he was completely unable to restrain him.

Facing Duncan's defense, Lin Chuan will choose to pull to the outside, forcing the Spurs to switch defense, and then Lin Chuan will happily play one-on-one.

Facing double-teaming, Lin Chuan simply passed the ball to the open space and scored easily.

On the defensive end, Lin Chuan is like an Optimus Prime in the interior. Players who come in can only use their full strength to succeed in attacking. If they don't use their full strength in one-sided shots, they may be blocked by Lin Chuan.

The first quarter ended.

Thunder 34:21 points.

In just twelve minutes, they were leading the veteran powerhouse Spurs by 13 points.

This is all thanks to Lin Chuan's deterrence in the interior, forcing the Spurs to only run tactics and shoot mid-range shots and three-pointers.

No matter how good the Spurs' tactics are and how high the tactical literacy of their players is, they cannot always find open space, and even if they do, it is difficult for them to seize the ball.

If the shot fails, the Spurs will likely face Lin Chuan's long pass and fast break.

This back and forth is equivalent to losing four points!
(End of this chapter)