Legendary star

Chapter 209
On November 2000, 11, the Spurs defeated the Pacers and Timberwolves at home. After winning two consecutive victories, they left San Antonio and set off for Golden State. First, they played an away game against the Golden State Warriors on November 3, and then rushed to Phoenix. Facing the game against the Suns, after two consecutive away games, the Spurs will return to San Antonio to face the biggest competitor for this season's championship, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Neither the Warriors nor the Suns can be called a strong team in the West, so Popovich rested two main players in this away trip, claiming that Sean Elliott sprained his ankle in the training game and was about to Rest for about a week, but Meng Xu's stomach was ruined and the food was poisoned.

After the Spurs took the bus to the airport, food poisoned Meng Xu and sprained Sean Elliott are now on the court with Ira Nubell, who is also on the injured list. A group of trainers for the team.

"Meng, come on, why are you so angry?" When Meng Xu intercepted the ball from the trainer and rushed directly to the basket, another trainer dunked the basketball into the basket fiercely, behind him Sean Elliott shook his head and shouted at Meng Xu.Originally, after the Spurs successfully defended their title last season, Sean Elliott wanted to retire directly. After undergoing a kidney transplant, Sean Elliott’s current physical condition is very poor. You can play for about 20 minutes, but Popovich repeatedly persuaded Sean Elliott to play for another year in order to realize his dream of three consecutive championships. He also wanted to be a witness of a dynasty, so Sean Elliott chose to execute the last year of his contract with the Spurs.Although Sean Elliott chose to stay, Popovich also knew that in the regular season, let him rest as much as possible, and wait until the playoffs to play a greater role.

"Xiao En, don't let me play, and don't let me vent on the training ground?" After shaking the basket twice, Meng Xu walked directly to the sidelines after landing, and took the water handed over by the staff and a towel, and sat down on a chair.

"Coach, this is for your own good." Sean Elliott wiped his sweat with a towel, and sat next to Meng Xu: "Since I came to the Spurs, the coach has been here as an assistant coach. For you , I have never seen him take a player so seriously, maybe Tim is one, even David has not had this kind of treatment, in the coach's heart, you are as important as Tim, you are both from San Antonio future."

"Really?" Listening to Sean Elliott's long speech, Meng Xu stared into his eyes, wanting to see if he was lying to himself. "I'm different from Tim. Tim is the focus here and the cornerstone of the team, but I'm just a dispensable person." Originally Meng Xu thought that after the "excellent" performance in the last game, Meng Xu Xu will get more ball rights and opportunities in the Spurs, but he didn't expect that the head coach Popovich would put Meng Xu on the injured list without saying a word, and at the same time announced that Meng Xu had food poisoning, and None of Popovich and Mike Budenholzer told themselves about all this in advance. Meng Xu still learned about his food poisoning from TV, which made Meng Xu very upset. The news was told to He Hui, and after he wanted to confide in him, He Hui looked at Meng Xu and said nothing.

"Meng, you have to believe me. I have been in the team for 11 years. I know the coach very well. And I think, compared with your peers, you are better than most of them. So don’t underestimate yourself at all.” This season is the last year of Sean Elliott’s playing career, no matter whether the Spurs can achieve three consecutive championships, Sean Elliott will choose to retire after this season, and Mario Elliott, the two had already discussed this summer, but compared with Mario going into business, Sean Elliott decided to stay with Popovich as an assistant like Steve Cole coach.

"Maybe." Although Sean Elliott said so, Meng Xu is not sure now, because the head coach has never told himself all this. After putting down the water glass in his hand, Meng Xu walked towards the gym.Because he had to rest for at least 6 days, Meng Xu decided to continue to practice more today, and the extra training item is still strength. Meng Xu has always followed Duncan to practice some low-post singles skills, but he wants to practice low post-up singles , can't be done without enough strength.At the same time, according to the plan made by the Spurs for Meng Xu, with Meng Xu's height, it is best to keep his weight between 100 and 105 kilograms. Therefore, Meng Xu is still a little thin. Still will continue to execute.

Just when Meng Xu and Ira Newbell were training in the gym, the game between the Spurs and the Warriors had already been played for halftime. Seeing the shooting percentages of these outside players on the Spurs, Popovich is now also I miss Meng Xu and Sean Elliott very much. Derek Anderson, who started the game, made 6 of 1 shots in the first half and 3 of 3 three-pointers. Avery Johnson made 0 of 4 shots. Markie Walker made 1 of 6 shots and Mario Elie made 2 of 4 shots. Fortunately, Duncan and Robinson were as stable as ever, and Malik Rose, who came off the bench, made 0 of 8 shots in the first half and 7 of 7 free throws. It was the team-high 4 points, and relying on Malik Rose's outstanding performance, the Spurs were able to lead the Warriors by 18 points 50 to 46 at halftime.

You must know that the Warriors are a big team. Last season, they achieved an astonishing record of 19 wins and 63 losses, ranking third from the bottom in the league. Facing such a team, the defending champions have played so hard.At the same time, due to Meng Xu's absence, the Warriors' backcourt double guns Antawn Jamison and Larry Hughes scored 3 points in the first half. Antawn Jamison made 29 of 14 shots and scored 7 points. He made 3 of 2 shots, 2 of 4 free throws, and scored 3 points in half the game. You must know that in the last season, the Spurs and the Warriors faced each other in 19 regular season games. Under the defense of Meng Xu, Antawn Jamison He averaged only 4 points per game, and his overall shooting percentage was only 14%.

In the end, relying on the career-high 30 points of substitute Malik Rose and Duncan's 23 points and 14 rebounds, the Spurs defeated the Golden State Warriors 113 to 107 in an away game. Larry Hughes scored 34 points and the Warriors made 25% of their 3-pointers in the game. The defensive system that the Spurs relied on for survival disappeared.

After the end of the game against the Warriors, the Spurs rushed to Phoenix. The Spurs were not as lucky as the last game. There was no second Marek Rose who stood up to save the team. The last game was 14 Malik Rose, who made 12 shots, only made 14 of 3 shots in this game. The Spurs shot as low as 36% in the whole game, and only 3 of 9 1-pointers. Except for Duncan who scored 18 points, the entire team No one on the team scored in double figures.Derek Anderson made 6 of 2 shots, Avery Johnson made 7 of 2 shots, Antonio Daniels made 6 of 1 shots, Jalen Jackson made 5 of 1 shots, and Mario Elie made 7 of 1 shots. Guys who swiped the data to fly, these two games finally showed their true colors.

As for the Suns, the situation of the Warriors is basically similar to that of the last game. The Suns' perimeter players are all over the top. Small forward Sean Marion scored a game-high 26 points, and Tony Delk scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. With 6 assists, Jason Kidd even contributed 10 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists in a quasi-triple-double. In the absence of Anfernee Hardaway, the Suns beat the defending champion 3-103 at home. As much as 78 points.

"Greg, next game against the Lakers, what are we going to do?" On the flight back to San Antonio, assistant coach Mike Budenholzer, who was sitting next to Popovich, saw Popovich watching Looking at the clouds outside the plane, I was a little dazed, and I suggested to him helplessly.The performance of the Spurs in these two games was really bad. Not only could they not play the desired cooperation on the offensive end, but even the defense they depended on for survival was sieved.

Obviously, without Meng Xu and Sean Elliott, to be precise, without Meng Xu, the strength of the Spurs has directly dropped a notch, especially the outside defense, which is basically the same as no, Meng After Xu and Sean Elliott rested, Mario Elli played small forward and Derek Anderson served as shooting guard. Facts have proved that Meng Xu and Sean Elliott have dumped them more than once in defense or offense. a street.

But when he thought of the game against the Timberwolves, Popovich felt a headache. Meng Xu was developing in the opposite direction of what he hoped. Meng Xu's singles success rate in that game was indeed very high, but that It is also based on the fact that the Timberwolves' outside line is extremely garbage. Once Meng Xu develops this habit of liking brainless singles, what should the Spurs do when they face teams with excellent outside defense?Especially those championship contenders of the Spurs, which team does not have more than two outstanding outsiders?

Similarly, compared to Meng Xu, Duncan is the cornerstone of the team. No matter what tactics Popovich tries, it must be based on Duncan. Even if he wants to integrate Duncan and Meng Xu's triangle offense, the end The role of the latter must also be Duncan, while Meng Xu can only be Pippen.Moreover, Duncan is now at the peak of his career. Not surprisingly, this peak state will last for at least 10 years. As far as Meng Xu's style of play is concerned, one or two games will be fine. Over time, the two will inevitably have conflicts. .Once this happens, the team will inevitably send one of the two away, but no matter which one is abandoned, Popovich is reluctant.Whether it is Duncan or Meng Xu, Popovich regards them as his own children, and it is unacceptable to give up and take one.

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(End of this chapter)