Legendary star

Chapter 25 The Opponent of Life (2)

"Greg, do you want to replace Meng?" On the edge of the court, Mike Budenholzer, the Spurs' assistant coach, asked Popovich in Popovich's ear.

The game between the Spurs and the Raptors has reached the end of the first quarter. The score on the court is 25 to 22. The Raptors at home are leading the Spurs by 3 points. The atmosphere of the entire Air Canada Sports Center is also extremely hot.

"Not for now, the difference of 3 points is not too much." Looking at the backcourt combination of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, who was raging on the field, Popovich shook his head and rejected the assistant coach's proposal .

The current situation on the court is actually completely in line with Popovich's expectations. The current situation is simply a replica of previous seasons. As long as the Spurs encounter a team with excellent outside players, they will play very difficult.This game is not even as good as before. Although Sean Elliott's defense is mediocre, he can still make enough contributions to the team on the offensive end. However, Chucky Brown, who came to the team this season, not only On the defensive end, Tracy McGrady was blown away. The team's other swingman, Malik Ross, was not much better than Chucky Brown. Vince Carter and The backcourt combination formed by Tracy McGrady is simply taking everything on the court, and the entire Spurs' backline was blown up by the two.

This situation continued until the second half of the second quarter. The Spurs had the inside advantage, and the Raptors had an obvious outside advantage. The situation on the court was also very anxious. In the second half of the second quarter, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady began to attack the inside of the Spurs continuously, causing David Robin 2 fouls in just 3 minutes, David Robinson had to rest, and backed 2 fouls Tim Duncan has also become a little timid on the defensive end.That is to say, in these 2 minutes, the Raptors widened the point difference between the two sides to 8 points. If this situation continues, the point difference will soon widen to double digits.

"Meng, you replace Chucky Brown. After playing, you must strengthen the defense on the outside. Don't let those two boys easily break into the inside and cause damage to Tim. Do you understand?" Popovich looked helplessly. Meng Xu on the bench was originally in Popovich's plan. Meng Xu was a surprise soldier for the Raptors. The Spurs played inside and the Raptors played outside. As long as there is no accident, the two sides will tie the game in the first half. In the stalemate, just after the Raptors adapted to the Spurs' defensive rhythm, the Spurs replaced Meng Xu in the third quarter to strengthen the team's defense, tighten the rhythm of the game, and beat the Raptors in one fell swoop in the third quarter.It's just that the plan can never keep up with the changes. Under the impact of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady in turn, coupled with the Raptors' home court advantage, the Spurs fell into a foul crisis.

"I understand." After rubbing his hands on the bench for nearly half an hour, Meng Xu couldn't wait to play.This game is not just to test his new skills, but to take this opportunity to compete with the top swingman of this era. Meng Xu couldn't restrain his inner excitement when he thought of this.Before the start of the game, Anna told Meng Xu that although the Raptors' outside combination is young, they have extremely high talents, and they can be ranked even in the history of the entire NBA. The team has two of the top four shooting guards in the NBA in the next ten years. Such a backcourt combination can no longer be described as luxurious.

After Meng Xu came on the court, he went directly to Tracy McGrady. After half an hour of observation on the court, Meng Xu also had a certain understanding of the player in front of him, although his scoring ability was not as good as his partner, but his breakthrough is much sharper, his breakthrough speed is extremely fast, not inferior to Allen Iverson, especially the starting speed of the first step, which can only be described as lightning, facing the Spurs on the field For several outside players, Tracy McGrady only needs one step to pass them easily. David Robinson and Tim Duncan's 5 fouls, 3 of which were used on him.

Seeing Meng Xu coming to defend him, Tracy McGrady's expression didn't change much. After receiving Carter's pass, he also casually slapped the basketball with his back to Meng Xu.

"This guy is really good. His seemingly casual movement turned out to be a fake move." When McGrady was dribbling, he began to sink his shoulders to the left, making a breakthrough gesture, but the sixth sense judged that he was going to the right. Turn around and break through.

Just as McGrady's shaking shoulders were making fake moves, Meng Xu stretched his arms to the left defensive position, and then moved to the right to block McGrady's breakthrough route in advance.

And when McGrady made a fake move and broke through to the right but almost ran into Meng Xu's arms, he was also taken aback. The rookie on the opposite side was really good at predicting. Blocked his breakthrough route.

McGrady stopped his steps and chose a horizontal breakthrough, intending to get rid of Meng Xu and rush into the inside line, but Meng Xu was able to block his breakthrough route half a second earlier every time. In desperation, he had to take a step back and retreated to 3 Breakout.

"You guys are really annoying." Seeing Meng Xu who was chasing up again and opening his arms in a defensive posture, McGrady was also very upset at the guy in front of him who was defending him.

"Hehe, although the words are not pleasant to listen to, I feel really happy when I hear them." Looking at this boyish guy who was about his own age in front of him, Meng Xu was also happy.

"It's almost 24 seconds." Looking at Meng Xu with a smirk in front of him, McGrady frowned, chose his best shooting method, swayed on the spot twice, and made a fake move. McGrady rose directly from outside the 3-point line and threw the basketball.

"McGrady's shooting is really beautiful. Of course, Meng's defense is also very good. He is like McGrady's shadow and follows him everywhere." In the commentary booth, watching the match between McGrady and Meng Xu, Michaels also sincerely praised.

Seeing McGrady under Meng Xu's defense, after pulling out from outside the 3-point line and missing a shot, Popovich on the bench couldn't help nodding.

After Tim Duncan took the rebound, he handed the basketball directly to Johnson. After Johnson dribbled the ball slowly into the half court, he passed the ball to Meng Xu outside the 3-point line on the right.

Seeing Meng Xu holding the ball outside the 3-point line, the Raptors were forced by no one. McGrady, who was facing him, also put Meng Xu a step away, preventing breakthroughs but not shooting.

"You guys really underestimate me." Looking at Medina's defensive posture, Meng Xu was also furious. This is not the first time Meng Xu has received such defensive treatment. At the beginning of the first game, Meng Xu did not score a mid-range or long-range shot in 4 consecutive games. In the subsequent games, Meng Xu was completely ignored by the opponent's defenders. Even so, Meng Xu's shooting percentage was also low. Seeing McGrady defending himself so frighteningly, Meng Xu shot from beyond the 3-point line without hesitation.

"Why is Meng's shooting posture so familiar?" Originally, after seeing Meng Xu preparing to shoot, Popovich was also startled, but seeing Meng Xu's stretched posture after taking off, Popovich really gave birth to this feeling. The feeling that the ball is bound to go in.This familiar shooting posture, this familiar feeling, seems to remind Popovich of a familiar person, but after searching every face in his mind, he can't find that familiar person, can't find that familiar person. a feeling of.

(End of this chapter)