Legendary star

Chapter 26 The Opponent of Life (3)

"The Raptors need to change their defensive tactics against Meng. Meng's performance today is incredible. He made 8 of 5 shots, including 3 of 6 4-pointers." Just after the start of the third quarter, Meng Xu made another hit 3 points, raising his score to 3 points. The head coach of the Raptors, Butch Carter, was too stubborn. He unswervingly let Meng Xu shoot. Even at the end of the second quarter, Meng Xu made consecutive hits. Two 14-pointers narrowed the point difference between the two teams to 2 points, and Butch Carter did not make any changes. After the start of the third quarter, although his efficiency declined, Meng Xu still made 2 of 3 shots and scored 4 points in a row. points, helping the Spurs equalize the score.

"After the timeout, the Raptors will strengthen their defense against Meng, so you have to be more resolute, Tim." Taking advantage of the timeout, Popovich also stepped up his tactics.Today's Meng Xu really surprised himself. From the second half of the second quarter when he came off the bench to the timeout just now, he scored 5 points in 14 minutes, helping the Spurs to directly fill the 8-point gap. Pit, although there are reasons why the Raptors deliberately let him go, but compared with the previous few games where he couldn't make any shots and could shoot 3 without sticking, it was a world of difference.

Seeing Popovich showing a satisfied look, the assistant coach Mike Budenholzer on the side also glanced at Chucky Brown on the bench with a pitiful look. Chucky Brown put the towel on On his shoulder, Meng Xu looked at the court with a dark face. Only he knew what he was feeling at this time. When Sean Elliott, the main small forward of the Spurs, missed this season due to surgery, Chucky Brown Still came to the Spurs full of ambitions, who knows that the psychological pressure and defensive pressure faced by playing as a substitute and as a main player are completely different. Chucky Brown has never played his worth, but was rated by the media as the Spurs' worst failure this season. Now, with the outbreak of Meng Xu in this game, he is very likely to lose his main position and even be traded by the team.

After the game restarted, the Raptors really strengthened their defense against Meng Xu. McGrady was the main defense, and Carter was on the sidelines to help defend. Once Meng Xu received the ball, he stepped forward to double-team. Meng Xu was also excited, and he even enjoyed the double-team. clip treatment.Although Meng Xu knew that with the continuous improvement of his strength, sooner or later he would encounter double-team or even three-team star treatment, but he did not expect this day to come so early.McGrady's height is a bit taller than his own, and his wingspan is about the same. Moreover, this guy is strong and fast, and it is very uncomfortable for him to defend himself. He is trapped by his weak ball-handling attributes, and Meng Xu was almost defeated twice in a row. Carter steals the ball. After that, Meng Xu also gave up the idea of ​​singles, but ran more actively, actively looking for opportunities.

The game between the two sides fell into a stalemate again. Waiting to see the two short insiders facing the Raptors. Although Duncan and David Robinson can keep scoring, their efficiency is obviously not as good as before, especially David Robinson. Around the front and under double-teaming, the hit rate is also very low.And McGrady and Meng Xu almost put all their energy into defending each other. Without McGrady's cover, Carter no longer unscrupulously attacked the Spurs' inside line, but no one on the Spurs' outside line could restrain Carter.

"Rookie, your defense is great, but it's useless." In this attack, Carter took the initiative to find Meng Xu. Perhaps the rest of the outside line of the Spurs was not challenging for Carter, or maybe it was because he wanted to replace his own performance. In the second half of the third quarter, Carter took the initiative to exchange positions with McGrady and directly played Meng Xu with the ball.

"This guy is really powerful." Carter didn't try to break through himself like McGrady did. Instead, he leaned against himself and arched inside. Carter was a little shorter than himself and looked about the same weight, but this guy was stronger than him. Meng Xu was a lot older, facing Carter's back-up singles, Meng Xu tried his best and couldn't stand him.

Just when Carter arched his back inward twice, taking advantage of the moment Meng Xu was pressing himself hard, Carter turned around halfway and jumped up. Meng Xu jumped up and stretched his arms as far as possible to block the block, and finally looked at Carter helplessly. Throw the basketball without any interference from yourself, and then hollow it into the net.

Even after jumping in the air, the scene where even Carter's elbow couldn't reach made Meng Xu a little discouraged. This guy's jumping is really good, and the time spent in the air is also abnormal. Meng Xu has already started to fall , This guy is still floating in the air, and the super long wingspan, the terrifying receding range, even made Meng Xu doubt his defense. Can such a shot really be defended?

After the shot was made, Carter smiled slightly, opened his arms and turned around to accept the cheers and worship of the fans.

"Meng, don't be discouraged, let me tell you a secret." John Ball walked up to Meng Xu and patted Meng Xu's back: "Do you want to know how I defend those players who are taller than me and bounce better than me?"

"Yes." Meng Xu looked at Johnson and nodded.Avery Johnson's official height is only 180, and his real height is even a little lower. It can be said that he suffers from most of the guards in the league, but Avery Johnson's defense is not as bad as the data shows. , Relying on his many years of game experience and unique defensive style, Avery Johnson is not very disadvantaged when facing most of the league's point guards.

"If you can't seal his basketball with your hands, seal his eyes." Johnson said and stretched out his palm.

"Close your eyes, what's the difference between this and no defense." Hearing Avery Johnson's defensive method, Meng Xu was also at a loss. In Meng Xu's view, the defensive method of sealing his eyes is no different from covering his ears and stealing his bell. A player In the accumulation of shooting training, the arms and body have already formed muscle memory. Even if you close your eyes, you will subconsciously shoot the ball towards the basket. This defensive method is basically the same.

"What an idiot, you can do this." Johnson looked at Meng Xu with an indisputable expression on his face, then slightly bent his outstretched palm forward, and separated his fingers a little.

"Avery, you are so dirty." In an instant, Meng Xu understood what Avery Johnson meant. The defensive method Johnson said was actually a kind of psychological intimidation, and he would definitely not intentionally poke the offensive player. Eyes, but made such an obviously suggestive movement, in order to make the opponent's heart nervous, resulting in deformation of shooting movements, reducing his shooting success rate.

"Shit, can this be called dirty? I'm a pure angel."

"Do angels have dark skin?" Looking at Johnson's back, Meng Xu also smiled.

Since Meng Xu followed the experience taught by Avery Johnson, when facing Vince Carter to shoot, he deliberately made a poke in the face.I don't know if it was a psychological effect, or if he was really afraid that Meng Xu would stab him, Carter was also more cautious when shooting, and the corresponding touch became not as hot as in the first half.

(End of this chapter)