Legendary star

Chapter 323 Indiana Three Squad

"Meng Xu and Jermaine O'Neal's pick-and-roll, Meng Xu rushed towards the basket, Meng Xu passed the ball, Reggie Miller, Reggie Miller again, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer." After making this buzzer shot, Reggie Miller scored the 11th point of the game. Reggie Miller made 7 of 4 shots in the first quarter and 3 of 5 3-pointers. He scored 11 points in a single quarter. 10 points is nothing to Reggie Miller, but for Reggie Miller, who has averaged less than 20 points per game this season and has dropped to about 15 shots, today's game is still this season. This is the first time to get so many shots.

"The first quarter of the game between the two teams was really surprising." After the first quarter of the game, looking at the score on the scoreboard, Michaels was also very surprised. Very good, especially the Spurs. This season, the opponent’s scoring average is only 86 points, far ahead of the second-ranked Pistons. They are the best defensive team in the entire league this season, but in the first quarter of today’s game Among them, the Spurs and Pacers scored a high score of 28 to 29.

In the first quarter of the game, the Spurs broke the Pacers' inside line, and Duncan scored 15 points in a single quarter. Neither Jermaine O'Neal nor James Posey fought back against Duncan at all. Power.It is understandable that the Pacers' interior was blown up by the Spurs. After all, the combination of Duncan and Riff LaFrentz is enough to sweep the interior of most teams in the league, not to mention Jermaine O'Neal and James Posey. Well, even Shaquille O'Neal and Grant couldn't take advantage of them.It's just that in today's game, after the Spurs blew up the Pacers' inside line, the Spurs' outside line was also blew up by the Pacers, especially Reggie Miller, relying on his excellent running position, completely slipping away from Steve -Smith is playing, and Bruce Bowen has nothing to do with Meng Xu. In the first quarter, the Pacers made 3 of 12 three-pointers. At that time, the Pacers instead gained a 7-point advantage over the Spurs.

"If the Pacers can be stronger inside, no, as long as there is a center like Mutombo, then the Pacers really have the strength to win the championship." After getting the technical statistics of the first quarter, Magic Johnson also began to give advice to his old buddy Larry Bird in the live broadcast. Although the Pacers led the Spurs in score, but in terms of rebounds, the Pacers lost to the Spurs by 6 in a single quarter. If the Pacers have a super high 3-point shooting percentage, then I am afraid that the Pacers will be beaten by the Spurs in the first quarter of the game.Due to the weakness of the inside line, rebounding has always been the Pacers' shortcoming this season. If the problem of rebounding can be solved, then the Pacers may go one step further, from a playoff team to an effective team. A possible championship team.

"Erwin is right, the Pacers' rebounding is too bad, and the Pacers can't always maintain such a high 3-point shooting rate. Once their shooting rate drops, the game will lose suspense. "As for Magic Johnson, Michaels also agrees. The difference in strength between the Pacers and the Spurs is too great. If the problem of rebounding is not solved, once the Pacers' shooting percentage drops, the game will be over.

"Jermaine, in this game, your task is to protect the backboards, and don't think about anything else." During the timeout, Larry Bird handed over the task of arranging tactics to assistant coach Lester Kang. Gnar, then pulled Jermaine O'Neal aside himself.Jermaine O'Neal is on the offensive end, and he can't be counted on today. In front of Duncan, he is like a primary school student, without the slightest chance to display. Larry Bird knows Duncan's strength very well, so today's game, after protecting A rebound is the only requirement Larry Bird has for Jermaine O'Neal.
"Larry, are we really not going to make any changes in the second quarter?" Lester Conor asked Larry Bird again after Meng Xu came on the field with a group of substitute players. Gnar asked Larry Bird for the third time.

"No, there is nothing wrong with our tactics. Why should we change it?" Larry Bird looked at Lester Conor confidently, then took two steps back, and sat down on the bench chair.

"This." Seeing the confident and stubborn Larry Bird, Lester Conor could only shake his head helplessly. Although 3-pointers are now a common offensive method for all teams, Lester Conor Gnar really hasn't seen any team that can maintain a high shooting percentage throughout the game. In the first quarter of the game, Reggie Miller made 3 of 5 3-pointers, James Posey made 4 of 2, and Jamal Tins Lee was 2 for 1 and Meng Xu was 1 for 1. This kind of shooting rate is simply a miracle. Lester Conor does not believe that this miraculous shooting rate can last a game, or even halftime.

"Bobby Simmons hit a 3-pointer, and Popovich called a timeout. The Pacers felt very hot from the starter to the bench today." After the game restarted in the second quarter, El Harrington and Bobby Simmons each hit a 3-pointer, extending the lead to 5 points in an instant. Therefore, after only 1 minute of the second quarter, the Spurs coach Popovich immediately called pause.

"The Pacers' offense is really wonderful. From the main force to the bench, their off-ball running and cutting ability are very good. What's even more outstanding is Meng Xu's vision and passing. As long as there is an open space for a teammate, he They can pass the ball in the first time, and it is very strange that Meng Xu is basically passing the ball to his teammates today, but he doesn’t make many shots himself.” Looking at the smiling and high-fiving teammates at the end of the game Meng Xu and Michaels are also very puzzled. Although Meng Xu has greatly reduced the number of shots after 13 consecutive games of 30+, but like today, it is very rare to only take one shot after playing for more than ten minutes. of.

"El, in fact, Meng's current style of play is the most threatening. Although Meng's scoring ability is very strong, history has proved countless times that no matter how strong a player is, no one can beat a team. "I have to say that after Meng Xu reduced the number of shots and started to connect his teammates around him with his passes, the Pacers' offense is now smoother, and more importantly, only Meng Xu chooses When playing this way, Magic Johnson will feel a sense of accomplishment, the sense of accomplishment of having a successor and inheritance.

"Tim, after the game restarts, you and Reeve need to expand your defensive range to attract Meng to break through to the basket." After several consecutive attempts, the Spurs couldn't prevent the Pacers' pick-and-roll. Meng Xu's moving footsteps and first step are too fast. No one in the Spurs can keep up with Meng Xu's footsteps. This has caused Popovich to try almost all means of defending the pick-and-roll. The pick-and-roll is still playing well.Moreover, in this game, the Pacers' 3-point shooting rate is really weird. A group of main players feel good, and even the substitutes feel hot. Although Popovich also knows the root of the problem, But Meng Xu couldn't be guarded, and everything was in vain. In order to disrupt the Pacers' offense, Popovich even had the idea of ​​letting Meng Xu score in an instant.

Thank you Momomo for your reward, and for being the first protector in this book, thank you.

(End of this chapter)