Legendary star

Chapter 732 Really Stubborn

"Meng, do you want to continue playing?"

In the locker room of the home team at Bankers Life Arena, head coach Rick Carlisle is standing next to Meng Xu, asking Meng Xu about his physical condition. As the only Pacers player who played the whole game in the first half It is necessary for Rick Carlisle to understand Meng Xu's physical condition in detail. After all, Rick Carlisle hasn't seen Meng Xu play without reservation for a long time.

It's just that the only thing Rick Carlisle is worried about is Meng Xu's physical fitness. In today's game, Meng Xu not only kept filling up for his teammates on the defensive end, but also used breakthroughs and shots again and again on the offensive end to completely Breaking the double-team defense of Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley, this almost crazy style of play is undoubtedly very exhausting.

"Rick, I'm fine, so you can rest assured." Meng Xu played very refreshingly in today's game. Although the Spurs did not have a matchup player like James of the Cavaliers who could cause trouble for him, but Meng Xu is still full of fighting spirit. As long as he sees Tim Duncan and Popovich looking at him, Meng Xu knows that he can't relax, he can't lose, and he must not live up to their "expectations" of himself. .

Meng Xu's current state is indeed very good. After experiencing the last game of the Eastern Conference finals, Meng Xu's current game state and physical condition have been adjusted to an excellent level. Coupled with Meng Xu's extremely fast physical recovery speed, To put it bluntly, there is no problem for Meng Xu to maintain a high-level state for about 45 minutes in this game.

"Well, that's good, Meng, I won't say anything if it's superfluous. In today's game, what we need is victory, and only victory!" Rick Carlisle looked at Meng Xu, who looked calm and his breathing had calmed down. , did not go to explain any tactics to Meng Xu, but told Meng Xu his requirements and goals in this game. Of course, this is also the goal of Meng Xu and the Pacers team.

Rick Carlisle knows very well that at Meng Xu's level, as long as he is physically strong, no one can stop him. Whether he is defending alone or double-teaming, as long as he is willing, it is an excellent opportunity to attack. , so when Meng Xu expressed his desire to fight, Rick Carlisle would not discuss any tactics with Meng Xu.

"Jermaine, after the start of the second half, you will assist Darko to double-team Tim Duncan. The two of you have only one task, which is to limit his offense and keep him away from the basket as much as possible."

After communicating with Meng Xu, Rick Carlisle found Jermaine O'Neal and Darko Milicic. Tim Duncan is the only one who can compete with Meng Xu in scoring efficiency in the Spurs , So Rick Carlisle decided to double-team Tim Duncan and force him to pass the basketball. Bruce Bowen, Robert Hawley, Michael Finley, it doesn’t matter who, maybe they can in a short time, Competing with Meng Xu, but expecting them to keep up with Meng Xu's scoring rhythm for a long time, it is undoubtedly a dream.

Although Rick Carlisle has always hoped that Meng Xu can share some of the ball, after all, in this Pacers team, there are many players who can score. Jermaine O'Neal averaged 20+ per game, Tyshawn Prince , NN-Hilary, James Posey, and Darko Milicic can also average 10 points per game, but in Rick Carlisle's heart, the people he trusts most are undoubtedly Meng Xu, Jayme Players like Yin O'Neal are also very good, but compared to Meng Xu, they lack a little stability, especially in today's game, Tim Duncan went to the basket, Jermaine O'Neal's offense Ability is at least 7% off, and NN-Hilary was fouled by Tim Duncan consecutively and hit the bench, so when Meng Xu wanted to take over the game, Rick Carlisle had no objection of.

The Pacers were going to change their tactics in the second half, and the Spurs also changed their formation very tacitly after the start of the second half. Sometimes it is not just the fighting between the players on the field that determines the outcome of a game, but also the coaches standing on the sidelines. The battle of wits and courage is also a very critical factor.

"Tim Duncan reached for the ball, Jermaine O'Neal stepped forward to double-team, Tim Duncan passed the ball, Michael Finley made a jumper!"

"Meng Xu attacked with the ball, and Michael Finley defended Meng Xu closely. With a very good start speed, Meng Xu got rid of Michael Finley, and Robert Hawley, who was supplementing the defense, directly fouled Meng Xu."

"Pacers throw, Darko Milicic to Tony Allen, Tony Allen to Tayshaun Prince, Tayshaun Prince misses jumper, Tim- Duncan grabs the defensive rebound."

"Tim Duncan received the ball from the basket, Jermaine O'Neal continued to double-team, Manu Ginobili received the ball and made a three-pointer, and the Spurs overtook the score."

"Meng Xu and Jermaine O'Neal's pick and roll, Jermaine O'Neal cut straight to the basket, Meng Xu didn't pass the ball, Robert Hawley, Robert Hawley again, after Meng Xu took off, he hugged directly Meng Xu."

Obviously, the Pacers are planning to reduce Tim Duncan's offensive efficiency by double-teaming, and the Spurs simply fouled Meng Xu after the double-teaming was invalid. According to the current situation on the field, the Spurs' The tactics are undoubtedly more effective. Although Robert Hawley paid the price of two fouls, the Spurs successfully overtook the score.

After two consecutive offenses were interrupted by fouls by Robert Hawley, Meng Xu did not take measures to adjust his offensive options. Instead, he took the initiative to find Robert after receiving a sideline kick from Dak Milicic. - Hawley, I see you have a few fouls available.

"The donkey's temper hasn't changed at all." Seeing Meng Xu leaning sideways on Robert Holly on the field, Popovich also smiled helplessly. Originally, Popovich planned to use foul tactics to force Meng Xu to change his style of play, but now it seems that Meng Xu is really stubborn. After Robert Holly fouled him twice in a row, Meng Xu actually got on with Robert Holly and took the initiative to find him. Robert Hawley, foul him, don't you know this is the Finals?

"What? No more fouls?"

Leaning against Robert Holly for a few seconds, seeing that Robert Holly did not continue to foul him, Meng Xu taunted Robert Holly while secretly accumulating energy, and then directly knocked away the opponent standing in front of him. Robert Hawley.

After being knocked away by Meng Xu, Robert Holly continued to post while sighing in his heart, no wonder Popovich wanted to use foul tactics to stop him. This guy is strong, fast, bounces well, and shoots. Not bad, it seems that apart from fouling, there is really no way to stop him from scoring.

Just when Robert Holly was about to paste Meng Xu again, he found that after Meng Xu knocked him away, he jumped up on the spot and was about to make a shot. Robert Holly didn't hesitate and went up and hugged him Meng Xu wanted to drag Meng Xu directly out of the air.

However, Robert Hawley was surprised to find that even though he had already hugged Meng Xu, this guy did not stop, but was still rising. Robert Hawley, who couldn't believe it, glanced at his feet and was surprised to find that, He was actually taken off the ground by Meng Xu.

With the whistle of the referee on duty, there was a burst of violent cheers in the Bankers Life Arena. Since Meng Xu had already made a shooting action before being fouled by Robert Hawley, Meng Xu In this attack, not only the shot is valid, but also an additional penalty.

"3+1!"

When the basketball thrown by Meng Xu fell into the basket amidst the cheers of the audience, Popovich, who had been smiling just now, froze instantly. Popovich is now full of joy. All I could think about was the scene of Meng Xu shooting the ball just now. Even though Robert Hawley had already hugged Meng Xu, he failed to pull Meng Xu down from the air, and instead was led by Meng Xu to continue to rise some distance.

Popovich knows Meng Xu very well, and he cares more about Meng Xu's progress and development than anyone else, but as far as the shot just now is concerned, this is definitely not something an outside player can do. A player over 240 pounds can continue to take off and complete shots. Even Tim Duncan is unlikely to be able to do it now.

"Oh, God, this is definitely the best jump shot in the history of the finals, no, this is the best, greatest jump shot in the entire NBA history, I swear, from now on, I will be a diehard Meng fan "While Magic Johnson and the others beside him were shocked by Meng Xu's jump shot, Barkley, who was the first to react, immediately stood up from the commentary seat and frantically pointed into the microphone in front of him. There was a burst of yelling.

"It's NIANG, I'm going to make the background board again." Recalling the scene just now, listening to the crazy cheers of the audience around, Robert Hawley walked towards the sidelines very consciously. After Meng Xu's foul, Robert Hawley has already committed 5 fouls. Without the head coach's reminder, Hawley also knows that he should be replaced by his teammates. However, when he thinks that he will soon become the top ten scorer Background board, Robert Hawley was feeling uneasy for a while.

After Robert Holly walked to the sidelines, Popovich also called a timeout. The Spurs fouled Meng Xu three times at the beginning of the game. According to NBA rules, free throws are required for four fouls in a single quarter, so Popovich Qi now also has to adjust the Spurs' defensive tactics.

(End of this chapter)