Legendary star

Chapter 734 The Spurs' Counterattack

Since the Spurs trailed the Pacers by as much as 12 points after the third quarter, this directly led to the Spurs having to deploy some of their main players at the beginning of the fourth quarter, striving to bring the two sides together before the decisive battle. The points to the difference narrowed to an acceptable range.

But for the Pacers, Rick Carlisle was obviously not prepared to give the Spurs such an opportunity. When the Spurs sent Tim Duncan and Tony Parker as the two main players, the Pacers also sent Meng Xu. NN- Hilario and James Posey.

In order to get back the score quickly, the Spurs took up a decisive battle posture at the beginning of the fourth quarter. There was no way, who made them fall behind too much in front. 12 minutes seemed very long, but it was also very short. If they can't show the state that can suppress the Pacers in the first few minutes, then as the game time goes by, their chances and hopes will become smaller and smaller.

Especially when Meng Xu is still on the court, they have to show a more stable and crazy game state than the Pacers to ensure the success rate of each attack. If their game state in the fourth quarter is still Like the third quarter, it is almost impossible for the Spurs to recover the score.

For the Spurs, Tim Duncan is no problem. One-on-one defense, the Pacers have no players who can limit Tim Duncan. As for double-teaming, Tim Duncan's ability to distribute the ball is also very good. Excellent, but the problem lies with these outside players of the Spurs. Their consecutive misses at a certain period of time in the third quarter almost completely ruined the Spurs.

Perhaps it was because of letting the main players rest for a while, or maybe it was because they no longer trusted their shooting. When Popovich arranged for Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to continue playing, he also directly arranged for a few players. Two pure pitchers played with them, Brent Barry, Matt Bonner, and Jacqui Vaughn. Although they didn't play much in the playoffs, their three-point shooting percentage, But it is very stable and very efficient, especially Brent Barry and Jacqui Vaughn, whose three-point shooting percentage is close to 50%.

With such a lineup, Popovich's intentions are obvious, using Tim Duncan to build an advantage inside, so as to find more opportunities for the outside group of pitchers, play well, a wave of three-pointers The rain can even out the difference of ten points.

Regarding Popovich's routines, Rick Carlisle is undoubtedly clear about the fire, but Rick Carlisle is still a little hesitant about whether to change his defensive strategy against Tim Duncan, because the Pacers' current advantage is to establish On the double-teaming of Tim Duncan and Meng Xu's sudden outburst, if the double-teaming of Tim Duncan is lifted because of the pressure of these three-point shooters, if Meng Xu is no longer in the previous game Feel and offensive efficiency, the Pacers are likely to be overturned by the Spurs. After hesitating again and again, Rick Carlisle finally chose to wait and see what happened, and then make the next step according to the situation on the court.

"Meng Xu's physical strength is really strong. He didn't rest for a minute in the first three quarters, and now he played in the fourth quarter." Michaels, who was on the sidelines, looked at Brent Barry leaning on the court and turned his back directly. Michaels was somewhat surprised by Meng Xu's physical condition after breaking through and hitting a jumper. The intensity of confrontation in the playoffs is different from that of the regular season, not to mention that Meng Xu is still the Spurs' key defensive target. , Without resting for a minute, he can still play so efficiently. Such a reserve of physical energy is definitely very strong.

"El, I think this is normal. Our physical confrontation was much stronger than it is now, and we still often play the whole game. Do you think it's Reggie?" After Michaels's voice fell, Barkley immediately jumped out to refute him. For Barkley, it is not unusual to play a game for 40 minutes, or even play the whole game. Even in the finals of the 92-93 season, Barkley only rested for 6 minute in the 1-game series. Therefore, Barkley was very disapproving of Michaels' praise of Meng Xu. He even pulled Reggie Miller out to refute Michaels. .

"Charles, this is different. Meng Ke has to face the double-teaming of the Spurs all the way, and he has taken as many as 30 shots today, which is very exhausting. If it were me, I would have already collapsed on the ground. It is." Reggie Miller is undoubtedly on the side of Meng Xu, of course, for the effect of the program, even if Reggie Miller is not on Meng Xu's side, he will not go along with Bacchus' rhetoric, just I would scoff at this, and then refute it, there is no way, for a commentator, ratings and gimmicks are always the first.

Hearing Reggie Miller refute his words in secret, Barkley is also a black line, but Barkley did not continue to talk about this topic, but shifted the topic to the court, because Barkley knew that if he went on talking If not, I'm afraid it will be the three of them besieging him alone.

The Pacers' tactics in the fourth quarter are still very simple, that is, let Meng Xu play singles with the ball, no matter whether you double-team or not, play when the opportunity is right, and teammates can pass if they are in a better position. Mainly singles.As for the Spurs' tactics, it is also very simple. Use Tim Duncan to attract double-teams, and then create opportunities for a group of outside shooters. To put it bluntly, whether it is the Pacers or the Spurs, they are playing superstar tactics now. , primitive, but also the most effective tactic.

What the Pacers and Spurs are now competing with is actually Meng Xu and the Spurs shooters, who has the better ability to seize opportunities and who has a higher shooting percentage, and the Spurs' backup shooters have obviously lived up to Popo Vichy's trust in them, Brent Barry, Matt Bonner and Jacqui Vaughn each hit a three-pointer after the opening of the fourth quarter.

"Rick needs to call a timeout to adjust." Although Meng Xu also made two of three shots after the opening of the fourth quarter, the Pacers were still beaten by the Spurs 9 to 4, and the point difference between the two sides was also narrow. It was reduced to only 7 points. Seeing this situation, Reggie Miller in the commentary was also a little anxious. Seeing hope, the morale of the Spurs was getting higher and higher. At this time, a timeout should definitely be called to interrupt It's okay, but Rick Carlisle doesn't seem to have this consideration.

(End of this chapter)