Legendary star

Chapter 89 The first game of the playoffs (1)

On April 2000, 4, after two days of rest, the NBA playoffs of this season officially kicked off. Today, there will be four games at the same time, namely the 22ers in the East against the Hornets, the Heat against the Pistons, and the West against the Pistons. The Spurs played against the Suns, and the Sonics played against the Jazz.

The Phoenix Suns have always been a clear stream in the league. When other teams are desperately collecting high-quality insiders, the Suns have created a small ball tactic in a unique way. During the years when Paul Westphal was the head coach , The Suns also set off a whirlwind in the league. The peak season was 62 wins and 20 losses and reached the finals, but the Suns still failed to win the championship. The management, which lost confidence in Paul Westphal, used Danny Ainge replaced him. After Danny Ainge took office, although the Suns were still playing small ball tactics, they were the same as Paul Westphal's, scoring more than 20 points and losing more than 93 points, basically ignoring the difference in defense. Dan The Suns under Niange's coaching have improved significantly in defense, but Danny Angie's coaching performance is not as good as Paul Westphal. After leading the team to play 99 games this season, Danny Angie dismissed get out of class and replaced him The most outstanding is rookie coach Scott Skiles. This season, the Suns averaged only [-] points per game. Although they cannot be compared with the Spurs, they are also the seventh best defensive team in the entire league. Scored [-] points, still ranked in the middle and upper reaches of all teams.

Compared with last season, the Spurs have not played successfully this season. Although they have achieved a record of 58 wins this season, they are only ranked fourth in the Western Conference, which is far from the first in the league last season. With an average of 87 points per game, the Spurs have become the only team in the league that restricts opponents from scoring below 90 points. of the most.

When the Alamo Stadium won the playoffs again after a lapse of one year, the Alamo Stadium, which can accommodate nearly 3 people after the renovation, was full again. When the Spurs players began to enter the field, the audience all stood up Cheers for the Spurs, it can be seen that although the Spurs' playoff form this season is not good, the Spurs fans still have great confidence in the home team.

"This guy is really arrogant, you will suffer later." Seeing Meng Xu walking past the Suns bench with open arms amidst the cheers of the audience, Marion, who was also a rookie this year with Meng Xu, But he was very upset. Marion, who had a high self-esteem, was rarely seen by him among these rookies this year, and Meng Xu was definitely one of the few that he hated. This has nothing to do with his position. The same, no matter how you look at it, the guy who is not as good as him has now secured his position as the main force in the Spurs, and even won the MVP of this season's Rookie Challenge and the championship of the All-Star Three-Point Contest, but he can only play against the Suns. Sit on the bench and wipe the water dispenser over and over again every day.Fortunately, with his outstanding performance in the second half of this season, Marion successfully impressed Scott Skiles, and now Marion has become an important rotation player for the Suns.

"Okay, Sean, we are going to warm up." After Kidd was injured, Hardaway, who was originally traded to assist Kidd, became the only pillar of the Suns. This season, Hardaway is also playing and resting with minor injuries. Only played 60 games a season.

"Sean, the coach asked you to start this game. I will teach him a lesson later. I think he has been upset for a long time." After Meng Xu took two risks, the two formed a bond.

But Meng Xu, who was warming up at this time, seemed a little excited, and took two consecutive shots with a basketball. Although in the locker room, head coach Popovich and assistant coach Mike Budenholzer kept encouraging and comforting Meng Xu. Xu, I hope Meng Xu can relax a bit. Duncan even told jokes and dirty jokes in the locker room for the first time, but even so, Meng Xu still seemed very excited. This was Meng Xu's first playoff game. Facing the cheers of nearly [-] spectators, and the temptation of doubling the experience points in the playoffs, if he could still calm down, it would not be Meng Xu.

Popovich didn't have too many arrangements for this game. Since it was the first confrontation, Popovich still wanted to test the depth of the sun first, and after continuous rest, the game status of these Spurs players also Not too good.After last year's finals, Popovich has summed up a set of methods to master the state of the game.You must know that in a long season, no player can guarantee a stable state, and behind the peak must be a trough or even a bottomless abyss. The only difference is that some players will adjust their state according to the game situation, while most Players don't understand and won't.As an excellent head coach, Popovich has to help these players adjust their own state. In the second half of the season, their game state will be artificially lowered by means of rest and other means, and then wait until the playoffs are gradually improving. Adjust their state, until the final finals, the player's game state will reach its peak.

Unlike the Spurs, Scott Skiles did his homework in this game. After being swept out by the Trail Blazers in the first round last season, the Suns traded for Hardaway this season, but he tried his best to make a big difference. Fan.In this game, Scott Skiles also made adjustments to the starting lineup. The two insiders, Luke Longley and Cliff Robinson, still served as the starters. Sean Marion, who has been on the bench this season, started the game. Hardaway appeared at the shooting guard position, while Randy Evanston played a guest role at the point guard. With an organization master like Hardaway in the team, the Suns' demand for point guards was minimized. Kidd After the injury, the Suns simply played tactics with Hardaway as the core, and the results were not bad.

"Judging from the record of this season's matchup, the Spurs are not good at this game." When the players from both sides re-entered the court and were about to start the game, as the special commentator of the game, the greatest player in the history of the Spurs One of them, Iceman George Gervin's face is also a little dignified.

According to international practice, before the referee blew the game, Duncan wanted to pass the basketball, held it in his arms, and looked at the basket expressionlessly. No one knew what he was thinking at the moment.

"It seems that it's time for me to think of a way to pretend to attract fans." Seeing the fans cheering for Duncan's old-fashioned opening method, Meng Xu was also a little envious.

"The Suns' adjustments in this game are also determined to play the outside line, and the Suns' inside line is also the kind of player with strong mobility who can be pulled out at any time. This game will test the Spurs' outside defense and internal and external coordination."

Although Kidd is absent due to injury, the Suns' outside line still has a huge advantage over the Spurs' outside four-irons, and it is very important that whether it is Hardaway, Marion, Todd Daye or Rodney Rogers. They are in the prime of life, while the Spurs are a bunch of old, weak, sick and disabled. Meng Xu is a first-year rookie. Sean Etrio and Mario Elli are now on the verge of retirement. Lee Johnson is also 35 years old this year.

(End of this chapter)