Gasol took his inside dominance to the extreme in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Although from the perspective of ranking, only ranking seventh is a bit unjustifiable, Spain won the group stage with full marks.
As a result, he advanced to the knockout stage. His opponents in the group stage included the champion Argentina team and the runner-up Italy team. However, it happened that the Spanish team qualified as the first team in the group and met the Dream Six team, which had stumbled all the way in the group stage. The Dream Six team
If it weren't for Marbury's flash of 31 points, I'm afraid Spain would have won that championship. Gasol also beat every insider in that Olympics, averaging 22.4 points per game and becoming the best player in that Olympics.
The scoring champion.
The Spanish team, which had won the first three games, had no pressure to qualify. The next opponent for Serbia and Montenegro was the New Zealand team. The Serbian and Montenegro teams also won all three games. After the match with the Spanish team, the only opponent was the Chinese team. The two teams had no pressure to qualify.
The team seemed to have a tacit understanding at this time and began the battle of trump cards.
To say that this battle of trump cards was started by Serbian and Montenegrin coach Pesic, the old man is not a good guy. Looking at the strength of the two teams in this game, Gasol and Milicic were fighting vigorously.
Instead of a miserable victory, it would be better to watch a wonderful inside matchup, where Gasol, the most powerful inside player in the international arena, can be used to train this rare talent in his team in ten years.
Pesic called a timeout, replaced Radmanovic, replaced Kostic as the center, and Milicic was moved to the power forward position. The Spanish team did not change tactics, but the coach obviously
Arrangements have been made to comply with Gasol's wishes, which can be seen from the first ball.
After Gasol settled inside, he saw that Milicic was guarding him. He immediately shouted to Calderon who was dribbling: "Here! Give the ball to me and open up the gap!"
After the ball was handed to Gasol, the other four players without the ball moved to the three-point line, giving Gasol enough space. Kostic wanted to let Garbajosa go a little bit.
Came over to help Milicic defend Gasol, but Milicic shouted: "Get away! Gasol belongs to me in this game!"
"Hey! Interesting, this game is starting to get a little fun!"
After Gasol said this, he held the ball with both hands, lowered his head and leaned forward. He did not make a targeted attack based on Milicic's defensive actions. Instead, he dribbled the ball to break through and beat Milicic with his speed advantage.
Odd, after dribbling in two steps, his left hand suppressed Milicic within the reasonable range of the rules, and he made a hook with his right hand, and the ball hit!
After the ball went in, Gasol said to Milicic who picked up the ball at the baseline: "This is the first inside lesson I give you, hook!"
Milicic took the ball to the inside and shouted: "Open up the space, I want to eat Gasol alone!"
When Milicic faced the very flexible Gasol, he had no intention of breaking through him with his feet. Instead, he took advantage of his tonnage and used his strong back muscles to push against Gasol. One click! Two.
Next! Gasol didn't retreat much. In the third blow, Milicic increased his strength, but Gasol withdrew his strength. Milicic took a few steps back and fell to the ground... The referee's whistle sounded -
—Walking violation! Seeing Milicic lying on the ground with his arms stretched out, the audience couldn't help but burst into laughter. Piccinini laughed along with him, finally feeling that the ticket he bought from the scalper was worth something.
Gasol said to Milicic who was lying on the ground: "This is the second lesson in the inside, the control of power!"
After Gasol received the ball in the high post, seeing that Milicic was afraid of his breakthrough and did not defend him, he simply opened his hand and made a high jump shot, and the ball hit directly.
Gasol smiled and said: "This is the third lesson of the inside, a stable mid-range shot!"
Milicic angrily held the ball to the free throw line and tried to shoot a jump shot. However, Gasol had long known that he would respond to the ball like this and was ready to block the shot. He slapped the ball far away with a big block.
After getting the ball from the outside, Vujanic handed the ball to Milicic again. Milicic took two steps and made another jump shot. The same result - was blocked by Gasol's long arm again. After several struggles.
, when 24 seconds are up, the ball belongs to the Spanish team.
Although Gasol is 2.13 meters tall, his wingspan is an astonishing 2.31 meters. Like Uncle Mourinho and Magloire, he is the longest among all active players in the NBA. He also relies on these long arms to make him
Gasol has been crowned the shot-blocking leader in numerous international competitions.
Gasol said to the frustrated Milicic: "This is the fourth lesson of the inside, blocking shots!"
Milicic's body was soaked with sweat. This sweat was not caused by strenuous exercise, but the kind of cold sweat that came from the heart. There were laughter and boos from time to time on the court. All of this made Milicic
Xiqi has a huge back, and he was once proud of his flexibility, physical coordination, and comprehensive skills. In front of Gasol, the number one insider in the international arena, he is like a monkey being played with.
Bill Laimbeer in front of the TV threw the wine glass hard and cursed: "Damn it! This guy Milicic is as stupid as a donkey. Damn it, you have your own height and weight. Use the inside line to hit him hard."
Lesson Gasol, why are you practicing such a pussy-like mid-range shot from the outside! Damn it, what the fuck did you throw away everything you learned during the week of training with me?"
"Sneeze!" Monica sneezed. She looked at the lost Milicic on the court, and there was a slight wave in her heart: No matter what, he is still just an eighteen-year-old child. If he leaves me
, can he take care of himself?
Kostic asked captain Bodilloga: "Dako was suppressed by Gasol. Should we change our tactics, or should I help him defend Gasol."
"No! No need. If coach Pesic doesn't have confidence in Darko, he will make tactical adjustments. We don't need to do anything now. If Darko wants to lead this Serbian and Montenegrin team after I retire, he wants to
If he is an ace, he must overcome these by himself, otherwise he can only be a qualified role player." Bodiloga, the team's absolute ace, said that as an ace player, he understands the role of an ace better.
The pride that only players can have.
"What would you do if you met an opponent you couldn't match anyway?" Bill Laimbeer asked Milicic about a month ago.
"I have no idea……"
"Then don't think about anything and beat him, just like I beat Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!" Bill Laimbeer roared.
Milicic thought of this conversation again. Yes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is superior to Bill Laimbeer in terms of height, skills, and experience, but basketball is not only a competition of skills and talent, but also an extension of spiritual will.
.
Gasol swayed with the ball. At the moment when Milicic hesitated, he dribbled through and jumped to dunk when he was halfway past Milicic. Milicic's movement was half a beat slower, and he met a big block.
Sol even dropped the ball and the man to the ground.
"Beep!" The referee's whistle sounded, Milicic committed a foul.
But Milicic's expression at this time was not depressed at all. He said to Gasol who was lying on the ground energetically: "This is the first inside lesson I give you - fight like a man!"
