With 3 minutes left in the second quarter, Gregg Popovich called a timeout.
Because of the Spurs' score difference, they were already chased by their opponents with only one point left.
"Kawhi! Tony! What are you two doing? Didn't you have dinner tonight? A total of 2 of 9 shots in 5 minutes? Is this the shooting percentage you should surrender?" No wonder Popovich was annoyed.
, just because the Spurs' shooting percentage is really too low, especially after the Lakers came on the court on the 29th, the entire inside breakthrough was paralyzed. How could Popovich tolerate this?
Without inside scoring, the Lakers' defense will expand outwards, and it will also become difficult to take outside shots.
Such a situation is simply unthinkable!
Leonard and Parker both lowered their heads slightly because they did not do what they should have done on the field.
"We will use tactic No. 17 later, use Tony to break through the inside, act as a containment, and then break through to score the ball..."
There was no problem with Popovich's arrangement, and Parker did the same after coming on the court. However, except for two mid-range shots, the other four inside passes were all interfered with. In other words, all inside attacks were eliminated.
. This allowed the Lakers to come from behind and take the lead after the second quarter.
41-40, Los Angeles entered the locker room with a lead.
There was a low atmosphere in the Spurs locker room.
"Tell me, tell me, what kind of shot was this? There was almost no inside offense in the second quarter. Are you allergic to the Lakers' inside? Aaron? Matt? Curry? Tell me!" Popovich
He is rarely so angry, because he can understand and tolerate normal losses, but he cannot agree with abnormal losses. Because the Spurs' purpose is to play steadily, no matter what the opponent's firepower or state, they will always follow their own rhythm.
In this way, losses are all due to the opponent's explosion, and obviously the probability of explosion and explosion is far lower than the probability of normal performance. So the Spurs are close to a 50+ winning rate in 20 years, that's it
Come on, you do your thing and I do mine. Basically, you don’t get “into the rhythm” of others.
But starting from the middle of the second quarter tonight, it has already deviated from the Spurs' normal rhythm.
This is the source of Popovich's anger.
He could not tolerate the team he personally trained and the players he personally trained playing abnormally and chaotically.
One of Popovich's game mottos is that you don't have to explode or explode, but you can't be abnormal or sluggish. The winning rate of normal performance is the highest and the most stable. The implication is that you don't seek to be extraordinary.
, just want to be normal.
Aron Baynes couldn't help but defended: "But sir, the defense of No. 29 is so strong that we can hardly get in."
When Popovich heard this, he raised his eyebrows and said: "Too strong on defense? If you are too defensive, that's just one person! Can't you even handle one person? Do you think he is the peak Howard?" After saying this
, Aron Baynes muttered a few words in a low voice and said: "I don't know if he is the peak Howard, but he is definitely the strongest interior defender I have ever seen. I have never seen this kind of No. 5 before.
Bit……"
Aron Baynes has just landed in the NBA this year, so he has no idea what peak Howard is. Just watching videos and highlights, the error is too big, and it is far less profound than his own personal experience. But there are "old people" who have stood up.
Popovich opened his mouth and said: "Sir, that kid tonight is not in a normal state, a bit abnormal." Seeing that the speaker was Parker, Popovich became a little more friendly and said: "Tony, are you talking about his explosive state?
?”
"Breaking out of state?" Tony Parker said: "I'm afraid it's more than that. I think he at least exploded."
Tang Qian scored 2 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks and 1 assist in the first half. Although the offensive end was not very good, the defensive end was completely opposite and was wonderful. This made Mike D'Antoni think more and more that he was doing the right thing.
After making a decision, a player who can awaken the team's fighting spirit is definitely not comparable to ordinary substitutes.
This kid, if you give him some time and space, maybe he can become the league's top blue-collar all-star.
No kidding, given the quality of the league's interior players now, a peak Mutombo, a peak Ben Wallace, or even a peak Camby might be able to get a sub-max salary contract. And even so,
I'm afraid the supply is still in short supply.
Nowadays, most teams are built with outside stars, so a top-level blue-collar player who does not occupy shooting rights and has strong defense is extremely popular. Let alone a top-level blue-collar All-Star. If he really appears, he will be put on the free market.
, will definitely be robbed.
It's just that the Lakers are now...well, it's hard to say, after all, there is a man known as "Warcraft".
If the injury is really healed and the peak form of the magic period is restored, then I'm afraid...
You must know that Dwight Howard is not only a top blue-collar star, he is also a contributor who averages 20+ points per game. If you add it up, the advantage for No. 29 is too great. For a pure blue-collar player, no matter what,
, still at a disadvantage.
It depends on how the Lakers management will make the decision.
What you can do is just like you did in New York last year, give opportunities to those who desperately need them.
And Mike D'Antoni probably never expected that No. 29's performance in the second half would be even stronger and more eye-catching.
At the end of the halftime break, the Spurs had their entire starting lineup. As for the Lakers, it was PG Duhon, SG Meeks, SF Darius Morris, PF Pau Gasol, C Tang Qian. Although Mike D'Antoni
He didn't have much obsession with winning, but he always wanted to give it a try if he had the chance. So... he chose to take away the immediate combat power of Howard and Jamison.
Why is this? Aren't Howard and Jamison the strongest lineup the Lakers can field now?
Yes, but for the sake of chemical reaction and unity on the field, Mike D'Antoni chose to "take a bold shot."
A lineup that was not the strongest on paper was put together to challenge the Spurs' "starting five."
If we lose this game, don't think too much, the outside world will definitely scold Mike D'Antoni from beginning to end and ridicule him.
"Suppressing stars," "Abusing newcomers," "Abusing power," "Having no brains," "Likes to promote substitutes to show one's extraordinary abilities," etc., etc., a series of titles, Mike D'Antoni may have thought of them in advance.
. But this old man from West Virginia is extremely "stubborn". Just like in the Knicks VS Raptors game in February 2012, he did not choose Stoudemire, and he did not choose Chandler (currently shooting
(all hits), but chose Jeremy Lin, who had made 8 mistakes, to execute the final blow.
This old man with dual nationality of Italy and the United States, who is over 60 years old, has never been a head coach who "plays by common sense". This was true in New York last year, and it is also true in Los Angeles this year. Whenever he decides,
No one can change it, including the team management who paid him his salary.
It is precisely in this way that things like "Linsanity" and "Tang Storm" can happen on his hands. Other head coaches will definitely not do this. Even if the substitute players play well, the team is still the main player.
Yes, isn't it? This is the thinking of most NBA head coaches. They instinctively don't trust new players and substitutes.
Therefore, both Jeremy Lin and Tang Qian should be grateful that they have encountered such a coach who "does not follow common sense". Otherwise, I dare not say that they would not be able to perform well, but at least their performance would be a huge advantage.
.And because of Jeremy Lin, Mike D'Antoni does not have as much discrimination and rejection of yellow players as other head coaches. On the contrary... After last year's "Linsanity", he always feels that he has no regard for yellow players.
, possessing subconscious "partiality".
It just so happened that the Lakers No. 29 did not let him down or lose face. The "Tang Storm" and a large number of honors made this "underlying feeling" even deeper. So, he did what he did.
The decision-making of ordinary head coaches seems to be "twitchy".
Temporarily abandon Howard and use No. 29 as the Lakers' main force at the 5th position!
That's right, he started having "convulsions" again! Just like last year in New York!
But according to Mike D’Antoni’s later autobiography:
They don't understand, and most NBA coaches don't understand. Everything I do is something I have foreseen. It's like God gave me a sap at breakfast to make me more aware of porn.
Athletes with strong skin have an inexplicable, or "mysterious, affection". This is why Lin and Tang were selected by me, and it is also the reason why I was selected by them.
At the beginning of the third quarter, the Spurs wanted to take the lead. Parker stole Duhon's dribble and then went straight to the Los Angeles basket.
Duhong wanted to chase Parker, but he tripped over his feet because he was too anxious, and fell down with a "plop".
This made Parker more confident about this goal. His original plan was to "seize the lead" and help the team overtake the score as soon as he came on the field. But now, this goal is close at hand, as if it is within reach.
"Tony Parker got rid of Duhon. There was no one in front of him. He was going for a layup... oh~ someone, someone flew over! He is hot! He is hot! Chasing! Hot is chasing.
Big hat!!!" Under the shouts of Bill McDonald, Parker's whole body was knocked away, but because he blocked the ball first and dropped the basketball, it was not considered a personal foul. Tang Qian also had too much impact because of the impact.
, the whole person hit the base of the basket. However, Lakers No. 29 quickly stood up, and then rushed towards the Spurs' half without stopping.
This guy...he's so athletic???
Parker was still on the ground and could only watch as the Lakers turned into a 5-on-4 situation.
However, the Lakers' outside shot missed, and Meeks yelled in frustration, because the ball was basically a big open ball, and as a shooter, he should have thrown it in. The Spurs interior players were preparing to grab the board, but
At this moment, someone took the lead and jumped into the air.
He is naturally No. 29, Tang Qian.
In this game, the "inner demon" was not weakened much, so after Tang Qian's "demigod came down to earth", his rebounding strength was much stronger than in the previous game. This suddenly caught the Spurs' insiders off guard.
.
"Feng got the offensive rebound! He got the offensive rebound! Feng passed the ball to Paul on the other side of the paint. Paul turned around and moved, hook... Yes!!! Hit!!!" Bill McDonald said: "43-
40, the Lakers lead by 3 points!!!”
The Spurs' No. 21 frowned, but said nothing. He just ran towards the frontcourt and prepared to attack.
Parker passed the ball to Duncan, who was in a position inside. Duncan turned left and right, then feinted a shot and picked off his opponent Gasol. Duncan hit the board with a small hook in the penalty area, and the basketball flew straight to the Lakers' basket.
But at the moment when it almost touched the board, someone slapped the ball down.
The referee didn't blow the whistle, which was a good call.
"Pay attention to grabbing the floor ball!!!" There was no need for Tang Qian to shout. After the Jamison incident in the last game, everyone on the Lakers team became much more active and went out one after another to get the floor ball before the Spurs. "Quickly.
Attack! Go!!!" Tang Qian rushed straight to the frontcourt as soon as he landed. His foot power and speed shocked the Spurs insiders.
Is this guy still a big man over 7 feet tall? Why is his foot strength so terrible???
Gasol shot the ball inside, Darius Morris made a pass, and the Lakers added another 2 points.
45-40, the score difference widened to a full 5 points.
Turning around, Ginobili hit a 3-pointer, which helped the Spurs temporarily stop the bleeding and prevented the score difference from widening further. But soon, the Lakers scored another 2 points through consecutive shots.
, 47-43, still a 4-point score difference.
Why is it called a continuous shot? Because the Lakers shot this ball three times before throwing it into the Spurs' basket, so it is not an exaggeration to say it is a "continuous shot". Among them, Tang Qian grabbed 2 offensive rebounds and played
played a vital role.
"Good job, Jordy! Keep up the good work! I will get the rebound!" Tang Qian pointed at Jordy Meeks after scoring the goal. The latter nodded involuntarily, after all, he is such an awesome "blue-collar teammate"
, this is the first time he has met him since he started playing basketball. How could he "disappoint" the former's kindness.
Meeks' mentality and state gradually improved.
This is all because of the "backboard bottom", so the extra pressure on shooting is very small, even a few points easier than during the regular season. In this case, Meeks will certainly not be "soft".
He hit two more three-pointers in a row, which directly put the Spurs into a timeout again.
53-43, the Lakers' lead further expanded to 10 points.
"Good job! Yordy! Just keep shooting!" As soon as Tang Qian heard the timeout, he ran over and patted Meeks on the shoulder as an encouragement. Meeks was also the first in the playoffs.
He is so "at home" in the game. You must know that before coming to the Lakers, although he also made two playoffs in Philadelphia, he was a soy sauce character without exception. His statistics were very ugly, and his highest score was only 13 points in a single game. And
In the playoffs this season, he not only scored a career-high 29 points, but he also had the possibility of exceeding 20 points in this game. This is crucial for Jordy Meeks, whose contract is about to expire.
.
The better the playoff data, the easier it is to get a big contract in the free market. As an old man who has played the game for 4 years, how could he not know the key? Therefore, for the Oriental center in front of him, he is sincere
Thank you from the heart.
After all, things like historical status are too far away and too luxurious for ordinary role players. They generally value money more. This is not vulgarity, but nature. Because the life span of professional players is too short, players have to pay for themselves. Make plans and consider your future.
"Hom, thank you, I will try my best!" Meeks said these words out of his heart and sincerity.
Tang Qian also said: "We are a whole, we are a team, and we each perform our duties. There is nothing to thank you for. If you really want to thank me, just score a few more three-pointers later and blast San Antonio." Man, that’s what I want to do most right now.”
"Don't worry, I can make it hot!" Mix said loudly.
Spurs bench.
"Tell me what's going on? Is this a game that the third seeded team in the second Western Conference should play? Tell me??? You guys!!!" Popovich was really angry because of this Abnormal performance is what he wants to avoid most in his daily life. The Spurs are known for their stability, so even if they are abnormal, how can they allow abnormal performance? That's why he is so loud and has such a bad tone.
The Spurs were silent, and no one spoke immediately.
"Are you all dumb? Is this the kind of ball you should hit? Answer me???" Popovich asked again.
In the end, Tim Duncan, the team spirit No. 21, opened his mouth and said: "Sir, I think we underestimated the Lakers."
"This Lakers team looks vulnerable."
"What do you say?" Seeing that the person speaking was Duncan, Popovich temporarily put away his anger and asked patiently.
"Because they are not stragglers without a core." Duncan looked at the Lakers bench area and said: "They are a flock with a leader. So from the beginning, our battle plan was passive and wrong. "Popovich said: "Leader, Tim, what do you mean?"
Duncan paused and said in a low voice: "Lakers No. 29, that Eastern kid, has become the new leader."
"Maybe it's just for a moment, maybe it's just a game, but he has indeed entered this state temporarily." After Duncan finished speaking, he took a sip of the sports drink in his hand and said, "This little guy... is not simple. .”
"Then Tim, you..." Before Popovich could finish speaking, Spurs No. 21 opened his mouth and said:
"I'll take care of him, sir."
The voice was not passionate, but it faintly exuded unparalleled confidence and arrogance.
PS: May Day has just ended, and the company has a lot of things to be busy with, so let’s adjust it first, and it will explode in the next few days~ Big chapters are coming~