Chapter 1116 1115. The Most Powerful Striker in History Who Lets Himself Go

Liu Mang was discussing with Coach Kruger, Mike Woodson, Stockton, and McGrady how to deal with the opponent.

Liu Mang had known for a long time that it would be difficult to play against the Spurs, and he was ready to encounter obstacles.

But he didn't expect to encounter such defense.

Popovich's defense is something!

And the Spurs' steady offense is also a troublesome problem. The opponent plays slowly, but the success rate is very high.

Sometimes the more you hate something, the easier it is to think of how to deal with it. Popovich hates three-pointers so much that he really plays a lot of defense against three-pointers.

In the Spurs' starting lineup, Finley is looking forward to getting a contract in the summer for the championship, and Sprewell is looking forward to getting a good performance this year. Otherwise, he will be completely unemployed. Oberto is a famous tough guy in Argentina. Duncan is now playing center and guarding the basket. The Spurs' defense against the basket and three-pointers is better than before.

Especially in the game between the Hawks and the Spurs, the Spurs' defense was particularly outstanding.

"We need a more stable shooter. Let Keller play. He will be more stable when he receives the ball and shoots. Ace, don't play pick-and-roll. You can play high and low." Offensive assistant coach Stockton pays more attention to space.

"Rashid can play center. He can shoot and open up space. Kwame's help defense is a little bit worse. Rashid can do it. Josh will play power forward." Defensive assistant coach Mike Woodson made adjustments on the defensive end.

"We don't have to chase their running positions too much. They are suppressing the rhythm and will not shoot so early. We force them to run at a faster speed, but the focus of defense should be on when they shoot. The goal of defense is clear." McGrady also made his own suggestions.

The head coach and the master-apprentice combination who grabbed the tactical board responded: "Okay."

There is strength in numbers. This time, several main tactical personnel of the Hawks have seen what they did not do well and what the other side did very well. In fact, the more targeted the offense and defense, the more breakthroughs can be found relatively speaking, because the intention of the approach is very clear.

In this case, Liu Mang is ready to start from the mid-range.

Coach Kruger had the same idea as Liu Mang. He originally thought that the Spurs were a group of old-fashioned players who could quickly transfer the ball from the outside, but he didn't expect that the opponent's ability to block three-pointers was getting stronger and stronger.

…

After the timeout, both teams made personnel rotations.

On the Hawks side, Liu Mang, McGrady, Korver, Josh Smith, and Rasheed Wallace played.

On the Spurs side, although Duncan's playing time has been reduced a lot this season, his playing time against strong teams has not been reduced. The main reason is that the Spurs are very good at bullying weak teams this season, and they are not less stable than the Hawks. It's just that the Hawks treat all teams except the strongest ones as weak teams, even ordinary playoff teams.

The Spurs sent out a lineup of Parker, Ginobili, Sprewell, Duncan, and Muhammad.

When Muhammad came on the court, there was a small cheer at the scene, and some fans wearing Muhammad's No. 2 Hawks jersey shouted Muhammad's name.

It's not just Liu Mang who has deep feelings for his teammates in the first championship, the fans of the Hawks are the same, and it is estimated that it will be the same in the future. As long as Liu Mang is still playing for the Hawks and the Hawks are still Liu Mang's era, the fans will deeply remember those people who won the first championship.

Muhammad was very moved, and then went on the court to beat his old club.

Liu Mang walked to the free throw line, took a deep breath after receiving the ball, and steadily made the free throw, 12-12!

Liu Mang made all three free throws without missing, and the score was reversed to 14 to 12.

Attack and defense changed, and the Spurs attacked.

Parker didn't have the ball. In the Spurs' starting stage, he was the only one who didn't score, and Oberto got two points.

Parker led Liu Mang to run without the ball, feeling Liu Mang's pursuit and defense that was as sticky as if he was attracted to the same sex. Parker felt like running in the sunset-he was destined to be restrained in this life!

After Ginobili advanced to the frontcourt, McGrady came up to defend him. McGrady's palms were sweating as he defended Ginobili. This guy scared him enough in the finals last year.

However, unexpectedly, Ginobili did not play a singles game, but waited for his teammates to run!

Still killing time, when there were 10 seconds left in the offensive time, Duncan came to the high position on the left side of the free throw line, leaning on Rasheed Wallace to ask for the ball, and Ginobili hung the ball over.

Before Liu Mang got to the high position first, Duncan came first!

In the first half of the quarter, Duncan was blocking people and shooting after receiving the ball. He basically did not consume any energy and played very smartly. When it came to the rotation stage, Duncan started to hold the ball.

Duncan played a singles game in the high post! He squeezed his old opponent with his shoulder, but failed to open the position, but Rasheed Wallace had lowered his center of gravity. Duncan turned quickly and broke through the bottom line!

Rasheed Wallace quickly turned around and followed. At this time, Josh Smith, who was attracted by Duncan's turning and cutting into the basket, came to the baseline to make up for the defense. Duncan passed the ball to the inside, and Muhammad received the ball and dunked to get two points.

14-14 tie!

After the Spurs scored, they quickly retreated and the Hawks attacked.

Liu Mang passed the ball to McGrady, and after reaching the frontcourt, he came to the same position as Duncan and leaned on Sprewell to ask for the ball.

McGrady passed the ball to Liu Mang and then cut into the inside.

When Liu Mang received the ball, he had already observed his teammates. Mohammed was taken to the right by Rasheed Wallace at a 45-degree angle. Korver pulled Parker away from the left corner, creating space in the high post. It was wide open. When McGrady cut in, Liu Mang leaned on Sprewell, slammed the ball to the ground, and sat on it.

Sprewell was knocked back half a step!

The two braids on Sprewell's head are almost hairy. Where did this kid get such strength?

Sprewell lowered his center of gravity and prepared for the next impact. Liu Mang achieved his goal. He swung the ball behind him with his right hand and quickly turned right to walk to the baseline!

That’s right! He plays exactly the same way as Duncan, and he wants to return it!

but!

Ginobili, who was guarding McGrady, immediately flanked Liu Mang after McGrady cut in. Liu Mang immediately distributed the ball to McGrady who was outside the reasonable collision area. McGrady received the ball, but Duncan stretched out his arm to interfere with the shooting space. McGrady jumped up and passed the ball to Josh Smith on the right side of the three-second zone. Josh Smith began to show his explosive physical fitness. He took off directly from the right side of the three-second zone, jumped on the spot and smashed the ball towards the basket...

However, this time McGrady jumped up and passed the ball without deceiving Duncan. Duncan turned around and pressed on, reaching out and stabbing the ball!

Duncan is much slower, jumps much shorter, and his offensive and defensive performances are both career lows. However, that is compared to Duncan himself. Duncan this season, in addition to comparing Garnett and Nowitzki, even Duncan This is a career-low performance, and it is better than any other power forward!

Among the five or six top power forwards at the beginning of this century, except for Garnett and Nowitzki, who has entered his peak period in the past two years, other power forwards include Webb. Even in the peak season, there is no Duncan who is the weakest this season. powerful!

Duncan himself grabbed the rebound that flew into the air!

Defended!

McGrady and Josh Smith tried to counterattack, but Josh Smith pulled Duncan's arm and was called for a foul.

Liu Mang gritted his teeth, clapped his hands, and retreated toward the backcourt.

I originally wanted to use McGrady to cut in to attract Duncan to defend, but I didn't expect that now that Duncan is mainly playing center, he is only responsible for guarding the basket. He is so intimidating and has such a good defensive effect! The Spurs can double-team him and let Duncan guard the basket alone.

Very tricky! Liu Mang's head is a bit big now!

Then we can only fire at mid-range?

But Kwame Brown is not here, Rasheed Wallace opens up the space, and offensive rebounding is a big problem!

Just when Liu Mang was returning to defense with a headache, he heard the whistle...

what's going on?

Liu Mang saw his teammates running ahead of him, could it be...

Liu Mang turned around and saw Duncan holding the ball and looking at the referee with wide eyes.

Liu Mang obviously saw the referee tightening his grip on the whistle, and took it down with trembling hands. Apparently his body wanted to blow another blow, but his reason made him hold back.

What did Duncan do again?

Except for Liu Mang, everyone else was also puzzled and looked at the big screen.

Screen replay: After Duncan was fouled by Josh Smith, the referee went up to ask for the ball. After the ball was dead, the ball had to pass the referee's hand first, but now Duncan, who started to let himself go, actually gave the ball to the referee, who had already reached out to catch the ball. At the time, Duncan took the ball back again and played a crotch-passing pass against the referee...

Then...Duncan was called for a technical foul.

"..."

Seeing Duncan's innocent look, Liu Mang was speechless and cursed, "That's right!"

Liu Mang just ran across the center line and had to run back to take a free throw...

However, Liu Mang's already painful mood actually relaxed a lot after being messed with by Duncan.

It's only the first quarter, so you don't need to worry so much, just play slowly.

Liu Mang went to the free throw line and made a free throw with a technical foul.

15 to 14, leading by one point again.

Duncan took the technical foul and continued to move to the high position to serve as the starting point of the offense like a normal person.

When the Eagles were attacking, Liu Mang also launched an attack from the high post, but after suffering a loss, Liu Mang began to turn around and shoot more jump shots.

Generally speaking, the performance of the two teams in the second half of the first quarter was similar. Liu Mang's high-post mid-range singles continued the team's scoring.

The Spurs are really stable! The league's third-highest field goal percentage is still a field goal percentage. It's difficult to shake their efficiency.

Although the Hawks focused on the opponent's slow-paced play and focused on defending the opponent's final shot, the Spurs, except for Muhammad, had four players who could distribute the ball. The Hawks still failed to truly limit the Spurs. Team.

In the second half of the first quarter, Duncan showed Liu Mang the correct way to use the high post!

With 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a single quarter, Duncan, as the core organizer, organized the team's offense in an orderly manner.

On Liu Mang's side, Liu Mang used high post singles and organized offense many times last year, and he is also using it this season. It is quite effective, but now Liu Mang has discovered that there is no end to learning!

After all, Liu Mang is a defender, and his high post is mainly used for scoring, not passing. He is not as powerful as a high-post support master like Duncan.

Liu Mang thought of another No. 21, and his high-level support was also very strong.

Liu Mang had an idea that he thought was strange. When would he ask two No. 21s to learn from high-level support?

The two teams were hard to beat in the first quarter. Liu Mang scored 11 points in a single quarter, but only had 1 assist. McGrady and Rasheed Wallace almost all scored by themselves.

At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks led by one point, 25 to 24, thanks to the free throws given by Duncan's inexplicable technical foul!