The Way of the Center - Chapter 796
The Blazers’ more blooming performance made the Spurs completely unable to hold their heads under pressure at home.
The Spurs have never achieved a one-point lead from the beginning of the game until now. At this moment, there are only three minutes left before the end of the first quarter, and the Spurs are already eight points behind.
Popovich took a look at his bench. If the Spurs want to keep the point difference within single digits, then the performance of their second team will be extremely important!
The Trail Blazers have given away several important players in the team’s rotation for their super luxurious starter. Therefore, the Trail Blazers’ second team is definitely one of their weaknesses. Popovich hopes to seize this opportunity and bite the score in one fell swoop!
Trailblazers backup point guard Shabaz Napier made a pass error under the entanglement of Patrick Mills, and the game was temporarily dead. Ricard shouted from the sidelines and replaced Anjie with Nurkic.
Popovich saw this situation in an instant, and Anjie’s exit meant that all the Blazers left on the field were substitutes! This old cunning “fox” knows that the Spurs’ opportunity is here!
“Manu, give me a lot of impact on their inside! In the next three minutes, I need you to score as many points as possible!” Popovich’s order reached the 40-year-old “senior” Ginobili. , The Argentine Demon Blade couldn’t help but smile, waiting for this moment of letting go, and had waited long enough!
Although he is 40 years old, Ginobili’s vitality remains the same. Although playing time is getting less and less, as long as he can play, Ginobili will definitely do his best.
With the first goal in the opening game, Ginobili quickly broke through under David Lee’s pick and roll.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s post-90s teenager Nurkic didn’t dare to completely let go of the soft-touch David Lee, so Ginobili easily entered the penalty area.
Although Ed Davis’s defense is very active, his ability to judge the timing of the block at the last moment needs to be improved.
In the end, Ginobili failed to score directly as he wished, but made a foul by Ed Davis.
“Ginobili is still as cunning as ever, don’t look at this guy is 40 years old, he is full of bad ideas.” At 40 years old, Ginobili may not be as capable as before. But his rich experience is enough for him to cope with most players in this league.
For the Spurs’ second offense, Ginobili was still holding the ball, and David Lee, who was still able to shoot, stepped forward to pick and roll.
This time, Nurkic did not continue to defend David Lee, but stayed behind David Lee, ready to defend Ginobili at any time.
Unexpectedly, Ginobili’s speed greatly exceeded Nurkic’s expectations. Nurkic didn’t expect that Ginobili, who was 40 years old, could still run like this for his life. Moreover, the Argentine’s breakthrough pace is very strange, so you can’t guess where he will go next.
In this way, Nurkic, who was not outstanding in athletic ability, was once again thrown away by Ginobili. Ginobili easily made a throw in the penalty area and scored two more points!
Seeing the Spurs approaching the score against the 40-year-old Ginobili, Ricard shook his head. The depth of the Trail Blazers second team is indeed a bit worse. Their young bench players have great potential, but those potentials have not yet been fully revealed.
In this way, under the indiscriminate bombardment of Ginobili and the newly joined Spurs Rudy Gay, the Blazers finally ended the first quarter of the competition with a two-point lead. In front of the young second team of the Trail Blazers, the existence of Rudy Gay and Ginobili is too strong.
“Hey, man, you have to play more aggressive, more aggressive, understand? Don’t let them step into the penalty area recklessly, let them know that the penalty area belongs to our center!” Later, Anjie pulled Nurkic aside alone and taught his own experience.
Anjie felt that Nurkic was very similar to himself back then, without outstanding athletic ability and physical fitness. Only rare technology and the determination to change. Anjie hoped that what he said could change Nurkic’s style of play, so that when Ginobili hit the penalty area again, he might be frightened.
An Jie was holding Nurkic’s shoulders and kept talking. If Ricard hadn’t asked everyone to gather around him, An Jie would probably talk to Nurkic about the rest of the inter-junction. .
How long hasn’t been rested, the sweat on your body hasn’t been dry yet? An Jie saw the red light on the rebounds, and the second quarter began!
“Look at how Morris and I did it. Remember Yusuf. When we are away, you will control the offense and defense of this team!” Before Anjie went on the court, he bent down and tried. Erkic murmured a few words.
In the past, the Trail Blazers had guys like Fisher and Miller to control the team’s rhythm. Now that the Trail Blazers do not have such an experienced point guard role in the second team, Nurkic, who has a good support ability, naturally has to take on the heavy responsibility.
The teenager of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very serious now. After all, he doesn’t want to disappoint a legend like An Jie.
Nurkic has great potential, which even Anjie agrees with. As long as he can learn something, the Trail Blazers’ second team will no longer be at a disadvantage.
After the start of the second quarter, the rhythm seemed to have returned to the past. The Blazers started the five Tigers’ firepower, so that the Spurs, known for their defense, couldn’t stand it.
An Jie took the lead in the interior, and after playing a gap, Paul George and Lillard can also get a lot of chances in the shot.
On the defensive end, Anjie’s quick replenishment and change of defense made Nurkic underneath stunned.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina center kept sucking all the details on the field. He watched An Jie’s footsteps and watched An Jie’s position. Similarly, Morris also benefited Nurkic a lot.
After all, defense can’t be done just by speed and body alone. The ability to stand, predict and read the game is also very important.
Can Anjie’s speed really be faster than those guards and forwards? I’m afraid it’s not necessarily true. But An Jie’s accurate judgment of their next move allows him to react quickly, which gives people the illusion that An Jie is very fast.
While Nurkic was thinking, Danny Green’s breakthrough layup successfully added a block data to Anjie.
Danny Green’s expression was very surprised, he didn’t know when Anjie came out. In fact, Anjie has been observing Green for a long time. When the time comes, the cap is ready!
After successfully defending, Anjie pointed to Nurkic sitting on the bench. Nurkic nodded vigorously, next time, he will not let the team down!
“Boy, you are so lucky.” Even Meyers Leonard, who was sitting next to Nurkic, was a little envious. This kind of opportunity to be taught by Anjie himself is not available anytime, anywhere.
Paul George’s dunk in the fast break ended the Blazers’ offense within five seconds. The point difference was widened again. Aldridge and Leonard knew that it was time for them to stand up. Up!
This time, Iguodala posted Leonard to death. You know, Iguodala, although his scoring ability is severely degraded. But he is still a top perimeter defensive champion.
Leonard failed to get rid of Iguodala through several runs without the ball, and Parker knew that he had to change his tactics.
Parker stretched out his hand and called for a pick-and-roll, and Aldridge and Pau Gasol both attacked, making Anjie and Morris both have to follow out of the penalty area.
Naturally, Aldridge needless to say, the shooting ability of Gasol can not be ignored. In order not to give them a chance to easily shoot, Anjie and Morris must temporarily give up the three-second zone.
Parker didn’t hesitate and immediately borrowed the pick and roll to break through. Parker chose to take Aldridge’s side, after all, this would be farther away from An Jie.
Morris tried his best to chase back, but Nurkic found that Anjie hadn’t stuck to Gasol.
I saw Anjie leaned a step in Aldridge’s direction, and he was now standing between Gasol and Aldridge. Nurkic can’t help but feel a little strange, who does Anjie want to defend?
Tony Parker felt the tremendous pressure coming from behind him. How terrifying is Morris’ athletic ability? The Frenchman has already seen the air relay at the beginning.
With Morris chasing after himself, if Parker lays up rashly, there is a high chance that he will be blocked.
So Parker made a layup, but he flicked his wrist and passed the ball back!
“No!” Parker’s basketball had just let go, and he heard Aldridge’s shout from behind him.
Just when Aldridge was ready to catch the ball, Anjie suddenly jumped between the basketball and Aldridge and grabbed the ball firmly!
“Sensitive response! Ann succeeded in stealing!” the commentators shouted loudly.
Nurkic smiled. He knew that Anjie could steal more than just agility. There is also his pre-judgment and pre-positioning. When Anjie decided to stand between Aldridge and Gasol, it meant that he had guessed that Parker might pass the ball! In this way, no matter who Parker is passing to, Anjie’s long arm can reach it!
It turns out that seemingly simple defense contains too many skills. Nurkic is now eager to try, he can’t wait, he wants to practice what he has just learned.
The second quarter was not fierce, and Aldridge did not perform well under Morris’ defense. The Spurs’ offense also fell into a trough. Popovich frowned tightly off the court, and all his unhappy expressions were written on his face.
Unexpectedly, the San Antonio Spurs with Aldridge, Leonard, Gasol and Parker, since they can only pin their hopes of winning to the second team! However, as long as they can win this opener, no matter what method the Spurs use, it is Gangrong’s!
In a short while, the rotation time Popovich was looking forward to finally arrived. Shabaz Napier was the last to replace Lillard, representing the Trail Blazers officially taken over by the second team!
Nurkic looked at An Jie after he came on the court, and An Jie gave a thumbs up to this guy with great potential.
On the court, Ginobili has already controlled the basketball to advance. Nurkic is ready to fight!
After Rudy Gay received the basketball, he threw off the slow-footed Aminu through a three-threat action.
Aminu, a forward born in the 4th position, has always been a big problem after moving to the 3rd position~www.mtlnovel.com~ What’s more, he faces a fierce opponent like Rudy Gay.
Gay continued to accelerate after passing Aminu, Nurkic? That kid, you can shake him away with a European step!
Gay didn’t hesitate, but wanted to do it. Facing Nurkic with his arms outstretched, Guy immediately collapsed in a big arc to the left.
Nurkic’s brain is swiftly moving. Guy, this guy, doesn’t make such an exaggerated step when he usually hits the basket. unless……
Seeing that Nurkic was unmoved, Guy took another step to the right holding the basketball, trying to avoid Nurkic’s defense. However, to Guy’s surprise, Nurkic remained unmoved!
There is no way, Guy’s only option now is to defensively take off and layup. If you are lucky, you might be able to trick a foul.
But Nurkic did not give Gay a chance to get to the free throw line. Nurkic, who predicted the opposite direction, stretched his long arm and cleanly took the basketball in Gay’s hands.
Guy’s incredible expression was featured by reporters. This guy definitely doesn’t believe that he will be blocked by a post-90s European big man!
“Fuck! Great!” Nurkic was very excited after the successful blocking, he yelled at the fans in the ATT center, he did not live up to Anjie’s expectations of him!
“Come on, we don’t have to worry about the second team.” Off the court, Anjie was as happy as Nurkic.
“Boy, what did you tell him?” Ricard turned his head and asked.
“I didn’t say anything, this kid is just smart.” Anjie looked at Nurkic roaring on the court, this game, the Blazers won!
When Anjie tuned out a weakened version of “Anjie” that could temporarily replace him, Rudy Gay and Ginobili, just wait for bad luck! 289