Chapter 404: Combined Firepower
"An's dunk! Oh my God! This is almost a dunk that was completed against Split's defense! It's too tough. An's goal is really too tough! Listen, the Spurs fans in the entire aTT center are responding to An's dunk just now with boos. An's aggressiveness today is very strong! I don't know if this is related to Split's suddenness!" Mike Bryn used several "hard" to describe Anjie's dunk just now after squeezing Split, and this description is simply the most appropriate word.
After successfully dunking, An Jie did not run back to his half-court defense, but instead pounded his chest fiercely at the audience. Afterwards, An Jie glared at Split, as if he was going to swallow the elegant Brazilian alive.
In order to deal with Angel and Aldridge, **Vic used his usual lineup change trick. He used Duncan to strangle Aldridge, and used blue-collar center Split to confront Angel. In this way, at least Duncan will be much less pressure on the offensive end, and Split's defensive ability is not completely useless.
But just a few minutes into the game, Split allowed Anger to complete the dunk for the second time. It was not a problem with Split's defense. In fact, Split's defense was done well. On both attacks, Anger did not get a chance, and in the end he relied on strength to score the final score.
**If you want to blame Vich, you can only blame Aldridge. Why? If Aldridge hadn't inspired Anjie to win during training**, Anjie wouldn't have been so cruel today.
"Damn, this guy is eating a barrel of explosives today!" **Vicci knew how much Split has. Although he was just a blue-collar player, Split's defense would not be ravaged like this. This old man knew that Anjie would be a major obstacle to the Spurs' victory today.
An Jie scored a wonderful goal here, but the effect brought by **Vic's change of formation was reflected on the offensive end.
In the first four games, Duncan's shooting percentage was mostly terrible and his score was not much. But today, against Aldridge, Duncan seemed much more at ease on the offensive end.
After receiving the pass from Tony Parker, Duncan just swung his shoulders and made a jump shot from a 45° angle between the middle and close range.
Simple and basic offensive methods are Duncan's style. Before facing Anjie's defense, Duncan could not take action so easily. But facing Aldridge, who is shorter than Anjie, has a shorter arm span than Anjie, and has a defensive reaction that is slower than Anjie by a few seconds, Duncan's simple and basic attack seems very calm.
Aldridge felt that he had blocked Duncan's face, but Duncan had no expression on his face and calmly completed the shooting action. The basketball also bounced into the net against the rebound.
In fact, many of Duncan's goals seem to be against defense. But this is why Duncan became a legend. If a little interference can make this man called "Stone Buddha" silent, then why can he become a legend?
Aldridge's defense is naturally not as good as Anger, but it is more than enough to compare. However, this level of defense still cannot put too much pressure on Duncan. Perhaps only guys like Anger in this league will make Duncan in a mess as before.
Anyway, Duncan defends Angel, but he may not be able to defend himself. **Vic simply let Duncan return to the fourth position he is best at. In this way, Duncan's offense is not only liberated, but also he can limit Aldridge more efficiently than Dior in defense.
Ricard thought that **Vic was basically nothing to do, but he didn't expect that this irritable white-haired old man still gave him enough surprise.
**Vic's formation change was indeed successful, but only half of it was successful. Duncan was indeed liberated on the offensive end, but on the defensive end...
Felton passed the ball to Gerald Wallace, but **Vicci would not be worried about Gerald Wallace at all. It was not because Wallace was not capable, but as long as he had enough shooting, Gerald Wallace could still play beautiful data. But because the person in front of him was Kawhi Leonard, **Vicci felt very relieved.
Not to mention Gerald Wallace, or LeBron James, he had to work harder when facing Leonard.
Wallace tried several breakthroughs at the narrow bottom corner of the space, but none of them succeeded. He was forced to do so, and Wallace returned the ball to Raymond Felton before he made a mistake.
Felton dribbled back a few steps to prevent Tony Parker from sprinting and stealing. At the same time, he kept commanding with his hands, signaling his teammates to increase the space as much as possible.
Felton did this not to make a breakthrough by himself, but to hope that he could get a bigger gap and pass the ball into the inside.
However, Split and Duncan's defense are still unscathing. They have been desperately competing with Angel and Aldridge for the position, so that even if they are not intercepted, it will be difficult for Angel and Aldridge to receive comfortably.
At this critical moment, An Jie suddenly ran back, causing Split, who was trying to push himself out of the penalty area, staggering.
Seeing that An Jie had only used a simple but quick enough step to get rid of the defense and stood under the basket, Duncan unconsciously leaned against the basket.
If Filton chooses to pass this ball directly to the basket, Split, who was shaken away in front of Angel, has a high chance of intercepting the ball in the middle. However, there is a possibility that everything will happen. If Filton's pass is successful, Duncan leans under the basket so that he can make up for defense in time.
So as Duncan expected, Felton raised his wrist and prepared to pass the ball. Split was fully focused and ready to steal at any time. Duncan also relaxed some defense against Aldridge and was ready to protect the basket at any time.
"Swoosh!" Felton's passing skills were still very good. The ball was passed very quickly, but it did not successfully hit the basket. Because of this ball, Felton had no intention of passing it to Anjie.
The moment Duncan's defense was relaxed, it was enough for Felton to pass the ball for Aldridge. When Aldridge received the basketball, huge pressure immediately came from behind. Duncan was still Duncan, although he was old, but still strong!
Seeing this, Anjie immediately withdrew from the three-second zone, one to prevent his attack from violating the three-second violation. The other to make room for Aldridge to get offensive space and start running to better support him.
Aldridge glanced at Angel, and Split thought he was going to pass again. Unexpectedly, the second leader of the Trail Blazers suddenly turned around and broke through, walking from the left to the middle.
Duncan naturally blocked it very well and did not give Aldri any chance. But Aldridge did not intend to actually hit the basket. He pressed Duncan with his shoulders to ensure he had a little space. After that, he jumped directly while moving, stood upright with his left leg, arched his right leg slightly, and raised the basketball with his arms high, so high that Duncan could not reach at all.
Afterwards, Aldridge made a shot. This goal was a physically contacted mid-range shot and did not completely get rid of defense. However, unlike positioning shots, this kind of emergency stop and backward jump shot during the march was created specifically to not get rid of the defensive situation.
"Brush." Duncan and Split were worried about Anjie throughout the defense, but Anjie didn't even touch the ball this time, but the Trail Blazers still completed the score.
Aldridge is like Anjie, and his attack is very strong today! Aldridge's actions during training not only helped Anjie, but also allowed him to enter the state.
**Vic's team change was only half successful, because on the defensive end, Duncan's did not limit Aldridge's score well.
When Angel and Aldridge, two of the two hailed "the most offensive inside players in the league", were both hot, it was difficult for the Spurs to curb the Trail Blazers' offense.
The cooperation between Angel and Aldridge on a small scale in the interior has become the unique symbol of the Trail Blazers.
"An's hook! No, it's not a hook, it's a pass. Aldridge, who was passing the ball successfully made a layup! Oh my God, Duncan was already thankful that he wasn't called a foul!"
"Aldridge picked up the pick-and-roll for Anton! Anton came out and received the basketball. How about the close jump shot? Still have it!"
"Ann hit the ground and passed the ball to Aldridge, and Aldridge began to push in with Duncan. Hey? It's pretty! Aldridge passed with a slanted pass, allowing Anger, who actively ran to the ball after passing, to successfully hit the hook at the basket!"
For a time, Angel and Aldridge played well on the offensive end. Duncan could also score goals, but how could a person's strength compare to Angel and Aldridge?
8-o, a small offense allowed the Trail Blazers to quickly widen the gap. Fortunately, Ginobili, who was ordered to play on the bench in the first quarter, did not disappoint Vic. The Argentine used two three-pointers and a beautiful snake-shaped breakthrough to stabilize the situation for the Spurs. The Trail Blazers did not establish an advantage in the first quarter.
After that, Ricard replaced Aldridge first, and after two minutes, Anger was also taken down. He was worried that if the Trail Blazers suddenly lost these two people, they would not be able to operate.
Through the transition, the rest of the Trail Blazers were well taken over from Angel and Aldridge. Jamal Crawford pulled again today, so the Spurs did not reverse the situation during the period when Angel and Aldridge were away.
Ricard heard the referee blew the whistle in his mouth and patted the players on the shoulders with satisfaction.
26 to 22, the Trail Blazers ended the first quarter with a 4-point lead at the aTT center. 4 points are not much, but the excellent qualities shown by the Trail Blazers in the first quarter are what makes Ricard very satisfied.
He was very confident to lead his players to break through this place they had never broken through!
No matter how solid the fortress is, there are cracks. What's more, the current pioneers have two pioneers, and they have also impacted the aTT center.
Chapter completed!