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

Liu Mang had long known that the Spurs would be difficult to beat, and Liu Mang was already prepared to encounter obstacles.

But I didn't expect to encounter such a defense.

Popovich's defense is something!

Moreover, the Spurs' offense is stable, which is also a troublesome problem. The opponent plays slowly, but has a high success rate.

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 makes a fool of himself in defending three-pointers.

For the Spurs, Finley wants to win the championship, and Sprewell is looking forward to getting a contract in the summer in order to perform well this year, otherwise he will be completely unemployed. Oberto is a famous tough guy in Argentina, and Duncan is currently playing center.

, defending the basket, the Spurs defended the basket and three-pointers better than before.

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

"We need more stable shooters. Let Keller come up and shoot with better stability after receiving the ball. Ace, please stop playing pick-and-roll, you can drop 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 bit lacking. Rasheed can do it. Josh can play power forward." Defensive assistant coach Mike Woodson made the decision

Adjustments on the defensive end.

"We don't need to chase their movement so much. They are pressing the rhythm and will not take action so early. We use faster speed to force them to run, but the focus of defense should be on the defensive end when they take action.

The goal is clear." McGrady also put forward his own suggestions.

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

There is strength in numbers. This time, several of the main tacticians of the Eagles have seen what they did poorly and what the other side did very well. In fact, the more targeted the offense and defense, relatively speaking, the more breakthroughs can be found.

The more, because the intention is very clear.

In this case, Liu Mang was ready to start from the middle distance.

Coach Kruger had the same idea as Liu Mang. He originally thought that the Spurs had a group of outdated players who could quickly move the ball from outside to play. Unexpectedly, the opponent's ability to block three-pointers was getting stronger and stronger.

…

After the timeout, both teams conducted personnel rotations.

For the Hawks, the lineup of Liu Mang, Tracy McGrady, Korver, Josh Smith, and Rasheed Wallace is on the field.

On the Spurs side, although Duncan's playing time has been reduced a lot this season, his playing time has not been reduced when playing against a strong team. The main reason is that the Spurs have been very abusive this season. They are not as stable as the Hawks. It's just that the Eagles have

Except for the strongest teams, all teams are treated as rookies, even ordinary playoff teams.

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

When Muhammad came on the field, there was a small cheer, and some fans wearing the No. 2 jersey of the Muhammad Eagles were shouting Muhammad's name.

Not only Liu Mang has a deep affection for his teammates who won the first championship, but also the fans of the Eagles, and it is estimated that it will be the same in the future. As long as Liu Mang is still playing for the Eagles, and the Eagles are still the era of Liu Mang, then the fans will remember it deeply.

Those who won the first crown.

Muhammad was very moved and went on the field ready 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-all!

He didn't miss three free throws, and Liu Mang made all three free throws to take the lead to 14-12.

Offensive and defensive transition, the Spurs attack.

Parker didn't hold the ball anymore. He was the only one who didn't score during the Spurs stage. Oberto also scored two points.

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

After Ginobili advanced to the frontcourt, McGrady defended him. McGrady defended Ginobili, and his palms were a little sweaty. This guy scared him so much in last year's finals.

However, what is unexpected is that Ginobili did not play alone, but waited for his teammates to move!

Still wasting time, when there were 10 seconds left in the attack time, Duncan came to the high position on the left side of the free throw line, leaned on Rasheed Wallace to ask for the ball, and Ginobili lobbed the ball over.

Before Liu Mang could reach the high position first, Duncan came first!

In the first half of the quarter, Duncan was blocking people and catching and shooting, basically without any consumption, and he played very smartly. When it came time to rotate the lineup, Duncan started to hold the ball.

Duncan played a high post! He squeezed his old opponent with his shoulder and failed to get out of the way, but it allowed Rasheed Wallace to lower his center of gravity. Duncan quickly turned around and made a breakthrough off the line!

Rasheed Wallace quickly turned around to follow. At this time, Josh Smith, who was attracted by Duncan's turn and cut from the basket, came to the bottom line to cover. Duncan passed the ball to the inside, and Muhammad caught the ball and dunked it.

Two points.

14 square meters!

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

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

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

When Liu Mang received the ball, he had already observed his teammates. Muhammad 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, and 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! It's exactly the same style of play 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 him, 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 relative 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 have entered their prime in the past two years, other power forwards including Webb, even in their peak season, did not have the weakest Duncan 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 Duncan is now mainly responsible for guarding the basket. He is so intimidating and has such a good defensive effect! The Spurs can have two people double-team him, leaving Duncan alone.

Guard the basket.

It’s very difficult! 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 holding the whistle tightly, 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-crossing 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 originally very painful mood actually relaxed a lot after being treated like this by Duncan.

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

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

15 to 14, leading by one point again.

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

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.
To be continued...