Pick Westbrook

Chapter 213 The Heat Did It
10 month 6 day.

After winning the game against the Grizzlies, the Bucks started their 5-game winning streak.

After the lack of Yi Jianlian, the Bucks have gradually adapted to a series of tactics such as Westbrook's more breakthrough passes, Curry's main attack, and Cousins' inside and outside singles.

Li Lai has completely solved a series of problems before the start of the Bucks, and once again demonstrated the strength of the defending champion.

"But tonight's opponent will be the strongest team other than the Lakers since our start."

"San Antonio Spurs."

The current record of the Spurs is 5 wins and 1 loss, and their strength is also extremely strong.

Before the start of the game, all the commentators and commentators were talking about the old team, and who would have thought of the result.

Now the opponent can tie with the Lakers for the first record in the Western Conference.

Tyronn Lue has collected the tactical play of the Spurs in recent games in advance, and listed their lineups one by one.

Take a closer look at their lineup, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Richard Jefferson, Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, Matt Bonner
"The Spurs were pretty much the same lineup they had last season, and they turned out to be playing really well this season."

"I don't know how that guy Popovich did it."

Marshall was extremely puzzled.

With the same lineup last season, the Spurs can only be regarded as the worst team in the championship echelon, but this season has transformed into a strong team in the league.

No matter how you look at it, it seems unscientific.

Li Lai discovered the reason from the Spurs game video cut by Tyronn Lue and Marshall.

Compared with last season, this team's offensive tactics are more tacit, and the cooperation between players on the field is very simple and effective.

Especially on the defensive end of the zone defense and mutual marking defense, the Spurs have made great progress this season.

"As early as last season, I said that the Spurs management did a very stupid thing. They almost changed two-thirds of the players last season."

"Popovich designed the most complicated offense for the Spurs, and some players with low basketball IQ have difficulty understanding the essence of it."

"So last season, when most of the players in the Spurs were new faces, their tactical coordination was extremely poor. Even in the playoffs, it still hasn't improved."

"That's why the Spurs didn't make it to the Finals."

"But this season they kept Richard Jefferson and worked hard to maintain the integrity of the lineup. They also conducted in-team training with all teams in the league in advance during the offseason."

"So the Spurs are going to be a pretty scary team this season compared to last season."

AT&T Center Arena.

Bucks regular starting lineup.

Spurs starting lineup: point guard Tony Parker, shooting guard Gary Neal, small forward Richard Jefferson, power forward Tim Duncan and center Antonio McDyess.

Game start.

Cousins ​​hard-fought the ball off Antonio McDyess.

Compared to when he played in the NBA preseason, Cousins ​​​​has improved a lot in recent games.

In addition to completing the singles tasks assigned by Li Lai in the interior, he also performed very well in double-bottom corner pick-and-rolls and outside offense with the ball.

目前考辛斯场均15分10篮板3助攻1抢断1盖帽的数据，位列新秀榜单的第三位。

Kenny Smith looked at the statistics in his hand and said: "I really want to say something not very nice to the Bucks fans."

"Even if Cousins ​​has averaged a double-double and has shown great potential on both ends of the offense and defense, it is absolutely impossible for him to be the best rookie of the year."

Barkley nodded at the side and strongly agreed with this.

Not to mention Cousins, even John Wall, who is currently ranked second on the best rookie list, averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists per game, will also miss this award.

"No way, why did Los Angeles suddenly appear a white monster who averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal per game."

The Bucks attack.

Westbrook advances with the ball.

Cousins ​​played a pick-and-roll without the ball at the waist, and Curry ran around the screen and slipped the bottom line to cut the defensive formation.

At the same time, Artest continued to pick and roll for Curry on the other side of the waist.

The latter hit the pick-and-roll and flicked to the bottom corner, which immediately attracted the double-team defense of Parker and Duncan from the Spurs.

Artest then cut inside, Westbrook made a pass, and the latter scored a layup.

Popovich shook his head unhappily off the court.

Even if he has Duncan, a player with extremely strong defensive ability, he is also helpless in the face of the Bucks' team offense.

Except for the Celtics in last season's playoffs, Popovich hasn't seen a team that can seriously defend the Bucks.

The Spurs attack.

Duncan's waist was used as the axis. After Parker cut into the penalty area without the ball, he failed to get an easy scoring opportunity, so he quickly ran out from the inside again.

Duncan handed the ball to Gary Neal and continued to drive into the paint.

Villanueva and Cousins ​​chose to switch defenses, with the latter leading Duncan throughout.

But after facing off against Duncan, Cousins ​​suddenly felt that Duncan was a weak player. He kept passing the ball, pick-and-roll, screen, and roll on the court, but he didn't see him seriously attacking one.

What kind of historical power forward is this?
Gary Neal on the outside received the ball and passed it to Richard Jefferson on the weak side. The latter had a good three-point shooting percentage from the outside, so he immediately attracted Artest's close defense.

But at this moment, Jefferson hit the ground and passed the ball to Duncan, who went straight down and scored a layup.

Cousins ​​was dumbfounded.

"How did you get in so easily?"

Tyronn Lue off the court saw it clearly.

"All five of the Spurs' offensive players touched the ball. Every time they touch the ball is a tactic, but at the same time it's not a tactic."

"After Parker cuts to draw the defense's attention, Gary Neal runs the pick-and-roll and continues to attract the defense."

"At this time, although Duncan didn't get rid of Cousins' defense, he got a very comfortable chance to ask for the ball on the left side."

"The next thing was Richard Jefferson's touch pass, Duncan's signature 45-degree corner of the empty-handed run and hit the layup."

This is a typical Spurs team play.

You never know what tactics they are playing on the court, but you can be sure that they are playing tactics.

It is not the first time that Li Lai has faced such a complicated and efficient offensive system of the Spurs, but this season's Spurs still surprised him.

The cooperation between their players on the field is really good.

Not only did all the players play with ease, but they were also extremely efficient.

The first quarter is over.

The Bucks trailed the Spurs 28:31.

首节比赛考辛斯也被邓肯教育得很惨，后者8投5中得到了12分4篮板2助攻的数据。

In a match against a historic inside line like Duncan, Cousins, who has little defensive experience, doesn't know how to defend such players at all.

If the opponent is a tough player who uses brute force, Cousins ​​is not afraid, the big deal is whoever gets hammered.

The key is that Duncan is like a loach on the court, swaying here and there, and he may complete the offense wherever he sways.

"Cousins ​​really can't guard Duncan."

Tyronn Lue has suggested more than once that Li Lai replaces Cousins ​​​​in advance, and let O'Neal, who has more defensive experience, replace the opponent.

But Li Lai still stubbornly let Cousins ​​continue to play the important role of defending Duncan on the court.

It's not that O'Neal will be worse than Cousins ​​after he is replaced, the opponent at least has the possibility of defending Duncan.

Compared with Cousins, who has been blown up, it is better after all.

But Li Lai still hopes that Cousins ​​can take advantage of the opportunity to play against Duncan tonight.

Because the opponent can teach him a completely different way of playing from O'Neal on the court.

Li Lai believes that the extremely versatile Cousins ​​is also suitable for Duncan's style of play.

Cousins, who was sitting on the bench, was still sulking and threw the towel on the ground angrily.

O'Neal kept explaining to Cousins ​​the skills of defending Duncan from the sidelines.

Because Cousins ​​was still angry, he couldn't listen to anything at this time, but after being hit on the head, he immediately woke up, and turned around to see which bastard dared to hit him.

"My Nima!"

"."

Cousins ​​turned his head and saw Artest, who was also substituted for a rest, and his hairy appearance immediately changed into a silly smile.

He said, "It turned out to be Brother Ron, what's the matter, tell me."

Artest nodded in satisfaction, and then pointed to O'Neal to indicate that he should seriously study the skills taught by the other party.

For Cousins, this is an extremely rare practical teaching.

The game continued in the second quarter.

Bucks rotation: Dragic, George Hill, McGrady, Villanueva and O'Neal.

Spurs rotation: PG Chris Quinn, SG Manu Ginobili, SF Richard Jefferson, PF DeJuan Blair and center Thiago Spurry special.

Compared with the Spurs' starting lineup, their bench lineup will be simpler.

After all, the offensive hub of Duncan is missing, so the offense on the field is now completely sorted out by Manu Ginobili.

George Hill single-handedly defends Ginobili.

The latter accelerated and quickly broke through the penalty area with the ball.

George Hill has always covered in front of Ginobili, but after the other side swayed away in a serpentine dance, he made a beautiful layup.

"We can't let Ginobili play so easily on the court, we have to try to double-team him."

Tyronn Lue gave his own advice.

In the attack just now, George Hill defended well enough, but at the point where Ginobili finally ended, he still failed to defend.

It's not that George Hill's defense is bad, it's just that the latter's serpentine dance is a famous stunt, and few people can defend one-on-one.

"No double-teaming!"

"But let O'Neal go to the rim to help defend when Ginobili made the last layup."

"The role players of the Spurs are not idle people. Early double-teaming will expose too many defensive shortcomings on the court."

"We can accept Manu Ginobili passing the ball in the inside position, but the outside defensive players have to speed up the rotation to help defend."

"If the Spurs defense team can still score, then we will admit it."

Li Lai called a timeout, and after rearranging the defensive strategies for the players on the field, the situation was quickly reversed.

The Bucks' 12:6 offensive small high slot.

McGrady and Dragic teamed up to show off again, leading the second team to maintain the advantage.

Kenny Smith couldn't help but said: "The Bucks are currently the team with the second most points from the league's bench lineup, and the Spurs are the first."

"But judging from the current scenes on the court, the Spurs are stronger than Ginobili alone, and the other role players can only talk about their hind legs."

"The Bucks are played by Tracy McGrady, Dragic, Jermaine O'Neal, Villanueva, and George Hill."

"Especially Dragic. So far, he has averaged 15 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists per game, ranking first on the list of the best sixth men."

"Following him is Odom of the Lakers, averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game."

"If nothing else, the best sixth man of the season is a competition between the two."

Of course, Ginobili, who originally averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, also has the opportunity to compete for this award.

But he has been picked up by Popovich in the starting lineup and off the bench this season.

If by the end of the season Ginobili has played more games off the bench than he has started, he can also compete for this award.

But right now it doesn't look like much hope.

Because although Gary Neal is a shooting combo guard, his organizational skills are mediocre, so he can only serve as a shooting guard.

But when the team wants Gary Neal to score, the opponent can only become a point of fixed-point shooting. He is mediocre in terms of breakthrough threats and finishing at the basket.

The most important thing is that Gary Neal, who is only 193cm tall, lacks the athletic ability to defend point guards, and he is not tall enough to defend wing players, so he is quite nondescript on the court.

He can just play under the Spurs, and he doesn't know how bad his performance will be if he changes teams.

"Gary Neal's best position would be as a backup player."

"When it comes to the rotation stage, his nondescript shortcomings will shine and become strengths."

"It's just that Popovich's favorite lineup of using Manu Ginobili to lead the Spurs has to become a bubble."

"So the Spurs are still not a perfect team."

The last quarter of the game.

The Bucks, who have been steadily suppressing the Spurs, were overturned by their opponents at the most critical time.

Popovich sacrificed the complete combination of the three carriages of GDP, and this lineup caught the Bucks by surprise as soon as it came up.

The most important thing is that Duncan continued to show his power inside and was completely unable to defend, cutting the Bucks' entire defense line to pieces.

In the end, the Bucks lost their first defeat of the season 111:115.

Cousins ​​scored 12 points and 6 rebounds on 14 of 9 shots in this game.

For him as a rookie, this data is so-so.

但考辛斯防守的邓肯却在今天直接爆发了，17投12中，罚球7罚6中，拿下了30分12篮板5助攻2盖帽的数据。

Cousins ​​was taught a good lesson by Duncan.

After the game, O'Neal and Artest took the initiative to put their arms around the frustrated Cousins ​​on the bench and said.

"You go through a lot in your first season as a rookie, and you only grow through that."

"Just like Curry and Westbrook in the team now, they also suffered a lot in their rookie season."

"At the beginning, Westbrook always liked to struggle between passing the ball and doing it alone. He was not stable in three-pointers and free throws, and he was extremely easy to get ahead when defending."

"Although Curry played well in the playoffs last season, his shooting was also unstable during the regular season, especially when facing extremely strong defensive pressure."

"But neither of them chose to bow their heads in the face of such difficulties. Instead, they faced the difficulties and walked out. Now you can see how good the performance of the two on the court is."

Cousins ​​was still full of grievances.

Duncan never forced him once from the beginning to the end, but he scored such a high score easily on top of him.

This is the biggest insult Cousins ​​has received in the NBA. Unlike Ibaka's humiliation to him before, this time he doesn't even have any ability to return it.

This is still the 34-year-old Duncan.

Li Lai also came over at this time. He patted Cousins ​​on the shoulder for the first time and said, "I can allow my players to make mistakes in their rookie season."

"Anything goes wrong."

"But you can't be hanged like this next season."

Cousins ​​nodded very seriously and said, "Coach, I swear, I will never allow anyone to beat me up on the court next season."

After the game is over.

Tony Parker took the initiative to find Iverson and wanted to exchange jerseys with each other.

Although the Bucks lost the game, Iverson still graciously shook hands with Parker and spanked. Then, under the witness of all the reporters, the two held up their jerseys and took pictures.

Popovich also came over to greet Li Lai with a warm hug.

The two are like best friends who have met each other for a long time.

Terby is on the offensive end of the team, and the two are very similar.

Popovich even once thought that Li Lai was the disciple he taught when he was drunk.

Li Lai said: "Old man, I was taught a good lesson by you tonight."

Popovich smiled triumphantly when he heard this, as if he had won two to five to eighty thousand.

"If the No. 15 rookie can be smarter when he defends Duncan, it will not be easy to win you."

"However, I am very happy to send the Bucks their first defeat of the season."

Speaking of the topic of the first loss of the season, Popovich suddenly looked extremely serious.

He put his arms around Li Lai and whispered in his ear: "The Spurs also suffered their first defeat of the season in the third game, and they lost by a full 20 points!"

Li Lai was stunned, and guessed, "Did the Heat do it?"

(End of this chapter)