The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 42 The feeling of a strong team

Before Zhang Xiaotian's basketball career, it can be said that it was very difficult. He knew how difficult it was to be noticed, so no matter whether he was praised or criticized, he watched it with relish.

He also spoke a few times out of fun, and because he looked more professional, he was quickly recognized by the two groups of people.

He left a message for Yang Feiyu, and only saw the reply the next day. That guy had already entered those fan organizations, more than two or three, but she was banned in several circles because of the spat.

Zhang Xiaotian was ashamed, he didn't pay much attention, all he did was relax in his spare time, what he really focused on was training and competition.

Going to Indiana, he has to defend the opponent's core player Paul George.

Unlike Pierce, the third-year Paul George is young and strong. He has just become the core of the team and is full of energy. He can lead the team on both offense and defense.

In addition to his slightly poor ball-holding ability, Paul George can be said to be a role model for Zhang Xiaotian in the third position.

Zhang Xiaotian didn't have the habit of talking loudly before the game, and Paul George naturally wouldn't say anything.

Unexpectedly, the Pacers player Lance Stephenson jumped out and despised him, "He lost the draft, it must be because of his poor level, the managers of the team are shrewd, let me keep shooting when I feel good, then I You can break a record or something."

Zhang Xiaotian doesn't like to speak casually, but he is not a person who is afraid of getting into trouble, so he responded immediately: "Who can say big words, if you have the ability to see the team's results, I never think about breaking records. I'm just happy that we won more. Had a game."

A strong team has the confidence to speak, and it is true on the court.

At the start of the game, the starting lineups of both sides remained unchanged.

Parker felt good in the opening game, and he took the lead in the mid-range shot. When he felt better, it was really difficult to defend. The fast defensive player would shoot as long as he didn't catch up with the pull-up, which was very murderous.

The Pacers used Roy Hibbert's height to play inside the Spurs. It is not unreasonable for Popovich to still give Blair a chance. This guy has the weight to withstand it, but the disadvantage is also obvious, too short.

Hibbert is only [-]% certain that he is strong inside, but Parker and Duncan scored consecutively to win the first place.

Zhang Xiaotian has been following Paul George every step of the way, not giving the opponent a chance at all.

As the new core, Paul George will certainly not stop playing because there is no space.

After catching the ball, he made a simple change of direction and went straight to kill, pushing Zhang Xiaotian up and shooting.

Paul George has a good jumping height, and he can't interfere with Zhang Xiaotian when he shoots like this.

Not giving physical contact before shooting hindered Zhang Xiaotian's defense, and also had a little impact on himself. Paul George didn't hit the ball.

But after a while, Paul George used the same method to make a successful mid-range shot.

Zhang Xiaotian was also secretly annoyed, there was nothing he could do after the opponent jumped up.

But he quickly corrected his mentality. After all, Paul George is the core of the team. It is normal for him to be unable to lock down the opponent. It is necessary to increase the consumption of the opponent, so that the team can gain an advantage at a critical moment.

He began to further strengthen his physical confrontation without the ball, and was called a foul by the referee because he was too deliberate.

But the effect is still good, Paul George's efficiency is not good, it's just that playing like this is too tiring.

He was replaced for a rest in the last 2 minutes of the first quarter. Without a substitute for the third position, the Spurs played three guards, and their guards still had enough substitutes.

It's just that Paul George hasn't rested yet. Without Zhang Xiaotian to fight him hard, whether it's Ginobili or Gary Neal, it's hard to limit him.

After the first few shots, Paul George's touch also improved, and he even scored consecutively, leading the team to turn the score over.

After Paul George left the field, the Pacers' substitutes also performed well, and there was a tendency to expand the lead. It was not until the Spurs replaced Duncan that they played two consecutive interior shots to stop the opponent's momentum.

After Zhang Xiaotian played again, he still dealt with Paul George.

The Spurs' defense is mainly based on the whole, and Zhang Xiaotian is the only one who has been following the opponent to seek confrontation. Paul George is also very uncomfortable.

It's just that Zhang Xiaotian's footsteps became a little heavy after a while, and this was still the first half.

Zhang Xiaotian's stamina finally turned red after playing the first few matches, and he really wanted to try the effect of the stamina potion, but he couldn't bear the victory point.

He knew very well that he wasn't really physically weak. Before entering the NBA, he was considered a physical madman. It's just that professional basketball players competed so intensely, and his body was still in the process of adapting.

It's good to get used to it. He cheered up and worked harder to defend. As a rookie, obviously, he didn't need to consider the issue of physical strength. The key was to show his value desperately.

Soon, he was fouled by Paul George, and the opponent rushed in. Zhang Xiaotian was lucky to hold the opponent, otherwise he was hit 2+1 and the defense would have been useless.

The Pacers led by 4 points at halftime. In the NBA, less than 10 points is nothing. The key is to find the opponent's weaknesses and play out the team's tactics.

Of course, this is the matter of the head coach Popovich. Zhang Xiaotian ate a piece of pie and a few bananas to replenish his energy during the intermission. He must cause more trouble to Paul George.

At the beginning of the third quarter, the Spurs played very hard, mainly because David West used his flexible skills to make several fouls on the inside. Hibbert blocked Duncan again. The restriction on the inside also affected the outside.

Zhang Xiaotian still put all his energy on defense, because he has no attention to think about other things now.

As long as you stand still, big beads of sweat will drip down.

Paul George was also a little annoyed by his staring, "It's useless for you to do this."

"It's useful if you are affected." Zhang Xiaotian's smile was a little uncomfortable.

Paul George no longer responds, so what if he is like a dog skin plaster without the ball, as long as he gets the ball, he can still play, and the opponent's physical strength is obviously about to be overwhelmed.

But even if he didn't admit it, he was still influenced by Zhang Xiaotian. He took three shots against Zhang Xiaotian, but only hit one, and Zhang Xiaotian was also replaced at the end of the third quarter because he couldn't keep up with his footsteps.

This time the Spurs left Danny Green on the court and continued to keep an eye on Paul George. Paul George was also a little helpless, and the core was that he would encounter such a problem.

When the Spurs' offense encountered problems, Ginobili finally stood up. He hit two and three points in a row and did not let the Pacers open the score.

Zhang Xiaotian sat on the bench, took a sip of his drink, wiped his sweat with a towel, and then laughed. It feels so good to be in a strong team. His teammates will not waste his efforts, and they will win.

(End of this chapter)