The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 43
In the final quarter, the Pacers, who have home court advantage, took the lead, and their rotation player Gerald Green hit two consecutive three-pointers.

The score fell behind by 10 points, and Zhang Xiaotian, who had regained some strength, couldn't help standing up from his seat, but then Ginobili scored two three-pointers, which made people excited.

"Coach, let me go." Zhang Xiaotian didn't do it on purpose, he was really excited.

Popovich remained calm, as if he hadn't heard this sentence.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, when Zhang Xiaotian couldn't sit still, Popovich finally replaced him.

Before he came on the court, Paul George had just hit a three-pointer to help the Pacers regain a five-point lead.

Because of exhaustion, Zhang Xiaotian felt a little fluttering in his body.

But the confidence generated in the fourth quarter allowed him to quickly adjust his body and take the initiative to slip to the bottom line.

Paul George seemed to feel that Zhang Xiaotian was a little different from before, but he didn't think much about it. He played longer than Zhang Xiaotian, was dealt with by the Spurs players in turn, and his physical strength was not as strong as it was at the beginning.

In his opinion, Zhang Xiaotian probably recovered his physical strength after resting for nearly 8 minutes.

Zhang Xiaotian will become active on the offensive end in the last quarter. Everyone in the team knows that when he circled back to the three-point line, he received a pass from his teammates.

At one point, Paul George, who happened to rush up, was not deceived.

As soon as Zhang Xiaotian gritted his teeth, he took the ball and went inside to kill. Although Paul George was a little tired now, his pace was still fast and Zhang Xiaotian didn't let him rush over.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaotian, like Paul George, forcibly pushes the opponent away with his momentum. Pulling up is a mid-range shot. The ball draws a slightly flat arc, hits the inner edge of the basket and falls into the basket.

In the first three quarters, he was blocked by Paul George several times. This time it was finally his turn. After scoring the goal, Zhang Xiaotian also swung his arm heavily.

Then he continued to mark Paul George. Paul George was also a little depressed. His physical fitness has always been his pride. It's really uncomfortable to be called like this.

Paul George plays reasonably, but he has to respond to the ball. The core of the team can't be cowardly at critical moments. Besides, he just hit a three-pointer and he feels okay.

He received the ball from the outside of the three-point line, and then took a relatively large tentative step, pretending to go to the right, but actually broke through to the left.

Zhang Xiaotian was not deceived by him, and Paul George's fake moves were not realistic enough.

However, Paul George didn't intend to use fake moves to shake Zhang Xiaotian, he rushed like a bull, resisting Zhang Xiaotian and pressing two big strides.

After Zhang Xiaotian got excited about his skills, the gap between people is so big.

After the hard top, just pull up the jumper. With the height of Paul George, not to mention Zhang Xiaotian, even James, who is now the top leader in the third position, can't block it.

However, compared to the first three quarters, Zhang Xiaotian's reaction speed, strength, and jumping have all improved.

When Paul George pulled it up, Zhang Xiaotian also jumped up abruptly.

Can't block the opponent's shooting line, but can create some intervention.

In fact, Paul George felt a little wrong when he jumped up. He put too much power on the confrontation between the two. If he broke through Zhang Xiaotian's defense just now, he could naturally attack the basket directly, but now he is facing the defense like this. The muscles are a little tense.

Strike the iron, Duncan firmly protected the backboard.

Parker received the ball and launched a counterattack, and Paul George ran desperately to return to the defense.

After Parker broke through, Danny Green made an open three-pointer. At 93:93, the two teams tied.

When it was the Pacers' turn to attack, Hibbert's physical strength declined and he couldn't make a strong hit inside. The initiative gradually came to the Spurs.

Before the Pacers had time to come up with countermeasures, Parker and Duncan reached the inside in the pick-and-roll, causing a foul by Hibbert. After two free throws, the Spurs overtook the Pacers.

After the tentative schedule came up, the Pacers still played inside, and David Westbaugh fouled but only made one of two free throws.

During the Spurs’ offense, Zhang Xiaotian received another pass. This time he did not play alone, but called his teammates to come up to cover. In fact, the Spurs did not arrange for him to play with the ball. However, he performed well at critical moments, which is a bit out of line with Popovich. Qi will also turn a blind eye.

Zhang Xiaotian was on the side, and it was not Duncan who came to cover, but Danny Green.

Taking advantage of the cover, Zhang Xiaotian accelerated to kill inside, but Stephenson, who was facing up against Danny Green, took the initiative to double-team and tried to steal his ball.

Stephenson came up too hastily. At this time, Zhang Xiaotian hadn't completely passed Paul George. If he didn't realize it, he must be blind.

Zhang Xiaotian gave the ball to Danny Green without hesitation. Paul George had a bad secret. He thought it was his responsibility for the team's poor play in the first few rounds, so he also worked extra hard on defense now. Seeing Danny- With no defenders in front of him, Green almost pounced to make up for it.

In the Spurs, who would not make a foul, so Paul George was a tragedy.

Danny Green hit a free throw, the Spurs' lead came to 3 points, and the time quietly entered the last 4 minutes.

The Pacers' offense is still in and out, but the Spurs' lineup is not only sharp in offense, but also the best in defense. They basically can't find opportunities in positional battles, and they must have someone one-on-one. Only when the center has an advantage can the Spurs' defense appear loopholes.

Paul George singled Zhang Xiaotian again, but this time he was really tired, not only physically, but also mentally.

After hitting the iron again, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel also saw that it is not enough to force Paul George to take responsibility now. After all, this season has just started, and he has not fully adapted to the core position.

But compared to defense, Frank Vogel doesn't have too many routines on offense. If Paul George is not allowed to attack, then play inside.

It's just that the Spurs also quickly adjusted the lineup and let Diaw come up to defend David West.

David West only changed one foul in three singles, and on the Spurs side, first Duncan scored, and then Zhang Xiaotian made a successful mid-range shot. The time entered the last minute, and there were not many options left for the Pacers.

George Hill tried consecutive three-pointers at the last moment. When the iron sounded, there was no suspense in this game.

104:97, the victory belongs to the Spurs.

"You are very good, but the next victory will belong to the Pacers." Paul George, who had been silent at the last moment, took the initiative to talk to Zhang Xiaotian after the game.

The young leader seemed to have matured all of a sudden. Zhang Xiaotian looked at the back of the opponent walking towards the player tunnel and secretly encouraged himself. Next time, he will also help the team win until the end of the season.

(End of this chapter)