Jim Bass Ambition

Chapter 233 Popovich's Pain in Heart
Nene's effect was really not good. After the timeout, Zen Master had to send veteran Eldon Campbell, who had few chances to play in the previous game, to defend Duncan.

Although the athletic ability is far worse than Nene, Campbell has rich experience and is good at defense. Unless it is a last resort, Zen Master would not choose to use Garnett to directly match Duncan. Similarly, Popovich did not let Duncan defend Gane. Instead, he used Malik Rose, who was strong and fighting, to personally harass him.

Turkoglu seems to be in good shape. His height and vision determine that he can easily pass the ball to the desired position, but it is one thing to pass the ball, and it is another matter to be able to score goals. Prin Smith tried two corner three-pointers, but both failed to hit. The Lakers confidently and boldly flanked Duncan. After Campbell came up, he focused on pushing Duncan out of the three-second zone.

The Lakers' tactics in the transition period are very simple, without too many passing and cutting moves. Wade holds a lot of balls, relies on the pick-and-roll to break through and hits the basket, trying to kill Duncan.

After Duncan received a foul, Popovich immediately made adjustments, and the one who blocked the hole became Malik Rose, and once the situation was not good, he would use very tough fouls to prevent the Lakers from scoring.

The first 5 minutes of the second quarter were staggering and ugly. The two sides were committed to strangling the opponent on the defensive end, but there were not many ways to attack the offensive end. Garnett and Kobe only took one shot each in the first half. Artest attacked the inside of the Spurs, but the two made free throws and made one of two free throws. The score never opened.

After the official timeout, Billups and Malone returned, Kobe was replaced for a rest, Garnett and Artest remained on the court, forming a lineup of 4 starters and Wade as a substitute.

Popovich didn't dare to let Duncan take a break for 1 minute. Malik Rose received 5 fouls after playing 3 minutes. Rasheed Wallace and Parker returned to the court. Ginobili and Rose went down to rest for a while.Turkoglu still holds the important role of organizer, and Parker's state in the first quarter is really a bit confusing.

The score was 34 to 26, which is already a very low score for the Lakers.

After Kobe left the field, the Lakers' offensive positioning was adjusted. Garnett sank to the low post. Malone mentioned the free throw line and pulled Duncan out.

Garnett held the ball with his back, and on the weak side, Wade used Artest's off-ball screen to cut to the basket. Turkoglu's response to the defense was a step slower. Found the cutting Wade.

After receiving the ball, Wade immediately jumped up, his body stretched into a full bow, ready for a thunderous dunk.

Duncan dropped Malone, went back to the rim, and reached out to try to block the shot, but Wade, with amazing speed, had already reached the highest point.

So Duncan added a lot of color to his rich backboard career. Wade poured the ball into the basket through Duncan's block, and completely vented the foulness of being fouled just now. The difference widened to double digits again.

But here, Parker doesn't seem to want Wade to focus on the front. After cooperating with Duncan's pick-and-roll in the frontcourt, he breaks into the basket, and before Garnett's help defense arrives, he makes a quick shot and scores a throw.

Looking back, Malone tried a mid-range shot and missed. In this game, he put a lot of energy on defending Duncan. He took very few offensive shots and felt a little cold.

Duncan grabbed the backcourt rebound and handed it to Parker to advance quickly, surpassing Billups with speed, and scored a layup. This is the style of play that French sports cars are good at.

Seeing that Parker had a tendency to recover, Zen Master hastily requested a timeout.

After returning, the Lakers did not dare to let Malone stand on the line. His retreat speed was relatively slow, and if Garnett stood on the line, he would often not be able to retreat immediately.

The tactics were a bit chaotic. Billups missed a strong three-pointer and Rasheed Wallace grabbed a defensive rebound. But this time the Lakers retreated in time and the Spurs failed to counterattack. The ball was handed over to Parker who felt hot. .

Billups blocked Parker's right side. Parker called Rasheed Wallace's pick-and-roll, forced to walk to the right side, broke through Billups, collected the ball and threw it.

But he still underestimated Garnett's mobility too much. Garnett, who had been waiting for a long time, took off, nailed the ball on the backboard with one palm, and grabbed the rebound.

Here, Parker rushed out of the baseline, while Billups and Wade were already going down crazily. Garnett's long pass went over Rasheed Wallace's head and found Billups.

After Billups received the ball, he feinted and flew to Rasheed Wallace, who was desperately chasing back, and passed it back to Wade who followed up. The latter took off and dunked with both hands.

The Spurs requested a timeout. 38 to 30, with 4 minutes left in the second quarter.

Bryant replaced Artest, Battier replaced Wade, Campbell replaced Garnett, and for the Spurs, Ginobili returned to the court and replaced Prince.

Bryant rowed half water in the second quarter and got a precious 3-minute rest time. He was in a lively state, but Prince, the Spurs' first perimeter defender, had to rest because of too long playing time.

Zen master had a slight advantage in the rotation. The Lakers basically only rotated 8 players in this game. Nene spent 2 minutes and the effect was really poor, so he was hidden.

As soon as he played, Duncan turned over and hit the board, which stabilized the morale of the army.

The Lakers attacked, Kobe singled out Manu Ginobili, made a sudden stop after changing direction continuously, and made a hit.

Ginobili rushed to the basket, causing Campbell to foul and made two free throws.

Kobe used Malone's cover, took a step back and made a three-pointer, making a hit.

Duncan was double-teamed by Shane Battier and Malone, made a mistake and was intercepted by Kobe.

The Lakers counterattacked, Kobe made a strong kill to the basket, and hit a pull-up layup.

Rasheed Wallace received Parker's breakthrough and returned a three-pointer at the top of the arc and made a hit.

Kobe ate Manu Ginobili with his back, Turkoglu flanked him, and Kobe scored the ball to Battier from the bottom corner and hit a three-pointer.

Duncan made a strong attack, causing Malone to foul and made two free throws.

Bryant used the double screen of Malone and Campbell, rolled to 45 degrees, received a pass from Billups and made a direct shot, making a mid-range shot.

With 28 seconds left, the Spurs pressed the clock and Ginobili controlled the ball from the outside.

When the attack time was 7 seconds, Ginobili went to the left to break through, and Kobe stuck to the defense tightly.

Ginobili suddenly took a step back, opened the distance, made a mid-range shot and made a hit.

With 5.8 seconds left, the Lakers handed the ball back to Kobe. Fei Xia caught the ball, turned around and passed Ginobili, accelerated towards the Spurs half court, and took off two steps away from the three-point line.

Duncan has already rushed over, weaving a net.

But Kobe folded, like a tightened spring, escaped Duncan's block, then popped out suddenly, hit a precise three-pointer, and the goal light was on.

The dark clouds hanging over Popovich's heart finally turned into a violent storm.

At halftime, the Lakers led 53-39.Bryant has scored 21 points in the half.

(End of this chapter)