The invincible kryptonite of basketball

The first thousand and 130 seven chapters of the demon knife curtain call

This change came very suddenly, and there was no news before the game.

However, this change is also reasonable.

In the first three games, Popovich's starting lineup did not last more than 5 minutes.

Although this has something to do with the strength gap between the two sides, if we continue with that lineup, the result will not be much different.

Especially in the last game, so many off-court factors were mixed together, but it failed to change the result.

So changing is a perfectly normal decision.

Of course, in addition to this reason, there is another one.

Ginobili's playing time has decreased a lot this season, and he has thought of quitting more than once when the media has no money.

Even friends like Tang Tian and Duncan knew that this might be Ginobili's last playoff game.

Popovich naturally knows too.

Although Parker's situation is different, he is in a sluggish state and his contract has expired. No one knows what will happen to him in the future.

So Popovich's formation, in addition to the strategic level, also has an emotional level.

This is likely to be the curtain call of Parker and Ginobili's Spurs career.

However, this kind of formation is very useful from the perspective of the atmosphere on the scene.

After Duncan retired, Parker and Ginobili seldom started together, and this season the two started very rarely.

Such a starting lineup is a great encouragement to them psychologically, and even their souls tremble a little because of their past glory.

In fact, not only the fans, but also the Spurs players looked different from the past three games.

To them, the culture of the Spurs was ingrained, and the people who created that culture were Popovich and GDP.

As a veteran Spurs player, Tang Tian also felt it.

He had a hunch that tonight's game would be different from the past three games.

Amidst the cheers of the fans, Gasol turned the ball back to the Spurs half, officially kicking off Game [-] of the series.

Parker dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, reaching out to signal a hammer tactic.

But this is a new hammer tactic, different from the 1/2/3 tactic that Tang Tian experienced before.

The biggest difference in it is that the person who breaks through with the ball has changed from position 3 to position 2.

On the weak side, Green used the pick-and-roll to run continuously from the three-point line to affect the defense, and Ginobili broke through the right side and went straight to the basket.

However, the Pelicans' defensive intensity is very high. Even with the newly evolved hammer tactics, the Spurs didn't get a chance.

Seeing that the tactics were about to fail, Ginobili chose to face Butler's forceful layup.

Butler blocked Ginobili's frontal shot.

But Ginobili tilted his waist into a 60-degree lateral swing, in a daze to create a mobile opportunity for himself, and then wiped the ball and threw it.

Demon Sword's iconic snake-shaped breakthrough.

"boom!"

After the ball hit the board, it shot obliquely into the net bag.

Ginobili leads the way for the Spurs!

Tang Tian turned his head and broke through to throw Green away, making an emergency stop and hitting back with a hit.

He sensed the difference for the Spurs tonight and fired as soon as he came up.

Parker advanced to the frontcourt, but the Spurs' hammer tactics still couldn't play.

Parker dribbled the ball to the basket and had no chance. He came out in a circle and gave the ball to Aldridge.

Aldridge's signature turnaround jumper doesn't.

It can be seen that his touch tonight is not very good.

But Gasol struggled to grab the offensive rebound and then threw it to Ginobili on the outside.

Ginobili catches the ball, and Butler's defense is quick.

He leaned on Butler, dribbled twice, and chose the iconic step-back three-pointer.

Butler's reaction speed was very fast, and he rushed forward to interfere.

"Shh!"

Butler defended the ball beautifully, but Ginobili's shot was even better.

The basketball went into the net, directly igniting the atmosphere in the ATT Arena.

The cheers and whistles of the fans were overwhelming, layer upon layer.

Ginobili scored 5 points in a row after the start!

This scene really has a feeling that they have returned to the beginning of the century.

At that time, Ginobili was not called the Demon Sword, and had a very resounding nickname: 20 Minutes Jordan.

Although Manu Ginobili is 40 years old this year, his performance at the beginning of the game seemed to be 10 years younger!

The Spurs were encouraged, and they started with a completely different momentum from the past three games.

Five minutes into the game, the score was tied at 5.

Although they still can't defend the Pelicans, they have all kinds of fairy balls on the offensive end.

With offense against offense, they fully played out Popovich's tactical intentions.

For the first time in the series, they lasted the first five minutes.

This is the strength of the Spurs' spirit and culture, and even God is on their side.

But the hard power of the Pelicans is not boasting.

At the moment of stalemate, they showed the defensive strength of the best team level.

Butler steals one from Parker, and Tang Tian steals one from Green.

With two steals and two opportunities for defensive counterattacks, the Pelicans played a 5-0 offensive.

Moreover, the Spurs' wave of offense was destroyed and out of bounds by the Pelicans in 21 seconds, and the wave of offense basically failed again.

The Pelicans have a tendency to take the game away in waves.

Popovich reached out and called a timeout.

This offense is critical, and it can even be said that it may directly determine whether the Spurs can survive this quarter.

Back from the timeout, Parker served the ball from the outside, and Green and Ginobili ran around the pick-and-roll to catch the ball.

In 3 seconds, basically there is only time to catch the ball and dribble it before shooting.

Parker passed the ball to Ginobili.

But Butler completely blocked the shot angle.

The Spurs' tactics didn't work out.

Just when this tactic seemed to fail, Ginobili turned out to be an unbelievable through ball without looking at people.

The ball was stuffed directly into the hands of Aldridge under the basket, and the latter had quietly moved to the basket at some point.

A close-range hit at the buzzer sent the ball into the frame.

Aldridge's finish was beautiful, but Ginobili's pass was even better.

The Pelicans cooperated in the frontcourt, and Butler missed a three-pointer after receiving the ball.

Looking back, Ginobili faked a three-pointer, swayed the defense, and went to the basket to meet Dedmond's flying throw.

The choice of this ball is very firm, and the two sides have physical contact in the air.

The referee whistled to signal Dedmon's defensive foul.

Ginobili almost lay down in the air to complete the shot.

The ball spins and pockets.

This is a 2+1!

The cheers on the scene broke out again.

When the team was about to be wiped out, it was Ginobili who stood up.

One pass and one 2+1, although the demon knife is old, it is still sharp!

Ginobili fell hard and was pulled up by Parker and Green.

I have to say that his waist is really well maintained. The front snake-shaped breakthrough plus this 2+1 makes his waist strength amazing.

Steady penalty hit.

While helping the Spurs tie the score, he also scored his 10th point in this quarter.

The curtain call of the Demon Sword is still the same.

The first thousand and 130 eight chapters swept the Spurs, and the demon knife retired

Ginobili's strong performance was unexpected, and his strength lasted the entire half.

He scored 19 points and 5 assists in the first half, and almost single-handedly carried the Spurs on his shoulders.

Under his outstanding performance, the Spurs also ended the halftime stalemate with the Pelicans 53 to 60.

This is already the smallest point difference between the two halves since the series.

During the half-time break, fans expressed their emotions on social media.

"The Spurs are really difficult this season, but Manu Ginobili's performance in this half is really touching. This is the Spurs I loved at the beginning!"

"Ginobili looked at Don opposite him. Once upon a time, Don would be his successor, but fate always played tricks on him."

"This is true fate. Holt ruined the Spurs single-handedly. Otherwise, Don + Leonard may have won five consecutive championships!"

"I hope the Spurs can win a game. Even if they lose, I hope there will be a decent result! I also hope that Ginobili will have a decent way to leave!"

……

The emotions and expectations of the fans were realized after returning in the third quarter.

Originally a stalemate at halftime, the Spurs have played enough to be gratifying.

Although fans expressed emotion on social media, not many people thought that the Spurs could still play like this in the second half.

After all, the stalemate was due to Ginobili's extraordinary performance in the first half.

But in the third quarter, Aldridge's touch recovered, and Ginobili's unabated output.

After three quarters, the Spurs are still in a stalemate with the Pelicans 81 to 88!

This kind of performance not only excited the fans of the Spurs, but also the ordinary fans were in awe.

It wasn't until the fourth quarter that the Spurs had physical problems.

Rose and Davis joined hands to open up the score after the transition from the bench. When the main force came back, Tang Tian and Walker played another wave, and the score was completely opened.

In the end, the Pelicans defeated the Spurs 115-100 away and swept their opponents 4-0 to advance to the second round.

The 15-point difference is also the smallest difference since the series.

Although the Spurs were swept, but this performance is respectable.

Ginobili scored a team-high 25 points and 7 assists, and performed very well.

On the Pelicans side, Tang Tian scored a triple-double in two consecutive games, and this time it was a 30+ triple-double.

35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.