I’m Really Playing Basketball

In the G6 match between the Warriors and the Spurs, the Warriors, who were standing on the edge of the cliff, relied on the superb performance of Chen Xiao and Clay to score 94 points together and won a difficult victory at home. In the end, this training game was The big score was back to 3-3.

Such a victory would certainly be a huge boost to the morale of the Warriors.

Although the Warriors still have many problems when facing the Spurs, such as thick eyebrows on the outside, his offense is somewhat unable to open up against wheat and Leonard.

On the inside, facing elite inside combinations like Duncan and Diaw, the combination between him and Jokic is too young and can easily be caught.

Therefore, when the Warriors face the Spurs now, they are definitely the side with more loopholes and the side that gives them opportunities.

But in G6, the Warriors won, which made the situation in the Western Conference Finals completely different.

In this Western Conference Finals, G6 is of great importance.

So much so that at the post-game press conference after the game, Spurs head coach Popovich was a little bit off guard.

"I hate the current basketball and the current NBA! I hate three-pointers! The basketball game should not be like this. Now everyone is shooting three-pointers. Every team must shoot three-pointers. Some people You can hit more than 10 three-pointers in a game, and some teams can hit more than 20 three-pointers in a game. This makes everything we do for basketball seem so futile! Basketball, NBA, three-pointers, I hate it. all of these!"

Popovich doesn't like three-pointers. In fact, many people know this. He often expresses in public that he doesn't like three-pointers that much. He doesn't like his team to shoot three-pointers, and he doesn't like his opponents to shoot three-pointers.

However, this is definitely the first time that the feelings are so strong.

As a result, Popovich's remarks caused an uproar in the United States and the NBA.

Some people think Bobo has no grace.

But many people also find it understandable.

After all, G6 was really amazing. Chen Xiao and Clay scored 21 three-pointers together!

Popovich said that these three-pointers made all the Spurs' efforts, tactics, preparation, and performance in vain. This is indeed the case.

Because everyone who has watched G6 knows that the Spurs are the team with the most proactive tactics and the team with the advantage. Logically speaking, they are also the team that wins.

But three points wiped out the Spurs' advantage.

The basketball game seems to have become a game of luck because of the existence of three-pointers.

Luck also caused the stronger Popovich and the Spurs to lose the game.

Therefore, Popovich has reason to say such things.

However, regardless of whether there is a reason or not, as a three-time NBA championship coach, Popovich is also the top head coach currently in service, and the head coach of the US team, it is indeed a bit bad to say such a thing.

Of course, Popovich also knew that he seemed to be a little rude, so he returned to San Antonio the next day. At the pre-game press conference before the start of G7, Popovich said that he hated basketball before. NBA, Hate Three Points Explained.

"We have worked hard for twelve years to win the NBA championship. In the past two years, we have won two championships, which gives us a higher goal. We want to win the third consecutive championship this year. A championship, we are willing to give everything for it, we strive to be the best ourselves, the coach arranges training hard, lays out tactics, the players train hard, and play hard, we believe that as long as our players, Coaches, management, we just have to be the best we can be and we can win our third consecutive championship.

but!

The last game made us feel that today's basketball, today's NBA, is gradually no longer what we are familiar with. Even if we do everything to our best, we can't win a three-point game. So, That game was very painful for me. At that time, I felt that my entire world view collapsed.

In my understanding of basketball, basketball games should not be like this.

I'm very sorry that my inappropriate remarks may have had very negative consequences for basketball, but you should know that this was not my intention.

I still love basketball, I still love the NBA, I still respect God Chen, Klay, and the Warriors. They won a great victory. "

In the G6 game, because Chen Xiao and Clay's performance was so magical, the entire NBA and American sports circles were talking about this game and Chen Xiao and Clay.

And in this atmosphere, the Western Conference Finals G7 between the Warriors and Spurs is about to begin.

The Spurs are first in the Western Conference and first in the league in regular season record, so the tiebreaker is in San Antonio.

The Spurs seem to have a home court advantage, but in a high-intensity series like the Warriors and Spurs, the home court advantage may not be able to make up for the Spurs' physical disadvantage.

After all, in the first six games, Duncan averaged 38 minutes per game.

The last time Duncan averaged more than 38 minutes per game in the Spurs playoffs was before he left the Spurs for the Magic.

As a 39-year-old veteran, I really don’t know how to evaluate this playing time.

No matter how you evaluate it, there are only two words, that is respect!

For the Spurs' dynasty, and for his own dynasty, Duncan really fought hard in this Western Conference Finals.

Of course, Ron Howard is also very hardworking. He is the player who averages the most points per game and the most playing time per game for the Spurs.

Especially after Leonard was betrayed by his thick eyebrows, Duncan and Ron Howard were under a lot of pressure.

Therefore, the Spurs have the home court advantage, and the Warriors have the physical and youth advantage in the tiebreaker.

The objective advantages of both sides are actually about the same.

In terms of personnel, the Spurs have advantages in tactical system and head coach, while the Warriors have Chen Xiao, the most powerful player in the history of the league. The pros and cons of both sides are still similar.

Therefore, when predicting this tie-break before the game, many experts and fans were very conservative, thinking that either team could win.

In particular, both teams seem to be very big-hearted teams.

In the first quarter of the game, the two teams really showed their big hearts to the world.

The most worrying thing for the Spurs in this game is whether Duncan's condition will have problems due to physical fitness.

But in the first quarter, Duncan reassured everyone.

In the first quarter of the game, Duncan came up and faced Jokic and Chen Xiao with all his firepower. He pulled out and fired at Chen Xiao and the Warriors' opposing defenders.

In the first quarter, when he was at his strongest, Duncan made 4 of 6 and 1 of 1 free throws, scoring the Spurs' highest 9 points in a quarter.

Duncan, just like last year's finals, showed his attitude and determination as soon as he came up.

On the other side, the most worrying thing for the Warriors is naturally that Klay and Chen Xiao, who had a hot touch in the last game, will lose their touch in this game.

But as soon as the first quarter started, both Chen Xiao and Clay continued their fiery touch from the previous game.

In the first quarter, Chen Xiao made 4 of 6 shots and 2 of 2 three-pointers, scoring 10 points in a single quarter.

Clay, on the other hand, also made 4 of 6, 2 of 4 three-pointers, and also scored 10 points in a single quarter.

With the outstanding performance of the two, facing the Spurs who shot 56.5% from the field and 50% from three-pointers in the first quarter, the Warriors fell behind by 2 points 28-30 in the first quarter.

By the way, in the first quarter of the game, Nongmei's offensive state was still bad. They went 0 for 3 in the first quarter and failed to score a point.

Leonard, who faced off with thick eyebrows, did not focus on offense and regarded himself as a role player, but his shooting rate of catching and shooting was still very high. He made 2 of 2 in a single quarter and scored 4 points.

It seems that thick eyebrows are still under a lot of pressure.

It seems that Leonard is used to the changes in his role, but the thick eyebrows have not adapted yet.

However, I can’t say too harshly for the time being. Facing thick eyebrows, Leonard steals chicken attacks like a role player. It is indeed still very efficient. However, Duncan’s age is there and his physical strength is there. The Spurs, in this game Will the game only allow Leonard to be a role player on the offensive end?

This is of course impossible, so the test for Leonard has not yet come.

The game continued, and the anxious atmosphere between the two teams continued until the second quarter.

In the second quarter of the game, in order to protect Duncan's physical strength and the team's temporary two-point advantage, Popovich naturally could not let Duncan play the full second quarter like Chen Xiao did.

Without Duncan's rotation, the Spurs' rotation is certainly no match for the Warriors' rotation of Lopez, Ibaka, Chen Xiao, Livingston and Dragic.

Although the rotation lineup of Al Jefferson, Varejao, Ron Howard, Ginobili, and Parker was also very strong, after the second quarter, the Warriors still led by 4 points 29 to 25 in a single quarter.

In the second quarter, the Spurs, under the command of Popovich, were desperately trying to slow down the rhythm of the game in order to create more rest time for Duncan.

Otherwise, the Spurs will never lose by only 4 points in a single quarter.

Of course, for the Spurs, it was worth it after giving Duncan five minutes to rest and only falling behind by 4 points.

Counting in the first quarter, they were still ahead by 2 points. At the end of the half, the Spurs were actually only 2 points behind, 55-57.

In the third quarter, Duncan and the Spurs were on fire again.

Especially the three veterans Duncan, Ron Howard and Maizi. Duncan made 3 of 5 in the third quarter and scored 6 points. Ron Howard made 4 of 6 in a single quarter and scored 8 points. Maizi made 5 of 5 in a single quarter. 3, scored 7 points.

The three veterans combined to score 21 points efficiently in the third quarter.

The three men who took on the team's main offense finally led the Spurs to 33-32 in the third quarter, once again leading the Warriors by 1 point in a single quarter.

After three quarters, the Spurs, playing at home, were only 1 point behind 88-89.

To be honest, this result is not what the Spurs want to see.

Because, in the third quarter, Duncan, Maizi and Ron Howard all played the entire quarter!

The three performed well, and the Spurs' role players also performed well. The Spurs even shot 60% in a single quarter. We can't ask for anything better from the Spurs.

But the Warriors on the opposite side were also very good. Klay made 3 of 4 three-pointers in a single quarter and scored 9 points in a single quarter, while Chen Xiao made 5 of 7 in a single quarter, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and 3 of 3 free throws. Scored 15 points.

Thanks to the outstanding performance of the two, the Warriors still held on to the Spurs in the third quarter.

And this is what makes Popovich most uncomfortable.

Because of Chen Xiao's presence, the Warriors' ability to bite their opponents is too strong!

The Spurs simply couldn't guard Chen Xiao who was playing inside.

Really, you can't expect these two old men, Duncan and Diaw, to guard Chen Xiao in the paint.

And when Klay's three-point shot was accurate, Leonard couldn't defend Chen Xiao.

This leads to a very headache for the Spurs. When Clay is accurate, Chen Xiao can blossom both internally and externally!

This linkage between Chen Xiao and Clay makes the Spurs almost miserable.

Now in the fourth quarter, Chen Xiao appeared on the court as soon as he started, ready to play the entire game.

The Spurs are still 1 point behind. Do you want to follow or not?

Of course I have to follow!

Duncan and Ron Howard also stayed on the court as soon as the fourth quarter started.

It can only be said that Popovich's choice was a gamble, but it was also very successful.

During the rotation time of the fourth quarter, with Duncan's 4-for-4 start in the fourth quarter, the Spurs quickly turned the score back.

With less than 6 minutes left in the game, the Spurs even led 107 to 102, leading by up to 5 points!

However, at this time, Popovich could hardly say he was happy.

Because Duncan chose to be tired visible to the naked eye.

Duncan can no longer assume the main offense, and the main offense can only be switched to Ron Howard and Maizi.

In the fourth quarter, Maizi's shooting percentage changed from accurate in the third quarter to inaccurate. Maizi's offensive efficiency was inherently unstable. Although he ignored the defense and shot beautifully, it would not work if he missed the shot!

In the end, Popovich could only use Leonard!

And this is where the biggest test for the Spurs and Leonard is coming.

Leonard, at this time, must assume the main offensive responsibility and conquer the thick eyebrow, a fortress that could not be conquered in the first two games.

In the first three quarters of this game, Leonard, who was a role player on the offensive end, did very well. He made 4 of 6 in the first three quarters and scored 11 points.

However, when it comes to role players and main offense, it is a completely different defensive intensity.

When Ron Howard came on to replace Ginobili and Diaw came on to replace Parker, all the Spurs players pinned their love on Leonard.

At this time, the Spurs need to defend as well as attack!

However, Leonard, who had high hopes, once again disappointed the Spurs in this game.

In the fourth quarter, Leonard, who was responsible for the main offense, made 1 of 7 in a single quarter and only scored 2 points.

In this game, the thick eyebrows disappeared on the offensive end, and at the same time, he once again made Leonard disappear with him.

From the moment they passed G5, the two seemed to be completely in tune.

In the end, the Spurs, who led by up to 5 points in the fourth quarter, were eventually reversed by the Warriors at home, losing the game 121-125.

Although at the last moment, Popovich did not want to defend against Ginobili, and Ginobili did hit two life-extending three-pointers in a row, but the Spurs were still unable to recover and lost this game. A tiebreaker.

Duncan, the Spurs' leading big man, scored the Spurs' game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in 41 minutes.

Ron Howard shot 11 of 21 from the field and scored 26 points.

In addition, Leonard made 5 of 13 shots and scored 13 points, Ginobili made 6 of 12 shots and scored 18 points, and Maizi made 5 of 13 shots and scored 12 points.

In this game, five members of the Spurs scored in double figures. The team shot 52% from the field and 40% from three-point range. The performance was not bad.

On the opposite side of the Warriors, Chen Xiao made 16 of 26, 8 of 14 three-pointers, and 5 of 5 free throws. He scored 45 points in the game.

Clay, on the other hand, made 14 of 25 in this game, 9 of 17 three-pointers, 3 of 3 free throws, and scored 40 points in the game.

In this game, Chen Xiao and Clay are still in hot form.

Chen Xiao and Clay also scored more than 85 points in two consecutive games.

The Spurs' biggest problem in G6 and G7 was that they couldn't solve the problem of Klay's shooting accuracy. They couldn't stop Chen Xiao from blossoming inside and outside.

And Klay, this guy, his three-pointers are always very unreasonable and can be scored one after another for a period of time!

Therefore, at the end of the game, looking at the statistics that Chen Xiao and Clay scored 17 three-pointers in this game, Popovich admitted that his eyes were red and sore.

Faced with the shattered dream of the dynasty, he was as hard-hearted as he was and cried...