The Way of the Center

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When the two best-performing teams this year, the Spurs and the Trail Blazers, finally met, people discovered that apart from Anjie and his Trail Blazers, this year's San Antonio Spurs are also very, very strong.

Perhaps when the playoffs first started, the Spurs were still a little uncomfortable. But when they were forced into a tiebreaker by the Grizzlies in the first round, the energy of this Spurs team really exploded. It can be said that the Spurs can play like this now, and they have to thank the Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies hadn't forced the Spurs to such a death as soon as they came out, the Spurs might have woken up later.

There is a set of data that is particularly terrifying. In the just-concluded Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder, the Spurs averaged 52.8% field goal percentage, 46.6% three-point field goal percentage, 11 three-pointers per game, and 105.6 points per game. Both were able to contribute 25.4 offenses.

It is really not easy to hit such perfect statistics in the playoffs. What's more, the Thunder's defense is not bad at all.

Popovich is indeed very good. If the Trail Blazers hadn't won 72 wins this year, Ricard might not have had the chance to compete with Popovich for the best coach. This white-haired old man has built the Spurs' offense so smoothly that people are even discussing that such a Spurs may not be able to beat the Trail Blazers.

When a half-hearted coach like McHale believes in an eight-man rotation to ensure combat effectiveness, Popovich rarely played a 13-man rotation in the playoffs! Everyone on the Spurs has a role to play, and Popovich will never play someone who doesn't.

This, even Ricardo can't do it. 10-man rotation, this is Ricard's best rotation method. But the 13-person rotation, Ricard never thought about it.

From this point alone, we can also see how huge the gap between the Spurs and Popovich and others is. As Duncan said in the text message sent to Anjie, this year, the Spurs may be more difficult than last season!

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Catherine found that even if An Jie stayed at home and didn't go to extra practice these days, he would always watch things related to basketball. Moreover, he will only watch one team's game tape forever, and that is the San Antonio Spurs game.

Know yourself and the enemy, and you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles. As a Chinese, An Jie knows the truth of this.

"Didn't you beat the Spurs once last year? The Spurs and your lineup haven't changed much. Look at you, do you need to be so nervous? Besides, you met the Spurs in the regular season this season. Three times, didn't you also win two of them?" Catherine hugged An Jie who was on the sofa from behind, and An Jie came back to his senses from the game video.

Looking at the time again, it was almost ten o'clock in the evening. It turned out that I had been sitting here watching the video for almost three hours.

An Jie stroked Catherine's hand, and put it to his mouth slightly. "Basketball games are changing all the time. We beat them last year, but it doesn't mean we will win again this year."

"Hey, you are the mvp, and there are games that the mvp can't win." Catherine sat on An Jie's lap mischievously.

"Duncan and Parker, they are also MVPs..." An Jie looked at the night sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Tonight might be the last peaceful night in Portland.

After Anjie and Catherine fell asleep peacefully, ESPN's special program on the Eastern and Western finals finally started.

This time, espn invited Jeff Van Gundy, a very popular newcomer, to explain. Coupled with the professional and passionate Mike Breen, the ratings of this program will definitely be very gratifying.

The fact is also true, most of the basketball fans in the United States are watching this show at the moment. Today, the just-concluded Eastern Conference Finals has whetted the appetite of the fans. Tomorrow's Western Conference Finals will be so exciting, and the fans can't wait to experience it in advance from tonight's program.

"Tomorrow, the Western Conference Finals between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs will start. I think this time, the Trail Blazers have finally met a decent opponent." As soon as Mike Breen finished speaking, the on-site director turned to the camera Yes Van Gundy.

"I really hope that the league can cancel the east and west parts of the playoffs. Now that every team has a charter flight, it is not a problem to cross the east and west to participate in the playoffs. Tomorrow's game should have been in the finals Enjoy it on the stage!" Van Gundy briefly explained the excitement of tomorrow's game in just one sentence. A Western Conference Finals comparable to the Finals, Van Gundy is not alarmist.

"The Spurs are indeed very strong, but the Trail Blazers have only lost ten games in such a long time from the end of October last year to mid-May now. You have to know Jeff, this is a very terrible result. The Blazers have not only achieved a record of 72 wins, but they have won eight straight in the playoffs! Even so, do you still think that the Spurs, who are bumping in the playoffs, can pose a threat to the Blazers?" Mike Breen has witnessed the Trail Blazers accomplish too many impossible things this season. He does not believe that the San Antonio Spurs can be compared with this miraculous team.

"This Spurs team has been different since the tiebreaker in the first round of the playoffs. They are more united. In addition to the excellent defense as always, the Spurs' offense is also very smooth. Indeed, from a personal perspective From the data point of view, Duncan is indeed inferior to Ann. But on the whole, this Spurs team is fully capable of wrestling with the Blazers. The key to the Blazers' defense will no longer be the basket, but outside the three-point line .” Van Gundy’s words are not alarmist, he has seriously studied the tactics of the Spurs and the Trail Blazers. He averaged 11 three-pointers with a 46% shooting rate per game. This is something that the seemingly all-powerful Trail Blazers do not have.

The ESPN program is still going on in full swing, and the players who are about to participate in tomorrow's battle are going to rest early to recharge their batteries.

Two teams who came for the championship, two leaders who respect each other but are enemies of each other. Tomorrow's Western Conference semifinals are destined to allow fans to see a matchup like sparks hit the earth.

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"Stop him, stop him, stop him!" Ricard yelled from the sidelines. Since he was discharged from the hospital, this was the first time that Ricard yelled so hard.

The object Ricard was referring to was Danny Green, who was actively running. This young three-point shooter feels bursting today. He has made four shots from outside the three-point line, but he has already hit three of them!

What is the concept of three three-pointers, three three-pointers can allow the Spurs to add a full nine points to their scoring list! And nine points are very difficult to fill in a game of this level. At this time, the Blazers did fall into a passive position. The Spurs actually took a 5-point lead in the Moda Center, which belonged to Anjie. What's worse, there are only 2 minutes left before the end of the game!

Fans of the Trail Blazers yelled at Ricard in the stands. Who would have thought that the first game of the Western Conference Finals would be like this. Popovich actually led the Spurs and completely controlled the situation.

Ricard had to admire the Spurs' proficiency in rhythm control, and the Rockets were used to playing against a team that relied on chaotic battles and singles to win. The Blazers were really uncomfortable when they suddenly encountered a disciplined team. .

Even though the fans in the audience and Ricard on the sidelines yelled, Danny Green, who received the pass from Parker, made a decisive shot.

This time, Iguodala cleverly bypassed Splitter's off-ball pick-and-roll, biting behind Green.

But Danny Green, who had already shot with confidence, did not stop. He almost shot against Iguodala's defense.

"Fuck!" Popovich cursed angrily. Danny Green's shot decision was unacceptable to Popovich.

However, Green, who was feeling hot, threw the goal in a daze. Ricard was so angry that he tore off his tie. This kind of ball is always the most damaging to morale.

"Next time you want to shoot like this again, just come down and do it!" Although Green scored a goal, he still did not escape the fate of being reprimanded by Popovich.

Don't let Popovich hurt the confidence of the players. In fact, many cases of being overturned are caused by the overconfidence of the leading side. Green is lucky this time. Can he guarantee that he can score against the defense every time?

The Trail Blazers immediately launched a counterattack, but under the Spurs' systematic defense, the immature Lillard couldn't even find room to pass the ball.

The team's offense stalled for a while, and in the end, Lillard handed the ball to the more experienced Iguodala, and the deadlock was finally resolved.

Iguodala breaks through and points, and Angie, who catches the ball in the mid-range, walks past Split and goes straight to the basket.

Duncan didn't do his best to make up the defense, because losing Aldridge was not worth the loss. Popovich's strategy is very clear, let you score with Anjie, but only let you score with Anjie!

An Jie made a dunk with one hand, and the Blazers recovered two points. But only tens of seconds later, Tony Parker responded with a throw.

The epitome of this game is like this, Anjie can score, but the Spurs are always one step ahead

The situation of the game remained stalemate until the last second. An Jie worked very hard, and he contributed his best strength on both offensive and defensive ends. An Jie scored a game-high 32 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. The best individual today will undoubtedly be An Jie. But the best team today is the San Antonio Spurs!

109 to 105, the point difference is not big, but even if the Spurs only lead by one point, they are the winners!

The entire Moda Center fell into silence. How long has it been since you lost a game here? Fans even forget how to react when they lose.

"The Trail Blazers' eight-game winning streak in the playoffs is over! This is the Western Conference Finals, and the Trail Blazers should perform better!" Jeff Van Gundy's prediction became a reality, and the San Antonio Spurs really won the title. Champions cause trouble.

Compared with the Trail Blazers, who passed the first two rounds easily, the Spurs, who were promoted by the Grizzlies and Thunder, have an advantage.

The Spurs have become accustomed to the rhythm of high-intensity combat, while the Blazers thought that every opponent was so easy to deal with.

The total score of the Western Conference semifinals became 1-0, but this time, the Trail Blazers became the trailing side.

Under the joy of the Spurs players, An Jie stared blankly at the score on the big screen. This year, Duncan didn't joke with himself!

A powerful opponent has emerged, and the Trail Blazers have encountered the biggest crisis they have ever encountered this season. Anjie and Duncan, the Blazers and the Spurs, who will win?

The powerful defending champion must be vigilant.