On the evening of the 6th, San Antonio.
Compared with the game the day before yesterday, Wang Shuo noticed that during the warm-up tonight, whether it was the mental outlook or the concentration of the players during the warm-up, this Spurs and the Spurs the day before yesterday were like two different teams. .
In addition, after the opening ceremony at the Spurs' home court that was comparable to a funeral, with the big screen showing the starting lineups of the two teams tonight, Wang Shuo discovered that compared to the game the day before yesterday, the Spurs also had a different starting list for them tonight. The lineup has been adjusted.
The starting lineups of the two teams are as follows:
Wizards: Gasol, Jordan, Artest, Hamilton, Arenas.
Spurs: Duncan, Steve Smith, Bruce Bowen, Charles Smith, Tony Parker.
First of all, in terms of selecting Duncan's inside partner, Bobo did not send "Admiral" Robinson, but used Steve Smith, who is 201 centimeters tall and weighs about 98 kilograms, to serve as tonight's team. The fourth position.
Secondly, Bruce Bowen, who was not on the team list in the game the day before yesterday, also got the opportunity to start this game.
On the sidelines, judging from various signs tonight, Wang Shuo knew that Popovich was indeed deliberately preserving the team's strength in the game the day before yesterday.
As for the reason, Wang Shuo had a rough guess.
On the one hand, the Wizards, who started the new season with 15 consecutive victories in the last game, were at the highest point in their recent games, both in terms of team morale and game concentration.
On the other hand, it was because the Wizards were home at the time.
Wang Shuo knew very well that the Spurs during this period liked to deliberately hide their clumsiness in certain games during the regular season. Therefore, when he noticed that Popovich was engaged in scientific research during the game, he, who had always been cautious, paid more attention. .
Of course, in addition to not wanting to fight to the death against the mighty Wizards at the Wizards' home court, in Wang Shuo's view, Popovich probably wanted to try the Wizards' water first on the road from the beginning. When we get back to the home court, we'll treat the Wizards to a nice meal.
First, this can stagger the Wizards' highest morale point, and then wait for work after returning to the home court.
Secondly, losing first and then winning can not only greatly boost the team's morale, but also indirectly interrupt the Wizards' high morale and help the Spurs build confidence in facing this Wizards in the future.
If the opponents in these two games were other NBA teams, Wang Shuo would definitely not think so much.
But as a team with a "criminal record", Lao Yin and the Spurs led by Popovich couldn't help but let Wang Shuo think the worst about them.
In fact, there is no need to learn from Wang Shuo's future case. As early as the 1998/99 season, the Spurs used this trick to deal with the Lakers, who were gradually gaining momentum at the time.
In that famous shortened season, in the first two games of the season between the Spurs and the Lakers, the Spurs coached by Popovich not only engaged in scientific research in the game, but also after losing to the Lakers in two consecutive regular season games, Popovich Veach also told the media in an interview that Duncan's most feared opponent is O'Neal. If they meet in the playoffs, the Spurs will definitely not be able to beat the Lakers.
But what's the result?
In the playoffs, the Spurs not only successfully used the twin-tower combination of Duncan and Robinson to force O'Neal to play the most inefficient series in his peak period, but also defeated O'Neal with a 4-0 score, aiming to make a career impact at the time. O'Neal, who won his first championship, had a black question mark on his face.
And it wasn't until afterwards that people realized how ridiculous Popovich's words about Duncan being afraid of O'Neal were.
As we all know, Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and learned to swim with his sister since he was a child. Later, it was not until Hurricane Hugo destroyed the swimming team's swimming pool that Duncan started learning swimming under the guidance of his brother-in-law and father because he was afraid of sharks since he was a child. Played basketball.
Therefore, after people reviewed the original words of Popovich when he said that Duncan was afraid of O'Neal, they discovered...
This old Yinbi clearly said at that time that Duncan was afraid of sharks.
It's just that the Los Angeles people who were immersed in O'Neal's terrifying dominance at the time would have misunderstood.
Look, Popovich didn't lie. Is Duncan afraid of sharks?
Anyway, if you don’t believe it, you can ask Duncan’s family.
ha?
What kind of shark would you say Duncan is afraid of?
Of course it depends on how you understand this sentence.
As a key part of the basketball game, in addition to liking evil people on the court, Popovich also likes evil people in psychological warfare off the court.
Therefore, don’t blame Wang Shuo for thinking too deeply.
The blame lies with the NBA, who have so many tricks up their sleeves.
Well, no, after the two teams warmed up and before going on the court, Jordan, who noticed that the Spurs' basket seemed a little loose tonight, immediately gathered everyone together.
"Tonight you must pay attention to where the basketball hits the basket." Jordan said to the other four starters of the Wizards.
As early as the 1990s, the "intelligent adjustment of the tightness of the rim" trick was played badly by the Bulls, and it was impossible to deceive Boss Joe's sharp eyes.
At that time, because the Bulls did not have a height advantage when facing most opponents, the Bulls often decided based on the opponent's rebounding style and the number of rebounding players to decide whether to tighten the basket before the game or to tighten the basket before the game. Loosen.
Generally speaking, when the basket is tightened, the basketball will fly farther after it pops out of the basket, because the forces interact with each other.
As for the rim that is deliberately loosened, the basketball will often bounce closer to the basket after the rim is bounced.
Knowing that the Wizards are a team that likes to fire from the outside, when Popovich instructed the team staff to install the basket tonight, he emphasized not to tighten the screws too much.
Before going on the field, Boss Qiao secretly thought to himself that this game was indeed as careless as Wang Shuo said before the game.
However, compared with Jordan who only saw the first level, Wang Shuo saw another purpose of Lao Yinbi Popovich tonight.
Seizing the last moment before the start of the game, Wang Shuo said to several Wizards starting players: "After tonight's start, don't play the triangle offense. Paul, do you remember the 131 position?"
Hearing this, Gasol nodded immediately.
"Very good, after tonight's kickoff, you will be responsible for organizing the team's offense." After completing this last explanation, while turning his head to the Spurs bench, Wang Shuo's mouth slightly raised. It was a pity that a feather fan was missing, otherwise, at this moment, he felt that he was simply the "Marquis Wu" alive.
On the sidelines, the three Mikes were puzzled as to why Wang Shuo would temporarily change the Wizards' opening offensive tactics tonight. Wang Shuo, after returning to the bench, said: "The Spurs loosened their basket tonight, right?" ?”
No one would doubt Jordan, the experienced "God of Basketball", on the judgment of these game details. Therefore, looking at Wang Shuo, the three Mikes nodded.
After smiling, Wang Shuo continued: "Then, why do they want to loosen their rim?"
Three Mikes scratched their heads.
Seeing this, Wang Shuo secretly laughed in his heart and said, "Although the Spurs did not arrange for David to start tonight, as the best rebounder in the league today, loosening the basket will only weaken it." Tim’s advantage in rebounding.”
The three Mikes nodded.
Because after loosening the basket, the basketball will be closer to the basket when it pops up, so theoretically speaking, this is indeed not very conducive to Duncan's ability to rush for offensive rebounds during the game.
Before suffering a serious injury, Duncan averaged more than 3 offensive rebounds per game at his peak all year round. You must know that this is not Tim Duncan who can only stand still and swing the windmill in the future, but one of the four major players recognized by the world today. Tim Duncan, the leader of forwards!
But the question is, since loosening the rim would be detrimental to Duncan, why did Popovich choose to do this?
Moreover, is this old Yinbi the kind of kind person who would do things that harm himself and benefit others?
"I expect the Spurs will use a zone tonight to limit our triangle offense.
The starting of Steve Smith and Bruce Bowen is precisely to enhance their mobility on the wings. "Looking at the three Mikes, Wang Shuo came to his own conclusion.
Hearing this, the three Mikes suddenly understood.
Because if what Wang Shuo said is true, the Spurs do have reason to loosen the basket before the start of this game.
After all, the weakness of zone defense lies in controlling one's own backcourt rebounds.
Can......
Before the game started, everything Wang Shuo said was just speculation after all.
In the eyes of the three Mikes, it is still very irrational and risky to temporarily adjust the team's originally arranged offensive tactics for this assumption.
But on the court, after the jump ball, the Spurs took the lead from Duncan with his signature "55-50 open shot you don't know if it's a throw or a hook" shot under the basket...
Arenas, who was responsible for dribbling the ball across half court, had just crossed half court with his front foot. On the Wizards bench, three Mikes immediately cast admiring glances at Wang Shuo!
Because, when the Spurs came up tonight, they really defended the zone!
On the court, with Gasol standing at the top of the arc, the other Wizards players spread out in a 131 formation. On the Spurs bench, Popovich, who was still thinking about how to deal with Wang Shuo after this game, also shocked!
Although in professional basketball, many top teams can respond quickly when encountering the opposing zone defense.
But without God's perspective, this reaction will take some time.
Generally speaking, a team that can react in two rounds on how to break the zone defense without calling a timeout is a championship-level team in the NBA.
But right now, how can the Wizards rely on reactions to break the Spurs' zone defense?
They clearly came prepared!
You guessed it right, the Spurs will defend the zone tonight!
On the Spurs' bench, Popovich couldn't sit still.
On the Wizards' bench, Wang Zhuge Shuo showed a proud smile.
Old thief, you didn’t expect that, did you?
You have your own tricks, and I also have mine to beat you!
…
