"Tim, if it was ten years ago, you would definitely not have stood back and defended this goal, right?"
Garnett came down from the basket, looked at his stunned old opponent, and said with a smile.
Garnett's last offense was a combination of running and shooting, with poor touch, but he used running and shooting to attract Duncan forward, blocking Duncan and grabbing an offensive rebound.
As a super excellent defensive player, Duncan will definitely make defensive changes when faced with the same situation this time.
Garnett's old age means that he has a poor shooting percentage on such difficult shots. He can be allowed to shoot, mainly to prevent Garnett from using his experience to block offensive rebounds.
Therefore, this time, Duncan did not jump, and even deliberately took a step back when Garnett came over, giving Garnett more room to sprint.
Finally, Garnett completed this shocking dunk.
Do you think there is a problem with Duncan's defense this time?
From Duncan's perspective, there's no problem at all.
Even Duncan couldn't have imagined that Garnett could dunk on him in this situation!
So, just like Garnett said, if it was ten years ago, he would definitely not underestimate Garnett so much.
Just now, he really underestimated Garnett.
Garnett looked at Duncan, who was now expressionless again, smiled, turned around and prepared to return to defense.
"Tim, if you look down on me, I will become a backdrop."
After turning around, Garnett stopped, and after finishing speaking, he added another sentence.
"I almost forgot, the last thing Tim is afraid of is becoming a backdrop."
Um?
Duncan looked at Garnett's back in front of him in surprise. Garnett's voice was filled with nostalgia and inexplicable regret when he added this sentence.
"In the past, I was too afraid of becoming someone else's backdrop. I just wanted to be in the limelight. I never thought that winning was the most important thing."
Garnett sighed and left.
What was left was Duncan's eyes widening once again.
"KG..."
After looking away from Garnett, Duncan immediately looked at Du Kang next to him.
Duncan's eyes were filled with shock.
Coach D can actually successfully transform the elderly Garnett who is ready to retire? !
How incredible this is!
A veteran who is getting ready to retire has no motivation to change.
Therefore, Du Kang gave Garnett motivation, restored his physical strength, and restored his strength to 80% of its peak.
Then, Du Kang can knead Garnett at will.
When he got to the Lakers, let alone Garnett, even Danzi and Kezi had to doubt their lives!
In Du Kang's first season as coach, he really made Kezi doubt his life.
"This game is not easy to win!"
Although the Spurs are still 4 points ahead, Duncan has already felt the danger.
For the Lakers fans at the scene, Garnett's super offense just now also gave them a completely different feeling.
"We may still be able to win this game! We still have a chance in this game!!!"
Garnett made two wonderful attacks in a row, making the Lakers fans at the scene completely enthusiastic.
And the big score of 20 to 16 at this time really gave Lakers fans an opportunity.
After six minutes, the game came to an official timeout, and at this time, the entire stadium became a sea of cheering Lakers fans.
On the contrary, the Spurs, as the leading side, felt a little anxious on the bench at this time.
Duncan has had trouble playing against Garnett throughout his career.
Duncan has a career shooting percentage of over 50%, but against Garnett, his shooting percentage is only 46%. Of course, Garnett also has a career shooting percentage of 50%, but against Duncan, his shooting percentage is only less than 46%, and both of them have rebounds. The data on points, assists, and blocks are also very similar.
At the same time, Duncan, who has the advantage most of the time, has a record of 33 wins and 19 losses against Garnett, which is a superior record, but Garnett also won a lot.
In the 01-02 season, Duncan's MVP season, the duel between Duncan and Garnett was 2-2.
In the 02-03 season, Duncan's MVP season, the duel between Duncan and Garnett was still 2-2.
And the amazing thing is that their records and statistics are even, and their performance on the court is also 50-50.
It is precisely because of these two years that Garnett has gained a lot of glory. In the past two years, Duncan has established himself as the number one power forward in history. He is a power forward who is 50-50 equal to the number one power forward in history. What level is that? ?
As for the other super power forward driver, well, in the past two years, the driver has basically had no traffic. Although he has begun to beat the Wolf King, no one is bragging about it or paying attention to it.
Therefore, the three power forwards of Driver, Wolf King, and Duncan are actually quite interesting.
The driver restrained the Wolf King. The Wolf King and Duncan restrained each other, and Duncan restrained the Driver somewhat. The Driver couldn't guard Duncan, but Duncan could guard the Driver a little. The Driver suffered a lot against Duncan. The two met at their peak in the playoffs, and Duncan He once scored 20+ points in 12 consecutive games as a driver, 25+ points in 11 consecutive games, and averaged 30+ points per game in 12 games.
This is Duncan. He is not good at scoring, but when he meets a driver, he scores 30 or 40 points at every turn.
Duncan has 40+ points four times in the playoffs, two of which were against the Drivers.
Do you know why Duncan is the most successful of the three power forwards?
Compared with the Wolf King, who has offensive weaknesses, and the Driver, who has defensive weaknesses, Duncan is perfect.
Because it is perfect, no one will suffer any loss.
This is a relative term. It was still very uncomfortable for Duncan to beat the Wolf King.
Duncan played Garnett in his career. There were a total of 52 games in the regular season and playoffs, and he scored 30 points in only 2 games. His shooting percentage was 50% in 23 games, and there were 5 games where he was just 50%. Excluding these five games , 50% in just 18 games, just one-third.
If you fight three games, you need to be strong in two.
This is Duncan.
Therefore, after Garnett was very excited to see this game and seemed to be in good condition, the reason why Popovich suddenly became so nervous on the sidelines.
After so many years, if I want to say who is Duncan's most difficult opponent, it has to be Garnett.
Even if he hit the driver and O'Neal, Duncan didn't feel that bad.
In seven of Duncan's ten career playoff scoring games in the top ten, he beat Driver and O'Neal.
Against Garnett, there was not a single game in which he scored in the top ten.
Therefore, Duncan's lifelong enemy has actually always been Garnett.
The timeout ended and the Spurs attacked. This time Popovich didn't see Garnett out of form and hid, even though Duncan was now at a physical disadvantage.
Although he was arranged by Coach D in the formation, Duncan faced his old rival Garnett with a physical disadvantage.
However, Popovich still believes that Duncan's strength should be higher than that of Garnett. Now Garnett has a good restriction effect on Duncan. With his height, weight, defensive experience and skills, Garnett is indeed top-notch.
However, Duncan is still stronger!
Therefore, after Duncan passed the ball hand-to-hand with Leonard at the top of the arc, he cut to the basket in almost the same way as Garnett did just now.
Duncan had no intention of dunking on Garnett.
Instead, prepare to use stronger endurance to get rid of Garnett.
Garnett follows him to defend. With such a long sprint distance, Duncan can still sprint.
But Garnett, can he continue to rush like this?
This is not a sprint against Danny Green and Finson on the offensive end, but a sprint against Duncan!
"Garnett will soon be exhausted. After Tim jumps up, Garnett can't even jump!"
Popovich is confident.
Duncan, who was dragging Garnett with him, received a pass from Renner under the basket and prepared to force a layup.
Garnett, who was beside him, was not squeezed away by Duncan, and actually jumped up with Duncan! ! !
Damn it! ! !
Seeing Garnett running so far with Duncan and actually jumping up while being pressed by Duncan, the audience and Popovich on the sidelines were all shocked!
"Going to block the shot!!!"
Almost before Garnett's big slap arrived, Duncan threw the basketball back!
The block that Lakers fans expected did not appear!
Leonard, who had just passed the ball, did not expect Duncan to pass the ball like this, and this pass was very difficult.
Even if Leonard is an extremely good player with long hands and long legs, it is still not easy to catch such a sudden and difficult pass.
More importantly, there is no attack time!
After jumping high to receive Duncan's pass, Leonard immediately faced Ebanks, leaned back and threw the basketball in his hand.
Such a difficult shot seemed difficult to the Lakers fans on the sidelines.
Bang!
Blacksmithing!
The Spurs, who did not give up their inside attack, failed once again after Garnett came on the court.
Pierce, who grabbed a backcourt rebound, threw the basketball to McAway without giving the Spurs a chance to get into position, allowing McAway to launch a fast break.
Garnett actually started running after him!
When Garnett started running, of course Duncan could only run with him.
"Popovich just tested Garnett!"
"Now it's Coach D who tests Duncan!"
"Garnett and Duncan, these two old guys, won't be ruined by this test, right?"
The most important thing about this kind of fast break opportunity is that it disrupts the rhythm of the game.
"Seth, not so fast!!!"
Seth Curry was originally planning to run faster and get rid of Dellavedova, but when he heard Garnett's voice behind him, he almost stopped subconsciously.
"Fake! Seth Curry is running back!!!!"
Seeing Seth Curry run back to find Garnett, Antetokounmpo, who had just been replaced by Garnett on the sidelines, stood up dumbfounded.
In his dream, he played many games with the bad chess players of the Korean team, and spent most of his time studying his fighting skills.
Just like when Du Kang first signed Ah Lian, Ah Lian only had 7 skills. No matter how many games he played with bad chess baskets, his growth would only be like that.
Garnett, Barkley, Pierce, these veterans have so many years of experience, which is not comparable to young people like Antetokounmpo, Ebanks, and McAway.
Dellavedova never thought that Seth Curry would suddenly run back, and he was already a step slower.
Now stuck by Garnett, he was once again a step slower. In the end, Dellavedova could only watch as Duncan was forced to help defend Seth Curry.
Duncan helps defend Seth Curry. How can he help defend this?
And it’s still here in the middle circle.
In the end, the Spurs could only watch as Seth Curry received McAway's return pass from outside the 45-degree three-point line on the right side, and then pulled it up high!
A swipe!
Seth Curry finally scored a three-pointer!
This is the first ball Seth Curry hit in this game, and also the first three-pointer!
20 to 19!
The Lakers are only 1 point behind!
Because he had been suppressed for too long, after a long drought, Seth Curry ran like crazy across the court, flying towards Garnett in the center circle.
After rushing in front of Garnett, Seth Curry jumped directly on Garnett.
This opportunity is rare. Next time, there will definitely not be such a good opportunity. This is not a tactic that can be played routinely.
But, so what? !
In my last game against the Spurs, I made 2 of 20 three-pointers. Do you know how frustrating I was in my last game?
Keep fighting, keep throwing, keep throwing, keep fighting.
The coach is still supporting him and letting him throw, and his teammates are still supporting him and letting him throw, but he just can't make the throw!
Counting this game, he has made 18 consecutive three-pointers against the Spurs!
The 19th one finally hit!
"It seems like Seth Curry was turned on by KG, and KG locked a switch for the Spurs!"
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that after Garnett came on the court, the Lakers improved their interior defense and offense.
After Garnett came up, the Spurs' interior defense and offense were restricted.
The Lakers are not as fast, but they are more stable.
"Coach D's Fake basketball is not always exciting. It turns out you can still play like this!"
"Before this game, Coach D's Fake basketball has been pursuing excitement. Therefore, all of us thought that Fake basketball was a happy-to-death style of play without control buttons. Now, maybe we need to re-understand Coach D's method. Beat the basketball!"
Listening to O'Neal and Kenny Smith's surprised words.
The look on James's face before he ordered the driver was not very good.
"Why are you blowing?"
What is French basketball and another style of play? Coach D obviously gave up French basketball and returned to tradition!
After Garnett was replaced, Garnett became the protagonist on the court.
The previous protagonist was Duncan who dominated everything in the paint.
Now it's Garnett who has better physical strength.
After Seth Curry scored, the Spurs attacked again. This time the Spurs finally switched to Leonard and created opportunities for Leonard.
Facing Pierce's defense, Leonard made two consecutive fake moves without shaking Pierce. The third fake move turned into a real move and hit a fadeaway jumper in front of Pierce.
22 to 19!
But then, Garnett singled out Leonard under the basket, caught the ball, turned around, faced Duncan's defense, Leonard blocked the shot from behind, and Garnett made a difficult throw!
A swipe!
Hit!
Snap!
It also caused Leonard's thug foul.
Seeing that he could hit such a throw, Garnett was stunned again.
Extra penalty hit!
22 to 22!
"Oh my god, after falling behind for 8 minutes, the Lakers finally tied the score again!!!"
"Not only did we tie the score, but the situation of the game returned to the Lakers' side!"
Garnett's physical advantage over Duncan is so fatal!
In order to change the Spurs' style of play, Popovich sent Gasol to the Bulls to strengthen the forward line and actively reduce the strength of the inside line.
It's embarrassing for Popovich now.
After being sneak-attacked by Coach D with Garnett, the Spurs are really embarrassed now.
Although I know that Garnett cannot be in such a state every game.
However, Duncan cannot play in this game.
If the strength is not reduced, the physical strength cannot be replenished, which leads to a vicious cycle.
The first quarter of the game is over.
The Lakers, who were trailing by up to 8 points, actually led by 6 points 34 to 28!
What’s more important is!
"Wade didn't even play in this game!!!"
"Oh my God, the great Coach D, facing the powerful Spurs, wouldn't he be able to win the game without Wade's preparation?!!!"
In fact, Popovich did not consider this at first.
The reversal in the first quarter was so addicting to him that he didn't even think about Wade.
Later, he was always thinking about how to help his dear Daidai reverse the situation.
He didn't come back to his senses until the on-site Lakers DJ yelled when he didn't even see Wade in the first quarter.
Then, Popovich was dumbfounded.
It should be said that Popovich was completely confused.
"Holy shit, I was held down by a Lakers without Wade!"
"Farke, the only player in the Lakers team who has strong fighting ability is Wade. Now Coach D has sealed Wade. How can he still beat the Spurs?!"
"Although Garnett was in very good shape in this game, it was amazing. It would be impossible for him to play a game like this in 100 games, but my goddamn thing, Coach D used the Lakers without Wade to suppress him!"
Thinking of this, Popovich felt dazed and even dizzy.
Damn it!
He even knows that some media are probably causing trouble and slandering him!
Budenholzer next to Popovich was even more shocked at this time.
Ever since Bobo became coach D again, he has been thinking about how Coach D would humiliate Bobo in this game.
Unexpectedly, Coach D is actually waiting for Bobo here!
I didn’t expect that Coach D would seal Wade in this game, and Wade wouldn’t be able to play! ! !
Is this really going to happen?
Will Wade really not be able to play in this game?
For a moment, the whole world was shocked, and the whole world turned its attention to Coach D.
Including Popovich.
The first quarter of the game is over.
During the break, Sister Miller interviews Coach D.
"Coach D, are you sure Wade will not play in this game? Are you really planning to seal Wade away in this game?"
"Didn't you notice? Dwyane was wearing a suit in this game. From the beginning, I had no intention of letting Dwyane play in this game."
From the beginning, I had no intention of playing Dwyane in this game...
Look at that smile on the big screen.
Popovich feels like he's closing in on himself.
Farke!
I came here so aggressively to humiliate Coach D. Coach D, doesn’t he care about the outcome of this game?
Or, Coach D is so arrogant that even without Wade, he can kill himself in this game!
In Coach D’s heart, am I such a loser?
Damn it! !
Budenholzer was so frightened that he almost took two steps back.
This soaring black energy!
Bobo was spoiled by Coach D! ! !
In this game, either Bobo is broken or Coach D is going to be broken! ! !
(End of chapter)
