A successful team requires talent, but it also requires hard work.
Duncan is the Spurs' talent and the cornerstone of the Spurs.
After starting to build the team with "Stone Buddha" Tim Duncan as the core, Gregg Popovich's selection criteria were hard work and obedience.
Popovich's management of the team seems to be paranoid to another level: giving up talent and playing according to his own routine.
In the 2004-05 season, Parker only hit 27.6% of his 156 three-pointers. Then Popovich ordered Parker not to take three-pointers.
"Even if the sky in front of you is as empty as the sea, don't take action!"
So the following season, the obedient Parker played 80 games and only took 36 three-pointers in total, averaging 0.45 per game - this is not at all what a team's starting point guard should do.
But Ginobili won't listen to Popovich's words like Parker did.
In fact, apart from Duncan, only Ginobili dared to say "no" to Popovich in the Spurs.
He has a natural immunity to Popovich's curses. Even if Popovich has adopted "Are you crazy" or "Who asked you to do this" as a mantra, Ginobili is not bothered at all. Moved by it.
This Argentinian is always keen on high-end and high-end snake-like breakthrough layups, obsessed with crazy nO lOOk paSS acrobatic passes, and also addicted to the life-chasing three-pointer with a knife in his hand. point.
Ginobili's performance talent is most vividly reflected on the offensive end. Once Ginobili is allowed to rush into the penalty area, he will have countless ways to score the ball.
Even if his opponent was Shaquille O'Neal in his prime, Ginobili was not afraid, breaking through, making layups, or directly facing an asteroid hitting the earth, and then using extremely exaggerated gestures to get the ball into the basket.
"He is a snake." O'Neal said of Ginobili.
In 2004, Ginobili led Argentina to defeat the American Dream Team and successfully won the Athens Olympic gold medal.
Popovich has long known that Ginobili has this ability, but it was the 2005 Finals that prompted him to truly accept Ginobili.
Spurs VS Pistons, Popovich faced his mentor Larry Brown, the same team basketball, the same strict discipline, this is a life and death confrontation on the same plane.
Duncan, who averaged 24.9 points per game and 48.3% shooting in the first three rounds of the playoffs, encountered double-Wallace's defensive turns and endless help from other players.
The miserable "Shi Buddha" averaged only 20.6 points and 41.9% shooting in the 7 games of the Finals. Especially in the third and fourth games in Detroit, Shi Buddha made only 10 of 32 shots.
But the Spurs have Ginobili, and it is Ginobili's eclectic style of play that makes him the X factor that reverses the course of the series.
In the fifth game of the Battle of Tianwangshan, Ginobili passed the ball to Holly from the left corner at the last moment. The latter hit the most important three-pointer in the series. The Spurs narrowly defeated the Pistons by 1 point.
In the final seventh game, the two sides scored 57:57 in three quarters of a bloody battle.
In the fourth quarter, Ginobili took over the game: he scored 11 of the team's 24 points and dished out 2 assists, including 6 points in the final minute.
The Spurs defeated the Pistons 4:3 and won the championship again.
Popovich hugged Ginobili tightly, and at that moment, the Argentinian demon became a god in Tie Shuai's heart.
Duncan is the cornerstone of this team, and he keeps the Spurs competitive for the championship; and the existence of Ginobili gives the Spurs another "weapon" outside the system.
…………
After Ginobili once again used the pick-and-roll to score a three-pointer, George Karl decisively called a timeout.
George Karl is experienced and will not just watch his team be at a disadvantage.
"We have to keep an eye on Manu Ginobili. Lee, you go to guard Manu alone and don't let him destroy our defense." George Karl said:
"In addition, Allen and Lee take turns attacking Manu on the offensive end, and his good condition will not last long."
George Karl's decision is very simple, but very targeted.
The Nuggets used Li Yan, who was the most defensively motivated, to restrict Ginobili on the defensive end, and then used Iverson, who had the strongest individual explosive ability, to attack on the offensive end to consume Ginobili's energy.
Ginobili's advantage lies in his strong breakthrough ability, high level of attack, and a "crazy" momentum when he is in good condition; but his shortcomings are also obvious. His physical fitness is not strong enough, his condition is not stable enough, and his offensive output cannot be sustained. Focused launch.
George Karl's purpose is to knock Ginobili down.
Pause back.
Li Yan took control of the ball. After Ginobili replaced Michael Finley, Bowen moved to the No. 3 position.
Theoretically speaking, Melo has an absolute advantage against Bowen.
However, although Bowen's dynamic talent is mediocre, he still has a height of 201cm and a wingspan of 212cm.
Bowen's fight with Anthony was quite effective. In the Nuggets' two offensive rounds just now, "Melo" failed to deal with Bowen. This was the key to the Spurs' overtake.
Iverson and Li Yan pick and roll in the backcourt, with Li Yan mainly holding the ball, and Iverson passing and cutting without the ball and transitioning between offense and defense.
But Li Yan responded, and Iverson's tactic of holding the ball and attacking was also on the Nuggets' tactical board.
Li Yan came to the frontcourt with the ball. At this time, it was Ginobili who defended Li Yan.
Li Yan stood at the top of the arc, and Iverson rushed over with Parker.
In a hand-to-hand pass, Li Yan blocked Parker, and Ginobili switched to guard Iverson.
Before meeting Iverson, Ginobili always thought he was very flexible, and then Ginobili was overused.
Iverson was the last player Ginobili wanted to guard.
In this round, Iverson did not have "Melon" to tentatively attack forward, and "Answer" dribbled the ball directly and used his signature CrOSSOver.
Very few people can keep up with the extremely large changes in direction. If once is not enough, then twice.
Ginobili, who was struggling to keep up with Iverson, felt his body begin to separate, his upper body and lower body disconnected.
"Whoosh!" Iverson collected the ball and changed direction, accelerated the breakthrough, and Ginobili was left behind.
Stop suddenly and take action in one go!
"Whoa!" Iverson hit the ball steadily.
Iverson completed the ball gracefully and elegantly. The fans at the scene and in front of the TV were cheering crazily for the "answer".
However, Li Yan on the side thought that this ball could only score 9 points.
This is not because Li Yan is biased against Iverson. He thinks that the goal was very beautiful, but the consumption of Ginobili was not at all appropriate.
From the perspective of completing George Karl's tactical intention, scoring 9 points is too much.
…………
Nuggets round.
Li Yan gave the ball to Iverson, then dropped low and turned around to ask for the ball.
Iverson gave the ball back to Li Yan.
Li Yan leaned on Ginobili with his back and started a very solid back attack.
With an absolute advantage in height, weight and wingspan, with Li Yan's back-up skills, playing Ginobili behind the back is indeed a feasible tactic.
However, just when everyone thought Li Yan was about to defeat the "Argentine Demon Sword", a magical scene happened.
Ginobili actually withstood Li Yan, and after a crazy struggle, the two reached a microsecond balance.
Fans are a little confused, shouldn't it be, is it Li Yanshui, or is Manu becoming bald and getting stronger?
Iverson wanted to go over and pick him up, but was rejected by Li Yan.
Li Yan was calculating the time in his mind, and suddenly he exerted force. Ginobili was forced to take two steps back before he could stabilize his center of gravity.
Li Yan half-turned around and hit the hook!
Ginobili was breathing heavily. He originally thought it would be better to defend against Li Yan than Iverson, but he never expected to fight such a protracted battle.
When Li Yan retreated, he smiled and said to Iverson:
"Boss, I can only score 9 points in your offensive round. Look at me, you have to do this to consume Manu!"
