area51novel Chapter 216
Chapter 216
The two teams were evenly matched in the second half of the second quarter, but the Nets still held a 13-point lead, 59 to 72. The Spurs' seemingly loud but ineffective attack was not as dramatic as the Nets' equally powerful attack. The Nets, who had the advantage, had an absolute advantage in the Spurs' home court. In the Nets locker room, Coach Frank was very satisfied with Kidd's performance. "Jason, you were great today. You reminded me of the omnipotent you ten years ago. We will definitely bring victory and home advantage back to New Jersey, I'm sure!" Kidd grinned, and it was obvious that the coach's words were very useful to him. At this time, the team took the initiative. As long as they played steadily, he believed that the Nets would definitely win today's game. Unlike the cheerful and relaxed atmosphere of the Nets,
The Spurs are a bit depressed now, and they can't find any flaws in their opponents on the defensive end.
Ginobili and Parker in the backcourt can't beat Kidd and Carter together.
The team is getting more and more passive. In this unfavorable situation, Popovich rarely smokes in the locker room.
He hasn't touched cigarettes for many years, and he still asks the assistant coach for cigarettes.
Seeing the head coach mumbling on the bench, there is only low breathing in the Spurs' locker room.
No one dares to disturb Popovich's thoughts. No one wants to feel uncomfortable at this time.
In Popovich's mind, the Spurs must keep the home advantage. If they win this game, the probability of winning the championship is 80%.
Popovich can't help but put pressure on the players, because once the Nets regain the home advantage,
With the current state and the degree of understanding between the two sides, no one dares to guarantee what will happen next.
The air in the locker room was almost frozen, and you could hear a pin drop.
"Coach, let me defend Jason, I'll take care of him!"
Bruce Bowen, sitting in the corner with bloodshot eyes, broke the silence.
He looked at head coach Popovich, smiling creepily, revealing his white teeth.
At this time, there are always players who have to make sacrifices. Bowen decided to use his performance to win the championship for the team.
In his eyes, the champion is the champion, and there is no such thing as unscrupulous means.
Role players should do the work of role players, and someone has to dare to do the dirty work. This is also his way of survival in the NBA.
The Spurs players looked at Bowen in confusion, because the coach had rejected his request before.
Popovich held a cigarette and looked at Bowen with a calm face.
Then he took a deep puff of cigarette, and seemed to have made a great determination.
The long smoke came out of his mouth.
Others don't understand, but how can Popovich, who is shrewd and calculating, not understand? Players can be simple, but coaches absolutely can't!
His last look was in the direction of Bowen,
Bowen nodded firmly.
Popovich paused for 2 seconds before speaking,
"Manu, you defend Carter in the second half, Jason Kidd will be handled by Bruce, the others remain unchanged."
After arranging the defensive tactics and implementing and emphasizing the offense again, the Spurs players filed out of the locker room,
Only Popovich and Bowen walked at the end of the player tunnel,
"Bruce, you still have time to give up now, we can beat them!"
Bowen turned around and looked at Popovich,
"Coach, you and I both understand that if we don't defend this home court, we probably won't be able to return to New Jersey. There is a chance, and I have to do some dirty work. It will be fine as long as I do it in a more covert way! "
Popovich knew that he and Kidd had some personal grudges.
Since the defense problem cannot be solved, the person who created the problem should be solved.
As the engine of the Nets, Kidd is absolutely an indispensable part of the Nets.
No matter what method is used, if he is taken down, the Spurs will win this game, and even the entire series will be directly ended.
The only worrying point is that he does not want Bowen to make things too big.
"Bruce, be gentle, I don't want you to go in."
"Don't worry, boss, I know my limits. I am still waiting to travel around the world with my two sons after retirement."
After Bowen finished speaking, he trotted to catch up with his teammates in front, put his arm around Parker's shoulders and talked and laughed all the way.
Popovich stood in the player tunnel for a while.
At the reminder of the assistant coach, he threw away the cigarette butt in his hand and stomped it out with his foot.
Then he sighed and walked towards the court.
As a famous coach, Popovich naturally has his pride. For such a despicable behavior that hurts the enemy by a thousand and hurts himself by eight hundred,
he actually had some resistance in his heart.
But over the years, under Bowen'sWith what he did, the team won a real victory.
This bottom line has been lowered again and again, becoming more and more flexible.
However, it was the first time that he went against the wind in the finals. He didn't know what such a decision meant to the team.
Took a deep breath. For the victory of the team, who cares about that, because fans will only remember the winners and the champions.
And who cares about the losers!
Reality is so cruel, and competitive sports are even more so.
Fortunately, only Bowen and himself are not clean in this team. The eyes of others are still clear.
Let us bear and bear these infamy, it will only be a few years.
The memory of fans and the media is limited. At that time, they will only praise the championship won by the Spurs!
"Beep"
The referee's whistle interrupted Popovich's thoughts.
At this time, his eyes rarely looked at his favorite Duncan, but stayed on Bowen.
Bowen nodded to him expressionlessly, almost imperceptibly.
When Kidd dribbled across half court, Roy keenly discovered that Bruce Bowen was standing in front of Kidd.
The Spurs changed their defensive strategy.
Roy felt his eyelids twitching wildly, and had a bad feeling.
In view of Bowen's bad record, he helped Kidd pick and roll near the midfield, and whispered to Kidd:
"Jason, be careful, it's definitely not that easy for the opponent to send Bowen to defend, don't get hurt by him!"
Kidd glanced at Bowen and curled his lips, as if he was disdainful of Bowen.
Bowen also heard Roy's conversation, and he watched Kidd break through Duncan's defense and rush to the basket.
He grinned at Roy,
"Don't talk nonsense, I'm just doing my best to defend. Kidd's defeat is so strong that I will definitely take good care of him!"
After saying that, he ignored Roy's reply and stared at Kidd.
After Kidd was squeezed to the backboard by Duncan under the basket, he did not give up, but protected the ball, and passed the ball to Carter at the baseline. Carter knocked Ginobili away in the confrontation, and after receiving the ball, he accelerated and broke through directly, leaving Ginobili behind, facing Duncan under the basket, and threw the ball high into the basket, 59 to 74. Most of the credit for this ball should be attributed to Kidd who tore through the defense. He continued to play in the second half to help the Nets expand the score. At this moment, he was full of pride. Bruce Bowen was in the best defensive team for 5 times, so what? He can only look up to himself. I will definitely win the game in San Antonio today!