Back in June 2009, the Spurs made a deal with the Bucks to get the physical Richard Brown. Jefferson.

In the eyes of the media at the time, the addition of Jefferson, who had excellent physical fitness, was a big reinforcement for the Spurs' forward line. However, Jefferson's performance with the Spurs did not live up to expectations. In two seasons with the Spurs, Jefferson's stats slipped from averaging 20 points per game to a little over 10, and the downward trend continues.

With the Spurs' aging roster, Jefferson is undoubtedly a big gamble for the Spurs. However, it turns out. Jefferson, who can fly and dunk well, is used to being the focus, and he can't adapt to the Spurs' team-style play.

and the previous "Martial Saint" Stephen. Compared to Jackson, Jefferson has an inconsistent mid-range shot, and his defense is not so solid. The Spurs' request for the No. 3 position, Jefferson did not occupy any of them. While occasionally, Jefferson's beautiful dunks add a touch of surprise to the game, but in unpretentious San Antonio, there is clearly little market for his dunks.

And to Jefferson's great upset, no matter how much he tries to please Spurs fans, the fans here don't buy it. Every night, even when he was playing at home, he could hear some invective at himself.

When he first joined the Spurs, Richard. Jefferson was ambitious. But now, he has nothing but hatred for San Antonio. In a place you don't like, playing basketball you don't like. From a quasi-All-Star level player, to a role player who follows behind the old men.

The gap was so great that Jefferson was extremely sad.

Now, watching Conley hand the ball to Randolph after half-time, Richard . Jefferson let out a big sigh. As long as Link doesn't attack, the Grizzlies can play no matter how they want. If that damn 0 scores, Richard. Jefferson reckons he's going to be scolded by the fans at home again......

"Zach. Randolph held the ball for the second time in a row, and it seems that he still doesn't give up and wants to play Duncan! "Steve. Kerr swung his fist, and the more the two big guys fought, the happier he became. After all, fans and commentators alike like to watch the excitement.

But Randolph wasn't that hard-headed, and maybe he did have a bit of a wave when he was in Portland and New York. But the stench had changed when he stepped into Memphis.

Randolph still holds the ball in the low post because of the need to attract the defence. Duncan's pegboard hat to him just now has made the big black bear recognize the situation.

No way, your uncle is still your uncle. It's not like there's no way to defeat Duncan, but it's really not wise to just sit and fight him one by one. What the big black bear has to do now is create scoring opportunities for another person!

Randolph feigned recoil, and Duncan's defense remained tough. It's as if Randolph is hitting a rock, and Randolph is trying harder, but the "stone" is motionless.

Just when everyone thought that Randolph was going to continue to fight Duncan hand-to-hand, Link suddenly cut in coldly!

"It's over!" Richard. Jefferson cursed secretly, and when he caught up again, Link had thrown off half of his body!

Randolph, who was sitting on Duncan, hit the ground and sent the ball to Link, who quickly hit the basket, but because Duncan was pinned down by Randolph, he didn't have time to make up for it.

As for the Spurs' other interior McDyes, he was able to score 20+12 at his peak, and McDyes, who was selected as an All-Star, now has little energy to squeeze.

With a height of 2.06 meters, he wanted to protect the frame too short. His weakened athleticism prevented him from compensating for his height deficit with confrontation and bounce.

Another point is that McDyce is just too light right now. At his peak, he weighed more than 110 kilograms, and later his weight dropped to 100 kilograms. And now, McDyce is estimated to be just over 90 kilograms, which makes him completely a small forward figure.

So, although McDice rushed to the basket, in the confrontation, Link still scored the ball. Just came out of Perkins' penalty area defense, and now suddenly faced a weaker McDyes, Link has to say how easy it is to go under the basket!

"It turned out to be a pass, Link and Zach have a tacit understanding. We all know that Link was quite impressive in the last round. Against Durant, the league's leading scorer, he still put on an excellent defensive performance. I just don't know Richard, who has been criticized by Spurs fans. Jefferson, can you stand it. ”

"I can't stand it!" Jefferson cursed secretly, Link had just scored, and there were already fans in the stands looking for his fault.

Popovich also touched his chin, and he was given a headache by Link during the regular season. But to be honest, he didn't have a particularly good way to restrain Link until now. Richard. Jefferson's defensive ability is there, and no matter how smart Popovich is, he can't make up for Jefferson's lack of individual ability.

Thinking of this, Popovich has some hopes that this year's draft will start soon. The kid named Leonard, whom his assistant coach Budenhozer recommended to him, should be just enough to fill in the gaps in the Spurs' forward line.

Now, you can't count on defense. McDyce is old, Richard. Jefferson was pitted. To rely on, you can only rely on offense. To put it bluntly, the Spurs can win 61 games this year, relying on offense.

A team attack led by two defenders, and that's what Popovich has changed this year. Previously, the defensive battle between the Spurs and Pistons was box office poison. But right now, the Spurs game is actually very good to watch. Because their offense is gorgeous, but the scoring method is relatively simple, so it creates the illusion that "Spurs are very simple".

Parker had just reached halftime when the whole Spurs were running. Ginobili actively cuts in, Richard. Jefferson opened up space, while McDies Sr. and Duncan covered the three perimeter.

But the Spurs' ball was conducted for a long time, but it did not work. The reason is that the individual defense ability of the Grizzlies players is too strong!

Conley, Tony. Allen and Link, these three are not defenders that Spurs players can easily beat. It's too hard to get rid of them with passing and off-ball attacks.

Ginobili received a basketball on the right side of the three-point line and looked up at the offensive time. With only 12 seconds left, he had to make a decision.

So, the Argentine beckoned to McDyce to block the dismantle, and Ginobili accelerated to break through!

Tony. Aaron quickly got rid of McDyce, who wasn't huge, and was back in front of Ginobili. Ginobili repeats his old trick and tries to avoid Tony with a European step layup. Allen's defense.

But just as Ginobili took two steps and was about to jump, Link came sideways, ready to take the ball!

"When did you come here!?" Ginobili was taken aback, he didn't expect there to be a defense!

It must have been unsafe to defend against two people, so Ginobili passed the ball to Richard, who was freed up by Link. Jefferson!

Jefferson stood in the bottom corner and played soy sauce, but he didn't expect a pot to fall from the sky, and he was not ready to shoot at all!

So, from receiving the ball to adjusting the pace of shooting, Jefferson was too slow.

When he finally adjusted and shot, Link's block arrived just in time! At that moment, Jefferson had the heart to eat the ball. Yes, I have to be scolded again!

"Boom!"

"Richard. Jefferson misses a shot, and he misses a great opportunity! Link's defense is very smart, and he deserves to be the Memphis guard who defends the scoring champion with doubt! "Steve. As soon as Cole finished speaking, he heard that the fans around him were a little uneasy.

"Die, you useless old thing!"

"Oh my God, why do the Spurs pay you so much every year."

"Leave San Antonio, go anywhere, and don't come to San Antonio!"

Jefferson gritted his teeth, he really wanted to give the middle finger to this group of fans! After only two rounds of fighting Link, Jefferson had a bit of an explosion of mentality.

It stands to reason that veterans should play a role in limiting newcomers in the playoffs. But in Jefferson's case, it's reversed. Link overwhelmed him, a player with 10 years of NBA experience.

As soon as Jefferson's shot hit the iron, Conley put the ball in Link's hands. This time, Link is no longer secretive, he attacks directly with the ball!

Jefferson's drop was half a step slower, causing Duncan to make up for it to limit Link.

However, Link's pass button was not deducted, and instead of being bluffed by Duncan's supplement, he gently threw the basketball into the air!

Randolph leaped up behind Duncan and received the basket with ease. 4-0, Link had 2 points and 1 assist, completely opening up the Grizzlies' offensive channel!

"The Spurs' defense didn't quite react, and when the Grizzlies changed their point of attack from Randolph to Link, their offense was immediately revitalized. In the last series, Link focused more on the defensive end. But this round, when he's at the heart of the attack, I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs. ”

Randolph stuck out his tongue excitedly after the goal, and sure enough, as long as he didn't dwell on individual singles, it was not difficult to score on Duncan's head.

Link and Randolph bumped arms again, and the forward duo sent the West No. 1 shivering at home.

After that, the Spurs were completely suppressed. Link had 6 points and 3 assists in the first quarter, Jefferson was helpless with Link, and Link was already responsible for the offensive core. You must know that the Spurs, who mainly focus on team offense, only had 2 more team assists than Link in the first quarter.

If it weren't for Ginobili's ultra-long-range three-point shot at the last moment, the Spurs would have trailed the Grizzlies by 8 points at the end of the first quarter!

"27-22, even with Ginobili's last miraculous three-point shot, the Grizzlies still lead by 5 points! It's incredible, the grizzly bear really has a black momentum this year! And Link, when the defensive pressure is not so great, plays well on the offensive end! Popovich has to do something, if the Grizzlies are allowed to play like this, they may have to fall behind by double digits at halftime! ”

Steve. Kerr shook his head, Spurs have been really embarrassed in recent years. In 2009, the third-place team in the West was defeated 4-1 in the first round by the sixth-sixth Mavericks.

In 2010, the Spurs met the Mavericks again in the first round of the playoffs, but that year the Spurs were seventh in the West, and the Mavericks became second in the West. Although that year the Spurs advanced to the second round and successfully took revenge on the Mavericks. But in the Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs were beaten 4-0 by the Suns.

This year, the Spurs finally won the long-lost regular season in the West. But once again, when it comes to the Western Conference semifinals, I will run into big trouble.

Popovich angrily held the tactical board, but there was no way to blame his players.

Defensively, the Spurs tried their best, but there was only so much ability, they could only defend to this extent. He asked his players to pay attention to the help defense, but the consequence of the help defense was that Link had 3 assists in a single quarter and no turnovers.

On the offensive end, Ginobili and Parker are still good, but the Grizzlies' defensive ability is unlikely to slip suddenly.

When your players are doing well and still can't do anything about the other team, it's desperate to be a manager.

Popovich could only stand in front of Duncan and stare at the big guy who pretended not to be able to swim.

"I need you on the offensive end, Tim."

"Hmm." Duncan nodded lightly, and between him and Popovich, there was no need to say much.