The "script" of the 17-18 season was as exciting as most people imagined. The Houston Rockets are in the process of bringing in Chris. Paul then soared to a team-best regular season record of 65 wins. The Cleveland Cavaliers are only fourth in the East. Irving's departure has also made the situation in the East very tense for the Cavaliers. The Warriors had a very low-key 58-win finish in the regular season, but it was clear to everyone that the team's strength in the playoffs was anything but 58 wins.

The top eight rankings of the East and West have been confirmed, and whether it is a surprise or a disappointment, the battle for the championship is so brutal.

And before the start of the playoffs this year, the most talked about is not the Rockets, who have the best record in team history with 65 wins, but the Dallas Mavericks, who have won a full ten games more than the Rockets and once again set a new NBA single-season win record this season!

The Mavericks vs. the Spurs, if it had been a few years ago, no one would have imagined that these two old enemies would meet in the first round of the playoffs. But all sorts of incredible things have happened, and this one is no worse.

47-35, after Duncan retired and Leonard had a conflict with the Spurs, this season's San Antonio Spurs barely squeezed into the playoffs with only the eighth place in the West. They only need one more loss to take the eighth place in the West to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Seeing that the Spurs, which will never wither, are also starting to weaken, countless fans are heartbroken.

This season, Leonard has all but disappeared from the Spurs. Tony, who is 36 years old. Parker, who has also given up his starting position, is no longer the star who can speed on the court. Manu. How long Ginobili can play has become the hottest topic about him, after all, you can't expect a 41-year-old man to lead the team to turn the tide.

In addition to Leonard's injury and the aging of the Spurs, Popovich's wife has become more and more ill in recent days, and the old man can't help but be distracted. Popovich was absent from the team's training some time ago, and it was the rest of the coaching staff who were solely responsible. With so much bad luck coming together, the San Antonio Spurs are a real disaster.

In the media reports, the current Spurs team is a single-core team that revolves around Aldridge and Popovich has some unintentional love. Nowitzki has done miracles in the past, but Aldridge is not expected to lead the team to a championship like Nowitzki did in 2011, because it is simply unrealistic.

Even before the playoffs began, everyone was predicting a Spurs sweep.

Back then, the Spurs were the Mavericks' strongest opponent in the West. But now when the two teams meet again, there will be no suspense in the game. But that's the NBA, and no team can be strong all the time. The Chicago Bulls, who built two dynasties back then, have not slowed down until now.

Although the Spurs have such and such misfortunes, Carlisle and Yiyang have not neglected to prepare. They had a proud record of 75 wins in the regular season, but some problems encountered by the team in the victory also sounded the alarm bell for Carlisle and Yiyang all the time.

Among them, one of the most serious problems is undoubtedly the Mavericks' interior configuration.

"Rudy is recovering from his injury well, and if nothing else, he'll be back in the Western Conference Finals! Of course, if you get through the first two rounds before he returns. Otherwise, the next time he appears, it's next season. From inside Carlisle's office, Benjamin reported to Yiyang and Carlisle an update on Gobert's situation.

Although Benjamin said that he was recovering well, he would not be able to return until the Western Conference Finals, which was actually much slower than Carlisle expected.

"That guy texts me every day that he's ready to play, silly boy, of course he can play. It's just that we have to wait. Carlisle shook his head, he still had more than a hundred text messages from Goebel on his phone.

"I went to his house yesterday to see him, and this guy has no problem walking normally now. If you can, Benjamin, arrange for him to do recovery training as soon as possible. Of course, in the case of ensuring safety. ”

"No problem, yes. Rest assured, I'm definitely going to put the health of the players first. ”

Yiyang sighed, it is not the first time that the Mavericks have encountered such a thing as missing players in the playoffs. Last season, it was because of injuries that the Mavericks were defeated. But the lack of an interior defensive backbone at such a critical moment is the first time ever.

In other words, this season is not just the Mavericks, it seems that many teams have encountered injury problems. For example, the Spurs who lost Leonard, the Pelicans who lost Cousins, and so on. And the number of players on the injury list will definitely increase after the playoffs start.

Yiyang can only pray that no one in the Mavericks will fall again.

Now for the Mavericks, the weakness of the interior configuration is a huge test. Because after the loss of Gobert, the Mavericks were left with only a pure center like Tunisian Mejeri.

Although Meigery's performance after starting in the regular season was good, he still couldn't match Rudy's performance after all. Goebel is on a par. And the intensity of the playoffs, Meijery may not be able to resist.

Meijerry is one of those players who can use it, but can't use it much.

Aside from Jeffrey, the Mavericks are left with Dirk Sr. and Larry Jr. Nance two inside lines. Dirk is too old to play long in the playoffs. Nance Jr. has not played many games this season and is in very average form, and Carlisle does not dare to let him play in the top five position. And Kuzma and Rudy. Guy is not a good candidate for the center position.

In the regular season, the Mavericks have already shown some problems with their ability to protect the basket. Once Mejri is off the court, the Mavericks' box is wide open.

And in the playoffs, all enemies will minimize your strengths and magnify your weaknesses. When the time comes, the Mavericks' interior line will definitely be the focus of all opponents!

Carlisle thought about it for a moment, if he led other teams to fight the Mavericks, then he could list dozens of ways to target the Mavericks' lack of height.

And the Spurs' only remaining single-core Aldridge is another low-post killer! The game against the San Antonio Spurs will never be as easy as the outside world says......

※※※

From the regular season transition to the playoffs, the league has conventionally given everyone two days to adjust and rest. With the exception of the shortened season, which is only one day apart, the rest of the seasons are no exception.

On April 14, the first round of the NBA playoffs was about to start, and Popovich didn't go to the hospital to see his wife until 10 p.m. on the 13th. The reason is simple, he has just finished training with the team. And soon, he will leave his seriously ill beloved wife again and fly to the place where he has been broken again and again, Dallas, Texas.

"Erin, dear Irene, I've missed you all day. Damn it, maybe I won't be able to stay with you for long. Please get better and be strong. The season is coming to an end, and I'll have plenty of time to spend with you. ”

Aldridge, who had come with Popovich, stood behind the gray-haired old man, who was perhaps only so gentle in the presence of his wife.

"It's okay, go play your game well. We've been like this for so many years, and it's just another run-of-the-mill playoff game. Hey, LaMarcus, hello. Don't stand, just sit down. "Popovich's wife, Irene. Popovich has a smile on his face, and although he wears an oxygen tube on his nose, other than that, you can't tell that this is a seriously ill woman in bed. She is so optimistic, so brave.

"Uh...... No need, I'll just stand and talk. Aldridge smiled and didn't bother the Popovichs.

He couldn't help but wonder if he would have the energy to roar loudly on the basketball court if his relatives were lying in bed like this, and if he would have the energy to study his opponents.

But Popovich did it, and the old man was no different from usual, except for the fact that he missed two days of training some time ago.

He still works day and night on footage of the Mavericks' games, constantly trying out new tactics in practice. Of course, how can you not get a foul language when you are angry?

The media said that Popovich now has no intention of fighting. But only the Spurs players know best, and that's just gibberish. Popovich guy, he still wants to win! Even if the opponent is a 75-win Maverick, he still wants to win!

And the key to Popovich's desire to win is Aldridge, who is standing behind the couple at this time.

Aldridge's first two seasons with the Spurs weren't going well. Last season, Aldridge averaged 17.3 points per game, a career-low since his rookie season.

Just when everyone was blaming him, complaining about Aldridge, and speculating that the Spurs would trade Aldridge for a top-10 pick, Popovich stood up and said a word.

"He's always uncomfortable here, but I'm 98.75 percent of the blame."

Instead of blaming Aldridge, Popovich admitted to his own misuse of Aldridge. As an old handsome, it is actually very difficult to be willing to speak with such a face. If you don't believe me, ask Phil. Jackson, ask Jerry. Sloan, they're never going to admit they've used any of the players wrong.

It is precisely because of Popovich's honesty and change that Aldridge has been in excellent form this season. With the second spring of his career still in place at the age of 32, Aldridge must thank Popovich.

But when Popovich told Aldridge that he was going to be the Spurs' sharp knife to crush the Mavericks, Aldridge was timid.

Are you kidding? I? A 32-year-old forward who has not played in the Finals and has only won a championship trophy in China, wants to beat the invincible Dallas Mavericks?

Aldridge didn't believe in himself, and before he even went to Dallas, he began to get scared.

But when he saw the bravery and strength of the Popovich couple, Aldridge felt nothing but shame in his heart!

Popovich is not afraid of life and death, am I actually afraid of the Dallas Mavericks?

"Alright, it's almost time. Irene, I have to go, the plane is waiting for me. After two games, we'll be back in San Antonio. When the time comes, I will accompany you well. I love you, Irene. Popovich said, kissing his wife on the forehead.

"Go ahead, don't worry about me. LaMarcus, please take care of him. You know, he's not young. Erin looked at Aldridge again and begged him to take care of Popovich along the way. In fact, this is also the reason why Aldridge and Popovich went together. The Spurs really didn't feel at ease and let the old man Popovich run around alone.

"Yes!" Aldridge was like a loyal guard, straightening his back.

In the taxi to the airport, Popovich did not say a word. It seems that he must still be worried about his wife. The doctor had said that Erin's condition was not optimistic, and Popovich could only pray that the bastard doctor was lying.

After a long time, when the taxi was almost at the airport gate, Popovich spoke and asked Aldridge next to him only one question.

"LaMarcus, tell me the truth. As the core to face the 75-win Mavericks, are you scared? ”

"I'm not afraid, sir. I'm not afraid of anything now, I just want to come back with victory. Aldridge's answer was very crisp.

"Hmm." Popovich nodded in satisfaction, then opened the door and got out of the car.

"By the way, you pay the fare." (https:)

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