"It was a really good game and we had a home win against the mighty Trail Blazers, which was a really nice feeling."

On May 28, 2000, after the game with the Trail Blazers, Spurs head coach Popovich went to the post-game press conference alone, in order to avoid being harassed by reporters and depressurizing the players, since the Spurs entered the playoffs, 13 consecutive games, Popovich went to the post-game press conference alone.

"Are you satisfied with Meng's performance? Of course, there's no doubt about it, Meng is a very good player, his defense and shooting have helped us a lot, and there is no doubt that Meng is the best rookie of the season. When asked by a CCAV reporter if he was satisfied with Meng Xu's performance, Popovich gave a very positive answer.

In the basketball training court on the side of the Alamo Gymnasium, Tim Duncan, the star of the Spurs, is leading the Spurs up and down to practice, even David Robinson, who has been injured, did not leave, but sat on the sidelines to accompany his teammates.

Since the second half of the season, Meng Xu's training project has always been shooting, either 3 points or mid-range shooting, and Meng Xu's training project today is 300 mid-range shots, although he has been practicing for a long time, but Meng Xu's mid-distance shooting has not improved much, and he can only achieve a shooting rate of about 60% on the training ground, and the same is true today, the previous 120 shots only hit 76 balls, and the assistant coach Mike Budenholzer on the side also shook his head, if this is on the court, a little confrontational, I'm afraid that I don't even have a 30% hit rate.

Seeing the assistant coach's somewhat disdainful look, Meng Xu was also very embarrassed and said, "Mike, you better stay away from me, or I'll be more nervous." ”

Mario Eli, who was doing recovery training on the side, saw this scene, brought a towel and walked over: "I think you're embarrassed, don't be nervous to shoot so many lore, practice a tight shot of yarn." ”

"Mario, in the future, you will guide Meng Lian to shoot, to come up with your tricks, it is best to teach Meng to stop the jump shot." Looking at Mario Elie, who was a little idle, Mike Budenholzer pulled him to his side, pretending to be mysterious and said, "When Meng has practiced the middle pitch, I will ask Greg to give you a bonus." ”

"No problem, it's on me, I think I was also a beautiful boy back then." Mario Eri patted his chest and smiled and assured Mike Budenholzer. Mario Elie's physical fitness is not outstanding, and his defense is average, but he can be favored by many NBA teams, and he can also get a big contract, and it is not untargeted, and the kiss of death in the playoffs against the Suns is the highlight of Mario Elie's career. Although he is now old and has been affectionately called by some Spurs fans, he is a four-iron outsider, but he has practiced a beautiful mid-range shot, and he is still a housekeeper who relies on him to eat.

Meng Xu on the side, seeing the expressions of Mario Eli and Mike Budenholzer, Meng Xu knew that there was nothing good: "The smile is so insidious, there must be nothing good." ”

And Mario Eli ran over directly and put his arm around Meng Xu's shoulder: "Look at you, what do you think of us, Mike wants me to hand over my ability to eat to you, and you still talk about us, what do you say about China, what do dogs bite?" ”

Duncan, who was practicing free throws in the distance, didn't know when he ran over, touched Meng Xu's head very funny, and added by the way: "It's a dog that bites Lu Dongbin, I don't know the hearts of good people." ”

"You're a dog." Looking at Duncan, who had already run away, Meng Xu chased after him with his teeth and claws.

Meng Xu chasing Duncan was not a piece of cake, one hand grabbed Duncan from behind, and the other hand kept scratching Duncan's squeaky socket, and said with words in his mouth: "Tell you to touch my head again, tell you to touch my head again." ”

"Okay, okay, it's not early, everyone go back and have a good rest, there will be a training session tomorrow afternoon." After participating in the press conference, Popovich didn't know when he was already standing on the sidelines, looking at Meng Xu and Duncan who were playing on the court, and the Spurs players who were holding their stomachs and laughing wildly, Popovich did not feel the slightest displeasure, but a smile.

After the third victory over the Trail Blazers, the fourth game between the Spurs and the Trail Blazers has undoubtedly become the top priority of this round of the series, after the first three games, the two teams have basically taken out all the tactics and hole cards that they can take out, and the weaknesses of the two teams are completely exposed in front of the opponent, if the Trail Blazers win this game, then it is likely to be the same as the Spurs Lakers series, the two sides are rushing to grab the seventh, and if the Spurs win, Then the Spurs, who won the match point with a 3-1 lead, are likely to finally eliminate the Trail Blazers and advance to the finals.

It's just that there is still one thing that makes Popovich very hesitant, that is, for the shaping of Meng Xu, Popovich originally meant to wait until the offseason to make plans, but after seeing that Mike Budenholzer has started to act today, although he is very annoyed by Mike Budenholzer's behavior of bypassing him, Popovich also knows in his heart that as his assistant, Mike Budenholzer also sees the dilemma in his heart and wants to make a decision for himself, for the long-term consideration of the team. There's nothing wrong with Mike Budenholzer's approach. The current situation of the Spurs no longer needs to be overturned and rebuilt, they just need to continue to strengthen around Duncan, and Duncan has also proved that he can lead the Spurs to all the honors.

Just the thought of a player with the potential to become another Tim and being scrapped in his own hands made Popovich feel terrified, and since the first game with the Trail Blazers, after that discussion with Mike Budenholzer, Popovich has not had a good night's sleep, and is woken up in the middle of the night every day. It's just that once he supports Meng Xu to take the position, and the integration of Meng Xu and Duncan ends in failure, then the Spurs will inevitably fall into infighting, and there have been countless precedents for this situation.

But in Popovich's heart, he still can't help but want to try it, and this kind of thinking is like a devil, devouring his mind every day, in his heart every moment, constantly reminding himself, try it, try it, or you will regret it for the rest of your life.