Just 50 seconds into the game, Phil Jackson called a timeout. When Hores Grant sent the sideline ball, Ron Haber, who received the basketball, just wanted to pass the ball to O'Neal, but was cut off by Meng Xu, and when Meng Xu scored two points through the fast break again, Phil Jackson on the sidelines immediately called a timeout.

In less than a minute of the opening game, Meng Xu had already contributed 3 steals, 1 block, and through 3 fast breaks, he created a 6-0 lead for the Spurs. In the past, whether it was in the Bulls or the current Lakers, the pressing tactics were a trick that they tried and tested repeatedly, but I didn't expect that I was disgraced by Meng Xu's pressing today, to be precise, Ron Harber was disgraced by Meng Xu's pressing, this backcourt combination that used to be composed of Jordan and Pippen, through the full-court pressing tactics, was invincible, so that countless heroes fell under the Bulls' pressing tactics, but today Ron Harber also fell under the pressing tactics, Just look at Ron Haber's face when he came off the court, Phil Jackson knew that he could no longer be counted on what he was doing in this game, and being directly tackled by Meng Xu 3 times in a row had greatly hit the veteran's confidence.

After the final timeout, Phil Jackson replaced Ron Haber with Derrick Fisher, a team's main playmaker, who was replaced just 50 seconds into the opening game, which was somewhat ruined. The importance of this game is self-evident, so in this case, Phil Jackson also hopes to win this game through timely adjustments, but I don't know if Derrick Fisher can break through Meng Xu's blockade.

Through this timeout, the situation on the court really improved slightly, in the face of Meng Xu's pressing, although Derrick Fisher was also embarrassed, but at least he could barely advance the ball through the half, and Meng Xu gave up pressing him after forcing Derrick Fisher a few times, and turned to defend Kobe. But what surprised Phil Jackson even more was that while Meng Xu was defending Kobe, he still had the strength to help defend Derrick Fisher and Rick Fox, which was originally an obvious shortcoming in the Spurs' defense, Mario Ely and Sean Elliott, under Meng Xu's leaks, actually left the Lakers' outside offense without the slightest chance.

And in this game, Popovich on the sidelines also showed a rare smile, because in this game, the Spurs finally played the rhythm he wanted, and finally played the game he wanted now, and when he thought of this, Popovich was sincerely happy. And when the first quarter of the game ended, Popovich was also very rare on the sidelines, handing towels to every player on the court.

"In the first quarter of the game, the Spurs' defensive efficiency was frighteningly high, with the Lakers' offensive ability, they only scored 14 points in the first quarter, and after O'Neal was mired in the quagmire of Duncan and David Robinson, the Lakers' outside line was collectively dumb, especially Kobe, who only scored 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first quarter. If Phil Jackson doesn't find a way to change the current scene, the Lakers may lose this game. When the first quarter of the game ended, although the Spurs' offensive efficiency was not high, the Spurs still led the Lakers by as many as 10 points 24-14, so when the timeout, Magic Johnson, who was still worried about the Spurs before the game started, now looks worried about the Lakers.

"Erwin, I think from the first quarter of this game, Meng Xu is enough to support a team's defensive system, although compared with Tim and David, Meng Xu still has a lot of deficiencies in some aspects, but Meng Xu's current defensive ability is not inferior to Scott and Michael at their peak, and even a little stronger than them." In the entire first quarter, Meng Xu contributed 6 steals and 3 blocks, and the previous Meng Xu also had the ability to help defend, but it can only be called good, far worse than today's game, Meng Xu also blocked Derrick Fisher and Rick Fox by the way when Kobe Bryant was out of line, and he beat the entire outside line of the Lakers by himself.

"That's true, if Meng Xu's previous defense was only tactical, then in today's game, Meng Xu's defense can be called strategic defense, and Meng Xu is indeed a special existence in this league." In basketball, outside players are limited by defensive ability and defensive means, they are more of a defensive leader, to take on the task of defending the opposite outside arrow figure, while the interior players have the natural advantage of height and rim protection, which makes it easy for them to support a team's defensive system, from the ancient Russell, to the modern dream Olajuwon, and now the Spurs' Duncan, they are enough to support the defense of the whole team. And the outside players, even if they are as strong as Jordan, they also form a defensive system with Pippen, not to mention that Jordan also has defensive giants like Harbour and Rodman by his side, and in today's game, Meng Xu also proved to the world that an outside player is also very likely to support a team's defensive system.

Due to the big lead, the Spurs' bench is also filled with a relaxed atmosphere, especially Mario Elie and Sean Elliott, the two veterans, are full of smiles, and another veteran, David Robinson, has been on the bench and everyone teasing each other, in the first quarter of the game, David Robinson, who has been fighting directly with O'Neal on the inside, is still under great pressure, but now seeing the team's lead in both the score and the field, David Robinson is also very happy. Just when everyone was smiling, the two cores of the Spurs, Duncan and Meng Xu, did not have the slightest expression now, Duncan kept staring at the scoreboard in the distance, and Meng Xu was looking at the cheerleaders in the center of the court, not knowing what the two were thinking at the moment.

"Okay guys, now we're going to keep up this defensive intensity and also strengthen our offense." Popovich didn't arrange any tactics, but encouraged him there empty-handed, and after finishing speaking, Popovich walked directly in front of Duncan Meng Xu: "Tim, Meng, there is no problem with the physical strength of the two of you, right?" ”

"Nope." Meng Xu and Duncan replied in unison that endurance was originally Duncan's strength, and Duncan was now at his peak, even if he played the whole game, there would be no lack of physical strength. And after Meng Xu used the magic potion, the endurance attribute has reached 110 points, and there is no problem, it can be seen from the first quarter of the game, Meng Xu played with his life at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, but he didn't sweat much, and there was no problem in this intensity of the game, holding on for 20 minutes.

"That's good, it's up to you." After Popovich finished speaking, he put his hands on the shoulders of Duncan and Meng Xu, judging from this game, Popovich is becoming more and more like a nanny coach. In this game, both Meng Xu and Duncan did their best on the defensive end, especially Meng Xu, in the past, under the situation of needing to take into account the organization of the team, Meng Xu's defense has regressed a lot compared with last season, but in this game, Meng Xu is really sitting on both offense and defense, and Popovich can clearly see that Meng Xu's defensive ability, especially the ability to assist in defense, has reached a new level, as long as Meng Xu and Duncan can continue to maintain such defensive intensity, regardless of whether he is a Laker or a Seaman, will fall to their knees under the Spurs' defense.

After the start of the second quarter of the game, the Spurs and the Lakers continued to send their main lineups, the Lakers wanted to recover the score quickly, while the Spurs wanted to continue to expand the score, and in this kind of key game, it is normal for the main lineups of both sides to play the whole game.

After the game restarted, the Lakers obviously changed their offensive strategy, O'Neal no longer went deep into the basket to fight with Duncan David Robinson, but began to try to catch the ball below the free throw line and attack directly.

Under O'Neal's physical offense, the situation on the court has really changed, and the Lakers, who were almost pressed by the Spurs in the first quarter, are now showing signs of turning over, at least on the field, the two teams are now inseparable, and in terms of score, the Lakers are also constantly chasing points. I have to say that when O'Neal really started to exert his strength, there was really no way to stop him except for fouls.

At this time, in the face of O'Neal, who couldn't be defended, the Spurs were not very reliable by relying solely on defense, and in this case, Meng Xu began to gradually shift the energy of the defensive end to the offensive end. Duncan's flu is not good yet, so at this time, it is time for Meng Xu to stand up.

When Meng Xu stood at the top of the arc with the ball again, he casually watched the position of his teammates, Meng Xu shook off his Kobe and Rick Fox after two consecutive changes of direction, at this time Meng Xu did not continue to break through to the basket, but passed the basketball from the gap to Duncan, and he continued to run towards David Robinson's position, and after making a gesture towards David Robinson, not far from the basket, David Robinson and Meng Xu made a no-ball cover, blocked Kobe Bryant behind Meng Xu, almost at this moment, Duncan, who was in the bag, passed the basketball to Meng Xu, and after receiving the basketball, Meng Xu continued to take a step forward, crossed the 3-point line, and then turned around and jumped and hit the first 3-point shot of the game.