Even Split was a little surprised, Ibaka ran a three-point tactic?

Popovich on the sidelines also had a confused expression.

He thought that Su Chen might innovate tactics or something, but he didn't expect it to be like this.

Serge Ibaka is shooting 38 percent from three-point range this season, which seems okay at first glance.

But these three-point shots are basically used as fixed-point shots, and those shots he hits when his teammates create three-point openings.

And yield is also an issue.

In both the regular season and the playoffs, Ibaka has maintained a three-point shooting rate of around 38%, but in the regular season, Ibaka averages about three shots per game.

But in the playoffs, Ibaka's shot production declined, averaging only about 2 three-point shots per game.

Popovich admitted that Ibaka had three points, and he didn't deliberately let Ibaka go of the whole series, and he still interfered with the shooting defense mode for Ibaka.

However, the three-point strategy of running without the ball is not the same concept as the three-point strategy.

This is equivalent to the difference between 3D and shooter.

Shooters usually practice shooting after receiving the ball when moving at high speed, training shots under interference, and difficult shots.

3D players usually don't practice these at all, because their tactical position is to shoot three-pointers to practice those who are not as good as defensive.

Serge Ibaka is a spacious-type defensive interior lineman, which is essentially similar to 3D, and he naturally does not usually practice those difficult off-ball running shots.

However, Split was surprised at this time, but he still went to keep up with Ibaka's movement, but not to prevent the shooter's defensive intensity.

Split even calmly bypassed Giannis Antetokounmpo's cover.

He wants to see if Ibaka will choose to take a difficult shot immediately after receiving the ball.

Sure enough, even after Ibaka ran to cover, there was a time difference to have a three-point shot at the first time.

But Ibaka didn't shoot right away, but chose to stand firm and see if the defense couldn't get over.

If Split can't come back, Ibaka will choose to shoot when he is firm, which is basically the rhythm of fixed-point shooting.

Of course, Split didn't completely let Ibaka go, bypassing Giannis Antetokounmpo's cover but still blocking it.

Ibaka pretended to click, but Split didn't pay any attention to Ibaka at all, and just casually reached out to interfere.

Ibaka can throw this kind of slightly interfering ball, which is considered Ibaka's strength.

But at this time, Lohr Deng, who was on the flank, suddenly burst out.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was already leaning in the direction of Lore Deng immediately after doing this cover.

After receiving a pick-and-roll from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lore Deng immediately ran to the three-point line.

Since Duncan didn't come out, he chose to squat on the inside, and Giannis Antetokounmpo directly blocked Danny Green.

After receiving the ball, Lohrdeng directly chose to shoot.

Brush!

With no interference from the ball, Lore Deng hit a three-point shot.

Timberwolves 3:2 Spurs.

Popovich frowned, this tactic Popovich is still very clear, this is one of the three-point tactics that Su Chen likes to use last season.

But anyway, the Timberwolves don't have an elite shooter, and Popovich doesn't pay much attention to these tactical deployments at all.

Even Middleton, who has the highest shooting percentage, is only a pseudo-elite shooter, and he is still far from a real elite shooter.

It's just that the Timberwolves' sudden change in style made the Spurs a little uncomfortable.

Popovich didn't pay much attention to it, though.

The Spurs' offensive round continues.

This time, the Timberwolves still adopted a one-defense strategy on the defensive end, but the difference is that in the last round, it was Ibaka's defense that has now been replaced by Giannis Antetokounmpo to defend Duncan.

As for the Timberwolves' offensive end.

Still start running some three-point tactics, or use three-point tactics as bait, and wait until Duncan comes out to make a variation.

The ball-handler has the option to take Giannis Antetokounmpo's pick-and-roll shot, and when Duncan comes out, he passes the ball to Giannis Antetokounmpo.

After Duncan came out, Leonard was also defending the perimeter, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's scoring efficiency on the inside also increased.

After a few minutes of fighting.

Timberwolves 12:13 Spurs.

Compared with the previous defensive battles of the two teams, the scoring efficiency of this game has both improved, and both teams have more offensive and defensive rounds than before.

Honk!

The first to call a timeout was Popovich.

Obviously, from the field, the Spurs are the leading side.

The Timberwolves just scored and the ball was still the Spurs', and the Spurs could have continued to pursue it.

But Popovich saw something.

Because the Spurs' 13 points were all scored by Duncan alone.

You must know that Duncan only averaged 16 points per game in the playoffs, and before the halfway point of the first quarter, Duncan was about to average points per game.

That's outrageous.

The Timberwolves' defensive strategy is also very simple, that is, to defend Duncan alone.

Most of the time it was Ibaka who defended the main line, then Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ibaka mainly rotated the defense, and even Lore Deng went up to defend Duncan for a round.

The other positions of the Timberwolves are all guarded against each other, and they don't give the Spurs a chance to run at all.

Duncan turned the tide on the inside, but the other Timberwolves players didn't even help defend Duncan.

Or if there is an assistant defense, it is just a fake assistant defense, and he will go back as soon as he interferes with Duncan.

This made Popovich see something.

At the same time, the Timberwolves' offense also made Popovich see what kind of calculation he played.

The Spurs used Duncan to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo alone, and then Leonard went to the secondary offensive point, and in the last game, he blocked Butler, who played well in G1.

After Butler squatted in the corner, Leonard went to defend Iguodala, but Iguodala was also in most of the corner.

However, after Lore Deng scored some points, Popovich asked Leonard on the sidelines to defend Lore Deng.

But immediately it was Butler and Iguodala who chose to hold the ball instead of crouching in the bottom corner, taking the place of Lore Deng.

Lore Deng took Leonard to the bottom corner.

Butler and Iguodala also tried their best to catch Parker, and if they couldn't catch Parker, they would choose to play Danny Green.

"Defensively defend against Duncan, and offense avoids Leonard."

Su Chen's arrangement has been seen by Popovich.

But at this time, even if Popovich saw what Su Chen was playing, it was not so easy to deal with.

This is another question that Su Chen gave to Popovich.

Now Su Chen has admitted Duncan's strength, but he just lets Duncan fight, and the others don't want to use Duncan to attract the bag and run out of the opportunity.

"I don't know if Popovich can solve this game."

Su Chen stood on the sidelines and thought.

Dealing with this kind of top-level interior line, it's not just the top offense, but also the top organization.

It's hard to defend.

It's actually a good idea to get this kind of top-level interior line stuck in singles.

In Su Chen's memory, on the way to Jokic's championship, many of the games he lost were because the opponent let Jokic go to singles.

Jokic can play casually, but he can't string teams.

When Jokic is stuck in a single and doesn't connect with his teammates, it's obvious that Jokic is a little impatient.

The same applies to Spurs.

And it will be more effective for Spurs.

Duncan is the tactical core of the Spurs, and with Duncan as the axis, many of the Spurs' tactics will play the greatest effect.

The Spurs' tactics are not invincible, and the Spurs' tactics still rely on the ability of the core players.

After the retirement of GDP, Leonard left again, and the Spurs quickly became a fish belly team.

So it's a very good choice for Duncan.

And Duncan is 38 years old, Jokic can still rely on his excellent foundation to break the game, and there is also the help of the helpers around him.

If the young Duncan had been allowed to fight like this, Duncan would still be able to win.

But the 38-year-old Duncan, facing the physical exertion of him in turns, and then went to Duncan to play on the offensive end.

Forcing Duncan to participate in the help defense, or quickly shrink the basket, is all draining Duncan's physical strength.

Treating the 38-year-old Duncan, the Timberwolves still show respect for the recognized No. 1 forward in history, and they are looking for Duncan to consume both offense and defense.

And the Timberwolves have more players who can defend against Duncan.

The ability to defend here is not really able to prevent Duncan, but it can be slightly restricted.

"You go up to Duncan."

During the pause, Su Chen said to Muscala.

Muscala didn't hesitate and stood up directly.

Before the game, Su Chen had actually told him to let him go to Duncan for a while.

As for whether it can really withstand it, it doesn't really matter.

Because of the defense of Duncan, if it wants to cause consumption to Duncan, it must be a big move.

Although there are quite a few people who take turns defending Duncan, the number of fouls will also increase relatively quickly.

Muscala's defense is passable, and giving him the right to foul to defend Duncan can at least cause Duncan some problems.

Letting Muscala go up is what Duncan used to foul defense, and he made six fouls out of six.

Pause back.

Popovich had already made adjustments.

But seeing that the young man named Muscala of the Timberwolves was actually on at this time, which made Popovich very puzzled.

Muscala hasn't played in the Timberwolves' playoff rotation for a long time, but it's still so critical to let Muscala play.

Timberwolves lineup: Mike Muscala (C), Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF), Chris Middleton (SF), Andre Iguodala (SG), Jimmy Butler (PG)

Spurs starting lineup: Burrece Dior (C), Tim Duncan (PF), Kawhi Leonard (SF), Danny Green (SG), Tony Parker (PG)

Muscala replaced Ibaka's position, and at the same time, because Lore Deng had just played a lot of consumption, and at the same time, his hand was average, Su Chen let him change it to rest.

The Spurs did not go to Split, but to Dior.

Obviously, Popovich wants to use Dio's offensive and playmaking skills to help Duncan share some of the pressure.

Originally, the Spurs' tactics gave Dio some tactical status, but when he saw the Timberwolves' defensive alignment, the Spurs felt very surprised.

Everyone in the Spurs thought that Muscala, who fell out of the rotation, came up to prevent Spurs interior line Split or Dio from using it like this, but Muscala took the initiative to face Duncan.

That's disrespectful to Duncan, isn't it?

Popovich roared directly on the sidelines at this time, signaling for Duncan to play.

Originally, Parker didn't want to start a tactic with this ball, and wanted to give it directly to Duncan.

The Timberwolves took a rookie out of the rotation to defend Duncan, which is also too contemptible.

Duncan also looked a little angry.

Originally, he planned to rest for a while and not fight for the time being.

But Su Chen seemed to have expected that he would not fight, so he took a rookie to guard against him.

If this was Su Chen's agitation method, then this agitation method worked.

Even Popovich was provoked by this agitation.

By this time, Duncan had already gotten the ball in the low post.

Duncan, who got the ball, took a look at the defense, specifically Giannis Antetokounmpo's position.

In this series, Duncan already knows Giannis Antetokounmpo as a young man with great speed.

For his help defense, Duncan still pays attention.

This rookie named Muscala looks like a decoy thrown by the Timberwolves, maybe the Timberwolves are just waiting for Duncan to concentrate on playing when suddenly a bag clip hits him and he can't be caught off.

But Duncan thought too much about the ball.

Giannis Antetokounmpo stared at Dior and didn't care about Duncan's side at all.

At most, after Duncan made a shot, Giannis Antetokounmpo came in to collect the rebound, and as for the matter of assisting defense, Su Chen's tactical board was not drawn.

Muscala naturally couldn't defend against Duncan, and in the face of Duncan's back-to-back attack, he was beaten back and down.

However, in the whole confrontation, Muscala went all out to collide with Duncan, sparing no effort at all.

After all, for him, what he needs is playing time, he has a lot of physical strength on the bench, and he usually plays garbage time.

Of course, Muscala and Duncan, who are full of strength, have a strength gap, and they can't prevent Duncan.

But the moment Duncan got up, Muscala went straight to the scene.

Muscala jumps directly, and if he can take the ball, he is naturally a good risk, and if he can't take the ball, then he won't let Duncan shoot the ball without pressure.

Duncan's turnover and play the board were directly pressed by Muscala's whole defense.

Muscala didn't get to Duncan's ball, but he hit Duncan's wrist, causing Duncan's shot to go crooked.

Honk!

Such an obvious foul, the referee naturally caught it.

And Muscala also raised his hand directly, without explaining at all, signaling that he had committed a foul.

Duncan walked to the free-throw line and hit both free throws.

Timberwolves 12:15 Spurs.

Seeing this defensive round, Popovich also knew why Su Chen wanted to go to Muscala.

"You should give that kid a tech upgrade, he's obviously not going for the ball."

Popovich on the sidelines yelled at the referee.

Obviously, the Timberwolves went to Muscala to let him use fouls to consume Duncan.

(End of chapter)