The Way of the Center

The Trail Blazers' multi-point blooming performance made the Spurs completely overwhelmed at home.

From the beginning of the game until now, the Spurs have never achieved even a one-point lead. At this moment, there are only three minutes left before the end of the first quarter, and the Spurs are already eight points behind.

Popovich looked at his bench. If the Spurs want to keep the point difference within single digits, the performance of their second team will be extremely important!

For their ultra-luxury starting lineup, the Trail Blazers have sent out several important rotation players of the team. Therefore, the Blazers' second unit is definitely one of their weaknesses. Popovich just hopes to seize this opportunity and bite the score in one fell swoop!

Trail Blazers backup point guard Shabazz Napier made a pass error under the entanglement of Patrick Mills, and the game was temporarily dead ball. Ricard yelled from the sidelines and replaced Anjie with Nurkic.

Seeing this situation, Popovich instantly regained his spirits. Anjie's departure means that all the Blazers are left on the field now are substitute players! This old and cunning "fox" knows that the Spurs' chance has come!

"Manu, give me a lot of impact on their insides! In the next three minutes, I need you to score as many points as possible!" Popovich's order was passed to the 40-year-old Ginobili's ears , Argentine Yaodao couldn't help smiling, he had waited long enough for this moment to give it a go!

Although he is 40 years old, Ginobili's vitality has not diminished in the slightest. Although the playing time is getting less and less, as long as he can play, Ginobili will definitely do his best.

Just after the first ball in the game, Ginobili broke through quickly under David Lee's pick-and-roll.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's post-90s teenager Nurkic did not dare to completely let go of the soft-touch David Lee, so Ginobili easily entered the penalty area.

Although Ed Davis' defense is very active, his ability to judge the timing of blocking shots at the last moment needs to be improved.

In the end, Ginobili failed to score directly as he wished, but made Ed Davis a thug foul.

"Ginobili is still as cunning as ever. Although this guy is 40 years old, he is full of bad ideas." At 40, Ginobili may not be as capable as before. But his rich experience is enough for him to deal with most players in this league.

The Spurs' second offense was still Ginobili holding the ball, and David Lee, who was still able to shoot, stepped forward to pick and roll.

This time, Nurkic did not continue to defend David Lee, but stayed behind David Lee, ready to defend Ginobili at any time.

Unexpectedly, Ginobili's speed greatly exceeded Nurkic's expectations. Nurkic never expected that the 40-year-old Ginobili could run so hard. Moreover, the pace of the Argentine's breakthrough is very strange, so you can't guess where he will go next.

In this way, Nurkic, who was not outstanding in athletic ability, was once again thrown away by Ginobili. Ginobili easily made a throw in the penalty area and scored two more points!

Seeing that the Spurs were closing in on the 40-year-old Manu Ginobili, Ricard shook his head. The depth of the Trail Blazers' second team is indeed a bit worse. Their young substitute players have great potential, but those potentials have not yet been fully revealed.

In this way, under the indiscriminate bombardment of Ginobili and the newly joined Spurs Rudy Gay, the Trail Blazers finally ended the competition in the first quarter with only a two-point lead. In front of the Trail Blazers' young second unit, Rudy Gay and Ginobili were too powerful.

"Hey, buddy, you have to play more aggressively, more aggressively, understand? Don't let them step into the penalty area recklessly, let them know that the penalty area belongs to our center's territory!" The players left the field Finally, Anjie pulled Nurkic aside alone and imparted his own experience.

Angie thinks,

Nurkic is very similar to himself back then, without outstanding athletic ability and physical fitness. There is only rare technology and a willingness to change. Anjie hopes that what he said can change Nurkic's style of play. In this way, when Ginobili hits the penalty area again, he may be frightened.

An Jie hugged Nurkic's shoulders and kept talking. If Ricard hadn't asked everyone to gather around him, An Jie would probably be able to talk to Nurkic throughout the rest of the festival. .

You haven't rested for a long time, and the sweat on your body hasn't dried yet? An Jie saw the red light on the backboard, and the second quarter started!

"Look at what Morris and I are doing, remember Yusuf, when we are not around, you will be in control of the team's offense and defense!" An Jie bent down and worked hard before entering the field. Erki muttered a few words.

Before, the Trail Blazers had guys like Fisher and Miller Sr. controlling the tempo. Now there is no such experienced point guard role in the Trail Blazers second team, and Nurkic, who has a good coping ability, will naturally take on the heavy responsibility.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina teenager is very serious now. After all, he doesn't want to disappoint a legend like An Jie.

Nurkic has great potential, which even Anjie agrees with. As long as he can learn something, the Blazers' second unit will no longer be at a disadvantage.

After the opening of the second quarter, the rhythm seems to be back to the past. The firepower of the Blazers' starting five tigers made the Spurs, known for their defense, unable to stand up.

Anjie took the lead in the interior, and after making a gap, Paul George and Lillard also got a lot of mid-range shots.

On the defensive end, Anjie's quick defense and switch made Nurkic below stunned.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina center kept absorbing all the details on the field. He observed An Jie's footsteps and An Jie's position. Similarly, Nurkic also benefited a lot from Morris.

After all, defense cannot be done simply by relying on speed and body alone. The ability to stand, predict and read the game is also very important.

Can An Jie's speed really be faster than those defenders and forwards? I'm afraid not necessarily. But An Jie's accurate judgment of their next move allowed him to react quickly, which gave people the illusion that An Jie was very fast.

Just when Nurkic was thinking, Danny Green's breakthrough layup successfully added a blocked stat for Anjie.

Danny Green's expression was very surprised. He didn't know when An Jie came out. But in fact, An Jie has been observing Green for a long time. When the time comes, the blocker will be within reach!

After successfully defending, Anjie pointed to Nurkic who was sitting on the bench. Nurkic nodded vigorously, next time, he will not let the team down!

"Boy, you're so lucky." Even Meyers Leonard, who was sitting next to Nurkic, was a little envious. This kind of opportunity to be taught by An Jie himself doesn't happen anytime, anywhere.

Paul George's dunk in the fast break ended the Trail Blazers' offense within five seconds, and the point difference was widened again. Aldridge and Leonard knew that it was time for them to stand up up!

This time, Iguodala stuck Leonard to death. You know, although Iguodala's scoring ability has seriously degraded. But he is still a top perimeter defender.

Leonard failed to get rid of Iguodala through several off-ball runs, and Parker knew that he had to change his tactics.

Parker reached out and called a pick-and-roll, and Aldridge and Pau Gasol both attacked, so that Anjie and Morris had to follow out of the penalty area.

Needless to say, Aldridge, Gasol's shooting ability cannot be ignored. In order not to give them an easy shot, Anjie and Morris had to temporarily give up the three-second zone.

Parker didn't hesitate, and immediately used the pick-and-roll to break through. Parker chose to go to Aldridge's side, after all, he would be farther away from Anjie.

Morris tried his best to chase back, but Nurkic found that Anjie was not sticking to Gasol.

I saw Anjie taking a step in the direction of Aldridge. At this moment, he was equivalent to standing between Gasol and Aldridge. Nurkic couldn't help but wonder, who is Anjie trying to defend?

Tony Parker felt the huge oppression coming from behind him. How terrifying is Morris' athletic ability? The Frenchman has already seen the opening alley-oop.

With Morris relentlessly chasing him, if Parker lays up rashly, there will be a high chance of being blocked.

So Parker made a layup, but actually flicked his wrist and passed the ball back!

"No!" Parker had just let go of the basketball when he heard Aldridge shouting behind him.

Just when Aldridge was about to catch the ball, Anjie suddenly jumped between the basketball and Aldridge, and firmly grasped the ball!

"Sensitive reaction! An succeeded in stealing!" The commentators shouted loudly.

Nurkic smiled. He knew that Anjie's ability to steal was not only based on agility. And his pre-judgment and pre-positioning. When Anjie decided to stand between Aldridge and Gasol, it meant that he had already guessed that Parker might pass the ball! In this way, no matter who Parker passes to, Anjie's long arm can reach it!

It turned out that the seemingly simple defense contained too many skills. Nurkic is now eager to try, he can't wait, he wants to practice everything he has just learned.

The second quarter was not intense, and Aldridge did not perform well under Morris' defense. The Spurs' offense also fell into a trough. Popovich frowned off the court, his unhappiness was written all over his face.

Unexpectedly, since the San Antonio Spurs with Aldridge, Leonard, Gasol, and Parker can only pin their hopes of winning to the second team! But as long as they can win this opening game, no matter what method the Spurs use, it belongs to Hong Kong Rong!

After a while, the rotation time that Popovich was looking forward to finally arrived. Shabazz Napier was the last to replace Lillard, representing the Trail Blazers officially taking over from the second team!

After Nurkic came on the field, he looked at Anjie, and Anjie gave this potential guy a thumbs up.

On the court, Ginobili has already controlled the basketball and advanced over. Nurkic is in position and ready to fight!

After Rudy Gay received the basketball, he threw off the slow-footed Aminu through a three-threat action.

Aminu, a forward who was born in the fourth position, has always been a big problem with his footwork after switching to the third position. What's more, he was facing such a powerful opponent as Rudy Gay.

Gay continued to accelerate after passing Aminu, Nurkic? That kid, you can shake him away with a single Eurostep!

Guy didn't hesitate, thinking of doing it. Facing Nurkic with outstretched arms, Gay immediately took a step to the left in a large arc.

Nurkic's mind was running fast. Gay, this guy, usually doesn't make such exaggerated steps when he hits the basket. unless......

Seeing that Nurkic was unmoved, Gay took another step to the right holding the basketball, trying to avoid Nurkic's defense. However, to Gay's surprise, Nurkic remained unmoved!

There is no way, Gay's only option now is to take off and layup against the defense. If you're lucky, you might be able to cheat a foul.

But Nurkic didn't give Gay a chance to get to the free throw line. Nurkic, who predicted the opposite direction, straightened his long arms and took the basketball in Gay's hand cleanly.

Guy's unbelievable expression was featured by the reporters. This guy definitely couldn't believe that he would be blocked by a post-90s European big man!

"Fuck! It's great!" Nurkic was very excited after successfully blocking the block. He roared at the fans in the ATT Center. He lived up to Anjie's expectations of himself!

"Come on, let's not worry about the second team." Off the court, Anjie was as happy as Nurkic.

"Stinky boy, what did you tell him?" Ricard turned his head and asked.

"I didn't say anything, this kid, I'm just smart." An Jie looked at Nurkic who was roaring on the court. The Trail Blazers will definitely win this game!

After An Jie trained a weakened version of "An Jie" that could temporarily replace him, Rudy Gay and Ginobili, just wait for bad luck! 289