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Chapter 87 Great Invention! (12000 words per day, please subscribe to the monthly ticket)

Before the start of Game 3, Popovich, who was reviewing the video of the first two games with the Spurs staff, suddenly fell silent.

Regarding Qin Yue's performance, Spurs assistant coach Budenholzer used a word to describe it:

——Explosive creativity.

In the first two games, looking only at technical statistics, Qin Yue only made 16 assists in total.

On some nights during this era, that was even just a statistic from one game for Steve Nash.

"He affects our defense in every round, whether it's passing, pick-and-roll, or hand-offs with teammates. These performances that cannot be included in the technical statistics eventually become the key to the Warriors' cracking the zone defense on the court. If we can't use tougher defense to stifle his performance, then in this series, we can only find a way to increase our three-point production to match the Warriors' outside firepower."

When carefully observing Qin Yue's court details through the video, there was a moment when Popovich even thought that Qin Yue dominated the first two games.

Yes, the real master.

Although such dominance was due to objective factors that the referee did not allow the Spurs to use tough confrontation, the offensive influence Qin Yue exerted on the Warriors on the court still deeply shocked Popovich and his staff.

Such players should not appear in this era.

In the NBA, there are inside players who are good at assisting and breaking through double-team defense.

But none of them can match Qin and Yue.

Qin Yue's shooting range can reach beyond the three-point line, which means that when the Warriors use him as the core to break the double-team defense, the Spurs' defense line must move forward as a whole.

However, since he only needs three steps to attack the basket from the three-point line, once the Spurs' defense moves forward as a whole, they will inevitably face another contradictory problem:
——Who will guard the basket that will face Qin Yue’s attack?

"His ability to read the game is just amazing, which allows him to easily create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates during the game."

After several hours of review, Budenholzer gave his judgment.

"Under the current defensive intensity, no NBA team can limit him, and the scary thing about him is that every one of his teammates will benefit from his outstanding performance."

This is a disappointing replay.

Because this review means that the Spurs, who can limit their opponents' average three-point shots to less than 11 per game in the regular season,
At present, they are unable to limit the Warriors' outside shots through their defense.

Fortunately, Popovich's stubbornness successfully alleviated the despair that had begun to spread throughout the conference room.

"Let's first look at some of the Warriors' losing videos. After all, in those winning games, which superstar wasn't Michael Jordan?"

The Spurs' staff felt that what Popovich said made sense.

So, after spending several hours reviewing the Warriors' regular season losses, the weaknesses that had not been discovered by the Spurs' think tank before the start of the Western Conference semifinals began to appear clearly and clearly in front of everyone.

Is Qin Yue a perfect player?
of course not.

Are the Warriors a team without weaknesses?
How is that possible?

After research, the Spurs staff found that Qin Yue did have explosive creativity, but he could not exert his explosive creativity on the team every night in the game.

"Our strategy was wrong from the beginning," Popovich said.

Budenholzer nodded and said, "It's not too late to find out now. This series has just begun."

Finally, Popovich still complained: "It's all David Stern's fault. If he hadn't deliberately targeted us, how could we be behind 0-2?"

The Spurs have found the answer they wanted.

Now, it's the defending champion's turn to fight back.

Two days later, Oracle Arena.

In that breathtaking golden wave, the Spurs won Game 114 105-.

In order to match the Warriors' outside firepower, the Spurs took a total of 25 three-point shots in this game and made 14 of them.

第二战为马刺砍下31分20篮板4助攻3封盖的邓肯，本场仅拿到了17分10篮板2助攻2封盖。

Parker scored 28 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds for the Spurs, becoming the hero of the Spurs' victory that night.

A day later, still at Oracle Arena.

The Spurs once again extinguished that golden wave and won Game 110 with a score of 102-.

In this game, the Spurs took a total of 27 three-point shots. Although they only made 10 of them, more three-point shots did create a wider offensive space for Ginobili and Parker.

Duncan still performed mediocrely in this game.

He only got a total of 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in the whole game.

After Game 4, Popovich was completely relieved and said in an interview: "This is the charm of basketball. I thought we were close to being eliminated, but now we are back on the same starting line with the Warriors."

According to the 22111 format of the Western Conference semifinals, the Warriors, who were defeated by the Spurs in the devil's home court for two consecutive games, will visit San Antonio again with the series score tied at 2-2.

From the joy of leading 2-0 to the shock of being tied 2-2 by the Spurs, Bay Area fans have always been silently supporting this team behind the scenes.

Their performance in these two games was excellent.

Because even the Spurs players admitted that the madness of Oracle Arena far exceeded their imagination.

But it is an indisputable fact that the Warriors lost two games in a row after returning to their home court.

After adjustments in the first two games, the Spurs seemed to have really found a way to beat the Warriors.

In the third game, the Spurs maintained the starting lineup consisting of Duncan, Horry, Bowen, Finley and Parker.

At the beginning of the game, the Spurs took the lead with three-pointers through tactics designed for Bowen, Horry and Finley.

Parker, who was gradually entering his peak period at this time, successfully took over the next first quarter of the game.

Davis has a model advantage over Parker, but facing Parker's unpredictable breakthroughs, he can only stop them through tactical fouls.

In the first quarter, the Spurs no longer sought the "DP" pick-and-roll between Duncan and Parker, but instead used the offensive space provided by their teammates to Parker, creating a large number of singles opportunities for Parker.

This was the Spurs' first change in Game 3.

It is impossible for Qin Yue and Brown to provide defensive assistance in every round.

What's more, Parker's singles are mixed with a lot of mid-range jump shots?
Then, on the defensive end, the Spurs also changed their thinking from the first two games. They no longer let Duncan escape the confrontation with Qin Yue, but directly sent Duncan to defend Qin Yue one-on-one.

This is the main reason why Duncan's technical statistics dropped sharply in the third and fourth games.

Because he left almost all his physical strength to Qin Yue.

"The Warriors were able to blow up our defense in the first two games. The fundamental reason was that we failed to effectively cut off the connection between their other players and the Messiah."

The Spurs adjusted their defensive strategy of always choosing to test other players in the previous two games, and sent Duncan to perform man-to-man defense on Qin Yue.

Unless necessary, the rest of the Spurs players would never provide any protection to Duncan.

In the NBA, this is a terrible thing.

Because this means that the Spurs will objectively create the fact that Qin Yue will "match up" and beat Duncan, the legendary power forward.

This has nothing to do with Qin Yue's offensive ability and Duncan's defensive ability.

Simply put, although from the data, those technical statistics will prove that Qin Yue "beat Duncan" in the matchup.

But in actual games, in addition to being pulled to a high position by Qin Yue and hammered with an attack method that is difficult for traditional inside players to defend against, Duncan also has to face the attack launched by Qin Yue and his teammates alone most of the time.

This is terrible.

If you swap the tactics of both sides, Duncan can still "match up" and beat Qin Yue who is unprotected on the court.

In fact, when explaining the game plan to Duncan before the game, Popovich and Budenholzer both felt a little guilty.

Because if the Spurs can't become the final winner of this series.
That means the official end of the Tim Duncan era!
After the game, those reporters and fans didn't care how much Duncan sacrificed for the Spurs in the game. They only cared that Qin Yue had leveled the long river of Tim Duncan. They only cared that Qin Yue had beaten Duncan in the "matchup" and led the Warriors to win this series!
"No problem, leave him to me. I've been wanting to fight him for a long time."

As a battle-hardened veteran and the person who knows Qin Yue best in the league today, how could Duncan not know what it would be like to face the opponent's super power forward alone in a five-on-five basketball game without the protection of his teammates?
But Duncan accepted the Spurs coaching staff's arrangement almost without hesitation.

Because he is Tim Duncan.

In the third and fourth games, Qin Yue scored 38 points and 40 points respectively.

At Oracle Arena, in front of Bay Area fans, even Charles Barkley said during the commentary: "The crown has changed hands. The Warriors Messiah has proved with his performance in two consecutive games that he is the top power forward in the league today!"

Has the crown really changed hands, to Charles Barkley, who has never won a championship?
At least, Qin Yue doesn’t think so.

On the court, looking at Duncan's resolute eyes, Qin Yue felt fear for the first time in his life.

Yes, fear.

Although he could always find ways to get the damn basketball into the basket, in the next round, Duncan would appear in front of him with full concentration.

He doesn't care about even a single statistic. He only cares about himself.

He wanted to entangle himself as much as possible.

He wanted to consume too much energy in this one-on-one situation and lose the explosive creativity that the Spurs feared.

Tim Duncan has staked all his honors, his entire reputation, and even his historical status after retirement on this series!
He was only there for one thing.

He wants to win!
He wants to win!
He has to win!
In Game 4, when the Spurs captured the Oracle Arena, Duncan rarely roared towards the dome of the arena!

On the court, he felt frustrated and aggrieved as he had to passively take the beating for two consecutive nights.

But so what?
The winners of Game 3 and Game 4 are the Spurs!

When the Warriors lost the explosive creativity from Qin Yue, when the rest of the Warriors were cut off from him, when the Warriors could not reproduce the smooth touch they had in the first two games.
The San Antonio Spurs set out for Oakland with a 0-2 score, and successfully returned to the Holy City with a 2-2 tie!

Now, everything has returned to the starting point, and the real decisive battle is coming.

In Game 4, Mike Montgomery and the Warriors coaching staff, who had already made tactical adjustments to cope with the Spurs' changes in Game 3, could only be thankful that the tenacious Los Angeles players had successfully held off the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

Before Game 5, David Stern used the list of referees led by Bennett Salvatore to clearly tell the world:

The NBA will not interfere in this heavyweight decisive battle.

The Spurs and the Warriors will have a fair and just duel to decide who is the winner who can change the direction of this Western Conference semifinals.

Warriors fans who had begun to fantasize about the Warriors advancing to the Western Conference Finals a few days ago will welcome the annual drama that will be staged at the AT&T Center with the same mood as Spurs fans who were worried that their team would be eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals a few days ago.

"After the Spurs dramatically tied the semi-final scoreline at 2-2, they will have home-court advantage in the upcoming Game .

But while paying attention to the focus battle between the Warriors and the Spurs, we should also pay attention to the fact that the Seattle SuperSonics, who are sympathized by the world, won the No. 1 pick in this year's draft lottery ceremony as they wished." - ESPN News Express

During the days when the Spurs and Warriors were in the midst of a fierce battle, the fact that the Supersonics won the No. 1 pick didn't even steal the spotlight from the Spurs and Warriors.

Because just as Qin Yue remembered, 2006 was a year with few talent shows, which was recognized by the world in advance.

However, this generally recognized weak draft year took an unexpected turn in the next few days after the SuperSonics drew the No. 1 pick.

Under the operation of Jeff Schwartz, Bagnani's outstanding tryout performance successfully impressed many NBA teams.

Especially in Charlotte, he received high praise from the basketball god Michael Jordan.

"This is a kid who dared to say to me face to face, 'I will definitely beat you.' He has the same great character as Qin. I really recognized his performance in the tryout, and his shooting was particularly impressive to me."

If I get this comment from Jordan in a few years.
It is very likely that Bagnani will be questioned because of these comments and even lose his position as the top pick.

But it's a pity
Jordan at the current point in time had already determined that Qin Yue would become the new ruler of the league before Qin Yue entered the league.

And even Kwame Brown, as his performance in the Warriors is getting better and better, now in the eyes of more and more people, it was not that Jordan had a bad vision back then, but that the Wizards and Jordan's training method was too rough.

So, through a series of coincidences
Bagnani, a handsome young man born in Rome, was successfully marketed by Jeff Schwartz to a height that even he himself could not imagine.

Since Jordan said his personality is like Qin Yue, the scouts also said that he is a weakened version of Qin Yue in terms of athletic ability.
Even if he still has many shortcomings, are those shortcomings important?

"Great, the Rockets have agreed in principle to trade with us at the draft."

On that day, when Sonics owner Howard Schultz learned that the Rockets were willing to make the deal regarding Yao Ming based on the Sonics' No. 1 pick, he was undoubtedly in a good mood and was happy. He was so delighted that he almost fell down and knocked out his front teeth due to excessive excitement.

"What else does the Rockets want besides the No. 1 pick?"

"They also want Rashard Lewis."

"It's too late. Rashad is an All-Star forward who averages more than 20 points per game. We can't give them an All-Star forward for free when we give them the No. pick."

"Then the Rockets will probably ask for more in other areas."

"Give it to them, all of them! Except for Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, whoever they name, we will give that player to them."

Since even Stern, his partner, only knew the first half of Schultz's great plan, Schultz did not tell the Sonics management why he had to keep Lewis that day.

"Andrea Bargnani's agent really helped us a lot!"

It really helped a lot.

Because as the Rockets' interest in Bagnani continues to grow, Lewis may even be just a bargaining chip for them to negotiate with the Supersonics in this No. 1 pick-for-No. 1 pick deal.

At this time, the Supersonics also had good players such as Ridnour, Radmanovich, Mickey Moore, and Reggie Evans.

As a team that was a strong team in the Western Conference the year before (here referring to the SuperSonics), it is impossible for the Rockets to be indifferent to the players on the SuperSonics who have already proven themselves.

And in this deal, the Rockets also want to ask for more draft picks.

After all, sending Yao Ming away means that they have to look further ahead for the time being before Bagnani grows up.

As for why Schultz had to keep Lewis?
Of course, it was because in this era when prices had not yet inflated, in order to exchange for the super power forward from Minnesota, the Supersonics had to "sacrifice" an All-Star forward.

Compared to Al Jefferson, who still needed to grow and hone his career before Qin Yue was traded in his previous life, the already aging Theo Ratliff, and Gerald Green, who averaged 5.2 points per game in his rookie season and had proven nothing except his jumping ability, and Ryan Gomez and Sebastian Triefel, who also needed to prove themselves.

Without any clairvoyance, and with the Wolf King determined to leave, Rashard Lewis is destined to be more attractive and more sincere than the above players.

Because Lewis is only 27 years old at this time.

He is a Western Conference All-Star forward who is in his prime and has proven himself in the playoffs.

Schultz is now just waiting to complete the deal with the Rockets at the draft, and then he will immediately let the Supersonics management send a trade request to the Timberwolves with Lewis as the main player, and the Timberwolves can pick anyone except Ray Allen.

And this is the second half of his great plan.

The latter part that even Stern didn't know.

"I'll give it to you now. The future will definitely belong to Seattle."

The storm of history has swept to every corner of the NBA with the emergence of Qin Yue.

And as he performs, the wind will blow harder and harder, until the end of the world.

On the evening of the 20th.

The Warriors, led by Qin Yue, returned to the ATT Center again.

After the baptism of Game 3 and Game 4, the Warriors did not lose confidence in defeating the Spurs because of two consecutive defeats.

The Spurs found the answer they wanted after losing the first two games.

The Warriors also found the truth they had been seeking through these two losses.

In the center of the field, Salvatore walked towards the center circle with the ball.

Tonight, the Warriors changed their starting lineup, so it will be Qin Yue and Duncan who will jump the ball.

Troy Murphy, the other half of Golden State's "trash duo," will start in place of Kwame Brown.

In terms of tactical reserves, Mike Montgomery and the Warriors coaching staff knew they were no match for the Spurs.

So they simply and rudely improved the Warriors' offensive firepower in the starting lineup.

Five Warriors players who all have three-point shooting range will play together.

Chris Mullin described the Warriors' starting lineup before the game: "This is a starting lineup that only Don would dare to put out."

Montgomery quipped, "Since the 'Operation Overlord' decades ago was able to win by suppressing firepower, now our 'Operation Overlord' can only pin our hopes on suppressing firepower."

Mullin smiled and said, "Tonight is the 'Normandy Landing' that will decide our fate!"

At the ATT Center, after the jump ball, Murphy fired the first shot for the Warriors' landing in San Antonio.

This space-type inside player with a horse face pressed the trigger button with his left hand the moment he received Qin Yue's sudden pass.

Swish-!
Murphy made a three-pointer to give the Warriors the first chance.

This three-pointer is a signal.

It shows that the Warriors won't sit idly by.

On the Spurs bench, Popovich immediately gritted his teeth and said, "How come they have so many shooters?"

On the side, Budenholzer smiled bitterly and said: "In fact, among their regular players, only Kwame Brown and the Latvian center do not have three-point shooting range."

The great invention of the three-point line will once again show its charm to the world on this night.

Because of three points
It's really one point more than two points.

……

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(End of this chapter)