Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 310 Point Guards Are All Being Used Like Jordan
Back in the locker room, Popovich asked Prunty for the statistics from the first half.

As expected, the Knicks' field goal percentage reached 57% in the first half.

A level close to 60%.

In today's league, scoring 120 points is rare, but it's not unheard of.

They usually get it by having an amazing touch or by winning in overtime.

For a team like the Knicks to consistently score 60 points in the first half of two games is beyond terrifying.

Especially when facing championship-caliber teams like the Magic and Spurs.

The question is, what do we do now?

Budenholzer looked at Popovich.

It was just a regular season game, so losing is fine.

But surrendering at halftime is not the Spurs' style.

He then looked at Carlesimo with a questioning look: "Pete, you know Rick, what do you think we should do in the second half?"

Carlesimo first entered the NBA as a coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, where Carlisle served as his assistant coach.

The two are very familiar with each other.

Carlesimo smiled wryly and said, "Mike, what's the use of me knowing Rick? Do you think the Knicks even have a strategy right now?"

Carlisle is now practically the mascot of the Knicks' bench.

The Knicks don't have any tactics; they just play like star players, with five players going it alone.

Their strategy is to win without using any specific moves; what can you use to counter them?

After a moment's hesitation, Carlesimo suggested, "How about we play a zone defense?"

Just think of the Knicks as the Dream Team.

How do other teams deal with the Dream Team on the international stage?

It's a joint defense.

Popovich shook his head; he felt it was pointless.

Because this is the NBA, not a crowded FIBA ​​court, there is enough space for Knicks players to take one-on-one shots.

Even if they speed up the help defense and double-team the ball handler, Popovich feels it won't be very effective.

The Knicks have offensive capabilities at all five positions, and Yao Ming and Billups also have the ability to pass the ball.

So who are you going to double-team?

Such tactics might be useful in one or two specific rounds, but he felt they would have little effect on limiting the Knicks in the context of an entire game.

Thinking about this, Popovich couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.

In fact, the Spurs hate teams like the Knicks the most.

They relied purely on player ability and sheer strength to overwhelm their opponents.

Just like the Lakers.

In the past few years, the Spurs have consistently lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs.

The problem is that the star players aren't good enough.

But there's nothing we can do; the Spurs are poor. It's a small market, they don't have the money, and they can't acquire star players.

Popovich feels that the Knicks are even worse than the Lakers these days.

It's like having five star players.

To beat the Lakers, you can double-team one of them and gamble on the other's shooting touch.

But Popovich had absolutely no answer for the Knicks, who had multiple players contributing to their offense.

The only thing we can do is to put up with Duncan, the MVP, a little longer.

Looking at Duncan sitting in his seat, silently panting, Popovich couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.

With David Robinson's retirement, Duncan is left without any help.

The Spurs made no adjustments upon returning for the second half.

The Knicks, on the other hand, have seen some changes first.

Instead of the reckless five-man split-up and mindless one-on-one attacks, they started to coordinate.

More accurately, it was about setting up tactics for Billups.

Bender came up to set a screen for Billups.

Billups passed the ball back to Bender, then charged into the penalty area himself.

Yao Ming then set a screen.

Then Billups bypassed Yao Ming and rushed towards the baseline.

This was a double screen tactic that the Knicks frequently used last year.

Meanwhile, Bender passed the ball to Wallace on the wing, who then headed it across to Billups, who had rounded out to the corner.

With no one around, Billups took a moment to adjust after receiving the ball before launching a three-pointer.

No suspense.

Billups' three-point shooting has really reached a high level.

Carlisle applauded and cheered from the sidelines.

With 60 points at halftime and a 21-point lead, they were dominating the Spurs, just like what Carlisle wanted to test before the game.

In other words, the answer to just how strong the Knicks are now is clear.

The last game was not an accident.

It's definitely not about having an explosive shooting touch or being in superb form.

It's simply strong, purely strong.

He is adept at both offense and defense in all five positions, with no weaknesses whatsoever.

From starters to substitutes, they are all very strong.

So strong that he doesn't need any tactics at all; he can win the game simply by playing one-on-one without thinking.

But it's not enough.

Carlisle also wants to know where each player's limits are.

In the first half, Billups unexpectedly exploded, so in the second half, Carlisle specifically arranged to play around Billups.

Let's see just how high this point guard's offensive level is, averaging 10 points per game.

This arrangement was exactly what Billups wanted.

Billups certainly enjoys being in control of the game and relishes the process of being the on-court brain, directing his teammates to victory.

From a young age, he has always preferred to use his brain when playing ball.

Previously with the Magic, Billups' organizational skills were developed by Townsend. At that time, Billups truly felt like he had found himself and that someone finally understood him.

Instead of his rookie season, when he was tossed around like a football by Rick Pitino.

One minute they're telling me to play point guard, the next minute they're telling me to play shooting guard.

Ultimately, who doesn't enjoy scoring and then basking in the cheers of the crowd?

Especially after you have this ability.

In the past, he wanted to score, but lacked the ability. Now, another summer has passed, and Billups has that confidence again.

Here he comes again.

Lower your body from a high position, wait for the right moment, and suddenly start moving.

Not fast.

But Parker, who had been completely outplayed in the first half, was already like a frightened bird, instinctively taking a step back to try and block.

At this moment, Billups stepped back and pulled back.

It is actually very difficult to make a step-back to create space after a sudden stop or physical confrontation.

Especially after the step-back, you need to jump quickly to complete the shot.

The entire process requires powerful lower limb explosiveness and excellent core control.

But once it's used, the effect is amazing.

This small step back has already given them the initiative to strike.

With a swift stroke, another three-pointer landed.

The three-pointer remains Billups' most lethal weapon.

"Tony, what the hell are you doing? Stop him!"

Popovich has never been a good-tempered head coach.

During his rookie season, Parker was often criticized to the point of tears.

Parker was also frustrated, as he really couldn't defend against it.

Lost in thought, Billups suddenly reached out.

Parker suddenly realized his hand was empty and cursed inwardly.

He turned to pounce, but it was too late.

Billups dove and flicked the ball, and Wade on the other side caught it and launched himself into the air like a cheetah.

He was as fast as lightning, rushing to the front and scoring with a powerful dunk.

Popovich waved his hand dejectedly from the sidelines.

He stopped cursing and sat back down.

He gave up.

Everyone else is treating point guards like Jordan, what can I do?

What's even more frightening is that they have a superstar center in the paint who averaged 40 points in the Eastern Conference Finals but only scored 8 points in this game.

The plot unfolded almost exactly the same way as the previous one.

After three quarters, the score was 92-67, with the point difference widening to 25 points.

This point difference is enough to declare the game over.

The Spurs have never been known for their offense.

Their strength lies in defense; they rely on defense to bring their opponent's offense down to the same level as their own, and then win the game.

A 25-point deficit would require Duncan to score 20 points in a single quarter to have any chance of closing the gap.

The problem is, Duncan has given it his all.

In the third quarter, the Spurs scored 24 points, with Duncan contributing 14 of them.

In three quarters, Duncan had already scored a total of 37 points.

This performance is undoubtedly MVP-caliber.

But it didn't work.

The Knicks' offensive firepower dropped somewhat in the third quarter, but they still managed to score 29 points.

He scored 92 points in three quarters.

Sometimes, the Spurs might not even score that many points in a single game.

As a result, the Knicks pulled it off in just three quarters.

This is enough to prove how fierce the Knicks' offense is, and also enough to prove how bad the Spurs' defense was in this game.

Popovich doesn't even want to make a substitution.

If they replace the substitutes, it will likely end up like the Magic did in the last game.

The Knicks' bench dominated the Magic's bench, and then managed to extend their lead from 24 points to 39 points.

Popovich felt that losing was acceptable, but not such a crushing defeat.

It would be better to keep the key players on the field; that way, we might lose by a smaller margin.

Popovich has a kind of absurd feel to him.

On the court, Billups dribbled out after a screen and made another jump shot near the baseline.

Popovich's gaze followed him, his mind racing with fantasies.

If the Spurs had a point guard like that, they would have taken off long ago.

His top-notch overall vision and ability to control the game go without saying; he's the only one in the entire league to have that, as personally certified by elementary school students.

Then there's the defense, which involves switching to the shooting guard position, and I'm not afraid at all.

Now, he also has excellent scoring ability, and his three-point shooting is so powerful it makes people tremble.

You might not find another point guard like that in the entire league.

"Is next year a contract year for Changxi?"

Popovich suddenly turned to Carlesimo beside him and asked.

Carlesimo paused for a moment, then said with a speechless expression, "Greg, what are you thinking?"

Does he intend to pursue Billups again next summer?

You'll have to offer a maximum salary to have any hope.

And you can offer a max contract, but the Knicks can't?
Billups previously took a pay cut and accepted the Knicks' mid-level exception in order to allow the Knicks to retain their Bird rights and then sign a big contract extension.

Given the Knicks' excellent roster and their location in New York, Billups must have been out of his mind to come to a small place like San Antonio.

Popovich, feeling uncomfortable after being rebuked, said dejectedly, "Can't I even think about it?"

He paused for a moment, then asked, "What about Tyson?"

Popovich truly felt that Yao Ming's dazzling brilliance overshadowed Chandler.

Look at that big physique, he can defend against most centers in the paint, and he's also agile enough with a wide range of movement, capable of setting screens and pick-and-rolls.

Their defense is almost at its maximum.

Then, after another summer, he developed a decent low-post offensive technique.

He can do hook shots under the basket, low-post jump shots, and show off his footwork.

If he were a starter and given enough ball possession, he thinks 15 points and 10 rebounds would be no problem at all.

If the Spurs had a center like that, paired with Duncan, they would take off again.

"It's such a waste to keep so many excellent players on the bench!"

Popovich sighed, his envy palpable.

(End of this chapter)