There are not too many fans, but it can't be considered as few.

Under the referee's whistle, the game began.

The Spurs' starting lineup is Tony Parker, Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Tim Duncan and Dejuan Blair.

The Knicks' lineup looks very pitiful, Zhou Mubai, Garlinari, Wilson Chandler, Chris Duhon, and Al Harrington.

The bench was even more pitiful, and it was empty and looked lonely.

Judging from the Spurs' record, it feels terrible, but it's even more terrifying to fight.

The Spurs' defense may not look as hard and tough as the Celtics, but they are very disciplined.

Parker was fully guarding Zhou Mubai, and Ginobili defended the pass line from Zhou Mubai to Du Hong, preventing Du Hong from receiving Zhou Mubai's pass.

Jefferson, who is marking Wilson Chandler, guards two pass lines to the inside, and focuses on the side with the ball, ready to cut off the pass from Zhou Mubai to Wilson Chandler at any time.

According to the Knicks' tactical arrangement, one of the best shots is at the bottom corner with the ball side (that is, where Gallinari is).

The Spurs made targeted arrangements to allow Blair to enter the defensive position as soon as possible to block the Knicks' offensive intention.

The Spurs will not let Zhou Mubai's ball pass through the defense line and get a chance to get a three-pointer in the bottom corner.

When Zhou Mubai held the ball on the top of the arc and saw the Spurs' defensive formation, he read the terrible aspects of the Spurs' defense.

It should be the defensive principle set by Popovich.

——And this is also the reason why the Spurs pushed their opponent's three-point shooting percentage to the second lowest in the league!

Overall, this is to oppress the ball holder and cut off the ball holder from the other person.

However, this is not impossible to crack for Zhou Mubai, because the premise of this tactic is to oppress the defender of the ball holder and be able to defend the abbot.

If this is not done, the Spurs' defensive formation will change.

Popovich, who was in work, looked completely different from Popovich who had contacted privately. He stared at Zhou Mubai on the field seriously, wanting to see what kind of response Zhou Mubai would do.

He knew very well that his opponent tonight was not Coach D'Antoni, but Zhou Mubai.

Zhou Mubai’s response is very simple, he is to break through Tony Parker.

Parker's defense is very good. In the position of point guard, his physical confrontation is OK and his footsteps are very fast. It is not easy for the opponent's point guard to break through.

But this does not include Zhou Mubai.

Zhou Mubai changed directions under his crotch, shook Parker's center of gravity, and then suddenly started to activate Parker.

The Spurs' formation was immediately frightened and contracted.

Zhou Mubai did not pass the ball at the first time. At this time, the Spurs' rotation can keep up with it and are very disciplined.

Zhou Mubai popped out to find the space and broke through again, which made the Spurs' formation shrink again.

This time Zhou Mubai passed the ball, giving the Spurs a three-pointer in the bottom corner that was tactical and strictly guarded, which was the point Gallinari was at.

Originally, it was difficult to have an opportunity at this point, but after Zhou Mubai's two forced breakthroughs, Blair at this point had been moved to the basket and could not go back at all.

Gallinari made a three-pointer.

Popovich admired him very much.

There are no spaces allowed in Popovich's tactical system, but Zhou Mubai just wanted to find this point and even made it!

How difficult is Popovich clear.

"This guy is so smart!"

Popovich couldn't help but exclaim.

Tony Parker looked at Popovich, and Popovich made a gesture. Tony Parker immediately understood that after Duncan scored at the basket, Parker gestured to his teammates.

Just after halftime, Tony Parker tangled up. Zhou Mubai protected the ball sideways to observe the Spurs' defense. In addition to Parker's defense, the defense inside has also been slightly adjusted.

Zhou Mubai tried to pass Parker, but Parker's defense made Zhou Mubai alert. Parker was driving him to the sideline, desperately preventing him from approaching the top of the arc.

Yes, this should be the so-called second principle of Popovich - not allowing dribblers to enter the middle of the field (i.e. near the free throw line)!

Zhou Mubai suddenly realized.

Popovich is very particular about the area near the free throw line. If the ball penetrates into the penalty area, the other people must immediately give up the opponent's side and rush to assist to block the further transmission of the ball.

This area is similar to the commanding heights and is an important point in basketball tandem. Once the ball penetrates this place, the ball can reach anywhere, which is extremely vigilant for the defense.

But for the offensive side, if the defender locks here, it will be very difficult for the ball to run.

Now Parker obviously wants to lock here, which is unacceptable to Zhou Mubai.

So Zhou Mubai did not choose to break through, but instead turned his back to fight in.

Parker was surprised to find that he was still pushed in by Zhou Mubai step by step, and reached the top of the arc after a few strokes.

Then Zhou Mubai turned around and wiped it over - Zhou Mubai suddenly entered again!

The free throw line is occupied!

The Spurs' defensive lineup suddenly contracted like a frightened animal!

However, this time Zhou Mubai took action directly from mid-range. The Spurs' defense is mainly single defense, locking three-pointers and guarding the basket, and not oppressing the middle distance enough.

Once the opponent breaks through the defender, the players under the basket cannot get out, and it takes some time to catch up with the three-point line. The middle distance is actually the best opportunity.

But this is the Spurs' abacus.

You can't shoot three-pointers, you can't make the basket, you can't make it at high difficulty and medium distance - you have to shoot like this!

Simply put, the Spurs' defense is to prevent the opponent from making a three-pointer in the bottom corner, which is a successful phased defense. The next step is to prevent the absolute hand from attacking from the middle, and then force the opponent to shoot mid-range.

This is considered a defense successful.

Zhou Mubai shot mid-range, but was this goal considered a defense successful?

Obviously not.

Zhou Mubai broke through Parker and attacked from the middle. Although it was not a three-pointer or a basket, he also made a mid-range shot.

So this defense still failed!

amazing!

This is what Popovich thought at this time.

Many NBA players have excellent first-step dribbling and ending ability at the basket, but only a few can shoot steadily between the process of "starting dribbling from the outside - ending offense at the basket".

This is why the Spurs let their opponents shoot mid-range shots, because there are always counterattacks around them, and there are big men coming to assist in defense at the basket waiting for them.

Therefore, it is very difficult to shoot in this area.

Dribblers entering this area usually divide the ball to his teammates if they don't meet that particularly awesome guy.

Therefore, all the defender needs to do is put pressure on the ball and drive the dribble to the sideline.

This is why Parker just made a defense.

But Parker failed.
Chapter completed!