"It's obvious that Parker and Ginobili, who are known as the strongest back in the West, have not caused much trouble to the Grizzlies. The Hornets' outside defense is not the same as the Grizzlies' outside defense. The Spurs can attack the Hornets by attacking the outside, but they may not be able to defeat the Grizzlies."

Steve Cole looked at the data comparison between the two sides during the break. Ginobili and Parker did not perform well in the first quarter. Of course, they barely supported the Spurs' offense. But what Popovich needed them to do was not just barely supported the offense.

In the second quarter, will Popovich let Duncan take the lead again? This made Cole very interested. Duncan's per game this year was a career low, and he has always been in defensive tasks.

But now, the Spurs have encountered a different team. Cole believes that Popovich will not sit still and wait for death.

The second quarter started soon, and the cheerleaders' performance had just left the court, and the players stepped onto the wooden floor again. As soon as the second quarter came, both sides replaced them.

On the Spurs, "Red Mamba" Matt Bonner replaced McDaise and appeared in the second quarter. On the Grizzlies, Hollins decided to let Randolph recover his physical fitness first, so he replaced Darrell Arthur.

Seeing this scene, Popovich couldn't help but curl up the corner of his mouth slightly. Arthur is a player with a very good abilities in all aspects. Except for having a three-pointer, there is nothing special about it. He believes that his tactics will be easier to succeed on Arthur's head.

Popovich stood on the sidelines and reminded the Spurs players to stay focused at all times. The Spurs attacked first in the second quarter. Parker did not rush to pass the ball after halftime. The Spurs seemed to not play the outside attack in the first quarter, but were waiting for the inside players to take the position!

"The Spurs' rhythm slowed down instantly, Popovich is looking for Duncan!"

Under Cole's commentary, Matt Bonner dragged to outside the three-point line. Parker, Ginobili and Richard Jefferson were also staying on the outside, so Duncan was left in the penalty area!

"The Spurs have completely opened up the space, and Duncan wants to play singles!"

"Damn it!" Hollins cursed. At first he thought Popovich went to Bonner to increase the lineup height and thus strengthen the efficiency of frame protection.

But now I understand that Popovich’s real purpose is to send Bonner to help Duncan open up space and create singles opportunities!

Arthur's defensive ability is still good, but he is still a little troubled to face Duncan at 2.06 meters tall.

Randolph is also 2.06 meters, but he can use his "fat" to fight Duncan. Arthur is not so lucky. He does not have the tonnage and confrontational ability like Randolph. Arthur just entered the league only 97 kilograms, but after the increase in the past two years, he still suffered a loss in the fourth position.

Duncan wanted to stay in the position, but he couldn't move. Seeing that the time was right, Parker hung the ball to Duncan. The ball was very comfortable to pass, after all, the two had been working together in NBA for many years.

"Duncan plays singles with the ball! The Spurs, like the Grizzlies, decided to solve the problem by changing the scoring points!" Cole gritted his teeth. How much he hoped Duncan could be reborn this time!

The No. 21, who had a "Honey Smile", took the ball and took a step back calmly. Arthur, who was not as big as a weight, was pushed back for a long distance.

After seeing that the position was similar, Duncan turned over and jumped! His decisive movements did not look like a 35-year-old veteran at all!

Arthur made a very high-level turnover jump shot against Duncan. Arthur was once a jumping man who could use his bounce force to complete violent blocking. But since his Achilles tendon ruptured last season, the Kansas forward's athletic ability has also disappeared.

Now, Arthur relies more on experience and consciousness to defend. But relying solely on those two things can't help but defend Duncan!

"Brush!" Duncan's turnover jump shot into the net. He helped the Spurs break the scoring drought in the most simple way!

"It's worthy of being a great basic skill!" Link sighed from the side that Duncan's shooting was too stable. If the Spurs really let Duncan play with Arthur one goal, Arthur would really not be able to defend himself.

"Let me get on!" Randolph off the court was a little restless. The Spurs' intentions were already very obvious, and they were just to chisel into the inside.

"No, keep calm, Zach. Believe that Link will do everything. Don't forget that he is the core of the offensive now!" Hollins stood up from the bench and urged the team to make the first attack in the second quarter.

The source of confidence that he dared to put Randolph down and rest was Link!

Now the score difference is only three points away, and the leading position is likely to be interchanged after several rounds. It seems that Duncan scored the goal at the beginning and the battle entered a white-hot stage.

At this time, as the main attacker, Link was the first to receive a pass from Conley. In front of him was Richard Jefferson, who was scolded by his fans and frowned.

Link was calm and called Arthur to cover him. Duncan smiled in his heart and used this trick again!

Duncan has studied the three-pointer tactics of Link and Arthur countless times. This time, when Link took advantage of Arthur's cover to break through, Duncan did not change defense, but directly guarded in front of Arthur to prevent him from getting a three-point shot.

At the same time, Richard Jefferson, who was scolded, immediately became entangled with Link again. He didn't want to be beaten by a bastard throughout the whole game.

"The Spurs were not fooled this time, and the three-point shooting tactics between the Grizzlies' three-four positions were not played!"

As soon as Cole finished speaking, Link assisted to cut into the basket. Allen made a layup easily. Duncan turned around in a daze, and he didn't even know what was going on.

It turned out that the cover of Link and Arthur just now was just a cover. The real purpose was to attract defensive attention. Then, Tony Allen used Gasol Jr.'s no-ball cover to cut into the basket.

The most difficult point of this ball is that Link must make the Spurs believe that he will break through or pass back Arthur. And, in a very small space in the breakthrough, the ball will be sent to Tony Allen.

As a result, Link achieved all these difficulties!

"6 points and 4 assists, the Grizzlies' offense is still very exciting under Link's organization. The score difference is back to 5 points. Let's see who can stabilize the scoring momentum of Tim and Link!"

"What am I talking about? Don't worry, he will handle everything." Seeing Link performing the tactic perfectly, Hollins turned his head and smiled at Randolph.

Randolph spread his hands and lay lazily on the bench in a "big" shape. He knew that he could "paralyze" for a while.

In the second round, the Spurs re-used their skills. However, this time, Duncan was in a deeper position when he got the ball. After receiving the pass, he didn't have to do anything at all. He just hooked his hand and scored 4 points in a row!

Duncan still didn't say a word. When Popovich said he needed him, Duncan knew his mission. Unless he finally won the game, Duncan wouldn't laugh until then.

But Duncan never dreamed that he would be targeted by the unsuccessful election today.

"Link singles against Richard Jefferson, Jefferson can't defend himself! The Spurs didn't double-team, and no one dared to double-team Link easily! They watched Richard Jefferson be pushed into the penalty area. Link turned around and jumped, making a fake move! He tricked Jefferson into jumping, and then took a step forward to pick up the basket. He was beautiful offensive footsteps. Richard Jefferson must not know what happened just now!"

Duncan looked at Richard Jefferson in a daze, unable to believe what had just happened.

That's it? This guy was defeated like this? Duncan just tried his best to chisel 2 points in the inside. Jefferson was fine and easily lost the score.

"I" Popovich was so helpless for the first time, and Jefferson completely turned into Link's ATM!

The score difference returned to 5 points again, and Popovich found that even Duncan could not suppress Link's momentum.

Then, Link and Duncan competed. Both sides continued to help the team score and refused to give in to each other.

After Duncan scored a rebound, he scored 6 points in a row, narrowing the gap to 3 points.

Link hit the ball in the east and did not look at the wonderful pass to Conley. Conley, who cut in, attracted Bonner's assisting defense, so Conley passed the ball again, assisting Gasol Jr. to make a mid-range shot. Link indirectly planned the attack, and the score difference returned to 5 points.

Duncan held the ball in the middle distance, and suddenly broke through after a few test steps, which caught Arthur off guard. In the previous few attacks, Duncan played in a stand-alone manner, but Arthur did not expect that Duncan actually changed to the ball and broke through.

Although Duncan's pace was not fast, his pace was stable. Once he leaned against Arthur, Duncan took two big steps and easily dunked with one hand to score! Duncan scored 8 points in a row, and the gap narrowed to 3 points!

"Awesome, Tim Duncan, he scored 8 points in a row in the second quarter. He proved that he is still the best fourth player in the league! Is Coach Hollins planning to substitute? Duncan will almost hammer Arthur!"

"It won't work if you continue like this. You can go around to defend Duncan in the next round!" Before this attack, Link gave a few instructions in Arthur's ear.

Arthur nodded slightly, and he didn't want to be beaten by Duncan to doubt his life.

Just now, Duncan scored his fourth consecutive goal. So now, people want to see if Link can continue to stabilize the attack. If he falls behind, the Spurs will have a chance to further the gap.

This time, Link was not in a hurry. Conley controlled the ball well and did not give the ball to Link too early. After Gasol Jr. got a good position, Conley just hung the ball in. Just when everyone thought that Link could not take the move, Gasol, who was holding the ball behind his back, threw the ball back. It seemed as if his eyes were on the back of his head, and he sent the ball to Link without looking at people!

Because this pass was so sudden and secret, as always, Richard Jefferson knelt down again. Link received the ball and made a layup easily, scoring the 10th point of the game, and the difference was back to 3 points!

"Isn't this a replica of Yao Ming's back-to-back version that I can't remember! Oh my God, Gasol and Link almost replicated that attack. I don't know if there is any luck in it, but Link actually successfully responded to Duncan again. This is the fact!"

Cole actually was a little overthinking because the ball was not based on luck just now. Link and Gasol Jr. had long studied Yao Ming's pass and played several times on the training ground. Link's cutting time was accurate, and Gasol Jr.'s low-post support ability was also excellent. The two combined to create a classic tribute.

Gasol laughed happily and wrinkled his double chin inadvertently, which was quite a shadow of his fat man in high school.

"The Grizzlies responded again, it's incredible. Both sides have played in the second quarter and have not missed any of them! Now, all the pressure has come to Duncan. Can he continue the score? Can Duncan still take the lead??" Cole didn't expect that as soon as the second quarter began, it turned into a fancy offensive show between Duncan and Link.

This time, Arthur followed Link's strategy to defend Duncan around the front. This sudden change made Duncan a little uncomfortable.

In fact, in addition to having requirements for the player who is going around, the defensive side needs to have stable defensive capabilities.

If the wing defense is not good, the offense will be convenient to take advantage of the opportunity when the inside player is around the front. Or if the wing interception fails and the wing cannot rush back in time to form an effective defense, the offensive party can also easily score goals.

But now, the Grizzlies' wing defensive chain is composed of Link and Tony Allen! Therefore, Link is relieved and bold to let Arthur go around the front defense Duncan!

Parker hesitated for a while, obviously waiting for the outside to cut in. But unfortunately, Ginobili was blocked by Tony Allen on the outside. And Richard Jefferson continued to "smoke the bottom corner".

Helplessly, Parker had to hang the ball towards Duncan through Arthur. Duncan has a height advantage, so it is not difficult to catch a basketball.

But when Duncan received the ball and was about to turn around and attack the box, he realized that Link had unknowingly walked behind him. As soon as he received the ball, Duncan was in the dilemma of double-teaming!

"Beautiful defense, haha, is this considered a defensive trap!?"

Before Duncan could start the pass, the ball was cut off by Link! The "big basic skills" made a mistake, and Link led the counterattack!

He immediately sent the ball to the frontcourt after stealing the basketball. Because the first pass was very timely, Conley and Tony Allen formed a 2-on-1 situation in the frontcourt.

Conley assisted Tony Allen to hit the score with one hand, and the difference became 7 points. Duncan of the Spurs took the lead in losing the chain!

"Oh my God, Link actually forced Duncan to take the lead in making a mistake! Duncan has attacked five rounds and only missed once. It is logically enough! But why do I feel that Duncan was defeated so badly this time!"

Popovich looked at Link and had no choice but to stop the game. Duncan scored 8 points in the second quarter, but was still under pressure.

Link had 4 points, 1 assist and 1 beautiful defense, and 2 indirect assists. Overall, all the Grizzlies' 10 points from the second quarter to the present are from Link.

Popovich is really convinced by an offensive core who is more stable than Duncan.
Chapter completed!