During the timeout, Popovich replaced the combination of Parker, Finley, Bowen, Duncan and Nesterovich.

He felt tremendous pressure, and his style of play focused on stability. He had to have an advantage in strength and a lead in the score before he could claim stability. If that didn't work, he had to at least take the initiative in the game.

But up to this point in the game, he still has no clue.

Although the demon sword he had high hopes for did not stab him, it also failed to make a deep enough cut on the opponent. The opponent quickly recovered, and the score was overtaken by the opponent again.

However, the past half quarter was at least a back-and-forth with the Trail Blazers. The real problem was during the rotation of the lineup in the first half. He believed that if players other than the starters had stronger personal abilities, such as small flying squirrels or pull-ups,

A player with Sim's singles ability has already taken the lead.

However, Fan Fan, a player with a minimum salary, is older and cannot ask for too much, and often suffers from mental twitching.

Finley also has an age problem. Now Finley is similar to Barry, Horry and others. He can do a little bit of everything, but he no longer has the ability to attack.

At this time, Popovich saw Ginobili sitting next to him, and his eyes suddenly lit up...

Judging from Ginobili's overall performance tonight, if Finley or Barry were the starters, their effect wouldn't be much worse, right?

Moreover, although Parker is not as good as the warden, he has made great progress this year and is enough to take on important tasks...

Such thoughts were immediately suppressed by Popovich. He shut up and sighed. Now is not the time to think about this.

He has to try to win the game tonight, otherwise he will fall behind 0-3. He still wants to tie the game and avoid the psychological disadvantage of playing in the playoffs. He also wants to be No. 1 in the Western Conference.

In the past two years, Pop didn't go out of his way to hit the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference. Pop felt that he suffered a big loss because of this. He made the decision after being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals last season. If he has the chance to compete for No. 1 in the future, he must fight for the home court advantage.

He really doesn't want to play the Rose Bay Devils away from home four times in a series.

The replaced players walked onto the court, and Popovich looked to the opposite side. The opposite side sent out a combination of Payton, Liu Xiu, Stevenson, Randolph, and Kwame Brown.

The timeout ends and the game continues. The Spurs attack and serve from the frontcourt.

Parker encountered Liu Xiu's single defense and continued to choose a pick-and-roll attack with Duncan.

Liu Xiu and Kwame Brown skillfully cooperated in the pick-and-roll. Parker was obviously much calmer than in the first half. He found the gap, grabbed the ball and passed it straight. Nesterovich took a step forward.

Received the ball on the sideline of the three-second zone, turned around and hit the hook!

A certain ability to hold the ball and attack is an important reason why Nesterovic firmly holds the starting center position of the Spurs. It is an advantage that the better center Muhammad does not have.

67 to 68, the point difference narrowed to 1 point!

During the transition between offense and defense, Liu Xiu continued to accelerate from the center circle. Bowen did not move ahead and tried to keep up with Liu Xiu, but Liu Xiu passed him cleanly at the top arc. Liu Xiu easily entered the three-point line from the right side of the top arc.

, when Bowen turned around to follow, Liu Xiu stopped suddenly in the middle of the three-point line and the free throw line, took off, and took a long two-point shot...

Bowen turned around and pounced, and Duncan jumped out of the three-second zone. Neither of them could interfere with Liu Xiu's shot. Liu Xiu made an emergency stop and hit a long two-pointer, and the point difference was once again widened to 3 points!

Popovich on the sidelines started to scratch his hair, and he suddenly pulled out a curl. He couldn't guard Liu Xiu anymore!

Popovich may pay more attention to Liu Xiu than other people and the team's head coach!

He clearly remembers that Liu Xiu, who had just entered the NBA, was easily controlled by Bowen. One-on-one defense, Bowen had the control, and Liu Xiu could only seek team cooperation.

When Liu Xiu's second year was over, Bowen had to rely on his team, but he was still able to do it, so it wasn't a big problem.

But in the playoffs, Bowen has to defend Liu Xiu. But gathering a team to defend and performing certain defensive purposes can still restrict Liu Xiu. After all, the Spurs are the best in the league in defense.

But now, it is difficult for Bowen to even create defensive opportunities for his teammates in one-on-one situations!

The reason is simple - Liu Xiu's speed has increased!

Although Bowen is a great first-line defender, he obviously cannot guard Parker, Iverson, and Popovich, and Liu Xiu looks no different from them tonight.

When it was the Spurs' turn to attack, Parker continued to break through the pick-and-roll and passed back to Duncan. Duncan took a lob and Nesterovich dunked and scored two points.

During the transition between offense and defense, Liu Xiu once again stopped in the high post and made a jump shot. The touch came and he hit the frame again with two long points. The Spurs' defense had no way to deal with him!

Liu Xiu has already activated the power of the West Coast. As long as he can get rid of Bowen's interference, Duncan's defense will be completely out of reach in the mid-range area beyond the free throw line!

Once Duncan really expands in advance, Randolph will rule the basket.

Parker, who is about to enter the prime period of his career, has made great progress, tearing holes in the Trail Blazers' defensive system one after another, causing huge trouble to the Trail Blazers.

But Liu Xiu, who has made even greater progress, blasted through the Spurs' defense like a rocket launcher one after another!

In the most difficult stage ahead, the Trail Blazers relied on the depth of their lineup and the on-the-spot command of Maurice Cheeks to survive. Now, Liu Xiu steps up to harvest the game!

After scoring two consecutive mid-range shots, Liu Xiu sent out an assist, then scored another mid-range shot and a breakthrough that resulted in a foul and two free throws. He single-handedly led the team to a 10-6 spurt and tied the score.

78 to 71, the lead expanded to 7 points!

After this wave of climax, the Trail Blazers' momentum slowed down.

Popovich entered a state where he really had no choice. In the first two and a half quarters, Maurice Cheeks racked his brains to think of ways to adapt. So why didn't Popovich do the same?

There is really no other way, Popovich will always make the same choice - strengthen defense.

The Spurs have the best defense in the league, which is why the Trail Blazers' momentum in widening the point difference has slowed down. In the following time, the Trail Blazers have been unable to open the point difference to double digits.

At 11 minutes and 48 seconds of the third quarter, Duncan hit a mid-range turnaround jumper from a 45-degree angle on the left side. The Spurs chased the score to 77-84, narrowing the point difference to 7 points.

When the Trail Blazers attacked, there were only 12 seconds left. Liu Xiu received the serve and quickly advanced. After reaching the frontcourt, he started a pick-and-roll attack with McDyess, who was taking turns.

Liu Xiu, who already had 34 points, chose to give it a try and hit a three-pointer directly after the pick-and-roll...but Duncan, who extended out to defend the pick-and-roll, judged his choice and pounced on him, forcing him to lean back.

The angle was quite right, but when I leaned back, I pushed the ball out with too much force, and the ball hit the neck of the basket and bounced back.
Chapter completed!