Chapter 257 Don't Give Me the Chance to Break Your Bones
On the evening of the 16th, at the SBC Center, the Knicks challenged the Spurs away.

He Zhongqiu played for two seasons and only played four games with Tim Duncan, with two wins and two losses. They didn't have many opportunities to play against each other. This was their fifth match.

As two of the four championship teams recognized by the media, the game between the Knicks and the Spurs may also be a preview of future finals, so this game is attracting a lot of attention.

At 7:30, both sides announced their starting lineups.

Knicks: He Zhongqiu, Karl Malone, Shane Battier, Josh Howard, Nash
Spurs: Rasul, Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen, Ginobili, Tony Parker

This game is a nationally broadcast game for the Spurs, with ESPN owning the broadcasting rights. The commentators are two ace players, Michael Brin and Bill Ward.

After the live broadcast began, Michael Breen said: "This season, the Knicks have 41 nationally televised games, with a total of 42 home games. 41 games set an NBA record. Jordan's Bulls didn't get so many nationally televised games back then."

Bill Walton said: "Yes, the three major TV broadcasters also keep an eye on the Knicks when arranging national live broadcasts of other teams. As long as the opponent is the Knicks, they will almost always arrange national live broadcasts."

Michael Breen continued: “So including the visiting team’s national broadcast, the Knicks will have 82 regular season games this season.

According to official statistics, there were 72 live broadcasts across the United States, with amazing exposure, and the Knicks' home advertising revenue soared 215% compared to last season."

At this point, he suddenly said with a look of regret: "It's pitiful to say, the Spurs have only failed to make the playoffs in 97 in the past seasons, and have won two championships. They are definitely one of the strongest teams since the s.

However, their attention is really low, with only 19 national live broadcasts this season. As a championship-level team, the gap between them and the Knicks is too big.”

Bill Walton laughed and said, "This is the market's choice. The Spurs' game ratings are too low. Last season, ticket prices ranked 26th in the league, fourth from the bottom, and home advertising revenue ranked fifth from the bottom in the league."

"So no All-Star wants to join the Spurs," Michael Breen said with a smile.

"Yes, Kidd did not choose the Spurs last season."

Bill Walton said this, shook his head and sighed: "Recently, the media broke the news that Kidd was abusing his wife. That's terrible. How can a man beat a woman?"

"..."

Kidd, who was recuperating at home, wanted to curse when he heard Bill Walton's words, but his wife was next to him, so he didn't dare to.

His injuries were not caused by training, but by severe domestic violence. His head was broken and he had to get more than a dozen stitches. He also had wounds on his face. He didn't dare go out to see anyone and could only hide at home.

"Hey, superhero."

Tim Duncan greeted in the player tunnel.

"Hey, Daidai." He Zhongqiu greeted cheerfully.

Duncan's old face suddenly fell. You are the idiot. Your whole family is idiot.

"Hey, superhero, will you save me?" the French sports car yelled.

"Why are you worth being saved? Your girlfriend is worthy of my saving." He Zhongqiu said.

"Ha ha……"

Everyone burst into laughter, including Duncan.

After the joke, He Zhongqiu saw Bowen hiding behind Duncan and immediately said, "What are you hiding for?

Remember, keep your feet clean and don't give me the chance to break your bones, no, the bones of your entire team."

Bowen shrank his neck in fear, and Duncan and the others fell silent.

Next up, the visiting team goes first.

Duncan looked at He Zhongqiu's back and suddenly said, "Bruce, don't do anything rash. Otherwise, if he hits us, the media might condemn us instead of him as a superhero."

"Got it." Bowen said dejectedly.

"Superhero!"

At this time, the SBC Center Arena was filled with cheers from a large number of fans.

Bill Walton said with emotion: "Tonight the Spurs' home court is rarely full. All the tickets are sold out, and the ticket price has been increased by 2.8 times."

Michael Breen said: "People come to see superheroes, real-life superheroes."

He Zhongqiu waved to the audience. He didn't expect that he would be so popular even on the road. Isn't this the same treatment as Michael Jordan?

If Bruce Bowen plays tricks again, will I break the Spurs' bones? It's really embarrassing!

At eight o'clock, the competition begins.

He Zhongqiu and Lasu jump ball and the Knicks attack.

"The Spurs played zone defense, 2-1-2, with Duncan in the middle," said Michael Breen.

"Wolverine goes to the low post and Rasu defends," Bill Walton continued.

Nash took the ball to the right wing, and the Spurs' 2-1-2 zone defense formation immediately moved to the right wing.

Specifically, Ginobili, who was on the left wing, moved toward the top of the arc and toward the right wing, intending to double-team Nash, exert defensive pressure, and force Nash to speed up the offensive tempo.

At the same time, Duncan, who was guarding the free throw line, also moved to the right, so that if Nash broke through Tony Parker, he could provide backup defense.

For the Knicks, He Zhongqiu carried Lasu into the basket, and the Postman pulled to the right corner. Bruce Bowen defended the low post on the right wing and stared at the Postman.

On the outside, in addition to Battier on the left wing three-point line, Josh Howard was on the right wing. As soon as Nash reached the right wing, Howard immediately made a pick-and-roll cover.

Nash used a screen to get rid of Tony Parker, and then took a three-pointer in a small open space without hesitation.

In the Knicks, Rick Carlisle did not limit his shots. He could shoot whenever he had the chance. He was the team's second scoring point.

So when he saw Wolverine enter the basket, the offensive rebound and second offense were guaranteed, and he got a small open space, he shot very decisively.

But Tony Parker is very good at defending pick-and-rolls. He is small and fast, so even if he is left behind, he still has a chance to catch up.

This time, when Nash shot, Parker took a step forward and blocked the shot from the wing. Although he did not touch the ball, he affected Nash's shooting angle and speed.

"Bang!"

It missed the target and the basketball hit the rim.

"boom!"

The next moment, He Zhongqiu stood up, grabbed the bouncing basketball with both hands, and slammed the ball into the basket with a two-handed slam.

"Di!"

The referee's whistle blew and called a foul on Lasu.

"Rasu is a big sieve. In the Spurs' system, his defensive performance is a little better, but he definitely can't defend against Wolverine," said Michael Breen.

"Nash and Parker played a lot in the West, and they are both top-notch point guards, and their stats are similar," Bill Walton said.

Michael Breen said: "But Parker's defense is better."

Bill Walton laughed and said: “It’s just a little bit better. What people pay most attention to is his offense. His offensive presence is very strong.

On the defensive end, because of his small size, he is often targeted by opponents. It is not difficult to break through him. It is because the Spurs' overall defense is good and there are people to cover for him that he does not become a big sieve. "

Michael Breen smiled and said, "So the Spurs and the Knicks are the same. They value the defensive strength of the front line. The Spurs have Bowen, and the Knicks have Battier."

Bill Walton added: "But he also has strong points on defense. He is good at defending pick-and-rolls and has a fast pace. Even if he is penetrated, he still has a chance to catch up."

Michael Breen nodded and said, "The Knicks' offensive tactics rely heavily on pick-and-roll tactics. Josh Howard's pick-and-roll was of average quality just now, so Parker chased back."

He Zhongqiu made the free throw and the Spurs attacked.

"The Knicks, oh, three-two zone defense, mainly defending outside breakthroughs and jump shots." Michael Breen said.

"Battier guards the middle and is responsible for filling in the gaps for Nash," said Bill Walton.

On the right wing, Tony Parker quickly breaks through with the ball.

His breakthroughs are nothing special, but he has a strong ability to seize opportunities and is good at using screens. He can take advantage of both his teammates and opponents.

He bent down, accelerated and rushed towards Nash, only to be met with Battier's backup defense.

He turned around and spun like a top, and quickly broke into the penalty area from the lower side of Duncan who came out to cover and the upper side of the Postman.

Battier was about to chase after him, but he turned around and bumped into Duncan, who immediately turned around and followed Parker.

Lasu has no ability to shoot from mid-range, so He Zhongqiu entered the basket and stared at Parker who was rushing in.

Parker came in from the right waist position, but instead of shooting, he dribbled past the front of the basket, then passed over Rasu's body and turned around to make a small jump shot with a very fast shooting rhythm.

He Zhongqiu was blocked by Lasu, and it was too late to defend. He could only turn around to block Lasu and prepare to grab the rebound.

A splash appeared and two points were made.

"With the growth of Tony Parker and Ginobili, the Spurs now have a very stable core lineup," Bill Walton said.

Michael Brin said: "Yes, the three of them are called the GDP combination by the media."

Bill Walton said: "Except for the Knicks, the Spurs are the most favored championship-level team by the media this season."

3:2, Knicks attack.

He Zhongqiu was asking for the ball in the low post on the left wing.

Nash came to the top of the arc, attracting the defense of Parker and Ginobili on the left and right wings.

Duncan has come up to the free throw line, forming a three-man team attack on Nash.

At this moment, He Zhongqiu suddenly turned around and slipped to the bottom, getting rid of Lasu and cutting into the penalty area.

Nash seemed to have a flash of inspiration and threw the ball high into the air on the left side of the basket.

The next moment, He Zhongqiu stood up and grabbed the basketball with both hands.

"boom!"

As the basket roared, the Spurs' basket exploded.

5:2, Spurs attack.

On the right wing, Nash saw Tony Parker coming at him again. He was not surprised at all. Who made him a big sieve? Anyone could focus on him.

This time, not surprisingly, he was attacked again.

But Battier made timely defensive moves to block Parker from breaking into the restricted area, and then the Postman came up to assist in defense in time, forming a double-team on Parker and forcing Parker to pass the ball.

Ginobili ran on the left wing and Parker made a cross pass.

"Snapped!"

At this moment, He Zhongqiu in the penalty area quickly inserted himself and intercepted the ball.

When Parker was double-teamed, he saw Ginobili's running position in time and read the Spurs' offensive tactics.

"Beautiful! Wolverine steals the ball, doesn't pass it, and goes on a fast break himself!" Bill Walton shouted excitedly.

He Zhongqiu strode forward. He had the first-mover advantage and his speed was not inferior to that of an average defender. He was very fast and crossed the center line in just a few steps.

Ginobili and Tony Parker tried desperately to defend from both wings, but still failed to catch up.

"boom!"

He Zhongqiu took off after crossing the free throw line, turned 360 degrees and then slammed the Spurs' basket with one hand.

Michael Breen said: "I really want to see Wolverine do a sky arc slam dunk on the basketball court. I have downloaded that video and watched it at least 20 times. It's so gorgeous! So cool!"

Bill Walton was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Take off from one side of the basket, rotate 720 degrees, fly in an arc in front of the basket, and then complete a slam dunk on the other side of the basket. Please ask our Kung Fu King to perform at the All-Star Game."

7:2, Spurs attack.

At the right waist position, Duncan had his back against Karl Malone and was asking for the ball.

After catching the ball, he first shook downward, then quickly shook upward, stepped into the paint area, and immediately shot at a 45-degree angle to hit the bank.

The postman was fooled, and He Zhongqiu's assist was also a little slow.

"Bang! Swoosh!"

The basketball hit the backboard and bounced into the basket.

"Duncan hit the rebound for a close two-pointer," Bill Walton said.

"His close two-point shooting percentage is 42%, mid-range two-point shooting percentage is 42%, and long two-point shooting percentage is 44%, which is a very stable shooting percentage," said Michael Breen.

"Duncan does not have the top offensive ability. Stability is his greatest advantage," said Bill Walton.

7:4, Knicks attack.

Nash and the Mailman played a pick-and-roll tactic in the high post. He was double-teamed by Duncan and Bruce Bowen on the left end of the free throw line. He cleverly passed the ball to Battier who was in an open position.

"brush!"

Battier shot from the 50-degree position on the left wing three-point line and made a three-pointer.

10:4, Spurs attack.

This time it was Ginobili's turn to attack with the ball.

Like Tony Parker, he deliberately came to the right wing to find Nash.

Anyone can bully him. Even if Nash doesn't care, he will still be a little unhappy. However, he is powerless to resist and can only endure it passively.

But the Knicks' defense is no joke. Josh Howard's defense has been well-trained. Although the Postman is old, his main task is defense. Four people can still make up for one person.

This time, Ginobili was blocked by Battier just after he broke through Nash, and then the Postman's double-team came up, forming a double-team outside the right waist position, just like the double-team on Parker just now.

"Bang!"

Ginobili didn't find a chance to pass the ball in a hurry, so he could only force a shot, but missed the two-pointer. He Zhongqiu grabbed the backcourt rebound.

On the sidelines, Popovich calmly analyzed the offensive and defensive situations of both teams.

On the defensive end, the Knicks' offensive engine Nash must be restricted, with a higher priority than restricting Wolverine.

The current 2-1-2 zone defense formation seems unable to limit Nash.

"You guys keep your eyes on me, and I'll keep my eyes on Parker."

At this time, Nash began to take revenge and made a pull-away gesture. He wanted to single out Tony Parker on the right wing.

He is very familiar with Parker and has played against him many times. He knows Parker's defensive level, but he just can't defend him, so he didn't even call for a pick-and-roll.

After a series of turns and changes of direction, he quickly broke through Parker.

Duncan moved to the right wing and blocked Nash in time, but Nash made a quick change of direction, broke through Duncan again, and entered the penalty area.

This is easy now. He Zhongqiu is under the basket. After Nash comes in, LaSue's limited defense is attracted, and then Nash jumps over the top and passes the ball.

"boom!"

He Zhongqiu's two-handed dunk exploded the Spurs' basket again.

"Alley-oop slam dunk? Beautiful!"

Michael Breen said excitedly: "The alley-oop cooperation between Nash and Wolverine has become the most pleasing tactical cooperation in the NBA league."

"12:4, Popovich called a timeout." Bill Walton said.

Michael Brin said, "Bill, analyze what the Spurs' problem is?"

Bill Walton immediately said: "The Spurs' 2-1-2 zone defense didn't seem to stop the Knicks' offense. This needs to be reconsidered."

Michael Breen said: "Duncan was in the middle, he helped defend Nash, and it seemed to be ineffective."

Bill Walton said: "It was okay to make up for the first time, but Nash's breakthrough was very sharp. As a big man, it was difficult for Duncan to make continuous defensive coverage against a small man like Nash.

I think Bruce Bowen will have to go to the middle to help defend, just like the Knicks' three-two zone, with Battier helping out."

Michael Breen said: "But the 2-1-2 zone can take care of the basket. If Bowen is in the middle, he will help defend the basket, which will not be very effective for the Wolverines."

"Everything has two sides. There is no perfect tactic. It depends on the specific application. Popovich is an expert in this regard."

Bill Walton nodded and said, "On the offensive end, the Knicks defended them continuously. Parker and Ginobili were repeatedly double-teamed by Battier and the Mailman on the right wing, which resulted in the Spurs' offense not being able to play well."

Michael Brin said: "Parker and Ginobili are very good at dribbling and breaking through. Their performance just now was indeed a bit off."

"Perhaps, it was suppressed by the magnetic field of the superhero?" Bill Walton said.

"Haha, that's possible." Michael Brin laughed.

(End of this chapter)