play for it

Chapter 40
The next night, in the locker room of the home team, the Spurs players were checking and changing their equipment in an orderly manner. The game was about to start, and the Spurs would face the challenge of the Clippers at home.

"The Clippers' lineup hasn't been adjusted yet. The offense is basically based on Paul's pick-and-roll and Griffin's singles, so it's enough to kill them. Parker, Jefferson, you two..."

Popovich stood in front of everyone, making the final arrangements and emphasis before the game, but this had nothing to do with Yang Ke and Leonard in the corner of the locker room.

The starting lineup has already been announced, and it is still the five players from the previous game, and if one of them hadn't made a mistake, neither Yang Ke nor Leonard would have had the chance to play in advance.

Changing his sneakers, Yang Ke remembered that until the old Jack came to pick up Alice last night, he tried all kinds of methods but failed to make that stubborn little girl change her mind, so she said to Leonard a little depressed: "Lai Leonard, I tried it, but unfortunately it didn't work, Alice still thinks you are fierce, and still wants to call you a bad uncle."

"Why do you have to make her change her words? She just can't tell the difference between evil and evil, and even the so-called evil is judged by her child's innocent eyes."

Leonard shook his head when he heard the words, with soft light in his eyes, and a smile on the corner of his mouth: "In today's society, the innocence of children is already very rare, so let Alice keep calling it that way, I just hope she can keep this innocence longer."

Yang Ke nodded in agreement, indeed, because of social development and openness, today's children are getting smarter and know more and more things, so that children lose their innocent and innocent life early. Way of thinking, unrestrained imagination.

While Yang Ke and Leonard were chatting privately, it was time for them to play. After Popovich summed it up quickly, he clapped his hands and asked Duncan to walk out with the fully prepared players. In the locker room, standing in the tunnel of the home players, waiting for the loud calls from the DJ and fans.

As the Clippers players were booed by the audience, all their appearances were completed, and then it was their turn to play at home, and everything was going on as usual.

The only difference is that when Yang Ke and Leonard were on the court, there were only shouts from the DJ, while the fans and the audience were whispering for a while.

"It seems that the situation of Yang and Leonard is more serious than we thought."

In front of the home team's bench, Borrego stood beside Popovich, listening to the whispers from the fans in the home audience, and said solemnly.

The home fans did not give Yang Ke and Leonard the treatment they deserved as home players, which shows a problem, that is, even the fans of this team do not believe or recognize the abilities of the two of them.

"After tonight's game, let the coaching staff stay for a meeting, and we will discuss how to deal with it."

Popovich's face was dark. He single-handedly advocated the selection of Yang Ke and Leonard. At the same time, he was very sure of the potential and strength of the two, but the media and even the fans of the home team began to question the two. This made him very uncomfortable, as if he was questioning his vision.

Thinking that Popovich immediately set his sights on the court, Yang Ke and Leonard stood there quietly, as if they were not affected.

This can't help but make Popovich think that since the two were selected by the Spurs, facing any rumors from the outside world, the two have responded silently, deeply suppressing all negative emotions in their hearts, and then Work harder and train harder.

It's time for them to vent, Popovich thought silently, holding on to the tactical drawing board tightly, he knew the truth that if he didn't erupt in silence, he would sink in silence.

The problem now is how to let the two of them vent all the things they have been suppressing all the time without causing any adverse effects and reactions.

Just when Popovich was frowning and thinking, the game officially started. The referee held the ball and started walking towards the center of the court. Parker clapped his hands and gathered several starters around him. The players walked off the court consciously, and found a seat on the bench at will.

Soon, with the whistle of the referee, the two sides took their positions on both sides of the center circle, and then the game began to jump the ball.

The two jumping the ball are Jordan and Duncan. Jordan Jr. has better physical fitness. He jumped high, obviously a head taller than Duncan, and easily returned the ball to the Clippers' backcourt.

The Spurs' strategy in this game is that whenever Paul and Butler pick and roll, veteran Jefferson will delay the switch and follow Paul, pressing to the wing until there is a chance.

Paul picks and rolls with the big man, while Parker and Green block his passing line to the big man. Duncan and Blair come out to delay, forming a partial two-in-one.

The Clippers' strategy is obvious, partially double-teaming, blocking Parker, protecting the inside, and allowing the Spurs to shoot three-pointers.

What's more bleak is that Green's three-pointer today is just like a sight, and it's a little unusually accurate.As for the heavily defended interior line, Clippers head coach Neglo didn't seem to teach Jordan how to deal with Duncan. Duncan used his proficient skills to sway Jordan to the sky.

Only 8 minutes into the first quarter, the game tended to be overwhelmed. The Clippers trailed the Spurs by a big score of 6:20, which surprised the media reporters on the sidelines. In the old, defensive Spurs.

"You guys played well."

Just when Negro called the Clippers' second timeout in this quarter, Popovich walked to the bench and flatly praised the five starters sitting.

This time point is the regular substitution time. Popovich glanced at the five starters who were quietly recovering their strength in their seats, then turned to the Spurs players surrounding him, and pointed to a few people: "Next , We make regular substitutions, Young, Leonard, Ginobili, Splitter, you go."

After speaking, seeing the players he pointed at take off their jackets one after another, Popovich nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Duncan on the bench seat and said, "Well, Duncan, you stay on the court, I need You should teach Jordan the basic skills inside."

"Ok."

Duncan nodded.

When Popovich finished arranging the next players, the timeout came just in time, and the five players who were about to play clapped their hands and walked slowly to the court.

"Greg"

Just when Popovich put away the tactical drawing board and walked to his coach's seat to sit down, he heard someone calling him, and when he looked up, he found that it was the assistant coach Borrego who he called to collect data.

"Leonard's situation is generally media hype and exaggerated reports, leading fans to..."

Borrego quickly said that he just learned from the press officer and the official fan manager that after the first game, the fans still had some recognition for Leonard's defensive strength.

But after the Pacers game, Hill's outstanding performance shook their feelings, and after being guided by media reporters, it became the current attitude towards Leonard.

"What about Yang?"

Popovich asked calmly again, the specific situation of Leonard's matter was within his expectation.

"The fans are very tired of Yang. After all, he is too active and high-profile off the court. They don't have much opinion of his ability. After all, Yang Ke is just a rookie except for his identity as an Asian player. That's all."

Borrego said with a wry smile that the Spurs fans have adapted to the Spurs' low-key style for a long time. It is easy for them to be displeased by the sudden arrival of a very high-profile player off the field.

The circumstances of the two are different, but the most immediate solution is the same, let the two of them conquer everything with outstanding performance.Thinking of this, Popovich frowned, and said to Borrego with certainty: "It seems that we will prepare a lot of coffee for tonight's meeting."

(End of this chapter)