The godfather of basketball started from conquering the NBA

99 to 75, Popovich looked at the score on the court and shook his head helplessly. There were still 5 minutes left in the game, and he knew that he could not catch up with this score difference. In the end, he could only replace the substitute helplessly and announced that he had given up this game.

Seeing that the Spurs replaced their main players with substitutes, there was no need for Xu Xiao to continue.

"Russell, it's a tactical foul, we have to use our main players as well."

As a coach, he understands the ways of the world, and Xu Xiao doesn't want to continue wasting his main players at such a critical moment.

Westbrook immediately committed a tactical foul and then walked off the court. He was greeted with applause and cheers of MVP, and he deserved the title in this game.

全场比赛24投16中，拿下了38分11篮板跟6助攻的数据，森林狼的转折也是从许萧将战术重心转移到威少来开始的。

Westbrook's mid-range shot is unreasonable in itself, and coupled with Billups' touch, he directly ignores the defense, giving the Spurs a headache.

When Popovich saw Westbrook, it was as if he saw Kobe Bryant again.

But the difference is that Westbrook also has the ability to organize the team's offense.

But while some are happy, others are worried, such as his good teammate Josh Smith.

Although he won the game, there was no happiness on Josh's face. Instead, he looked as if he had just experienced a crushing defeat.

This was also captured by many media reporters, and thus the traffic came.

"There is suspected discord within the Timberwolves, and the conflict between Josh and Westbrook is heating up."

"Coach Xu Xiao has lost control of the locker room, and the Timberwolves' future is bleak."

"Shocked! The road to defending the title is full of difficulties. The key to whether the Timberwolves can stand out is actually him."

Most media outlets are following the trend to gain traffic, but there are also some insiders who express some seemingly reasonable opinions and reports, and there is nothing wrong with that.

But there is always a group of black fans who follow the trend and start to mindlessly smear the Timberwolves as soon as something happens, especially Xu Xiao, after all, he was too rampant before.

"A boss who is also a part-time coach should have the most say in this dialogue, but now he has lost control of the locker room. It seems ridiculous now. Chinese are Chinese. How can they be in charge of the team here? Stop embarrassing yourself and go home quickly."

"Josh is the biggest cancer of the Timberwolves. He has forgotten who trained him. How can he be compared with James? Get out of the way."

"Russell doesn't understand teamwork at all. Wade can sacrifice for James, why can't Russell?"

"Sacrifice? Did he deserve it? Didn't Russell play well? Didn't they win the championship?"

"Champion? But I remember that the FMVP belongs to Josh. Russell, the two-time FMVP, should hold on to his thigh."

"That's because he's facing James. If James defends Westbrook, Westbrook will also be the FMVP."

"Yes, yes, you are also a LeBron hater, so let's get along harmoniously."

Damn, you two have been fighting for so long and it turns out you are in the same industry.

Xu Xiao ignored the online trolls as he still had to prepare for the next game.

He has now figured out the Spurs' defensive tactics.

The Spurs' favorite defensive style is pressing on the line and blocking the middle line.

To put it simply, it means not giving away easy three-point opportunities, setting up a tight net in the paint area, and relying on Duncan's superb defensive ability to block the route.

This defensive system can only be implemented with Duncan in the interior.

And there must be a leader in defense on the outside. In the last life, it was Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, two super locks on the outside, but now it has become McGrady and Batum.

Batum, who is now at his peak, is indeed a good defender. Although he is not as good as Kawhi Leonard back then, he is also a high-quality defender. It’s just that McGrady can’t keep up with the Spurs’ defensive rotations now.

Most of the time, Parker is doing the job of Danny Green before. Fortunately, there is Corey Brewer, the future "Cavalry Company Commander", on the bench, who can be a bit of a stickler on the outside. Otherwise, there would be no need for any tactics, and the Spurs' outside line would be killed by just calling on them.

This defensive system is not without its shortcomings.

That is the mid-range, especially the long two-point shot one step inside the three-point line.

Popovich is a very cunning person. He knows that the least efficient shot on a basketball court is the two-point shot. They are almost as far as the three-point shot, and the hit rate difference is not that big, but one is a two-point shot and the other is a three-point shot.

Therefore, he will not give any chances for three-pointers, and he will defend completely along the three-point line. However, once the first line of defense is breached, there will be a certain gap in the middle, and then there will be the tight net in the paint area.

High-risk three-pointers have high rewards. If it is also two points, naturally the best chance is to fight in the inside. This is what people often say, play reasonably, but the more reasonable the team is, the less likely it is to beat the Spurs.

This is also what Xu Xiao didn't understand when he watched the game at the beginning, why the Spurs were so afraid of Kobe, but were so at ease against James.

Kobe never pursues rationality when playing basketball, and Kobe's mid-range shot is truly a god's weapon.

Xu Xiao clearly remembers that in the 08 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers swept the Spurs 4-1. Kobe averaged 2.2 free throws per game but still scored 29 points per game. The winning point was in the mid-range.

And now, who is the best mid-range player in your team?

Naturally, it is Josh Smith who has the Paul ability card.

Unlike Paul, Josh has a strong physique. Whether it is height, weight or athletic ability, he is unmatched by Paul.

Paul is also very accurate in mid-range shots, but due to his physical condition, he cannot sustain the production of a series. This is why stars of Paul's level have never been able to break through themselves and enter the Western Conference Finals.

Paul can't play to his strengths unless someone can carry the offensive output.

But Josh is different. His physique is fully capable of handling the production. It is no problem for him to take about 20 shots in a game. After all, at this position, his physical condition has reached the ceiling.

Although Josh is a little rebellious now, it is the playoffs after all, Xu Xiao rubbed his head.

The next day, the Timberwolves were about to board a plane to San Antonio, and Xu Xiao took the initiative to choose to sit with Josh.

"Josh, I know you're not convinced in your heart. To be honest, I'm not convinced either. I spoke up for you before, but no one paid attention to me. So from this perspective, we are the same kind of people, both of us are ignored."

"Coach, I..."

Josh was about to say something, but stopped himself. Xu Xiao smiled and continued:

"So next, I will change my approach. I will prove to the world that I am not wrong, and it is those damn cuties who are wrong."

Hearing this, Josh's gloomy face finally improved a little.

"Really, coach, can I play like LeBron?"

Xu Xiao shook his head.

Seeing Xu Xiao shaking his head, the hope that had just risen was instantly shattered.

"Here to pua me again, but with a different set of rhetoric." Josh muttered to himself.

"Why do you want to be LeBron? What I want to prove is that you can surpass LeBron and that you are better than LeBron. If you insist on being him, then I would like to ask, should I call you Josh Smith or LeBron Smith in the future?"

"I don't think you want to be called "Little LeBron" for the rest of your life. After all, you have a name and surname. Your parents gave you this body, not to let you become someone else's, but to let you be yourself, to be a unique Josh who can surpass anyone else."

Xu Xiao's two words once again hit Josh's heart. Seeing that Josh was wavering, Xu Xiao decided to press on and continued:

"If you can do what I say in the next game, I believe you will become another three-peat winner after Jordan, Kobe, O'Neal and Garnett. That's three consecutive championships, which is more tempting than a first-team selection. This can be said to be a name that will go down in history."

"Who will remember a game? But who won't remember the leader of a team that won three consecutive championships? From now on, you will be put together with a series of great hits such as Jordan, Kobe, O'Neal, Garnett, etc."

Hearing this, Josh's eyes finally sparkled.

"Then what do I do?"

"First, starting with the Spurs, I'm going to hear 'Fake Josh' in San Antonio, got it?"