115 Cut the Gang

Zhang Jun returned to the court, and he was joined by Jarrett Jack, Brandon Luo Yin, Aldridge and Zach Randolph.

The Spurs' decisive lineup has changed a lot, with Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley.

This is a small lineup with GDP as the core, and Duncan is pushed to the center position.

In fact, in the 2002-03 season, the 38-year-old Navy Admiral David Robinson's condition dropped significantly, averaging only 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. Since then, Duncan has been beaten by Popovich many times. Pushed to the center position.

After the 2002-03 season, the Spurs' playing time with Duncan as center began to gradually increase until they won the championship last season.

Duncan was mentioned to the center position many times at critical moments, allowing the entire Spurs to be in a more flexible and most offensively efficient state.

With this lineup, the threat from their outside pitchers is also extremely terrifying.

Therefore, the origin of small lineups in the new era begins with Popovich.

At the beginning of the game, Bowen followed Zhang Jun throughout the game.

Although the opponent is 36 years old and cannot keep up with Zhang Jun's speed, he is still a very good defensive leader in terms of defensive experience and confrontation.

Aldridge wanted to come over for a pick-and-roll, but considering that the Spurs basically adopted a play style of not switching defenses and breaking the pick-and-roll behind the back, and proactively giving the opponent opportunities outside the three-point line, Zhang Jun did not use a pick-and-roll tactic, but chose a pair of One of the individual singles.

Bowen clapped and yelled, "Come on, kid."

This time the applause for Bowen was genuine.

Bowen was almost unable to lock down Zhang Jun throughout the three quarters. The opponent played too smart, even too smart to be considered a rookie. Bowen also encountered such a player in last year's finals.

Although in the end, thanks to the efforts of the whole team and the coaching staff, the opponent was finally defended, Bowen still believed that the player was a very good young man.

Zhang Jun is the second one.

Snapped!

Zhang Jun's breakthrough speed is still very fast, and the first step is surprisingly fast. Bowen immediately recalled in his mind the players he had defended in his career who had the same fast first step, including Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Jordan, Wade and Iverson.

Duncan stepped up to help defend. Duncan, who was at the center position, had to participate in a heavy task of assisting defense. Facing Zhang Jun's breakthrough, he chose to step up to fight, forcing Zhang Jun to stop the ball in one step from the free throw line.

Turn around before holding the ball and make a layup!

Hit!

Zhang Jun hit this attack.

Luo Yin and Aldridge shouted excitedly behind them, "Nice turn!"

Off the court, Nate McMillan, who no longer had the pressure to win or lose the game, nodded with great satisfaction.

During this period, he has been suppressing Zhang Jun's desire to attack. He knows that this young rookie has a burning fire in his heart and is ready to turn the NBA upside down, and the opponent is fully capable of doing so.

However, Nate McMillan still forcibly suppressed Zhang Jun's offense in the first three quarters of each game. He hoped that Zhang Jun could familiarize himself with and complete the tasks assigned by him first, and become the team's winner at critical moments.

Of course, Nate McMillan never thought he could always suppress this young man with a strong desire to attack.

"Tonight is a night where he's on full fire."

Zhang Jun succeeded in two consecutive breakthroughs. Popovich directly called a timeout and copied the tactics used to defend James last season.

In the first step, Zhang Jun was left open two meters away, allowing the shot to be made without allowing a sudden shot. The Spurs recognized the shot.

In the second step, the inside line will help defend and double-team as a whole. All players must be in the assisting defense position, forcing Zhang Jun to play the ball.

In the third step, the main defensive target of the players in the assist defense position is not Zhang Jun's breakthrough. Bowen and Duncan are still the main defenders. They just go deeper inside to put pressure on Zhang Jun's breakthrough and reduce the opponent's breakthrough space. Zhang Jun's passing is their primary purpose.

Under such a defense, every time Zhang Jun breaks through to the inside, he will see a bunch of Spurs players appearing in front of him, and he can only choose to pass the ball.

The three Spurs players outside were well prepared and waiting for Zhang Jun to pass the ball.

They relied on their flexible speed to either get back in position immediately or intercept the ball and destroy it in the air.

Throughout the fourth quarter, Zhang Jun made 5 of 12 shots and 4 of 6 free throws. He scored 14 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in a single quarter, but he also made 4 turnovers in a single quarter.

This is the first time Zhang Jun has faced a team with such strong overall strength and defensive coordination. Although he still played an excellent performance of 30 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists in a single game, his overall shooting efficiency was only 12 of 23. The 6 turnovers were also the most so far.

The Trail Blazers lost the game 100:108.

The team has 2 wins and 1 loss.

At the end of the game, Nate McMillan and Popovich shook hands in front of the technical table.

"The Spurs are still the better team."

"Of course, kid, we are the defending champions, but the Trail Blazers have made great progress this season. I'm afraid you will become our competitor in the playoffs. The number one pick named Zhang Jun is also good."

After finishing speaking, Popovich couldn't help but glance at Zhang Jun on the court. He naturally thought of James when he met in last season's finals.

Of course, James is still much better than Zhang Jun, but in terms of breakthrough and basketball IQ, they are at least players of the same level.

"The Trail Blazers drafted a good player."

........

After the game, Zhang Jun once again felt something strange in his mind.

He moved his mind, and a transparent frame appeared in front of him again.

There are also four skill icons appearing in front of you at the same time.

Cutting steel, wind wall, stepping on the front (full level), strong wind.

"There is no + sign on the front-stepping skill, which means that this skill cannot be improved at all."

"So which skill should I upgrade now?"

The four icons are not marked with detailed information, so Zhang Jun can only judge which skill to choose based on his own experience and needs.

"Of course, it doesn't matter even if the skill I choose is not the one that will improve me the most now. After all, I will always have to upgrade in the end. It's just a matter of first come, first served."

"And I originally thought it would take a long time to upgrade, but now it seems that the previous training camps, preseason games and NBA official games have a more obvious effect on improving my experience."

"In addition, there are intra-team training and intra-team competition. This is perhaps the most important reason why I was able to upgrade quickly."

"NBA training and intra-team competition are indeed more systematic and stronger, and I have gained a lot of experience."

"There are also duels with my teammates in the team. The experience they have given me is not comparable to that of my previous teammates."

"In other words, even if the skill I choose this time is not the best, I can quickly upgrade and choose again."

After making up his mind, Zhang Jun directly clicked on the Zhan Gang skill, because Zhan Gang can be used in conjunction with the front step skill. He wanted to see if this skill would have the same effect after simulating the real NBA environment.

【Zhang Jun——6】

[Height 202cm, weight 98kg, wingspan 221cm]

[Speed ​​90, Strength 54, Layup 81]

[Near shot 79, medium shot 75, long shot 71]

[Dunk 74, Pass 71, Control 76]

[Defense 70, rebound 65, block 74]

[Confrontation 72, Bounce 76, Sprint 75]

[Motion Explosion 78, Ability to Stay in the Air 77, Physical Function 89]

[Gold Coins: 2500]

【equipment:

Mercury Boots: Speed ​​increased by 4 points, skill toughness (reduces shooting and layup penalties by 5% when breaking through, encountering confrontations and invasive fouls).

Enchanted Prototype Belt: Skill Flame Sprint (The first step is an explosive increase in speed, and the first step can force a breakthrough step without slowing down, making the breakthrough action more confusing.)]

【Skill:

Drifter (Passive): It will accumulate fighting spirit while moving on the court. The faster the speed, the more obvious the improvement in fighting spirit. When the speed reaches a certain level, physical confrontation will be increased by 6% and layup penalties will be reduced by 6%. (Can be upgraded, get additional promotion at full level)]

[Step forward (full level): The first step is to break through and accelerate to obtain a 5% movement burst, and after passing others, the speed is increased by an additional 5%. Full-level skill: Death is like the wind (the first step of breakthrough acceleration will break through the limits of body structure and function, increase speed by 5%, increase movement burst by 5%, and increase sprint ability by 5%]

[Zhan Gang: The ability to shoot close and mid-range shots is increased by 1 point, and the penalty caused by poor shooting movements is reduced by 10% when shooting at mid-range and close ranges. It can be used in conjunction with the skill Step Ahead. (Can be upgraded, get additional promotion at full level)]

Zhang Jun was already prepared the moment the skill point was activated, and the result did not disappoint him. After just a few seconds, a large amount of information immediately poured into his mind.

A figure who looks exactly like him was invincible with his one-handed breakthrough when he first entered the NBA. He could easily score points on the court and challenge any insider to complete fancy dunks and layups in front of them.

But this figure always falls short in the playoffs, and he is always blocked by a team that uses the whole team to block his breakthrough.

In order to solve this dilemma, Renying is determined to practice his mid-range shot and finish it with his own hands in front of their iron-barrel-like defense...

call! call!

Zhang Jun took a deep breath. The huge impact of information and the soreness all over his body after the upgrade made him a little exhausted. He tried hard to support his body and stand up again.

"This is a mid-range shooting skill, and it can also be used in conjunction with the breakthrough skill of stepping forward."

"The Spurs' defensive tactics against me in the last game were to leave the outside and focus on the inside. Facing this kind of defense, I could only pass the ball, which caused me to make a lot of mistakes."

"If I could do it over again, I could definitely make a mid-range jumper in front of their five defensive players, and let them watch me finish the game."

Zhang Jun clenched his fist confidently and said.

........

After three consecutive encounters with powerful opponents in the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers will face three consecutive visitors from the Eastern Conference.

The first month of the new season was not very friendly to them, but they were able to defeat the Lakers and Rockets, the two biggest competitors in the playoffs. Nate McMillan is already very satisfied with the team's performance.

General manager Steve Patterson also highly recognized the team's performance in these three games, and was also extremely satisfied with Zhang Jun's 30+ data in three consecutive games.

"There is no way Zhang Jun will become a parallel import. At present, it looks like he will become an All-Star in the future."

"There should be no loss in this No. 1 pick."

Steve Patterson thought of Greg Oden of the Hawks who has not played so far. Although the opponent's ability has not been proven in the NBA, Zhang Jun has met the expectations of the coaching staff and management.

It seems that Zhang Jun is indeed better than Greg Oden.

Steve Patterson's perspective also began to change.

"Actually, it's a good choice to choose Zhang Jun."

.......

Before heading to Milwaukee, Monty Williams whispered, "There might be some conflict in the locker room."

All walks of life have their own unwritten rules. Although there are no written regulations, these rules are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the NBA is no exception.

The team's internal locker room belongs to the players. Neither the coaching staff nor the management can touch this. There are countless rules in it.

If anyone wants to try to touch it, he will be punished by the team, and in serious cases, he may even be looked down upon by his teammates, or even kicked out!

There are basically one or two small groups in each team's locker room. Most of the time, the locker room is restless, but it is rarely exposed by reporters.

Nate McMillan has been coaching for many years, and he knows very well what can happen in the locker room, and he is sure that something will always happen in the locker room.

He said: "Even we can't interfere in locker room matters. Unless the problem is serious, the management will force intervention."

"And don't worry, most of the time the players know where the red lines are and they know what they can touch and what they can't."

Monty Williams sighed and said: "If it was a normal player, we wouldn't have to worry about this problem at all. The key is that we have Zach Randolph on the team."

Nate McMillan immediately frowned when he heard the name. Zach Randolph is a famous problem player. The coaching staff, management, and the entire league's coaching staff and management all know about this. .

More importantly, Randolph is now the player with the highest salary and the longest tenure in the Trail Blazers. In short, he is now the leader of the team's locker room.

"Randolph bullied Aldridge last season. I know this. He seems to like bullying rookies, is that true?!"

Nate McMillan looked at Monty Williams in shock, and the latter immediately nodded to confirm this.

"At the end of the team's training today, Randolph put a drop of SI on Zhang Jun's sneakers."

Forehead.........

After hearing this, Nate McMillan covered his forehead and shouted that he was dizzy.

"Why play with something as disgusting as SI when there are so many things to play with."

"Why did Randolph do this?"

Monty Williams explained: “I heard that Randolph heard his teammates talking about Zhang Jun’s six-year, 60 million contract with Nike, so he was dissatisfied and insulted his Nike shoes. "

Nate McMillan was almost speechless. How dare you insult a pair of shoes?