Legendary star

Chapter 115 The Madman
After the timeout, the Lakers replaced the entire main lineup. O'Neal, Robert Hawley, Fox, and Ron Haber, who had already put on training clothes and waited for the end of the game, had to play again.The Spurs are no exception here. David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Jalen Jackson, and Avery Johnson also played again. After all, the team now has a glimmer of life.

After Ron Haber dribbled the ball through the middle circle, he handed the ball to Fox on the right without any pause. After receiving the ball, Fox moved slightly laterally and handed the basketball to O'Neal near the free throw line. The ball rushed directly to the basket, but this time it was Duncan who defended O'Neal. Although Duncan had no advantage against O'Neal, he was still stronger than David Robinson. O'Neal's face-up offensive ability was not strong. After the blocking, O'Neal still chose the post-up singles he was good at. After hitting Duncan twice in a row, David Robinson's double-team was in place. Without the slightest hesitation, O'Neal directly passed the ball to the area above the free throw line Ron Haber, Haber did not choose to shoot himself, but chose to continue to transfer the ball. Kobe on the weak side was already entangled by Meng Xu, and called Holly to cover. At this time, the only pass The choice was Fox within the right three-point line. Haber’s pass was passed to Fox before David Robinson’s supplementary defense. After receiving the ball, Fox took a step back and shot quickly. Fox, who stepped on the line and wanted to shoot a three-pointer, only scored two points. Even so, the Lakers still have a 5-point advantage.

When it was the Spurs' turn to attack, Duncan beat Holly directly without any suspense. After Duncan swayed continuously in front of Holly, he turned his back and hit the board easily.Surprisingly, the Lakers did not double-team Duncan in this situation, but chose to let Kobe and Fox double-team Meng Xu.

99 to 97, with 2 minutes and 35 seconds left, the Spurs once again saw the dawn of victory. It was the Lakers' turn to attack. Popovich waved his hand, and the shark-killing tactics began. Duncan fouled O'Neal, and O'Neal made two free throws.

At 2 minutes and 17 seconds, the Lakers still did not double-team Duncan. Duncan singled Holly hit again, 100 to 99, and the Lakers only led by 1 point.After Duncan scored the goal, Mayfair Jackson finally couldn't sit still and immediately called a timeout.

After the timeout, David Robinson fouled O'Neal, but this time O'Neal made two free throws. It is said that after the first game of the series between the Spurs and the Lakers, O'Neal locked himself in the locker room for a long time. In the first stage, the Spurs slashed O'Neal, which resulted in the Lakers being hacked to death. After that game, O'Neal, who was often absent from team training, actually practiced extra training for the first time, and the content of the extra training was free throws.

After O'Neal made two free throws, when passing the Spurs bench, he did not forget to show his muscles to Popovich.

This time the Spurs' offense, the Lakers finally started to double-team Duncan. After passing and Mario Eli's screen, Meng Xu got rid of Kobe. After getting rid of Kobe, the basketball passed from Duncan passed Avery Johnson finally got into the hands of Meng Xu, but this time Meng Xu failed to hit the ball.
Fortunately, Duncan grabbed the offensive rebound and tipped the score.

"Greg, are you still fouling O'Neal?" At 1 minute and 05 seconds, 104 to 101, O'Neal made two free throws again, but this time the Spurs failed to chase points again. Neither Duncan nor David Robinson had a good chance under the strict defense of the Lakers, and Popovich's tactical requirement all along is that no one can shoot as long as there is no chance to shoot. Even Duncan can't do it. Since Popovich took office, the tactics that have been implemented in the Spurs are that no matter whether they are main players or role players, anyone can shoot as long as they have the opportunity. When Popovich is in a good mood, he will allow a certain game to make some people willful.

"Pause for a while, and foul when you are within 50 seconds." Popovich waved his hand, and Mike Budenholzer immediately gestured towards the players on the field, although O'Neal's chances of continuing to make two free throws are slim , but the psychological pressure brought to people at this time is also great, and Popovich has his own plans.

In this attack, the Spurs did not foul O'Neal, but O'Neal seemed a little uncomfortable.

"When did Shaq's free throws become so good? If Shaq can maintain such a free throw percentage, then the hacking shark tactics will be swept into the dustbin of history."

"Shaq can't keep this kind of touch forever, but even so, Popovich still gave up the shark-killing tactic."

O'Neal passed the ball again under the double-teaming of David Robinson and Duncan. This time, O'Neal passed the basketball to Robert Holly behind David Robinson immediately after David Robinson arrived. The free throw line ran along the edge of the paint, ran directly to the basket, and then tangled with David Robinson on the right side of the paint for a few seconds. After seeing O'Neal receive the ball in the area below the free throw line, Robert Hawley Running towards the bottom corner, as in the previous game, as long as David Robinson double-teams O'Neal, Robert Hawley will be free, but this time Meng Xu did not come to defend, and the open Robert Hawley passed himself by a mid-range shot. The score of this field increased to 17 points, which is also the highest score after Kobe and O'Neal.

With 47 seconds left, 106 to 101, the Spurs had fallen behind by 5 points. Popovich called the last timeout and began to arrange the Spurs' tactics for the remaining 47 seconds.

After the game restarted, Mario Elli quickly sent a throw-in. After Meng Xu caught the ball, he lobbed it directly to Duncan on the side of the paint. Duncan made a jumper after receiving the ball, 106 to 103.

The Lakers sent a baseline shot, and Meng Xu directly fouled O'Neal. At the last moment, the Spurs hacked the shark again. This time, O'Neal made only one of two free throws. With 38 seconds left, the Spurs still had plenty of time.

Since there is no timeout, the Spurs can only attack from the bottom line. This time the Lakers strengthened their defense against Duncan. Holly's height and weight are not as good as Duncan's, but he still tried his best.

"Bastard, don't think about making shots." After Meng Xu was entangled by Kobe, there was not much to do. Meng Xu's physical strength was basically exhausted, and now he was gritting his teeth and persevering.

The basketball did not find a good opportunity after two rounds of rotation, and finally returned to Avery Johnson's hands. Seeing that 24 seconds were approaching, Johnson had to make a shot from outside the three-point line, because Johnson's three-pointer was too much. Too bad, when Johnson was standing outside the three-point line, Ron Haber didn't even defend him.

The entire Alamo stadium erupted in thunderous applause and cheers when Johnson's shot spun around the rim a few times before falling into it.

107 to 106, with 15 seconds left, the Spurs have already seen the dawn of victory.

When the Lakers sent the baseline ball, Meng Xu hugged O'Neal again. When O'Neal walked to the free throw line, the boos from the Alamo Stadium were enough to pierce the eardrums.

Under tremendous pressure, O'Neal made one of two free throws, 108 to 106. The Lakers gave the Spurs a chance to equalize and kill them. Mayfair Jackson still pretended to be calm and sat on the bench. Correspondingly, the Spurs wave Popovich, Popovich has long been standing on the sidelines, but Popovich did not yell at the court as usual, but looked at the court very quietly, waiting for the final result.

After the Lakers' defense was in place, Meng Xu did not run along the three-point line as usual, but waited directly near the middle circle.

After Avery Johnson slowly dribbled the ball through the half court, Meng Xu directly reached out to signal Johnson to give it to himself, glanced at the sidelines, and after asking for Popovich's opinion, Johnson handed the ball to Meng Xu .

"It's finally time for me to perform." Meng Xu stood two steps away from the three-point line and slapped the basketball rhythmically. Now the nearest defensive player is also one step away from him. Although Meng Xu's three-pointer Very good, this season also made two lore shots, but at this time, anyone who dares to shoot from such a long distance is definitely a lunatic.

Looking up at the timing board, Meng Xu dribbled the ball with less than two seconds left, took a step forward, and immediately jumped up and shot.

(End of this chapter)