Chương 416: Chapter 416: Thompson, the Buddha's Light Shines Everywhere
"Gentry, you're asking for trouble!"
Popovich's beard was turning white with anger. Was Gentry insulting him with this style of play?
Could it be that Gentry had forgotten that, two years ago, if it wasn't for him deliberately throwing the game, the Suns wouldn't have even made it to the playoffs, let alone won the championship? Could it be that the Suns didn't know how to be grateful?
Popovich didn't know that this old man, who always sat on the bench with a thermos cup and a kind expression, was actually quite petty.
It was because, at a critical moment for the Suns, the Spurs chose to throw the game and let the Suns become their playoff opponents. This was definitely not an act of kindness from Popovich; it was an insult to the Suns, and Gentry had remembered it ever since.
Two years!
Gentry had waited two years!
It wasn't to prove how great a coach he was; he just wanted to show the Spurs that, just as they had looked down on the Suns back then, the Suns would now look down on them.
"Yi Nan, Whiteside."
Before the game started, Wade Dong pointed to Yi Nan and Whiteside. "You two, use your full abilities to limit Duncan's performance. Stopping Duncan will be considered a job well done. As for the offense and defense on the outside, leave it to us."
Even with two separate lineups, Wade Dong's group was still very strong.
Carter and McCollum both had defensive abilities, and as for the offense... if his teammates couldn't score, Wade Dong would do it himself.
"Beep!!!"
As the referee blew the whistle, the game began.
Yi Nan and Duncan jumped for the tip-off, and with his powerful explosiveness, Yi Nan tipped the ball to Wade Dong.
Wade Dong dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, crossed over Leonard with a crossover dribble, and then stopped and pulled up for a jump shot!
"Swoosh!!!"
The ball swished through the net.
2:0!!!
The Spurs attacked, and Duncan received the ball at the baseline. Yi Nan and Whiteside rushed to double-team Duncan, leaving him with no space to shoot.
Duncan swung his long arm and passed the ball to Danny!
Danny received the ball, adjusted his shooting posture, and prepared to use a mid-range shot to finish this attack.
During this brief adjustment, Wade Dong had the opportunity to defend.
"Pa!"
As soon as the ball slipped out of Danny's fingertips, Wade Dong swiped it away with his palm.
"Wow!"
Kobe, who was sitting on the sidelines, leaned back, with the word 'unbelievable' in his left eye and 'incredible' in his right eye. His expression could be summed up in four words: disbelief.
This defense from Wade Dong couldn't even be considered a block; he had directly taken the ball in mid-air and quickly transitioned to a fast break.
When he reached the basket, Leonard had already rushed over to defend, but Wade Dong spun 360 degrees in the air to avoid Leonard and then hooked the ball with his backhand!
"Swoosh!!!"
The ball swished through the net.
Kobe, sitting on the sidelines, said, "This is our style of play, Dongge. In a situation like just now, many players today would first lean into Leonard and then throw the ball into the air and shout, 'Foul!'"
When Gentry heard Kobe say this, he turned his head and joked, "Are you talking about one of your teammates?"
"No, I'm not. Don't talk nonsense!"
Kobe grinned and gave Gentry a three-part denial. →
The Spurs weren't weak.
The Suns' starting lineup had caught the Spurs off guard because Wade Dong had 'drawn his sword' and didn't hide his personal ability, which was a level above all other players.
"It's been five minutes..."
Gentry looked at the big screen, patted Curry, and said, "You guys get ready to go in."
Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green, and McGrady.
The Suns' Five Tigers stood up together, high-fived Wade Dong's group, and walked onto the court.
The first quarter had just passed the 6-minute mark.
The Suns led by 4 points. In 6 minutes, Wade Dong had scored 10 points, with 5 out of 7 field goals, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
...
TNT Live Broadcast Room.
Barkley was still mocking O'Neal, saying that Kobe's family had come to watch the Suns' home game without O'Neal.
At this moment, he saw Gentry's substitution tactic.
O'Neal said, "Gentry is really a tactical genius."
Barkley said, "Popovich is completely stumped."
O'Neal said, "I think Popovich can also put in five substitutes and blow up the Suns' bench."
Barkley said, "Dream on... The Suns' bench is made up of Durant, Curry, Thompson, McGrady, and Green! This is a championship-winning lineup."
...
Popovich was indeed a bit stunned. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to stay the course. The Suns were playing five-on-five, so he kept his starters on the court, only substituting Ginobili for Danny.
Curry dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and passed it to Durant.
Durant received the ball, attracting Leonard's defense, and then passed it to McGrady. Green set a screen for Thompson, who cut to the corner for a three-pointer.
McGrady made a no-look pass, and the ball reached Thompson.
Thompson had a wide-open three-pointer from the corner!
"Swoosh!!!"
Thompson raised his hand and made a three-pointer, and the ball swished through the net.
The score was now 22:15!!!
Subsequently, Leonard tried to drive against Durant but couldn't score. Green protected the rebound and passed the ball to Curry, who dribbled the ball down the court.
"Whoosh~"
The ball reached Thompson again.
"Swoosh!!!"
Thompson raised his hand and made another three-pointer, and the ball swished through the net.
The score was now 25:15!!!
The Suns' substitutes had been on the court for less than a minute, and Thompson had already made two three-pointers, increasing the lead to over 10 points.
"Time-out!"
Popovich had no choice but to call a time-out, as the Suns' substitutes were about to blow up his team.
As soon as Thompson came off the court, Wade Dong teased him, "Young man, tonight, the Buddha's light shines everywhere~"
"Ahaha..."
Thompson rubbed the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. "My shooting touch is a bit good tonight."
"Then keep shooting!"
...
After the time-out, Popovich decided to rest Duncan and Splitter and substitute Mills and Bonner, two players with a certain level of three-point shooting ability.
It was a three-point shootout!
The tactic wasn't a problem, but Popovich had underestimated the strength of the Suns' substitutes.
Ginobili received a pass from a teammate outside the three-point line, faked a shot to shake off Thompson, and then took a three-pointer.
"Swoosh!!!"
The ball swished through the net.
The score was now 25:18!!!
Popovich hadn't even had time to breathe when Thompson made two more three-pointers in a row.
Quick passes and constant off-ball movement!
Popovich narrowed his eyes. The Spurs and the Suns were like old rivals, and even Nash's small-ball style hadn't given him this feeling. It seemed a bit hopeless.
The score was now 37:23!!!
The first quarter ended with the Suns leading by 14 points.
Thompson had played 6 minutes in the first quarter, making 5 out of 7 three-pointers and scoring 15 points, the highest on the team.
While the Spurs were still focusing their attention on Wade Dong, Durant, and Curry, three top-tier players, Thompson quietly exploded, showing the Spurs that he was also a difficult opponent to deal with.
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