53: 52.

The decisive ball in the match 53: 52.

The decisive ball in the match The Grizzlies’ offense was mediocre to begin with, and Hollins chose a risky strategy, banking on Randolph’s exceptional play and aggressive offensive rebounds.

If the Spurs were still using their regular season’s standard defense, with quick rotations and switches, Hollins’ tactic would be effective, as it was tested in their first three encounters.

But once the Spurs had made targeted defensive preparations, Hollins’ unconventional move became too extreme and fell apart!

The most important point—Duncan had rested well over the past two weeks and had plenty of energy!

Midway through the quarter, the score was 13 to 6, with the Spurs leading the Grizzlies by seven points going into a timeout.

After the timeout, the Spurs made three substitutions, with George Hill, Ginobili, and Blair replacing Parker, Zhang Yang, and Duncan.

With Parker off, the Spurs’ fast break ability declined, and with Duncan off, the defense against Randolph weakened, but their defensive execution remained strong.

Even when scored against, they remained steadfast in defense the next possession.

In the latter half of the quarter, the Grizzlies significantly improved their shooting success rate but couldn’t completely turn the game around, scoring only 11 points, while the Spurs also scored 11 points!

Ginobili came on and paired with George Hill to lead the offense, with McDyess for mid-range support and Richard Jefferson at the corner, decreasing fast break and strong mid-range shots but substantially increasing set play scoring.

24 to 17, the first quarter ended with the Spurs maintaining a seven-point lead!

Being heavily pressed by the opposition, Hollins couldn’t find a way to counter the Spurs’ set defense.

The opposing head coach was one of the league’s top masters of defense.

If Guy hadn’t been injured, they could’ve tried utilizing his talent to make some outside shots, but Guy was out for the season after the All-Star weekend, leaving them purely as a defensive team, with the offense relying on Conley, Randolph, and Marc Gasol.

But Hollins didn’t just sit back and accept defeat; if offense was no option, then they’d make their defense as tight as possible!

By the second quarter, the Grizzlies’ defensive intensity and aggressive play increased even more, pushing their ironclad approach to the limit.

The Spurs’ offense in set plays declined once more, but fortunately, their scoring from counter-attacks kept up, with Parker, Zhang Yang, and Danny Green, who, once they got going, left the Grizzlies with no good solutions except to reduce their offensive rebounds and hustle back to defend.

Randolph’s offensive rebounding was further suppressed.

By 9 minutes and 27 seconds into the second quarter, the Spurs and the Grizzlies scored 14 to 12 in the quarter, bringing the total score to 38 to 29, and it was nearly a double-digit difference.

Just when the Grizzlies were on the verge of collapse, Conley stepped up, making three mid-range jumpers in a row, scoring six points in a quick succession.

Mid-range jumpers!

Taking advantage of Zhang Yang being subbed out, Conley found his shooting touch!

During this time, his teammates, inspired by Conley’s baskets, defended with great energy, stopping the Spurs on three consecutive offenses, cutting the lead to 35 to 38, and the Grizzlies still had possession!

Conley continued in isolation, using a stop-and-shoot mid-range threat, followed by a fake drive and a step-back three-pointer…

and it went in!

38 to 38, the Grizzlies tied the game!

The old problem was still there for the Spurs—this team was overly cautious.

With 19 seconds left on the clock, Popovich called a timeout, bringing Zhang Yang back in, with Danny Green, Ginobili, Blair, and Duncan joining him on the court.

On the Grizzlies’ side, the lineup of Conley, Tony Allen, Battier, Darrell Arthur, and Marc Gasol took to the floor.

Coming back from the timeout, it was the Spurs’ turn to attack.

Ginobili initiated an attack with a pick-and-roll with Duncan.

He drove in with no chance to shoot and looked to pull back for a solo three…

Suddenly, he saw an opening for a teammate and passed across a crowd through the middle of the court!

The ball whizzed through a gap and arrived at the left baseline.

Duncan set multiple screens in succession, first for Ginobili, then rolling down and quickly moving to the left side of the paint to screen off Tony Allen for Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang received the ball on the left baseline near the free-throw line, jumped, and took a mid-range shot facing the oncoming Battier…

and was knocked down to the floor by Battier.

But the ball was already on its way!

Accompanied by the referee’s whistle, the ball fell through the net.

The basket was good, and he was going to the line for an additional free throw!

Conley had worked hard to rally the Grizzlies, on the brink of evening the score before heading into the second half, where they could start again from an even keel with momentum at its peak…

only to be met with a crushing blow!

Everyone was numb.

Ginobili dared to make that pass?

The paint was full of people!

Just one swing of an arm and the ball would be gone!

Even the Spurs’ own players could have ruined the play.

That Chinese player, too, had astonishing guts!

Battier knew he couldn’t get in position in time, so he lunged forward aiming to foul, clawing and trying to intimidate his opponent.

But Zhang Yang threw the ball in without any hint of timidity and even drew the foul!

Conley clearly felt his teammates’ rising morale being stifled.

As for Duncan, who played a crucial role in this offense, he was ignored once again…

With Zhang Yang’s successful additional free throw, Conley’s buzzer-beating long three-pointer bouncing off, the Spurs entered the second half with a 41-38 lead, a 3-point advantage!

Popovich let out a long sigh of relief, nearly overwhelmed by Conley’s offensive push.

Mid-range!

Mid-range!

It still comes down to mid-range shots!

In the second quarter, both teams defended well in half-court settings, with three-pointers and shots under the basket both being well-guarded, locking down the scoring.

During this time, Conley stood out to break the deadlock using mid-range shots, and Zhang Yang used mid-range shots for his crucial points!

Popovich always knew the importance of mid-range shots, but he had no one on his team capable of making them!

Ginobili was not good at mid-range shots when he entered the NBA, averaging only 0.4 points from mid-range in his rookie season.

After practicing fervently all summer, he slightly increased his mid-range scoring to an average of 1.4 points in his sophomore year; however, his mid-range shooting percentage fell from 37% in his rookie season to 29.9%…

Now, at last, he had a talent with a gift for mid-range shots!

…

Sometimes, one shot can decide the game.

If Ginobili’s pass had been a turnover, if Duncan hadn’t noticed Zhang Yang’s movement during the pick and roll and failed to block Tony Allen, if Zhang Yang had been intimidated by Battier’s aggressive gestures and missed the shot…

the Grizzlies would have tied the score and entered halftime with full momentum.

The mindset of ‘back to the starting line’ differs from the mindset of being behind, even if it’s just by 3 points.

In the third quarter, the Grizzlies played fiercely, showing a determination to fight to the end.

Another team might have been scared by their intensity, but their opponents were the Spurs with Tim Duncan!

The Grizzlies carved out 22 points in the quarter, one more point than in the second, with Randolph scoring 10 points in the quarter, Conley getting 6 points in 8 minutes, and Gasol and Battier each contributing 3 points.

However, the Grizzlies’ defensive lapses were even more prominent than their offensive improvements!

Ginobili seized the opportunity to start rolling!

Ginobili hit 2 of 3 three-point shots, plus caused harm inside the line 3 times, hitting all 6 of his free throws, scoring 12 points in the quarter, and leading his team to a 27-point outburst!

Zhang Yang also played a significant role.

Although he mainly played support and sprinted on fast breaks in the third quarter, just like an ordinary role-player, he was rotated with Ginobili in the first half, playing for longer with 13 minutes, allowing Ginobili to play only 11 minutes in the first half, concentrating his energy into an output for the third quarter…

20 minutes of Jordan-time!

68-60, the Spurs stretched the lead to 8 points!

Come the final quarter, the defense of both sides declined.

Time spares no one, and Duncan’s defensive performance and energy waned in the last quarter, affecting the Spurs’ team defense, letting the Grizzlies score 27 points in the quarter.

But the 28-year-old muscle man Tony Allen appeared to be in worse shape than Duncan…

His minutes per game this season were actually much lower than Duncan’s.

In the first half of the quarter, Zhang Yang scored 7 points, Parker had 4 points and 2 assists, and in the second half, Ginobili replaced Zhang Yang, scoring 5 points and providing 2 assists, with Parker adding 2 points and 2 assists…

The three joined forces to lead their team, scoring 25 points in the quarter, not giving the Grizzlies any chance for a comeback!

At 10:21 pm, the final whistle blew.

With Randolph scoring 28 points and 7 rebounds with 2 assists, and Conley getting 25 points and 4 assists, both had good scoring performances, but the former’s absolute advantage in rebounding was neutralized, and the latter failed to organize the offense effectively.

Ginobili with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, Zhang Yang with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, Duncan with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks, Parker with 16 points and 9 assists…

93-86, the Spurs defeated the Grizzlies, notching their 6th consecutive victory, improving their record to 60 wins and 14 losses!

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