No.1 in basketball scoring
Chapter 318 - 154. Teams Bound by ’Being Reversed’ _2

Millsap’s awareness for defending rebounds wasn’t good, and he lost quite a few defensive rebounds when playing against the Mavericks, which bothered him a lot.

The Big Fatty boss gave him advice—since you can’t grab the rebounds and often miss people letting opponents grab offensive rebounds, it’s better not to go for them at all. Just block whoever rushes in.

Millsap tried it out tonight and, believe it or not, this simple method worked quite well! This way of playing significantly improved the Bobcats’ defensive rebounding efficiency when he was on the court, allowing him to start in the final quarter. If he couldn’t guard the boards, no matter how well he grabbed offensive rebounds, in this defense-oriented game, Bickerstaff wouldn’t let him play in the final quarter.

The Spurs retreated quickly, forcing the Bobcats into a set offense.

Felton and Millsap launched an attack with a pick-and-roll, Millsap went down the middle, and Felton took the right, both charging at the interior.

Zhang Yang looped around using Okafor as a screen to the high post where he received a pass from Felton. Facing the approaching Horry, Zhang Yang judged that he wouldn’t be blocked, jumped, and shot a mid-range...and scored!

At the sideline, Popovich grunted, faced with most opponents, being up by eight points after three quarters, he could rest easy.

But he couldn’t be at ease facing two types of opponents.

One type — Tracy McGrady.

The other type — a team with a mid-range shooting demon.

Like the second-year player in front of him.

Zhang Yang kept making mid-range shots, and Popovich couldn’t implement any specific restrictions.

Having Horry guard the power forward position and then expand out to defend Zhang Yang after the pick-and-roll, was already the limit of what Popovich could do.

Continuing to intensify the defense at the high post would mean players like Matt Carroll, Millsap, and Okafor from the wings and inside would start to take off.

Popovich could only pray that Zhang Yang wouldn’t score.

But unfortunately, his prayers were ineffective, and Zhang Yang had already started to feel it! He burst out in the final quarter!

Over the next more than 10 minutes, he shot 6 for 3 in mid-range, including one basket that also drew a foul from Fabricio Oberto who had just rotated in, making it a 2+1, along with a fast-break dunk, Zhang Yang scored 11 points in just over 11 minutes with 5 out of 8 shooting!

With Zhang Yang going crazy and scoring heavily from the high post, the Spurs didn’t want to, but were forced to push their defense up.

Millsap, Okafor, and the rotated-in Gerald Wallace continuously scored by attacking the inside.

With 11 minutes and 29 seconds left in the final quarter, as Zhang Yang received the ball at the high post and got blocked, he passed to Okafor who had just completed a screen at the left high post. Okafor, with a better vision, passed it low to a cutting Gerald Wallace who dunked it to score two points, 81-78, bringing the Bobcats from an 8-point deficit to a 3-point lead!

In 11 and a half minutes, the Bobcats outscored the Spurs by 26 to 15, gaining an 11-point lead!

The old problem of the Spurs was exposed again; when the opponent burst out, they struggled to respond.

Normally they would have the wild card Ginobili, but in the final quarter, he shot 3 for 0, relying only on free throws to score two points.

The Spurs called a timeout to arrange a crucial ball tactic, despite only shooting 2 for 12 on the night, and a total of 8 points including free throws, Popovich still entrusted Ginobili with the decisive shot after the timeout.

After the timeout, Ginobili didn’t disappoint Popovich; facing Gerald Wallace’s defense, Ginobili spent the 24-second shot clock down to the last 5 seconds before hitting a step-back three-pointer!

81-81, just when the home crowd had lost hope, Ginobili drew his magic sword and helped the Spurs tie the score!

Ginobili’s shot ignited cheers from the home fans, and the Bobcats called a timeout!

After fighting intensely for one whole quarter, exhausting themselves on both offense and defense, their 18-year-old prodigy erupted for 11 points in the quarter, and they had just managed to take the lead, thinking they had secured the victory.

But tonight, after being dull for 30 minutes, shooting 2 for 12, the wildcard suddenly made a crucial basket to tie the score... The Bobcats players were infuriated.

However, if the other side had a clutch player, they had one too!

Teammates turned their attention to Zhang Yang who had played 32 minutes and scored 27 points tonight.

Bickerstaff made no other consideration, made substitutions, and arranged tactics.

Zhang Yang took a deep breath and walked onto the court.

Luckily, he had Tim Grove’s offseason endurance training; otherwise, tonight would have been tough. Although he had only played 32 minutes, he had already taken 23 shots; these 27 points were hard-earned, with only 3 points coming from free throws.

On the other side, Popovich was certain the opposing team would let Zhang Yang take the crucial shot. This was a talent who had made a game-winning shot on his debut. He tried to predict the opposing tactics and the lineup... Seeing the players coming onto the court, he felt like cursing.

Felton, Matt Carroll, Jumaine Jones, Gerald Wallace, paired with Zhang Yang.

With this lineup, Popovich could figure out their playing style with his toes.

Tactics? That underdog expert isn’t playing any tricks, no fancy skills, just going strong!

After the timeout, the game resumed, and the Bobcats inbounded from the frontcourt.

Popovich already guessed how the opponents would pass, move, and position themselves.

When Gerald Wallace went to receive the ball for the throw-in, the on-court positioning was just as Popovich had imagined; Matt Roll was at the 45-degree angle on the left, Jumaine Jones was at the right corner, and Zhang Yang was standing at the right elbow of the free-throw lane.

Felton received the throw-in, waited for Gerald Wallace to run to the top of the arc, tossed the ball to Zhang Yang, then ran towards the left corner.

Gerald Wallace also cut in from the middle.