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Chapter 733 - 313. The Inescapable ’Curse’_3

Chapter 733: 313. The Inescapable ’Curse’_3

Popovich’s strategy was clear to both Zhang Yang and Carlisle, but since it was an overt plot, they had no choice but to comply with it.

It would be seen whether Zhang San could outshoot the Spurs’ stability!

In the first half of the first quarter, Zhang Yang went 3-for-5 from the field, including a perfect 1-for-1 from three-point range and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, earning 9 points, leading the Bobcats to a 16-11 lead over the Spurs.

In the latter half, he scored 6 points on 2-for-4 shooting, including 1-for-2 from three-point range and a perfect 1-for-1 on free throws, guiding the Bobcats to score 11 points, while Ginobili scored 11 points for his team after entering following the halftime break.

The Bobcats’ display of superiority was only sustained for half the quarter; in the second half, the efficiency of the Bobcats’ wing and driving players, both in off-ball movement and shooting, dropped significantly.

Popovich’s attrition strategy was working!

By the end of the first quarter, Zhang Yang had scored 15 points, leading the Bobcats to a 5-point lead over the Spurs at 27-22.

In the second quarter, the Spurs went on a 4-0 run against the Bobcats in the first three minutes, narrowing the gap to just one point!

The Spurs’ scoring was actually very poor during this period, but the Bobcats fared even worse, not scoring a single field goal and even when Rondo drew a foul on a drive, he missed both free throws.

Carlisle called for a timeout and put Zhang Yang, who had rested for three minutes, back into the game early.

Zhang Yang immediately hit a three-point shot over Ginobili with a triple threat move and a pull-up jumper, extending the lead to four points.

Popovich had anticipated Zhang Yang would return and had set up his strategy during the timeout to continue the war of attrition, pitting Ginobili against Zhang Yang.

In the remaining eight and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Bobcats scored 17 points under Zhang Yang’s lead, while the Spurs managed 15 points. Zhang Yang, playing nine minutes, shot 4-for-7, including 1-for-1 from three-point range, along with 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, storming to 11 points and outscoring Ginobili, who played the entire second quarter and scored 8 points.

The quarter ended 20-19; by halftime, the Bobcats were leading the Spurs by 6 points at 47-41!

After the intermission, a brutal period began: the Bobcats played 8 players in the third quarter, 7 of whom together managed only one goal from nine attempts, scoring just two points!

Zhang Yang played the entire third quarter, going 4-for-10, including an 0-for-2 performance from beyond the arc, with no free throws and only 8 points, leading the Bobcats to a total of 10 points for the quarter!

The Spurs’ scoring continued to decline in the third quarter, but they still fared much better than the Bobcats, scoring 17 points.

Conley scored a long two-pointer, single-handedly against Rondo at the last moment of the third quarter, and with a score of 58-57, the Spurs took a 1-point lead into the final period over the Bobcats!

In the final quarter, Carlisle decided to rest Zhang Yang, who had played 33 minutes and scored 34 points in the first three quarters, and also left Felton, Okafor, Mike Miller, and Hill on the bench, instead letting Rondo, Afflalo, Alan Anderson, Millsap, and Perkins play.

Rondo played quite well, scoring 6 points on 2-for-4 shooting and a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line in half a quarter.

The four young players in positions 1-4 played solid individual defense as well, shutting down Conley, Guy, the rotating Finley, and Jacque Vaughn. However, Ginobili scored 9 points on 6-for-6 shooting in half a quarter along with Bonner hitting a three-pointer. By the official timeout of the final quarter, the Spurs were leading the Bobcats 70-63 by seven points!

After resting for half of the quarter, Zhang Yang returned with 5 minutes to go and scored 8 points, leading the Bobcats to score 12 points in total. However, the Spurs also scored 10 points, maintaining ’stability’ until the end.

Playing 38 minutes, Zhang Yang shot 16-for-32 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, scoring 42 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and delivering 3 assists and 2 steals.

But his teammates combined for only 31 points from 40 shots. Apart from him, the only other player to score in double figures was Rondo, who scored 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting and 3-for-5 from the free-throw line.

Ginobili went 10-for-19, scoring 26 points with 3 assists, Guy scored 14 points on 6-for-15 shooting plus a perfect 2-for-2 from the line, Duncan had a steady 18 points with 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, Conley scored 8 points with 4 assists...

With three players scoring in double figures, the Spurs defeated the Bobcats 80-75, making the Bobcats’ Southwest Division trip end with a 1-3 record, demonstrating what is called the ’strongest division in the league’ with their strength!

...

The Southwest Division trip ended, and on January 7 at noon, the Bobcats embarked on their return journey to Summer Town.

On the plane, Zhang Yang leaned on the window, watching the clouds and muttering, "It’s better to be a cloud, floating in the sky without a care."

Okafor, who was sitting beside him, replied, "Clouds could precipitate at any time because of the intermingling of positive and negative charges and fall as rainwater."

Zhang Yang said, "But there will always be new clouds forming."

Okafor replied, "Even if water vapor condenses into clouds here again, they won’t be the same clouds as before."

Felton asked, "Are you guys discussing philosophy?"

Okafor answered, "No, this is physics."

Felton remarked, "...Say something I can understand."

Okafor looked at Felton’s foot upon hearing this and asked, "How’s your ankle doing?"

Felton replied, "The team doctor said I have to sit out a few games, and I need to go back and get an MRI to see if there is any structural injury... No, Emeka, can you say something to cheer me up?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yang looked towards Jack, who was playing cards...

Last night, Felton struggled against Ginobili’s Devil’s Pace and tumbled to the floor, an ugly face-plant that twisted his ankle.

Despite agonizing pain, he insisted on playing the remaining two-plus minutes, which only aggravated his injury.

Unless there was a surprise, Felton would be out for a few games.

Okafor said, "Didn’t Jack tell you? You’re the boss. It’s your job to comfort and cheer up your teammates."