This ability, Ginobili also has, but even now Ginobili is still stronger, there is one aspect where Ginobili is inferior to Zhang Yang—stamina!
Even just having turned 19, Zhang Yang’s short-term burst of physical output is stronger than Ginobili’s, and his recovery capabilities are incomparable!
Both teams made adjustments to their lineups.
Bobcats: Rondo, Zhang Yang, Gerald Wallace, Okafor, Muhammad; Spurs: Jacque Vaughn, Ginobili, Bowen, Duncan, Francisco Elson.
After Duncan’s early focus on offense, it didn’t matter much whether Okafor or Muhammad guarded Duncan, their ability to restrict him was similar, allowing Muhammad to play Center and freeing up Okafor to crouch closer to the basket reduced his energy consumption somewhat.
Gerald Wallace would not get any rest time, with Parker on the floor he had to help defend against Parker, and Ginobili on the floor he had to guard Ginobili, fortunately against Duncan’s defense at the basket, his offensive consumption wasn’t significant. Besides slashing threats and fast breaks, he couldn’t do much else, allowing him to concentrate his physical energy and focus on the defensive end.
Having Gerald Wallace on the floor also had another benefit—restraining Bowen.
Coaching was tough for Popovich too; over the years, he and RC Buford had dug out many quality role players, but either they couldn’t retain them, or after two years once salaries rose, they had to let them go, most of the time for nothing!
Take Malik Rose, a key player in the ’03 Championship, during the Western Conference Finals that year, whether guarding Finley or defending Nowitzki, he did very well, and was still able to score 10 points with 6 boards. Popovich kept him with a 6-year, 42 million-dollar contract, but during the second year of his new contract, when Rose’s salary exceeded 5 million dollars, Popovich had to send him away mid-season during the ’04-’05 year to avoid the luxury tax.
The now 33-year-old Malik Rose played an important role during those months when the Knicks made their comeback.
Muhammad on the other side was also given away by the Spurs for nothing, and if Popovich were to take it seriously, Millsap was also given away for nothing by him.
Both of these players are now key players in the Bobcats’ frontcourt!
And the player they got in return, Brezec, was originally intended to be used against the Mavericks, but since the Mavericks were out in the first round, all they got in return was solitude.
Fortunately, during the games against the Jazz, Brezec played very well against Okur, so the loss wasn’t as significant.
After the timeout, the game continued, Spurs had the ball for offense.
Ginobili drove forward with the ball, unleashed a Euro step to tear through the Bobcats’ interior defense, then passed the ball, and Elson scored with a powerful dunk.
The breakthrough rhythm, Euro step direction change, timing of the pass... Zhang Yang confirmed, the "Magic Blade" tonight was still aimed at their Bobcats, expectations dashed.
But it didn’t matter, in less than 3 minutes they had forced Popovich to sub Ginobili in earlier, compared to Game 1 this was already a huge improvement!
During the offensive-defensive switch, Rondo moved up to the front court, facing Jacque Vaughn’s defense, he suddenly sped up, leaving Vaughn behind and heading straight under the basket!
Duncan’s ability to anticipate was exceptional, moving timely into position, covering the space for Rondo’s floating shot.
Elson coordinated tacitly, blocking Rondo’s passing lanes to Okafor and Muhammad for mid-range shots on the left side, luckily, Zhang Yang was actively moving to create opportunities for receipt, Rondo passed the ball just in time to avoid being trapped by Duncan and Vaughn.
Zhang Yang caught the pass, faced with the chasing Ginobili and Bowen who was pinching in from the wing, he stepped back for a quick long two-point shot... missed... Elson blocked off his man, Duncan, using his height advantage, grabbed the defensive rebound over Rondo’s head.
On the Spurs offense, Ginobili, guarded by Gerald Wallace, tried a surprise pull-up step-back three pointer from deep, but missed! Muhammad held off Duncan to secure the defensive rebound.
Popovich subbed in defensive specialist center Elson, and Bickerstaff brought Muhammad back on, signaling another message—the iron-blooded battle had begun!
It was the Bobcats’ turn to attack, Rondo and Okafor started an offense with a pick and roll, facing them on the pick and roll defense was the slim center Elson. Elson was good at protecting the rim, but not as effective as Duncan and Oberto at defending the pick and roll, Rondo surged into the interior unobstructed.
Duncan moved into position, Rondo passed the ball to the left, Zhang Yang on the wing used Gerald Wallace’s screen to shake off Bowen and dashed closer, received the ball and took a floater shot... Duncan promptly moved into position, causing significant interference with Zhang Yang’s shot!
Zhang Yang’s floater missed! Duncan defended the rim, effectively playing one against two in defense! Showcasing his dominance under the basket! But!
Muhammad rushed in for an offensive rebound, Duncan, having moved quickly in succession, could not jump as high anymore, and as he reached up he slapped Muhammad’s arm, though it prevented Muhammad from scoring directly off the rebound, it still sent Muhammad to the free-throw line.
Taking advantage of the dead ball, Bickerstaff promptly subbed in Felton for Zhang Yang, who after fervently missing two shots went from a beautiful shooting record of 6 out of 3 to a tribute to Los Angeles by making it 8 out of 3.
Clearly, attacking six consecutive plays from the start had a substantial effect on Zhang Yang, otherwise, he would have just gone one-on-one against Ginobili, there’s no need for Rondo to drive towards the basket defended by Duncan.
Ginobili’s defense was not much different from Finley’s for him, Finley had better height, weight, and strength, Ginobili was faster, had better leaping and reactions, but one-on-one, neither could lock him down.
But in those two plays, he wasn’t entirely useless, if not for him, maybe Rondo and Muhammad’s two-on-one wouldn’t have been enough to handle Duncan, and there wouldn’t have been a third chance for an offensive rebound.