After the Eastern Conference Finals, the relationship between the Bobcats and the Pistons players, which used to be good, had grown more distant... It was mainly because the games were too intense, with the scores too close. Last year in the second round, the Bobcats were trounced by the Pistons with no hard feelings, as the difference in strength was too great.
In the first three games of the Finals, the total points difference was less than 20, making it even more fierce than the Eastern Finals, and the tension and resentment built up much faster.
At 9 p.m., the fourth game of the Finals between the Bobcats and the Spurs began at the Bobcats’ home court!
The Bobcats’ starters: Felton, Zhang Yang, Gerald Wallace, Millsap, Okafor.
The Spurs’ starters: Parker, Finley, Bowen, Oberto, Duncan.
Duncan beat Okafor to win the jump ball; the two were now even again in jump ball wins for the Finals, and the Spurs got the first possession!
For the opening play, the Spurs continued to pound it into Duncan!
This was the Spurs’ strongest opening tactic for the past decade, one that had won them three championships, unshakable as thunder.
The Bobcats did the same, with Zhang Yang vigorously swinging away on the perimeter, driving when he should, shooting when he should, playing with abandon.
However, just like the last game, once the Spurs gradually adapted to Zhang Yang’s solo plays, with both Zhang Yang and Duncan at full strength at the start, going strong, Zhang Yang was no match for Duncan.
Zhang Yang started 2 for 4 with 4 points. Duncan started 3 for 5, including a 2+1, putting the Spurs up 7-4, three points ahead of the Bobcats!
The Bobcats had another possession; Felton took over the ball, facing Parker’s defense, faked a drive, stepped back for a three-pointer... and missed!
Duncan grabbed the defensive rebound and felt like the situation was under control; it was time to enter "iron blood" mode.
But when Duncan got the ball in the low post, ready to start a team play, he found the Bobcats showing no intention of double-teaming, with only Okafor squatting behind him!
After hesitating briefly, Duncan moved into Okafor, continuing to pound!
Duncan backed Okafor down to the charge circle, turned around, and hooked the ball in from his pivot point. 9-4, the Spurs’ lead grew to five points!
On the Bobcats’ offense, Felton kept shooting step-back threes... still missing. But then Duncan continued to hammer in the low post and also missed!
The Bobcats had another chance, and Felton, undeterred, kept trying step-back threes... finally sinking one!
7-9, the Bobcats cut the deficit to two points!
That’s the charm of the three-pointer; a dire situation can turn around with a sudden, successful shot.
The Spurs had the ball again, Duncan had pounded the rock seven times in a row and needed a breather. He moved out to the wing, ready for the mid-range or to playmaker, giving the offense over to Parker.
After several possessions of Parker watching, though they only scored 1 of 3, he was eager to take his chance. He changed directions, shook off Felton, drove into the lane, Okafor was in place to defend, but Parker’s shot was extremely quick, scooping the ball and tossing it up before anyone else... and scoring!
Parker was surprised! Although that shot by Okafor was well defended and difficult, it was still more open than in the previous three games because Gerald Wallace did not leave Finley open on the baseline to help defend!
Now it was the Bobcats’ offense, with Felton swinging, Zhang Yang taking his turn, while Gerald Wallace, Millsap, and Okafor were responsible for crashing the boards.
In the next few minutes, the Spurs continued to dominate. Parker taking on Okafor’s defended basket was challenging, but manageable, and Duncan, who had caught his breath, was sure with his solo plays.
Watching the Bobcats’ tactics, Popovich was puzzled. Had the other side given up? No, that couldn’t be it! The players doing the solo and defending were all playing incredibly hard... until halfway through the first quarter, after Ginobili had played a couple of possessions, Popovich finally realized what the other side was up to.
The other side’s gambling old man!