"Little Gasol jumped higher than Duncan, and the Grizzlies took the offense first."
"Although Hollins had left, Joerger couldn’t create a new tactical system in a short period of time, so the Grizzlies’ style of play was no different from last season."
"At the start, Randolph went for a low-post one-on-one, with Blair defending and Duncan helping out. The game looked much the same as last season."
"But when Randolph actually started to play, things changed."
"Duncan’s help defense was noticeably faster than last season, whereas Randolph had slowed down due to his increased weight."
"The result of this quickness and slowness was that Randolph could neither take the shot nor pass in time; Duncan had already covered his vision."
"In the end, his forced hook shot along the baseline went off-target."
"The Spurs launched a fast break, with Parker sprinting ahead."
"However, just as he was about to make the layup, Hansen suddenly appeared from behind and swatted the ball against the backboard."
"When Hansen secured the rebound, boos filled the arena."
"You thought his pregame jumping around was for nothing?"
"He was just too excited and needed to let off some steam!"
"Hansen took the ball upcourt and passed it to Conley."
"Conley called the tactic; Hansen and Little Gasol set a screen and executed an off-ball play."
"But as soon as Hansen received the ball, Duncan had already moved up to defend; he seemed completely unencumbered by any sense of his feet being stuck to the ground."
"It looked like the lockout had been a blessing in disguise for Duncan, allowing him to fully recover from his plantar fasciitis."
"Hansen didn’t go straight for the basket against Duncan but waited for the right moment to bounce-pass the ball to Randolph."
"He and Randolph created a mutual drag effect, making it easier to play against the Spurs. If Randolph couldn’t open up the game, it would affect his own offense as well."
"This time Randolph received the ball one-on-one; he turned towards the free-throw line to attack."
"His speed indeed had decreased, and by the time he spun around and ground his way under the basket, Jefferson had already collapsed inside."
"His final shot under pressure veered away from the hoop, and his first two one-on-one attempts returned no points."
"Popovich watched, unable to suppress a smirk."
"Before this game, when reporters asked him about the predictions that ranked the Grizzlies third and the Spurs only seventh in strength."
"They don’t understand basketball at all," was his response."
"This was also his experience."
"Because those media people treated the NBA like a basketball management game, viewing players as mere numbers in a game."
"But in reality, players are people, and people experience fluctuations in performance."
"This season’s Duncan was a completely different person from last season’s."
"So, naturally, this season’s Spurs and last season’s were two different teams."
"As for the Grizzlies... Randolph’s current form was a surprise to him, but a pleasant one."
"A Grizzlies team hampered by Randolph’s condition was like playing with one leg tied, and relying solely on Hansen wasn’t enough to beat the Spurs."
"Up front, Duncan received Parker’s pass and hit the bank shot from a 45-degree angle, giving the Spurs the lead."
"The arena erupted with cheers from the Spurs fans."
"Although they couldn’t analyze the game as Popovich did, they clearly understood the situation from the start."
"Conley called the same tactic as the previous play, still placing the ball in Hansen’s hands."
"With Randolph unable to break through, it was up to Hansen to tear the Spurs’ defense."
"At that moment, Popovich stood up, shouting and gesturing tactics to the players on the court."
"Hansen received the ball and, this time, faced Ginobili’s help defense which forced him to change direction and leap over, but the weak side and interior help defense from the Spurs were decisive." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel※fire.net
"Clearly, Popovich’s gestures had adjusted their defensive strategy, starting a high-intensity double team on Hansen."
"Hansen knew he was strong in finishing but weak in passing, and he was acutely aware of this."
"Even as the double team was about to form, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes."
"This evening’s game would serve as a collection of some interest from Manu Ginobili."
"Afterwards, whenever the Spurs faced the Grizzlies, they would trample them, just like he had said last season, to beat the crap out of them!"
"But Popovich’s smirk had just begun to curl the corners of his mouth when, the next moment, it involuntary twitched."
"Because Hansen had passed the ball out!"
"No, not just passed it out, but securely delivered it under the hoop to Randolph."
"Now, Randolph facing an open lane couldn’t possibly miss, and he scored off the backboard."
"Initially displeased by the consecutive missed shots, Randolph instantly cheered up after scoring, and, while retreating on defense, he found Hansen and exchanged a hearty high five."
"Had Hansen developed a passing game over the summer?"
"Popovich, having been screened, didn’t see exactly how Hansen had passed the ball out."
"He quickly shook his head, though."
"He could understand if Hansen developed a new offensive technique—after all, the lockout had gone on for over half a year."
"But to say that a player who had only averaged about two assists per game in his first two years suddenly learned to pass, that he couldn’t believe."
"He would rather believe that James had developed a three-point shot than that."
"So, that must have been just a fluke."
"He sat back down, feeling he had become a bit too sensitive concerning Hansen."
"Randolph’s current form was visibly poor, and there was no way the Grizzlies could win that night."
"Parker drove to the basket and shot over Randolph, maintaining a fine offensive state for the Spurs at the start."
"Under the DJ’s lead, Spurs fans began to chant and cheer for the home team."
"It was the season opener, and they were determined to crush the Grizzlies from the start."
"Conley called the same tactic as the last round, with Hansen this time driving through the left lane, and Duncan couldn’t keep up right away."