ATT Center.

It's the Spurs' offensive play.

Parker first used a quick crossover to get past Davis, then deceived the helping Murphy with a 'bowing to Buddha' move, scoring with a layup.

At this moment, ESPN commentator A-Smith, covering this game, said, "Tonight, we have specially invited the head coach of the Houston Rockets, Jeff Van Gundy, for our analysis.

Hey, Jeff, after the first four games, fans are eager to know about the Spurs' defensive changes in the third and fourth games. Can you analyze it from an expert's perspective?"

Upon hearing this, Van Gundy adjusted his mood and said, "To understand the Spurs' defensive changes, we have to start from their losses in the first and second games."

Firstly, Van Gundy talked about this round of the Western Conference Semifinals and the unusually strict officiating.

Smith asked, "Jeff, do you think the officiating impacted this series?"

A somewhat slow-reacting but not foolish Van Gundy quickly shook his head and said, "I don't think so, but the officiating in this series did affect the Spurs' tactical choices to some extent."

Next, Van Gundy discussed the zone defense used by the Spurs in the first and second games.

Smith said, "Using zone defense helps the Spurs conserve a lot of energy on defense, which is especially important for the 30-year-old Tim Duncan."

Van Gundy nodded, "Indeed, so in the first and second games, Tim Duncan scored high points for the Spurs."

Smith asked, "Then why did the Spurs suddenly change their defensive tactics in the third game?"

Van Gundy said, "Because they realized that under the strict officiating of this series, the zone defense couldn't stop Messiah from scoring and helping his teammates score."

Smith laughed, "I heard Mike Budenholzer even coined a term for it, 'Explosive Creativity'?"

Van Gundy laughed, "Mike has always been very talented."

Then, taking a tactical board from the director, Van Gundy patiently explained the Spurs' tactical changes to Smith and the audience.

"This is the defensive positioning when the Spurs are using zone defense, Tim Duncan doesn't directly match up with Messiah on the court because it's not sensible."

After placing the tactical magnet representing Horry onto the one representing Qin Yue, Van Gundy said.

Smith nodded, "Messiah has a wide range of offensive methods, even Tim, once pulled to a high position, becomes his prey."

"So the Spurs adjusted their defensive strategy, choosing to have Tim directly match up with Messiah in the third game."

"Wait a minute, Jeff, didn't you say earlier that this was not a sensible approach?"

While fiddling with the tactical magnets, Van Gundy said, "You remember what I said earlier? After the first two games, the Spurs realized this kind of defense couldn't limit Messiah's 'Explosive Creativity'."

After a pause, Van Gundy continued, "So, they chose to cut off the finger to save the hand. Look, this is the Spurs' defensive positioning in the last two games."

On the tactical board, the tactical magnet representing Duncan was alone in a corner, while the other four representing Spurs players clung closely to the other four Warriors players on the court.

"Next, no matter what tactics the Warriors execute, and no matter what offensive methods Messiah chooses, the Spurs will only use Tim to wrap around him.

Whether it's pick-and-roll with teammates or handoff passes, or if he wants to directly attack, the Spurs players will ignore him and instead charge straight at his teammates, leaving him for Tim to solve."

Smith suddenly realized, "Are you saying the Spurs used Tim Duncan as a larger Bruce Bowen?"

Van Gundy nodded, "You could understand it that way."

Van Gundy clearly knew that the reason why Qin Yue could continue to score high under Duncan's primary defense in the third and fourth games...

was precisely because the Spurs deliberately "sacrificed" Duncan.

By aggressively targeting Qin Yue's other four teammates in the game, they completely cut off Qin Yue's passing lanes to his teammates.

This was a defensive rule tailored for Qin Yue by the Spurs, considering the officiating scale of this series.

"Can't the Spurs use other players to execute this defensive tactic?"

"They can't, because other players can't provide the level of physicality the Spurs need."

With the star whistle protection, Duncan was the only one the Spurs could "sacrifice" in this series.

Because only with his star whistle and defensive capabilities could the Spurs deplete Qin Yue's stamina on the court.

The Spurs allowed Qin Yue to use various means to break through Duncan's defense.

But the Spurs won't allow Qin Yue to take unlimited shots like he did against the Lakers.

On the court, it's the Warriors' offensive play.

Working a hand-off play with Artest, Qin Yue created a breakthrough window in front of Duncan, then turned with the ball and charged to the Spurs' basket, scoring with Duncan relentlessly chasing him.

Seeing this scene, following Van Gundy's insights, Smith suddenly realized, "Is this why Tim was 'matched up' and blown out by Messiah in these two games?"

Van Gundy nodded, "In the NBA, no defensive player, no matter how good, can rely on individual talent to lock down a super star capable of cooperating with teammates in a five-on-five match."

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