Spurs are not dead yet, or, we are still willing to give them the word "miracle"

The game started in the 5th minute of the 4th quarter.　　

The first 43 minutes were routine - the opponent used monotonous but effective breakaway + 3-point + free throw tactics to take a double-digit lead, while our opponent opened up a double-digit lead due to the clichéd space + frontline + defensive issues. The score difference. The last two overtimes were short fist fights, but due to physical exhaustion, the two sides looked more like dinner buddies who were pulling each other's purse hands and preparing to pay for their treats.　　

After wasting too many shells and giving up and getting too many chances, the Stinger missile battalion finally shot down the Tu22M fighter-bomber group in the main position after two overtime hours, a victory that, like the sinking of the aircraft carrier before it, was a surprise to most. After all, the Tu22M excels at supersonic bursts and has a long-range, and the defense is in a hurry and will break operating rules if they are not careful. In this battle alone, the defense lost 27 fouls, 14 of which were on one man.　　

So the game began in the fifth minute of the fourth quarter.　　

If you can cut out the free throw shots, the last 7 minutes of the fourth quarter is the most exciting and representative clip of the whole game, which has stories, twists and turns, inherent sets and ship new versions of both sides, and those classic moments that were recreated yesterday.　　

Harden's dunk that flew out of the net and popped back on the rim was indeed a miscue, but after the next round was initiated, the protests of Mike D'Antoni and the Rockets players were routinely washed away by time - after all, on a fast-paced basketball court, all you have to care about is always the round that's happening and the next one that's coming up in a flash The next round, not the last one, which is already far away.　　

When the Rockets had a double-digit lead, people didn't think the blown dunk was significant, and when the Rockets finally got dragged into overtime by the Spurs and lost by two points, only then did people come back to the significance of the dunk being docked by the refs.　　

If the Rockets hadn't hit the 3/35 chance of a rematch (from the NBA's record for requesting a rematch), the dunk would have been reduced to a symbol of attitude and emotion, and a new topic of conversation and bickering among fans, just like the "unfair treatment manual" the Rockets submitted to the league last season.

The Spurs' comeback call came first on the switch.　　

Harden took a pass from Willow and scored his third three-pointer of the game. Derrick White advanced to half court and passed to Lonnie Walker who cut out around the cover, Walker got rid of Willow's defense, his body slid out a light body in mid-air, and the basketball stayed on the basket for a burn time finally fell into the basketball net, officially pulling off Lonnie Walker's solo show.　　

Harden then pulled up again in the last round where he scored three points to juggle the withdrawal jumper, but in the last round by his face shot Walker did not give him another chance, step by step successful interference, let Harden hit another iron, and take advantage of the Harden retreat defensive juncture, received a long pass from DeRozan, a foul shot ignited the small half of the home court - the rest The big half of the home court was empty.　　

Sometimes you have to admit that a similar fast-break dunk can change the course of the game.　　

White leaned on small Rivers to force a layup and scored, Willis, turned around and gave Walker an unexplained knockdown pass; after Walker hit both free throws, Harden gave Walker an in-your-face steal + fastbreak dunk package; Eubanks on the bench held his head with his hands, a face of microblogging retweeted the jackpot expression; Forbes broke through Tucker for a layup, but the game grabbed 21 The rebounding Capela again kept the second chance, Tucker three points, the rockets continue to lead 10 points.　　

In the famous basketball book "Dunker", it is said that 10 points is a shallow can, hope is over here, and disappointment is over there.　　

The Spurs, 7 wins and 14 losses, chose to hope.

DeRozan took advantage of Purcell's coverage to kill the box, Harden rushed from the weak side bottom corner to help defend, DeRozan did not choose to go big again in the face of his friend, but copied the hammer and distributed it to Ronnie Walker who was released in the bottom corner. Walker received the ball without hesitation, bending his knees, lifting his hand, and scoring three points in one go.　　

The ball went in.　　

Before this game, Lonnie Walker had only made seven threes this season, hitting two of them, and tonight, he made seven in one game, hitting four of them.　　

This is a perfect hammer play, after going through Mills, Forbes, White, Murray, DeRozan, Gay, Belinelli, Lyles, finally found a fourth reliable three-point shooter.　　

From this moment on, until overtime, Walker began to share the burden of "holding the ball to start the offense".　　

After defending Harden and Willard's one-two punch, Walker again defended Harden to the point of no return, and Willard's potted three turned into another Spurs' conversion - and then Walker again took advantage of the Rockets' retreating hole for an open shot.　　

Then, the same hammer, the same right corner, Mills broke through and swung the hammer, and wide open Walker took the hammer and took aim for a while, and hit another three.　　

The last 39 seconds, Walker was at the top of the arc again to defend Harden's withdrawal single, Harden again three points iron, and the Spurs once again get the opportunity to convert the offense, they do not call a timeout, and Mills advanced to the front court, straight to the immediate Walker, Walker is two steps away from the three-point line, facing the immediate Tucker, without hesitation, pull up and shoot.　　

The ball went in again.

When the commentators shouted at their mothers, not believing what was happening in front of them, when the audience became more and more crowded and noisy as if the audience had never left, Harden once again held the ball across the half-court, once again facing Walker's stare. This time, he finally didn't choose to withdraw the three points, a simple crossover step to shake off Walker straight to the basket, but Peltier was more decisive, releasing Capela, leaping, high, and slapping the ball into the audience.　　

This live-text style of writing is truly sensational, allowing the brain to make up lifelike images of the game while putting together the length without having to use your brain.　　

In addition to this, you can also see the last seven minutes of a little repetition of the plot - the Spurs played a wave and a wave of conversion offense, and Harden shot one and three step back three ......　　

In all fairness, no matter win the Clippers or win the Rockets, the Spurs have a lot of luck in it, playing the Clippers is Leonard, Pepper, and Lu Wei three core collective dumb fire, playing the Rockets and Harden Willow combined 68 of 18 - what a concept it is. Borrowed from a friend of mine Kai honey statistics, which is equivalent to Kobe's 47 shots 17, plus Tatum's 18 shots 1, but also to make up for the rocket replacement Clark's 3 shots 0, rocket double iron, horrible as this.　　

Harden's 20 shots 4 of three certainly has its hands cold and Walker's excellent defense reasons, but no matter what, three points iron pop out of the long rebounds once the Spurs get, and with it is certainly a three-guard lineup of counterattack fast break. The more iron Harden and Willow have, the more opportunities the Spurs will have.　　

Of course, we have talked many times before, no matter what three-guard, small lineup, as long as there is no long-range shooting, it is the Chinese team in the Men's Basketball World Cup - the chances of winning are slim. The Spurs have had a huge losing streak before, and they've had enough of the "guard lineup without shooting" loss.　　

And yesterday played the Rockets, in addition to the team's designated three-point thigh Forbes 6 shots 5, Walker in the last three minutes into the three-catch three, is the Spurs three-guard lineup "turn around and sing" another thigh - and still critical moments dare to The other leg of the Spurs' three-guard lineup "turned around and sang" - and a leg that was bold enough to take a shot in critical moments.　　

And unlike Forbes, who is a strong offensive player, Walker's defensive ability was also fully demonstrated in this game. Facing Harden, who is touted by ESPN as the "all-time leading scorer," Walker blocked the spot in key moments, successfully shifting the defensive burden to Harden's cold hands.　　

If I were to judge Lonnie Walker or blow up Walker like I did Derrick White last season, I'd have to say that after White, Gay, and Ade, the Spurs have another offensive and defensive player with a shooting ability. He has solid dribbling and shooting fundamentals, and his running and jumping talents and defensive abilities are on full display. DeRozan's "he has all the talent in the world" is a real sore point, but in a very functional Spurs backcourt, Walker is the most versatile and highest-ceiling player - if he continues to be so confident. -If he continues to maintain that confidence and accuracy, and if Murray still hasn't developed a consistent shot.　　

If both of those ifs become a reality, then the Spurs may have more than just minor things to consider when the time comes, like guard rotations.

Over the past two years, I've written countless articles about the three, such as how it is without the three, and how it is with the three, so much so that I want to find a tattoo store and put the word "three" on my body. But yesterday's rocket reminded us of another thing: you can't shoot three points for the sake of shooting three points, shooting three points is your means to open up space and better impact the basket, not the ultimate purpose of your offense.　　

Strong as Curry, will also no ball, block cut, break, high hitting the board, with all the means to stir up the defense, to create basketball opportunities for the team. And the rocket's top man strong shooting, retreat jumper, the feeling to come naturally can be called an unresolved killer, but when the opponent like Walker defense to your no space, when your hand like cold Coke like refreshing, how should you live with yourself? The basketball to see time and time again iron, let the opponent bring up a wave of counterattack, rushed to their side in pieces? With a few rushes like this, the fight and motivation of both sides will rise and fall, and the scales of the game will naturally tip.　　

Of course, this is only one regular season game in a long season, even if tough to beat strong opponents, the Spurs are still 8 wins and 14 losses in the bottom third of the West, the structural problems of the roster still exist, the locker room clouds have not seen signs of lifting, plus Aldridge's suspension, the Spurs road is not much better.　　

But even so, the Spurs are still resilient to change: Purcell is starting at the top, Walker is eating up Belinelli's minutes, and Dejounte Murray, who just signed a contract extension, is back on the bench ...... The Spurs are like a battleship sailing at the end of World War II, braving the bombardment of aircraft carriers, doing the most drastic evasive maneuvers, and using all their firepower to return fire into the air.

This "remnants of an old era making their last stand in front of a new one" is a cliché and cruel, but as part of the cyclical law of athletics, the Spurs were bound for this moment sooner or later. They used to be the trendsetters of their time, but their roles often change in a heartbeat. In this journey, all the changes, resistance, perseverance, compromise, and all the efforts and price they have paid for it, are worth remembering.　　

"We played with heart," DeRozan said so after the game.