Since you can't have both fish and bear's paw, halfway through the first quarter, Carlisle decided to focus Supersonic's defensive resources on Curry.
This is undoubtedly a wise decision.
Because in this current era, Curry is still a bit immature when dealing with half-court traps and double-teams.
In Qin Yue's past life, Curry's career peak could be roughly divided into two phases.
In the first phase, Curry's three-point shooting was incredibly accurate.
However, once faced with high-intensity defense and unlimited double-teams, Curry was prone to unstable performances and frequent turnovers.
It wasn't until the second phase that Curry began to enhance his ability to combat the opponent's tight defense through muscle gain.
But to become the "Demon Muscle Curry" capable of challenging the future Celtics, Curry was destined to a long journey.
Since gaining muscle would inevitably affect his magical touch, Curry can only gradually increase muscle mass, relying on time to offset the negative impacts on his touch.
Nonetheless...
Unlike someone who needs a second-in-command to perform at a "Jordan-level" to lead the team to victory.
At Oracle Arena, as Supersonic's defensive resources had no choice but to focus on Curry and prioritize dealing with the "Qin-Yue-Curry" duo, Qin Yue almost hammered Garnett into a "dead dog" in the second half of the first quarter.
"You know, facing him feels like he walked over, kicked me, and I was 'dead'," described Garnett about Qin Yue's gameplay as he was substituted by Duncan on the Supersonic bench.
Hearing this, Duncan remarked, "Sounds like you're by the roadside."
Garnett replied helplessly, "In front of him, we're all by the roadside."
Due to time's erosion, Garnett's physical condition can no longer support him alone against Qin Yue.
Yet Carlisle still had no choice.
Because at this stage, it is impossible for any player to block Qin Yue, so relatively speaking, only by containing Curry, who has a chance to be defended, can Supersonic weaken Warriors' offensive power.
End of the first quarter, Supersonic's last possession.
Still trying to exhaust Qin Yue in the offense, Duncan lobbed the ball to Yao Ming.
In this match, Yao Ming's efficiency in low post attacks is astonishing.
Both Garnett and Duncan were able to deliver the ball timely to Yao Ming.
However, under Qin Yue's tough defense, Yao Ming's production is far less than usual.
Like this possession.
Yao Ming managed to leverage his bulk to squeeze Qin Yue aside.
But since Qin Yue hadn't completely lost his position, even Yao Ming had to consider whether his little brother would wreck his basketball dreams with a ruthless "intercept kill" as he completed his attack.
Fortunately, Duncan provided Yao Ming another option by timely following up.
Warrior Forbidden Area, Duncan received Yao Ming's assist and scored off the board.
Seeing this, Qin Yue sneered, "You've chickened out, Lao Yao."
To which Yao Ming laughingly replied, "How is that chickening out? It's clearly a strategic adjustment."
After a pause, Yao Ming confidently said, "Don't you understand what it means to layout a new track, find a new force point?"
"I don't understand."
"Good, you don't understand? From now on, learn well from your Brother Yao."
I must say, over the years, Yao Ming's face has gotten thicker.
In Qin Yue's view, Yao Ming just made a "James-style" choice but described it as high and mighty.
Don't understand, just ask. Is this what is called "rhetoric"?
At Oracle Arena, the first quarter ended, 26 to 31.
Supersonic trailing Warriors by 5 points.
At the start of the second quarter, Carlisle, employing Duncan and Garnett to continue Supersonic's inside rotations, finally gave Garnett an outlet to express.
On the court, the young "Iron Bull" was toyed with by Garnett for two consecutive possessions.
As Duncan looked at Garnett curiously while retreating on defense, he asked, "Why do you seem not excited?"
Garnett sighed, "What's there to be excited about bullying a rookie?"
At this moment, Garnett, who sighed as a distressed old wolf, felt this way mainly because, in his view, Qin Yue already surpasses his understanding of basketball with forever young players needing growth.
Why?
Because in the NBA, even with people forever having full-level extraordinary teammates, they would only complain their teammates aren't strong enough.
But Qin Yue?
In the past three years, Qin Yue not only led Warriors to blaze new trails.
Moreover, when Warriors boldly used rookies, Qin Yue had to take responsibility for backing these young players.
Though teasing Green was nothing to excite Garnett,
blocking Ray Allen defensively was still worth Garnett to beat his chest and howl at the sky.
"Traitor!"
In the Supersonic Forbidden Area, at the moment of intercepting Ray Allen's off-ball cut layup, Garnett sternly rebuked him.
Except facing Garnett's lemon-scented mockery, Ray Allen not only didn't get angry but cheekily asked, "Jealous?"
"Jealous of what?"
"Jealous of me able to hold onto 'Great Qin's' thigh."
"..."
How could anyone not be jealous?
In fact, if not for that damn face.
Plus Garnett shifting his allegiance to Li Ning's camp, he'd want to dedicate his career end to Yao Ming, this "God of Wealth."
