Chapter 652 Set Yourself a Small Goal First (Fourth Update!)

After Benson finished telling his story, he didn't leave in a hurry, but chatted with the team members one after another.

This kind of small talk is very helpful for the self-confidence of the players.

When he left, the training efforts of the players remained the same, and that kind of spiritual encouragement was evident.

After the training, Tang Tian took Jokic to chat for a while.

In the first two games of Jokic's comeback, he felt good, and in the second game he scored 4 three-pointers, which contributed to the team's victory.

But the touch dropped significantly in the next two games. In the last game, he made 0 of 3 shots from outside the three-point line.

Now that Williams has started with Jokic, his touch has an even greater impact on the Pelicans.

Moreover, Jokic is the kind of player with a very high golf quotient. If he knows that he doesn't feel good, he will not force his shots and stand more at the basket.

This choice is correct, but the problem is that his strategic significance will not be so great.

His defense is not as good as Whiteside, so the starting effect will not be as good as Whiteside.

"Nicolas, AD couldn't find the touch after his comeback. What I said to him was to keep shooting, because the next goal must happen after the next shot."

Tang Tian used Davis' example to encourage Whiteside before, and now he uses it to encourage Jokic.

"I know your concern, you worry that if you don't make shots, it will hurt the team, but believe me, as long as you keep shooting, it will help the team."

He went on to add.

"I shoot a three-pointer. If I don't make it, it will probably be a long rebound. The Spurs will seize the opportunity to counterattack."

Jokic voiced his concerns.

His understanding of the game is really good.

"Go ahead and shoot, leave the defense to me."

Tang Tian's words gave people a full sense of security.

Jokic nodded, Tang Tian had already talked about this point, and it would not be appropriate for him not to vote.

Tang Tian had a private chat with Williams the next day.

It's about team defense.

He said in front of Jokic that the defense was handed over to him, which was just to reassure Jokic and build his confidence.

Because most of Jokic's chances outside the three-point line came from his sudden points, so he was mostly in the Spurs penalty area at that time, and it was too late to retreat.

At that time, it was the Pelicans' outside players who really needed to retreat.

This is not anyone's business, but the team needs to make corresponding defensive arrangements.

Williams agreed with what Tang Tian said, and adjusted the training session in the morning, using retreat as a special training content.

That night, Game 5 of the Pelicans-Spurs series kicked off at the New Orleans Arena.

The arena is full of attendance.

Although the team fell behind 1 to 3 and the outside world looked down on them, New Orleans fans still supported the Pelicans.

Before the start of the game, the players of the Pelicans are making final preparations for the game.

With the stimulation of Holt's interview and the spiritual encouragement given by Benson, the morale of the Pelicans is not low now.

Before setting off, Tang Tian also took the team members to drink chicken soup for a while.

But it's not the same as before.

"Forget the big score of the two teams now, forget our current situation, don't think about how we can win this series, don't think about the next game, let's set a small goal for ourselves first, win tonight's game , just to win tonight's game!"

Tang Tian's words were resounding, and the team members nodded vigorously after listening.

If you want to win the entire series, as the outside world talks about, you will become hopeless, but if you focus on the present, the situation will become completely different.

Because of them, they just need to win tonight's game.

In a game, both sides have equal chances of winning!

The big three of TNT also came to the scene to explain this game.

Whether the Pelicans will be eliminated tonight is naturally a topic they cannot escape.

"of course not!"

O'Neal still implements his Tang Chuan personality, unswervingly standing in line with the Pelicans.

"They're not going to lose this home court."

But what people didn't expect was that Kenny Smith also defected this time and joined O'Neal's camp.

Barkley glanced at his old and new partners with disdain.

"They're going to lose this series, but they shouldn't lose at home."

Before Barkley finished speaking, O'Neill and Smith were already bursting out laughing.

With that disdainful look in their eyes, they thought that Barkley was going to be tough to the end, but they didn't expect to choose to join them in the end.

After O'Neill laughed, he pointed to Barkley.

It's okay to turn an enemy into a friend.

Barkley himself laughed too.

But he is not stupid, he summed up his experience the last time he was slapped in the face.

Originally, the morale of the Pelicans should be low after falling behind 1 to 3, but when he saw the spirit of the Pelicans when they came out of the player tunnel, he knew that things were not good.

So he decisively chose to support the Pelicans.

It is rare to see that the Big Three of TNT are all optimistic about the Pelicans tonight.

This also excited some fans, especially domestic fans, who were not able to go to the scene.

This is a very positive signal.

After the opening ceremony, the starters of the two teams were introduced one after another.

The starters of both teams are the same as they were on the field, and Jokic still replaces Whiteside as the Pelicans' starting center.

Davis jumped over Gasol and gave the Pelicans the opportunity to take the lead.

With Tang Tian holding the ball in the front court, the Spurs' strategy was the same as the previous games, still double-teaming Tang Tian.

However, Tang Tian's choice was very decisive. After a change of direction, he faced Green's defense and shot dryly.

"Shua!"

He maintained his excellent form in the series, coming up on the first pitch.

There were constant cheers at the scene, which was a very good start.

The Pelicans went first, but looking back, the Spurs' hammer tactics were over, and Parker faced Jokic.

Seeing Jokic come out of defense, he made a layup with a low hand after a change of direction.

The Spurs' offensive thinking is very clear, and they are still playing with Jokic's defense.

In the Pelicans' offense, Tang Tian broke through and was double-teamed and gave the ball to Jokic at the top of the arc.

Jokic made a decisive three-pointer.

"Boom!"

strike iron.

It's really not that easy to get it back once it's lost.

However, the Pelicans retreated quickly from the outside and did not give the Spurs a chance to counterattack.

Retreating to half court, Parker misplaced Jokic again. This time Jokic shrank to the basket, and he chose a mid-range shot.

"Shua!"

Parker also advanced in the middle distance.

The Spurs started 4-2.

This time, trouble for the Pelicans came.

Jokic's touch doesn't seem to be found yet, and Parker's condition looks good, Jokic's defense will be infinitely targeted.

Whiteside on the sidelines glanced at Williams at this time, and that expression had already written everything he wanted to say on his face.

See if you don't need me to start. If you keep playing like this, you will definitely lose. I am now the best choice for the Pelicans to start at center.