Chapter 246: A Legend’s Farewell.
In Game 3 of the series, the Spurs and Grizzlies shifted the battleground to Memphis.
The Spurs made significant tactical adjustments, focusing heavily on their defense.
After the Game 2 loss, Gregg Popovich had sternly declared in the postgame press conference, "We won't make that many mistakes again." Clearly, he realized the Grizzlies had regained their rhythm and thus opted to abandon their usual team-oriented play style.
At first glance, this seemed like a risky trade-off, given their success this season was built on their new system.
But once Game 3 began, it proved to be the right call.
Their famed 'Hammer Play' was merely a supplement; the foundation of the Spurs' strength was always their defense.
With Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan anchoring the paint, the Spurs' defensive personnel were among the league's elite. Add to that their well-oiled defensive system, and they were a force to be reckoned with.
Focusing on defense also allowed them to exploit a weakness in the Grizzlies' twin-tower lineup through fast-break opportunities.
One often-overlooked fact is that among the Spurs' Big Three, Tony Parker was significantly younger than Manu Ginóbili and Duncan—at just 32 years old, he was still in his prime. His ability to push the fast break remained among the best in the league.
Popovich also committed to an aggressive double-team strategy against Han Sen. With Leonard as the primary defender and Green providing help defense, Han's impact was limited.
Conversely, the Grizzlies maintained their intense defensive pressure from the previous game, severely hampering the Spurs' half-court offense.