Benson didn't rush to leave after telling his story, but chatted with the team members one by one.

This kind of casual chat was a great help to the players' self-confidence.

When he left, the team members were still training hard, which showed the extent of the mental encouragement.

After training, Tang Tian pulled Jokic aside for a chat.

Jokic had a good touch in the first two games after his return, and he made 4 three-pointers in the second game, making him a hero in the team's victory.

But his touch had obviously declined in the next two games, and he was 0-for-3 from beyond the three-point line in the last game.

Williams was now using Jokic as a starter, so his touch had a greater impact on the Pelicans.

Moreover, Jokic was the kind of player with a very high basketball IQ. He knew that if he didn't have a good touch, he wouldn't force a shot, and would stand more under the basket.

This choice wasn't wrong, but the problem was that his strategic significance wasn't as great.

His defense wasn't as good as Whiteside's, so the starting effect wouldn't be as good as Whiteside's.

"Nikola, when AD first came back, he couldn't find his touch either. What I told him was to keep shooting, because the next goal will definitely happen after the next shot."

Tang Tian had previously used Davis's example to encourage Whiteside, and now he was using it to encourage Jokic.

"I know your worries. You're worried that if you don't make shots, you'll hurt the team, but trust me, as long as you keep shooting, you'll help the team."

He added.

"If I shoot a three-pointer, if it doesn't go in, it's likely to be a long rebound, and the Spurs will seize the opportunity to counterattack."

Jokic expressed his concerns.

His understanding of the game was indeed very accurate.

"Just shoot, leave the defense to me."

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

Jokic nodded. Tang Tian had already said that, so it wasn't appropriate for him not to shoot.

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

They talked about the team's defense.

He said in front of Jokic that he would take care of the defense, that was just to reassure Jokic and build his confidence.

Because most of Jokic's opportunities outside the three-point line came from his breakthroughs and passes, so he was mostly in the Spurs' restricted area at that time, and he didn't have time to retreat.

At that time, it was the Pelicans' outside players who really needed to do a good job of retreating.

This wasn't just one person's business, but the team needed to make corresponding defensive arrangements.

Williams agreed with what Tang Tian said, and adjusted the morning training session, making retreating defense a special training content.

That night, the fifth game of the Pelicans and Spurs series kicked off at the New Orleans Arena.

The arena was packed to capacity.

Although the team was 1-3 behind and the outside world wasn't optimistic about them, the New Orleans fans still supported the Pelicans.

Before the game started, the Pelicans players were making their final preparations for the game.

With Holt's exclusive interview to stimulate them, coupled with the spiritual encouragement Benson gave, the Pelicans' morale wasn't low now.

Before leaving, Tang Tian also gave the players a pep talk.

It was just a little different from what he used to say.

"Forget the current score between the two teams, forget our current situation, don't think about how we can win this series, don't think about the games later, let's set ourselves a small goal first, win tonight's game, just win tonight's game!"

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

Thinking about how to win the entire series would become as hopeless as the outside world was discussing, but focusing attention on the present would make the situation completely different.

Because they just needed to win tonight's game.

And in one game, the chances of winning for both sides are equal!

The TNT Big Three also came to the scene to commentate on this game.

Whether the Pelicans would be eliminated tonight was naturally a topic they couldn't escape.

"Of course not!"

O'Neal still carried out his Tang-praising persona, firmly standing with the Pelicans.

"They won't lose this home game."

But what was unexpected was that Kenny Smith also defected this time and was in the same camp as O'Neal.

Barkley glanced at his old partner and new partner with disdain.

"They will lose this series, but they shouldn't lose this home game."

Before Barkley could finish his words, O'Neal and Smith had already burst out laughing.

With that disdainful look, they thought Barkley was going to be tough to the end, but they didn't expect that he finally chose to join them.

After O'Neal finished laughing, he pointed his finger at Barkley.

Turning enemies into friends was also possible.

Barkley laughed along with them.

But he, Sir Barkley, wasn't stupid. He had learned his lesson from the last time he was slapped in the face.

Originally, the Pelicans, who were 1-3 behind, should have been demoralized, but when he saw the Pelicans players coming out of the player tunnel with that spirited look, he knew things were bad.

So he decisively chose to support the Pelicans.

Rarely, the TNT Big Three were all optimistic about the Pelicans tonight.

This also made some fans who couldn't go to the scene, especially domestic fans, feel excited.

This was a very positive signal.

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

The starting lineups of both teams were the same as the last game, with Jokic still replacing Whiteside as the Pelicans' starting center.

Davis won the jump ball against Gasol, giving the Pelicans the opportunity to attack first.

Tang Tian held the ball in the frontcourt, and the Spurs' strategy was the same as in the previous games, still double-teaming Tang Tian.

But Tang Tian's choice was very decisive. After a change of direction, he pulled up and shot against Green's defense.

"Swish!"

He maintained his excellent form in the series, making his first shot.

The cheers at the scene were constant, it was a very good start.

The Pelicans scored first, but in return, the Spurs' Hammer play was completed, and Parker faced Jokic.

Seeing Jokic defending out, he made a low-handed layup after a change of direction.

The Spurs' offensive thinking was very clear, still targeting Jokic's defense.

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

Jokic took a three-pointer decisively.

"Clang!"

It hit the iron.

The feeling of touch, once lost, is really not that easy to find back.

However, the Pelicans' outside retreat speed was very fast, not giving the Spurs a chance to launch a fast break.

Retreating to the half court, Parker mismatched to play Jokic again, this time Jokic shrank into the basket, and he chose to shoot from mid-range.

"Swish!"

Parker's mid-range shot also went in.

The Spurs started 4-2.

At this moment, the Pelicans' trouble came.

Jokic's touch didn't seem to have been found yet, and Parker's state looked very good, Jokic's defense would be infinitely targeted.

Whiteside on the sidelines looked at Williams at this time, and the expression on his face had already written down what he wanted to say.

See if you don't use me as a starter, it's definitely going to be a loss if you play like this, I'm now the only choice for the Pelicans' starting center.