This change in formation came very suddenly, without any prior notice before the game.

However, this change was also reasonable.

In the previous three games, Popovich's starting lineup hadn't lasted more than five minutes.

Although this was related to the difference in strength between the two sides, continuing with that lineup wouldn't make much of a difference in the outcome.

Especially with so many off-court factors mixed in the last game, it still didn't change the result.

So a change was a completely normal decision.

Of course, besides this reason, there was another one.

Ginobili's playing time had been reduced a lot this season, and he had mentioned the idea of retiring in front of the media more than once.

Even close friends like Tang Tian and Duncan knew that this was likely Ginobili's last playoff run.

Popovich naturally knew this as well.

Although Parker's situation was different, his poor performance and expiring contract meant that no one knew what his future held.

So Popovich's lineup arrangement had both strategic and emotional aspects.

This was likely to be Parker and Ginobili's farewell performance in their Spurs careers.

However, from the atmosphere at the scene, this arrangement was very useful.

After Duncan retired, Parker and Ginobili rarely started together, and this season they had started even less.

Such a starting lineup was a great encouragement to them psychologically, and even stirred their souls because of past glory.

In fact, not only the fans, but also the Spurs players looked different from the previous three games.

For them, the Spurs culture was deeply rooted, and the people who created that culture were Popovich and the GDP.

Tang Tian, as a former Spurs player, also felt it.

He had a premonition that tonight's game would be different from the previous three.

Amidst the cheers of the fans, Gasol tipped the ball back to the Spurs' half, officially opening the curtain on the fourth game of the series.

Parker dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and signaled for the hammer tactic.

However, this was a new hammer tactic, different from the 1-2-3 tactic that Tang Tian had experienced before.

The biggest difference was that the person dribbling and breaking through changed from the No. 3 position to the No. 2 position.

Green ran continuously along the three-point line on the weak side using screens to draw the defense, and Ginobili broke through on the right side, cutting straight to the basket.

However, the Pelicans' defense was very strong, and even with the newly evolved hammer tactic, the Spurs didn't get a chance.

Seeing that the tactic was about to fail, Ginobili chose to force a layup against Butler.

Butler blocked Ginobili's frontal shooting opportunity.

But Ginobili twisted his waist into a 60° lateral swing, creating a shooting opportunity for himself, and then shot the ball off the backboard.

The *yao dao's* (妖刀, demon blade) signature serpentine breakthrough.

"Bang!"

The ball bounced off the backboard and shot diagonally into the net.

Ginobili scored the first points for the Spurs!

Tang Tian turned around, broke past Green, and hit a pull-up jumper in response.

He felt the difference in the Spurs tonight, and they started firing right away.

Parker advanced to the frontcourt, but the Spurs' hammer tactic still couldn't be executed.

Parker dribbled to the basket but didn't have a chance, so he circled around and passed the ball to Aldridge.

Aldridge's signature turnaround fadeaway missed.

It could be seen that his touch wasn't very good tonight.

However, Gasol fought hard for the offensive rebound and then passed it to Ginobili on the outside.

Ginobili received the ball, and Butler's defense was quick to arrive.

He leaned on Butler, dribbled twice, and then chose his signature step-back three-pointer.

Butler reacted quickly, pouncing forward to provide enough interference.

"Swish!"

Butler defended well on this play, but Ginobili shot even better.

The basketball went through the net cleanly, instantly igniting the atmosphere at the AT&T Center.

The cheers and whistles of the fans were overwhelming, layer upon layer.

Ginobili had scored 5 consecutive points after the opening!

This scene really gave them a feeling of returning to the beginning of the century.

At that time, Ginobili wasn't called *yao dao* yet, but had a very resounding nickname: 20-minute Jordan.

Although Ginobili was already 40 years old this year, his performance at the start was like he was 10 years younger!

The Spurs were greatly encouraged, and they showed a completely different momentum from the previous three games at the start.

When the game reached five minutes, the score on the court was tied at 13.

Although they still couldn't stop the Pelicans, they were making all kinds of miraculous shots on the offensive end.

By attacking with offense, they completely played out Popovich's tactical intentions.

For the first time in the series, they had survived the first five minutes.

This was the power of the Spurs spirit and culture, and even God was on their side.

However, the Pelicans' hard power wasn't just for show.

At the critical moment, they brought out their all-star level defensive intensity.

Butler stole one from Parker, and Tang Tian stole one from Green.

Two steals, two fast break opportunities, and the Pelicans launched a 5-0 run.

Moreover, one of the Spurs' possessions was disrupted by the Pelicans after 21 seconds, going out of bounds, basically宣告失败.

The Pelicans had a tendency to take the game away in one fell swoop.

Popovich raised his hand and called a timeout.

This possession was crucial, and it could even be said that it might directly determine whether the Spurs could survive this quarter.

After the timeout, Parker inbounded the ball from the outside, and Green and Ginobili ran out to receive the ball after running around the screen.

With 3 seconds left, they basically only had time to catch the ball, dribble once, and shoot.

Parker passed the ball to Ginobili.

However, Butler completely blocked the shooting angle.

The Spurs' tactic didn't work.

Just when this tactic looked like it was about to fail, Ginobili made an incredible no-look pass.

The ball went directly into Aldridge's hands under the basket, who had quietly moved to the basket at some point.

A buzzer-beating close-range bank shot, the ball swished into the basket off the backboard.

Aldridge's finish was beautiful, but Ginobili's pass was even more beautiful.

In the Pelicans' frontcourt possession, Butler's catch-and-shoot three-pointer was a bit off and didn't go in.

Turning around, Ginobili faked a three-pointer to shake off the defense, and then went to the basket, throwing up a floater in the face of Dedmon's leaping defense.

This shot selection was very decisive, and there was physical contact in the air.

The referee blew his whistle, signaling that Dedmon's defense was a foul.

Ginobili completed the shot almost lying down in the air.

The ball spun and fell into the net.

It was an and-one!

The cheers at the scene erupted again.

When the team looked like it was about to be taken away in one fell swoop, it was still Ginobili who stood up.

A pass and an and-one, the *yao dao* may be old, but it's still sharp!

Ginobili fell pretty hard this time and was pulled up by Parker and Green.

It has to be said that his waist is really well-maintained. The serpentine breakthrough and this and-one show amazing waist strength.

He steadily made the free throw.

While helping the Spurs tie the score, he also scored his 10th point of the game in this quarter.

The *yao dao's* farewell performance is still full of brilliance.