You rarely saw an expression like that on the usually resourceful Popovich's face.
Clearly, even he hadn't expected the Raptors to inbound from the backcourt with so little time left.
Popo wanted to call a timeout to disrupt the Raptors' offense. Calling one would throw off their play, and he could reset the defense and prepare for their backcourt pass.
Then he suddenly remembered he'd already used his last timeout.
There were no timeouts left.
In the few seconds before the inbound, he couldn't think of a way to stop the Raptors' backcourt play.
And even if he came up with something and shouted it to his players, could they execute his plan in just a few seconds?
But there was a reason Chinese fans called Popovich "Zhuge Village Husband." He'd earned the nickname.
His quick thinking in a crucial moment showed right then.
In the few seconds he had to look over the Raptors' formation, his mind raced.
Then, before the Raptors inbounded, he shouted from the sideline:
"Guard the three! Guard the three! I'd rather give them a layup than let Wang Yi shoot a three!"
Every Raptors player felt a jolt. The defense had to change in just a few seconds?
An ordinary team probably couldn't have managed it, but Popovich's players were exceptionally disciplined.
When Wemby heard Old Master Bo shouting, he immediately called to his teammates:
"You heard him? Focus on the three, especially Wang Yi's three! Let the others take threes or twos, but don't let Wang Yi shoot a three!"
In other words, they'd rather let someone else take the shot that could win the game—or even force overtime—than let Wang Yi shoot a three.
As they spoke, the referee blew his whistle.
He began counting down five seconds, raising one finger with