For example, he would have George guard Antetokounmpo, then send Kemba Walker to face Yu Fei, letting the Clippers pass the ball to Yu Fei.
Yu Fei knows what Popovich is thinking.
This year, the tactical core of the Clippers has gradually shifted to Jokić and Antetokounmpo.
Yu Fei's role has become the pivot and fulcrum between the two.
Letting Yu Fei handle the ball is tantamount to allowing him to use that "ball-hog" style of play to disrupt the existing tactical balance of the Clippers.
Although this approach carries the risk of backfiring, if the Clippers don't make a change, the Spurs stand no chance at all.
Rivers' complex tactical arrangement is correct, but Popovich has overlooked one key point: Rivers is actually just a tool left in the coaching team by Yu Fei.
Usually, as long as Rivers makes no mistakes, he is the coach; timeouts, rotations, and arrangements against opponents are all controlled by him.
