super point guard

Chapter 350 The Battle of Tianwang Mountain ([-])
The reason why the young Oklahoma City Thunder team was able to go all the way, from the heavy siege of the Western Conference to the NBA Finals, what did it rely on?
Defense?

The defense of the Oklahoma City Thunder is not considered the top of the league. Compared with traditional defensive teams like the San Antonio Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder's defense is still slightly worse.However, the Oklahoma City Thunder still eliminated the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and successfully advanced to the Finals.

experience?

This may be the most lacking thing in the Oklahoma City Thunder at this time. In the Oklahoma City Thunder, only point guard Derek Fisher and center Ken Derek Perkins for two.Although the other players have some experience in the playoffs, none of them have personally experienced the baptism of the NBA Finals before.However, in the Indiana Pacers, only marginal players like backup center Ronnie Turiaf have a little bit of so-called Finals experience, and the promise of being the team's main point guard is even just a rookie. Compared with the Oklahoma City Thunder, their experience is even less.

young?

The current lineup of the Oklahoma City Thunder is indeed quite young, and most of the players are young men in their early twenties.It is because of the young and unlimited fighting spirit that the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the three traditional strong teams of the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference playoffs, and finally advanced to the NBA Finals.Compared with the Oklahoma City Thunder, although the average age of the Indiana Pacers is slightly older, it can still be called a young guard, and the same youth has no limit.

Excellent defense and rich experience in the playoffs or the finals, these are the key factors for a team to win the championship in the NBA, and the advantage of youth brings players Endless energy.But for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reason why they can go all the way to the NBA Finals does not seem to rely entirely on these three points.

So, what is the reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder can appear in the NBA Finals?
The answer is actually very simple, that is the "Three Young Thunder"-Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, three young players!
The playoffs are the stage for superstars. It is in the playoffs that so many classic scenes belonging to superstars are born, such as Reggie Miller's "Miller Moment", such as the king Michael Jordan's lore after another, blah blah blah.The reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder can reach the NBA Finals is mostly due to the outstanding performance of Kevin Durant. If any of these three players are removed, Russia It is difficult for the Oklahoma City Thunder to reach the heights they are doing now.

And it is precisely because the existence of the three of Kevin Durant is crucial to the Oklahoma City Thunder, so their performance can almost be regarded as the outcome of the Oklahoma City Thunder. barometer".

In the first half of the Tianwangshan battle of the finals, the only one of the "Three Young Thunder" who could barely be said to perform normally was Kevin Durant, but Kevin Durant was nothing more than "just "It's just twelve points.

In addition to Kevin Durant, the team's main point guard Russell Westbrook scored only seven points and three assists in the first half.James Harden scored the same points as Russell Westbrook, but James Harden recorded no assists, had two steals in addition to scoring, and that's it.

With Russell Westbrook and James Harden out of action at the same time, it's no wonder the Oklahoma City Thunder trailed the Indiana Pacers by as much as 41 points 53:41 at the end of the first half.Only [-] points in the half, which is not normal for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The reason why Russell Westbrook played poorly in the first half of the game is mainly because the promised defense played a good role in limiting Russell Westbrook.

Therefore, how to help Russell Westbrook get rid of the promised strict defense in the second half of the game became the primary issue that Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks had to consider during the halftime .On this point, coach Scott Brooks thought of a word-pick and roll!
On the first play of the second half, Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka mentioned the high post to set a pick-and-roll screen for Russell Westbrook, who immediately took the opportunity Shake off the promised defense, get past teammate Serge Ibaka, and head for the Indiana Pacers basket with the ball.However, Russell Westbrook had just dribbled into the Indiana Pacers paint, and the promise appeared in front of Russell Westbrook again.

"This kid is so fast!" Russell Westbrook exclaimed in his heart.

However, Russell Westbrook was already prepared for the promised pursuit. While promising to move quickly to prevent Russell Westbrook from continuing to break through, Russell Westbrook jumped high .

"What is this guy going to do?" Xu Nuo thought in his heart, "Could it be that he wants to make an emergency stop and shoot? Or just throw it away? Westbrook's mid-range and long-range shots don't seem to be very good, maybe passing is what he wants to do. It's the best choice."

Thinking of this, Xu Nuo couldn't help but pay attention to the positions of the Oklahoma City Thunder players around him, while quickly calculating in his mind who Russell Westbrook is most likely to pass the ball to.However, at this moment, Russell Westbrook threw the ball in his hand towards the basket.

"Is it really throwing?" Xu Nuo couldn't help frowning.

Just as Xu Nuo was thinking in this way, the ball rolling in the air had already started to fall gradually.At this moment, Oklahoma City Thunder's head small forward Kevin Durant leaped high, got the ball from the air, and then turned around and gently put the ball into the basket!
The promise on the court was frowned at the same time as Coach Larry Brown on the sidelines.

"How did Danny start his defense so easily got rid of by Kevin Durant." Xu Nuo and coach Larry Brown thought at the same time.

"Is this ball going to be the start of a massive counterattack by the Oklahoma City Thunder?" said Mark Jackson, the live commentator on the sidelines of the court.

Xu Nuo took a deep breath, and kept telling himself not to be affected by Russell Westbrook's goal just now. After all, it was just an ordinary assist in the game.Promise dribbled upfield and handed the ball to Danny Granger, who took advantage of power forward David West's block screen and ran out to catch the ball.However, as soon as Danny Granger received the ball, the Oklahoma City Thunder's perimeter defensive expert Thabo Sefolosha once again blocked between Danny Granger and the basket.

"As expected, he is the No. [-] perimeter defender of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but I don't know how Danny will make offensive choices." Xu Nuo said in his heart.

"However, the Oklahoma City Thunder did not send Kevin Durant directly against Danny. It seems that they want to liberate Kevin Durant's offensive power so that he can devote more energy to the offense. Go." Coach Larry Brown thought, "The Oklahoma City Thunder must rely on the strength of Kevin Durant at any time!"

Danny Granger is facing Thabo Sefolosha holding the ball from beyond the three-point line, DeMar DeRozan runs from behind Danny Granger to the corner beyond the three-point line, Dan Ni Granger made the pass immediately, and DeMar DeRozan caught the ball as he settled into position beyond the corner [-]-point line.At this time, Kevin Durant, who was in charge of marking DeMar DeRozan, had not had time to make up the defense in the future, and DeMar DeRozan had already shot from outside the three-point line.The ball rolled quickly in the air, and "swiped" into the net!

"Beautiful!" The Conseco Arena was boiling, and almost all the fans in the stands stood up, excitedly celebrating DeMar DeRozan's three-pointer.Now that the Indiana Pacers have a [-]-point lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the game is looking good.

Kevin Durant touched his nose and ran to the frontcourt to participate in the team's offense.After Russell Westbrook dribbles downfield, power forward Serge Ibaka steps up to set the pick and roll for Russell Westbrook again, this time promising to be prepared and not because Russell Westbrook got rid of the pick-and-roll, and always followed Russell Westbrook closely.Russell Westbrook didn't have the opportunity to attack with the ball himself, so he had to choose to pass the ball.Kevin Durant from outside the three-point line shot directly after receiving the ball. The ball circled in the basket and flew out again. A sigh of disappointment.

The Indiana Pacers had already launched a quick counterattack, promised to take the ball from center Roy Hibbert, and rushed towards the frontcourt at high speed.At the same time, Danny Granger and DeMar DeRozan both participated in the fast break on the other side of the court.Promise dribbles directly to the basket of the Oklahoma City Thunder, facing the defense of Sapo Sefolosha and Serge Ibaka and passes the ball directly, the ball passes from Sapo Sefolosha Sha and Serge Ibaka flew out between their bodies, and DeMar DeRozan jumped high after receiving the ball and dunked with one hand!
At 58:43, the Indiana Pacers at home have already led the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road by as much as [-] points!Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks had no choice but to get up and ask for a long timeout.

In the auditorium beside the stadium, the fans on the scene seemed to be almost crazy, celebrating the team's excellent situation without any scruples, and the atmosphere on the scene reached a climax again.

(End of this chapter)