The way of the center

Chapter 415 Relying on defense to chase points

Even at night, the air in Oklahoma is not the slightest chill.Compared with Minnesota and Toronto, Oklahoma's climate is already very mild and suitable.So even if you go out now, you only need to wear a short sleeve.

What's more, the atmosphere in Oklahoma tonight can be described as frenzy.On the plaza at the entrance of the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma, the Thunder officially set up a giant screen stage there. Thunder fans who cannot get tickets to watch the game will be able to play in Chesapeake. Outside the Peak Energy arena, in the atmosphere of professional DJs, you can watch everything that happens in the venue through the huge LED screen.

Now the game is about to enter the fourth quarter in a blink of an eye, and the Thunder have already achieved a 7-point lead at this moment.In the first three quarters of the game, the Thunder team was tied at most, and they have never been passive.For the fourth quarter competition between the two sides, Oklahoma City fans are very confident.Having won the first three quarters, the mighty Thunder has no reason to lose the fourth quarter!
Durant, the scoring leader, was in the limelight today, scoring 19 points in just three quarters.Westbrook's impact not only forced Anjie to leave the field early, but also allowed him to score 21 points!Although the efficiency is not as good as Durant, such a high score is indeed the main reason why the Trail Blazers are now passive.

Bledsoe and Batum have been killing the confidence of the Trail Blazers second unit, and Ibaka and Morris have done a decent job defensively.In short, no matter which aspect you look at, the Thunder have the advantage.Today, at their home court, Oklahoma City fans can't wait for the Thunder to win Game [-] of the Western Conference Finals.

Angie?Anjie's performance is indeed worthy of respect, and Anjie's many wonderful goals in this game also won him applause from the Thunder fans.It's just a pity that An Jie had to sacrifice a bit for the Thunder's victory.

"Beware of their passes and breakthroughs, now I want you to defend one-on-one. Force them to make mistakes, force them to give up opportunities! It's time, it's time to let the game come to us!" Ricard Glancing at the Thunder bench on the other side, well, this group isn't complacent with a seven-point lead.

In this way, anxiety is sure to spread on the young Thunder.Fatal mistakes will definitely appear frequently in the next game.Ricard arranged everything and was silent for three quarters.Now, it's time for fans all over the world to see the strength of the Trail Blazers!

"Ann, they will definitely continue to attack you later. Pay attention to the number of fouls you make, I want you to persist until the last second!" Before going on the field, Ricard also reminded Anjie that his fouls The count has been accumulated to four times. If they lose Anjie, even if they have Aldridge in excellent condition, they will not be able to compete with the Thunder team that is fully dispatched.

"Understood the boss, don't worry." An Jie blinked at Ricard, then turned and went on stage.Westbrook was staring at An Jie at the moment, seeing that An Jie saw himself, he tilted his head and spread his hands.

"It's over Russell, your acting time is over." An Jie muttered in his mouth, what he failed to do in college, he must do today!

This time, Van Gundy directly let Westbrook and Bledsoe be present at the same time, coupled with Durant's pulling and Ibaka and Morris' assistance, the Thunder's offensive firepower is unprecedentedly strong.

Both Bledsoe and Westbrook are the kind of guards with abnormal physical fitness and full impact.These two people's attacks on the basket in turn will certainly not make An Jie feel too good.

With the help of Ibaka's high pick-and-roll, Westbrook once again "hurried." But this time, the man who defended to the basket was no longer Anjie, but Aldridge!
"Are you going to help Ann carry this offense?" Westbrook originally wanted to pass the ball back to Ibaka and let the Congolese big man complete the shot.But this guy suddenly changed his mind and decided to hit Aldridge!
Although Aldridge's defense is not bad, it is still far behind Anjielai.With a goal, forcing Anjie to defend himself, this is Westbrook's plan!

Raymond Felton felt that his legs were about to break from running, but he could only watch helplessly as the distance between Westbrook and himself widened.There's nothing he can do to defend him this time except pray that Aldridge can stop the damn zero guard.

Westbrook didn't dodge at all, he leaned on Aldridge's body and planned to force a layup.Aldridge was afraid of a foul and didn't take off. He just stood there with his hands up, slowing down Westbrook's impact speed and difficulty of attacking the frame as much as possible.

"It's too soft!" Westbrook, who had physical contact with Aldridge in the air, dismissed this level of blocking at all. He continued to push Aldridge away in the air and shot the ball!
Westbrook was smiling even before he landed.This goal, he is bound to win!
However, just before the basketball that Westbrook shot fell, a long arm and that big palm suddenly appeared from behind Aldridge.Westbrook's smile gradually froze. He knew who it was. Apart from Ibaka, this guy was the only one who could block this kind of layup on this court.

"Crack!" A big slap!The basketball swished past Westbrook's scalp.Wesley Matthews has already rushed to the frontcourt at this moment. When he received the basketball, everyone was still watching behind him!

Westbrook looked at An Jie in disbelief, so much so that Wesley Matthews dunked over there, and he didn't react at all.

"You can't hit me like this anymore, buddy. I won't let you get away with it again." An Jie patted Westbrook on the shoulder. Ricard was right. The frivolous Westbrook is easy to kill at critical moments. careless!Anjie had already ambushed behind Aldridge for this ball, and Aldridge only went forward to help Anjie bear the impact of Westbrook.

When Westbrook put down his guard and thought he could force Aldridge, Angie's chance came.

Finishing the block across Aldridge, this type of block is the most entertaining type of center defense.Back then, O'Neal used this method to stifle the opponent's offense a lot. Now, Anjie has perfectly reproduced those scenes.

"You used to always be behind us like this. Just wait, I won't be bluffed!" Westbrook's competitive spirit was no worse than Anjie's. He retreated beyond the three-point line and prepared to start his next round. attack.

Inadvertently, Anjie has used his words to arouse Westbrook's desire to score.Doing so will indeed make Westbrook, who is already very dangerous, even more dangerous.But the advantage is that it can make Westbrook's calmness disappear!
This time Westbrook first gave the basketball to Durant. Durant was about to break through Gerald Wallace's defense, but suddenly made a jumper during the breakthrough.

In the first three quarters of the game, he used this trick time and again.But Gerald Wallace is not an idiot either. How could he not be vigilant after being teased by Durant so many times?

So Durant's emergency stop jump shot was greatly interfered by Gerald Wallace.The basketball failed to enter the frame gracefully again, but bounced out.

Morris jumped with all his strength, but he didn't catch the offensive rebound as he wished under Anjie's position, but hit the basketball again.

Just when Morris was unable to complete the second take-off after landing, Anjie leaped high, straightened his long arms, and controlled the backcourt rebound.It wasn't until everyone in the Thunder retreated to defend in the other half that Anjie handed the ball to Raymond Felton.To force the Thunder to make mistakes, first of all they cannot make mistakes themselves.Therefore, An Jie also played very cautiously.

Offensively, but this time Anjie no longer stayed in the low position as soon as he came up.He played more flexibly, mentioning the high post for Felton's pick-and-roll.

Felton just wanted to break through through the pick-and-roll, but found that Westbrook was still haunting him.When Westbrook practiced pick-and-roll defense, he practiced with Anjie.Therefore, in this league, what Westbrook knows best is Anjie's pick-and-roll!
However, Felton, who was stopped, was not in a hurry. With a calm flick of his wrist, Morris quickly turned around, but An Jie had already received the ball and broke through!

"Defend, defend!" Morris yelled, and Anjie couldn't be allowed to get close to the basket no matter what.So Durant extended his long arm, but didn't cut the basketball.Ibaka moved laterally to the basket, but the Thunder scored anyway.

There is no doubt that when Ibaka was attracted to the basket, Aldridge was naturally released.Aldridge, who is feeling hot today, also added another assist to Anjie's stats.

The Blazers scored two more points, but the Thunder did not respond for a long time.

In the last attack, Durant's forced breakthrough shot prevented Westbrook from getting too much possession time.He thought Durant would pass back to himself, but KD actually shot directly.

Westbrook, who was eager to score and beat Anjie, was even more impatient now.When he was still in the Thunder, Anjie often lost because of Westbrook's head fever.Now, Westbrook's problem is still unchanged.Maybe this guy's personality is like this, and it won't change for a long time.

Westbrook attacked the penalty area guarded by Anjie for the second time. Aldridge moved laterally to the basket as usual, but Westbrook didn't care so much, and he threw himself into the air again.

However, before jumping to the highest point, the ball in Westbrook's hand suddenly lost control!
Lowering his head to the basketball in panic, Westbrook realized that Gerald Wallace had been lying here for a long time, waiting for the moment when he made a layup, so that he could cut the basketball away!

"Westbrook's mistake at a critical moment, the Trail Blazers' transition attack! Raymond Felton chasing a three-pointer!? Yes! Hehe, Felton's state must have been greatly affected by their current performance Encouragement! Now the Blazers are blooming more. The Thunder's seven-point advantage since entering the fourth quarter has disappeared in an instant!" Mike Breen couldn't believe it. It was actually able to quickly tie the score in a short period of time.

But unlike other teams scoring quickly, the Blazers can score quickly not by offense and fast pace, but by their defense!
Continuously forcing Westbrook and Durant into a defensive trap, this is the effect Ricard hopes to achieve!

"Hmph, well done, keep it up." Ricard clasped his hands, looking at the masterpiece he created with satisfaction.

The low-key Blazers in the first three quarters did not intend to continue to be content with clenching the score in the fourth quarter.

Win the game, that's why Ricard and his boys are here!
An Jie high-fived Aldridge and Felton in turn during the retreat. This big man wearing a black jersey number 00 has changed from the guardian of the Chesapeake Energy Arena to the Chesapeake Energy Ball The most dangerous vandal of the pavilion!
"Ann, boy. Let's work hard, he's not invincible!" Durant patted Westbrook's butt, and Westbrook took the baseline ball from Morris and rushed towards the frontcourt again. go.

No one will choose to give up, whether it is the Thunder or the Blazers, whether it is Westbrook or Anjie.If you want to win, you must die to the end.

(End of this chapter)