super heavy artillery

Chapter 887 A Tough Battle

You can underestimate your opponent strategically, but you must pay attention to your opponent tactically.

This season, there are quite a few teams that everyone will have a headache after encountering.The Thunder itself is one of them, and they know exactly what method and attitude they should use to face such a situation.

The content of Donovan's training with the Thunder players is not particularly specific to the Lakers, and it is not different from usual training.Although how to play their own offense normally under the level of defense of the Lakers has always been a difficulty that Donovan must help the players overcome in this game, but the training before the game is only an ideal. The result of the simulation under the circumstances, when it really comes to the game, everything will be different.

Those so-called targeted preparations are just countermeasures based on what their opponents have shown in previous games with other teams. The Thunder have not played against the Lakers this season, so everything is hard to say.Some teams have strong combat effectiveness, but they will encounter one or two teams that can't beat them anyway.Just like the Suns in the previous seasons, he became a Super Saiyan as soon as he met a strong team, bursting out every game, and the next one defeated him.

Therefore, during the entire afternoon when they officially entered the game preparation stage, the Thunder players were practicing some routine coordination such as pick-and-roll screens, passing and receiving, and defensive transitions.These things are the things that can always play a role in the game. No matter what tactics the opponent will play, no matter what rhythm the game enters, the most basic things are the most guaranteed.Especially for a team like the Thunder, with three-point shooters like An Luo and Gallinari, the offensive end often only needs one screen to complete.

However, the burden on An Luo is not light.No matter how the Lakers perform, the Thunder will definitely not be able to rely on inside players on the offensive end in the upcoming game. Even a player like Westbrook who is good at rushing to the penalty area to score will not provide much help.The Lakers have a solid defensive ability, and they only need to play normally to cause huge trouble for the Thunder.

In contrast, the outside offense is indeed not as stable as the inside offense, but the offensive area is many times wider.This is even more difficult for defense.The Lakers' outside defense is not weak, but there is no particularly safe way to limit the Thunder's outside scoring.Unless An Luo and others feel bad.

It is conceivable that when the Thunder's inside line was blocked by the Lakers, An Luo's scoring became crucial.As long as he can fire from outside the three-point line, he can not only help the Thunder score, but also help the inside relieve pressure by affecting the Lakers' defensive appeal.If you want to win the game, you still need to blossom inside and out.

When entering the game arena, players from both sides were "indiscriminately bombarded" by the reporters and media who were waiting outside.Whenever a heavyweight match comes, the most active ones are always those who carry the "long guns and short guns".

"There's no doubt that the Lakers are a very strong team. They have LeBron and Anthony, the best forward combination in the league, and a group of outstanding role players. Obviously, we don't want to be in the game. Meeting such an opponent. But it is a pity that we will play against them four times this season." Donovan is still the same old way, first praised the opponent vigorously, and then changed his voice, saying: "Of course, every season we We will meet many such opponents. If we want to go to the end, we always have to face those powerful opponents and difficult games. In this regard, we have enough experience. I believe that this night will not let everyone down."

Players are different!Not to mention American players like Westbrook, even An Luo was particularly aggressive.

"We need a strong opponent like the Lakers. After all, in the past two consecutive seasons, we have grown up game by game. LeBron and Anthony are really very strong players, but I Think we'll have the last laugh, we've found a way to win the game."

The Lakers players are equally confident.LeBron James, who is still recognized by most fans as the league's top superstar this season, is looking forward to this game against the Thunder.

"I know how hard it is for a team to win the championship two years in a row! All the teams want to beat them, as if the whole world is going to stop them. Now, we are going to do that. "

"We studied their tapes and found out what the problem was. Once we got the game into our own rhythm, it wouldn't be a difficult thing. I'm pretty sure of that! "

Another core player, Anthony Davis, is even more direct.

"We're going to beat them! We're going to take the win in this city, like we've been doing before."

However, what the players said before the game did not have any practical significance.In the game, it is still necessary for the players to fight with real guns and swords before they can tell the winner.For this point, all players and people in the circle are very clear.Only those reporters will edit these words and publish them, embellishing and creating some contradictions to attract everyone's attention.

Everyone knows this kind of thing.Especially the players who have been in this league for a long time are even more familiar.But for many players, they don't reject this kind of thing.After all, the benefits brought about by higher attention are not only enjoyed by the news media, players are also one of the beneficiaries.In many cases, players even deliberately create some news so that more people can pay attention to them.In this league, players are like a commodity, and there are still very few existences like An Luo who have their own huge attention.

Of course, none of this had much impact on the upcoming games.

When Westbrook's name was shouted out by the host of ceremonies for the last time, the atmosphere in the Chesapeake Energy Arena reached its peak in an instant.Every night, Oklahoma fans are very awesome.They never seem to bring any negative emotions to the Thunder players, as long as those players are still playing in Thunder jerseys.

An Luo has always enjoyed this atmosphere, and he feels very comfortable playing here.There will never be a lack of cheers and applause. No matter whether the game is in adversity or prosperity, even if the Thunder has been unable to recover, as long as the game is not over, the shouts of "OKC" in the Chesapeake Energy Arena will not stop.

The starting players of both sides have appeared one after another, and the game is about to start.

For the Lakers, LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way, and three defensive champions, Danny Green, JaVale McGee and Avery Bradley, were placed in the starting lineup at the same time.Regardless of this set of starting offensive capabilities, the defensive end really makes Donovan feel a headache.It's really too strong!The backcourt defense formed by James and Avery Bradley, although the strength of the latter has dropped a lot due to injuries, is enough for Westbrook and An Luo to drink a pot.What's more, there is Danny Green watching on the front line.It is really not easy for the Thunder to fulfill their harsh words before the game.

Donovan did not adjust his own starting lineup. Westbrook and Anlo are still partnered. Robertson is still in the third position, Gallinari is in the fourth position, and Adams is in the inside.Compared with the Lakers, the Thunder's defense is indeed worse.Although An Luo and Robertson's front line defense is not inferior to the Lakers, but the help that can be provided in other positions is limited.

Adams and McKee went to the middle circle to start the jump ball, and the latter easily passed the ball to Davis.I have to say that this guy's physical fitness is really enviable, but his brain often short-circuits during games.If it is normal, the achievement must be far beyond this.

The ball was brought to the top of the arc by James.In the Lakers lineup, James played at the No. [-] position.A player like him is equally lethal in any position on the court.But Westbrook is uncomfortable!His height, wingspan and physical fitness are absolutely invincible at the No. [-], but it is really tricky to face James.

Of course, Westbrook can still create some difficulties for James.After all, his speed and agility still have the upper hand. As long as he does not slack off and take the risk of stealing, he can still occupy a favorable position, and the defense will not have too many problems.

However, the Lakers are obviously not prepared to let James go to the front line.After all, he is getting older and it is the regular season again. James only needs to do what a number one should do.

Davis pulled directly outside the three-point line, and McGee also took advantage of the opportunity to go outside the free throw line, made a pick-and-roll for James, and successfully covered the latter to kill the penalty area.The Thunder immediately switched defenses, Adams stepped to the basket in two steps, seized the position, raised his hands high, and blocked the space for James to make a layup.

However, James did not choose to end the offense himself.He lobbed the ball over Adams' head to McGee, who caught the ball and turned around, took Westbrook to the left, turned back immediately, hooked the ball with his right hand, and scored the ball.

McGee may not be the first choice for James to pass the ball. After all, Davis has already settled outside the three-point line, and the opportunity has come out.However, the Thunder's defensive strategy is obviously to double-team Davis.Gallinari defended close to him, and Robertson followed closely, staring at him.Once Davis is caught in a double-team, he doesn't have James' proficient passing ability.

After the ball was scored, Adams immediately retreated beyond the bottom line and started serving.

Westbrook advanced with the ball, remembering Donovan's instructions in his heart. While maintaining an extremely fast advancement speed, he was always looking at the positions of An Luo and Gallinari from the corner of his eye.

In Donovan's offensive tactics, all An Luo needs to do is shoot and shoot three-pointers.During training in the afternoon, Donovan told An Luo to let him go up no matter what opportunity or situation, as long as An Luo thinks it is okay, he will resolutely shoot!This is not only the trust that An Luo's stable performance has brought to Donovan for a long time, but also an attempt by Donovan to actively seize the initiative of the game.As long as An Luo makes a few three-pointers from outside the three-point line, the Lakers' defense will press outward.At that time, Thunder's opportunity came out.

Therefore, in many cases, what the fans see is not the real intention of the head coach when arranging strategies and tactics.Donovan did not pin his hope of winning on An Luo. After all, everyone knows An Luo's ability, and Vogel must have prepared corresponding countermeasures.Therefore, he must find a second point that can contribute points stably.

An Luo was faster than Westbrook, and he rushed directly towards the right corner.The Lakers defensive player standing in front of him is Bradley, a former first-team defensive player.An Luo has played in this league for four years and has encountered many defensive players, but Bradley feels different to him.

Bradley is half a head shorter than An Luo, but his wingspan is terrifying, and his speed is not slow.He doesn't always give people a very strong sense of oppression like James, nor is he as suffocating as Leonard's "death coiling", but he is always attached to An Luo's side, even An Luo When Luo used his teammates to cover, he was able to return to the best defensive position in the shortest time.It gave An Luo the feeling that this guy was a brown candy that he couldn't get rid of.

However, An Luo still received the ball from Westbrook.With Gallinari's cover, he took the first step to get stuck in the position, then turned around with his back and carried Bradley into it.Bradley's core strength is very good, especially the lower body strength, which is quite good, but after all, it is a person who has been injured, and he is a little overwhelmed by An Luo.

An Luo, who took advantage of the advantage, naturally took advantage of the victory to pursue, pushing Bradley all the way to the elbow area.Of course, he didn't use all his strength to push the opponent. At this time, using all his strength may make his situation very passive.After approaching the free throw line, An Luo slammed Bradley away, then turned his feet, exerted strength with both feet, turned over and made a jumper, and scored the ball.

After the goal was scored, the Thunder fans at the scene gave An Luo quite warm cheers, but he didn't look particularly happy.

The Lakers' defense is indeed strong.After all, when An Luo started to fight with his back, it was when his offense was particularly difficult.Bradley never gave him a chance to shoot a three-pointer. More importantly, when An Luo obviously pressed Bradley to hit the basket, other Lakers players did not rush to help defend. Neither gave the Thunder an easy chance to score.

It seems that tonight will definitely be another tough battle!
(End of this chapter)