NBA Legends Manager

Chapter 442 Advance to the Finals Again

Presti made adjustments in the second quarter. Presti will use crowd tactics to congest the restricted area. Taking advantage of the weakness of Sabonis Jr. and Westbrook’s short-range shots, they will actually have five clips and threes in the restricted area. Restricting Durant and Jordan is equivalent to disintegrating the Thunder’s pick-and-roll offensive;

There is a huge gap in the quality of shooters between the two teams. The Thunder made only 33.1% of their three-pointers in the playoffs, averaging only 7.5 three-pointers per game; the Pelicans made 41.6% of their three-pointers and averaged 16.0 three-pointers per game.

This is why Presti is so confident that the Pelicans will win. Space and shooting are the foundation of the offensive end in the small ball era. However, the Thunder's congenitally deformed starting lineup configuration makes him fall into a passive situation where space and shooting are difficult. Therefore, the Pelicans have already won at the starting line.

First up, the Pelicans defensively focused on restricting Durant from receiving the ball. Sabonis Jr. and Westbrook's mid-range shots who emptied the three-point line.

On the defensive end, the Thunder bypassed the screen and chased Curry during the pick-and-roll, encouraging Curry to break through the penalty area and challenge Jordan;

Donovan actually acquiesced to Curry's one-on-one singles, and no longer let Curry go to the right to break through to drive all his strength; the Pelicans aimed at Durant and Jordan, and all the two wings and three-pointers of the role players.

The Pelicans congested the penalty area and cut the passing line, forcing the Thunder to make two mistakes in a row. The Thunder relied on Durant to break through the basket with double screens on the line to create; the Pelicans used Curry to catch the ball without the ball to test the defense.

The Thunder stop adjustments and put a major and four majors to improve the offense: Jr. Jordan + Harden + Oladipo + Durant + Westbrook. The Thunder mainly focuses on Durant/Westbrook + Jr. pick-and-roll sudden points, and links Harden to grab three points;
The Pelicans singled out Curry to take over, singled out Harden from beyond the three-point line, and attacked the basket with the ball to compress the Thunder's defensive line.

Donovan used Oladipo + Durant + Harden + Sabonis Jr. to partner with Jordan Jr./Adams successively. The Thunder focused on high-post pick-and-rolls in the middle, and the shooters on both wings waited for them to maximize the space to end the penalty area. However, the Thunder shooters only made 12 of 1 three-pointers.Paul George led the second team to switch offenses. Antetokounmpo and Bradley counterattacked and killed, supplemented by Middleton grabbing three points. The Pelicans established a 13-point lead in the second team.

The Pelicans play Paul George + Green pick-and-roll, Paul George creates a sudden point, supplemented by Thompson chasing three points;

Presti suspended adjustments and switched back to all starters, not daring to slack off in the slightest.On the offensive end of the Pelicans, Curry singled out Westbrook or Oladipo. Once the Thunder defender bluffed to the left, Curry broke through solo to attract the defense and drive his teammates, feeding the cake to Davis or Thompson.

The Pelicans double-teamed Durant on the defensive end, Davis/Paul George/Thompson surrounded Jordan in the penalty area, and locked the key player of the Thunder;

The Thunder supported it with a tenacious penalty area rush. Durant/Westbrook + Jordan dominated the high pick-and-roll.

半场结束，鹈鹕56-44领先雷霆12分。鹈鹕投篮命中率为52.4%，三分球21中132；雷霆投篮命中率44.6%，三分球22中6。雷霆禁区得分26-19鹈鹕，鹈鹕快攻得分11-6雷霆。

In the second half, the Pelicans used Paul George as the main attacker, and Curry mainly played off the ball to avoid defensive pressure.Paul George + Davis initiated a high pick-and-roll, and Paul George used the pick-and-roll to make a mid-range shot or walk into the penalty area with the ball to transfer the defense-changing Jordan to the three-point line for a misplaced one-on-one;
The Thunder still crazily attacked and killed the Pelicans penalty area, and everyone rushed to grab offensive rebounds; on the defensive end, the two sides flanked Curry, Westbrook/Durant went around to restrict Curry from receiving the ball, and disrupted Curry's offensive rhythm with strong physical contact and fouls. The Thunder once narrowed the point difference to 8 points.

The Pelicans took turns leading the team with Curry and Paul George to consolidate the victory. Curry forced a one-on-one from outside the three-point line to test the Thunder's defensive style: to block the left, Curry broke through and fed Green;

Paul George led the second team to use pick-and-rolls in the middle to link up shooters to grab three points from the outside. The overall defense of the Thunder was helpless against Paul George and Curry. Donovan had to use new players to provide energy on the field. Adams and Grant were entrusted with important responsibilities, but the Thunder still could not improve the weak offensive firepower of their role players.

But the Thunder still didn't give up. Relying on their full fighting ability, they never fell behind too much. There was still the possibility of chasing them, and the Pelicans didn't dare to be careless.

The Pelicans resolutely focused on Curry + Green launched a high-position pick-and-roll to force Jordan to one-on-one. Once the Thunder chose to flank Curry, Green followed up to tear open the Thunder's defense.

The Pelicans used Jordan as a breakthrough point, forcing the Thunder to choose a single defense or flanking: Once the Thunder chose not to flank, Curry chased Jordan from the three-point line; once the Thunder chose to flank Curry, the Pelicans cut through the back door.

The Thunder's main player Durant used the pick-and-roll to force Davis or Curry to single out. The Pelicans restricted Durant's breakthrough and shrunk the penalty area to protect the backcourt rebounds and counterattack-the Pelicans rebounded 15-7 in the fourth quarter.

The two sides are caught in a tug-of-war of positional warfare: resolutely switch defenses infinitely, one-on-one vs. heads-up.Paul George faced Harden, and Curry and Durant were dislocated to chase each other's defensive weaknesses. The Pelicans could not further expand their lead, but the Thunder could not further narrow the point difference, and it continued until the end of the game.

整场比赛，鹈鹕投篮命中率为47.5%，三分球36中17；雷霆投篮命中率为39.8%，三分球33中13。雷霆助攻17-27鹈鹕，雷霆禁区得分58-38鹈鹕。

The natural shortcomings of the Thunder's lineup are infinitely magnified by the Pelicans on the defensive end: only Durant and Oladipo have stable three-point firepower in the Thunder's starting lineup, and Jordan lacks the ability to attack independently.

In the end, the Pelicans defeated the Thunder 112:106, swept the Thunder 4:0 in the series and advanced to the finals.

(End of this chapter)