The world of basketball

Chapter 52

The Thunder is still a bit difficult this year. They sent melons during the offseason, but they left Paul George, the league's number one player who wanted to play for the Lakers.

Their four-game losing streak at the beginning made the Thunder fans feel a bit cold, but as Big Westbrook and Paul George gradually recovered their form, and coupled with the comeback of the Thunder's true core Robertson, the Thunder played vigorously.

But the wild west is terrible. With the stable Spurs occupying the third place all the year round, the Nuggets have emerged suddenly, the Jazz has accumulated a lot of money, and the Pelicans have died in the top three, thus occupying six playoff spots, seventh to No.12. The difference in records is not too big. They are the Lakers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Grizzlies, um, they are all fighting for the playoff tickets. Every game of each team is very important. .

"Good morning, netizens. Welcome to the NBA regular season game where the Spurs are at home against the Thunder. I am Wang Meng. I am very happy to invite Teacher Su Qun and Guoguo to watch the game with you again." Wang Meng said.

Well, I don't know how the director arranged it. It seems that these three partners talk about every Spurs game.

The Spurs still use the original starting lineup-Mu Xiaobei, Aldridge, Kuzma, Walker, Mudiay.

The Thunder also use the original starters-Adams, Grant, Paul George, Robertson, Westbrook.

The starting lineups of both sides have good defense. The Spurs mainly rely on team defense and rotation, while the Thunder rely more on individual defense.

Westbrook is a superstar with relatively few defenses in the first position. Needless to say, Robertson is definitely the main contender for the best defensive player. Needless to say, Pickle's defense is also an absolute top defensive player on the wing. , Grant's long hands, long legs and fast speed can defend most of the four positions, but his strength is relatively weak. Adams in the fifth position, um, has no problems other than being slow.

Coupled with the Spurs' slow pace, this game may not be played so well, and the score may not be so high.

The two sides jumped the ball, Mu Xiaobei won the ball for the Spurs by virtue of his height, and Mudiay held the ball to organize in the half court.

The Spurs must play tactics for the first ball, and try to score the first ball as much as possible. Popovich has strict requirements on the success rate of the first ball in the opening game.

Ade received the ball in a low position, and Mu Xiaobei still pulled it out, but Adams did not come out with Mu Xiaobei, but signaled Grant to defend Mu Xiaobei from the outside, while he guarded the basket by himself.

There was a problem with communication. Taking advantage of this time, Ade had already given the ball to Mu Xiaobei. Mu Xiaobei shot a three-pointer directly from the top of the arc, and the Spurs took the lead to open the situation.

"Good ball Mu Xiaobei, really, the Spurs' lineup is really fast. It has been relatively mature in less than a season. Of course, this has a certain relationship with the Spurs' style of play." Wang Meng said.

"The main reason is that Popovich didn't choose the style of play based on the star, but chose the star because of the style of play. I think this is the main reason why the Spurs can run in faster." Su Qun said.

Thunder's style of play is like their name, as fast as thunder and lightning!The most important thing is that the advancement speed of the core of their team, Westbrook, is too abnormal.

Last season, Westbrook was always held in a meeting, and he would be accused of his fondness for stats, but in fact, Westbrook's power to grab rebounds in the backcourt and advance to the frontcourt to directly attack the basket is really strong.

Their offensive position can also play well, Westbrook holds the ball in the high position, Adams made a high position screen for Westbrook, then Westbrook used the screen to attack the basket down, and Adams followed Westbrook step by step.

Adams and Westbrook's pick-and-roll is the most conventional weapon of the Thunder, just like Harden and Capela's pick-and-roll last year, it is one of the most familiar scenes for Thunder fans.

Mu Xiaobei has also studied it, but there is really no good way, because Westbrook's impact on the basket is too strong, and Adams is very sure whether it is a cake-eating alley-oop or a half-block throw.

Popovich held a meeting before the game and said that to deal with this, Mu Xiaobei should not switch defenses, but just shrink to the basket to give Westbrook shooting space. If both Westbrook and Adams invaded closer to the basket, Then let Kuzma or Adelaide come over to help defend, and Jeremy Lin or Mudiay, who are responsible for defending Westbrook, will defend the people who are emptied.

Mu Xiaobei shrank to a relatively deep position under the basket. Instead of passing the ball, Westbrook made a small throw with his left hand and hit the board, opening the situation for the Thunder.

The Thunder defense communicated very clearly this time, that is, Adams was in the penalty area and Grant was in the high post.

Mu Xiaobei made a pick-and-roll for Mudiay from beyond the three-point line at the top of the arc, and then went down. Mudiay hit the ground and passed the ball to Mu Xiaobei. North is one-on-one for Grant.

But Adams did not go out with Ade, but blocked Mu Xiaobei's way to the basket with his generous body, and also blocked the route of Mu Xiaobei's pass to Ade.

However, at this time, Kuzma who slipped to the baseline was seen by Mu Xiaobei. Mu Xiaobei hit the ground and passed the ball to Kuzma, but the defensive pressure of Pickled Pepper was very heavy. Pass the ball out to Walker who cuts in the middle.

Walker points out and finds Adelaide who is already open. Adelaide makes a three-pointer at a 45-degree angle.

shhhhh--

throw in.

The attack took 18 seconds.

"Patience, really patient, just playing with you in a leisurely manner, all five players participated in one attack, Mudiay was the starting point, Mu Xiaobei supported, Kuzma and Walker controlled the defense and moved the ball, Ah Virtue completes the end." Wang Meng said.

"This kind of offense with the obvious characteristics of the Spurs is actually the epitome of the Spurs' offense since the second half of this season. Although their players are young, they are not competitive with their teammates and can do well. to share the ball," Su Qun said.

Paul George received the ball, dribbled twice and played Kuzma with a back single at the horns, turned around and made a shot.

This is a personal ability that can’t be helped. Popovich just doesn’t double-team this kind of ball, and just makes you shoot difficult shots. Even Jordan can’t always score this kind of ball that has been sealed to the face. A difficult post-up singles fadeaway jumper, right?

Well, I hope that at this time, no one suddenly jumped out and said, "I'm sorry, he really can get in all the time."

Lonnie Walker dribbled the ball for a long time but failed to break through Robertson's defense, so he could only give a high profile to Mu Xiaobei, who was facing Adams in the low post.

It is really hard work to play against Adams, because this former Mamba can consume a lot of energy on both the offensive and defensive ends.

Mu Xiaobei played with his back and stood still for a long time. Suddenly he turned around and raised the ball high, shaking Adams away. Mu Xiaobei felt that the shaking was not thorough, so he pulled it back. After pounced.

Then, Mu Xiaobei took a step forward, flicked the ball lightly and scored!
This Shanghai dance move is really a tried and tested method, and it works every time.

(End of this chapter)