First in scoring

Chapter 461. Soaring!

The Thunder called a timeout and entered the official timeout period. After 6 minutes and 47 seconds, the score was 17 to 22 and they were 5 points behind.

Head coach Scott Brooks has a grim expression now.

He formulated a very strict defensive plan for Zhang Yang, and the players executed it well. They blocked all three-pointers and mid-range shots. Zhang Yang only made one three-pointer at the beginning after taking advantage of a screen from the wing and going around the top arc with Gasol's low post assist. He didn't make any regular shots afterwards, missed one mid-range shot, and made two free throws after a strong breakthrough inside. In nearly 1 minutes, he prevented Zhang Yang from making only one of two shots in the positional battle. His defensive plan was considered to have been completed.

但张杨开局和刚刚这两次追身三分都进了！4投3中，其中三分球3中3，加上2中2的罚球，半节11分！
The other four Lakers players also scored 4 points by taking advantage of Zhang Yang's containment in the positional battle...

The players executed the defensive plan very well, but failed to defend against the opponent, which means that the defensive plan was wrong!

This made Brooks more uncomfortable than his players' execution errors.

His on-the-spot response - using the starting lineup to fight the opponent to the death, in order to hold on and narrow the score difference and curb the opponent's momentum at the beginning... also failed. The opponent still opened the score difference to 5 points, forcing him to call a timeout! The opponent is now in high spirits!
Pre-game preparation, on-the-spot response, Brooks was not good at anything tonight. Why do I say "again"?

Because he has been like this in the playoffs. In the series against the Clippers, facing the explosive Paul, he failed to make any effective containment throughout the whole process even though the team had such good defensive resources, allowing Paul to shine throughout the game except for the key balls that he was not good at. The reversal was almost entirely due to the two MVP-level players, Durant and Harden.

However, the Thunder players did not blame the head coach for the lag at all, as they were used to it.

Is there anything worse than leading the Heat 2-0 in the finals and then being reversed by the Heat 2-4 and losing the championship?
更早之前，11年第二轮打马刺队客场拿下首胜、最终1比4出局；12年西决客场1比1马刺队、最终2比4出局……每次对手表现超出预期、对手做出有效临场应变，布鲁克斯从战术角度都无法有效应对，雷霆队能从10年首轮游、到11年打进第二轮、12年打进西决、上赛季进总决赛，纯靠选秀选得好，哈登成长为顶级大核、杜兰特成长为超级得分手、伊巴卡也成为了一防大佬。

Look, Harden and Durant are not focusing on the fact that the team is 5 points behind due to the head coach's wrong decision.

After returning to the bench, Durant said to Harden: "Jack's three-pointer was really unexpected."

Harden responded: "Yeah, I don't understand why he would shoot like that at this time?"

Durant: "Yeah, his three-point concept is really exaggerated...huh?"

Durant looked at Harden, whose eyes were clear, just like a college student who had just left campus... Never mind, this little brother's focus has always been rather special, but precisely because his thinking is easily divergent, this guy has a natural advantage in relieving stress, which even Durant, Bookbag Durant, is somewhat envious of.

What he is concerned about now is relatively conventional - the undefendable nature of Zhang Yang's two chase-up three-pointers.

As a high-difficulty shooter, he understood Zhang Yang's idea of ​​chasing shot - I raise the difficulty to the highest level, higher than the limit of what the defender can do, which means that no one can interfere with me.

It's really exaggerated!

...

On the other side of the bench, Budenholzer was grinning from ear to ear. In the first away game, he had seized the initiative!
After he made the lineup adjustment, he made a tactical arrangement based on Zhang Yang's hot three-point shooting at the beginning of the game. He did not force Zhang Yang to follow the tactics, but just arranged it that way. If Zhang Yang really wanted to follow his own temperament, he would definitely support it.

In the 12 playoffs, Popovich never restricted Zhang Yang's playing style. He allowed Zhang Yang to do whatever he wanted, just like the physically powerful Ginobi. Zhang Yang always made the right decisions, at least eight times out of ten.

Budenholzer naturally chose to continue his teacher's way of using Zhang Yang, which has been verified to be correct.

So, Zhang Yang chose to play tactical cooperation honestly at the beginning, using his own restraining power to help his teammates get 11 points in half a quarter. When the opportunity came, he suddenly made a pass to the opponent and took the initiative.

After the timeout, the Lakers replaced Nash, Zhang Yang, Wesley Johnson, Ed Davis and Jordan Hill.

The Thunder replaced the combination of Fisher, Harden, Durant, Perry Jones and Nick Collison.

The Thunder attacked, Durant singled out Wesley Johnson, took two steps to the elbow area and shot a quick stop jumper...hit! He also caused Ed Davis, who was defending, to foul, and made the free throw, 20 to 22, narrowing the gap to two points.

When it was the Lakers' turn to attack, Nash used Jordan Hill's screen to get rid of Fisher's defense, then played with a poor rhythm, passed Nick Collison who was switching defense, broke through to the right side of the free throw line and made a quick stop jump shot... and it hit!
Zhang Yang excitedly high-fived Nash when retreating, and the three veterans were in great shape!

If he had to say what he was worried about in this Western Conference Finals, it would be the condition of the three veterans. After all, one is about to turn 34, one is about to turn 36, and one is already 40 years old. These three old men are still their tactical core. Their tactics are almost always initiated or transferred by these three people. These three veterans can directly determine their performance.

However, the three veterans did not disappoint him. The four-day rest not only restored the physical strength consumed in the second round battle with the Spurs, but also made sure they were well prepared for the game!

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When the Thunder attacked, Durant continued to play one-on-one. Harden came out from the wing with the help of a screen, went around behind Durant, received the pass from Durant, and hit a three-pointer!
23 to 24, the difference narrowed to 1 point!
Durant excitedly bumped chests with Harden to celebrate. He was right to support the third brother!
When Westbrook is the main point guard on the outside, he either keeps shooting with the ball in his hands, or just stands aside when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. At most, he will go to grab offensive rebounds. As for off-ball activities such as running, shooting and cutting, he basically can't do it. When he receives the ball in a wide open space, he won't shoot, but will continue to rush into the crowd after receiving the ball... When he plays without the ball, he basically plays a negative role in terms of the completeness of the team's tactical execution.

Harden is different. When he has the ball, he is a top-notch core player who can make breakthroughs, shoot and pass, and has comprehensive abilities. Although his off-ball skills cannot be called top-notch, he is also first-rate, and he can cut into the basket, go around the pole and shoot from long range.

It was the Lakers' turn to attack. Nash made a pick-and-roll and passed the ball to Zhang Yang, who received the ball and attracted a double-team. He then passed the ball to Wesley Johnson on the sideline, who took a three-pointer... and missed!
Durant, who left Wesley Johnson open and stepped back to help Zhang Yang, protected the defensive rebound. The Thunder players were shocked, and the chance to overtake the score had come!
The fans at the scene were also screaming loudly, waiting for the first score lead in this Western Conference Finals, and expecting that from this lead on, they would always be in the lead in this game and even in the subsequent games.

However, Durant's third consecutive attack, his quick stop jump shot after changing direction and taking a step forward, missed!

Wesley Johnson learned from his mistakes and did a very good job of one-on-one defense in this ball. When Durant's physical strength declined and his speed slowed down during consecutive singles, he seized the opportunity to interfere!

Durant's physical strength has always been a difficult problem. He has played for 7 years and has won 4 scoring titles, but he has only scored 50+ points in a single game twice.

Continuity throughout the game and consecutive singles scoring are his weak points, which is why he is happy to have Harden take on all the responsibilities most of the time. He needs such a teammate.

The ball hit the basket and bounced out. Zhang Yang got the defensive rebound before Harden who was rushing to grab the ball, and immediately passed it to Nash to avoid Harden's pressure, and Nash counterattacked!
Zhang Yang made good use of the fast break by centers Ed Davis and Jordan Hill to contain the defense, and followed up with Nash who was at the free throw line to pass the ball back... and made another three-pointer!
27 to 23, the difference is 4 points again!
(End of this chapter)