roccoschili Chapter 698 The 3-Pointer Comes Again
Chapter 698 The 3-Pointer Comes Again
Chapter 698
The game has evolved in the opposite direction to the modern style of basketball.The more aggressive defense on both sides makes the players need to spend more physical strength and energy in each offensive and defensive round.The scores of the two sides rose slowly, and the points obtained through free throws accounted for a large proportion.This feeling reminds me of the Finals between the Lakers and Celtics in 08 and 10.Of course, its intensity is naturally worse.But in this era, it is already very good to be able to play the feeling of ten years ago.
It's worth mentioning that the Raptors and Thunder have more defensive pressure than they did ten years ago.During the yellow-green battle, the Lakers and Celtics didn't do much to defend the offense from beyond the three-point line.Of course, the three-point line wasn't particularly popular back then.In that case, the defense inside the three-point line will be more concentrated, and the defensive effect will be more significant.Now, the Raptors and Thunder must start to deploy defenses from the three-point line, and this distance will be even farther.This makes the space on the court bigger and more difficult to defend.However, judging from the performance during this period, the two sides have done very well.
In contrast, the Thunder has been more affected.The Thunder's fast pace is hard to come by when the game is intermittently blown by whistles.Furthermore, the opponent frequently uses physical confrontation to create fouls, making them hesitate when defending.This gave the Raptors many easier scoring opportunities, and the situation of the game began to change accordingly.
Donovan felt the change in the game.Now the tempo is becoming more and more unfavorable to the Thunder, and if it continues for a while, the situation will become even more difficult.There have been a lot of fouls on the Thunder's main players, especially Paul George, who is in charge of defending Leonard, and Grant, who is in charge of defending Siakam. They have been blown three times.Of course, it wasn't easy for the other party either.Donovan decisively called a timeout, allowing his players to rest for a while before making any necessary adjustments.
"Guys, we've got to get back to our game. First, we've got to get up to speed. We've got to keep running, we've got to screen each other, we've got to get out of the way. And second, we've got to get the ball rolling, too much. It's easy to get caught in a double-team with the ball..."
"The pressure on the opponent on the defensive end cannot be reduced! But we must pay attention to controlling our own fouls. Of course, physical confrontation is a must, and everyone pays attention to their movements..."
Donovan did not arrange specific tactics, and time was limited. He must let the players know which direction they should go as quickly as possible.This is Donovan's style. Most of the time, he will not arrange specific tactics.After all, the Thunder have a brain on the court, and Westbrook knows exactly what to do.
However, when the players re-entered the court, Donovan still grabbed An Luo's jersey and explained a few words to him.
After coming back from the timeout, the Thunder accelerated their speed.Whether it's running off the ball or covering each other between teammates, it is more in line with the Thunder that people have seen for a long time.
An Luo still shuttled through the crowd around the three-point line and the bottom line.The Raptors' defensive strategy against him has not changed. As soon as he catches the ball, the opponent will immediately post one more person.However, it is not an easy task to completely restrict a top off-ball three-point shooter.
Westbrook used Adams' screen to break into the lane, but the Raptors switched as fast as they could and blocked his layup.Westbrook chose to pass the ball to Adams, who was still beyond the free throw line, and then stood under the basket himself, stuck in front of Gasol Jr.
Adams' support with the ball at the top of the arc is already a more conventional tactic in the Thunder.Thunder players are quite familiar with this tactic.Just when Westbrook passed the ball back to Adams, An Luo had already started walking towards the basket from the left corner.At this time, Westbrook mentioned that the left elbow area made a pick-and-roll for An Luo to cover him from Danny Green's entanglement.The Raptors didn't switch defenses, after all, Gasol couldn't keep up with An Luo's speed.Danny Green bypassed Westbrook directly and reposted towards An Luo at an extremely fast speed.However, the cover provided by Thunder to An Luo did not end.After getting rid of Danny Green, An Luo turned back and ran to the left at a 45-degree angle, and made an off-ball screen for Paul George.The latter took advantage of An Luo's cover to step outside the three-point line, ready to catch the ball.
Paul George's action instantly attracted the Raptors' defensive attention.Both Danny Green and Leonard began to lean towards him.But Adams didn't pass the ball to Paul George, but feinted. When Leonard moved in Paul George's direction, he turned his wrist and passed the ball to An Luo.
I have to say that Adams' ability to read the game is quite good.If the ball is in the hands of Paul George, Danny Green and Leonard will double-team it immediately.But passing it to An Luo is different. The opponent's attention is not on him at that moment, and coupled with An Luo's frighteningly fast shot speed, the chances will be much better.
Sure enough, after An Luo received the ball, although Leonard who was closest to him immediately turned back, he was still a step late.An Luo caught the ball and shot it, and in the blink of an eye, the basketball flew towards the basket.
"Shh..."
The ball went in!An Luo made his first three-pointer in the second quarter.
Of course, this is not his last three-pointer.About 30 seconds later, An Luo once again got a shot through the cover of his teammates and his own running position.Westbrook passed the ball into his hands immediately, and An Luo caught the ball and shot it, hollow into the net, all in one go.
After two three-pointers, the Thunder fans have begun to get excited.An Luo's three-pointer, Westbrook's dunk, and Paul George's chasing cap can all easily ignite the arena.Every night, An Luo will dedicate one three-pointer after another to the fans in this arena.But in this quarter of the game, An Luo never showed it.Although people are satisfied with his defense, everyone will be more or less disappointed.
However, now An Luo's three-pointer is back.
This is great news for the Thunder.As long as An Luo can score from outside the three-point line, the space inside will be stretched.Westbrook and Paul George get more opportunities.On the contrary, when the two opened up, An Luo's situation on the outside line would become easier.
(End of this chapter)