Chapter 761 Running In

In half a quarter, the two sides quickly showed people the different playing styles of the two teams on both offensive and defensive ends.

The Spurs are still regular, each tactic is in place, and the combination of speed and slowness is good, but Parker's state has declined sharply, and it is difficult to lead the rhythm.

The Thunder should be free and unrestrained, but only half a quarter, freedom can be seen, and there is no sign of unrestrained for the time being.

This is also a point that Donovan is very troubled at the moment. With three players in hand, there are too many tactics that can be played around them.

The result is that everything is like a try, and it feels like a waste to let whoever takes the lead and whoever takes the second place.

Therefore, the Thunder played very freely, but did not completely "turn". This is also a problem that teams with new lineups will face.

They still need grinding.

Soon, the more proficient Spurs gradually began to gain an advantage.

Wiggins was not afraid to face Durant in the offense, catching the ball and directly hitting a three-pointer.

In the summer, under the guidance of Popovich, Wiggins conducted a lot of three-point shooting training.

The bad old man said every day, "I don't like three-pointers", but he is more proficient in using three-pointers than anyone else.

But Westbrook missed a three-pointer with an open shot, and was beeped by Li Liang again.

Then, Wiggins caused another foul by Adams in the offense, and made two free throws from the free throw line.

Li Liang missed a mid-range hit from the outside line, and Ade made a mid-range hit after receiving the ball from the outside line.

The Spurs played more and more smoothly, while the Thunder played a little sluggishly.

Soon, the Spurs took a 14:6 lead, widening the point difference to 8 points.

This is a bit of a surprise.

Donovan called a timeout.

As the saying goes, one monk carries water to drink, two monks carry water to drink, and three monks have no water to drink.

The Thunder have three offensive engines on the field, but they don't know how to play.

Durant wanted to attack by himself, but felt that it was not good to grab the ball like this. After scoring one, he started to pass.

Li Liang thought to himself, this is only the first quarter, why should I be in a hurry, you guys fight, I will cover you.

Westbrook wanted to fight by himself, but in the end he always didn't get in, if he didn't get in, he didn't get in, and he was always scolded.

So Westbrook, who has always been unrestrained and bold, hesitated a little.

The most feared thing in a basketball game is hesitation. Every action and tactic is completed in an instant, and the opportunity is always fleeting.

What's more, the opponent is a sophisticated team like the Spurs.

Although the Spurs also have new members joining, Alder and Wiggins played very decisively.

It can be seen that Popovich's arrangement is to let these two rookies take the lead, and a few old people do the auxiliary work.

Wiggins has obviously improved a lot in all aspects after honing in the past year, coupled with the guidance of Popovich in the summer.

And Adelaide has maintained a good state, coupled with personality reasons, it seems that he is still very suitable for the new team.

The Thunder is different here. Donovan does not have such a high authority. During the timeout, he looked at the Big Three in a daze.

"Speak, you're stupid." Li Liang reminded Donovan not to dawdle.

Donovan was also very conflicted. Is it true that according to what Mike Brown said, Li Liang will always adapt to any arrangement?

To be honest, he was inaccurate, even the boss liked Li Liang very much, and he had no reason not to use Li Liang as the core to create tactics.

But what about Durant? Let him run without the ball? What about Westbrook?

Do you still need to arrange low singles for him, or do you need to use double screens?

These problems that should have been solved in the preseason, in the regular season, Donovan still didn't figure it out.

After all, he just started taking over the Thunder this year, coaching an NBA professional team for the first time.

As a college-born academic coach, Donovan's ability is no problem, as evidenced by the NCAA championship.

And this guy is also from Kentucky. He worked as an assistant coach in Kentucky back then, and he was able to get a little alumni relationship with Li Liang.

In terms of character, he is not the kind of strong coach who can overwhelm the star. In the face of a multi-headed relationship, he always wants to maintain a balance, and it is best to stay out of it.

His coaching style is conducive to keeping his handsome position, but it is not conducive to exerting his maximum combat power.

Therefore, after pausing to arrange a pass, nothing was arranged.

Still some motivational words and some adjustments on the defensive end.

Offensively...you figure it out.

It doesn't matter to Li Liang, anyway, the game is still long.

As for the coach being hesitant?

It doesn't matter, you will know when you play with me a lot, don't hesitate, there is nothing to hesitate.

Give me the ball, it will be the best choice.

The game will prove everything.

...

Returning to the game, it was Durant who broke the deadlock.

Adams' screen, Li Liang's high-post support pass, passed to Durant, Durant caught the ball and made an emergency stop jump shot, scoring two points.

Li Liang thought, you just shoot, what are you pretending to pass the ball, you are not good at passing the ball, why bother.

Durant sometimes falls into the "I'm going to pass" kind of deliberate feeling. He is not the kind of natural passer.

A natural passer, at the moment before he chooses to pass, he doesn't know what to pass, how to pass, and whom to pass to.

When the opportunity comes, it will naturally spread.

And a deliberate passer means that everyone in the world except himself knows that he is going to pass.

Like Corvo in some situations, you're a fan sitting on the couch watching TV, you know this guy is going to pass, and he doesn't want to shoot himself because he doesn't want to be thought, "He can't pass."

Durant sometimes falls into this vicious circle.

Obviously, when he starts shooting, he's more like Durant.

Subsequently, the Thunder completed a successful defense.

As a kid from Kentucky, Donovan is naturally a believer in man-to-man defense, which made Li Liang feel very comfortable and adapted to the Thunder's defensive system.

The only thing that made Li Liang feel uncomfortable was that he was going to accept the backcourt rebound, but Westbrook rushed out and snatched the rebound...

Okay, you grab it, and if you grab it, quickly launch a quick counterattack.

As a result, Westbrook, who got the rebound, did not advance quickly, but passed halftime with a normal rhythm.

This offense doesn't feel good. Although Westbrook is a point guard and has a lot of assists in each game, he does have a gap with top point guards in terms of control of the rhythm of the game.

With this kind of ball, if you switch to Paul or Nash, you will definitely have a fast break.

"Why don't you go fast!"

Li Liang was about to run, but finally passed by Westbrook, and beeped at him again.

Westbrook is a little speechless, so you are pushing back?

Westbrook has his own ideas. He just pushed a counterattack without success because the opponent is the Spurs.

The Spurs team retreated extremely quickly, and it was difficult to counterattack quickly.

Durant is not a fast-break forward. In many cases, the Thunder's fast-break is caused by Westbrook himself as a forward.

Westbrook didn't speak, and continued to organize the offense patiently, passing the ball continuously from the outside, but the ball was interfered by Green and went out of bounds.

The Thunder still had the ball and continued to organize. As a result, the Spurs defended very well and once again destroyed the Thunder's pass.

Li Liang became a little anxious and took the initiative to pick and roll Westbrook. Westbrook took the ball and walked in the middle, and then passed the ball to Li Liang.

Li Liang faced Ade lightly, feinted, and then walked to the left to kill. After throwing Ade a body away, he made a 45-degree short-range emergency stop jumper and hit two points on the board.

At 14:10, Thunder caught up.

The Thunder's offense is still slightly fragmented, and Westbrook's intention to pass the pick-and-roll just now is too obvious.

There is still need for more running-in between the three.

But everything is changing for the better.

All three of them are top players in the NBA. They all have their own playing styles and habits, and they know how to adapt to the game and their teammates.

Afterwards, the Spurs missed another outside shot. This time Li Liang grabbed a rebound with his big elbow, scaring Westbrook away.

After Li Liang got the rebound, he immediately gave it to Westbrook and shouted "Run!"

Then Li Liang accelerated in the middle and went straight to the basket. Westbrook dribbled near the three-point line and made a lob pass to the inside.

The Spurs returned to the defense really quickly. Adelaide and Duncan were already waiting for Li Liang under the basket. The two surrounded Li Liang and covered him.

Although Li Liang jumped up to catch the ball, if he didn't handle the ball quickly, it would take three seconds.

Li Liang's handling of the ball is very simple. He didn't try hard to find the cap, but took a step away from the dribble, then turned over and made a jump shot.

A zero-degree jumper, the shot was crisp and neat, and he scored two points.

Only two points away.

When returning to defense, Li Liang told Westbrook, "A fast break doesn't have to be a direct layup. I have my own way when I get to the basket!"

Li Liang started bragging again, you haven't shown any fast break ability before.

But there is no way, Karl Malone may be the power forward with the strongest fast break ability in NBA history.

A summer of study can always learn something.