Scott had done a lot of preparation before the series began.

As the best coach of the past and a member of the Lakers' Meritorious Championships, his coaching ability is unquestionable.

His creative use of Kobe Bryant, his development of Love, and the complete release of Leonard on the offensive end this season have rejuvenated the Lakers.

It's just that Scott still can't escape his point guard + power forward + defensive center + defensive forward trap, and the Lakers' lack of bench has caused the team to consume a little too much in the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.

The Thunder only exerted a little force, and the Lakers were a little overwhelmed.

During the pause, Scott couldn't find any good way to deal with it for the time being, after all, he didn't have any cards in his hand.

With the defensive strategy formulated before the game, Scott thought that at least he would have a chance to steal one game in the first game and steal the home advantage.

Who knew that his strategy did work, but only won half the game.

If the NBA only played two quarters, the Lakers might have won, but unfortunately there was still a second half.

After the start of the third quarter, the Thunder's counterattack was really as fast as thunder and lightning, and the Lakers couldn't keep up with the rhythm of a series of three-point shots.

But Scott also knows that the root cause lies in the Thunder's defense.

If the Lakers can't crack the Thunder's defense, they'll be beaten passively.

At this time, it is not the coach's strategy that depends on it, but the player's individual ability.

"Kobe, Wyan, get the ball in, get the ball in! Don't give your opponent a chance to fight back! Don't give them a chance to fight back! Slow down and beat it back little by little! ”

Scott gave the most reasonable solution, which was to rely on the team's two superstars, Leonard and Kobe, to use their individual abilities to save the situation.

The timeout ended, and both sides returned to the field.

Li Liang put Durant and Westbrook aside and said: "The Lakers will definitely play alone later, either Kobe or Leonard, Kobe will hand it over to Kevin, and I will deal with Leonard." ”

Duran nodded, Li Liang's judgment had always been accurate.

Donovan didn't say anything during the pause, and the real command still depends on Li Liang.

Westbrook is a little confused, one of you two is against Kobe Bryant, and the other is against Leonard, so what should I do? What does it mean to pull me over without giving me a task?

Li Liang immediately said to Westbrook: "Don't make trouble, don't rush in to help defense, don't give the Lakers a chance to shoot three points from the outside." ”

Westbrook's defense is actually very good, and he started out as a defense at UCLA.

It's just that after arriving at the Thunder, some defensive habits have not become very good, and they especially like to stick inside.

Sometimes the effect is really good, the defense is active, the opponent is slapped with a big hat, and you can get a rebound or something.

But on the whole, it will lead to the situation of leakage of people from the outside line.

With the first defensive style, Westbrook will have more highlight-reel moments and better stats.

But for the team's defensive system, it is actually a kind of destruction.

And the second way of defense, basically there will be no good-looking data, silent dedication, and no highlight shots.

But if he can stick to this defensive style, with Li Liang, Durant and Robertson standing behind him, the Thunder's backcourt defense will definitely be much stronger.

Li Liang doesn't expect Westbrook to be like this for the rest of his life, how he likes to play is his own business, but for the championship in this playoffs, he will definitely push Westbrook to the front line of defense, and if he can't push it, he will use a hair dryer to blow his head bald.

Fortunately, Westbrook still agrees with Li Liang's "suggestion".

Back on the court, the Lakers began to attack the Thunder's defense with the battering rams of Kobe Bryant and Leonard.

Lefu no longer mentions blocking and dismantling, there is no point, he will only bring the defense over and create a trap.

Kobe Bryant also no longer controlled the ball, but sank to the low post to eat Durant one-on-one.

Lian is quite old, can he still eat?

Kobe Bryant's first single eat in the third quarter, repeated feints after receiving the ball with his back to the baseline, and a difficult backward jump shot!

The ball was a little less powerful and hit the edge of the basket, and Li Liang grabbed the backcourt rebound.

Westbrook had already rushed to the front, and Li Liang made a long pass to Wei Shao, who was in the lead.

If there's one benefit to staying on the perimeter, it's that Westbrook can be the first to rush forward and put himself up front.

In the past, when Ibaka was there, Ibaka lacked the ability to pass, but now with Li Liang, Westbrook can charge more often.

After receiving the ball, Wei Shao was unstoppable, and he held the ball to kill the basket and dunk with a tomahawk!

The energy center is jubilant, and Scott is supporting.

Kobe Bryant is still old after all.

I got old once in 12 years, and I relied on Li Liang to return to the light in 13 years.

Now it's finally unsupportable.

Subsequently, Bryant once again held the ball to the basket, and under the Thunder's dense defense, the layup caused Durant's foul.

On the free throw line, two free throws, Kobe Bryant is really difficult to score.

And Leonard is even worse, Li Liang is not polite to him at all.

As soon as you get the ball in the attack, you can directly launch the skill [Death Winding], and then talk about it when you break one.

It's not enough to break once, next, Leonard gets the ball again, and Li Liang launches [Death Wrap] again!

The two skill opportunities were all used on Leonard in a short period of time, in order to blow his confidence in attacking with the ball.

Leonard's ball-handling is no longer the same as when he first entered the league, he has improved a lot, and he has become one of the most efficient attackers in the league in the regular season.

But the playoffs are different from the regular season, and Li Liang's defense is also different from others.

In the past, Leonard was born to break others, but now he was broken by Li Liang continuously, doesn't this doubt life?

The Thunder relied on steel-like defense, lightning-fast counterattacks, and beat the Lakers again 10:2 after the timeout.

The Lakers only relied on Kobe Bryant's free throws to score two points, and the difference in strength between the two teams was highlighted.

And the real problem of the Lakers is not offense, but defense.

Li Liang and Durant's offense feels better and better, with Durant's ball as the mainstay, supplemented by Li Liang's strategy, cover, fixed-point shooting, and the down and outside cutting after blocking and dismantling, plus Westbrook's counterattack and waiting for an opportunity to break through, the Lakers' defense was a mess.

Scott's defensive strategy, which began to be planned and developed in the regular season, only took effect for half a game before it was declared bankrupt.

After playing more than half of the third quarter, the Thunder stretched the difference to about 20 points, and Donovan replaced Li Liang and Durant, allowing Westbrook to continue the game on the court with a bench, and transitioned to the fourth quarter.

On the whole, the quality of the Thunder's bench is in the middle of the league, not counting Li Liang.

The strengths and weaknesses of the players are too obvious, and the shortcomings are often fatal.

But the Lakers' bench has an eye on the league, and that's downstream.

Their bench is stronger, and they won't fight the Rockets to Game 7 in the first round.

After the rest of the two big brothers, Westbrook was finally released and could attack with the ball at full strength.

When Westbrook doesn't shoot and has plenty of stamina to kill the inside, the opponent is very difficult to stop.

Thanks to the blessing of the last round of the regular season, the Thunder's physical fitness and physical condition are very good.

Westbrook not only did not let the Lakers close the score, but led the bench to continue to talk about the point difference.

Durant and Li Liang didn't have to play this break, so they didn't have to play in the fourth quarter.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Scott replaced his main players and announced that he had abandoned the game and entered garbage time.

This garbage time came a little later than the previous round against the Grizzlies.

In the end, the Thunder defeated the Lakers with a 121-101, 20-point advantage in the first game of the semifinals.

Li Liang and Durant scored 24 and 22 points in the third quarter, and Li Liang also dished out five assists, grabbed 10 rebounds and grabbed three steals.

After the game, Li Liang attended a press conference with Durant and Westbrook.

Li Liang, who has always been outspoken, said bluntly, "We will end the series in the fourth game, in Los Angeles." ”