Nowitzki and Yiyang, the two guys who once again dominated the headlines of Dallas' major newspapers and news websites. A German, a Chinese, but on the basketball court in the United States, conquered the whole world.

Nowitzki's second-highest career 48 points and Yiyang's playoff double-double as a rookie...... In the shadow of these two guys, the young Oklahoma City Thunder look so vulnerable.

In the first game, the Mavericks won by 10 points. For perhaps the first time this season, the Mavericks' opponents are being looked down on, not the Mavericks themselves.

For Yiyang, in yesterday's game, in addition to his exquisite passing and extremely high scoring efficiency, the most talked about was his airtight defense.

Westbrook's defender, who was as crazy as a bison, was blocked by Yiyang's "iron wall" throughout the game. The fact that Yiyang only hit 3 goals in the whole game was a stain on Westbrook's career.

There are a lot of guards in this league who can score, and there are many who can pass the ball. Defenders who can contain the opposing offense from the outside do not seem to be scarce. But the number of guys who can take care of all three of the above at the same time has plummeted. And Yiyang is one of them.

Yiyang successfully covered Westbrook, both on and off the court, Westbrook became the backdrop to Yiyang.

Even the fans could see how hard Westbrook struggled against Yiyang, and Scott, who was directing the game last night, was on the sidelines. Brooks, how could you not see the problem?

Impatience, easy to mess everything up at critical moments, and easy to clear fluctuations in game performance...... These have all formed labels one by one, and they have been attached to Westbrook by Brooks.

So far in the NBA playoffs, there are only four teams left in the game. To ensure that fans have the ball to watch every day, the four teams play a game every other day, and then the two games are staggered against each other.

That said, Brooks simply doesn't have time to make too many tactical changes right now. One day is not enough time for the young Thunder to change their style of play. The only thing Brooks could do was make adjustments to the personnel.

The guy looked at the players on the training ground, Westbrook was still full of energy, but the way he played was still too rough. Eventually, Brooks' eyes fell on the bearded James. Harden.

"Anderson, how many points did James score last night?" Brooks beckoned and called his assistant coach to his side.

The black coach named Anderson flipped through the stats from yesterday's game and found the one that read "James. Harden's name.

"12 points, played 17 minutes, 12 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds."

"17 minutes? Uh-huh......" Brooks remembered that he didn't give the bearded young man much of a chance to play because he had been so poor on the defensive end yesterday.

During the regular season this season, Harden averaged 26.7 minutes per game and contributed 12.2 points. As a young sixth man, this is already a very good result. But yesterday, Harden scored 12 points in just 17 minutes of play. Under the shortcomings of the poor defense, the bearded man actually played such a high offensive efficiency.

"Do you think that in the next game, let's increase James' playing time, can it have an effect?" Instead of making a decision right away, Brooks discussed it with the TA next to him.

"James is a good sixth man and he always surprises us every now and then. But in the time when the Mavericks bring in Terry, we better not let James play. Terry, the last game didn't taste the sweetness of James. ”

"Hmm......" Brooks nodded thoughtfully, Harden, Westbrook, these two guys, it's really not worrying at all.

※※※

The Thunder's workout lasted until noon, and after a nutritious lunch, the players returned to the training ground to rest. After an hour, Brooks will continue to train.

The players sat on the ground in twos and threes, chatting without saying a word.

But one of them, a bearded player, sat alone under the basket with a basketball, as if thinking about something.

Harden was a little depressed, he only played 17 minutes in the last game, and he didn't get any chance to perform. Seeing Westbrook holding the ball on the court for a while at the last moment, and then being defended by Yiyang without doing anything, Harden felt that it was better to let himself go up and try.

But....... What could he do? A former California teenager who was the savior of Arizona State University, he was selected with the third pick in the first round. In Stephen. Curry, DeMar. DeRozan, Ricky. Rubio was called onto the stage by Stern before waiting for a well-known name.

But Brooks said to Harden on the first day, "We need you to play a bench role."

Harden always thought he would be the starting point guard, but since the team made him a backup, he kept his modesty and kept trying!

Staying humble and keeping working hard is the mentality that Harden has as a bench player. Complaining that the starters wasted too many chances? Harden is well aware that that is not in his right.

Do your own thing and wait for the opportunity to come. James. Harden has no complaints, he quietly sweats on the training court to make the most of every minute of his time in the next game.

While Harden was thinking, Brooks walked into the training arena and blew the whistle. The players got up and ready for the next phase of training.

"How's it going?" After the players had gathered in front of him, Brooks spoke.

"Not bad, boss!" The players answered neatly.

"Alright, don't do it. I know you're all tired to death right now. With two games in three days, this kind of intensive schedule is only the NBA in the world. But, that's the playoffs, guys! No one can make it to the end easily, we're tired, and the Mavericks guys aren't much better! So, cheer up! In the afternoon, we mainly conducted 5-on-5 simulated combat training! If you don't take it seriously in the next training, you won't want to play tomorrow! ”

"Understood, Chief!" The Thunder have always been a youth army, and they are still full of passion for training.

The players dispersed and began to warm up in preparation for the next confrontational training. Just as Harden was about to leave, Brooks stopped him.

"James, come over here."

Harden turned around in surprise and froze for a second. After confirming that the coach was calling himself, he slowly walked in front of Brooks.

"Tomorrow's game, I want to increase your playing time. I also need you to shoot a lot and try to play well on the offensive end. So for the confrontational training later, I want you to do that. ”

"Increased playing time!?" After listening to Brooks, Harden showed a mouth full of white teeth.

"Of course, but if you're still absent-minded on the defensive end, I'll replace you right away!" Seeing Harden's eyebrows and smiles, Brooks immediately gave him another "preventive shot".

"Hehe, I'll do my best, boss!" Harden patted his chest, then excitedly ran back to the court, picked up the basketball and began to warm up.

Opportunities sometimes come like this without warning.

Brooks looked at the young Harden, but he actually didn't know the bottom of his heart. This team is so young that there is really no one who can say who can shoulder the heavy responsibility.

I hope that the guy who is still growing up will not let him down tomorrow.

※※※

"Toot toot!" The referee's shrill whistle sounded again, and Chandler yelled at the referee in dissatisfaction, but Marion was pushed aside in time.

In the stands, Mavericks fans erupted in violent boos. These boos seem to have been uninterrupted all night.

"James. Harden caused Tyson. Chandler's foul, this is already Chandler's fourth foul of the game! With 8 minutes left in the game, Chandler, the backbone of the Mavericks' interior defense, must control the number of fouls he commits fouls. "Kenny. Smith then looked at the technical statistics, Harden has scored 15 points today, and in the fourth quarter of the game, the offensive frenzy propped up by this guy and Durant made the Mavericks' defense very tight.

"If James. . . Harden hit both free throws, then the Thunder will overtake the score! Harden's performance today was very eye-catching, and he has now surpassed Westbrook in scoring points as a substitute. Westbrook, on the other hand, has already made three turnovers. Harden's turnover stats are still 0! ”

Kenny. Smith and Barkley's words are undoubtedly not revealing a message - Harden is in more shape today than the bikini beauty on the beach in Los Angeles.

Seeing Harden standing on the free throw line again, Carlisle could only shake his head helplessly. Harden is a player who changes hands in the air and finds space to shoot, and he can always find a little space in the arms of defenders to avoid being blocked by opponents, make successful shots, and then create fouls. Chandler is not an inside player who is easy to foul, but Harden's realistic feints have made the "King of Fighters" deceived several times.

When Harden received a pass from the referee at the free-throw line, the boos from the home fans reached a climax instantly. However, the bearded young man fell on deaf ears, and he steadily hit both free throws to help the Thunder take a significant lead at a critical moment in the fourth quarter!

Then, Stevenson received a pass from Yiyang at the three-point line. This defensive guard is very confident in the face of Harden and shoots straight to the basket.

But to Stevenson's surprise, Harden was very aggressive defensively today! Stevenson is not a great three-point shooter, and if he is interfered with by Harden, he will lose all his crosshairs. The basketball hits the left side of the basket and knocks out of the frame. Westbrook personally grabbed the defensive rebound and quickly pushed the counterattack!

However, the number 0 defender was still too impatient today. It seems that the more anxious the game and the shorter the time remaining, the more anxious the guy becomes.

Under Yiyang's interference, Westbrook actually dribbled the ball to the instep of his foot, causing the basketball to go out of bounds. Such a good fast-break opportunity was wasted by a low-level mistake, which made all the Thunder players feel very sorry.

Westbrook dropped the chain again at a critical moment, and Yiyang would not waste such an offensive opportunity that relied on defense. Borrowing Chandler's cover, Yiyang burst into the three-point line and prepared a pull-up jumper.

Impatiently, Westbrook jumped straight into the air, trying to make up for his mistake with a block. However, the anxious state of mind has blinded Westbrook's eyes, and just now Yiyang just made a feint to worship the Buddha and did not really shoot. Westbrook's jump deprived him of his defensive position.

So, Yiyang took a step back and threw his hand in his favorite rhythm. The basketball went through the net, and the Mavericks regained the initiative.

Brooks called a halt to the game, he couldn't bear to see what happened the day before yesterday happen again. So, when the timeout ended and the game resumed, people were surprised to find that Westbrook was actually pressed on the bench!

The substitute for Westbrook was second-year guard Eric Brown, who had a good performance today. Maynor, who had already scored 13 points off the bench before that, was another surprise on the bench after the Thunder succeeded Harden.

But Brooks didn't want to keep scoring magically, but he believed that at least Maynor, a clear-headed guy, wouldn't mess things up!

As it turned out, Brooks was very right about Meno. After encountering Yiyang's defense, Meno was instantly dumb on the offensive end. But compared to Westbrook. Meno doesn't easily defensively get out of position, nor does he make mistakes at crucial moments. Most importantly, he doesn't stick to the ball.

And the task of making up for Westbrook's offensive firepower fell to Harden.

The two teams played anxiously into the final two minutes of the game, and without Westbrook, the Thunder's offense seemed to be a lot more fluid. At the critical moment, Harden did not drop the chain, but hit two three-pointers from the outside in a row to pull the score away in one fell swoop.

With 36.7 seconds left in the game, Yiyang's pass found Nowitzki, and Dirk shot from beyond the three-point line, but was violated by Ibaka and got three free throws. But the Germans' magical aura of 24 free throws in the last game is clearly gone, and Nowitzki made just two free throws from three, which was also the first time Dirk missed free throws in the Western Conference Finals since the last game.

At this point, the Mavericks are down 100-104 and although the situation is very dangerous, there is still a chance.

The Thunder attacked again, and they had the power to finish the game. Harden received a pass from Meno from outside the three-point line and played a pick-and-roll with Ibaka.

Ibaka completely stopped Stevenson, and Nowitzki certainly couldn't keep up with Harden. Just when Harden thought he could finish the game with a straight shot, Yiyang, the Chinese wearing the No. 1 jersey, suddenly crossed in front of this bearded man!

"Yi's defense speed is very fast, and he blocked Harden's breakthrough route in time!" See Harden against Yiyang, Kenny. Smith seemed to see tens of millions of dollars, and he instantly became excited. It's a pity that this group of duels appeared too late!

Harden had no choice but to return the ball to Mayno and then try to get rid of Yiyang by blocking it off the ball.

But Yiyang haunts Harden like a ghost, no matter what that bearded man does, he just can't get rid of the "shadow" of Yiyang.

Yiyang's excellent defense will be a great James. Harden is completely locked up. This guy who Brooks had high hopes for now can't even catch the ball.

The Thunder were unable to organize an effective offense, and in the final two seconds, Meno's basketball was stabbed away by Stevenson. The two scrambled together, but the red light on the rebound suddenly remembered.

The Thunder team violated the rule in 24 seconds, and the Mavericks were stunned to prevent this round!

"It's a credit to Stevenson, and the defense of these two guards pulled the Mavericks back from the edge of the cliff!"

Key moments, key offenses. Carlisle called a halt to the game and brought on John Terry and Peja to add points of attack from the outside.

Now that the Mavericks are trailing by four points, three-pointers are their only option.

Carlisle's setup was not complicated, Yiyang and Nowitzki played a block and dismantled, and after attracting the defense, Yiyang sent the "cannonball" to Peja with a behind-the-back pass that didn't look at people.

However, Peja's key shot missed and hit the side of the basket. At that moment, all Mavericks fans hugged their heads in pain.

Yiyang hurriedly got a foul on Meno of the basketball, foul tactics, which was the Mavericks' last struggle.

It's a pity that Meno, who was dumbfounded by Yiyang for a whole quarter of the game, was still at home at the free throw line. He made two free throws to make it 106-100 with just 2.3 seconds left before the end of the game.

This score, naturally, was maintained until the end of the game. James. Harden excitedly threw his arms up and ran up to Brooks to hug the coach. Westbrook, on the bench, pulled his face and was out of step with the joyful atmosphere around him.

As for Yiyang, the Chinese guard who did his best to cut down 15 points and 13 assists. He didn't leave immediately after the loss, but stared at the bearded man.

Yiyang didn't expect the team to lose a home game, and he didn't expect Harden to replace Westbrook as the protagonist of this game.

It seems that his opponent is now far more than Westbrook......