Chapter 847: The True Gift
Ever since Durant left Oklahoma, Westbrook seems to have been trying to prove something.
He wants to prove that the Thunder can be good even without Durant. He wants to prove that he's a superstar who's no worse than Durant.
So, he frantically scrambles for every statistic, scores, assists, rebounds, and this No. 0 guard doesn't want to be left behind!
Some people like him very much and like his unruly character. I like him to be cathartic and roaring on the court. Of course, some people don't like him, don't like his stubborn personality, don't like the way he plays for the sake of stats.
But whether you like it or not, it is an indisputable fact that last season, Westbrook won the regular season MVP trophy with a terrifying triple-double per game.
Westbrook is always holding back his energy, he is competing with Durant, Yiyang, the whole league, and himself.
Look at how much Oladipo struggled with the Thunder and how well he played after leaving the Thunder to see what was going on with Westbrook's game. But anyway, he did.
After leaving Durant, he proved that he could be the MVP. And now, it's time to prove that he can be a championship without Durant!
So this summer, the Thunder summoned Paul. George and Cameron. Anthony two superstars. Perhaps Durant's departure is a wake-up call for the Thunder that they can no longer just rest on their laurels. If they want to keep their stars, if they want to win glory, they have to pay a price.
James. Harden's departure may not have made Thunder management aware of this. However, Durant's departure woke them up completely.
So far this season, although the Thunder's record is not very impressive. But everyone knows that the Big Three need a run-in process. Their hard power is there, not to mention the fact that Anthony and George are desperate to lift the O'Brien Cup. In Oklahoma, these two guys are sure to do their best!
It was dawn early this morning, and Westbrook was heading from home to the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Outside the arena, a promotional poster for Mavericks VS Thunder has been hung. On the poster, Yiyang and Westbrook will draw their swords against each other, and it looks like this is destined to be a fierce battle.
Westbrook knew that tonight's game was going to be a tough one. A 13-game winning streak is not something that any team can do. The Mavericks have proven that they are strong enough to do that.
Westbrook, hooded, walked briskly through the players' tunnel and pushed open the locker room door. However, as soon as he pushed the door in, a bundle of streamers rushed towards this invincible iron King Kong.
"Surprise! Hahahaha, happy birthday, Russell! "Paul. George's roar startled Westbrook. When he got a good look inside the locker room, he noticed that George was wearing a spiky clown hat and a small birthday cake in the middle of the dressing room.
Today, November 12th, is Russell. Westbrook's 29th birthday.
"George, I didn't expect you to remember......" Westbrook was suddenly a little overwhelmed, and while Durant was still there, the atmosphere in the Thunder's locker room could only be described as icy.
And this season, although the Thunder team has a poor record, the locker room atmosphere is too good to be good. People say George is just using the Thunder as a springboard, but in fact, the former Pacers boss is having a lot of fun in Oklahoma. Of course, his attitude towards Westbrook is also much more tolerant than Durant's.
"How could you not remember! Come and try the little cake my wife made for you. But don't eat too much, you have to play games in the evening. ”
"Thank you, George." Westbrook walked straight to Pickled Pepper and gave him a big hug.
Oklahoma, it's been a long time since Westbrook feels so warm.
"Thanks, this isn't really a gift. Today, I'm going to do everything I can to help the team win. I guess that's the birthday present you're craving! George patted Westbrook on the back, and the number 0 wasn't as nasty as the rumors suggested. It mainly depends on how you get along with him.
"Working together, we can do it." Westbrook stretched out his fist and touched George lightly.
At this moment, the locker room door was slammed open. Anthony walked in with a large gift box. Seeing the two hugging each other and the small cake in the middle of the locker room, Anthony instantly understood what was going on.
"Oh, looks like I'm a step late, your birthday party is over?"
"It's just getting started, Cameron, welcome to join!"
George smiled happily, Anthony would never come to training so early. He knew that Anthony had come so early today not just to give Westbrook a present, but to prepare for the evening's race!
It seems that tonight's Chesapeake Energy Arena is not so easy to break into. Be enlightened, Yiyang! You're the birthday cake that everyone is eager to take a bite of!
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Long Beach, Los Angeles, where Yiyang and Westbrook grew up. Of course, this place doesn't have many fond memories for the two league superguards. Westbrook lost his childhood friend there, and Yiyang lost his father.
Basketball stars who came out of Long Beach were eager to make a difference because they knew they couldn't go back to live like that. To get rid of poverty, drugs, violence and crime, they have to keep running and working until they leave Long Beach behind once and for all.
But Yiyang's stubbornness is somewhat different from Westbrook's stubbornness, Westbrook's requirements for his personal data and Yiyang's simple desire for victory are two different pursuits.
When Yiyang stepped into the Chesapeake Energy Arena, he was booed by thousands of Thunder fans. He didn't have anything else on his mind, he just wanted to win the game here, on Westbrook's turf, and let the world see who the MVP was!
What's more, at this time in Dallas, everyone in the family must be watching themselves play. In front of his son, he can't easily lose the game. Otherwise, how will I teach him to be strong in the future?
'We need to play fluidly and as long as we play efficiently on the offensive end, there is hope for the game. Before the start of the game, Thunder coach Billy Murphy. When Donovan was interviewed by reporters, his expression was very serious.
The team's record is not good, and the first to take the blame must be the head coach. As a former college coach, Donovan doesn't want to be swept away by the team with a big three lineup.
But how to integrate the big three is indeed a challenge for Donovan. In the NCAA, the head coach represents absolute authority. But in the NBA, the status of the head coach is not so high. It's not easy to control these billionaires and let them play their own way.
The league has passed the era when it was easy to succeed by simply building superstars, and it turns out that without a proper system, no amount of superstars is in vain.
After that, the camera of the on-site photographer pushed to the Thunder triumvirate who were shooting warm-up. Compared to coach Donovan, the expression of the Big Three is more confident. They believe that as long as the three brothers work together, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.
The birthday present promised to Westbrook can't just be wasted!
A few minutes later, the starters of both sides were urged by the referee to take their assigned positions. The Thunder are still the same, Westbrook, Andre. Robertson, Paul. George, Anthony and Adams started and were a typical big four.
And the Mavericks on their side, in addition to putting Rudy. Except for Gay regaining the starting No. 4 spot, the rest of the game has not changed as before.
On paper, the Thunder have more stars and more attacking power. But when the actual game starts, it's a different story.
The referee blew the whistle and Rudy. Gobert, as always, fought for the Mavericks to get the ball first. The Thunder's defense quickly swung away, don't look at the Thunder team only won 5 of 12 games, but after 12 games, their defensive efficiency is the second in the league, second only to the Mavericks!
Westbrook, Roberson, George, Anthony and Adams are all very good defensive players. Even a simple man-to-man defense with this bunch can give most teams a headache.
However, unfortunately, the Dallas Mavericks have the sharpest defense-breaking knife in the league, Yiyang!
As long as Yiyang can break through the defense, the Mavericks' offense will come alive as a whole.
With Gobert's tough cover, Yiyang accelerated past Westbrook. Westbrook quickly followed, clinging to Yiyang's side, not giving him any space. But seeing Yiyang coming, Adams had to make up for the basket. So Yiyang directly hoisted a pass in the middle of the march, Gobert jumped up behind Adams, and his hands clamped the basketball tightly like crab claws, straight up and down, and easily put the ball in.
The Thunder's defense, which ranks second in the league, was easily broken by Yiyang.
This is Yiyang's ability, whether it is scoring himself or helping his teammates score, this No. 1 defender can execute with ease.
Although they were hit by the Mavericks as soon as they came up, the Thunder fans didn't seem discouraged. They stood in the stands cheering, clapping their hands, and stomping their feet. Westbrook quickly passed the halfcourt, but instead of slamming into the basket hard, he distributed the ball to George, who was in a 45° corner on the right.
Paul. George receives the ball from a waist position and faces Hayward with his back to him. With a height of 2.06 meters, he has a huge advantage.
After George had the ball with his back, the Thunder's offense stopped all and just waited to see him single.
The former King of Indiana felt Hayward's defense with his back, and then suddenly turned his back and broke through!
Hayward hurriedly chased back, but George suddenly retreated, pulled up and shot!
But let's be honest, Paul. George's step-back was not as mature as Yiyang and Harden. His retreat did hit Hayward, but it didn't open up much space for himself. By the time George shot, Hayward had already made up for it and covered the basketball!
"Isn't George a little too hasty to shoot against the defense?"
However, not waiting for Kenny. After Smith finished speaking, George's basketball shot against the defense went into the net! With two points in hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder immediately responded and equalized!
"Damn, this can all go in!" Yiyang shook his head helplessly, Hayward's defense was already perfect. However, that's what a superstar is capable of. Ordinary tight defense, for them simply did not work. Unfortunately, such superstars, the Thunder have a whole three!
After George scored, he shook his fist aggressively and then high-fived Westbrook. It can be seen that the Thunder are very determined today.
Westbrook's birthday present, the Thunder Big Three seems to be decided!