Chapter 53: Team Players
Today, Horn was unusual, coming up to attack with the ball in two consecutive rows, and the Thunder was really uncomfortable.
However, at this time, Chris Webb, a fan of Horn, explained to the commentary a little, and he said excitedly: "Horn is attacking with the ball again, and it is a European step, this time there is something to see." Let's see if Durant will respond to Horn? ”
Meyers was also very excited at this time and said: "Horn said before that he was going to chase Anthony, and now it seems that it is really possible to succeed." ”
Ibaka is really not good on the Thunder's side, his speed is too different from Horn, and he has no advantage on the defensive end.
Just when the head coach of the Thunder was thinking about how to defend, Westbrook, the most unstable on the Thunder side, rushed over with the ball.
There is a lot of controversy about the man Westbrook! Those who like him think that he dares to fight, and those who don't like him think that he has a low IQ. In fact, Westbrook is really a combination of both, a bit of a dare to fight, the disadvantage is that the IQ is low and can only think in a straight line.
Horn went on two consecutive ball-handling offenses to get Westbrook up, and he rushed over to face Paul with a direct crotch dribble, and then got up for a pull-up jumper.
The Westbrook man's IQ is a straight line and his ball skills are also straight lines, he only has three offensive skills, dribbling and a pull-up jump shot, dribbling straight to accelerate in the air to dodge and make a layup, and dribbling with a strong back. All three techniques are straight line attacks, no turns, no retreats, and no change of pace. Leaving him to deal with complex situations, Westbrook's only option is to break through halfway and pass to someone closer to him.
This is Westbrook's style, very brainless, very direct, you can also say that you dare to fight, anyway, that's it.
Westbrook wanted to play very directly in front of Paul, but he still looked down on people. Paul is also a first-guard player, and immediately sticks to the interference, Westbrook's zombie jumper misses.
Horn picked up the rebound under the basket and turned around and ran towards the Thunder's halfcourt, which Horn has been very puzzled in the past in this kind of offensive and defensive transition.
But today Horn met his opponent, Durant personally came over and stuck to Horn, at this time Horn suddenly lost his speed advantage, and he was sticked.
Horn didn't fight Durant after being taught, and he immediately passed the ball to Paul, who was following behind.
Paul took the ball and Horn went over to play a pick-and-roll with Paul, and Paul took the ball back to Horn. By this time, Horn was already inside the three-point line, and Durant gave up Ariza to defend Horn. Horn was very rational at this time, and did not choose to fight with Durant for speed, and turned his body and leaned directly on Durant.
Horn and Durant are similar in height, but the weight difference is too much, Horn squeezed near the basket in two steps, turned around and made a feint, and the Thunder's attention was on Horn, Horn turned around and passed to West outside, and West shot a mid-range shot.
On Durant, he still hasn't suppressed Horn, and Horn is still an almost inexplicable existence on the court.
At this time, Brooks, the head coach of the Thunder, couldn't watch it, and he immediately called a timeout.
When Brooks called a timeout, Horn sent a huge shock to Durant and Ibaka.
Ibaka didn't expect Horn's speed to be so fast, and Durant didn't expect Horn to be so calm.
A player is most likely to make the mistake of turning his head when he is playing well, but Horn has not made a mistake at all. After being delayed, he immediately passed the ball and then passed the ball to the outside line. Horn's handling of the ball is very serious and accurate, without any rashness, which is what makes the Thunder find Ken difficult.
Sure enough, Brooks said very seriously on the sidelines: "We need to change our defense and use team strength to defend Horn, we were too contemptuous of Horn before." Now we have to take him seriously! ”
The Thunder began to set up a team defense against Horn, but Chris Webber, who was on the commentary bench, said at this time: "Horn played really well today, better than I imagined, especially the handling of the ball just now is very rhythmic, and he didn't hit hard or retreat." That's a good player with responsibility! ”
"Yes! Today, Horn is playing more confidently and seriously than ever. All the actions are not separated from the overall team, so that it can become atmospheric! ”
Meyers also agreed with Chris Webber's words at this time, even if a player's individual ability is very sudden, his style of play and the team are not integrated, it is also a disservice to the team. Horn played well today and didn't leave the whole team, which is a very mature performance.
After the timeout, the Thunder kicked off on the sideline, Durant took the ball and Ibaka did a high block, and after a block, Durant made a quick shot and shot a mid-range shot in front of Horn.
Durant's combination of height and speed and shooting skills is indeed incomprehensible, and no one can stop Durant's shot after Durant starts.
"Brush!"
Durant came back and hit a shot right away! And on the defensive end, the Thunder immediately set up a team defensive formation to contain Horn.
Brooks, the coach, basically only has three sets of tactics when arranging tactics, Westbrook and Ibaka blocking, Durant and Ibaka blocking, Durant and Westbrook blocking, this is the Thunder's more complex offensive tactics. The rest is Durant singles and Westbrook singles!
The Thunder's offensive tactics can be described as lackluster to the extreme, but in defense the Thunder is very routine, the Thunder's defensive tactics are a hundred times richer than the offensive tactics, at this time the defense is opened, Horn wants to force the attack, he has to be peeled off a layer of skin.
After receiving the basketball, Horn observed the defense, and knew that it was too difficult for the ball to rush in by himself.
After a moment's hesitation, Horn dribbled in and passed the ball back to Paul, who took the ball and immediately transferred it to the other side.
At this time, Horn quickly ran to this side to get the ball, so that the defense arranged by the Thunder was disjointed.
Be patient with targeted defenses, and maybe you have a chance by running a little more laps.
The Thunder's defense was a little disjointed, and Horn scored two points again with an easy small mid-range shot with the ball.
The Thunder rearranged the defense or didn't have any way to take Horn, and Brooks was really depressed at this time! Horn is like hob meat, once he finds his senses, no matter how much you adjust, it won't make much difference.
Horn's strong offense from the very beginning, encountered the Thunder's team defense, and actually began to play as a team.
This kind of play, which does not blindly rely on individual ability to play, and combines oneself with the team, is really difficult to start.
If the Thunder can't solve Horne, they can't suppress the Hornets, and with Horne charging in front, the rest of the Hornets can keep making trouble in the back. Therefore, although the Thunder is much stronger than the Hornets on the books and has more personnel, there is still no way to take the Wasps.
At the end of the first half, the Thunder and Hornets still bit together 54:52, and the Thunder only led the Hornets by 2 points.
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