Chapter Ninety-Six: It's a mentality
Horn made two brilliant passes in a row to bring the score closer to 85:90, with only a five-point deficit remaining.
The Thunder definitely didn't want to let the score closer, Westbrook rushed up at this time, and wanted to rush hard As a result, the Hornets organized a double defense to intercept him, Westbrook is physical, but he is not superman.
In the face of two people, he chose to pass the ball to Durant outside, and Durant took the ball in a better position and shot directly with the ball.
As soon as Durant made a shot here, his shoulder immediately hurt, and just like that, Durant's shot missed.
The two teams had been biting very hard before, the Hornets chased two rounds in a row, and the Thunder did not score in two rounds, which was a watershed.
The Hornets got a chance to keep the score close, and they played very carefully in the Thunder's half.
The whole team handled the ball carefully, and Horn was also very cautious at this time, when the Thunder suddenly appeared a gap in the middle.
Horn rushed over all of a sudden, and started to cut directly from the middle, such a good opportunity Paul would not let go, and he passed directly to Horn's hands.
Horn had a plan the first moment he received the ball, he didn't attack himself with the ball, but threw the ball the moment he received the ball and threw it into the hands of Ariza on the bottom foot.
Ariza is a well-known bottom-footer who takes the ball and hits a crisp three-pointer.
"Brush!"
Between three and two, the Hornets shortened the difference to 8 points, 88; 90.
The point difference was looming all at once, and the fans at the home stadium of New Orleans immediately cheered when they saw the hope.
The fans all saw that although Horn did not score in these rounds, he made three exquisite assists in a row to help the team regain the point difference.
Horn's performance was highly praised by Hubby Brown. At this time, he sat on the sidelines and said: "Horn has three assists in a row, which is really beautiful. These three beautiful assists helped the team open up the situation, and Horn is not only playing now, but also playing very smart! ”
The Thunder also couldn't imagine that Horn could pass such an inexplicable three balls in a row.
Brooks actually has some no way to take Horn at this time, you can defend one and not score, but I haven't heard of defending one person and not passing. Horn really has the heart and ability to change the tempo of the game with passing, and Brooks can't do anything about it.
When Ball saw Horn like this, he was shocked, he really didn't expect Horn to do this, making three exquisite passes in a row. Didn't this Horn become Gasol!
The Thunder players were also very surprised at this time, they didn't expect Horn to make these moves, this is not a common Horn.
Horn laughed himself after three passes, and this time he understood more deeply what the playoffs were. Many people say that the playoffs are about tactical adjustments, but now Horn understands that the playoffs are actually about mentality.
Mentality is the most important thing in the playoffs, the rest are just vassals, the process of the game is a process of physical confrontation, but also a process of continuous comprehension, comprehension is not a pause, nor is it a one-size-fits-all, but a process of finding and solving problems.
The Thunder were chased too tightly at this time, and Westbrook rushed up to force a breakthrough and created a foul on the Hornets.
Thunder's pure physical style of play is really unbearable for ordinary people.
After the Thunder scored, the Hornets came over again and Paul passed the ball to Horne again.
Horn let go of his mentality at this time, and he didn't think that the Thunder's defense was so powerful, and the Thunder's defense actually had more holes than expected. It's just that the super high intensity of the game and the nervous mental state made Horn ignore the past before.
At this time, as soon as Horn took the ball, he immediately made a through ball to Ariza, who cut in from one side.
Ariza took the ball and cut to the Thunder's basket, although he didn't have an offensive shot, and the Thunder's defense was compressed to the basket.
At this time, Ariza turned around and passed the ball back to Horn, who took the ball and glanced to the left to make a pass.
Green was tricked into taking a big step to the side by Horn, so that Horn turned around and calmly threw a three-pointer.
"Brush!"
Horne hits, and the Hornets overtake! The New Orleans arena was thunderous with joy at this moment, and the Hornets finally came back after being brutally beaten in the second half.
Horn made a succession of beautiful passes, then another nice feint to shake off the opponent and hit a three-pointer of his own.
Horn already has some fun in the midst of this fierce competition! Playing the Thunder players is like nothing.
The Thunder were overtaken, they immediately called a timeout, called a timeout and came back, and they handed the ball to Durant.
Durant was expected to complete a crucial round of offense at this time, and Horn quickly pressed up.
Durant faced Horn with a change of direction at this time, and then immediately stepped back, followed by a crotch dribble.
Durant was much better at holding the ball than Horn, who was thrown away all of a sudden, and then Durant threw in a three-pointer.
Durant This is definitely an opportunity, but at the moment of the shot, his shoulder stabbed, and just like that, Durant's shot was a little off.
"Bang!"
Durant missed, and the Thunder lost consecutive failures at critical moments, and Brooks was a little panicked at this time.
In such a critical round, their players actually didn't shoot, and the Thunder operated the two main forces in such a row, and these two people were physically damaged at the last moment, their bodies were tired, and the probability of receiving small injuries increased, which is a matter of great probability. Therefore, the team that is very strong has a stable record for a certain period of time, but it is also easy to collapse because they are too dependent on the strength of a few people.
Once Durant failed to shoot this round, the Hornets rushed up all of a sudden.
The Hornets rushed up at this time, and the fans in the stadium were cheering, and the Hornets players were extremely excited in the cheers of the home fans.
Paul was also excited at this time, he made two consecutive crotch drops in front of Westbrook, and then one of his trademark one-handed changes of direction, pretending to break through to the side, and when Westbrook pounced, Paul suddenly put the ball in the opposite direction, and the ball drilled under Paul's crotch, and Paul took the opportunity to give Westbrook a ride.
Paul juggled again, and at this time, there was a cheer in the New Orleans arena, and Paul broke through and turned back to pass to Horn, who made an easy shot in the high post.
"Brush!"
Another 2-pointer, and the Hornets overtook the Thunder at the start of the final quarter.
The Thunder was in a hurry at this time, Westbrook's previous performance was very good, he was in a hurry at this time, and when he came back, he was ready to force an offensive and defensive switch, but his side only flew. Ariza, who had already fouled several times, finally completed a beautiful defense, and the moment Westbrook flew up, he cut the ball down in one fell swoop.
Ariza cut the ball and immediately turned around and passed the ball to Paul, Paul took the ball and ran wildly in two steps and suddenly threw the ball into the air, Horne, who had already reached the Thunder, flew up and dunked, and the Hornets led the Thunder by 7 points.
At this moment, the Thunder wilted, and the Hornets fought back in the last quarter, taking advantage of the home-court advantage and psychological advantage to finally gain a firm foothold and win the game.