rpbooks Chapter 836 Gaining an Advantage
Chapter 836 Gaining an Advantage
Chapter 836 Gaining an Advantage
As the score of the game was almost opened by the Thunder, the atmosphere in the Chesapeake Energy Arena became more and more active.Every time a Thunder player scores a goal, there will be overwhelming voices of "OKC" in the arena.Especially when An Luo scored a goal, the sound was extremely loud.
It feels like how Thunder fans treated Westbrook after Durant left Oklahoma two years ago.Of course, the current An Luo is worse than Westbrook in terms of team status.But judging from his performance in the game, he is not less popular than Westbrook.Westbrook is indeed very good at playing, and everyone likes to watch him play, but An Luo is more able to help the team win the game.Winning games, by contrast, is what fans want most every night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The Thunder's version of the "elevator door" tactic played a very significant role in this quarter of the game.This is a three-pointer tactic that Kerr personally created for Curry and Thompson, but now it is played by the Thunder players to perfection.
With 4 minutes left in the third quarter, Siakam rushed to the penalty area and threw the ball from the opponent's armpit to the basket against Adams' defense.Although the goal was not scored, the referee's whistle sounded immediately.
Adams was called for a foul, and Siakam once again stood at the free throw line.
This is already the fourth time he has stood at the free throw line in the third quarter!For a player of his type, as long as he rushes up, there is really not much way to restrict the opponent except fouls.
However, Siakam didn't make all the free throws this time.On the second free throw, Siakam threw the basketball over the rim amid boos from Chesapeake Energy Arena.Adams jumped high and pocketed the rebound.
Westbrook quickly advanced to the top of the arc with the ball, suppressing the speed.At this time, Robertson mentioned that the left side of the free throw line made a pick-and-roll for Adams who was about to pull to the outside line. The latter circled around Robertson's screen to get rid of Gasol's entanglement, and accelerated to a high position to receive the ball.Westbrook, who passed the ball, took advantage of the opportunity to move to the 45-degree angle of the left three-point line and made an off-ball screen for Gallinari. The latter accelerated from the right elbow to the weak side. An Luo got rid of Van Vleet's defense.At this time, the Raptors' defense became loose under the constant involvement of the Thunder players.When An Luola went outside the three-point line on the right and received the basketball from Adams, the Raptors had no chance to double-team him.
However, An Luo did not choose to shoot directly.The Raptors' defense is still quite tight. Anunoby was ready to switch defenses when Gallinari came over the screen. When An Luo received the ball, he had already posted it.
In fact, An Luo is fully capable of eating Anunobi alone, but An Luo didn't do that.After all, everyone finally opened up the space on the court. If An Luo played singles, the Raptors' defense would quickly adjust.Now that the Thunder have taken the initiative in the game, they need to play more patiently to ensure offensive efficiency.
An Luo handed the ball to Westbrook who ran out of the three-point line, and he went around the three-point line to the left corner.After Robertson made an off-ball screen for An Luo before the bottom corner, he immediately returned to the free throw line and stood with Adams.At this time, Westbrook moved with the ball, and Gallinari ran outside the three-point line on the right to receive the ball.
At this time, the Raptors players were completely overwhelmed by the Thunder's series of moves and screens.Siakam ran to the right to defend Gallinari, and Gasol met Westbrook with the ball.The left part of the entire half is full of people, and there are only Gallinari and Siakam on the right.
Gallinari's timing was good. When he pulled to the three-point line, Siakam hadn't posted it yet.At this time, as long as Westbrook passes the ball, he can catch the ball and shoot to end this offense.
However, Westbrook didn't pass the ball.His eyes are always on the left side of the field.
After getting rid of the defender around Robertson, An Luo rushed directly to the basket, then turned back, passed between Robertson and Adams, and pulled to the left three-point line.At the same time, Robertson and Adams directly "closed the door" at the moment An Luo passed through, firmly blocking Anunobi who was chasing behind him within the three-point line.Moreover, behind these two generous bodies, Van Vleet, who was about to switch defenses, was also blocked.
At this time, there were only Robertson and Adams in front of An Luo.Westbrook passed the ball at the first time. After receiving the ball, An Luo could even pat the ball and adjust his position before throwing it to the basket.
There is no way out!The Raptors' players have felt powerless under the Thunder's tactics more than once in this game.It's not that they are not active enough, nor are they too weak. Under such tactics, no one can fly to defend.
"Shh..."
Hollow into the net!Another 3 points were credited.
No matter how exquisite the tactics are, they are good tactics only after the ball is scored.For this, An Luo did a very good job.He lived up to the expectations of Donovan and his teammates, and in the nine minutes he played in the third quarter, he made 9 of 12 shots, including 7 of 7 three-pointers.He scored 5 points in a single quarter without a single free throw.
In addition to An Luo, Gallinari also made several pretty good shots in this quarter.Although his three-pointers are not as accurate as An Luo, they are more than [-]%, and he is always a point on the court that the Raptors dare not ignore.When An Luo started firing frequently, Gallinari seized the opportunity, did what the Thunder needed him to do, and contributed his strength to the game.
In the last few minutes of the third quarter, Donovan sent Alexander and Noel to replace the two remaining starters, An Luo and Adams.Nurse did not immediately rest his main players, he tried to seize such an opportunity to chase a wave of points.
Lowry used the cover to reach the free throw line, scored the ball with a small throw, and successfully narrowed the point difference to single digits.But Alexander turned around and responded with a two plus one.The strong offense did not stop because of the rest of the main players.
In the end, the two sides scored 81:92, with the visiting team in front and the home team behind.The Thunder entered the final quarter with an 11-point advantage.
(End of this chapter)