For Deng Fang, letting Durant and Westbrook score is what he wants.
Of course, the Thunder's usual play style is the same. Dewey and his teammates score, and their teammates grab rebounds for a second attack. Otherwise, Shan Chunfang defends. The two have enough firepower to attract a flanker, and then create opportunities for their teammates.
What is different from usual is that the Warriors adopt different defensive methods against the two. Durant sticks to the defense and does not allow him to take easy shots. When he breaks through, he will attack and help defend.
To deal with Westbrook, the Warriors let him shoot, leaving the three-pointer completely open, properly interfering with the mid-range shot, and absolutely not allowing him to break through.
The different defensive strategies are because the two players play differently and have very different abilities.
Deng Fang knows that what Westbrook is good at is only his physical fitness, and nothing else is good.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Westbrook is a big brush.
Durant's problem is that his dribbling is too high and his organizational skills are average, so the two Warriors have adopted different approaches.
In addition, the Thunder's problem is that the outside is inaccurate and the rebounding is very strong. Robertson's three-point shooting is far worse than Westbrook's, and his shooting confidence and right to shoot are even worse, so this point can be completely ignored.
of.
Adams doesn't have a three-pointer or a shot, so one of Adams and Robertson picks and rolls with Westbrook and Durant, and the Warriors only need to shrink the basket.
As for Ibaka, it's not impossible to let him shoot a three-pointer if he is really desperate. His three-pointer can't kill anyone.
The Thunder are strong in rebounding, so the Warriors all shrink to the basket, grab rebounds as a team, and go on a fast break when they get the rebounds, forcing the Thunder to not be too aggressive in grabbing offensive rebounds.
Of course, there is a price for the Warriors to do this. For example, Westbrook is shooting like crazy, Ibaka is accurate in three-pointers, Robertson smokes from his ancestral grave and scores three-pointers in a row, Durant suddenly evolves, and his passes are elusive...
But Deng Fang is not afraid. First of all, he knows the strength of these people. Secondly, it is useless to be afraid - these are small probability events. If you are afraid of these, then there is no need to live!
You might be buried to death in an earthquake while sitting at home. Are you afraid of living in a tent on the vast grassland all day long?!
Just admit it if this really happened!
…
Leading 3:0, there was no suspense in the series. However, Deng Fang still did not let his guard down. After the game, he kept reminding his players not to take it lightly.
On May 26, 2016, the fourth game between the Warriors and Thunder began at the Thunder's home stadium, Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Although they fell behind 0:3 and had their backs against a cliff, the young people from the Thunder did not give up. They played proactively from the start.
Westbrook, in particular, shoots when given the opportunity without fear.
I don’t believe it anymore, I will surrender to you today!
Barnes was close to Durant, and the two were in position for a long time. Westbrook couldn't give the ball to him, and Clay shrank near the free throw line without caring. Westbrook collected the ball and threw it away!
The basketball hits the net!
Durant came around to catch the ball and was double-teamed by the Warriors. Westbrook was unguarded. Durant passed the ball back to Westbrook. Seeing that Clay was still shrinking near the penalty area, Westbrook pulled up and shot!
The basketball falls into the net bag again!
After hitting consecutive three-pointers, Westbrook became more confident. The next time he dribbled to the frontcourt, he raised his hand and shot!
This time Clay just shrank a little more than a step inside...
The basketball falls into the net bag again!
The next time, Westbrook saw Clay move a little closer, and he immediately broke through, but seeing Curry and others shrinking under the basket, Westbrook made an emergency stop to shoot, the zombie pulled out his hand, and the basketball fell into the net bag again.
…
The first quarter lasted more than 5 minutes. Westbrook made 6 of 8 shots, including 4 three-pointers, and scored 16 points!
On the offensive end, Westbrook exploded, and on the defensive end, the Thunder also did well. They resolutely flanked Curry and gave Barnes and Green a chance to take action.
The result also satisfied the Thunder. Barnes and Green didn't feel good today. They made a combined 1 of 7 three-pointers.
The Thunder quickly took a 9-point lead.
Deng Fang didn't care and called a timeout. He just told the players not to worry and that Barnes and Green would just take bold action.
Especially for Barnes, three-pointers are your specialty. You have to take them no matter if they make it or not!
As for Westbrook's shooting, if he can kill the game by himself by shooting, then we will admit it!
If you lose, it’s mine, if you win, the credit is yours!
With Deng Fang's comfort, the Warriors played more patiently.
However, luck was really on the Thunder's side today. Westbrook had a really good touch and a good shot rate. Clay moved a little closer and Westbrook burst in.
Durant also played very resolutely today, facing Barnes' defense without hesitation and throwing the ball away.
I'm sure you can't cover me, I'll just shoot in front of you!
Under the leadership of these two people, the Thunder were full of momentum, and the point difference gradually widened a lot.
Of course, the poor feel of Barnes and Green is also a reason.
Fortunately, before the end of the first quarter, Curry made two three-pointers, slightly narrowing the point difference.
After the first quarter, the score became 23:35, and the Warriors were 12 points behind.
In the second quarter, Durant led the team alone first, and then Westbrook led the team. The Warriors began to flank the two.
Facing the Warriors' attack, Durant and Westbrook did very well and passed the ball very quickly.
The most important thing is that Robertson, Ibaka, and Waiters also have good hands and can grasp the open space very well.
There's no way around it.
When the opponent is in full bloom, there is nothing anyone can do.
Deng Fang could only sit there and watch.
I can't defend alone, nor can I attack from a double attack. I can shoot accurately from the outside, but I can't let go from the inside. What should I do?
no way!
The Warriors' strategy is to stick to the penalty area.
I'll admit it if you can shoot accurately throughout the game, but it's impossible for me to get scared and give up the penalty area!
After the first half, the Thunder led by 21 points!
In the third quarter, the Thunder were still in excellent form, the Warriors also recovered some of their form, and the two teams began an offensive battle.
With the recovery of Barnes and Green's touch, Curry and Clay also had opportunities to take shots, but their touch was not good and their shooting percentage was average.
The Thunder did not suffer from such a confrontation. After the third quarter, the point difference was still 18 points.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors launched a counterattack, and Westbrook's shooting percentage also dropped a bit. The Thunder could only rely on Durant's singles to support it.
But the Thunder's defense is very good, and the Warriors don't have many open opportunities.
The Thunder attacked very fiercely, and would rather let the Warriors get a layup than give the Warriors an open chance.
Physically, the Thunder still have an advantage. This is the Thunder's home court. As long as the Warriors don't open the perimeter, the Thunder won't be afraid.
The fourth quarter lasted for more than 7 minutes, and the score difference was still 13 points.
Deng Fang called a timeout. After the timeout, the Warriors began to double-team Durant and let Robertson and Westbrook go.
The Warriors began to gamble on defense.
In order to open up space, Donovan had to call a timeout and get Waiters.
In this way, the only ones who can defend Curry are Waiters or Westbrook.
Curry immediately started scoring mode and began to attack.
The defense of these two people is average, and Curry is not impossible in a one-on-one challenge.
If it's a pick-and-roll, the Thunder will double attack, so it's a one-on-one challenge.
Curry hit three consecutive three-pointers, and the point difference quickly narrowed.
There were 2 minutes left in the game and the Warriors were 5 points behind.
Westbrook stood up at the critical moment and hit three consecutive zombie jumpers to help the Thunder maintain the point difference.
Seeing that Curry had found his touch, the Thunder began to attack Curry from both sides, not giving Curry any chance to take action—no chance of a one-on-one fight!
With 36 seconds left in the game, Westbrook made a pull-up jump shot from outside the three-point line and hit a three-pointer. The Thunder led by 7 points and the game basically lost suspense.
I have to say that if Westbrook really dares to take action, no one will care.
Defeat is also Wei Shao, success is also Wei Shao!
The final score was fixed at 114:109. The Thunder pulled back the game and the score became 3:1.
Durant made 17 of 29 shots and scored 39 points. Westbrook was more efficient, making 20 of 33 shots and scoring 48 points!
When two monsters like this find the right touch and explode together, no one can prevent them.
