One Hundred and Seventy-Five: The Confrontation Between the Duo

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In the first quarter, the Thunder fell into the rhythm of the Grizzlies. They can't play a fast-paced offense, and with Link and Randolph, Perkins is almost a showpiece. He can't prevent it, Perkins is a pure rim protector. If he is defended, his advantages will be wasted.

Fortunately, in the second half of the first quarter, the Thunder Shuang Shao found a rhythm, which stabilized the score difference and was not continuously opened by the score of Grizzlies Jiang.

After the first quarter, the Thunder trailed the Grizzlies 24-28 by 4 points. At the Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Grizzlies had a bit of an air of anti-customer focus.

In the first quarter, the Thunder's best performer was Westbrook. This guy made 5 of 7 shots and scored 10 points in a single quarter. If it weren't for Westbrook's strength in the second half of the first quarter, the Thunder would have fallen behind.

"We said before the game that Westbrook is the X-factor for the Thunder. He's a weapon of mass destruction for the Thunder if he can break out. Durant's shot, Westbrook's drive. It seems that no opponent can completely restrain these two people in one night. The Thunder's offense is almost perfect, they want to overtake the score, all they need is time!" During the break, Kevin Harlan was obviously beaten by threats Sbrook's 10-point performance in a single quarter conquered.

"The Thunder's offense is almost perfect? ​​No, the Thunder's offense still has a lot of problems. And it's only the first quarter, and we all know that Westbrook's biggest problem is his offensive consistency. A good performance in one quarter does not mean that the next three quarters are also good." Van Gundy began to retort, Van Gundy prefers the combination of Link and Randolph to the Thunder Gemini.

Link and Randolph have more tactical connections, and their ability to contain each other and create space for each other is something that Durant and Westbrook do not have. Durant and Westbrook are more alternate singles, you can hardly see any substantial cooperation between the two.

In the regular season, as long as Durant and Westbrook are in form, it is enough to help the Thunder win the game. But in the face of the Grizzlies' defense, once the Gemini has a misfire, the Thunder's offense will suffer a big setback.

Van Gundy is optimistic that the Grizzlies can continue to pull the score, because he believes that this team can not allow Durant and Westbrook to continue to mischief under their defense.

Duo to duo, this is Jeff Van Gundy's favorite drama.

On the court, Hollins was nervously making tactical adjustments on the results of the first quarter. On Durant's side, Hollins really can't do anything about it. He can still score goals under Tony Allen's defense. Durant is basically no solution as the scoring champion. The only thing the Grizzlies can do is reduce Durant's shooting percentage as much as possible.

But Westbrook, who scored 10 points in the first quarter, thought Hollins could work on him.

"Mike, let Westbrook shoot in the second quarter to prevent him from driving. If he insists on driving, put him in a defensive trap. Mark, be ready to help at any time. Kendrick Perkins has little ability to score. , so you can focus on the help defense. Just like the first round of the first quarter of the game, keep an eye on Westbrook. If he dares to break through, let him go!"

Hollins said, drawing on the tactical board. Westbrook's offensive options have always been problematic, and it's not for nothing that he's shooting low.

Then, Hollins turned his head to look at Link again, "In the second quarter, the Thunder will let James Harden start to increase the offensive firepower. You also know how to deal with that guy. Don't give him any chances, I don't want to see him score."

As for the Thunder's sixth man, James Harden, Hollins isn't worried. He believed that Link would completely lose the bearded man.

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"At the beginning of the second quarter, coach Scott Brooks replaced Harden. It seems that the Thunder are going to strengthen their offense."

As soon as the second quarter came up, Hollins' guess was fulfilled. Scott Brooks is a coach who is very good at cultivating young people, but his commanding ability on the spot is very general. Hollins could guess his deployment with little difficulty.

Harden was very resistant when he saw Link. During the regular season, Harden was guarded by Link more than once and doubted his life. Of course, Harden didn't care after the fact, and still went to a nightclub if he should go to a nightclub. Harden in this period is far from working hard.

Westbrook has the ball to the three-point line, and now the Thunder have a few options.

Durant singles, Harden singles, Westbrook singles. As for Ibaka, he basically can only rely on occasional pick-and-rolls and rudimentary baskets, Perkins... It's not an exaggeration to say that he is invisible on the offensive end.

Link deliberately didn't press Harden, so Westbrook actually passed the ball into Harden's hands. Link secretly rejoiced in his heart that although Harden will be strong in the future, now the Thunder's ball is in the hands of someone with a relatively low scoring threat.

Seeing this, Durant immediately went to pick and roll with Harden. Link and Tony Allen understood and switched positions directly. The cooperation between Harden and Durant did not come out!

In desperation, Harden had to give the ball back to Westbrook. The Thunder No. 0 passes the ball to you, and if you don't play it, then the ball will definitely not be passed out again.

Do not hit? Don't hit me!

Westbrook smashed the ball, and the Thunder's offense once again turned into an unruly singles!

Jeff Van Gundy is right, Durant and Westbrook have too little tactical connection.

What was the result of fighting with Westbrook? Conley has already seen it in the first quarter of the game, and he really can't handle it.

But instead of carrying it in the second quarter, Conley stepped back along Westbrook.

Westbrook must still be complacent about his strong breakthrough, but in the next second, a "big mountain" appeared in front of him.

"Damn it!" Westbrook thought that he was as fast as lightning, and it was generally impossible for interior players to keep up with his rhythm. Usually, by the time the sluggish bigs come in to help, Westbrook has already scored.

But this time, Pau Gasol made up for the defense in a very timely manner! If the supplementary defense in the first quarter was a bit of a coincidence, then the supplementary defense this time was intentional.

Westbrook doesn't know yet that Gasol has long been hiding in the restricted area and has been eyeing him for a long time.

Westbrook, who suffered a loss in the first quarter, didn’t want to fight Gasol Jr., so he suddenly decided to throw.

However, Westbrook's stiff feel is really not a throwing material. The basketball thrown by him directly hit the neck of the basket. As soon as the Grizzlies came up in the first round, the defense against Westbrook was successful!

"A typical Grizzlies defense, Conley deliberately lured the opponent into a defensive trap, and then Marc Gasol ended the offense. It seems that Westbrook is targeted. Jeff, you said that the Grizzlies only need to limit the Gemini. One of the guys has a chance to win. So, do you think it's Durant or Russell?"

Van Gundy didn't answer Kevin Harlan's question, but put his index finger on his mouth, motioning him to be quiet first, "Let's focus on the Grizzlies offense first!"

On the Grizzlies side, the offense is much smoother. Everyone has their own role and has their own goals. Pure single-handedness, since Guy's injury, has rarely been seen in the Grizzlies. As for Randolph's low post attack, it is actually based on team tactics.

In the first quarter of the game, Randolph and Westbrook scored 10 points in a single quarter. Therefore, in the second quarter, Perkins' position changed significantly. Now Perkins is not guarding Gasol's side, but guarding the place close to the basket, ready to defend Randolph at any time.

As a result, the Grizzlies won't easily get open spots on the perimeter. And Randolph wants to pass the ball to Gasol Jr. in the crowded interior, and it is not easy.

Randolph has long been aware of this, but here is the playoffs, and everyone is doing tricks. Thunder can dismantle his tricks, and he can dismantle Lei Ting!

Randolph held the ball low on the right side of the court, and Perkins' defense was on the right side of the basket as a whole. Pau Gasol is alone in the middle distance on the left, but Randolph is easy to steal if he passes the ball.

He is waiting, waiting for his partner!

After Link saw Randolph's position, he suddenly ran back to the right side of the court. Harden immediately followed, only to find that Tony Allen was on his side!

Link shook off Harden and cut in from the right side where the Thunder defense line was completely empty. Randolph hooked the ball and the goal was Link!

"Beautiful cooperation, Zach's low post support ideas are very clear. Link made a pull-up jumper, he did not challenge Perkins' authority. At this point, Link is much calmer than Westbrook! Bang, basketball again In, Link's shooting consistency is horrible. Just let him shoot open, the only thing you can do is pray to God!"

Van Gundy applauded Link and Randolph's offense, which the Grizzlies executed with determination and clarity this time around. Link's movement and Randolph's passing are also very tacit.

Link and Randolph are far more efficient than Durant and Westbrook's alternate singles.

Link and Randolph raised their arms and touched each other, and their celebration was somewhat like the one between the "Double Wallace" during the Pistons.

From the first quarter of the game, the combination of the forward line made the Thunder's defense take care of one another. Only in the first quarter, the Grizzlies still dominated by Randolph's singles, supplemented by Link's cold shot.

And now, the Grizzlies need both Link and Randolph to open up the situation when they want to limit Westbrook. If the final plan is successful, Van Gundy believes that the Grizzlies will be able to pull the score before halftime!

The balance of victory in this duo battle has already tipped toward the Grizzlies.