They have been shocked for three days. Seeing this group of people now, the two brothers are still incredibly shocked.
This group of people managed to get here like this?
They once led the Spurs 3-1, knowing how significant such an advantage is! They had no worries, just went out to play and could easily perform their best. They could lose one ga or even two, without any pressure.
But the Spurs couldn’t afford to lose; losing one ga would an defeat, so they had to fight, with no margin for error.
And the Bobcats were down 0-3! Yet they won four gas in a row to co back!
This is completely different from sweeping a series 4-0 from the start! Even more terrifying!
Initially, the two were actually worried when they saw the Pacers leading 3-0. In the regular season, they lost twice to the Pacers, having no answer for Randolph, not to ntion the big-ga player Granger, alongside DeRozan, capable of averaging 20 points per ga. The center and point guard were also outstanding.
Now the Pacers have been ’miraculously reversed’ and gone fishing. Yet, Durant and Rose’s pressure hasn’t decreased at all.
On the opposing side, there’s a monster, Jack, averaging 35.5 points in the regular season, 34.3 points in 7 gas during the East Finals, 40.5 points in 6 gas during the second round, and 27.6 points in 5 gas during the first round!
At 8 PM, both teams’ starters took the court.
Thunder Team: Rose, Derrick Brown (a 2009 Hornets second-round pick, swingman, 201 cm, averaging 8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1 assist this season, in his pri at 25), Durant, Nazr Mohamd, and Jordan.
On the bench, there’s Fisher, traded by the Lakers for Sessions; quality shooting guard DaQuan Cook; Eric Maynor, a decent substitute point guard from the 2009 draft; Aldrich, a white center; rookie reserve guard Reggie Jackson; Nick Collison, a premium power forward from the SuperSonics era; and top-notch sixth man Shawn Livingston.
Bobcats starting lineup remains the sa: Felton, Afflalo, Zhang Yang, Millsap, and Okafor.
Young and strong get to play more, when the offense is good, the eighth man is Lewis, if not, the eighth man is Earl Watson.
Carlisle shrugged, only a few players who won’t drag them down in the playoffs, just go with it.
In terms of depth, Thunder Team indeed has a great advantage, but the problem is 7 substitutes, 5 of which are guards. The two inside positions have substitutes, but there’s no substitute small forward. Livingston playing as a small forward wouldn’t suffer in height and can perform offensively, but defensively... he’s too skinny, at 89 kg.
Livingston still hasn’t t people’s expectations; his slim physique makes it difficult for him to really beco a core player. Playing as a substitute and facing the opposing rotating lineup is more suitable for him; this season, as a substitute, he averaged 29 minutes per ga with 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
If teammates perform a bit better front and back, Durant resting for a couple of minutes each quarter in the playoffs and playing 40 minutes per ga is no problem, effectively scoring 30 points every ga, unguardable.
But as the ga started, Rose was defended by Zhang Yang and Afflalo, shooting 19 tis with only 7 successful attempts, finishing with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. The inside was overwheld by the Pacers-forced-to-madness trio of Okafor Millsap Ibaka!
Durant played all 46 minutes without a second rest, performing well in the first three quarters with 19 shots, hitting 10, making 28 points, fighting back and forth with Zhang Yang.
But after a fourth-quarter performance of 6 shots with only 2 successful, the Thunder Team collapsed...
Durant’s overall performance of 32 points from 25 shots with 12 hits was already great, but it couldn’t match Rose’s encounter with Zhang Yang!
Zhang Yang, nearly two ters tall in shoes, weighing 96 kg, has outstanding strength and advantages at the small forward position. However, his speed and flexibility are surprisingly sufficient to apply pressing defense on Rose from the outside!
Zhang Yang went 20 for 12, including 4 of 8 on three-pointers, supplented by 8 of 9 free throws, scoring 36 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, plus 2 steals and 1 block, leading the Bobcats in a three-quarter match with the Thunder Team which ended at 81 to 80; the final quarter ended at 24 to 14...
to 94, the Bobcats defeated the Thunder Team, leading 1 to 0 on the road!
In Ga 2, Durant exploded, throwing 31 tis, hitting 15, scoring a single ga 42 points, leading the Thunder Team to hold the second ho ga 110 to 102.
But in Ga 3, Durant couldn’t continue the explosive performance, scoring only 29 points.
With a breakthrough-focused style, Rose managed to score 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists facing the excessively pressing Zhang Yang.
Currently, there are two players considered Rose’s neses, one is Jas from the Rockets, and the other is Zhang Yang from the Bobcats; his pride in speed proves less advantageous against these two, especially Zhang Yang, who physically surpasses him, except for having faster acceleration than Zhang Yang.
Thunder Team indeed preferred facing the Pacers; despite having bigger disadvantages inside, at least there wouldn’t be obvious limits on star performance outside.
Facing the Bobcats, it can only rely on Durant; as long as Durant’s continued outburst, they could win. If not...
Zhang Yang scored 27 points, Okafor 20 points, Felton 21 points, three players surpassing 20 !
The investnt of 3.3 million wasn’t wasted; Lewis played 18 minutes, hitting 5 out of 7 open three-pointers, and scored 15 points.
Adding Ibaka’s 14 points... 111 to 106, Bobcats defeated Thunder at ho, retaining the ho court advantage they snatched!
Ca to Ga 4, and after one ga pause, Durant exploded again, hitting 17 of 30, including 3 out of 8 threes, with 7 of 7 free throws, ferociously scoring 44 points.
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