Vol 3 Chapter 398: Chasing points in the second half

The Celtics took their slow-heating habit to the extreme. By the end of the first half, they were 21 points behind!
During the intermission, Donovan affirmed his players' excellent performance in the first half. But he didn't seem particularly relaxed. The reason is that the Celtics are a team that is very good at overturning games. In the past season, they played all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, and many games were won by the second half.
However, Donovan's caution did not make the Thunder players much more vigilant. This can be seen from the game in the third quarter. It took them two quarters to open up the points difference, and they were all chased back by the opponent in one quarter.
At the beginning of the third quarter, both sides are the main players.
The Celtics took the lead in attacking. Irving passed Westbrook with a crossover on the right side of the arc at the top of the arc, and then went straight to the basket. Adams and the nearest Paul George quickly double-teamed to prevent each other's layup. But at that moment, Hayward seized the opportunity, a charge pulled to the corner and ran out of position. Owen's vision is very good. He saw Hayward at a glance, so when his chances were not good, he bypassed Adams and passed the basketball to Hayward at the moment after the layup. After receiving the ball, the latter threw the ball before Westbrook jumped in.
"Huh!"
The goal is scored! Hayward found a very good position for this ball, and Irving also did a good job of breaking the ball. On closer inspection, the Celtics' offense has clearly changed. When Irving launched a breakthrough, the Celtics had a chance to shoot outside. It seems that giving the ball to Tatum or Jaylen Brown is a better choice than Irving's breakthrough. After all, both Anluo and Robertson have left enough room for their defenders. Their strategy in the first half was to guard against surprises.
It is worth mentioning that Hayward's three-pointer was the first three-pointer made by the Celtics this night. Throughout the first half, they made 0 of 12 three-pointers! Hayward made 0 of 3 shots himself!
Of course, the Thunder's defensive disconnect is also a very important reason. In the first half, they did not appear to be out of position. After Westbrook was dropped by Owen, he didn't actually chase to the basket. Because Paul George and Adams have already made up. He became a spectator near the free throw line. When he discovered Hayward's movement, it was too late. After the ball was scored, he himself also raised his right hand, indicating that he had not defended the ball.
However, Westbrook does not think the problem is big. No matter what he thinks, even An Luo and others think so. After all, he is still 18 points ahead! A three-pointer doesn't change much. But then, they were dumbfounded.
Westbrook attacked with the ball. He broke through to the inside in almost the same way as Irving. Although the latter was not shaken off, Westbrook threw him off at his own pace. The acceleration started, then accelerated after a sudden pause, and then slightly changed direction. After Westbrook threw off Irving, he threw the ball to the backboard against Horford. He actually wanted to break the ball, but from start to finish, neither Anlo nor Paul George was able to get a good position. Robertson had a chance, but when he handed the ball to Robertson, who was standing outside the three-point line, Westbrook felt that it might be better for him.
But he didn't score himself. Hayward grabbed the defensive rebound and then pushed the ball beyond the three-point line. When returning to the defense, Paul George moved a little closer to Hayward, but still did not stick to the defense. After all, their defensive strategy played a good role in the first half.
Hayward controlled the ball and came to a place one meter away from the top of the arc. Seeing that Paul George did not stick it up, he pulled it up and threw the ball. Paul George was mentally prepared, and immediately jumped on it, causing a great disturbance to Hayward.
However, the goal was scored!
The Celtics' offense remained the same compared to the first half. They still shot from the outside! Owen or Jaylen Brown or Tatum's breakthroughs are often used to provide opportunities for outside attack. But compared with how they didn't make a shot in the first half, the Celtics in the third quarter felt very good. After Hayward scored two three-pointers in a row, the others followed suit. Owen, Tatum and even Horford have made three-pointers. Jaylen Brown still has no expression, but Smart, who replaces the field, made up for this point.
Donovan called two timeouts in this quarter, but it didn't help. With the Celtics' touch, the whole team's desperate energy in last year's Eastern Conference finals also returned. Especially Smart, Morris and Baynes who came off the bench, these three guys brought back the iron-blooded defense of the Celtics. Under such defense, the Thunder's inside offense was almost paralyzed~EbookFREE.me~ Although Anlor and Paul George were barely able to maintain their normal form beyond the three-point line, their offensive efficiency was still not as good as the Celtics .
In fact, when Donovan called a timeout for the first time, the Thunder players had already realized the seriousness of the problem. Donovan also adjusted his team's defensive strategy in time. After the players returned to the field, they strengthened their defense on the outside. This adjustment is effective. The Celtics have much less chance of getting shots from beyond the three-point line. But there is also an All-Star player inside the opponent. Although he prefers to float outside the three-point line more and more, he still has the ability to attack inside. The Celtics can still score.
The situation suddenly fell to the Celtics, and the rapid changes made Thunder unprepared. Even if everyone knows that the Celtics will launch a counterattack in the second half, but so strong, but everyone did not expect. After all, since the beginning of this season, they seem to have lost the ability and spirit of last season to make a comeback.
In the final analysis, the problem still lies with the Thunder themselves. The carelessness at the beginning allowed Hayward to find the status and open it, and their defense did not adjust in the first time, giving the Celtics other players a chance. But these are secondary. The most important thing is that the Thunder feels very bad. Under Donovan's adjustment, the Thunder's tactics played well. Under continuous cover and running, I got a lot of opportunities. However, what is the way to invest if the opportunity comes out?