Vol 3 Chapter 527: The 3-pointer is here again

The game developed in the opposite direction of modern basketball style. The more aggressive defense on both sides makes the players need to spend more energy and energy in each offensive and defensive round. The scores of the two sides rose slowly, and the points obtained through free throws accounted for a large proportion. This feeling is reminiscent of the finals between the Lakers and Celtics in 2008 and 10 years. Of course, its intensity is naturally worse. But in this era, it’s good to be able to feel like ten years ago.
It is worth mentioning that the defensive pressure of the Raptors and Thunder is greater than that of ten years ago. During the yellow-green battle, the Lakers and Celtics didn't do much to defend offenses from beyond the three-point line. Of course, the three-point line was not particularly popular at that time. In that case, the defense within the three-point line is more concentrated, and the defense effect is more significant. Now, the Raptors and Thunder must start from the three-point line to deploy their defenses, and this distance will be even longer. This makes the space on the court bigger and harder to defend. However, judging from the performance during this period of time, both sides have done very well.
In contrast, the Thunder was more affected. After the game was blown intermittently by the non-stop whistle, the fast pace of the Thunder was difficult to play. Furthermore, the opponents frequently use their bodies to fight against them to create fouls, which makes them hesitant to defend. This gave the Raptors a lot of easier scoring opportunities, and the situation of the game began to change.
Donovan felt the change in the game. Now the rhythm has become increasingly unfavorable for the Thunder, and if it continues for a while, the situation will become more difficult. Several of the Thunder's main players have committed a lot of fouls, especially Paul George, who is responsible for defending Leonard, and Grant, who is responsible for defending Siakam, who have been blown three times. Of course, the other party is not easy. Donovan decisively called a timeout to let his players rest for a while, and then make some necessary adjustments.
"Boys, we must find our own game rhythm. First of all, our speed must be increased. Continue to run, cover each other, and run out of the open. Furthermore, we must make the basketball spin, too much Holding the ball can easily fall into the opponent's double-team..."
"The pressure on the other side on the defensive end cannot be reduced! But we must pay attention to controlling our own fouls. Of course, physical confrontation is necessary, everyone pays attention to their actions..."
Donovan did not arrange specific tactics and time is limited. He must let the players know which direction he should go in as quickly as possible. This is Donovan's style. Most of the time, he doesn't plan specific tactics. After all, the Thunder have a brain on the court, and Westbrook knows exactly what to do.
However, when the players came back on the court, Donovan still grabbed Anro's jersey and told him a few words.
After returning from the pause, the Thunder increased their speed. Whether it is running without the ball or shielding each other between teammates, it is more in line with the look of the Thunder that people have seen for a long time.
An Luo still shuttled through the crowd around the three-point line and the bottom line. The Raptors have not changed his defensive strategy, as long as he receives the ball, the opponent will immediately post one more person. However, it is not an easy task to completely limit a top three-pointer without the ball.
Westbrook used Adams's screen to break into the post, but the Raptors switched defenses as fast as they could and prevented his layup. Westbrook chose to pass the ball to Adams, who was still beyond the free throw line, and then stood at the basket and got stuck in front of Gasol.
Adams holding the ball at the top of the arc is already a regular tactic in the Thunder. The Thunder players are quite familiar with this tactic. Just when Westbrook passed the ball back to Adams, An Luo had already started from the left corner to the basket. At this time, Westbrook mentioned that the left elbow gave Anro a pick-and-roll to cover him from Danny Green's entanglement. The Raptors did not change defense, after all, Gasol couldn't keep up with An Luo's speed. Danny Green bypassed Westbrook directly, and reattached it towards Anlow at an extremely fast speed. However, the cover provided by the Thunder to An Luo did not end. After getting rid of Danny Green, Anlow ran back to the left forty-five degrees and gave Paul George a ball-free screen. The latter stepped away from the three-point line with An Luo's screen, ready to catch the ball.
Paul George's action instantly attracted the Raptors' defensive attention. Danny Green and Leonard both started leaning towards him. But Adams didn't pass the ball to Paul George. Instead, he fumbled a shot. When Leonard moved in the direction of Paul George, he turned his wrist ~EbookFREE.me~ and passed the ball to Anlo.
I have to say that Adams's ability to read the game is quite outstanding. If the ball is in the hands of Paul George, Danny Green and Leonard will double-team in the first time. But it's different when passing to An Luo. The other party's attention is not on him at that moment. Coupled with An Luo's terrifying shot speed, the chances will be much better.
Sure enough, after Anluo received the ball, Leonard, who was closest to him, returned immediately, but was still a step late. An Luo caught the ball and shot it, and in the blink of an eye, the basketball flew towards the hoop.
"Huh..."
The goal is scored! Anluo scored his first three-pointer in the second quarter.
Of course, this is not his last three-pointer. About 30 seconds later, An Luo once again got a shot through the screen of his teammates and his own running position. Westbrook passed the ball into his hands the first time, An Luo took the ball and shot it, hollowed into the net, in one go.
After two three-pointers, the Thunder fans have begun to get excited. Anlow's three-pointers, Westbrook's dunks, and Paul George's chasing caps can easily ignite this arena. Every night, An Luo will dedicate one three-pointer after another for the fans in this arena. But in this quarter of the game, An Luo has never shown. Although people are satisfied with his defense, everyone is more or less disappointed.
However, now An Luo's three-pointer is back.
This is excellent news for Thunder. As long as Anluo can score outside the three-point line, the interior space will be stretched. Westbrook and Paul George have more opportunities. On the contrary, when the two of them opened up, An Luo's situation on the outside would become easier.