Curry's shocking shot still gave the Thunder and Kevin Duran a chance to come back.
1.2 seconds is enough time to complete the reversal, allowing Thunder fans to experience the feeling of going from hell to heaven.
Brooks called two timeouts in the final stage to rearrange the tactics for the final attack.
The Clippers fielded their toughest defensive lineup, three small forwards, and Anthony Davis and Gasol in the paint, filling the court to the brim.
The Clippers are determined that the Thunder's last shot will be given to Kevin Durant, and they will not take advantage of Durant's attraction to arrange for others to take the shot.
Even if the Thunder sends Fisher, a key player, he is just a pawn to confuse the Clippers.
Because tonight is not only a duel between the Thunder and the Clippers, but also an MVP battle between Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
Curry hit Durant with a long three-pointer and scored 42 points.
If Durant cannot respond positively, he will be at a disadvantage in the MVP competition.
Durant has already scored 49 points tonight, and if he hits another goal, he will score 50 points.
50 points, a decisive victory over the opponent, there is no more perfect script than this.
And Brooks will never destroy this script. He was able to start with the Thunder by fully supporting super giants like Durant and Westbrook and delegating power to them to perform their best.
After the second timeout, the two sides returned to the court. Facing the Clippers' airtight defense, the Thunder used a human wall tactic, standing in a row near the free throw line to confuse the Clippers players.
As soon as the whistle blew, the players scattered. Durant used the screen to reverse and rush into the basket!
Westbrook, who was out of bounds, understood it and threw a high pass directly to the basket!
This is a classic short-term tactic of hanging the inside line to win the ball, which is very commonly used in the NBA.
Although Durant is a small forward, his height and wingspan are better than many centers.
The ball was also passed very well, but when the ball was about to fall into Durant's hands, it was stopped by another big hand.
It's Anthony Davis!
He successfully intercepted the ball halfway and destroyed the Thunder's final attack.
When he landed with the ball, the game was over and the Thunder failed to win!
Durant's hands were empty and he looked up at the scoreboard, 115:116, in a daze.
The Clippers players rushed forward to hug Anthony Davis. The Clippers' two No. 1 picks attacked and defended, and finally won the game.
What is talent? This is talent.
The Thunder are already a very talented team.
But comparing talent with the Clippers, you still have little interest.
Durant did not greet the Clippers players and left the game sadly.
Although it was only a regular season game, it was a huge blow to Durant.
The current MVP selection is based on media voting, and impression points are very important.
Sometimes there is no fixed standard, it just depends on feeling.
The direct dialogue between the two MVP contenders has a heavy weight in determining the MVP.
After the game, Curry's ultra-long-distance three-pointer against Durant will become a classic shot in this year's regular season. It will be played repeatedly on TV stations and even become a classic shot in NBA history.
Durant just became the background of a classic shot, and the entire 49-point effort was in vain.
Competitive sports are so unfair, the winner takes all, laughs last, and laughs sweetest.
All the previous efforts and inspirational stories will be in vain if there is no perfect ending.
The NBA is such a reality, and Durant is increasingly feeling the cruelty of this reality.
Think about the stars in NBA history who have not won a championship. Although they have also won many honors, some fans will miss them.
But it was more of a comforting, tender memory, with a kind of regret and pity, and occasional sympathy.
For a person with a strong self-esteem, this kind of sympathy is worse than no sympathy at all.
If the NBA is a real battlefield, then the loser will just die, and the dead warriors may still be respected by future generations.
Unfortunately, the NBA is not a real battlefield. The losers have to watch the winners enjoy the fruits of victory, then continue to challenge, and then continue to lose.
The Thunder have been suppressed by the Clippers for several consecutive seasons, both in the regular season and the playoffs, and they are watching the Clippers become stronger and stronger.
In the foreseeable future, the Thunder will have almost no chance of surpassing the Clippers, because Oklahoma is a small city and the Thunder is a small team.
Last summer, Durant very much hoped that the team would introduce another capable player. After all, the rich teams were forming Galaxy Battleships to defeat the Clippers, but the Thunder still had these few players.
The previous trade between James Harden and Eric Gordon proved that the Thunder was a complete failure. Harden is obviously better than Gordon and more suitable for the Thunder's tactics and lineup.
Although Gordon is not bad, his functions are similar to those of Durant and Westbrook. Moreover, Gordon suffers frequent injuries and is often absent, leaving the team with insufficient strength.
The Thunder management also listened to Durant's opinions, but they really couldn't find anyone. Signing an old fisherman Fisher was already a big deal, but Fisher was really old and his role was limited.
As for signing big-name free agents, firstly, the Thunder have no money and no space. Secondly, Oklahoma City is really unattractive to big-name players. Someone like Iguodala would definitely be happy to stay in Los Angeles instead of going to a place like Oklahoma City. Smells like cow dung.
So pieced together, there is no essential difference between the Thunder's lineup and two years ago, and there is no big improvement.
Durant worked hard to improve himself and wanted to grow into a historical superstar like Larry Bird.
However, a defeat made him doubt whether the Thunder can really overturn the Clippers this year?
In fact, in terms of lineup, the Thunder has been a championship-level lineup in most years if we look at NBA history.
However, the Clippers are indeed strong, and their lineup is very restrained against the Thunder. The small forward position is the thickest in the league. If they encounter in the playoffs, they will definitely start hunting Durant again.
Tonight is the regular season. The Clippers did not adopt a targeted attrition defense against Durant. They just took turns to defend one-on-one. To put it bluntly, they just let you beat him.
As a result, he scored 49 points and didn't defeat the Clippers in the end. He still wants to do this in the playoffs. Do you think you are Jordan?
In short, the impact of this regular season is greater than many people think.
Of course, for the Clippers, this is just an ordinary regular season.
After winning the game, everyone went back to the locker room to celebrate briefly, then went back to the hotel, packed up and headed to the airport to head to the next away game, New Orleans.
At this time, the Clippers had achieved an astonishing 23 consecutive victories, successfully surpassing the Rockets and winning the second-longest winning streak in history.
However, after winning this game, followed by back-to-back away games on February 24, the Clippers lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, the former Hornets.
The New Orleans Hornets voted for a new team name in January 2013. As a result, they chose a toucan as their team name and mascot.
The score between the two sides was 98:101. The Clippers lost the game by 3 points. After winning a victory with great vigor and setting a winning streak, they quietly lost a game against an underdog and ended it in disgrace. Winning streak.
The game is so unpredictable. The outside world speculates that the Clippers may be too tired. Back-to-back away games against the Thunder consumed most of their energy, so they no longer have energy when they play the Pelicans.
Others say that the Clippers have no goals. The 23-game winning streak has broken the second record in history. The 33-game winning streak that ranks first in history is too far away and has no chance to be touched. It is better to relax and lose one game, adjust and rest well. right.
Both of these statements are reasonable, but the real reason why the Clippers lost is actually known to insiders - because the Clippers were practicing new tactics and routines this time.
Fans who watched this game can feel that the Clippers' offense was not very smooth, there was an obvious sense of sluggishness in some places, and the overall rhythm was not fast.
Therefore, the Clippers scored 98 points in the game. It was rare that they did not break 100. The final three-pointer was passed around and passed to Gasol, but it failed to hit.
The season has entered the sprint stage. It stands to reason that all the strong teams have finished running in. All that is left is to find and maintain their form. How can there be teams practicing new routines and tactics?
But the Clippers have this level and ability. They have been like this since the 2009-10 season. Whenever there is an opportunity, they will try new tactics and new rotation combinations.
To this day, the Clippers' core lineup has always been very stable. The players have a very tacit understanding with each other, and they are very quick to try out new things. Sometimes during the game, the players can give you some new tricks by discussing among themselves.
This open style of play and ideas ensure that the Clippers have a pool of living water and there will always be new things to add.
Therefore, the Clippers are completely unlike Phil Jackson's team pursuing three consecutive championships. When the third championship is approaching and the fuel is exhausted, the entire team must rely on willpower and mental strength to survive until the finals. Hold on, achieve the goal with difficulty, and then collapse, push it down, and start again.
No one takes the three consecutive championships too seriously. The season has reached this point and no one mentions it every day. We want three consecutive championships and we want to win the championship.
As long as they step onto the court, everyone will still be immersed in the fun of playing and winning. After the game, they are still full of exploration and curiosity about new basketball playing methods and tactics.
Everyone knows in their hearts that even if they fail to win the championship this year, they will not fall apart. Instead, they will come together and continue to fight for the championship.
The previous team that could do this was the San Antonio Spurs, but it's a pity that the Spurs only have one Duncan, and the Spurs team is too poor.
If the Spurs were given a Duncan-level star, such as Kobe Bryant, and a richer owner, they might create an era greater than three consecutive championships.
In addition, other NBA teams cannot do this, because the NBA is a big dyeing vat, and fame and fortune will continue to impact a player's value concept, which is inevitable.
19. Young people in their 20s suddenly get contracts worth millions or tens of millions. They are surrounded by all kinds of voices, some are praising, some are suppressing, some are criticizing, some are praising, and then It is too difficult to maintain our original intention for many years to come.
This requires a good environment, good guidance, and an excellent and simple team to guide young people to stick to the path of playing well.
Unfortunately, Min Congda created such a good environment for the Clippers and this group of young people, shaping the Clippers' unique team culture and values.
Of course, his sacrifice was huge. After all, he was mentally ill at level two.
Since being diagnosed as mentally ill, Min Congda feels that his spirit has improved a lot.
This year, after dedicating himself to the research and practice of basketball tactics, his mind has calmed down a lot.
He no longer paid attention to that damn mission. Anyway, he really couldn't get past the second level.
Focusing more on what he is interested in, focusing on basketball, he began to gradually participate in the team's daily training and guidance.
Sometimes, he would even go off the field to train with the players in person, and everyone would cooperate tactically.
With Min Congda's height and size, any matchup between him and any player on the team would be mismatched.
Therefore, this is very helpful for Min Congda to guide everyone to practice unlimited mismatch attacks.
Of course, after three training sessions, Min Congda decided to give up and come to the training center to eat instead of practicing football.
Because every time he participates in training, the result is that all the ball holders try their best to find him to defend through cooperation, and then hit him in a misplaced position!
Although the training effect was very good, Min Congda couldn't bear it physically and mentally. Who could bear it after being dunked seventy or eighty times in one training session?
Even Curry, after facing Min Chongda out of position, turned around with the ball and smashed the ball under the basket with both hands. Is this still justified? Can you still play well?
Forget it, stop playing and practice it yourself.
Curry expressed great regret for this and hoped that Smart could continue to participate in training, which would be of great benefit to their understanding of tactics.
Min Congda angrily scolded Curry, "You are the biggest loophole on our team's defensive end. Anyone who hits you will be out of position! We have to find ways to hide you when we defend. As long as your defensive ability is stronger, our lineup will be closer." I’ve perfected you, you useless bastard!”
Curry was not angry about this. Everyone just chuckled while training, and the training hall was filled with a happy atmosphere.
There is nothing more interesting than making Mr. Smart angry. After many years of getting along with him, Min Congda's sincerity has already won the love of the players.
After receiving psychological comfort from the reprimand, Min Congda was also very pleased. No matter how joking he was off the court, the Clippers players on the court were unequivocal.
It was a good thing that the 23-game winning streak was ended. The pressure on their shoulders was relieved and the Clippers were able to start again. After entering March, the Clippers won consecutive games again.
Relying on a wave of 11 consecutive victories, he has stabilized his position as the league's number one, and has opened a certain gap with the Thunder, Heat, and Cavaliers.
Among them, on March 16, the Clippers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers at home 121:97 with a 24-point advantage. In this game, Leonard scored a career-high 37 points, and had 3 blocks and 4 steals. succeed.
After breaking Kevin Durant's mentality in February, he broke the heart of another small forward, LeBron James.
(End of chapter)
