Zhao Chen's overall view is something Durant does not have.
"Good dunk." Zhao Chen praised Ibaka.
"Hey, buddy, it's you who made it beautiful." Ibaka smiled.
The experience of the playoffs has allowed Ibaka's experience to continue to improve.
Ibaka is very familiar with cooperating with Zhao Chen. He feels that cooperating with Zhao Chen is much more comfortable than Westbrook.
Zhao Chen's pass will come after he has completely taken away the defense, while Westbrook will pass it halfway.
The difference between these two passing methods is whether the receiver is less likely to make mistakes. Obviously Zhao Chen's pass is less likely to make mistakes.
It is also a basic coordination tactic, but if different players cooperate, it will have different effects.
In the eyes of others, Zhao Chen is a top scorer, but in Ibaka's eyes, Zhao Chen is even more of a top passer.
Zhao Chen combines the strengths of Westbrook and Durant. He can organize and score. His presence has improved the Thunder's offensive system.
In the first quarter of the next game, Zhao Chen continued to lead the entire Thunder team to suppress the Heat at home.
This is absolute dominance that G1 and G2 cannot see.
All members of the Heat were extremely uncomfortable with Zhao Chen's offense, and their previous preparations had no effect at all.
Zhao Chen also showed off his good touch without hesitation, hitting unanswerable mid-range or emergency three-pointers again and again. The audience did not boo at all! ! !
Domestic fans have seen what the Thunder is like with Zhao Chen!
It's just a violent friction against the Heat, and the Heat have no power to resist.
Westbrook and Durant played very comfortably. With Zhao Chen helping to attract firepower, the two were enjoying one-on-one fun!
Speaking of singles, the current capabilities of Wade and James are definitely not as good as Westbrook and Durant.
During positional battles, Wade and James often rely on pick-and-rolls to attack. Westbrook and Durant don't need it at all. They can do it as long as they have one-on-one opportunities.
Pick and roll? The two of them seemed to be nothing more than a hindrance most of the time.
So even though the Heat were playing according to their offensive rhythm, they were simply unable to compete with the Thunder's firepower.
When only Durant and Westbrook are around, the Heat can attack them as much as they want, because the others pose no threat.
But after Zhao Chen returns, their pincer attack will have no effect. Zhao Chen will give them enough lessons.
A team with two superstars is completely different from a team with three superstars. This change can cause a qualitative change. How to flank three superstars at the same time? Will the referee come together?
Zhao Chen scored 20 points crazily in the first quarter!
This game was very confrontational, and the Heat gradually reacted after the first quarter and increased the confrontation for Zhao Chen.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Zhao Chen fell to the ground more than once.
After all, Zhao Chen has just recovered from his injury, and the Heat's conscious targeting has taken a huge toll on him.
After playing for half a quarter, Brooks asked Zhao Chen to come down and rest.
Westbrook and Durant opened up, and the two took turns bombing the Heat's defense.
....
The first half ended quickly, with the score fixed at 64-50.
The Thunder took a 14-point lead on the road.
Thunder fans couldn't even imagine this kind of momentum advantage before Zhao Chen came back.
Although the team led by more than 10 points at halftime of the last game, it always felt unsteady and eventually suffered a reversal. However, this time the lead of more than 10 points was extremely reliable.
Zhao Chen scored 31 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in the first half.
Westbrook had 12 points and Durant had 14 points.
The game returned to the rhythm of these three scoring most of the points.
This is the rhythm they like too!
............
"As soon as Zhao Chen came back, the Thunder had a full lineup. Their impact and singles ability were fully demonstrated in the first half, and the Heat's defense was a little tired of dealing with it."
"Zhao Chen is the absolute core of the Thunder now. The team's 14-point lead is inseparable from his performance of 31 points at halftime."
"In terms of absolute strength, the Thunder may be stronger, but not by much. The difference between the two teams is still reflected in the spirit of the Heat players. The spirit of the Heat players is still a bit worse. They just don't steal some half-goals. Of course. , They actually improved their defense of key players. After Zhao Chen scored 20 points in the first quarter, they only limited Zhao Chen to 11 points in the second quarter."
"The Heat obviously didn't have much preparation for Zhao Chen's comeback. Brooks used Zhao Chen's hidden trump card to sap the Heat. The Thunder's probability of winning this game will be very high."
"Coach Spoelstra needs to find a way to limit Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen has always been a pain point for the Heat."
"The only good news for the Heat is that they have two wins in hand, and they have more room for error in the series!"
ESPN commentators Mike Breen and Van Gundy were discussing the situation in the first half.
The original media prediction that the Heat may sweep the Thunder may not be achieved. The Heat now seem unable to keep this home court.
locker room.
Coach Brooks had a smile on his face.
After Zhao Chen returned, the Thunder had the upper hand in terms of strength. When leading, he no longer had to worry about whether the team would encounter a reversal as before.
Basketball is safe and reliable in Zhao Chen's hands!
For the entire first half, Zhao Chen himself played very comfortably.
If there is no double attack, he will hit one by one. If there is a double attack, he will look at who the defender is.
Zhao Chen's shooting percentage in the first half was close to 80%. With such a high shooting percentage, no matter how many offensive teammates he beat, he would not have a problem.
"Zhao, go up and charge in the third quarter and try to open up the score." Brooks pushed up his glasses and said to Zhao Chen.
"Well, no problem, try to enter garbage time as early as possible." Zhao Chen nodded.
"Yes, kill them early and go back and have a good rest." Lamb shouted.
In garbage time, the Thunder's role players are now confident.
With Zhao Chen here, everything has changed.
When Zhao Chen was away, whenever they lost, they would be pulled out and criticized by the media.
Every detail of every role player is targeted and amplified.
Usually these mistakes are common in ordinary games, but when put on the stage of the finals, they are very glaring.
The psychological endurance of role players is already poor, so it is naturally difficult for them to perform better under such pressure.
Zhao Chen's return has greatly increased the team's probability of winning. As long as they win, those mistakes will no longer be a problem.
Their pressure will not be so great.
Zhao Chen takes a lot of shots?
It doesn't matter, as long as they can lead the team to win, it doesn't matter if they don't take action. The Thunder's role players have adapted to this rhythm of the game during the regular season.
During the halftime break, Zhao Chen tried his best to recover his physical fitness.
Zhao Chen himself is very excited to be able to return to the stage of the finals to help the team. He likes to fight with the team.
In the third quarter of the game, the Thunder had a small lineup of Zhao Chen, Lamb, Durant, Robertson, and Ibaka.
On the Heat's side are Wade, Ray Allen, Battier, James, and Bosh.
Both teams are playing with small lineups and want to use speed to go head-to-head with their opponents!
