Lakers offense.
Thunder players quickly returned to defense, and Zhao Chen controlled the rhythm and fell into a positional battle.
Zhao Chen also initiated a pick-and-roll with Jokic.
The Thunder still use man-to-man to defend Zhao Chen.
It was Adams who was guarding Jokic. Zhao Chen attracted Adams' defense change. Then Zhao Chen accelerated past Adams' defense. Westbrook and Durant attacked Zhao Chen at the same time.
Zhao Chen did not force himself to compete with the two talents. Zhao Chen distributed the ball to Booker on the outside.
There was a big open space in front of Booker. Booker took a 45-degree three-pointer and made it steadily!
3 to 2.
Zhao Chen sent the first assist.
The Thunder's defense is not weak. Their individual defensive ability even ranks among the best in the league, but their team defensive awareness is very weak. Westbrook could obviously not attack Zhao Chen and help defend Booker, but he chose to be tough. Fight against Zhao Chen.
Thunder offense.
Westbrook went to the frontcourt to continue the pick-and-roll. The Lakers did a good job defensively in the pick-and-roll, and Westbrook had to distribute the ball to Durant on the outside.
The Thunder's current style of play is still to give up to Durant if Westbrook can't play.
Except for these two, the other three starters do not have the ability to attack independently.
This is also the partnership Brooks came up with to maximize the offensive capabilities of the two.
Durant forced a three-pointer without getting rid of Kobe.
The rebound was obtained by Jokic.
Durant is now playing more and more freely. As long as he encounters someone who is not as tall as him, he will basically get up and pull out with one move.
It's hard for Kobe to restrict him now. The reason why he didn't score the ball was mainly due to his own touch.
Westbrook frowned when he saw Durant playing like this...
To be honest, he likes Durant playing like this.
After Jokic got the ball, he passed it to Booker in the frontcourt with one hand, and the Lakers launched a fast break.
The Lakers' fast break scares the entire league. The main reason is Jokic's long pass, Zhao Chen's speed, and now Booker's good one-on-one finishing ability.
Booker tried his best to get rid of Robertson, but Robertson's defense was not bad and kept giving Booker a fight.
Two-on-two in the frontcourt.
Zhao Chen moved to a 45-degree position in the frontcourt, and it was Westbrook who defended Zhao Chen.
Booker did not choose to pass the ball, but chose to slow down and stop mid-range on the right side.
The ball was struck, and the rebound bounced in the direction of Zhao Chen and Westbrook.
"This is mine." Westbrook jumped up, determined to win this rebound!
"boom!"
Zhao Chen took off behind Westbrook, knocked him away in the air, stretched out his long arms, and grabbed the rebound first.
Obviously, Westbrook has no advantage in the competition for rebounds.
After getting the rebound, Zhao Chen did not choose to go up himself, but instead passed the ball to Booker who was following up!
Booker dunks with both hands!
Booker's offensive sense is superior to Robertson. When he completed the dunk, Robertson had just arrived.
Seeing Booker's dunk, Robertson's scalp went numb.
This rookie's offensive awareness is great.
5 to 2.
The Lakers took the lead.
Booker and Zhao Chen high-fived in celebration.
Zhao Chen shouted to Westbrook: "Russell, don't be careless."
Westbrook did not hit back at Zhao Chen, his eyes were filled with fighting intent.
Off the court, the two are brothers, but on the court, they are enemies.
At first, it was Westbrook who taught Zhao Chen the skills of guard rebounding. Today, Zhao Chen taught Westbrook a lesson.
Thunder offense.
Zhao Chen no longer defends Westbrook forward, but chooses to defend with two steps.
This kind of defense is designed to encourage Westbrook's shooting.
Westbrook lived up to Zhao Chen's expectations and took a jump shot without pausing outside the three-point line.
"frame!"
Although his shooting has improved compared to the previous two seasons, it is still inconsistent.
The rebound was obtained by Zhao Chen, who took the ball to attack.
Lakers offense.
Zhao Chen and Jokic's pick-and-roll. After the pick-and-roll, Zhao Chen rushed to the left with all his strength, lowered the rhythm, and adjusted with his back dribble.
Ibaka and Westbrook's back-and-forth attack comes again.
Both of these two players are highly mobile and talented, and they quickly surrounded Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen's shooting angle was locked, but Zhao Chen did not shoot. Instead, he pushed the ball between the two of them and gave it to Jokic under the basket. Jokic took the ball and reversed the basket and hit the board!
7 to 2.
Zhao Chen is still using passes to break the Thunder's defense.
Since Zhao Chen scored 104 points, the teams he encountered have attacked him defensively to the point of madness. Many times, they would rather foul than let Zhao Chen easily score.
Barkley shouted: "It's too easy, it's really too easy. Zhao is just playing on the court. It's not easy for him to send assists now."
Smith shouted: "Look at how Westbrook responds. The matchup between these two tonight is very interesting."
Westbrook still used the scissor step to rush towards Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen kept retreating to make room for Westbrook to shoot.
Zhao Chen's physical confrontation is no worse than Westbrook's.
Westbrook can't get through it even when he consciously prevents breakthroughs.
Westbrook makes an emergency stop and comes back from mid-range!
Doesn’t feel good!
"frame!"
The rebound was won by Kobe.
After Zhao Chen defended the ball, he shouted to Westbrook: "Your shooting still hasn't improved."
Westbrook's mid-range shooting percentage has actually improved, but facing Zhao Chen, he wanted to make the ball too much, but he couldn't make the shot.
Westbrook doesn't care what many people think, but he cares about Zhao Chen's opinions.
Because Zhao Chen is a strong man.
Westbrook is eager to defeat the current Zhao Chen.
Lakers offense.
Zhao Chen still played a pick-and-roll with Jokic. After the pick-and-roll, Adams and Westbrook did not flank Zhao Chen immediately.
This gave Zhao Chen a chance. Zhao Chen sprinted and accelerated to the inside of the basket. Ibaka guarded the basket. Zhao Chen jumped up as if he was going to dunk.
Ibaka pounced, but Zhao Chen grabbed the ball with one hand in the air and threw it to the right baseline!
Just the right pass, Kobe is in position!
Kobe received the pass and made a three-point jumper from the bottom corner!
"Uh-huh!"
10 to 2.
Partnering with Zhao Chen, Kobe has also changed his attributes. Now he is a veritable 3D player who doesn't need the ball.
Although his efficiency is mediocre, his strength is that his teammates are awesome and he can lead the team with great strength.
Kobe just needs to make one or two shots now and then.
Zhao Chen's assist data continues to increase.
After scoring the goal, Kobe didn't celebrate much and just waved to Zhao Chen.
Thunder offense.
Encouraged by Zhao Chen, Westbrook continued to shoot mid-range jumpers.
This time I finally made it!
10 to 4.
Durant was speechless about Westbrook's offense. He made a shot at the beginning but didn't score, and then he couldn't catch the ball. Westbrook didn't pass it to him...
