Chapter 120 Durant: Have I become the second in command? (6,000-word chapter)

Rick Carlisle may be the head coach in the league who likes to use smaller guards the most. The current backcourt combination of the Dallas Mavericks is very interesting, with the 36-year-old Kidd partnering with the 25-year-old Badia.

One is old and the other is young, one is tall and the other is short. Li Ze feels that the Mavericks backcourt combination may still be able to play well on the offensive end, but for him on the defensive end, it is a pure colander.

In the Thunder's first attack, Li Ze came out of the screen to receive the pass from Guigui. He held the ball in his right hand and broke through in an instant. He crossed the step and pulled back. His left hand followed the trend of the hip and changed direction. With a simple change of rhythm, he broke through Kidd's defense.

Dampier's defensive position was a bit awkward at this time, but seeing Li Ze's breakthrough speed, he had no choice but to step forward to help defend. Unfortunately, this was a wrong defensive choice.

After a fake pass, Li Ze easily found Krstic under the basket, fed him a piece of cake, and succeeded in a one-arm dunk.

"Oh ah!"

The team successfully scored the first attack, and the Ford Center Arena immediately erupted with huge cheers.

After Kostic succeeded in dunking, he immediately high-fived Li Ze to celebrate.

Why do many players in the locker room like Li Ze? Because he can eat the cake. As long as he moves according to tactics, Li Ze will definitely get the ball when the opportunity arises.

No role player just likes to wait in the corner, under the basket or 45 degrees outside the three-point line to catch the ball and shoot. If you want to find the offensive rhythm and run tactics, everyone touching the ball is the correct way to play.

The head coach of Carlisle naturally knows that Kidd has some problems with defensive lateral movement, but the team currently does not have a better point guard, and Jason Terry on the bench plays more of a scorer role.

On the offensive end, Kidd became a commander, handing over the ball just after halftime, and then began to shout for his teammates to move, while he wandered outside the three-point line.

This made the opponent Li Ze feel uncomfortable, and his aggressiveness was too weak, making the badge useless.

It's still the pick-and-roll between Barea and Nowitzki. Nowitzki's pick-and-roll quality is still very good with his big body. The turtle is a step too slow to squeeze through, and Jeff Green is concerned about Nowitzki, so the defense dare not step in.

Too big.

As a result, Barea made a decisive jump shot without hesitation after picking up and rolling from outside the three-point line.

"Shua" the three-pointer was scored.

When serving from the baseline, Li Ze whispered to Turtle:

"Change positions on the defensive end. I will guard Barea and squeeze through in the pick-and-roll. This is my best defensive method."

Turtle nodded immediately. He was not very good at guarding pick-and-rolls in college, so his good brother came out to share the defense for him, and he was already happy.

On the offensive end, the Thunder started their hand-off tactics from the outside again. Different from the previous games, Li Ze acted as the screener for the hand-off.

Li Ze pretended to pass the ball to Durant who came out of the screen. At the moment when the two of them crossed paths, Li Ze twisted his body and quickly released the ball with his left hand, speeding through Kidd's defense.

Nowitzki was forced to shrink inside, noticed the opponent's movement, flicked his left wrist, and passed the ball to Jeff Green, who was open in the corner.

After the latter caught the ball, he made a three-point jumper.

"Shua", he hit the open three-pointer steadily.

Jeff Green usually feels hot in the opening stages, but as the game progresses, his shooting percentage begins to gradually decline. With the defense at the 4th position continuously, it is difficult to maintain the feel throughout the game.

"The three-pointer response from Jeff Green! Kayce's breakthrough shot was wonderful! Kidd's defensive movement was too slow."

The home commentator Te Wen has long since become a die-hard fan of Li Ze, and he will brag about Li Ze whenever he gets the chance.

The upgraded [Bullet Passer] badge allows Li Ze to pass the ball quickly and accurately.

Li Ze's defense against Barea involved physical confrontation from the off-ball end. The [Marking Master] badge has a very obvious effect on the small defender.

Barea wanted to play a pick-and-roll with Dampier to get rid of the entanglement, but unfortunately Li Ze's pick-and-roll squeezed through Li Ze's quick and quick pick-and-roll, and he made two more cross-step dribbles, but he still couldn't get rid of Li Ze's defense.

In desperation, he had to hang to Nowitzki in the low post. Facing Jeff Green's defense, the probing step hit the center of Jeff Green's defense.

Putting the ball with his right hand, he strode towards the basket. Kostic was half a beat behind the basket to help defend.

"Crack" "squeak"

The referee's whistle blows, the player commits a foul and two free throws are made.

"Shoot!"

Jeff Green raised his hands in annoyance, indicating that the ball was his problem. The No. 4 position who can shoot well is simply his nemesis. There is no way to do it, except to hope that the opponent's hand will stretch his hips.

Nowitzki looked relaxed, stood on the free throw line, simply patted the ball, and made two free throws.

Coach Brooks feels a little helpless. This is the shortcoming of the Thunder's current lineup. Jeff Green has tried his best, but the physical condition is too different.

The Thunder attacked, and this time Durant provided a hand-off screen for Li Ze from the outside. As soon as Li Ze caught the ball, Marion switched defenses instantly and changed directions with his hips while traveling, without getting rid of the opponent's defense.

At this time, Li Ze held the ball in his left hand and suddenly pulled it back, pretending to turn around, then using his right foot as an axis, twisted his body, and quickly put the ball together to make a fake shot.

Marion was directly sent flying, and Li Ze stepped up and down lightly and succeeded in a layup.

"Oh! Kayce's dreamy dance moves successfully knocked Marion away. This goal will definitely be selected as one of today's top ten goals! I seem to have seen Olajuwon!"

The commentator Te Wen couldn't help but let out an exclamation, and then started to praise Li Ze again.

The Chinese media reporters on the sidelines were also stunned. Only by watching the game live can you truly feel Li Ze's strength, speed and offensive skills.

Su Qun was also a little excited when he heard Oklahoma City fans screaming at the scene because of Li Ze's goal.

"It's so amazing. It's hard to imagine that Li Ze can perform such technical moves!"

The accompanying staff shouted loudly to Su Qun beside him, "He has great physical fitness and comprehensive skills. He can play from the 1st position to the 3rd position. This is a player that has never been seen in China."

"Man, nice footwork, I can't believe you were a rookie."

While Li Ze was returning to defense, Marion came to him and praised him with a smile. After saying that, he immediately left to run tactics.

Li Ze is not surprised. He has received a lot of praises like this. Only players who have played against you will understand each other's strength. Post-match data cannot perfectly show many things.

You can get 2 points if you pass the defense with your dream dance steps, and you can also get 2 points if you break through and make a free throw, but the two have completely different perceptions.

Durant couldn't help but feel secretly in his heart. He was really not very good at such technical moves. Hearing the deafening cheers at the scene, he felt that his status in the team was declining sharply.

"We must strengthen our offensive methods. I was here first. The position of the boss must not be given away!"

In the following game, Barea was somewhat misfired by Li Ze, but Nowitzki and Marion supported the Mavericks' offense and played low singles, making Jeff Green miserable.

Marion also succeeded in two consecutive layups with Kidd's organization. Durant's defensive habits still have some problems. After all, he didn't need to do much defensive work in the first two years of his career.

The two teams alternated the lead. With three minutes left in the first quarter, the two sides conducted personnel rotations. Jeff Green, who had two fouls, was replaced by Ibaka. Sefolosha also replaced Li Ze.

The Mavericks also replaced Jason Terry and Josh Howard, replacing Barea and Marion, who committed two fouls.

By the end of the first quarter, the two sides were tied at 24. The Mavericks could not guard the Thunder's outside line, and the Thunder's inside line was also beaten by Nowitzki. The two teams were basically in mutual explosion mode.

Jeff Green, who was sitting on the bench, was very depressed. In the first quarter, Nowitzki made 3 of 4 shots and 4 of 4 free throws. He scored 10 points in a single quarter. He was simply unstoppable. If he was in Dallas, he might have committed three fouls in one quarter.

.

"Don't be frustrated, Bro, no matter who we choose to defend, the effect will be the same. You have done a very good job!"

Li Ze briefly comforted Jeff Green. He knew the opponent's troubles. When the Thunder performed well, the media would use a magnifying glass to observe the players on the team.

Jeff Green's criticism continues, and most players are still very concerned about media reports. Fortunately, local Oklahoma City fans still support him very much.

"The other person is a superstar. There is something wrong with my mentality. Thanks, Kayce."

Jeff Green and Li Ze fist bumped in greeting. No one likes to complain to each other. Encouragement between teammates is still very important.

During the break, head coach Brooks also began to tell the rotation players:

"Sean, after coming on the court, control the offensive rhythm with Kayce. Ibaka, be careful to protect yourself and don't accumulate fouls too quickly!"

Shaun Livingston has recently returned from injury and is in good shape during team training. Therefore, head coach Brooks also added him to the regular rotation for this game.

In the locker room, Livingston belongs to the neutral camp. He is basically a simple transparent person. However, he is very popular in the team. He still trains hard after a serious injury. This fighting spirit, Respect×3.

Livingston played the 1st position, Sefolosha played the 2nd position, and Li Ze moved to the 3rd position. The Thunder's backcourt was all over two meters tall, so when Jason Terry came on the court, he twitched the corner of his mouth and said,

Everything is so high!

Carlisle's head coach also has a short rotation, with Kidd and Terry partnering in the backcourt, Josh Howard and Nowitzki forming the forward line, and Drew Good moving to center.

At the beginning of the second quarter, after Livingston passed half court, he immediately passed to Li Ze at the top of the key. Ibaka raised the pick and roll and broke through with his left hand. Josh Howard immediately went to the line and squeezed past, sticking close to the defense beside him.

.

During the march, Li Ze suddenly dribbled the ball behind his back with his left hand, changed direction with his right hand and dribbled under the hip again. The dribbling speed was not fast but the range was large. Josh Howard lost half of his position due to Li Zehuang's defense.

I could only watch as Li Ze made a pull-up jump shot near the free throw line.

"Shua" ignored Josh Howard's defense beside him and hit the ball steadily from mid-range.

The badge bonus of [Strong Shot Master] + [Hot Zone Hunter] enhances Li Ze’s confidence in shooting near the free throw line.

"Kayce's signature swing is that he has used his hips to change directions in recent games to get rid of the defense. It seems that after playing more than 20 games in the NBA, Kayce has found his own offensive rhythm!"

The commentator Te Wen actually prefers Li Ze's fast and wide crossover in the previous games. Now this kind of crossover relies more on rhythm and body to get rid of the defense, and the visual effect is not explosive enough.

The Mavericks' offense began to hit the ground running, taking advantage of Nowitzki's restraint in the low post, going from inside to outside several times. Finally, after passing the ball continuously, Jason Terry had a three-point shot opportunity and decisively made a jump shot.

"Bang" struck angrily.

After Ibaka collected the defensive rebound, he found Li Ze. After receiving the ball, he immediately accelerated and switched offense and defense. Several players in the Thunder backcourt rushed through the opponent's half.

In a 3-on-2 situation, Sefolosha ran to the bottom corner to open up space. In the middle was Li Ze and Livingston in a 2-on-1 situation. Jason Terry, who was retreating, had no choice but to save Li Ze who was holding the ball first.

, and ended up watching Li Zexiao pass the ball from behind.

After Livingston caught the ball, he dunked with one hand!
To be continued...