Such a malicious foul in the Western Conference Finals enraged Coach Brooks and his Assistant Coaches on the sideline, especially when the Doctor signaled that Kostić could no longer continue and a stretcher was brought onto the court. Everyone finally lost their temper.
All members of the the coaching staff gathered around the scorer's table. Such a foul was practically attempted murder. Andrew had already completed the dunk, but then inexplicably swung his elbow forcefully. No one believed it was an unintentional move.
"Andrew has ruined these Western Conference Finals! You don't even need to review the replay. This is a purely malicious foul, he must be suspended, and he must apologize to Kostić after the game!"
Coach Brooks was red-faced with anger, roaring loudly at the head referee. When he saw the head referee still hesitantly watching the replay, his fury intensified, and he even wanted to rush over and interrupt the referee's actions.
Fortunately, the Assistant Coaches remained calm. The two quickly embraced Brooks and dragged him back to the bench. Another Assistant Coach continuously pressured the referee, stating that Andrew must receive a severe punishment.
At this moment, Staples Center was in chaos. Los Angeles Lakers fans began to cheer excitedly, constantly provoking the Thunder players. Coupled with the recent scuffle between the players, both sides were fuming.
"F***! That guy definitely did it on purpose. He used a lot of force, Nenad was almost elbowed unconscious! We should have given him a good two punches just now!"
Russell was instantly furious at the thought of Andrew feigning innocence after the malicious foul.
"What the f*** do the Los Angeles Lakers want? Intentionally injuring people because they're far behind? Sh*t! They actually sent someone directly to the hospital. Damn Andrew!"
Durant was also enraged. He was about to run to the frontcourt when he turned around and found Kostić on the ground. He had never seen such a scene before; it was truly heinous.
"What is the referee still reviewing? Malicious foul, ejection, direct suspension after the game. What's there to hesitate about? Nenad has already been carried out on a stretcher."
Kayce was also furious when he saw the referees at the scorer's table repeatedly replaying the foul with headphones on. The person was down; wasn't this a clear-cut Flagrant 2 foul? What was there to review?!
After reviewing it several times at the scorer's table, the head referee confirmed that Andrew had maliciously swung his elbow after completing the offensive play. Only then did he announce the penalty:
"After reviewing the game footage, Los Angeles Lakers player number 17, Andrew Bynum, has committed a Flagrant 2 foul and is ejected from the game."
"Boo!"
The audience at Staples Center let out a faint boo when they heard the head referee's ruling. Clearly, some fans thought Andrew had done nothing wrong; they even considered Andrew the hero of this game.
"Gentlemen, remind your players to control their emotions. There's still a quarter left in the game, and I don't want to see any more malicious fouls. The NBA will absolutely not tolerate violence on the court!"
Brooks and Phil Jackson both nodded upon hearing the head referee's reminder. Coach Brooks also gradually regained his composure at this point. After such a significant cost, this game had to be won.
When he returned to the bench, seeing his players looking at him, Coach Brooks took a deep breath and said softly:
"Alright, guys! Adjust your mood. Turn your anger into motivation to play. We're still leading by 14 points. We must win this game. Don't give the Los Angeles Lakers any chances!"
"Kayce, control our offensive rhythm. Serge, protect our rebounds when you get on the court. We're going to dedicate this victory to Kostić!"
"Oh!"
In the remaining minutes of the 3rd quarter, the referees started blowing their whistles frequently, consciously controlling the officiating standard on the court. They absolutely could not allow another malicious foul or fight to occur. Commissioner David Stern has always said no to on-court violence!
After this quarter, the score was 96:82, and the Thunder once again maintained their lead, still up by 14 points.
When the 4th quarter began, the Los Angeles Lakers still tried to catch up, but unfortunately, Artest, who was left open, still couldn't respond from beyond the arc. And although Odom, who came off the bench, performed well, the Thunder's Big Three began to furiously attack the Los Angeles Lakers' paint.
Especially Russell, facing Fisher, he played with increasing ease, scoring continuously with drives and outside shots. After the Los Angeles Lakers played for over three minutes, Artest on the court started to clash with Durant again.
"Look at your sh*t shooting! I don't even need to guard you!"
"Kid, I'm warning you not to provoke me! I'll make you pay!"
Artest had been clanking shots all game, so naturally, he was simmering with anger. Durant also had no joy from winning. The team already had few big men, and now Kostić was directly in the hospital after only one game of the series.
The referee saw that the situation on the court was again amiss, blowing his whistle repeatedly and quickly separating the players. The linesman also signaled both sides to make substitutions quickly. Head Coach Phil Jackson also replaced his starters at this point, calling it a day. Losing the first home game, and Andrew facing a suspension, the situation was not optimistic.
The Thunder replaced some of their starters, but Kayce remained on the court. The victory in this game was too important; the the coaching staff had to keep Kayce on the court to control the situation until Kayce was replaced by Menor with 2 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game.
Finally, 119:105, the visiting Thunder successfully won Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Kayce played 41 minutes in this game, shooting 12 for 19, including 2 for 5 from three-point range and 4 for 4 from the free-throw line, efficiently scoring 30 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 turnover, and 1 steal. His overall performance was impeccable, and his defense on Kobe was also very effective, limiting him to only 23 points.
However, the Thunder players were not overly happy after the win. Kostić's injury left the team's interior thin.
Coach Brooks appeared even more worried. He could only hope that Andrew's suspension would be severe; otherwise, facing the impact of a twin-tower lineup, the Thunder's interior might completely collapse.
After the game, in the Thunder's locker room, the Doctor announced Kostić's specific injury:
"Fortunately, Nenad has been diagnosed with a mild concussion, which is unlikely to leave any sequelae. But unfortunately, even if he recovers quickly, it will take at least a week."
"The NBA's Doctors take head injuries very seriously. To return to the court, he will need to go through a pre-determined rehabilitation process. I personally estimate that Nenad will not be able to return to the court for at least 10 days."
Upon hearing the Doctor's words, everyone began to furiously curse Andrew. Such a malicious elbow was absolutely unforgivable.
"Andrew should be banned from playing in this series! He must pay for his actions!"
"Andrew is a piece of sh*t. He did it on purpose. Kostić had just picked up the ball and stood up, and that guy immediately threw an elbow. The NBA must penalize the Los Angeles Lakers."
"What's even more unbelievable is that many fans at the venue were actually cheering loudly. God, are they all crazy?"
Coach Brooks interrupted everyone's rant. The Western Conference Finals had just begun, and he needed his players to remain calm:
"Alright, guys! Trust our front office. We've already protested to the NBA. Everyone, pack up quickly. We'll go visit Nenad together and tell him the good news of our victory!"
Kayce didn't think about the subsequent games. Getting a victory on the road was considered a perfect start for the Thunder. But thinking about the possible ruling from the NBA, he couldn't help but inwardly complain:
"They wouldn't go easy on this penalty just to force a Lakers-Celtics showdown, would they?."
After Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, America's media reporters were completely thrilled. All sorts of topics were unstoppable. After the game, TNT immediately began connecting with the commentators Kevin Harlan and special guest Reggie Miller.
"Reggie, can you briefly comment on tonight's game? The Thunder's guys were truly amazing. What do you think will be the trend of this matchup going forward?"
Host Ernie Johnson asked directly.
"I must commend this young team. They taught the arrogant Los Angeles Lakers a lesson. The Thunder's Big Three played perfectly: Kayce with 30 points, Kevin with 26 points, and Russell with 24 points. The Big Three scored 80 points. Playing in the Western Conference Finals for the first time, such a performance is incredible."
"As for Andrew's foul, I hope the NBA will impose a severe penalty. That was absolutely not a basketball move! Kostić will be out for at least a week, which means the Thunder's interior will face a severe test in the upcoming games."
Kenny Smith immediately took over the conversation after hearing Reggie Miller's comments, asking again:
"We noticed that the Thunder adopted the same defensive strategy as the Phoenix Suns, and the Thunder's defense was even more aggressive. In this game, the Los Angeles Lakers' wing players failed to respond. Do you think the Los Angeles Lakers' three-point shooting percentage will improve in the next game?"
"I believe the Los Angeles Lakers' perimeter will definitely respond, just like in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The zone defense will ultimately pay a price."
"Don't forget the Los Angeles Lakers still have Kobe. He played perfectly in the Western Conference Semifinals. Although he only scored 23 points tonight, the Black Mamba will definitely respond!"
Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan each offered their opinions.
"Thank you both for your comments. Next, we will await the NBA's final ruling. This penalty might affect the final outcome of this series. It seems the media will be busy tomorrow!"
May 18th was the day of the lottery drawing. The tanking teams were all hoping to get the first overall pick. In the end, the Wizards got the first pick, followed by the 76ers at second, and the Nets at third.
Such a draft order naturally brought joy to some and sorrow to others. However, the Thunder players were more concerned about the NBA's penalty on Andrew. But once the results came out, everyone started cursing again.
"Oh, sh*t! The league only suspended him for one game for such a dangerous head shot?"
During morning practice, Durant was furious. He had thought Bynum wouldn't appear in this series, but the league's ruling completely surprised him.
"This is so unfair. Last night, Kostić still had clear concussion symptoms. Bynum's action is absolutely unforgivable. This guy just offered a flimsy apology and got a one-game suspension? The NBA couldn't have been lobbied by the Lakers, could it?"
"It must be the Yellow-Green rivalry. The league wants the Lakers to reach the NBA Finals for the ratings. What a damn decision! Oklahoma City fans must be furious. The league doesn't care about small market teams!"
Russell and Jeff Green also started complaining wildly. Although Kayce joined in with a few curses, he had actually expected it. His future memories told him that even a kick to the groin in the Western Conference Finals would be fine, so a one-game suspension for an elbow was already the league being generous.
Coach Brooks and the coaching staff were a bit worried. Although Kostić's play was inconsistent, his screens were definitely the most important part of the Thunder's offense. High-quality screens were essential to unleash the Thunder's attack.
Serge Ibaka's rim protection was decent, but when it came to pick-and-roll screens, he couldn't compare to Kostić's large frame. Moreover, playing on the road meant they couldn't use any subtle tricks; the referees would definitely be strict about the Thunder's moving screens.
When they returned to Oklahoma City for G3, the Thunder would face the Lakers' twin towers lineup. It was foreseeable that the Lakers would definitely intensify their offensive rebounding. The games would become increasingly difficult, and Coach Brooks felt a chill when he thought about the possibility of the perimeter offense suddenly going cold.
"Scott, perhaps we can consider going small later on. Since we can't limit them on defense, let's solve the problem with offense!"
"A decrease in screen quality will definitely affect our offense. I still don't really agree with going small. We've already won one game, so we can increase Collison's playing time."
"Our interior height is a huge disadvantage. The Lakers have two big men over 7 feet tall. They can even pound the ball into the paint on every offensive possession. Once our defense shrinks too much, the Lakers' perimeter will get more opportunities."
Coach Brooks listened to the coaching staff's discussions while observing his players' shooting. After a moment of thought, he spoke:
"We need to take it one game at a time. We don't need to overthink it. For tomorrow night's game, we will stick to our original game plan. Serge Ibaka will enter the starting lineup, and we will also increase Collison's rotation time. We don't have much room for adjustment."
"I hope the guys can continue to play efficiently. Tomorrow night's game might also be an opportunity, as the Lakers will also have to change their starting lineup. We need to prepare in advance."
On the Lakers' side, the morning was dedicated to film study. Phil Jackson and the coaching staff had worked overnight to edit the G1 game. Although the Thunder's perimeter strength was formidable, the Lakers had devised a defensive strategy to limit them.
"Ron, pay attention to Durant's offensive choices. In most possessions, he relies on a teammate's screen to receive the ball. Don't be fooled by his moves. Show your aggressiveness on defense and aggressively fight through all screens."
"Pau, be mindful of your defensive positioning. You need to provide more help defense from the elbow. Kayce and Westbrook have different playing styles. He can shoot from almost anywhere on the court, but the left elbow is where he has the highest shooting percentage. Make sure your defense keeps up."
The Assistant Coach was showing the players the Thunder's offensive sets, constantly reminding everyone how to defend and how to position themselves better. Phil Jackson remained silent until the film session was almost over, then he spoke with a solemn expression:
"We must win tomorrow night's game. You all know what being down 0-2 means. I need to see you all perform at your best. They are just a young team; their performance will fluctuate. Seize the opportunity, and get some rest tonight!"
On the evening of the 18th, the Eastern Conference Finals G2 between the Boston Celtics and the Magic officially began. The game was fiercely contested by both sides, and the second half devolved into a full-blown slugfest. Dwight Howard once again dominated the paint, scoring 30 points, but he couldn't lead the Magic to victory.
Vince Carter was lost in the Boston Celtics' defense. Although the Magic's shooters performed well, Paul Pierce was in even better form, and with Rajon Rondo's sudden explosion, the Boston Celtics once again won on the road.
95-92, the Magic lost both of their home games. They will head to North Shore Garden with a 0-2 deficit, and perhaps this series is already without suspense.
America's media was once again abuzz. The Yellow-Green rivalry was really happening! Would the Big Three win another championship? Or would the Lakers get their revenge?
However, the local Los Angeles media became more subdued. The Thunder's trio in G1 left a deep impression on them, and everyone felt it was better to accumulate some good karma. Blowing too hard could indeed cause a back injury.
On May 19th, Western Conference Finals G2 once again attracted the attention of many fans. The Lakers were almost on the edge of a cliff. If they lost again tonight, this series might also lose its suspense.
However, besides the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, another hot topic in the NBA these days was "Where is LeBron James going?"
Most media still believed LeBron James was pressuring the Cavaliers' management. He didn't want to leave Cleveland; his original intention was for the Cavaliers to re-strengthen the team, as the "one team, one city" narrative was still quite popular these days.
Because LeBron James had previously mentioned teaming up with Derrick Rose, some sensationalist media even went to Chicago to interview Michael Jordan, who was playing golf.
Michael Jordan gave a very perfunctory answer to the question "Where is LeBron James going?", merely casually mentioning that the Chicago Bulls might be a good option.
Afterward, some reporters provocatively asked Michael Jordan: "Is LeBron James surpassing your legendary career?"
This question left Jordan completely speechless. He initially didn't want to answer, but seeing the reporters relentlessly pressing, he directly retorted:
"How many championship rings does he have? Do you think he's already a legendary player?"
"…"
As soon as this news report came out, James Fans were also mortified. The current LeBron James indeed couldn't be compared to Michael Jordan; the two were not on the same level at all. Michael Jordan was almost completely dominant.
Staples Center was packed tonight, with many big stars coming specifically to watch the game. After all, if they lost again, the series might not return to Los Angeles, so if they wanted to support the team, they had to be there tonight!
Nicholson, the loyal Lakers fan, was still at the arena tonight to cheer for the home team. Flea and Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers were also present, along with rappers Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. The front row was almost entirely filled with various celebrities.
This is why the league favors the Lakers: Los Angeles has a good geographical location and generates buzz. Oklahoma City's home games wouldn't attract these celebrities; at most, they would be some third-tier singers. The difference between the two is vast.
Compared to the atmosphere of the last game, Staples Center was exceptionally noisy tonight. Lakers fans were actually a bit restless; they truly hadn't expected this young Thunder team to be stronger than the Phoenix Suns.
In the player tunnel, the Thunder players looked serious. Although they had already secured a road victory, the team's pressure was still considerable. Having reached the Western Conference Finals, no one wanted to go further, and the Thunder players naturally carried some psychological baggage.
Kayce, feeling the somber atmosphere, couldn't help but quip:
"Guys, did I get the time wrong? Tonight's game should be G2. Relax a bit, we've already accomplished our road mission."
"I feel even more pressure after winning. I'm starting to yearn for the NBA Finals, and I'm worried about whether we'll hold our home court. Last night, I didn't fall asleep until around 1 AM."
Russell can sometimes seem carefree, but whenever it concerns honor, he becomes exceptionally focused.
"Just thinking that if we win one more game, there's a very high chance we'll make it to the NBA Finals, I feel a little nervous too."
Kayce heard Russell and Durant's words and felt a bit helpless. These two were thinking very far ahead. However, when he saw his other teammates also showing signs of agreement, he immediately understood that everyone was carrying the burden of winning.
"Keep a normal mindset. Even if we lose, as long as we return to Oklahoma City and hold our two home games, we'll get to match point. In the playoffs, we haven't lost at home yet. For tonight's game, just do your best. Trust me, the Lakers are under more pressure! They can't afford to lose anymore!"
After hearing Kayce's words, his teammates subconsciously nodded in agreement. The thought of winning at home to reach match point eased their expressions considerably.
The lights at Staples Center dimmed, and the home DJ began to loudly announce the home team's entrance. The audience also started cheering for the players' appearance. When Kobe Bryant entered, the atmosphere instantly reached its climax.
To Kayce's surprise, when he entered, there were quite a few boos from the crowd.
As both teams warmed up for the final time, Kayce noticed that Kobe had removed the knee pads he wore in the previous game. He vaguely felt that Kobe would likely go all out in this game.
When the players from both teams came to center court, after a brief greeting, Ibaka and Gasol stood at the center circle, each raising their hands, ready for the jump ball.
"Slap"
Gasol, using his advantage in height and reach, successfully tipped the ball to the Lakers' side. Fisher, holding the ball in his left hand, immediately signaled an offensive play to his teammates, while the home crowd began to cheer loudly:
"Let's go Lakers! Let's go Lakers! Let's go Lakers!"
The Thunder's defense continued their 2-3 zone from the previous game, strategically leaving the wing on Artest's side open, while tightly guarding Kobe's side. Fisher immediately passed the ball to Kobe after crossing half-court, and Gasol instantly moved up to set a screen.
Gasol's screen quality was good. Kobe, with the ball in his left hand, accelerated and drove. Serge Ibaka was very quick on defense, immediately stepping forward to impede Kobe's progress, while Kayce also chased from behind.
Gasol had already started to roll down. Jeff Green's defense quickly collapsed. Kobe observed the Thunder's defensive movements and, before the double-team could form, quickly passed the ball to Odom in the left corner.
The latter caught the ball and released a wide-open three-point jump shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"Ah!!"
The Staples Center crowd, noticing the team's opening three-pointer, immediately erupted in a huge cheer—a good start!
The Thunder quickly inbounded the ball. After Russell dribbled past half-court, he found that the Lakers were still playing man-to-man defense. After signaling an offensive play, Serge Ibaka quickly came up for a high screen, and Russell, with the ball in his left hand, accelerated and drove.
Gasol's defensive position was very high. Seeing Russell move, he didn't choose to drop back into a defensive stance but immediately met him, raising both arms to firmly cover Russell. Noticing there was no opportunity to attack, Russell quickly passed the ball to Serge Ibaka near the free-throw line.
At this moment, Kayce, outside the three-point line, quickly moved towards Serge Ibaka. Noticing that Kobe was still tightly guarding him, he suddenly made a back cut, and Serge Ibaka's pass was perfectly placed.
Kayce successfully caught the ball on the left side, slightly beyond the three-point line, and then, without hesitation, immediately shot a jump shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"Oh!!"
The crowd couldn't help but let out a gasp of surprise. A long-range three-pointer? This was too exaggerated!
Kayce, retreating on defense, gave Serge Ibaka a thumbs-up. Due to Serge Ibaka's poor screen quality, the coaching staff decided to leverage Kayce's three-point range, using a direct back cut to catch and shoot, playing a simple and direct style. Whether it went in or not depended on Kayce's touch.
Lakers' offense. Kobe personally held the ball, quickly dribbling past half-court. Facing Kayce's defense, he performed a right-hand in-and-out dribble, then quickly changed direction, but Kayce didn't fall for the fake and maintained his defensive position.
At this moment, Gasol quickly came up to set a high screen. Kobe drove to his left, accelerating. Just as Kayce squeezed past, he saw Kobe already pulling up for a jump shot, one step inside the three-point line.
"Swish!" The long two-pointer went in steadily.
This area was a spot the Thunder had to concede. Serge Ibaka's defense couldn't come up too high, otherwise Kobe might suddenly accelerate and blow past the defense. Conceding the long two-pointer appropriately could also reduce some defensive pressure.
At this time, Jeff Green on the court felt a bit awkward. Odom was guarding him constantly. The two were similar in build, and tonight's game was a complete matchup.
And Durant also noticed that Artest's defense seemed even more aggressive than the last game. Serge Ibaka's screen had no effect at all. Artest directly used his body to forcefully squeeze through. The situation on the court was somewhat comical, with the three of them squeezed together.
Russell noticed that there was no opportunity for Durant, and immediately gave Jeff Green a look. The latter immediately ran from the top of the key towards the right corner, while setting an off-ball screen for Kayce in the paint.
The Lakers' defense also underwent some changes. It seemed that to reduce Kobe's exertion, they directly switched on screens. When Kayce received Russell's pass outside the left three-point line, Odom's defense was also quickly in place.
After catching the ball, Kayce quickly put the ball down with his right hand, dribbled back with a crossover, changed direction with a left-hand between-the-legs dribble, then accelerated with all his might. Noticing Gasol's help defense was already in place, he suddenly pulled the ball back between his legs while moving, slightly raised his center of gravity, faked a gather, and made Odom momentarily hesitate.
Kayce instantly accelerated and drove with the ball in his left hand, easily getting past Odom's defense. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Serge Ibaka rolling down. With a subtle flick of his left wrist, the ball was quickly and accurately passed to Serge Ibaka, who caught it and shot a floater in the paint.
"Swish!" The two-pointer in the paint went in.
With only Gasol protecting the paint, Kayce naturally had to intensify his drives. No matter what defensive method the Lakers used, there would always be weaknesses, and a keen basketball instinct allowed Kayce to read the game situation more freely.
In the following few minutes, both teams' offenses were exceptionally efficient. Although the Lakers had many opportunities from the perimeter, they didn't choose to launch a barrage of three-pointers. Instead, they focused more on getting the ball into the paint, and also increased their on-ball drives. Odom was very active during this period.
The Thunder's offense also made targeted adjustments. Due to Serge Ibaka's poor screen quality, the coaching staff came up with a makeshift solution: by raising the screen position, they expanded the ball-handling range, allowing Russell and Kayce to attack aggressively.
This made the Lakers' defense very uncomfortable. Both sides played fiercely, with the lead constantly changing hands, which made the Staples Center crowd nervous again. This situation was a bit off.
With 1 minute and 16 seconds remaining, Coach Brooks finally took Kayce out and replaced him with Thabo Sefolosha. Since Durant had suddenly gone cold due to Artest's relentless guarding, Kayce couldn't be easily taken off the court.
Fortunately, the Thunder still held off the pressure in the last few possessions. At the end of the first quarter, 33:30, the Thunder temporarily led by three points. Kayce once again delivered an efficient performance of 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in a single quarter.
Coach Phil Jackson didn't expect the Thunder to still be leading with Durant going cold, so he completely abandoned his pretense during the second quarter's rotation, sending Kobe and Gasol directly onto the court. He was very worried that the Thunder would go on another run during the rotation period.
The Lakers once again fielded a big lineup in the second quarter: Vujacic, Kobe, Walton, Odom, and Gasol. Coach Phil Jackson unleashed his strongest tactic. He was even prepared for his starting lineup to play all 48 minutes in this game.
Coach Brooks also went all out at this point. Due to Jeff Green's poor form, Durant and Kayce partnered in the rotation lineup. Both teams had big players over two meters tall, and the game completely entered a white-hot stage.
On the first possession of the second quarter, Durant used Collison's screen in the elbow area to successfully receive a pass from Kayce. Walton's defense lacked aggression, which allowed Durant to easily shake off his opponent's entanglement. After catching the ball, he drove with his left hand, took one dribble, and pulled up for a jump shot at the free-throw line.
"Swish!" The two-pointer went in steadily.
The Lakers quickly inbounded the ball. Vujacic had just dribbled past half-court and quickly passed the ball to Kobe. It was still Gasol's high screen. After shaking off Thabo Sefolosha's entanglement, Kobe pulled up for a jump shot from the right elbow area of the free-throw line.
"Swish!" The mid-range shot went in easily.
Kayce dribbled past half-court and quickly passed the ball to Serge Ibaka at the left elbow area of the free-throw line, while immediately cutting inside to draw the defense. At this moment, Durant quickly moved to the top of the key.
After a handoff with Serge Ibaka, Durant noticed that Kayce, using Thabo Sefolosha and Collison's screens, successfully got open outside the three-point line. Durant immediately quickly swung the ball to Kayce.
After catching the ball, Kayce didn't hesitate, quickly pulling up for a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"Boo!"
A huge boo immediately erupted in the Staples Center. The Thunder's somewhat dazzling screens, cuts, and catch-and-shoot plays also made Coach Phil Jackson on the sidelines frown. This style of play, which relies entirely on outside shooting ability, was indeed difficult to limit.
Kayce and Durant high-fived to celebrate while retreating on defense. The Thunder had actually been practicing this offensive set for a long time, but during the rotation, it was usually Jeff Green partnering with Kayce, so this tactic rarely appeared before the public.
The Lakers' offense gradually got the ball to Gasol. Whether it was rolling down after a screen or a mid-range jump shot from near the free-throw line, Gasol could finish the offense excellently. Hard-man mode activated!
The Lakers were indeed very difficult to defend. Gasol could facilitate from the high post, attack aggressively from the low post, hit mid-range shots to break the Thunder's zone defense, and sometimes even drive with a step-through after catching the ball. With his long arms swinging, he could even get to the free-throw line.
This also eased Kobe's exertion, and the Lakers' efficient offensive performance also made it difficult for the Thunder to get transition opportunities. Kayce already vaguely felt that the offensive rhythm on the court was being controlled by the Lakers.
While Gasol was shooting free throws, Kayce immediately gave Coach Brooks a signal, indicating that the starting lineup could return; they couldn't hold on much longer.
Gasol made both free throws. The Thunder then brought in their entire starting lineup. At this point, there were still over 5 minutes left in the second quarter, and the Lakers had already tied the score.
After Russell dribbled past half-court, Serge Ibaka quickly came out to set a high screen beyond the three-point line. Just as Russell was about to drive with the ball in his left hand, Vujacic, who was guarding him, crashed into Serge Ibaka and suddenly fell to the ground in pain.
"Screech!"
The referee immediately signaled an illegal screen on Serge Ibaka.
"Sir! My feet didn't move an inch! This is clearly a flop!"
Serge Ibaka seemed a bit agitated, because if he was called for another foul, he would get his third personal foul. To protect him, Coach Brooks would very likely choose to substitute him out.
"It's okay, Serge! Control your emotions, don't argue with the referee."
Kayce pulled Serge Ibaka back. This was what was called a home-court whistle. The Thunder had experienced such treatment before, and arguing with the referee was useless.
Seeing Serge Ibaka looking a bit dejected after being substituted out, Kayce could only sigh helplessly in his heart:
"The interior defense really can't hold up."