One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-Six. An Advantage that Can Never Be Achieved
Sun Ce didn't know what the reason was, but the opposing coach Hornacek suddenly became extremely targeted at him, using the inside and outside combination of Jordan and Antetokounmpo to double-team him.
The key is that Hornacek's somewhat blind operation was quite effective!
They rested tonight, Randolph, Larry Sanders, and Tony Allen rested and did not play, and the others were in a state break after the winning streak... This break does not mean that they are in bad shape, but that they have not experienced this kind of state for too long, playing very uncomfortable, and need time to adapt.
The most important thing is that they are in 4 games in 5 days. It is obvious that Klay Thompson and Paul George are not in good shape. Coach Hollins also reduced their playing time, allowing Livingston, Blake, Carter, and Pierce to play more to avoid injuries to the double 3D due to fatigue. Although it was agreed with the two at the beginning of the season that they would not rest them in principle, it is no problem to reduce their playing time under reasonable circumstances.
When the double 3D played less, Aldridge was in average condition, playing 23 minutes and only 3 of 9 shots to get 11 points, Sun Ce led Livingston, Blake, Carter, Pierce, Stoudemire, Richard Jefferson, Yi Jianlian, Gobert to play against the Suns...
If Carter and Pierce were even two years younger, Sun Ce would think it would be easy to play, but if these two were two years younger, they would not be players that could be signed by the mini middle class. Pierce was still playing well in the Celtics the year before last, earning a salary of more than 16 million as a top small forward, averaging 18+6+5...
The Suns began to rise this season, and a group of young players saw the opportunity and wanted to win, and Antetokounmpo and Jordan blocked Sun Ce and did a good job.
After playing for 39 minutes, Sun Ce made 11 of 27 shots, including 2 of 8 three-pointers, plus 7 of 8 free throws. Sun Ce scored 31 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal. The Grizzlies lost to the Suns 92-99, ushering in their second defeat of the season.
…
After the game with the Suns, Sun Ce returned to the locker room and sat with Klay Thompson, Paul George and Yi Jianlian to chat.
It was a bit unwilling to lose, but in this state today, the third game of 4 games in 5 days, there was no way.
Sun Ce and others were more afraid of the Suns team with the inside and outside combination of Jordan and Antetokounmpo.
Jordan's characteristics are similar to Howard. Although he is not as strong as Howard, it can be seen that even if he plays to the early 30s, he can still be at the level of a first-class center. In this era, a first-class center close to the top level can get a double-double per game without any problem. For example, Gortat of the Wizards can steadily get a double-double per game.
The key is Antetokounmpo, who has already shown explosive talent in his second year!
During the chat, Paul George said: "That little lord looks like you, brother San, when you first entered the NBA."
This view is quite unique. Although Antetokounmpo is called "little lord" by the media and fans, no one says they look alike.
If you have to say they look alike, it's that they both have bigger bodies than other players in their respective positions.
There are many more people who say that Sun Ce looks alike with Durant than with Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo is known as a point guard, but he has actually played as a small forward since entering the NBA.
Sun Ce rolled his eyes at Paul George: "How are they alike? My skills are much better than his."
"I'm talking about the characteristics! Characteristics!"
"The characteristics are not similar either. I'm a distinguished QQ member... No, I'm a distinguished technical player, and he's a rough physical player..."
When it comes to using physical fitness, it's Paul George's turn to roll his eyes this time: When it comes to using body shape, who can use it better than you? Durant and Antetokounmpo are forwards, but you play point guard!
Yi Jianlian and Klay Thompson couldn't help rolling their eyes when they heard the conversation between the two - once San Ge loses, he becomes so unreasonable that it's impossible to communicate properly.
Klay Thompson couldn't help but say, "Paul is talking about age. Who is that, Kong Bo? He just turned 20 when he was No. 6. His progress is too fast."
Hearing this, Sun Ce complained to Paul George, "I told you to talk in a bad way. You can just say no. Why do you have to say that guy is like me?"
Paul George was so desperate. As expected, San Ge couldn't communicate normally as long as he lost!
Sun Ce continued, "That guy is really talented, otherwise why would Bill sign him from Europe? Besides, the rules are getting more and more suitable for him. No one dares to touch him when he breaks into the inside, unless a big center like Mark, Hassan, or Rudy stands under the basket and doesn't jump, which can limit him. But we couldn't stop him from the outside tonight, and Rudy couldn't do anything when he rushed in directly..."
"Yes, this is my problem..."
Paul George subconsciously admitted his mistake, but suddenly remembered that he didn't play much tonight, only played for 11 minutes, and Antetokounmpo scored 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. It's none of his business!
Indeed, if he was there, he could have a head-on battle with Antetokounmpo. This year, his weight is bigger than Sun Ce's. Sun Ce didn't gain weight last summer. Paul George's weight increased from 95 kg in his rookie year to 106 kg, basically reaching the limit he can accept, and is slightly more than Sun Ce's tonnage.
The main thing is that he does this, or Klay Thompson can go to the top, Carter can't defend, Pierce is not fast enough to defend, Sun Ce goes to defend... Sun Ce played enough offense tonight.
Also, Sun Ce didn't use the physical potion tonight, because he will play against the Thunder tomorrow. If Sun Ce plays for 48 minutes, it is still possible to beat the Suns.
The most important thing is that the opponent's desire to win is so strong that he can't understand it from the head coach. Even if the young players of the Suns are motivated, the opponent's head coach Hornacek has been actively adjusting from beginning to end.
...
If you want to say what is a good thing about back-to-back away games, it is that after losing the first game, there is no time to lament why you lost. Go back to the hotel and go to sleep. The next morning, you have to go to the next city.
At 10 o'clock in the morning on December 20, Sun Ce followed the team to Oklahoma City. After checking in at the hotel and putting away the luggage,.
During the winning streak, Sun Ce felt like he was winning all the time. He just got out of the feeling of being on top of the world. After the winning streak ended, he had just played a few games. Starting from the game that ended the winning streak, he had just played a wave of 2 wins and 2 losses, and his record became 29 wins and 2 losses. Suddenly, it was the last game before the Christmas game!
It just came very suddenly. Sun Ce felt that time passed too fast. In a blink of an eye, the new season has already started for more than two months!
After the game with the Thunder tonight, the Grizzlies will not play from the 21st to the 24th.
The games of other teams will also come to a temporary end tomorrow at the latest. Teams that have to play the Christmas game basically rest from the 21st to the 24th, and teams that do not play the Christmas game basically rest from the 22nd to the 25th.
The last game of 4 games in 5 days against the Thunder, this is simply too much. Sun Ce felt a headache when he came to Oklahoma City.
However, there is good news, that is, the opponent is also in a difficult schedule, because the Thunder also have to play the Christmas game. The Grizzlies have to play 12 games in the first 20 days of December, and the Thunder also have to play 12 games. The Thunder have also played two games in the past three days. Tonight's game is also back-to-back, the last game of 3 games in 4 days.
It depends on which side can control physical consumption more reasonably under such a schedule and maintain the state better.
In the former, they are the Grizzlies who have the advantage. For tonight's game, coach Hollins did not give Klay Thompson and Paul George too many opportunities to find their state yesterday. Aldridge only played for 23 minutes, and Randolph and Larry Sanders also took turns to rest.
But in the latter, the Thunder seems to be better. Unlike the Grizzlies, who almost led the league in state at the beginning, and then entered the heyday of the early season and started with a wave of 27 consecutive wins, and then entered the pain period, the Thunder is a regular step-by-step run-in, finding the state, improving the chemical reaction, and playing step by step to the present.
After playing 31 games, the Thunder's record has improved to 20 wins and 11 losses, raising their winning rate to more than 60%.
Durant and Westbrook, who are entering their golden years, are indeed strong. Westbrook guarantees the team's lower limit, while Durant raises the upper limit. In addition to the fact that the role players are inferior to those of the Lakers, and there is no third-in-command as outstanding as Leonard, in Sun Ce's opinion, perhaps the two young players who are about to face each other are slightly stronger than the Lakers' Kobe, who is aging more seriously, and James in his prime.
…
At 6:40 in the evening, the two teams entered the Ford Center after warming up.
Coach Hollins looked at his own players who entered the court first and felt that it was time to relax a little.
There are no main players taking a rest tonight. Except for Richard Jefferson who has to rest for a week due to a calf muscle strain, other main players may play tonight. Except for Blake who was not on the activation list, even Stoudemire is ready to replace Richard Jefferson and partner with Yi Jianlian.
2 wins and 1 loss in the first 3 games of 4 games in 5 days, this record is very good, but after winning 27 games in a row, the record of 2 wins and 2 losses, even though as a head coach, he knows that he should treat all this rationally, Coach Hollins still hates this feeling.
Fortunately, after this game, there are 4 days of rest time. Although the players of his team are not doing their job and going to the concert, it does not prevent them from resting.
On the contrary, this is an opportunity to empty their minds and find the feeling of the game.
Coach Hollins clearly feels that his players are not really in bad shape. Their condition is very normal. They have returned to the normal state of the first 14 games of the season, that is, the normal state.
Coach Hollins has analyzed the video of his team. The players of his team have been in amazing good shape since the 15th game. They beat whoever they met. After the state returned to normal, the current situation will naturally appear.
Coach Hollins doesn't want to lose a game. He has already won 29 games and lost 2 losses. Of course, he wants to make trouble!
Of course, he was still very rational and knew that tonight's opponent was more important than last night's opponent, so when the double 3D and Aldridge were in poor condition due to fatigue yesterday, he chose to reduce the playing time of the three players, just for tonight's game.
Regular season results are important, but in the playoffs, there is a possibility of encountering the Thunder, a strong championship team, so he put the focus of this 5-day 4-game schedule on the last game!
Randolph and Larry Sanders did not play in the games on the 17th and yesterday, just for tonight's game!
At 7pm, the second regular season match between the Grizzlies and the Thunder this season started.
Westbrook and Durant both wanted to win. They really wanted to have an advantage in the regular season against the Grizzlies. Since Sun Ce entered the NBA, they have had a single-season regular season advantage in almost all of the past five years against other teams. Only the Grizzlies, who lost more than they won, have never created an advantage in the regular season.
However, ideals are full, and reality is skinny. Tonight, the Thunder's state is worse than the Grizzlies!
The Grizzlies are just not used to the normal state, while the Thunder are not even as good as the normal state. Durant, with a strong belief, only scored 13 points with 5 of 19 shots tonight, setting a new low for the season.
Westbrook is also very good, Durant is not. He played 48 minutes, 14 of 35 shots, and got 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, he shot too much, and some of the balls that should have been passed to teammates to create opportunities for the whole team were lost. Although he had 35 points and 10 assists, the Thunder team only got 91 points.
But Westbrook had to shoot more, and Durant was not as good as him tonight, which led to the Grizzlies blocking the role players. Westbrook really had to hold the ball and make his own decisions this time.
On the Grizzlies side, Sun Ce performed normally tonight, 12 of 23 shots, including 3 of 6 three-pointers, plus 6 of 6 free throws, and got 33 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal. Although there were 6 turnovers, the opponent's defense was okay. He was targeted several times when passing the ball, but the flaws did not cover the merits. Under his regular performance, the Grizzlies performed normally.
With Paul George's 14 points and 6 assists, Klay Thompson's 19 points, and Aldridge's 12 points, the Grizzlies, who were in good form, easily defeated the Thunder, who were in low form, 105-91, and improved their record to 30 wins and 2 losses before the Christmas game!
When the final whistle sounded, Sun Ce felt a little regretful. He didn't like his opponents to be in bad form, especially the Thunder, who he regarded as a strong enemy.
However, looking at the record of 30 wins and 2 losses, thinking that he could have a good rest in the next 4 days, Sun Ce felt that it was okay. It was also good for them to win easily when their opponents were in bad form occasionally. They couldn't always be in bad form and their opponents were out of form and he had to save the world alone.
Moreover... he saved a physical potion to use in the Christmas game against the Spurs on the 25th!