On the evening of February 20th, although the Thunder easily defeated the New York Knicks, Coach Brooks and his Assistant Coaches didn't feel much joy after the win; they continued working after returning to the hotel.
Ever since GM Presti told Coach Brooks that the team might not be willing to pay a large luxury tax, the entire coaching staff had been on edge, knowing that this meant the Thunder's championship window would be very short.
As for considering players taking voluntary pay cuts, no one harbored such a naive fantasy. What was the initial dream of playing in the NBA? It was to make money, lots of money. Mansions, sports cars, and plenty of beautiful women all required money.
Asking rookie players to take a pay cut? Don't even think about it. Moreover, the Thunder's trio is exceptionally talented. While the Thunder might not want to pay, some wealthy teams wouldn't be so stingy. As long as the players are strong enough, they would offer maximum contracts within the rules to lure them.
Oklahoma City's competitiveness is far inferior to that of major cities like Los Angeles and New York. Coach Brooks naturally noticed the envious expressions on the players' faces after arriving at Madison Square Garden.
Even if the New York Knicks' record is poor, they never have trouble selling tickets; they have plenty of money.
"Over the past few days, we've repeatedly discussed the reasons for our previous loss to the Mavericks. We must face reality: we are not a team known for our three-point shooting. Kayce and KD's excellent performance has masked some of the team's problems."
The coaching staff had been discussing whether the team should continue to add more tactics these days. With nearly two months left, there was still just enough time to practice some new strategies.
Coach Brooks also agreed with the Assistant Coach. The Thunder's perimeter didn't even have a pure shooter. Many times, Kayce was the most reliable perimeter scoring threat on the team.
"I still maintain my previous view that the team doesn't need to add complex tactics right now. What we need to do more is to build an excellent defensive system. The failure to acquire an interior player means we need to change our plan early."
Coach Brooks original target player was Tyson Chandler. If Chandler could be acquired, it would greatly enhance the team's interior rim protection. Although he had some injury concerns, the coaching staff all believed that such a risk was worth taking.
But unfortunately, Chandler himself didn't have much desire to play in Oklahoma City, and the Bobcats also didn't want to trade with the Thunder. Presti's grand promises didn't move them.
"Our low-post defense is indeed too poor. Perhaps we could consider a 3-2 zone defense. If we use a zone, we'd need to put Ibaka in the starting lineup, which might then cause problems on offense."
"Perhaps continuing with our current switching defense strategy is the most suitable defensive approach for us. We can continue to intensify our pressure on perimeter players in the playoffs."
"But you need to consider the referees' officiating standards. After the hand-check rule was eliminated, the demands on perimeter defenders became even higher. Too much emphasis on pressure, and I would even worry about Russell's foul count."
Coach Brooks listened as everyone started arguing again, one after another, and felt a headache coming on. As a rookie Head Coach, he didn't have a clear idea himself.
A rookie Head Coach paired with a young team, no wonder the general media wasn't optimistic about the Thunder's playoffs journey. Look at the Head Coaches of other teams in the Western Conference; they were all experienced veterans, with a huge disparity in playoffs experience.
"The training plan remains unchanged for now. We will try to prepare two defensive systems. During training, everyone needs to explain clearly to the players, especially the 3-2 zone defense. We must ensure Ibaka understands the defensive rotations."
"There are still two months left. Get the players focused. At the same time, we also need to pay attention to the opponent's tactical changes and roster adjustments. Thank you all for your hard work during this period."
Coach Brooks didn't know how Head Coaches like Phil Jackson devised tactical strategies. He himself relied more on the coaching staff, and such review meetings would happen frequently in the near future.
"Don't worry, as long as they play two playoffs games, I believe the youngsters will adapt quickly. We need to trust the players' talent, Scott, you should also get some rest."
Hearing the comforting words, Coach Brooks smiled bitterly to himself:
"The team's excellent record has actually become a source of pressure. I really don't want to see the disappointed eyes of Oklahoma City fans."
The tense atmosphere among the coaching staff didn't affect the Thunder players. Anyway, it was just training; they just had to follow instructions. On February 21st, the Thunder flew to Minnesota to continue their road trip.
After arriving at their destination in the morning, Kayce and Russell went to Love's house as promised. After the All-Star Weekend, the three gathered again.
Seeing Love in good spirits, Kayce immediately teased him:
"You're awfully happy. Don't tell me, did you find a girlfriend, or did you find some local delicacy again."
"Nina introduced him to girlfriends several times, but the girls didn't like him. Bro, you really should lose some weight!"
Russell pushed away the soda in front of him, poured himself a glass of pure water, and couldn't help but complain.
"I'm not planning to get married early, Russell. Marriage is the graveyard of love. We're still young; it's time to enjoy life, guys. Al Jefferson might leave the team next season!"
"I've finally become the true core of the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is definitely something worth celebrating. It just so happens that next season is my contract year, and I'm ready to show what I can do."
Love said smugly. He had finally outlasted the team's leader and no longer had to share rebounds with him. From now on, all the stats would be his, and a big contract was already beckoning.
"Where did you get that news? Don't get your hopes up for nothing. Besides, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have Tyreke Evans, and next year Rubio will also return."
Kayce reminded his good brother. Ball control is always in the hands of the guards. If they decide not to pass you the ball, it's hard to rack up stats.
"Don't worry, Evans won't be jumping around. He wouldn't dare defy the Head Coach's arrangements. I need to practice three-pointers more in the offseason. Simple double-doubles can no longer show my strength. My agent told me that for interior players to get big contracts, offense and rebounding are indispensable."
"Almost everyone in the locker room knows about this. Jefferson doesn't want to tank anymore; he wants to go to a team with playoffs contention. Actually, his low-post skills are really good. Developing in a big city should be a good choice."
Al Jefferson's low-post skills had always made Love envious, but unfortunately, ever since Kayce introduced him to the analytics-driven style of play, Love felt that three-pointers were the most important.
"I'm really happy for you, Love. We can train together in the offseason. Back at UCLA, I also want to improve my three-point shooting, so scoring will be easier next season."
Russell thought about his 25% three-point shooting percentage this season and immediately felt embarrassed. With Kayce and Durant drawing attention on the team, opponents often left him open for perimeter shots, but he couldn't deliver.
"Guys, I might not be able to train with you in the offseason. You know, the World Cup finals start in June. I'll be flying directly to South Africa. Anyone want to come along?"
Kayce, with his cheat code, wouldn't just train diligently. He had a bunch of activities waiting for him in the offseason.
"Forget it, I'm not too interested in soccer. This offseason, I'm not going anywhere. I don't want to be mocked by Kevin next season!"
"Kayce definitely has a date. I remember during the All-Star Weekend, when he came back the next morning, his cologne scent had changed. He must have gone on a date with a girl behind our backs!"
Kayce was startled when he heard Kevin Love's words. Could he really have noticed that?
"Come on, Bro, your sense of smell is too good. This matter must be kept a secret, you know, still our old rules!"
"When are you going to introduce us? I'm actually a little curious. You don't look at ordinary girls."
Don't let Love's stout appearance fool you; he's actually a thoughtful guy, almost a warm-hearted man. If he weren't so bulky, girls would all like him once they got to know him.
"Perhaps you already know her. It's a secret!"
The Minnesota Timberwolves had almost certainly been eliminated from playoffs contention early. Most of the players on the team seemed to have no desire to win, and these guys had even developed a scoring trick: as long as they were far enough behind at halftime, they could rack up stats in the last two quarters!
As the Thunder's small-fry tormentor, Kayce went all out on both ends of the court from the start. On defense, he completely shut down Ryan Gomes, and on offense, he played exceptionally efficiently.
Thunder offense: with an interior double screen, Kayce cut across and received a pass from Russell on the left 45-degree angle of the three-point line. The chasing Gomes was clearly a half-step slow. A simple pump fake directly sent his opponent flying.
Then, he dribbled the ball once with his left hand, took a step back, and shot a fadeaway jumper.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
With the badge enhancements, Kayce found it exceptionally smooth playing against weaker teams, especially the bonus from the [Catch and Shoot] badge, which made his clutch jumper even more efficient.
Minnesota Timberwolves offense: Tyreke Evans quickly dribbled past half-court. After a simple perimeter pass, he immediately gave the ball to Al Jefferson, who had successfully posted up. Facing Jeff Green's defense, he backed down twice to get closer to the basket.
Then, with a slight shoulder fake, he easily floated a shot with his right hand under the basket.
"Swish!" The two-pointer under the basket went in.
Coach Brooks frowned as he watched Jeff Green's defense. The low-post defense at the power forward position was the most obvious flaw in the lineup. If they had a lead at halftime, he would experiment with the 3-2 zone defense in the second half.
Durant wasn't very enthusiastic in this game. The two teams from the Northwest Division frequently played each other, but the Minnesota Timberwolves were truly too weak. Beating them once was fine, but after playing too many such games, Durant was already feeling a bit bored.
Again, with an interior double screen, Durant received a pass from Russell on the right 45-degree angle of the three-point line and immediately drove. His huge stride instantly left Corey Brewer's defense out of position.
Durant accelerated his drive with the ball in his right hand, saw the empty lane, took off, and slammed it down with one hand!
"Bang!" The dunk was successful.
Durant didn't celebrate after the score. Such games could no longer ignite his competitive spirit. He quickly retreated on defense with a calm expression. The Target Center Arena crowd also didn't react much; with the team constantly losing, the fans were already numb.
The most energetic player in this game was probably Kevin Love, who came off the bench. He actively fought for rebounds and frequently shot from beyond the arc, happily racking up stats.
But the gap between the two teams was indeed too large. 66:52. The Thunder barely exerted themselves but easily led by 14 points.
The second half of the game almost turned into practice time, with the Thunder experimenting with different defensive combinations, and Ibaka getting a good amount of playing time.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' Head Coach Kurt Rambis was also sensible, making early rotations; as soon as the starters had enough points, the reserves came on, and the game was played in a friendly atmosphere.
Ultimately, the Thunder easily defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110:97. Some teams seemed to lose but actually won, and their current tanking plan was very successful.
After the game, Kayce and Love embraced, exchanging a few quiet words:
"Nice job, 20 points and 14 rebounds, a super-sized double-double, Bro, keep it up!"
"When I sign a big contract next year, I'm definitely going back to Los Angeles to throw a big party and invite all our UCLA teammates. Stay healthy, Kayce, I'll be in Oklahoma City cheering for you in the playoffs!"
Kayce scored 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in three quarters. By the 4th quarter, he was already resting on the bench. Durant, as always, got his points up to 30 before coming off, and Russell did the same, getting 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
After this game, the Thunder players would fly back to Oklahoma City. The day after tomorrow, they would host the Phoenix Suns at home.
On February 23rd, the Phoenix Suns arrived in Oklahoma City. As a local, Kayce also hosted Steve Nash, who had just joined the 'surface brothers' alliance. It was still the familiar private kitchen restaurant. Kayce gave the waiter a look, indicating to serve the dishes shortly.
"Steve, I've always wanted to ask you a question: How do you train to achieve that kind of shooting hot zone effect? You can shoot from anywhere on the court with extremely high accuracy."
Kayce poured Nash a glass of juice, humbly seeking his advice.
The issue of shooting hot zones had always troubled Kayce. He knew that with time and the help of his cheat, he would eventually reach a level where the entire court was a hot zone, but that was simply too slow.
"You need to be patient, Kayce. Shooting is something that will improve if you put in the effort. Everyone has their preferred shooting areas. If I had to suggest a method, you could try training in the dark."
"In the dark, you can only vaguely feel the position of the basket. Don't worry about the distance; just shoot as you please. I think it's a bit like a psychological suggestion process, but you can consider it. Your trainer should be able to design a reasonable routine for you."
Steve Nash shared his experience, and seeing Kayce's surprised expression, he smiled again and continued:
"Kayce, perhaps you could also consider how to post up and receive the ball in your preferred spots. Against different defenders, you need to display targeted post-up skills. Back-to-the-basket play is also a very good technique."
"But one thing you must pay attention to is understanding the officiating standards on the court. When receiving the ball in the low post below the free-throw line, defenders are allowed to use their forearm to defend; they will sense the direction of your force."
"You can also watch the 2008 NBA Finals footage. Kobe's playing style is worth studying. At the same time, watch how Ray Allen defended Kobe in the low post. You can learn many techniques on both offense and defense."
"Thank you for sharing, this helps me so much. Are you planning to watch the World Cup in South Africa this year? We could go together."
Kayce sincerely thanked him. He realized he had been overthinking things. Basketball is not a computer game; there's no need to overly pursue perfection. Playing to his strengths and avoiding his weaknesses is what he should be doing now.
"I probably won't be able to watch live games this year. I need to spend more time with my family. Old men are homebodies, but I'm really optimistic about Spain winning the championship. Xavi and Iniesta are truly amazing."
"I completely agree with you. The Spain team is practically a replica of Barcelona; they have complete control over the game!"
"If I get the chance, I'd like to organize a charity football match. We could even hone our skills then."
"No problem, I'm really looking forward to it. Not too many people in America like football."
Kayce and Nash chatted more and more enthusiastically. They shared common interests, and the meal was thoroughly enjoyable for both host and guest.
On the evening of the 23rd, the Ford Center launched a voting event. The color and style of the playoffs cheering T-shirts would be decided by Oklahoma City fans themselves through voting.
The offline event was incredibly popular, and the Thunder section on Reddit recently saw an explosion in traffic. Oklahoma City fans were even already imagining the design of the championship T-shirts when the team won the title. That's right, everyone was getting a bit ahead of themselves.
In the visiting team's locker room, Head Coach Gentry announced tonight's starting lineup. coaching staff decided to rest Steve Nash, and last year's second-round pick, Goran Dragić, got the starting opportunity.
At the same time, Robin Lopez, selected 15th overall in the first round last year, was also promoted to the starting lineup. With less than two months left in the regular season, player health was paramount. Veterans needed timely rest, and as for the league's fines, the Phoenix Suns naturally wouldn't care.
Head Coach Gentry cleared his throat, getting the players' attention, and then slowly said:
"The opponent is a team that is very good at transition offense, so we not only need to protect our defensive rebounds but also strengthen our offensive rebounding. Robin, remember to do your job well."
Although 213cm Robin Lopez was a bit rough around the edges, he was full of energy. His main task as a starter in this game was to crash the boards.
"Goran, your task when you're on the court is to run a lot of pick-and-rolls. According to our pre-game strategy, run pick-and-rolls with the center, and if a three-point opportunity arises, you must shoot decisively."
"Play our offensive rhythm, and on defense, we must get up on them and not give them outside shooting opportunities. Every win is precious to us now, so come on, guys."
Head Coach Gentry saw the eager expressions on Goran Dragić and Robin Lopez's faces and smiled slightly. The team needed this kind of competition to better stimulate the players' desire to perform.
In the Thunder locker room, Coach Brooks was emphasizing the defense against the Phoenix Suns' three-point shooting:
"We must pay attention to Channing Frye's three-point shot. The defense must follow him closely. Green, you and Kostić must communicate on the court. The opponent will frequently run pick-and-rolls, so we need to protect the rim."
"The same goes for perimeter defense. Switch immediately when encountering a screen, and rotate quickly."
Kayce heard that Coach Brooks was no longer emphasizing offense too much and knew that this game might be another experiment for coaching staff. The Phoenix Suns were also a potential playoffs opponent, making them a good team to practice against.
The game was about to start, in the player tunnel, Russell scratched his head helplessly and whispered to Kayce beside him:
"Kayce, I don't really like the team's 3-2 zone defense. I make mistakes every time in practice. Coach Brooks has been too serious lately."
"Just practice a few more times, and you'll be fine. coaching staff should be preparing for the playoffs. You don't want to be eliminated in the first round, do you?"
Zone defense, in fact, somewhat tests the players' tactical literacy and defensive chemistry. Kayce was very much in favor of coaching staff's decision. Preparing in advance is much better than scrambling at the last minute.
"I actually think the game should be simpler. As long as our shots are falling, no Western Conference team can stop us, unless the opponent's outside shooting is also incredibly accurate, but that's a very low probability. We should be more confident."
Durant spoke with full confidence, after all, he had the highest outside shooting percentage on the team, and with the added burst power, scoring was like taking candy from a baby.
"I have a bad feeling. Kevin is always right about bad things, and wrong about good things. The Phoenix Suns won't be like the Mavericks from before, will they?"
The unpredictable Jeff Green mumbled softly. His recent outside shooting had become a matter of metaphysics. Thinking back to the fear of being dominated by the Mavericks' three-pointers, Jeff Green always felt this game was going to go south.
"Alright, everyone, focus on this game. We've dropped to 2nd in the Western Conference. We must strive for victory in this game!"
Hearing that big brother Collison had also spoken, everyone immediately responded.
"One, Two, Three, Family!"
During the final pre-game warm-up, Kayce noticed Nash was dressed in casual clothes, picking up balls for the Phoenix Suns players on the sidelines. He was immediately surprised. There was no back-to-back game, yet Coach Gentry had rested Nash. This seemed overly cautious.
Westbrook noticed that Goran Dragić was starting and immediately perked up. Goran Dragić was from the same draft class as him, and he felt he could once again deliver a powerful performance in this game. He said with a beaming smile:
"Looks like I need to show some strength against a second-round pick. I never thought Goran Dragić would be starting for the Phoenix Suns!"
"I remember his three-point shot is pretty accurate. Remember to close out on him defensively. I don't want to see you get schooled by a second-round pick."
Seeing Westbrook's confident expression, Kayce couldn't help but remind him. His past memories told him that Goran Dragić would become an excellent player in the future.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine!"
After speaking, he immediately performed an awkward dance with his dance partner, Menor, in front of the scorer's table, which made Kayce's scalp tingle. It really was a case of, if he wasn't embarrassed, everyone else would be.
The referee signaled both teams to the center of the court. Everyone exchanged quick fist bumps and greetings. Kostić and Robin Lopez went to the center circle, knees slightly bent, ready for the tip-off.
"The game begins! Lopez successfully tipped the ball to the Phoenix Suns. Goran Dragić dribbled the ball across half-court and immediately ran a pick-and-roll with his center."
Host Ke Xiaofan quickly sped up his narration. The Phoenix Suns' offense was very fast.
Lopez's screen quality was average, allowing Westbrook to quickly squeeze through, but Goran Dragić, dribbling with his left hand, was even faster. He stopped and started abruptly, accelerating suddenly. He got past Kostić's defense and drove towards the paint.
The moment Jeff Green came to help, Goran Dragić made a hidden pass while on the move, finding Stoudemire near the rim. Stoudemire caught the ball and immediately threw down a one-handed dunk!
"Slam!" A powerful one-handed dunk went in.
Kostić patted his chest, indicating that the defensive lapse was his fault. Then, the Thunder quickly inbounded the ball. Westbrook dribbled across half-court and made a tactical hand gesture. Kayce and Jeff Green executed a cross-screen in the three-second area, then quickly ran to the left wing.
When Kayce received Westbrook's pass, Richardson's defense arrived quickly. Kayce turned with the momentum, made a jab step after a triple threat, quickly retracted his foot, and faked a convincing pump fake. Richardson's defensive Center of Gravity immediately shifted forward.
Seeing the opponent lunge forward, Kayce, with the ball in his left hand, accelerated along the baseline, ignoring Robin Lopez's defense, taking off early. He performed a large mid-air reverse layup, moving from left to right, and easily put the ball into the basket.
"Swish!" The reverse layup went in.
"Ohhh!!!"
The Ford Center crowd cheered loudly. That shot had a touch of Michael Jordan's style. Such an elegant mid-air reverse layup was definitely a visual feast.
Kayce, after landing, looked calm, silently showing off. This was the bonus that the [Unlimited Takeoff] badge gave him.
The Phoenix Suns were unaffected and continued to quickly inbound the ball. This time, Goran Dragić and Stoudemire ran the Phoenix Suns' classic pick-and-roll. After the screen, Goran Dragić immediately threw a bounce pass to Stoudemire, who had rolled to the basket.
Stoudemire caught the ball, took a small hop step, then pushed off with both feet, soaring into the air. With the ball in his right hand, he slammed it into the basket with one arm.
"Slam!" Stoudemire's classic "Tomahawk" dunk.
Kayce also noticed that Goran Dragić's passing was indeed excellent. Stoudemire received the ball comfortably and could attack the rim directly, truly reminiscent of Nash.
When it was the Thunder's turn to offense, Jeff Green and Kostić set a double screen for Durant at the top of the arc. After Durant received the pass from Westbrook, he didn't adjust, just pulled up and shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"Ahhh!!!"
The Ford Center immediately cheered for Durant's basket. Oklahoma City fans loved fast-paced games.
For the first six minutes of the first quarter, both teams went back and forth, with very high shooting percentages. Goran Dragić controlled the team's offensive rhythm very well, especially the pick-and-roll offense with the center, which became smoother and smoother.
Coach Brooks was already considering substituting Jeff Green. Whether it was pick-and-roll offense or low-post attacks, Stoudemire completely dominated Jeff Green's defense, repeatedly scoring easily in the paint.
What was more critical was that while the Phoenix Suns' shooting percentage had decreased somewhat, their offensive rebounding was incredibly aggressive. Although Robin Lopez had some issues with rebounding positioning, he compensated for his lack of experience with his height and energy.
Richardson's outside shot, bothered by Kayce, clanked off the rim. At this point, there was a scramble under the basket. Robin Lopez was boxing out Kostić in front, and Stoudemire snatched the offensive rebound from behind his head.
He then went strong to the basket and calmly put the ball into the hoop.
"Squeak!"
Watching Stoudemire start to flex his muscles, Coach Brooks called a timeout. Substitutions had to be made.
"Green, go rest. Ibaka, focus on early boxing out, pay attention to Stoudemire's position. We need to control the defensive rebounds so we can have fast break opportunities."
"Russell, drive to the basket more. After a pick-and-roll with the center, try to draw a foul on Robin Lopez. I want to see him get three fouls in the first quarter."
Westbrook immediately nodded, indicating he understood. If they could get that big agitator off the court, the Thunder's rebounding pressure would be much lighter.
After the timeout, the Thunder's offense started aggressively attacking the paint, trying to draw fouls. But Kayce quickly realized that the Phoenix Suns seemed prepared, often giving up on defense entirely just to reduce their own fouls.
Coach Gentry seized upon the Thunder's rebounding weakness, and his tactics were surprisingly simple: outside shooting, then crashing the boards for offensive rebounds. Two energetic big men, both over 2.10 meters tall, wreaked havoc in the Thunder's paint.
Although the combination of Ibaka and Kostić successfully protected defensive rebounds, in most possessions, the Thunder lost their transition offense.
By the end of the first quarter, it was 27-25, with the visiting Phoenix Suns leading by two points. Stoudemire had an excellent performance, scoring 12 points in the quarter.
During the break, Coach Brooks was also a bit worried. Rebounding was a weakness for the Thunder, and the performance of the Phoenix Suns' rookie, Robin Lopez, had indeed disrupted the Thunder's tactical plan.
"Kayce, you and Green also need to increase your focus on rebounding in the early part of the second quarter, especially controlling long rebounds. After Channing Frye comes in, the Phoenix Suns will definitely increase their three-point shooting."
Kayce nodded, indicating he understood. In the second unit, he would be playing small forward, so he naturally had to take on more rebounding responsibilities.
But after the second quarter began, something that made Kayce speechless happened. Durant's jinx worked again. Channing Frye's three-point shooting was as accurate as if he had an 8x scope, frighteningly precise.
Earl Clark and Louis Amundson also played with incredible energy after coming in, making all sorts of little floaters in the paint. The Phoenix Suns went on an 8-0 run.
Kayce saw that the situation was not good, and Jeff Green was playing terribly again, so he immediately switched to individual offense mode. On a Thunder possession, Kayce, at the top of the three-point arc, faced the defense of Dudley, who had come off the bench. He continuously dribbled between his legs, then raised his body's center of gravity with the ball in his right hand, faking a drive.
Noticing Dudley subtly shifted back a step, Kayce instantly dribbled behind his back, faked a pump fake, which immediately got Dudley off his feet. Kayce quickly changed direction in front of his body and smoothly stepped back for a jump shot.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in steadily.
When the Phoenix Suns missed a shot and Collison desperately secured the rebound, Kayce immediately dribbled the ball across half-court. From the left side of the three-point line, facing Dudley's defense, he first dribbled twice between his legs in place, then pulled back with a left-handed crossover dribble, and smoothly turned to his right.
He evaded Dudley's defense and pulled up for a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.
"Swish!" Another three-pointer went in, and the deficit instantly returned to two points.
"Ahhh!!!"
The Ford Center crowd immediately cheered loudly for Kayce. It was a very exciting individual offensive performance that had the fans roaring with excitement.
"Squeak!"
Coach Gentry immediately called a timeout. The Phoenix Suns' coaching staff were very aware of Kayce's ability, and at this point, they had to disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm.
Kayce returned to the bench, a bad feeling rising in his heart. Although this wave of offense had been contained, the Phoenix Suns' shooting percentage was somewhat abnormal.
After the timeout, both teams showed a state of intense competition. When Kayce rested in the latter half of the second quarter, Durant also took on the Thunder's offensive responsibility.
At halftime, the score was tied 58-58.
During halftime, in the Thunder's locker room, Durant said with some frustration:
"The Phoenix Suns actually chose to give up some interior defense, completely unwilling to let me get to the free-throw line. What a hellish game strategy, and the score is actually tied at halftime?"
"Their shooting percentage will drop. I don't believe Channing Frye will stay that accurate!"
"Kevin, I hope your jinx improves."
But unfortunately, NBA games are often full of randomness, and some extreme individual performances really can influence the course of the game. Goran Dragić completely exploded in the third quarter.
His three-point shooting after a pick-and-roll with the center was flawless in the third quarter, going 4-for-4.
Kayce once again felt the team's rapid collapse and helplessly complained in his heart:
"The fans are right, Thunder games either blow out the opponent or get blown out by the opponent."