The cruel reality of competitive sports is that most people only pay attention to the winners or the first place.
Many people may not truly like a sport; what they actually like is victory, gold medals, and seeing their favorite athletes create unique records.
When the Thunder lost to the Phoenix Suns, they lost their position as the top team in the Western Conference and also lost the attention of most media, because their 11 losses meant that the Thunder could not break the Chicago Bulls' 72-win regular season record this season.
The media once again shifted their focus to the Lakers. Everyone was discussing whether the Lakers had a chance to tie the Chicago Bulls' win record, and whether the Lakers could defend their title and win the championship this season.
Kayce's efficient 46 points against the San Antonio Spurs' defense only made the media marvel for a moment, then they continued to discuss the competition between the Cavaliers and the Lakers, discussing 23 versus 24, and whether the 'Yellow-Green War' would reappear this season.
The highest single-game scoring record for the 2009 rookie class was Brandon Jennings' 55 points. The regular season three-point record was Kobe and Marshall's 12 three-pointers in a single game.
Kayce's score was not the highest, and his three-point makes did not reach the single-game record. So, after the media's exclamations, they quickly forgot about it.
However, Oklahoma City fans praised Kayce wildly. Scoring 46 points on 20 shots was even more impressive than Durant.
On the 27th, the Thunder had a day off. Kayce ate a simple breakfast and then started his lazy online surfing. The continuous back-to-back games had left him exceptionally tired.
In the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kayce even felt that he couldn't perfectly control his body. Despite having ample physical energy, he couldn't execute the moves he intended, which made him realize the limits of B+ grade functional drinks.
However, the continuous games also brought Kayce considerable gains, with three more badges upgrading to silver.
Achievement Badge [Boxout Beast]: 3/500
Increases the player's box-out ability and reduces stamina consumption from actions.
Achievement Badge [Tough Shooter]: 5/500
Unaffected by side defenders, reduces the impact of front defenders.
Achievement Badge [Perpetual Motion Defense]: 1/500
Reduces stamina loss from strenuous defense and decreases stamina consumption from actions.
The [Tough Shooter] badge is very effective. It can be combined with any shooting badge to improve Kayce's tough shot percentage. The other two badges primarily enhance his defense, reducing stamina consumption, which is very practical in intense games.
Kayce currently has almost all silver badges, but among the remaining bronze badges, [Fadeaway King] and [Circus Three] are not easy to upgrade.
After all, in games, he relies more on step-back jump shots after shaking off defenders, and he rarely takes high-difficulty three-pointers.
Just as Kayce was thinking about how to upgrade these two badges to silver, Chapman's call came. Today was the day to meet with Keds, and he really didn't want his first signature shoe to be a gum-soled sneaker.
"Kayce, Rick and I are on our way. We'll be there in 5 minutes."
Kayce glanced at the time and saw that it wasn't even 9 o'clock, so he responded with some surprise:
"So early? Should I prepare breakfast for you? Did you also bring your good friend into our camp?"
"No need for breakfast. Rick will be the new President of Keds. Don't worry, he worked at Converse for many years before, and his ability is absolutely top-notch. We'll talk more when we meet."
Hearing the busy tone from the phone, Kayce secretly pouted. America was the same; human connections were everywhere. When abilities were similar, people still preferred to work with friends.
Five minutes later, Kayce welcomed Chapman and his group into his Oklahoma City mansion, saying with a sincere smile:
"Welcome everyone. The house is a bit simple; after all, I'm not in Oklahoma City much of the time and haven't properly taken care of it. Please sit wherever you like. Chapman has always talked about you, Rick. You're younger than I imagined!"
Rick Blackshaw had served as Vice President of Converse for many years, primarily responsible for brand marketing.
The designers and staff from Keds felt a bit speechless hearing Kayce's words. Was this house considered simple?
Upon seeing Kayce, Rick immediately smiled and exchanged pleasantries. After all, the person in front of him was the real big investor, and for the sake of the American dollar, he had to provide excellent service.
"Kayce, it's great to meet you. To achieve so much at 20 years old, you are truly outstanding. My daughter loves your songs, and I personally appreciate your performance in the NBA. In the future, you will definitely become a presence like Michael Jordan."
After a round of mutual flattery, the two sat down and began to formally discuss Keds' development direction.
"Kayce, let me first talk about the shoe issue. Pro-Keds is Keds' athletic shoe brand. It had a glorious period in the 1950s, after which the brand completely became a niche street brand."
"The patents have long expired, and there are no technical reserves. We discussed before whether to restart the basketball shoe line. Now everyone wants to hear your opinion."
Since they were all insiders, Chapman went straight to the point, speaking simply and directly. This made the Keds staff feel a bit embarrassed, as their performance in the new century had indeed been quite poor.
"I think the current focus should be on profitability. Regarding shoe technology, I've also learned about some simple patent technologies."
"Simply put, for the upper, I lean towards integrated knitting technology. For the sole, we can only go the joint research and development route. You are more professional than I am on this point."
"To make money, we still need Taylor. Keds has always focused on the female market. Perhaps we can continue this strategy, change the promotion channels, and hold more events. Fans loves retro nostalgia."
Kayce generally understood the future styles and development direction of sneakers, but specific patent technologies were his blind spot. As for Keds' canvas shoes, that would be about catering to fans. Canvas shoes themselves are not expensive, so to create a premium, they could only be sold to fans.
"Integrated knitting? That's indeed a good direction. Low cost, less manual intervention, more reliance on machine programming for knitting. Nike, Adidas, and Puma are all increasing their R&D efforts in this area."
"Nike insiders even know that Adidas is jointly developing a technology with BASF, and perhaps Puma is also involved. However, we definitely won't be able to connect with them. German companies, we don't have channels in that regard."
Rick had been the president of Converse for many years, so he naturally had his own information channels. Hearing Kayce's words, he was a little surprised. This young man was indeed prepared.
"Perhaps we can also jointly develop with local chemical companies. This is also a good selling point. Hmm, Dow Chemical. Although I don't know anyone there, contacting them shouldn't be a problem."
After hearing Chapman's words, a term suddenly popped into Kayce's mind: foam material. He immediately understood that this was potential memory information, and this material should have a market in the future.
"Okay, try to get in touch with them. Perhaps we can research foam materials. Anyway, we're funding it, so Dow Chemical shouldn't refuse."
"As for Keds' canvas shoe line, let Taylor choose the colors and styles herself. Fans will pay for it."
"Oh, and have Instagram help with the promotion. We're also minor shareholders, so charge normal advertising fees. Their user growth has been exploding recently. Young people love to look at pictures, so remember to meticulously edit the photos after taking them. I think everyone will enjoy seeing long-legged blondes."
After Kayce finished talking about IG, everyone present had a bewildered expression. It was clear that they were a bit behind the times. Then Chapman suddenly remembered that IG was a small internet company they had invested in before, one he had always complained about as a money pit.
"Their product actually has users? My God, I really can't keep up with young people's thinking, but this is a good idea."
"Rick has rich experience in offline events, coupled with internet promotion and Taylor's endorsement, profitability might not be a problem."
Chapman was very confident about this. The purchasing power of female fans was absolutely super strong. Besides basic models, they could also add a co-branded model, a fancy way to cater to fans, something he was best at.
"If we really go the joint R&D route, the company's early profits might all be invested, and the basketball shoe plan would have to be postponed. Kayce, do you accept such a result? R&D might take two or three years."
Rick reminded Kayce that developing a material was not such a simple matter.
"Haha, don't worry, I can wait two or three years. What's more, since it doesn't involve mass production, I can try on some experimental samples beforehand, which can also serve as a promo for the shoes."
Kayce planned to officially launch his first signature shoe after his rookie contract ended. Haste makes waste. With a clear direction, the R&D progress should not be slow.
"Then it's settled. We'll plan the detailed strategy immediately after we get back. I can't wait to witness the resurgence of Keds."
Seeing Kayce satisfied, Chapman immediately knew that this matter was basically settled. Next, they discussed some of Kayce's personal canvas shoe color schemes and styles. The Keds staff finally had a use.
Watching everyone enthusiastically discuss the company's future, Kayce always felt that he had inadvertently drawn inspiration from the development path of a certain brand. Unable to recall the exact name, he dismissed the thought, happily thinking:
"The butterfly effect doesn't matter. Making money first is the most important thing!"
On February 28th, the last day of February, the Thunder would host the Toronto Raptors at home. DeRozan also came to Oklahoma City with the team, and Kayce hosted his good brother, whom he had known since high school.
At a private restaurant in Oklahoma City, Kayce looked at DeRozan, who was wearing a black hoodie, and couldn't help but tease him:
"Are the fans in Canada enthusiastic? I remember you looked miserable after being drafted. It seems you're doing quite well now!"
"Although it's a bit far from home, I can start for the Raptors and have consistent playing time. As a rookie, I'm really satisfied, and the Raptors fans are genuinely enthusiastic."
DeRozan said he was doing well. He had a starting position and at least 20 minutes of playing time per game. Compared to other rookies in his class, he felt quite lucky.
"Your team is almost an international squad; there aren't many american-born players. It seems you all get along well. However, you should also increase your three-point training. Three-pointers will definitely be very useful in the future."
Kayce took the opportunity to offer advice. He truly hoped DeRozan could develop comprehensively. Lacking an outside shot was a fatal weakness.
"I might really not have a talent for long-range shooting. I've practiced a lot, but the results are still very poor. The trainer suggested I change my shooting mechanics, but that will have to wait until the offseason. I really envy your shooting touch."
When three-pointers were mentioned, DeRozan immediately started complaining. In high school, he was tormented by the combination of Kayce and Klay, never winning a single game. In this regard, he and his good brother Harden shared the same plight.
"You don't need to rush either. Shooting is something that, if you maintain your training volume, will eventually show results. Will you still participate in the Slam Dunk Contest at next year's All-Star Weekend?"
"Forget it. I always feel this competition is a bit awkward. Experiencing it once is enough. Honestly, innovative dunking moves are really becoming fewer and fewer, and after every All-Star Weekend, fans always complain about the Slam Dunk Contest first."
When DeRozan heard Kayce's question, he immediately began to pour out his grievances. After participating in the Slam Dunk Contest, he was heavily criticized by many fans, and even some commentators constantly mocked him.
"Haha, Bro, just be happy for yourself. Read less news reports from the media."
After a holiday break, the Thunder players finally returned to a refreshed state. With only a month and a half left in the regular season, Coach Brooks decided to start practicing the team's defensive tactics.
"At the start of this game, we'll play a 2-3 zone defense. Kevin, on defense, you need to pay attention to the opponent's ball movement, watch out for Hedo Turkoglu's three-point shooting, and communicate promptly."
"The perimeter defense doesn't need to be too aggressive; the Raptors' outside shooting percentage isn't high. Russell, you must pay attention to this. Kayce, remind him after you get on the court. Everyone protect your own area and communicate with each other."
Russell looked a bit worried; he still preferred man-to-man defense. Jeff Green was overjoyed. Could this be the lucky charm working? He had been worried about the Raptors' low-post offense, but playing a zone defense would significantly reduce his pressure.
Due to the existence of the defensive three-second rule, the Thunder's 2-3 zone defense was more like a 2-1-2 alignment. Everyone needed to assess the situation on the court to successfully execute the zone defense.
"Guys, let's strive to win this game and perfectly conclude our February journey."
"Yeah! Let's go!"
The Raptors currently had a record of 31 wins and 26 losses, temporarily ranking eighth in the Eastern Conference. However, the ninth-place Chicago Bulls were only one game behind them, so Coach Jay Triano was still hoping his team could win this game.
In the visiting team's locker room, Coach Triano once again emphasized the tactical approach for this game.
"Jack, don't follow the opponent's rhythm. We need to slow down our offense, get the ball into Bargnani's hands, and utilize our interior advantage."
"The ball must move. Be patient on offense, big swings in and out, and if there's an opportunity from the outside, shoot decisively."
"Pay attention to the defense on Kayce. He's been in too good a form recently. DeRozan, watch his left hand; don't forget the defensive strategy."
"I will, Coach!"
Before the game, home commentator Twin also announced the results of the fan vote for the playoffs cheer T-shirt. The simple "OKC" letter print received the most votes, and there was no suspense regarding the colors, with blue and white once again standing out.
"February's games are also coming to an end. Perhaps in two days, we will once again witness Kevin and Kayce receive the Player of the Month awards at home. This has truly been an incredible season; we need to start preparing for the playoffs!"
"The Raptors' starting five are Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, Hedo Turkoglu, Andrea Bargnani, and Radoslav Nesterović. This is a regular rotation, with two big men over 2.10 meters, which will test our interior defense."
"I hope the guys have fully recovered from the back-to-back games. The game is about to start!"
Since Kayce scored 46 points, many Oklahoma City fans on Reddit began discussing who was stronger between Kayce and Durant.
For such a topic, Durant naturally had to strike hard. Taking advantage of these two days off, he surfed the internet intensely, and with the cooperation of his discussion group, he easily defeated many opponents on Reddit, retaining the title of "KD is the strongest."
During the final warm-up before the game, Durant was in a cheerful mood. Seeing his brother Jeff Green clanking shots again, he immediately smiled and said:
"Green, shoot fewer shots before the game. Stay calm during the game, don't worry, I'll find you. And, remember to throw away that broken charm of yours quickly!"
"Thanks, Bro, but I feel like the lucky charm still has some effect. In the game against the San Antonio Spurs, both you and Kayce shot very accurately. This lucky charm might have helped a lot."
Durant didn't believe that his 32 points were due to a broken charm. Faced with Jeff Green's persistence, he could only reply helplessly:
"After playing zone defense, your defensive pressure will be much less, and your physical condition will also improve. Your three-point shooting percentage will definitely rebound. Keep it up!"
At this moment, the referee signaled Kostić and Nesterović to come to the center circle. Both bent their knees, ready for the jump ball.
"The game begins! Nesterović tips the ball to the Raptors! Oh! In this game, the guys are playing a quasi-zone defense from the start."
At this time, Kayce and Russell stood on the elbow areas on both sides of the free-throw line, while Durant roamed on Turkoglu's side. Jeff Green and Kostić were positioned in the paint near the baseline.
This kind of zone defense is actually easy to break. As long as you move the ball fast enough, shoot accurately from the outside, or have a big man come to the free-throw line to facilitate, it can produce good results. Even strong-side to weak-side transfers can create local 2-on-1 situations.
Encountering this situation, Jack immediately began to signal his teammates to move the ball around and disrupt the Thunder's defense. However, unfortunately, DeRozan's outside shot was being given up by Kayce. With a simple ball transfer, an opportunity arose, but DeRozan didn't shoot.
Bargnani, seeing the situation was not good, quickly moved to the free-throw line to receive the ball. At the same time, Nesterović also moved towards the basket, drawing Durant's attention away. Seeing Turkoglu get an open look, Bargnani quickly passed the ball to him.
The latter, after receiving the ball, shot without hesitation.
"Bang!" It was a brick.
As the rebound bounced out, Jeff Green had already boxed out Bargnani, and Kayce instantly collapsed, plus Kostić and Durant under the basket. The three of them easily snatched a rebound.
After Kayce secured the rebound, he directly threw the ball to the frontcourt. Russell, who was fast-breaking, chased down the ball, took three big steps, and easily slammed it down with one arm!
"Clang!" A fast break dunk.
This was one of the Thunder's game strategies: fully protect the rebound, initially give up the opponent's outside shot, and once the opponent fails to make shots, they will stick to this defensive strategy. In the first round, it worked well.
"Ah!!"
The Ford Center crowd immediately cheered for Russell's dunk.
When the Raptors attacked again, the Thunder still maintained their 2-3 zone defense. Jack signaled Bargnani to set a pick-and-roll, but found that after the screen, he was covered by Kayce and Jeff Green.
Noticing that DeRozan on the other side was open, he immediately passed the ball to him. DeRozan, after receiving the ball, immediately dribbled forward one step, which delayed him. Kayce's defense also sprang out, successfully interfering with DeRozan's mid-range jump shot.
"Bang!" Another clang.
The rebound was secured by Jeff Green. Noticing that the Raptors had quickly retreated on defense, Russell, after receiving the ball, slowly dribbled past half-court and made a tactical hand signal.
With a double screen on the perimeter and a cross-cut, Kayce successfully received Russell's pass at the left 45-degree angle outside the three-point line. The Raptors' defense immediately chose to switch, and Bargnani quickly followed him.
After receiving the ball, Kayce didn't deliberately lower his center of gravity. He used a crossover dribble to pull back, quickly dribbled behind his back with his right hand, looked up slightly, and faked a pump fake, which immediately shifted Bargnani's defensive center of gravity forward.
Noticing the defender's movement, Kayce quickly changed direction with a cross-dribble, accelerated with the ball in his right hand, and after a big step, stopped abruptly at the left elbow of the free-throw line and shot a jump shot.
"Swish!" The mid-range shot went in easily.
"Poor Bargnani, he seemed to be faked into a wooden stake by Kayce, but it's really not his fault. Facing a player who is equally adept with both hands, it's very hard to guess his offensive choice."
Commentator Twin joked about Bargnani, who was defending Kayce.
This possession was also a microcosm of the Thunder's offense throughout the game. Whether it was single defense or switching, the Raptors' defense was always unable to limit the Thunder's outside game, and on offense, several outside shooting opportunities were all missed.
After only 6 minutes of play, relying on Russell's transition offense and Kayce and Durant's outside shooting, the Thunder easily led by 9 points, 17:8.
All of the Raptors' points came from strong attacks under the basket; their outside shooting was absolutely dreadful.
DeRozan was also extremely frustrated. Kayce understood his playing habits too well. Their height and weight were similar, but DeRozan's left hand was simply too weak compared to Kayce's. He was completely shut down by Kayce.
Coach Triano naturally knew what the problem was. After a timeout, he substituted DeRozan for José Calderón, who had shooting ability. The offense had just started to improve, but he quickly realized there was a problem with this substitution.
When Kayce faced a shorter defender, he started to post up again. After the upgrade of [Post-Up Master], the stamina consumed when being entangled by defense in the low post was reduced, making it easier for Kayce to exert force and make moves.
After receiving the ball with his back to the basket at the waist, Kayce quickly leaned back, released the ball with his right hand, used his body and strength to post up twice, then quickly turned around and shot a Fade Away.
"Swish!" The two-point shot went in without touching the rim.
Kayce appeared calm after the shot, but chuckled inwardly. He planned to level up the [Fadeaway King] badge to silver in the remaining regular season games, so he had to use fadeaway more often now.
"A beautiful fadeaway! Charles Barkley finally said something correct. Kayce is the Tim Duncan of the guard line. He masters all offensive skills and has no weaknesses! The only thing he lacks is game experience."
Commentator Twin finished praising Durant and continued to praise Kayce, getting more and more excited, unable to stop.
By the end of the first quarter, the score was 22:37. DeRozan, sitting on the bench, was already in despair. The gap was too big; the Thunder were completely incomparable to some Eastern Conference teams. Their strength was not on the same level.
Kayce was again 5 for 5, scoring 10 points in a single quarter. Coupled with Durant, who was 6 for 6, the two easily scored 22 points. In such a game, Durant didn't even need to activate his Golden Wheel King mode; he just relied on jump shots to crush the opponent.
During the break, Russell and Jeff Green were also in high spirits. The former enjoyed his transition offense, while the latter made an open three-pointer. With the game going their way, both were in top form!
Coach Brooks was also very satisfied with the team's performance, but the zone defense still needed more practice.
"Ibaka, after you get on the court, pay attention to communicating with your teammates promptly. You will be the Defense Core in this lineup. You must bring what you've learned in practice into the game, and this can also help you practice your English."
"No problem, Coach, I can already communicate normally in English."
Ibaka quickly indicated that he was ready. As a rookie, he naturally cherished every opportunity to play.
"Relax, Bro, you are definitely a genius on the defensive end. Trust your instincts."
Kayce also patted Ibaka's shoulder. The [Defense Core] badge had always gained experience through Ibaka, and it was the fastest-rising badge in terms of experience, which was enough to show Ibaka's progress.
After the second quarter began, Kayce led the Thunder's bench lineup, still maintaining a 2-3 zone defense. The Raptors got open looks from the outside, but their three-pointers continued to miss. After the Thunder hit them with a few transition offenses, the lead further widened.
Ibaka virtually created a no-fly zone in the paint. His excellent lateral quickness, combined with impressive leaping ability, resulted in 4 blocks in the second quarter alone, which made the fans at the arena scream continuously.
At halftime, the Thunder were leading 73-52, extending their advantage to 21 points. The second half officially entered garbage time.
Kayce, who checked out after three quarters, efficiently scored 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. He could feel that with all his badges upgraded to silver, he seemed to have shed his 'severely bankrupt Michael Jordan' status.
In the fourth quarter, Kayce sat on the bench, watching Durant and Russell still fighting on the court to rack up points, and couldn't help but sigh:
"Perhaps after this season, media reporters and pundits will complain that Durant's scoring title is a bit inflated."
99-120, the Thunder once again showcased their terrifying firepower, easily defeating the Raptors at home and perfectly concluding their February journey.
After the game, Kayce saw a somewhat dejected DeRozan, gently patted his shoulder, and whispered comfortingly:
"Rookie players always experience failure, losing is the best way to grow, Bro. Remember to practice your three-pointers in the off-season!"
DeRozan felt even more frustrated after hearing Kayce's words. Damn it, he got to show off again!
"I know. It's just that after losing to you guys, the Bulls have caught up. Sigh, I'm starting to worry about the playoffs."
Kayce and DeRozan chatted for a long time before finally embracing and walking back to the player tunnel.
On March 1st, the NBA announced the Player of the Month awards. The Thunder achieved a 9-2 record in February, and Durant was once again named Western Conference Player of the Month with an average of 31.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. The Eastern Conference award went to LeBron James.
Kayce also continued to win Rookie of the Month with averages of 24.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Oklahoma City fans were thrilled to know they would witness Kayce and Durant receive their awards together at home tomorrow. Kayce and Durant's jerseys also sold out on this day.
On the afternoon of March 2nd, Kayce hosted James Harden, the Beard, at his home in Oklahoma City. Seeing Harden's haggard appearance, he couldn't help but say with concern:
"You don't need to rush to practice three-pointers. The coaches don't allow you to shoot three-pointers freely right now anyway. It's better to prioritize refining your ball-handling skills. Don't push yourself too hard!"
"Last night's girl was indeed a bit different. What's wrong, Kayce? Why are you looking at me so strangely?"
Kayce was speechless. He thought Harden had started practicing three-pointers after the All-Star Weekend, but he didn't expect this guy to have reverted to his old habits. It seems the Sacramento Kings' tanking plan really affected him.
"You should still pay attention to your health. If it's really not working out, try something new. I hope you don't have weak legs in tonight's game."
"Anyway, we're going to lose, and I've gotten used to it. Thanks, Bro, I know you care about me. For your birthday this year, I'll give you a big gift. After all, I'm a millionaire now!"
Harden grabbed a Taco from the table and started devouring it. His physical exertion last night was immense, so he needed to replenish his energy.
"Haha, after taxes, you won't have much left. We can just have a big party then, and invite Klay too."
"It feels like we're back in high school. Life in the NBA isn't as exciting as I imagined!"
On the evening of March 2nd, Harden witnessed Kayce and Durant receiving their Player of the Month awards at the Ford Center. Feeling the thunderous cheers from the crowd, the Beard's eyes showed envy.
As the second-to-last team in the Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings had a record of 20 wins and 39 losses. This season was for Harden to level up and for the team to tank, accumulate good karma, and hopefully get a good draft pick.
With the home crowd's fervent support, the Sacramento Kings completely collapsed in the first quarter, 20-36. The Sacramento Kings players stopped pretending and fully embraced tanking.
Ultimately, 97-113, the Thunder decisively defeated the Sacramento Kings at home. Harden performed decently, although his shooting percentage was low, he still managed 22 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 turnovers.
Kayce continued to check out after three quarters, with an unremarkable 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. For him, this kind of game was merely a shooting practice session.
After the game, Harden wasn't too dejected. He pulled Kayce aside for a private chat:
"I've found a place that suits us. Next time you come to Sacramento, I'll take you to enjoy yourself."
"Share the good fortune, my good brother!"
On March 3rd, it was another back-to-back game. The Thunder team flew directly to Denver, where they would challenge the Denver Nuggets on the road.
The Western Conference playoffs situation was already clear. The Lakers and Thunder had a clear advantage. If no major surprises occurred, they would secure the top two spots. However, teams ranked 5th to 8th were fiercely competitive, with very small differences in wins between them.
The Denver Nuggets, ranked 6th in the Western Conference, currently had a record of 40 wins and 20 losses, only two wins behind the 5th-place Utah Jazz.
In the final stage of the regular season, Coach George Karl also wanted to improve the team's record. Being in the lower half, without home-court advantage, could be very fatal at certain moments in the playoffs.
Once it came down to a Game 5, playing at home and playing on the road felt completely different. The atmosphere on-site and the referees' calls were all advantages that home-court could bring.
Coach George Karl also didn't believe that the Denver Nuggets, with their strength, would lose to the Thunder. They reached the Western Conference Finals last year, and the team was full of experienced veterans. Tonight's game, the team would naturally go all out for the win.
Before the game, in the Denver Nuggets' locker room, Coach George Karl instructed Chauncey Billups:
"If the opponent continues to play zone defense, Chauncey, if an opportunity arises on the perimeter, you must shoot decisively. At the same time, increase some baseline back cuts. You guys will manage it yourselves once you're on the court."
"Melo, go all out on offense. Like our previous matchups, we need to maintain our offensive rebounding. Come on, guys, there aren't many games left, we need to strive to get into the top 4 and secure home-court advantage."
"Aww!!"
Coach Brooks felt quite tricky facing an opponent like the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder currently feared teams with strong interior play. Once they couldn't quickly secure defensive rebounds, the Thunder would lose their transition offense.
Furthermore, the opponent's offense relied more on Carmelo Anthony's individual ability, which made the Thunder's defense very uncomfortable. After all, in one-on-one situations, the Thunder's perimeter players found it difficult to limit Anthony's performance.
The outcome of the game largely depended on the star players' shooting touch and the battle for rebounds.
In the locker room before the game, Coach Brooks also emphasized the tactical strategy for this game, specifically the strategy for defending Anthony.
"Kevin, communicate with everyone on the court in a timely manner. Switch on screens, and rotate quickly. No matter who is defending Anthony, try to force him to his left hand, and double-team him once he's driven inside."
"Rebounds, you must protect the defensive glass. Kayce, Russell, you two also need to crash the boards in a timely manner."
"One last thing, ensure your physical health. In the final month and a half, I don't want to see any injuries to the team. Let's go!"
"Yeah!!"
If we talk about zone defense, Coach George Karl, when he coached the Seattle Supersonics in the 90s, had already mastered it, and top teams at that time would exploit rule loopholes.
The Thunder did not employ a zone defense in this game, as the Denver Nuggets' perimeter had Chauncey Billups, Arron Afflalo, and Carmelo Anthony, with JR Smith on the bench. If they let the opponent get hot, the game would surely be over early.
Reverting to traditional man-to-man defense, the Thunder were somewhat passive after the tip-off. Due to playing at home, the Denver Nuggets played very aggressively in this game, and Carmelo Anthony was in explosive form.
Denver Nuggets offense, Anthony directly called for the ball in the low post. Facing Durant's defense, he took a jab step before a pull-up Fade Away.
"Swish" The mid-range shot went in steadily.
The Thunder quickly inbounded the ball, Russell swiftly brought it past half-court, and immediately passed it to Durant, who came off a screen. Facing Kenyon Martin, who had switched onto him, he drove with a crossover, then pulled up for a jump shot.
"Swish" The two-point shot swished through the net.
Billups quickly brought the ball past half-court. At the top of the arc beyond the three-point line, he initiated a pick-and-roll with Nene. The moment they split, he threw a bounce pass to Nene, who received the ball, took one dribble, muscled past Kostić's defense, and made a right-handed floater.
Thunder offense, Kayce and Jeff Green executed a cross-screen on the baseline. Kayce quickly moved to the low post to call for the ball. When Kayce received the pass from Russell, Afflalo's defense was already in position, tightly guarding Kayce from behind.
Kayce leaned back, suddenly dribbled behind his back with his right hand, quickly gathered the ball, and then turned for a fadeaway.
"Swish" The mid-range shot went in steadily.
"Boo!"
The home crowd immediately booed Kayce. They didn't want to see such flashy scores from an opposing player.
In the first quarter, both teams played at a fast offensive pace, with the lead changing hands. 30-32, the Thunder trailed by two points after the first quarter.
Coach Brooks was also very satisfied with his players' performance. Although there were no transition offense opportunities, the defensive rebounds were very well protected. He felt there was still hope of winning this game.
After the second quarter began, Coach George Karl directly used Nene and Anderson as his interior pairing. As soon as these two energetic interior players entered the game, the situation immediately changed.
The combination of Jeff Green and Ibaka gradually lost control of the defensive rebounds. Even after Coach Brooks brought in Collison, the situation didn't change much.
With the referees allowing more physical play, the Thunder's defensive rebounds were completely dominated in the second quarter. Coach George Karl's simple yet effective offensive rebounding strategy once again achieved unexpected success.
At halftime, 57-64, the Thunder were down by 7 points. Even with Durant using the rip-through move, it didn't have much effect, as Carmelo Anthony also got calls on his home court.
The third quarter was almost a replica of the second. A red-hot Anthony even shot and rebounded his own misses, and with Nene and Anderson constantly stirring things up, the Thunder completely lost the rhythm of the game and were hit with a scoring run.
The fourth-quarter comeback also failed. Under the opponent's high-intensity defense, the Thunder's perimeter shooting percentage began to decline. Ultimately, 99-119, the Thunder lost to the Denver Nuggets on the road.
Carmelo Anthony, who scored 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in the entire game, was all smiles. Winning this game, they further narrowed the gap with the teams ahead of them.
A dejected Durant turned and left immediately after the loss. He didn't want to see Anthony's smiling face after the victory. The opponent scored wildly against his defense, which left Durant feeling a bit sour. Being a two-way player was indeed too difficult!
Kayce did not leave directly, but sat on the bench, staring blankly at the statistics, feeling a little helpless:
"We were outrebounded by 8. The opponent converted almost every second-chance rebound into points. I hope we don't meet the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs."