Start coaching the Thunder, starting with Westbrook

Chapter 90 Against the Magic
In the past half a month, the Thunder only played a total of four preseason games, starting at the earliest and finishing at the latest, so the interval in between is relatively long, which is also conducive to Li Sheng's further testing of the lineup.

In the third preseason game against the Magic, he even put up a "five-forward" starting lineup of Sefolosha, Robertson, Durant, Antetokounmpo and Ibaka.

The defensive weak link has become Durant instead, but he is not bad in single defense. With Robertson and Antetokounmpo actively switching positions with him, the opponent can't break through him.

This lineup must be replaced every screen, and the result of the substitution is that the Magic's guards can't break through at all.

The starting backcourt combination of the Magic is veterans Nelson and Afflalo. Both of them are not tall and have average speed.

On the other hand, Magic's No. [-] Vucevic has the characteristics of big white and soft. He is slow and unable to defend. After being screened and rolled by Durant, he made two consecutive three-pointers and released Ibaka for an open three-pointer. Unfortunately, he missed the rebound, but Antetokounmpo rushed to grab the rebound.

When the inside line is hesitating between defending and going out, it is difficult to guarantee rebounds. What's more, the Thunder's lineup is extremely capable of rushing to the frontcourt.

Especially Robertson, he had consecutive double-doubles when he was in college. In many cases, he even had more rebounds than points, and he has a very keen sense of rebounding.

It is also difficult for the Magic to play mainly inside offense, because once the Thunder team forms a double-team, it can form a local blockade relying on their height advantage, preventing the ball holder from passing the ball accurately.

Vucevic, the core of the inside offense, didn't play hard enough, and in the end it was either a mistake or a scrimmage.

When it came time to rotate the lineup, Li Yong naturally changed back to his regular style of play, not asking them to continue to suppress their opponents, as long as they could maintain their advantage.

This is not impossible, because their rotation lineup actually corresponds to the opponent's rotation lineup, and Reggie and Lamb are suitable for disrupting battles, and they can just match the opponent's substitute.

Of course, in order to ensure that the players can actively integrate, Li Sheng actually arranged to play more pick-and-rolls. This is the simplest tactic that anyone who has played will know, and it is very effective when encountering poor defense.

After a few minutes of this stalemate, Li Sheng changed back to the "main" lineup one after another.

Then under this extreme offensive and defensive pressure, the Thunder led the Magic by 20+ points in the first half, and the situation on the scene was even worse than the score.

The Magic has always been a stable team in the Eastern Conference for several years. It’s not without reason. Their offense has been sporadic.

In this game, the Thunder's three-pointers broke out. Sefolosha hit three three-pointers in the first half, and Antetokounmpo also made one, but it was a bit of luck. Durant made two of four and Ibaka made two of three.

At the beginning of the second half, Li Sheng switched back to the regular starting lineup, but the Magic still had no strength to fight back. In the third quarter, it was Reggie who took the lead in the Thunder.

As the poor man's version of Westbrook, Reggie also focuses on breakthroughs, and likes to use cover to break into the basket and play with those insiders who turn around and chase slow.

In this quarter, he was very efficient, with one breakthrough and one hit. There was also a wonderful turn and throw to play with Glenn Davis. At that moment, he was possessed by a French sports car.

However, Li Sheng quickly replaced him. He understood why sometimes the coach likes to replace the player when the fans are watching someone play well. Sometimes it is really necessary.

It's as if Reggie looks like he's playing well on offense, but he's obviously paddling on the defensive end in order to wait for the fast break to get ahead.

And on the offensive end, he almost fell into a situation where he played alone and the other four watched.

There is still Durant on the court, who is the core?

In fact, the score gap is so big, it’s okay to play tacitly, but Li Sheng needs to consider the needs of the team’s training. If it’s because of tactics and rookies, it’s okay, but Reggie is obviously just trying to improve himself.

You have to brush up on the preseason data, can it help your contract with a dime?

Who gave the contract based on the performance in the preseason?
So Li Sheng sometimes felt that some of these black players were really bubbling and had incomprehensible brain circuits.

When should I show that I can't figure it out, and I still don't know my role.

If you are the core of the team, you can still tolerate the occasional slap on the coach and the players, or even ruin a game. After all, you have a lot of C, and you have the right to be willful occasionally.

Role players are like this, but they don't know how to measure themselves. Do you really think that a temporary explosion is a manifestation of your own strength?

Fortunately, Li Sheng has almost established his basic position in the team. The two cores of Durant and Westbrook are now on his side. The four rookies are his main picks, and they are naturally on his side. In this way, he basically has the right to speak for the entire team.

Not to mention that there are bosses and managers behind him. As long as he is not too weak, the performance of the team behind him is disappointing, and he is questioned, then Reggie's team status should not try to challenge his authority.

Reggie probably understood this too, so he was replaced when he was replaced, feeling a little depressed.

After Collins went down to reveal some hidden meanings to him at Li Sheng's order, Reggie responded with a good attitude of admitting his mistakes no matter what he thought in his heart.

This is just a small episode and will not affect the result of this game.

In the end, the Thunder defeated the Magic, and it was another three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Li Sheng still gave Reggie playing time, but he still told him to do his own tasks well and not to beat up.

After all, Reggie is no better than Westbrook, and he didn't dare to challenge Li Sheng's authority, so he consciously handed the ball over to Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo is now the first choice for the team designated by Li Sheng to hold the ball. Even when Durant is on the court, he needs to cooperate with him to hold the ball.

Although in the training camp he focused on strengthening the two aspects of muscle gain and shooting, it does not mean that he only practiced these two.

With Durant as a living "template" in front of him, Antetokounmpo will naturally learn from him. As his personal strength increases, his offensive threat with the ball will become greater and greater.

And his organizational attributes have also been recognized by everyone, including Gobert's passing ability, which is the guarantee for the Thunder to play some beautiful cooperation and team offense when they are on the court.

In the past, the thunder was fierce, but after Harden left, there was one less person who could handle the ball, and Dewey each had its own instability.

Li Sheng felt that the Thunder has always been short of people who can hold and handle the ball. They don't want to be able to function like the Warriors and Spurs, but one or two more points would definitely be better.

Facts have proved that this is indeed effective, and even mobilized Durant's enthusiasm for running positions.

Perhaps it is because of the urgent need to prove himself, so Durant is willing to put down a little more stance, and of course it is also because this is the Thunder after all, and it is his team.

(End of this chapter)