Start coaching the Thunder, starting with Westbrook

Chapter 96
In fact, the current Suns team is not necessarily weak, at least compared to the previous Jazz and Timberwolves, Li Sheng thinks they may be stronger.

In fact, the Suns did almost make the playoffs this season, and finally ranked ninth in the Western Conference, but their record was 48 wins.

With a winning rate close to 60%, you can't make it to the playoffs in the end, can you believe it?

So why it is said that the west is strong and the east is weak these years, this is the reason.

But the weaknesses of the Suns are also obvious. Their offense can actually match the Thunder.

Although they don't have a single outstanding strength, Hornacek's training of the team's offense is still effective, especially when the three-back lineup faced the Thunder's striker lineup, and even once relied on flexibility and speed to take advantage.

The Suns also have a lot of routines on the offensive end, which is probably why offensive teams are always more attractive than defensive teams.

But they can't attack and defend, and the further they get to the back, the disadvantage that they don't have an absolute core that can carry the team appears.

In fact, the Thunder did not completely defend against the Suns' offense in this game. In the first half, the Suns suddenly regained their touch in the third quarter. They made six three-pointers in a single quarter and hit a wave of 35:26. The score was close to 5 points.

Even in the first half of the fourth quarter, they kept chasing momentum, but in the second half, when the offensive and defensive rhythms of both sides slowed down and the efficiency dropped, Durant stood up for the Thunder.

Although this game failed to clock in three quarters like the previous two games, Li Sheng still protected Durant's physical strength. On the offensive end, his role was shared by Antetokounmpo and the others. He was even used as bait in the second quarter, becoming an "ashtray" outside the three-point line.

This allowed him to have enough energy to defend when he played in the fourth quarter. He contributed two successful defenses and a block. In turn, he played three consecutive offensive games, pulling the score to double digits again.

So the Suns collapsed, not even scoring a point in the last 2 minutes, and finally lost the game by 13 points.

Durant played more than 36 minutes this time, but only took 11 shots, but he was very efficient. He scored 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. Half of the points were scored in the final quarter.

For Durant, this kind of victory is perfect. The team won, and he also showed his role, which made him happier than the previous two games.

Of course, for Li Sheng, this is the time to sum up experience and lessons.

Faced with the Suns' sudden convulsion in a certain quarter, it is impossible to prepare in advance. It can even be said that no matter how good your defense is, you may not be able to match it.

What Li Sheng needs to improve in the future is that when faced with this situation, first of all, as the head coach, he must call a timeout in a timely manner. He called it a little later in this game, which made the opponent more aggressive.

The second is the layout on the offensive end. Although the Thunder itself plays a fast-paced game, it is best to take the opposite path to the opponent at this time, dragging the rhythm of the game a little longer, and replacing it with a lineup that is more suitable for grinding positions.

Of course, this also has risks. It may turn out to be overwhelmed by the opponent on the defensive end, so it depends on the on-the-spot status. If the offense cannot be effective, it still cannot be changed randomly.

Coaching a team is certainly not that simple. As a rookie coach, he still has a lot to learn. He needs to constantly improve himself in the game and accumulate experience.

Today's post-match press conference was attended by Durant and Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo scored a quasi-triple-double in this game. When the Suns had a convulsion in the third quarter, he helped the team stabilize the rhythm. Even Durant became impatient at the time, but he firmly remembered Li Sheng's explanation when he replaced him. At least it didn't let the team collapse in this quarter.

In the end, he barely withstood the opponent's strongest offensive, and then Durant had the opportunity to reap the game in the fourth quarter.

Durant obviously knew this too, so he praised this little brother in front of reporters.

Now not only some fans in Oklahoma City, online fans, but also many media are increasingly recognizing Antetokounmpo's title of "Little Durant".

Although it can gradually be seen that the playing styles of the two are different, Antetokounmpo is more inclined to James' style of play as a point forward, but it is not exactly the same.

Moreover, he has potential on both ends of the offense and defense, and his defense will not become a weakness on the field when he is in the top four position. In this game, it is very difficult for Gortat and Plumlee to single him.

As a first-year rookie, in the first three games of his career, Antetokounmpo averaged 9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He has basically booked this year's rookie team, and even the best rookie is also expected to compete. It depends on his next performance.

Of course, the most eye-catching rookie in this current class is Philadelphia's McAway, who scored a triple-double of 20+ in his first show, which can be said to be a blockbuster.

Although McAway later lost everyone and was displaced, his performance in the first half of his rookie season was still eye-catching. As a tall point guard, his strengths and weaknesses are obvious. If he is well trained, he can at least secure his position as the starting point guard.

However, the success rate of Philadelphia's rookies these years is really too low. The No. [-] pick Simmons is a giant baby like shooting shit, and the No. [-] core Embiid has a masculine face and a soft psychological quality, not to mention Fultz and Okafor who are gradually marginalized due to injuries and other factors.

After all, they are actually not much better than the management of the Timberwolves and the Kings. It can only be said that they are thorough enough, and they finally have some rewards.

As for the No. [-] pick of the Cavaliers, Bennett's performance was disappointing. He should be the fastest No. [-] pick to be eliminated as a candidate for the best rookie.

It is said that there are many parallel imports at the second place, but this year's No. [-] is so watery that people don't even have the desire to complain.

Although the Cavaliers were questioned by the outside world when they chose him, but after all, he is the No. [-] pick, and there must still be people who have hope for him. Unfortunately, his selling point of swinging inside and outside has now become nonsensical.

Before the summer league, his performance was unknown. After the start of the new season, the Cavaliers also tried to let him start at the fourth position to partner with Bynum. As a result, after three games, they wanted to promote Thompson.

Next, the Cavaliers will definitely continue to perform poorly, but it is not entirely a failure of the No. [-] pick. Their lineup is also very problematic.

On paper, there are talented point guard Irving on the outside, "Baby Shark" Bynum on the inside, and the role players also have their own strengths. They should have something to do in the Eastern Cavaliers, but in reality it is not the case at all.

Not to mention Irving, Bynum is really disappointing. He used to have an infinitely bright future, but unfortunately he didn't want to make progress, and was finally given up by the Lakers and traded him for Howard.

Of course, it turned out to be a three-lose deal afterwards. The Lakers ushered in another failed season and almost missed the playoffs; Howard was plagued by back injuries and was also questioned by the outside world.

But Bynum did not play a game when he arrived in Philadelphia, and was directly reimbursed for the season, leaving hidden dangers of injury.

Then he was sent to the Cavaliers during the transfer period this year. The Cavaliers actually wanted to gamble, so there are still various restrictions on the two-year contract signed with him. He needs to use his attendance and performance to get a salary.

Facts have proved that this gamble failed. Bynum is no longer the little shark. Not only is his defense greatly weakened by the decline in his athletic ability, but his offensive efficiency is also very low, and his offensive selection is very problematic.

What happens when a good insider likes to run to the three-point line to catch the ball?
Although he tried to shoot three-pointers in the last season of the Lakers, the efficiency was not good. This is not what he is good at.

It can only be said that there is something wrong with this person's thinking. Now the Cavaliers coaching staff and management are in a state of distress.

Fortunately, they have Irving as the weapon to grab the No. [-] pick. The next thing is to see him perform well. With such a star, it is not good to have a bad record. At least they can keep some box office.

A reporter also asked Antetokounmpo and asked him to compare him with Bennett. After all, from the current perspective of play, Antetokounmpo is also swinging in the third and fourth positions in the Thunder.

But Antetokounmpo, who was criticized by Xialian for not being able to fight at the beginning, is now slowly making up for his shortcomings. On the contrary, Bennett has a tendency of "cleanliness" that is afraid of confrontation.

(End of this chapter)