If I were Yi Di in the NBA

Chapter 122 A team plagued by injuries

On March 3th, the Thunder sat at home and took the Wizards who were already in trouble.

[Lead the team to win, beat the Wizards All-Star player Antawn Jamison in performance, and reward +1 for layup. 】

However, Durant's absence still had a certain impact on the Thunder.

When the Thunder went to an away game against the Hornets, because the Hornets center Chandler had returned, the team lost to the opponent.

In the next back-to-back games, the Thunder returned to the home court.

It was the 76ers who came to Oklahoma to challenge them. The current 76ers are also a playoff-level team in the Eastern Conference. They belong to the type with slightly poor offense but good defense.

If they were in the West, they would definitely not be able to reach the playoffs.

However, in the Eastern Conference where the strength of the teams in the playoffs is very large, the 76ers with a [-]% winning rate are still relatively stable in the playoffs.

The 76ers also suffered injuries. They spent a lot of money in the summer to sign Brand, who had potential injuries, and then Brand was injured again.

In fact, apart from the relatively weak offensive power of the core Iguodala this season, the 76ers can be regarded as internal and external, with a main force and a substitute.

Had it not been for injuries, they might have done something in the East.

From the start of the game, it was obvious that the Thunder were different now.

They have been regarded as a strong team by many teams, and arrangements will be made for them in advance.

Yi Jian was flanked as soon as he came up, and the 76ers' defense played a good role in the first quarter.

It's just that when the 76ers gained the advantage, they didn't widen the score.

Their offense is really bad, and their first strong point Iguodala is a blacksmith.

Don't think that Iguodala will be very good as a support in the future, but he was really not very good when he was the team leader.

The physical fitness is excellent, but the offensive power is too poor. The 76ers have actually realized that they have chosen the wrong successor.

What a small AI, it is too far from AI.

I have to say that the 76ers' defense is really good.

While they pinched Yi Jian, they didn't give Thunderclap too many chances from outside.

But after the Thunder adapted to their defense, the situation was reversed immediately.

The solution to the 76ers is also simple, that is, the inside twin towers.

In the second quarter, Lopez showed his power, and the 76ers' flanking tactics were a bit unplayable.

In fact, it doesn't matter whether it continues or not. The 76ers have been unable to attack. After the Thunder gained the advantage, the suspense of this game has actually been greatly reduced.

Under the Thunder's defense, Iguodala didn't even want to attack.

And Lu Wei, who was on their bench, was fighting in all kinds of ways.

In the end, they still need their guard Andre Miller to grasp the overall situation, but the 76ers rely on the floor guard to score, which is still not very reliable.

In the third quarter, the Thunder took advantage of the victory and pursued, securing the victory in no time.

Durant's injury is a bit pitiful, but it is fortunate from the perspective of the schedule.

Now the current game is not a critical moment, the opponent is not strong, and the impact is not that great.

Next, the Thunder beat the Weak Chicken King again, but unfortunately this was only the first back-to-back away game.

In the second back-to-back away game, the Thunder lost to the Nuggets without Durant.

Although Yi Jian scored a large double-double again, he was the only one who performed well enough.

Billups overwhelmed Lowry, Lopez's performance was average, and if the wing just defended and failed to score, it would be a disadvantage facing Anthony and JR-Smith.

Yi Jian also had no choice, basketball is a sport of five people after all.

Three days later, Durant returned.

Yi Jian advised him to rest for two more games, but Durant couldn't wait.

Moreover, Yi Jian didn't take a break, he must be doing well alone, the smart Durant must not be fooled.

However, Durant's performance in the first game of his comeback was mediocre, and the Thunder was even beaten by Nash.

Without Stoudemire's sun, Barbosa broke out again.

This is a rare turnaround game for the Thunder. They took the lead until the fourth quarter, but they were overturned by the Suns' double guards at the last moment.

After the game, Yi Jian also reviewed himself, whether he was a little drifting.

Because Yi Jian led by double digits in the first half, Yi Jian didn't play for so long in the second half. As a result, the bench was pressed and beaten by the opponent.

As a result, Nash's three-pointer and one sword sealed his throat, which sounded the alarm for the young Thunder.

Their strength has indeed been improving, but they are not invincible.

Their record, in fact, is not so safe even to keep the top four of the four films.

If there is another injury, the team's ranking may be in danger.

After all, the competition in the west is much more intense than in the east, and a winning rate of 60+ is not enough insurance.

"Kevin, we still need to be calm. The time for the playoffs is getting closer, and we are the ones who do big things." Yi Jian sighed.

Durant was a little speechless, he felt very calm.

However, due to injuries during this period, the team's ranking has dropped a bit.

They really have to be vigilant, they don't want to be the role of accompanying the prince to study.

On March 3, the Thunder, which returned to their home court, ushered in a challenge from the Spurs.

The Spurs are now ranked ahead of them. In fact, they surpassed the Spurs for a while, but the Spurs, as a veteran team, are still more stable than them.

However, the Spurs are now also suffering from injuries, and Ginobili is on a truce.

In order to supplement the team's firepower, the Spurs also signed Gooden, who was waived by the Kings.

Gooden was still in his prime, and was waived only because it was not in the plan. He was regarded as a favorite of a team lacking insiders, and was finally snatched by the Spurs.

However, facing the Thunder, it is not enough for the Spurs to add a relatively ordinary insider.

The current Thunder is also one of the Spurs' imaginary enemies.

After the start of the game, Duncan went all out on both offense and defense, hoping to help the Spurs seize the opportunity.

The Spurs did it, and Duncan is still very sharp at the fifth position.

It's just that the usual winning lineup has now become the starting lineup, which is still different.

Duncan can still play in the league for many years, but it does not prevent him from being old.

Duncan can explode extremely strong on both ends of the offense and defense, and return to the peak moment in a short time.

It's just that Duncan doesn't usually fight like this. If the opponent survives, Duncan's physical exertion will become a hidden danger instead.

Spurs head coach Popovich also bullied the Thunder's youth and wanted to destroy the Thunder all at once.

However, the Thunder are still more resilient than the Spurs coaching staff imagined.

After Duncan broke out, the Spurs took the lead, but not by much.

While Lopez defended desperately, Duncan's efficiency dropped in the second quarter.

On the Thunder's side, the combination of Yi Jian and Durant is more stable on the offensive end.

Without the ball-holding point of Ginobili, the strength of the Spurs' bench lineup has been greatly reduced.

In the second quarter, the main force did not continue to fire, and the Thunder took the lead.

The whole process was faster than Thunder expected.

(End of this chapter)