After a team from Los Angeles overlooked during the season, with the arrival of Luka Dabusic, and a training of Golden Private State by Stephen Curry after only one match, the Wolves must climb the largest Western Mountain. The Thunder has (now official) MVP and the best defense in the league. This is another dimension that must be apprehended.
The first match, lost, therefore made it possible to enter the deep end and understand the subtleties and the singularities that the Thunder represents.
“We knew it would be different”,, confirms Mike Conley. “It will be more mental than anything else. We saw big battles during these playoffs but there, these are duels, combinations, to look at the score and wonder if, after having cashed a 6-0, we can calm things. Can we avoid rushing and shooting quickly at 3-PTS? We really have to be focused on it, especially against OKC. They feed on bad shoots, to play in transition, to get started and wake up the public. »»
A difficult defense to read
The concern, Anthony Edwards notes it is that each decision becomes a mountain. Not to be mistaken not to give ammunition, it's already sometimes difficult, but against such a suffocating defense, it's a real challenge.
“It's difficult to read because it was different every time”, explained the rear after Game 1. “Sometimes they are very present in the intervals, sometimes they climb on the screens, sometimes not, sometimes they run and jump everywhere. It reminds me of the AAU defenses: running, jumping, flying everywhere. It was good to experience this from Game 1, we will be ready for the second. »»
Game 2 must thus be used as an update, as after the initial defeat against the Warriors. Which was certainly well facilitated by the package of Stephen Curry.
“We have proven that we were capable of it but we have to do it”, concludes Julius Randle on the upcoming rebound. “We cannot say that, as we did the previous series, we will do it again. It's a big team opposite. »»
