2/77. It was before Sunday the game ratio concluded under the 100 points scored by the Thunder this season.
The Lakers added a third in what looks like the best game of LeBron James and his teammates. The Californians were worn by a crazy external address, especially in the first period, with an equal deductible record. Perhaps even more impressive, Los Angeles has delivered a defensive demonstration to annihilate the attack on Oklahoma City, one of the references of the League this season.
On alternating current in the field almost all season, the team of JJ Redick shows that it can raise the level in the field. “OKC” was completely suffocated, caught in the canvas woven by the Angelinos. Lakers have in particular focused to limit access to their racket as much as possible.
“” We know they are very good when they are going to the painting and provoking »Analyzed LeBron James After meeting. “” They do great work to go to the free throw line. But also to obtain offensive rebounds and second chance points. And these are variables you can control. Do not leave the hand hanging out in the cookie box when many of these guys enter the basket, Shai, Jalen Williams … For some of these players, you have to survive by contesting their shots, whether they put them or miss them. And I think we are doing a great job to pay attention to these details. »»
Lock the racket, the key to success
Visitors have chosen a “hybrid” defense, in a counter one behind the 3-point line, before tightening two on the ball carrier when he approached the racket. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed to register 26 points, but often had to force his luck, very rarely managed to make the difference to obtain an easy basket against one of the great people that JJ Redick sent him (Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith in particular). “” Lakers are in size in all positions “Recognized The coach of the Thunder Mark deigneault. “” They play intelligently, well in their game patterns. »»
The Lakers managed to offer no free throwing of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a first for more than three years (1205 days precisely) for the Canadian. “” I have not been suffered, I don't know “Tried to explain” SGA ” at a press conference. “” I don't think we have lost because of that. However, he highlights the discipline of the Lakers, who knew how to hold their circle and force the Thunder to find other solutions on half-terrain, which he did not manage to do collectively, even by losing only few balloons.
“” We were very linked, both in the intentions and the state of mind on both sides of the field, very committed to what we are trying to do defensively and in what we thought able to create good shots offensively against an exceptional defense »Rejoiced JJ Redick.
Regularity for 48 minutes … and until the end of the season?
Because if the Lakers have taken off by their 3-point success, it fell back into normal standards in the second period, all the same won by Los Angeles thanks to their defensive regularity.
“” You cannot have relaxation, whatever the score “Insisted LeBron James. “” They will always make a series to come back, that's why they are in this position at this stage of the season. It was a very good match for us and we can build on this. We know that this is the last straight line of the regular season, so we try to store good automatisms. »»
These seem to be confirmed more and more regularly, with last week 99 points left to the western leader, Oklahoma City, and one less to the second of the conference, the Rockets, who had just stuck 148 in the Suns. “” I told them after the match that they could not count on a 22/40 to 3-point every night, it is not a tenable formula “Underlined JJ Redick. “” Creating 40 shooting from afar and this type of position is something viable. But defending as we did and holding this team under the 100 points out of 94 possessions is an elite defense. This is what will give you a possibility of winning each evening. »»
Lakers will have the opportunity to prove it a second time at the Thunder on Tuesday, even if Mark Daigneault thinks of having a track so as not to relive such a evening. “” You have to beat them with more speed than we have played today “He announced upstream of revenge.
