In last night's NBA playoffs first round, the West's top seeds, the Thunder, faced off against the eighth-placed Pelicans. Despite the Pelicans' star player Zion being absent due to injury, the game was still tense and controversial, and in the end, the Thunder narrowly defeated the Pelicans by 2 points, 94-92, and the post-game discussion and controversy became a hot topic for a while.
After the start of the game, the two teams went back and forth, and the scores were closely linked. Instead of looking weak in Zion's absence, the Pelicans have shown amazing resilience under Murphy III. Murphy scored 21 points in the game, the most scoring player for the Pelicans, and his performance was a huge morale boost for the team. Valanciunas' rebounding dominance was also crucial, as he grabbed 20 rebounds on his own, including some of the key offensive rebounds.
The Thunder team on the opposite side relied on SGA's excellent performance to maintain the game. SGA scored 28 points in the game and hit two crucial free throws in the final minute to seal the win for the Thunder. While Chet wasn't the highest scorer, his five blocks on the defensive end were just as crucial, showing his impact on both ends.
The final quarter of the game was particularly striking. The two sides changed hands several times to take the lead, and the emotions and tensions were at their peak. With one minute left in the game, the Pelicans trailed by just one point, and then McCollum hit a mid-range jumper to give the Pelicans a temporary lead. However, the Thunder didn't give up, and SGA's breakaway resulted in a foul and regained the lead with two free throws under pressure. In the final seconds, the Pelicans had a chance to turn the game around, but the final shot missed, and the Thunder narrowly saved the victory.
The key to this campaign is not only the individual performance of the players, but also the test of tactical execution and psychological quality. The Thunder's composure and collective defense in crunch time showed their competitiveness, while the Pelicans, despite their losses, proved that they are more than just a team that relies on a single star. In addition, some controversial decisions by the referee have also become the focus of heated discussions after the game, with many fans and experts questioning the accuracy of some key decisions, which undoubtedly increased the discussion of the game.
In the first round of the NBA playoffs, despite the lack of star player Zion, the Pelicans showed surprising resilience and faced the top seed Thunder, who won by a narrow margin of 94-92. This game is not only a contest of technique and tactics, but also a test of psychological quality and teamwork.
The Pelicans' Murphy III motivated the team with a 21-point high and Valanciunas played a key role in rebounding. Comparatively speaking, the Thunder relied on SGA's 28 points and Chet's key defense to secure the victory. Late in the game, the scores of the two teams alternated frequently, and the Thunder took the lead in the final minute with a solid free throw from SGA to seal the victory.
From a tactical standpoint, the Thunder demonstrated execution and defensive solidarity in crunch time, while the Pelicans proved that the team doesn't rely on individual stars to excel in the face of adversity. The referee's controversial decision also sparked widespread discussion, adding to the excitement and controversy of the game.
For the Thunder, it's crucial to maintain the current balance of offense and defense. SGA's scoring prowess has been proven, but the team will also need to keep up the pressure on the defensive end, especially when it comes to counter-attacking and controlling rebounds. Tactically, making more use of the width and depth of the team and bringing out the potential of each player will give them a greater advantage in the subsequent matches.
For the Pelicans, it is recommended to step up the development of scoring points outside of Murphy and McCollum to take the pressure off those two players. At the same time, enhance the tightness and flexibility of the defense to deal with the opponent's quick counterattacks and offenses under the basket. Mental training will also be the focus to enhance the players' ability to perform under pressure.
In short, this game not only tested the skills and tactics of both teams, but also tested the psychology and teamwork of the players. The Thunder will need to use home-court advantage to keep the pressure on, while the Pelicans should continue to tap into the team's potential in Zion's absence. The future game will be a further contest between the strength and strategy of the two teams, which is worth looking forward to.