The importance of the battle between the Mavericks and the Thunder is self-evident, after four quarters of fierce battle, the Mavericks who fought away from home retreated in Oklahoma as they wished, taking the lead in the series - according to the NBA's previous experience, the team that won the battle of Tianwang Mountain finally advanced to a winning rate of 82%, it can be said that the Eastern European combination has one foot on the stage of the Western Finals.
After the game, new signing PJ Washington excitedly hugged his teammates one by one, and players like him, who had spent years in the "Graveyard of the Living Dead" like the Hornets, could better appreciate the hard-won opportunity to make his dream come true. But if there's anyone who is a comedian on the team, it's Kyrie Irving. Fumiko, who had seen the wind and waves, played abstract directly - he beat a drum on the sidelines to celebrate, and noticed, it was really a drum, a drum that looked like a gong.
Irving's series really seems to be a different person, and the former pure attacker is playing more and more like his former draft template - Chris Paul. The stats don't lie, Irving averaged 26.5 points per game in the first round against the Clippers, repeatedly playing the final quarter of the savior, and in the series against the Thunder, his scoring average plummeted to 14.4 points per game, scoring less than 20 points in three of the five games, and even cutting only nine points in two games, while his average assists per game increased from 4.7 to 6.8. In this game, he only made 11 shots and handed over a report card of 12 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists, which looked mediocre.
Is it because of the opponent's high-post defensive strategy that makes Irving unable to shoot? The answer is no. Fumiko in full firing mode has never worried about not having a shot angle, and his eighteen martial arts have already confirmed this. In fact, the 25-year-old Doncic is getting better, and the 32-year-old Irving is not resting on his laurels, and he is adapting to the needs of the team and making changes for himself. The two shots are very telling, once he reached his own dessert position, he could throw in the empty position, but Owen chose to help Gafford, and there was a good opportunity near the free throw line, but Wenzi still chose to give the opportunity to the outside, the reason for this choice is because Owen saw hope in Washington, Gafford , Jones, and Little Lively, and was willing to help his teammates improve their confidence and develop their feelings, which was also a bet he made and invested in his teammates.
Doncic, who had a triple-double of 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and contributed a winning block at the end, said: "All of our players played 100 percent, and we will stick to team basketball regardless of whether we win or lose." It's a really special team and even though we've only been playing together for four or five months, I'm really enjoying playing in this team. "Seriously, when it comes to best management this season, the Mavericks' management deserves the credit they deserve for building the team they are now happy with, and the once-prickly Irving is willing to dedicate himself — it's worth mentioning that Fumiko has won seven playoff games in a Mavericks jersey, more than he won in the playoffs during his Nets years.
However, Doncic also reminded that "the revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades still need to work hard", and what they need to do is to win four games before their opponents. In the decisive game, the Mavericks have three major advantages, the first is that they will return to the American Airlines Center to face their opponents, in the battle for the playoffs, what is more wonderful than the home court advantage, fighting in the cheers of tens of thousands of fans at home? Second, Owen is the god of key battles, and when he holds the match point in his career, he has achieved a proud record of 13 wins and 0 losses. The third point is that Doncic is recovering on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, and after these games, there are still people who question whether Dongzi is too lazy to sink his focus when he defends? Is there anyone still clamoring for him to shoot more threes?
There is only one step left to the floor of the West Final, come on Lone Ranger!