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The Thunder Team called a timeout, entering the official pause phase, having played for 6 minutes and 47 seconds, trailing 17 to 22 by 5 points.

Head coach Scott Brooks looked very displeased now.

He had a very tight defensive plan against Zhang Yang, which the players executed without issue, blocking threes and mid-range shots completely. Zhang Yang only made one three-pointer off Gasol's low-post pass from the wing right after the start, missed one regular shot, made one forced mid-range attempt from a pass that felt nothing like a basket, and drew fouls once from a strong inside drive, making both free throws... nearly 7 minutes in, locked Zhang Yang down with a 1 for 2 shooting in set plays, meaning his defensive plan was essentially achieved.

Yet Zhang Yang nailed those two chasing threes at the start and just then! 4 shots 3 makes, among them 3 of 3 in three-pointers, plus 2 of 2 in free throws, totaling 11 points in half a quarter!

The remaining four Lakers made 11 points leveraging Zhang Yang's tactical presence in set plays too...

Players executed the defense plan perfectly but failed to stop the opponent, which indicates that the defense plan itself is flawed!

This is even more disappointing to Brooks than execution errors.

His mid-game adjustment—locking horns using the main line-up against the opponent, trying to keep biting, squeeze the score gap, suppress the opponent's opening momentum... still failed, yet the opponent opened the gap to 5 points, forcing him to call a timeout! The opponent now has great momentum!

The preparation before the game, the in-game adjustments, Brooks again failed miserably, why say again?

Because he has been like this in the playoffs all along—the series against the Clippers, facing an erupting Paul, with such good defensive resources in the team, he never made effective restrictions, letting Paul shine throughout except the clutch, almost achieving a comeback relying purely on both Durant and Harden, these two MVP-level players.

However, Thunder team players never blamed the lag on the head coach, they are already used to it.

Is there anything worse than leading 2-0 in the finals against the Miami Heat, only to be reversed 2-4 by the Miami Heat and losing the championship?

Even earlier, the 11-year second-round win against the Spurs team away, yet exit 1-4 in the end; the 12-year Western Conference away draw 1-1 against the Spurs team, yet exit 2-4 in the end... every time opponents surpassed expectations, opponents made effective adjustments, Brooks could never effectively respond from a tactical perspective, Thunder Team advanced purely by excellent draft picks, with Harden growing up as a top-tier core, Durant becoming a super scorer, and Ibaka evolving as a defensive giant.

No doubt, Harden and Durant weren't focused on the team trailing by 5 because of wrong coaching decisions.

Returning to the bench, Durant said to Harden: "Jack's three-point shooting is truly unexpected."

To which Harden replied: "Yeah, I can't figure out why he chooses to shoot like this at this moment?"

Durant: "Absolutely, his thinking on threes is just outrageous... huh?"

Durant looked at Harden, his eyes seemed clear, akin to a college student who just graduated... never mind, this young fella has quite unique focus points, yet due to the scatter-mindedness, he indeed possesses a natural unbeatable edge in easing stress, leaving both Durant and Harden somewhat envious.

He's focused on a conventional point—the non-defensible nature of Zhang Yang's two chasing three-pointers.

Both high-difficulty shooters, he thus understood Zhang Yang's chasing shot logic—pushing difficulty to its extreme considerably higher than the defenders' potential, meaning nobody can interfere.

Truly outrageous!

...

Meanwhile, on the other bench, Budenholzer was grinning from ear to ear. Away game's first play, the initiative was their hand!

He made lineup adjustments based on Zhang Yang's explosive start in three-point shooting for tactical setups.

He wasn't insisting Zhang Yang follow the tactics strictly, merely set it up that way, and would certainly support if Zhang Yang chose to play to his style.

In the 12-year playoffs, Popovich never restricted Zhang Yang how to play either, treated as a luxurious stamina version of Ginobili, came as he liked, whereas Zhang Yang always made the right choices—eight times out of ten at least right.

Budenholzer, for sure would adhere to his predecessor's usage method on Zhang Yang, as it's already proven correct.

Zhang Yang was playing obediently in tactical cooperation, helping teammates earn 11 points in half a quarter utilizing his tactical position, while coldly striking a blow just as opportunities arose taking back control.

After the timeout, the Lakers substituted in a line-up featuring Nash, Zhang Yang, Wesley Johnson, Ed Davis, and Jordan Hill.

The Thunder Team substituted Fisher, Harden, Durant, Perry Jones, and Nick Collison.

Thunder Team's offense, Durant isolated Wesley Johnson, took two steps to the elbow zone, stopped suddenly, jump shot... scores! Additionally drawing Ed Davis' fallback on defense, making the extra free throw—20 to 22, shortening the gap to two points.

Lakers' offense, Nash used Jordan Hill's screen to shrug off Fisher's tight defense, played a rhythm gap, bypassed the switching Nick Collison, reached the right of the free-throw line, quick jump shot... scores!

Zhang Yang cheered with Nash while retreating for defense, acknowledging the old-timers' shining status!

The concern for this Western Conference Final if anything was the status of the three old guys, as one was approaching 34, one 36, and one already 40, yet these three folks are still the tactical core—their tactics are virtually all initiated or relayed by these three, thus they directly determine the performance showcased.

Fortunately, the veteran trio didn't let him down, four days of rest after the second round's bloody battle against the Spurs team not only recovered consumed stamina but also kept preparing for the Western Conference Finals!

Thunder Team attack, Durant continued to play solo, Harden winged out around a screen, circled behind Durant, received the ball from him, hit a three-pointer!

23 to 24, shortened the gap to one point!

Durant excitedly celebrated chest bump with Harden, supporting the young brother back then was the right call!

Westbrook, when playing as outside main handler, either held firm with the ball for driving or stood aside without the ball, occasionally contested offensive rebounds; regarding off-ball roles like positioning for catch-and-shoot or cutting, hardly engaged, receiving ball in vast open doesn't guarantee a shot yet drove back into crowd... in off-ball scenes, in terms of complete run on team tactics, basically served negatively.

Harden differed significantly, held ball as a top-notch core, penetrating, shooting, passing, all-rounded; off the ball, maybe not top-notch but first-rate surely, cutting attacking basket, evading long-range shots—manages adequately.

Lakers' offense, Nash pick-and-roll breakthrough and pass, Zhang Yang accepted then distributed the ball to side Wesley Johnson, who took the ball for three-pointer... missed!

Durant shrink to help Zhang Yang leaving Wesley Johnson open grabbed the defensive rebound tightly which sparked the whole Thunder team—a chance to overtake!

On-site fans shouted loudly, awaiting the first lead in this Western Conference—hoping from this lead they would maintain, dominate in this match and onward hopefully.

However, Durant's third consecutive attack, one step spur with sudden halt jumper bricked!

Wesley Johnson, understanding disgrace stirred courage, played excellent one-on-one defense here, seized the moment while Durant exhausted from continuous isolated mode slowed down, adequately disturbed!

Durant's stamina has always lingered as a major difficulty, already 7 years in games—a Scoring King collecting 4 titles yet merely twice as single-game 50+, can tell already.

Continuous solo scores, durability in full match—all fell short quite, why he also welcomed Harden's major handling most times, cherishing such a teammate thus.

The ball hit the rim rebounding out, Zhang Yang snatched grabbing defensive rebounds ahead of Harden's clashing attempts, quick pass to Nash avoiding Harden's press, then turned for off-ball sprint!

Nash seized timing, set the ball free, Zhang Yang caught it amidst Durant's defensive retreat interference remotely three-pointer slammed... made it again!

27 to 23, the gap back to 4 points!