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On April 25th, at 9:00 p.m., Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Game 4 between the Warriors and the Thunder is underway.
The victory in Game 3 gave Oklahomans hope for a tie and even a series win, and the arena was packed with 18,203 seats filled. The majority of the spectators were wearing blue team-issued t-shirts, gathered in a sea of blue, and the fans were shouting like a monstrous tsunami, sweeping everywhere.
But in this sea of blue, there were still some contrasting colors.
Four or five spectators on the bench were wearing Curry jerseys, surrounded by a crowd of Thunder fans who clapped and cheered as the Warriors entered, especially after seeing Curry.
These people were none other than Dale and Ayesha's family.
When the Warriors and the Thunder played Game 1, they watched from the bench and had not left since.
But the Oracle Center is full of Warriors fans, and their family goes unnoticed in it. But when they come to Oklahoma, their position stands out clearly, and their jerseys make their allegiance obvious, making them very noticeable, with live broadcast cameras frequently focusing on them.
It's not that the announcers favor Curry and want to give Dell and others more screen time, they do it simply because of Curry's explosive performance on the court.
After the game started tonight, Curry turned around the decline of the last game and activated offensive mode.
Liam changed the lineup, replacing Klay with Tony Allen, giving the Warriors a starting five with four defensive giants, but at the same time, Curry had to take on more offensive duties.
However, there's good news for the Warriors, namely, Brooks did not contain Curry, and maybe the victory in the last game allowed him to regain confidence in the Thunder's interior defense players. He even switched to an inside crouching posture with Sefolosha setting screens.
And this is where the Warriors' fire from the last game fully inspired Curry's fighting spirit. He started with full firepower, hanging and shooting after hanging the coverage, and nailed 3 consecutive three-pointers, leaving the Chesapeake Energy Arena, which was warm before the game, in silence.
Brooks hurriedly reverted to the defensive style from the last game. Curry and Chandler blocked and dismantled, and Perkins withdrew after a strong delay. Curry and Green blocked and dismantled, while Ibaka quickly changed defenses.
Thus, Curry started to dismantle Ibaka, and after the first quarter, he scored 14 points, which was more than half of the Warriors' points in the first quarter, fully recovering his touch.
And under the defense of the Warriors' four giants, the Thunder's offense was completely shattered. They were now mainly attacking in singles, focusing entirely on one-on-one plays.
Westbrook and Durant discovered they had no one to pass the ball to. Liam sacrificed an endless defense switch, with everyone except Curry switching their defense whenever they covered, denying the Thunder any open opportunities and testing their ability to solve tough situations.
Durant ran off the ball for a long time, only to find himself constantly followed by a Warrior player, unable to get any space. Westbrook felt the strong malice of the Warriors, and after he, Perkins, and Ibaka blocked and dismantled, they were replaced by Chandler or Green in front of him, and he could not break through the defense of the two at all.
Both Green and Chandler let Westbrook take two steps, allowed him to shoot casually, and strictly avoided his drive. In this situation, Westbrook could not break the defensive line forged by their long arms and could only respond with shots.
But after three games with the Warriors, Westbrook's three-point shooting rate was 29.5%, his mid-range shooting rate was 41.2%, and he couldn't shoot accurately, so he couldn't change the Warriors' defense at all.
Westbrook, in turn, wanted to feed the interior line, so Ibaka and Perkins relied on their size to play with Tony Allen, who switched defenses.
But he forgot that his backcourt partner was Sefolosha, a shooting guard with a lower three-point shooting percentage than him. Curry directly left Sefolosha open, actively contracted the defense, and the other Warriors under the basket compensated in time, blocking the Warriors' restricted area, preventing the Thunder from rushing at all.
As a result, the Warriors' halftime turned into Durant's personal stage to showcase his individual skills.
For a while, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle. Curry had just finished schooling Ibaka, Durant turned around and slammed on Butler, and in the next round, Curry shredded Ibaka again... This cycle of exchanges was mixed with sporadic scores from other players, but it largely remained a battle between the two.
Durant also tried to block and find others, but he found that Butler, with a shorter wingspan, was better than Chandler, Tony Allen, and Green, who had long wingspans.
Liam also asked Curry to block and find Durant, but Brooks could tolerate Curry playing solo against Ibaka, but he wouldn't just stand by and watch Durant being consumed on the defensive end. While Curry found Durant, the Thunder would pinch Curry and force him to play. After two attempts, Liam gave up the idea of letting Curry defend Durant.
In the end, the first quarter ended with the Warriors leading the Thunder by three points, 22-19.
Neither team scored high, with the Warriors scoring low because of fewer offensive points, while the Thunder scored low because the Warriors' defense was too strong, limiting their offensive production.
This was Liam's plan: to dismantle the Thunder's offense with endless defense, block Westbrook, and let Curry and Durant battle for offense. And as long as Brooks didn't change the way he defended Curry, Durant's scoring efficiency couldn't surpass Curry's.
Entering the second quarter, both teams changed to a rotating lineup, with Liam sending Jeremy Lin, Klay, Big Z, Yi Jianlian, and Kirilenko, which was a very offensive lineup. The Thunder's transitional lineup was led by Westbrook and Harden, with shooters like Eric Maynor and Quinn Cook, also offensive-oriented.
Then, the second quarter began, and it was completely different from the first.
The two teams fought against each other, fiercely chasing each other's defensive weaknesses, the pace was extremely fast, and the score rose quickly.
Compared to the Thunder, the Warriors' lineup at this stage was stronger, with Yi Jianlian and Kirilenko providing impact and gaining an advantage in interior scoring. By the time the starters returned to the court in the sixth minute of the second quarter, the score was 38-33, with the Warriors leading by 5 points.
After the main players from both teams entered the court, the game returned to the defensive battle + individual turn-based plays, mixed together, and didn't end until the end of the first half.
At halftime, the score was 53-47, with the Warriors leading by six points, and the gap didn't stretch too much.
After a short halftime, the third quarter began, with Liam and Brooks not adjusting their playing styles. Both believe strongly in their number one star, thinking Curry/Durant can dominate the opponent in scoring, and others can win as long as they defend well.
But it turns out that three points are ultimately more than two points. Even though Durant was inexplicable in the third quarter, making 14 crazy shots in one quarter, hitting 8 mid-range shots, and scoring 16 points, Curry only took 10 shots in the third quarter, hitting 5 three-pointers and scoring 15 points.
And it was this efficiency advantage that allowed Liam to give the ball to others and arranged for Butler to reverse Harden's pick-and-roll tactics, which earned the Warriors five valuable points.
At the end of the third quarter, the Warriors led the Thunder by eight points, 78-70, widening the gap again.
This wasn't the end. After the last quarter started, Liam left Butler on the court, and Jeremy Lin, Klay, Yi Jianlian, and Big Z formed the ultimate offensive lineup. The Thunder launched an attack, and within just three minutes, the lead extended to 12 points, marking the first double-digit difference in the game.
Brooks realized something was wrong and quickly returned the main force to chase the score. Liam also quickly followed suit, sending the starters back, and the game returned to the familiar style of the first three quarters.
And he also made adjustments, asking Ibaka to stay with Curry, with the front line ready to help defend at any time, not giving Curry the chance to shoot threes.
But Brooks seemed to have forgotten that Curry is the new scoring champion and not just a three-point shooter.
Instead of making the long-arm three-pointer from Ibaka, Curry used his speed and rhythm to easily break through Ibaka's first-line defense, stepping inside the three-point line and then making a jumper before the rest of the Thunder could help defend him or passing inside the free-throw line to complete the mid-range offense.
The efficiency of this playing style isn't high, but Curry's mid-range shooting percentage also exceeds 40%, and his scoring efficiency can fully match Durant's in the final quarter, a Durant who had lost his physical strength after three quarters of fierce battles.
Between back-and-forth and iron shots from both, the Warriors couldn't pull away from the score, but the Thunder couldn't close the gap, and the game time passed quietly.
In the end, the final quarter ended, and the Warriors defeated the Thunder 112-103 to win Game 4.
After the entire game, all eyes were on Curry and Durant, who didn't face off but played against each other the entire game, drawing all the attention.
Curry hit 14 of 29 shots, 10 of 20 from three, 3 of 4 free throws, scoring 41 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds, and once again hit 10 three-pointers in a single game, tying the record he set in Game 2 not long ago.
Durant, on the other hand, hit 17 of 33, 2 of 6 from three, and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line, scoring 39 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, which is slightly lower than Curry's in terms of efficiency and production, but he can also be said to have not fallen behind.
However, the Warriors outscored the Thunder by 13 points in the connection period, which was the most important reason the Warriors were able to win.
Liam asked Curry and Butler to support the lower offensive limit of the starting lineup, and then relied on a tight defense to maintain the balance of power. He later even switched to Butler and Kirilenko to further increase the offensive nature of the lineup, and the Thunder lost the battle on offense and ultimately lost the game.
Half of Butler's 18 points came in the transition period, and Klay scored 16 points in 18 minutes, including 4 of 7 from three and 2 of 4 two-pointers, making a significant contribution to the team's victory.
Not just these two, but the Warriors' bench picked up the pace and focused on offense according to Liam's pregame plan. Jeremy Lin scored 11 points and 5 assists, Yi Jianlian 10 points and 5 rebounds, and the old Big Z showed his youthful madness and scored 10 points, with 4 players on the bench scoring double-doubles.
They weren't as dazzling as Curry, but they were the final blow to overwhelm the Thunder.
After the win over the Thunder, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the series, almost advancing to the next round, which was unexpected before the game. While people were optimistic about the Warriors before the game, it was generally believed that the Warriors would win with a 4-2 score, and it was even likely that the Thunder would drag them into a tiebreaker.
But according to the current situation, Curry exploded in three of the four games, averaging a crazy 35.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. In the next game, the Warriors would return to the court. They have the right momentum and location, and no one doubts that Curry will rack up high points at home, and the Warriors will win.
Barkley, who commented on the game, said bluntly:
"Guys, this will be the last game of the season at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The owner of this jersey will send the Thunder home. All Thunder fans watching the game can go and buy tickets for the next game at the Oracle Center. Go and accompany your home team on their last trip, but don't be discouraged, your players are still young, and although they lost this year, they have a bright future."
Kenny Smith reminded:
"Charles, the Warriors are younger than the Thunder."
Barkley laughed:
"Then the Warriors' future is even brighter!"
After the game, the Warriors players returned to the locker room laughing all the way, and Curry also received a cold water bath for the third time since the playoffs started. He then went to the interview with Liam.
All the reporters found him first, and after four playoff games, Curry's performance overshadowed the brilliance of all the other stars, and his explosive scoring ability made him a media favorite, winning a large number of new fans worldwide.
After Curry, the second-highest scorer per game in the playoffs is Durant, but the Thunder is the losing side, and he receives more sympathy. His 33.5 points, slightly less than Curry's, mirrors their ranking in the regular season scoring list, which seems to justify Curry as the team's scoring champion.
After the Thunder lost to the Warriors, some Durant fans sighed on the internet: "With Shengdu, He Shengku, I originally thought Adu would dominate the scoring list in the future. Who knew that a Curry would appear, this year he took the second scoring title from Adu, averaging 33.5 points per game in the playoffs but only winning one game. I don't know how many scoring titles Adu will take from Curry in the future. Adu is so difficult… How good would it have been if Coach Z had trained Adu? Curry is so talented and playing so well now. If Adu had met Coach Z earlier, he definitely wouldn't have made the playoffs in his third year!"
The first question the reporter asked Curry was also related to Durant: "Stephen, congratulations on winning tonight's game. Your scoring duel with Kevin Durant is incredible. What do you think of Durant's performance? Who is the better scorer, you or him?"
Curry silently looked at the note the team's PR had written on the table and then said: "You know, Durant was the scoring champion last season, he was a top scorer... As for the scoring ability between us, I just focused on the team's victories and didn't think about it. I believe we're both young and we all need to keep improving."
Another reporter asked: "Stephen, you were the top scorer in the regular season with 28.4 points per game, and in the more intense playoffs, you're averaging 35.5 points per game, a huge improvement compared to the regular season. Can you tell us how you did it?"
Curry blinked, looked at the small note on the table, only to find the PR not prepared for the question. He spread his hands and said with a bit of mischief: "I just do what the boss asks, actually, the playoffs aren't that different from the regular season. The atmosphere in March Madness is much more intense than the playoffs, I'm used to this intensity."
The reporter asked: —So, you mean the playoffs aren't difficult for you, for the Warriors?
Curry shook his head and smiled: "Of course not, everyone knows how hard it is to win a championship in the playoffs, but it's not that hard. Other teams can win, and so can we."
—Can you comment on Ibaka's defense?
"Hmm..." Curry hesitated, as if unsure how to answer the question. After a moment of formulating his response, he said: "He's a very tough defender, but you know, sometimes games get tough... We hope he can continue to keep that defensive attitude."
The reporter let out a low chuckle, everyone knows the tragic situation Ibaka has had against Curry these days, and there's an inexplicable sense of joy when seeing the starter absolve Ibaka.
Curry then answered a few more questions before being replaced by Liam for another interview. The reporter asked: "Liam, congratulations on your victory tonight. The Warriors now lead the Thunder 3-1. What do you think about the game when it shifts back to the home court? Will you close the series in Game 5?"
Liam smiled faintly and said: "I'm already thinking about my next opponent."
He paused for a moment, seeing the reporters' eyes widen with excitement, then said: "I'm kidding. Honestly, of course, I want to settle the battle in the next game, but the Thunder is a team with a lot of potential. They have Kevin Durant, they have Westbrook, especially Westbrook. He has infinite potential, and nobody knows what kind of performance he'll play in the next game. We just have to be fully prepared and do our best in each game to limit Westbrook's play."
Liam's response seemed very official, but it left the Thunder team reporters very dissatisfied and one asked: "What about Kevin Durant? He's the Thunder's top scorer. Are you going to let him score freely?"
Liam shook his head and said: "Of course not, we can't protect Durant. I think you know his talent better than I do, but we don't have to protect him. I said a long time ago, I'd rather see him score 30 or even 40 points than watch Westbrook score inside the Warriors. You can also see, he scored a lot of points, but we were the ones who won."
"Do you mean Westbrook is going to be stronger than Durant?" the reporter asked.
Liam smiled: "I just said that if the Thunder wants to win, they need Westbrook's play. As for who is stronger, I won't comment."
After finishing speaking, Liam ignored the reporters raising their hands and got up to leave the interview table.
When he returned to the locker room, the Warriors players had finished showering. Some were cleaning up, some were talking and laughing among themselves, and a few were being interviewed by other reporters.
Besides the centralized interviews with coaches and players who have had a good performance after a game, reporters can also enter the locker room to interview other players.
Seeing Liam return, all the players sped up packing their things, and the reporters also sped up their questions.
Ten minutes later, the Warriors left the Chesapeake Energy Arena with smiles, boarded a minibus, and headed to the airport.
They wouldn't stay in Oklahoma for long, but would fly back to Colombia overnight, rest for a day, and face the Thunder in Game 5 on April 25th.
On the bus, Liam and Silas sat together. Silas listened to Liam's response during the interview with the reporter and asked suspiciously: "Liam, with Tony and Tyson here, we can completely block Westbrook's offense. Why do you exaggerate his importance to the Thunder when facing the reporters?"
Liam leaned back in his seat and chuckled: "It's a little easier to be a bit easier. If Brooks believes what I say and lets Westbrook hold the ball more, then I don't have to worry, it's always good to save some effort."
"Well… Fine." Silas shook his head and smiled.
Liam held back his smile and said seriously: "Actually, I'm telling the truth. The Thunder can't win just with Durant. I actually showed Brooks a clear path. If they want to win, Westbrook needs to play well."
Silas nodded in approval and then said with a little concern: "You're right, Westbrook isn't strong enough right now, but when he gets his shots, the Thunder with him and Durant will be our big enemy."
Liam shook his head and said: "No, you're wrong. The Thunder won't be our opponent, neither now nor in the future."
—How? Are you so sure? Silas raised an eyebrow.
Liam didn't explain too much, just smiled and said: "You'll find out later."
Silas didn't know, but he knew that Westbrook would become a star, even a superstar, but his flaws wouldn't change and might even worsen.
Liam didn't believe his presence would affect Westbrook's "plus skill points." This habit of playing was ingrained in his body, and he would still become the Westbrook who completely relied on his body to play, shoot, and explode in error.
If because of his words, Brooks really pushed the ball toward Westbrook , and the Thunder entered the "Wang Bomba Combination" early, it would definitely be good for the Warriors.
The Warriors' strong interior and forward setup is the most reserved playstyle, and with Liam here, the Warriors' strength would only grow faster. Even if the Wang Bomba combination reached its peak, Liam wouldn't be afraid at all.
He told Silas: "Don't think about the Thunder anymore, just pay more attention to the Spurs vs. Grizzlies game, it's time to think about the next series."
End of this chapter
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