Rick Carlisle is perhaps the Head Coach in the league who most likes to use small guards. The Dallas Mavericks' current backcourt combination is very interesting: 36-year-old veteran Kidd paired with 25-year-old Barea.
One old, one young; one tall, one short. Kayce felt that while the Mavericks' backcourt might have some offensive potential, on the defensive end, it was a pure sieve for him.
On the Thunder's first possession, Kayce came off a screen to receive a pass from Russell. He drove with his right hand, then pulled back with a crossover, followed by a swift between-the-legs dribble with his left hand. This simple change of pace allowed him to break through Kidd's defense.
Dampier's defensive position was a bit awkward at this point, but seeing Kayce's incredibly fast drive, he had no choice but to step up and help. Unfortunately, this was a wrong defensive choice.
A fake shot into a real pass, Kayce, after jumping, easily found Kostić under the basket, feeding him for a one-handed dunk.
"Oh! Ah!"
With the team's first possession successfully converted, Ford Center immediately erupted in huge cheers.
After Kostić's dunk, he immediately high-fived Kayce in celebration.
Why do so many players in the locker room like Kayce? Because they can get easy scores. As long as they run their plays according to the tactics, when an opportunity arises, Kayce will definitely deliver the ball precisely.
No role player likes to just wait in the corner, under the basket, or at the 45-degree angle outside the three-point line to catch and shoot. To find an offensive rhythm, running plays and everyone touching the ball is the correct way to play.
Head Coach Carlisle naturally knew that Kidd had some issues with defensive lateral movement, but the team currently had no better point guard. Jason Terry, on the bench, served more as a scorer.
On offense, Kidd became a commander, passing the ball as soon as he crossed half-court, then loudly calling for teammates to run their positions while he roamed outside the three-point line.
This made the matching Kayce uncomfortable; the offensive aggression was too weak, rendering his collection of badges useless.
It was still a pick-and-roll between Barea and Nowitzki. Nowitzki's large frame provided excellent screen quality. Russell was a step slow in getting over the screen, and Jeff Green, mindful of Nowitzki, dared not press too hard defensively.
As a result, after the screen outside the three-point line, Barea shot without hesitation.
"Swish" The three-pointer went in.
While inbounding the ball, Kayce whispered to Russell:
"Let's switch on defense. I'll guard Barea. Getting over screens is my specialty."
Russell immediately nodded. He wasn't very good at defending pick-and-rolls in college. His good brother stepping up to share the defensive burden made him secretly overjoyed.
On offense, the Thunder started their perimeter hand-off play again. Unlike previous games, Kayce acted as the screener for the hand-off.
Feigning a pass to Durant coming off the screen, at the moment they crossed, Kayce twisted his body, quickly dropped the ball with his left hand, and accelerated past Kidd's defense.
Nowitzki was forced to collapse into the paint. Noticing the opponent's movement, Kayce flicked his left wrist, passing the ball to a wide-open Jeff Green in the corner.
The latter caught the ball and shot a three-pointer.
"Swish" The open three-pointer went in steadily.
Jeff Green usually had a hot hand in the early stages of a game, but as the game progressed, his shooting percentage would gradually decline. Continuously defending the power forward position made it difficult to maintain his touch throughout the game.
"A three-pointer response from Jeff Green! Kayce's drive-and-kick was brilliant! Kidd's defensive movement is too slow."
The home commentator, Twin, had long become a staunch fan of Kayce, seizing every opportunity to lavish praise on him.
The upgraded [Bullet Passer] badge made Kayce's passes both fast and accurate.
Kayce's defense on Barea started with physical contact off-ball. The [Defensive Expert] badge was very effective against small guards.
Barea tried to set up a pick-and-roll with Dampier to shake free, but unfortunately, Kayce's agility in getting over screens was quick. Even with two more crossover dribbles, he still couldn't shake Kayce's defense.
Out of options, he had to lob the ball to Nowitzki in the low post. Facing Jeff Green's defense, a jab step shifted Jeff Green's defensive balance.
He put the ball down with his right hand, took a big step towards the basket, and Kostić's help defense from under the basket was half a beat late.
"Slap" "Squeak"
The referee's whistle blew, calling a shooting foul, two free throws.
"Shoot!"
Jeff Green raised his hand in frustration, indicating it was his fault. This type of power forward, who can both drive and shoot, was simply his nemesis. He had no solution but to hope the opponent's shooting went cold.
Nowitzki looked relaxed, standing at the free-throw line. He simply bounced the ball and calmly made both free throws.
Coach Brooks felt a bit helpless. This was the Thunder's current roster flaw. Jeff Green had tried his best, but the physical difference was too great.
On the Thunder's next possession, Durant set a hand-off screen for Kayce on the perimeter. As soon as Kayce received the ball, Marion immediately switched. A moving between-the-legs dribble didn't shake off the defender.
At this moment, Kayce, holding the ball in his left hand, suddenly pulled it back, feigning a spin. Then, pivoting on his right foot, he twisted his body, quickly gathered the ball, and faked a shot.
Marion was directly faked into the air. Kayce then scored with a nimble up-and-under layup.
"Oh! Kayce's Dream Shake successfully faked Marion! This play will definitely be on today's Top 10 plays! I feel like I'm watching Olajuwon!"
Commentator Twin couldn't help but exclaim, then started gushing over Kayce again.
The Chinese media reporters on the sidelines also watched in awe. Only by watching the game live could one truly feel Kayce's strength, speed, and offensive skills.
Hearing the Oklahoma City fans roaring in excitement for Kayce's basket, Su Qun's emotions also stirred.
"That's incredible! It's hard to imagine Kayce making such a technical move!"
A staff member accompanying him shouted loudly to Su Qun beside him, "Explosive athleticism, comprehensive skills, able to play from point guard to small forward—this is a player China has never had before."
"Hey, nice footwork, man. Hard to believe you're still a rookie."
As Kayce was running back on defense, Marion came up to him, smiling and complimenting him. After speaking, he immediately left to run his play.
Kayce wasn't surprised; he had received many such compliments. Only players who have faced you on the court truly understand each other's strength. Many things cannot be perfectly reflected in post-game statistics.
Scoring 2 points after a Dream Shake to beat the defense, or scoring 2 points from drawing a foul and free throws, the visual experience of the two is completely different.
Durant couldn't help but secretly feel a pang of jealousy. He wasn't particularly good at such technical moves. Hearing the deafening cheers from the arena, he felt his team status rapidly declining.
"I must strengthen my offensive repertoire. I was here first! I can't give up the top spot!"
Later in the game, Barea was somewhat silenced by Kayce's defense, but Nowitzki and Marion carried the Mavericks' offense. Their low-post isolations made Jeff Green's life miserable.
Marion, orchestrated by Kidd's playmaking, also scored twice with back-to-back backdoor cuts and layups. Durant's defensive habits still had some issues, as he hadn't been required to do much defensively in his first two years.
The two teams traded leads. With three minutes left in the first quarter, both teams made substitutions. Jeff Green, with two fouls, was replaced by Ibaka, and Thabo Sefolosha came in for Kayce.
The Mavericks also brought in Jason Terry and Josh Howard, replacing Barea and Marion, who also had two fouls.
By the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 24. The Mavericks couldn't defend the Thunder's perimeter, and the Thunder's interior was exploited by Nowitzki. Both teams were essentially in a 'mutual explosion' mode.
Sitting on the bench, Jeff Green was very frustrated. In the first quarter, Nowitzki was 3-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, scoring 10 points in the quarter, completely unstoppable. If this were in Dallas, he might have had three fouls in one quarter.
"Don't be discouraged, Bro. Whoever we put to guard him, the effect would be the same. You've done very well!"
Kayce briefly comforted Jeff Green. He knew the other's worries; with the Thunder's good performance, the media would scrutinize the players with a magnifying glass.
Jeff Green faced constant criticism, and most players were very concerned about media reports. Fortunately, the local Oklahoma City fans were still very supportive of him.
"Whew, he's a superstar. My mindset was the problem. Thanks, Kayce."
Jeff Green fist-bumped Kayce in acknowledgment. No one likes mutual complaints; encouragement among teammates is very important.
During the break between quarters, Coach Brooks also began to instruct the rotational players:
"Shaun, when you go in, control the offensive rhythm with Kayce. Ibaka, be careful to protect yourself, don't accumulate fouls too quickly!"
Shaun Livingston had recently returned from injury, and his form in team practice was good. Therefore, Coach Brooks included him in the regular rotation for this game.
In the locker room, Livingston was considered a neutral party, essentially a simple background figure, but he had a good rapport with the team. After a major injury, he still trained hard, a spirit of struggle that earned him immense respect.
Livingston played point guard, Thabo Sefolosha played shooting guard, and Kayce moved to small forward. The Thunder's backcourt players were all around two meters tall, so when Jason Terry came on, his mouth twitched. Why are they all so tall!
Head Coach Carlisle also used a short rotation. Kidd and Terry formed the backcourt, Josh Howard and Nowitzki made up the frontcourt, and Drew Gooden played center.
As the second quarter began, Livingston dribbled past half-court and immediately passed to Kayce at the top of the arc. Ibaka came up to set a screen, and Kayce drove left. Josh Howard immediately went over the top of the screen, sticking tight to him on his side.
While in motion, Kayce suddenly dribbled the ball behind his back with his left hand, then changed direction in front of his body with his right hand, followed by another between-the-legs dribble. The dribbling speed wasn't fast, but the amplitude was large. Josh Howard was faked by Kayce, losing half a step defensively.
He could only watch as Kayce pulled up for a jump shot near the free-throw line.
"Swish" Ignoring Josh Howard's defense on his side, the mid-range shot went in steadily.
The [Tough Shooter] + [Hot Zone Hunter] badge bonuses enhanced Kayce's accuracy when shooting near the free-throw line.
"Kayce's signature shake! He's been using the between-the-legs dribble to shake off defenders in his recent games. It seems after playing over 20 NBA games, Kayce has found his own offensive rhythm!"
Commentator Twin actually preferred Kayce's faster-paced, wider-range Crossover from the previous few games. The current style relies more on rhythm and body to shake off defenders, which is not as visually explosive.
The Mavericks' offense, on the other hand, started with inside-out plays. Using Nowitzki's low-post presence, they made several passes from inside to out. After continuous ball movement, Jason Terry found an open three-point opportunity and decisively took the jump shot.
"Bang!" It clanked off the rim.
After Ibaka secured the defensive rebound, he found Kayce. Upon receiving the ball, Kayce immediately accelerated, initiating a fast break. Several Thunder players from the backcourt had already rushed across mid-court.
It was a 3-on-2 situation. Thabo Sefolosha ran to the corner to create space, leaving Kayce and Livingston in a 2-on-1. The retreating Jason Terry, with no other choice, had to cover the ball-handler, Kayce, but could only watch as Kayce made a smooth behind-the-back pass.
Livingston received the ball and, with the momentum, threw down a one-handed dunk!
"Slam!" Returning from injury, his first points were a dunk.
"Wow!"
The Ford Center crowd also gave a warm cheer for the ill-fated player.
Livingston, after the dunk, bumped fists with Kayce, a simple expression of his gratitude.
Perhaps it was Kayce's defense, or perhaps the Thunder's perimeter defenders were tall, but Josh Howard and Jason Terry missed several opportunities, clanking shot after shot.
Meanwhile, the Thunder had multiple scoring options. Led by Kayce as a strong point, Thabo Sefolosha and Ibaka successfully converted easy scores repeatedly. After more than three minutes of play, the Thunder led by 6 points.
Head Coach Rick Carlisle, seeing that the situation on the court was not right, immediately called a timeout.
Coach Brooks, however, was very satisfied with his team's performance. Opening up a lead was an unexpected bonus.
After this timeout, the Thunder brought in Russell and Durant. Ibaka and Collison's defensive efforts were good, so they remained on the court.
For the rest of the second quarter, the score remained a stalemate. The Mavericks constantly tried to tie the game, but the Thunder always responded, especially Durant, who completely exploded, with a series of shots and drives. Marion quickly accumulated three fouls.
The media reporters, seeing Durant's performance, couldn't help but exclaim:
"America has too many basketball geniuses. With Durant's height, in our country, he would definitely be trained as a center from a young age. Our youth training still needs to step up!"
Su Qun didn't speak, just quietly watched Kayce's performance, but in his heart, he was thinking about whether Kayce could play for the country, which would be a huge boost for the national team.
Nowitzki, seeing his team in trouble, immediately activated his offensive mode, and at the same time, gave the rookie Ibaka a lesson.
He received the ball in the left elbow area of the free-throw line, made a triple threat, followed by a convincing shot fake that almost got Ibaka to bite. Then, he quickly put the ball down with his right hand and made a sudden, wide turn.
With the ball in his left hand, leaning against Ibaka, he took three big steps and drove directly to the basket.
"Swat!" "Swish!"
"Whistle!"
The shot went in, and the whistle blew. The referee called a foul on Ibaka for hitting the hand. Nowitzki easily completed a 2+1, and Ibaka also had two fouls.
Nowitzki, with a smile, patted Ibaka. The opportunity for an extra free throw was thanks to his opponent's inexperience. He stood at the free-throw line, took a deep breath, and calmly sank the shot.
On the Thunder's offense, Russell noticed that Barea's defense on his pick-and-roll still went under. This time, when he had an open look, he immediately took a jump shot from beyond the three-point line.
"Swish!" A three-pointer immediately answered.
"Oh! Russell has made his first three-pointer of the game! Once he finds his touch from beyond the arc, Barea's nightmare is about to begin!"
Commentator Twin yelled passionately. When the Mavericks scored, the Thunder responded. The game was being played with grit.
The stalemate between the two sides continued until the end of the first half, with the Thunder leading 52-46 at halftime.
During halftime, Head Coach Rick Carlisle was a bit worried. Although the Mavericks had Nowitzki as an absolute strong point, their perimeter defense was truly a bit anxious, with players being either old or short, simply unable to withstand the impact of the Thunder's trio.
"Josh, you'll start the second half. Pay attention to defending Kayce. Your rotation speed needs to be fast, and increase your physicality. Kidd, try to slow down the game's pace and reduce the Thunder's transition offense."
Rick Carlisle put all available players on the court, increasing the lineup's height. The Mavericks didn't have many options, which was a flaw in their roster.
Coach Brooks, during halftime, didn't talk much about tactical arrangements, but simply reminded them about foul issues:
"Green, Collison, you both have three fouls. Ibaka, you also have two fouls. Guys, you need to control your defensive actions. I don't want to see you pick up five fouls in the third quarter."
After the third quarter began, the Thunder brought back their starting lineup. The Mavericks, on the other hand, brought in Josh Howard to strengthen their defense. For the first few minutes, the Mavericks' defense caused the Thunder's shooting percentage to drop.
But after that, they felt the terror of the Thunder's three whistles. Kayce, Russell, and Durant began to increase their attacks on the basket.
Especially Durant, playing on his home court, a star's whistle was still given.
By the end of the third quarter, the Thunder had withstood the Mavericks' comeback, leading 78-72, still by 6 points.
During the break between quarters, Durant was drinking water and panting. In those days, there were fewer ticky-tack fouls, so to get free throws, he mainly relied on his drives. Durant expended a lot of energy in the third quarter.
"Hold on, guys, the first three quarters were excellent. We controlled our fouls, and we're still leading by 6 points. Maintain this offensive rhythm, and pay attention to protecting the rebounds!"
Coach Brooks quickly motivated his players. It was rare to enter the fourth quarter with a lead, so they had to hold onto their advantage.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Nowitzki first made a mid-range jump shot, and in the next possession, a three-pointer went in. On the Thunder's side, Kayce and Russell clanked two shots, and the lead instantly shrunk to just one point.
Kidd's control of the game's tempo was excellent. He rarely held the ball for long, but by this point in the game, he had quietly dished out 8 assists with only one turnover.
Marion was able to score easily, thanks to Kidd, the excellent assist man.
In the subsequent game, the score began to alternate leads. Coach Brooks was a bit anxious, as the young Thunder players didn't have much game experience.
Once it entered the final two minutes, the balance of victory would slowly tip towards the Mavericks.
With 2 minutes and 58 seconds left in the game, the Thunder were still down by one point. Kayce knew this shot had to go in, otherwise, the game might be lost.
Kayce posted up for the ball on the right 45-degree area of the free-throw line. The [Post-Up Maestro] bonus effect was quite good. Kayce was not pushed out of his hot zone by Josh Howard.
After receiving Russell's lob pass, Kayce turned with the momentum, faced Josh Howard's defense, made two consecutive jab steps, put the ball down with his right hand, and accelerated along the baseline for a breakthrough.
Facing Dampier, who had come over to help on defense, he made a nimble reverse layup in the air, scoring with a right-handed reverse dunk, while also shouting as he fell to the ground:
"And one!"
"Whistle!"
The referee's whistle was a bit slow, but still gave the opportunity for an extra free throw.
"Come on! I didn't even touch the ball! He lost his balance and fell on his own!"
Dampier felt very wronged and complained repeatedly to the referee, but unfortunately, this was the Thunder's home court, and the referee upheld the original call.
Kayce stood at the free-throw line, adjusted his breathing, and calmly sank the shot. The Thunder once again led by 2 points.
For the next minute or so, the Thunder consistently maintained their lead. With 1 minute and 02 seconds left in the game, Head Coach Rick Carlisle called a timeout. Time was running out, and this possession was crucial.
Coach Brooks was also reminding his players:
"No fouls, guys. We're already in the bonus. Don't foul Nowitzki. Don't let him get to the free-throw line easily!"
Nowitzki's free-throw percentage was too high. Fouling him meant giving away two free points.
Coming out of the timeout, after several perimeter passes by the Mavericks, Kidd and the high-screening Dampier ran a pick-and-roll, creating isolation space for Nowitzki in the low post.
Kidd's lob pass was accurately delivered to Nowitzki, who, facing Jeff Green's defense, first backed down twice, then held the ball with his right hand and backed down twice more, getting closer to the basket, before turning around and taking a fadeaway.
Jeff Green, focused on desperately defending, didn't manage to make much effective interference in the end, and could only watch the ball fly towards the basket.
"Bang!" It clanked off the rim!
Kostić was about to grab the rebound when Dampier tipped the ball ahead of him, sending it flying towards the basket again.
Kayce boxed out Josh Howard behind him, seized the opportunity, exploded upwards, and snatched the rebound from behind Nowitzki's head.
Kidd, nearby, slyly tried to steal the ball, but Kayce desperately protected the ball in his arms, also drawing a rebounding foul from his opponent.
"Whistle!"
The referee's whistle blew, sending Kayce to the free-throw line.
"Kayce has secured a crucial defensive rebound for us! If both free throws go in, we'll lead by 4 points!"
Commentator Twin also excitedly raised his voice at this moment. This shot was indeed critical; if it went in, the initiative would be in the Thunder's hands.
Kayce stood calmly at the free-throw line, trying to regulate his breathing. The first free throw went in steadily.
Before Kayce could complete his free throws, the Ford Center crowd had already started shouting loudly:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Kayce was startled by the huge MVP chants, quickly readjusted his breathing, and calmly sank the second free throw.
"Ah! Oh!"
Seeing Kayce retreating on defense while raising both hands, the live audience once again erupted in huge cheers. They were going to win again!
At this moment, although Durant also had a slight smile, a huge sense of crisis had already surged into his heart:
"I've played for two years and never heard the fans chant MVP for me! Kayce has only been playing for two months and has already gained the fans' recognition..."
"Am I... am I really going to become the second-in-command? Didn't we agree that everyone was here to assist me!"