On May 18, the first game of the Western Conference Finals officially started.

This season, four players have paid more than $10 million and eight players have paid more than $5 million.

So from this point of view, it is not difficult to see that the Mavericks' lineup is very deep. Although looking at the starting lineup alone, it is impossible to tell how big the Mavericks have.

But from a general perspective, the Mavericks are definitely one of the best teams this season besides the Thunder.

It’s just a pity that no matter how outstanding the Mavericks’ overall lineup is, they can only sigh when they meet this historical thunder.

Even if the Mavericks' overall strength is stronger than the Lakers, in Yang Fan's opinion, at most five games, he will definitely be able to send the Mavericks home to fish.

Even five games are conservatively estimated. If the team's offensive feel can be stable, it will not be difficult to sweep the Mavericks.

Before the game began, Mavericks head coach Carlisle was obviously a little sad.

Because two years ago, the Mavericks could crush the Thunder without any suspense and easily defeated the Thunder 4:1 in the Western Conference semi-finals.

At that time, the thunder could not catch the Mavericks' eyes at all.

As a result, just two seasons have passed, and the status between the two has not only changed, but the Thunder is now even more powerful than the Bulls back then.

The 75 wins in the regular season are the most powerful proof.

"It's really a change of things. In just two seasons, I didn't expect you to have made the Thunder what you are like now."

"All this seems to me to be incredible. It seems that my evaluation of you back then is indeed correct. You are really a genius." Looking at Yang Fan in front of him, Rick Carlisle couldn't help but sigh.

"Don't be humble, Rick, you are the best coach in the league in my opinion, and I'm definitely not as good as you."

"That's vision." Yang Fan said with a smile under Carlisle's puzzled gaze. "Two years ago, you could see that I was a genius, and I felt inferior to this vision!!"

“………”

After the game started, the ball was first obtained by the Thunder.

The Mavericks are still experienced Kidd in the starting point guard position.

But Kidd is 38 years old after all, and his movement speed is not only not as good as before, but he even lost the deterrent power of his peak at his peak on the defensive end.

At least Stephen Curry, who faced Kidd in this game, could easily create shooting opportunities through running without the ball.

If facing a strong point guard like Fisher, Kidd can still play his experience and experience.

Then facing a point guard like Curry who keeps running, this is simply Jason Kidd's nightmare.

In the whole first quarter, the Thunder played unparalleled dominance on the offensive end. Whether it was Curry and Jamison who were off the ball, Yao Ming and Durant who were ball holders, they all performed well.

Except for Anthony's shooting feel that was not very good in the first quarter, the other four players handed in very stable data.

The Mavericks' strength this season is that they have balanced offense and defense, Chandler in the interior, Marion in the front, and Kidd in the outside.

Coupled with Nowitzki and Terry, who are often unsolvable on the offensive end, this directly makes the Mavericks the biggest favorite to win the championship in the Western Conference except the Thunder.

However, one general will succeed and the sudden rise of a team will inevitably make other teams the background board of this era.

With the Thunder's outstanding performance on the offensive end, after the half, the Thunder led the Mavericks by 15 points at home. Judging from the score alone, the gap between the two is obviously a bit huge.

After returning from the second half, Carlisle made several adjustments to the formation on the field. In order to accommodate Kidd, he also defended the three-and-two joint defense in the third quarter.

There is no way, in his personal match with Stephen Curry, Kidd's old arms and legs are so tired.

Not only did Curry make four three-pointers in the first half, he also became the target of the Thunder.

Since the Thunder plays a blocking and cutting attack on the court, this tactic requires players to move and run a lot, so when the Mavericks are keeping the guards and keeping the people, this is really not very friendly to Kidd.

Although the Mavericks defended the joint defense in the second half, the Thunder's firepower on the offensive end did not stop at all.

Until the end of the third quarter, the Thunder had extended their lead to 21 points.

In the last quarter, Carlisle was obviously unwilling to give up this game, and sent several main players to continue chasing points.

But the depth of the Thunder's lineup is completely unfathomable. Even if four of the five main players were not present, the Thunder still pulled the score bigger and bigger.

As the game gradually became more and more popular by the Thunder, Carlisle could only give up this game helplessly.

After the final game, the Thunder defeated the Mavericks at home with 23 points, winning the first victory in the Western Conference Finals in a shocking way.

Sophomore rookie Stephen Curry performed very well throughout the game.

Facing the old senior Kidd, Curry was not ruthless outside the three-point line, and made 7 three-pointers in the game, scoring 27 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, helping the Thunder defend the home court without bloodshed.

In addition to Stephen Curry, Yao Ming's performance in the game was also very stable. Facing Chandler, who had excellent defense, Yao Ming perfectly explained what to do with softness.

Even though Chandler's inside defense is excellent, he is known as one of the strongest inside blockers in the league except Howard.

But Yao Ming's accurate mid-range jump shot and his increasingly coquettish pass can be said to have taught Chandler a good lesson.

Yao Ming only played for 21 minutes in the whole game. During the 21-minute playing time, Yao Ming made 4 of 6 shots, including 3 of 3 free throws, and handed over a comprehensive data of 11 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.

It is no exaggeration to say that, as far as Yao Ming plays, even if he encounters Howard, whose physical fitness is explosive, Yao Ming can still play to the extreme.

After all, after experiencing weight loss, Yao Ming has become more flexible and lighter than before.

Even though the disadvantage of weight loss is that individuals' offensive and defensive capabilities at low posts have declined, with the emergence of the Thunder, the center era is now coming to an end.

All teams in the league have increased the proportion of three-pointers, while the center's personal singles at the basket have been cut again and again, which has a meaning of becoming a past trend.

…………………

"Coach Rick, do you have anything to say about losing to the Thunder in the first game of the Western Conference Finals 23 points?" At the new press conference after the game, a reporter asked Carlisle with a helpless face.

When he heard the question from the reporters in the audience, Carlisle was obviously bitter. Even if it weren't for his good personal qualities, Carlisle really wanted to curse him a few words.

"Nothing to say, this Thunder team is very strong, which is recognized by everyone. After all, 75 wins in the regular season have set a new record for the NBA."

"And even Michael could not lead the team to achieve this, so I don't think it's unfair to lose to such a team."
Chapter completed!