The team's defensive ability is limited. If you focus on defending one person, the defensive intensity against the other person will definitely weaken.

This is the same for any team. Moreover, with Tang Tian and Jokic inside and outside, it is difficult for defensive players to support each other.

The Warriors obviously knew this as well, and Thompson was focused on keeping a close eye on Tang Tian.

Butler's defensive performance in the first round gave him confidence. They were familiar with Tang Tian's offensive style, which could help them on the defensive end.

When it came to defensive ability, he didn't think he was much worse than Butler.

Tang Tian saw the confidence in Thompson's eyes and made a big crossover to the right, accelerating his breakthrough, then dribbled to the left and stopped for a pull-up jumper.

Thompson was very familiar with Tang Tian's offensive style, and Tang Tian was also very familiar with Thompson's defensive characteristics.

Thompson's one-on-one defense wasn't weak, but lateral movement was his weakness.

Tang Tian's continuous large movements clearly caught Thompson off guard.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian shook off Thompson and scored steadily, just like in training camp.

Tang Tian wasn't a physically gifted player; he relied on technique. So, a player like Butler who played physically could be effective to some extent, but a player like Thompson with defensive weaknesses wouldn't.

The Warriors launched endless off-ball cuts in their positional offense, and the Pelicans switched on everything.

When the Warriors first used their small-ball lineup last year, the Pelicans were caught off guard, but this year the Pelicans were very familiar with this style of play.

The Warriors couldn't find an opportunity after a while. Thompson's three-point attempt over Jokic was off, and Davis grabbed the defensive rebound.

The Warriors retreated quickly, not giving the Pelicans a fast-break opportunity. Coach Kerr shouted from the sidelines, signaling defensive adjustments.

In the Pelicans' transition from defense to offense, Tang Tian attacked Thompson again, stopping suddenly for a turnaround fadeaway.

Iguodala lunged out from the side to block the shot as Tang Tian released it.

The timing of this help defense was perfect.

Tang Tian adjusted his angle in the air, avoiding the block and shooting as he fell.

This shot was very difficult, and the ball flew in the air, drawing a high arc.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian made another high-difficulty shot under double coverage!

The crowd erupted in cheers. Tang Tian never let them down!

"A beautiful fadeaway jumper, Tang looks to be in super shape tonight!"

With this shot made, O'Neal, the "Tang booster" on the commentary booth, was already online.

In the Warriors' outside pick-and-roll, the Pelicans' defensive formation pressed very far out. Curry broke into the paint and scored a layup after receiving a pass from Green.

The Warriors' comeback against the Thunder was largely due to Curry's outstanding performance. Curry had returned to his regular-season form.

In the Pelicans' offense, Tang Tian continued to attack with the ball, and the Warriors switched Iguodala onto him.

Tang Tian squeezed past Iguodala with a change of direction, driving to the basket for a layup. Green pounced out to block him the moment he went up for the layup.

Two consecutive possessions with similar defensive tactics showed that the Warriors were clearly prepared.

They couldn't defend him one-on-one, but they were wary of Tang Tian's passing when double-teaming, so they improved their approach, waiting until Tang Tian released the shot to double-team.

This trick was very useful. Tang Tian encountered Green's help defense in the air and lost his shooting angle.

Seeing that he was about to be defended, Tang Tian switched hands in the air to avoid Green's block, and went for a low-hand layup as he fell.

Another forced, high-difficulty shot.

Moreover, the difficulty of this adjustment in the air was even greater, somewhat similar to Jordan's dunk-to-layup move.

The ball spun and grazed the backboard, and under the watchful eyes of all the players on the court, fell diagonally into the net!

Powerful core strength!

Tang Tian made consecutive high-difficulty shots!

"Who? Who can stop this guy!"

O'Neal was already hyping himself up in the commentary booth.

Anyone can score, but it depends on how they score!

With their early defense on Jokic and targeted defense on Tang Tian, the Warriors had long regarded the Pelicans as their number one rival and made ample preparations.

Jokic was limited, but Tang Tian directly broke through the defense with his ability! And he broke through cleanly!

Kerr had already walked to the sideline. From his tightly furrowed brows, it could be seen that Tang Tian's scoring methods made him doubt the set of tactics he had prepared.

Tang Tian scored 6 consecutive points. Curry wanted to respond with a three-pointer, but the Pelicans' perimeter defense was wide enough that his shot was contested, and the basketball bounced off the rim.

Jokic grabbed the defensive rebound. He passed it to Tang Tian, who dribbled the ball coast to coast.

The Warriors retreated quickly. Thompson was in the middle, with Iguodala and Curry on either side, blocking from the backcourt to the frontcourt in three lines.

Seeing that the Pelicans could only transition from fast break to positional offense again, Tang Tian didn't slow down, but accelerated towards Thompson for a layup, intending to force his way through.

Thompson wasn't afraid of this kind of play, and he stuck out his chest to provide enough resistance while moving.

Tang Tian's forward momentum was obviously stopped, and his speed was suddenly reduced like a cow hitting a wall.

However, at this moment, he adjusted his body in the air, and managed to readjust his shooting posture before landing and complete the shot!

Three consecutive shots, each more difficult than the last!

The moment Tang Tian shot, Kerr's eyes narrowed. This shot should definitely...

"Bang!"

The ball hit the inside of the rim and went in!

Crazy!

The cheers of the fans at the scene had exploded!

I don't care how you defend, I'm just going to score!

With consecutive high-difficulty shots, Tang Tian's performance after the opening wasn't just good, it was overbearing!

"Klay, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to cry. You're defending a monster! A monster that can destroy the world!"

O'Neal's commentary was full of wit.

Barkley and Smith laughed and echoed him from the side.

Tang Tian's performance in this stretch was truly unreasonable.

Curry made another three-pointer from the outside, giving Tang Tian an answer ball.

This three-pointer was very timely.

But in the next possession, Tang Tian held the ball on the perimeter, and while his teammates were running their plays, he suddenly faced Thompson and shot a pull-up three-pointer!

He was shooting with confidence!

Thompson defended attentively, keeping up with Tang Tian's shooting rhythm this time and lunging out to apply defensive pressure.

Tang Tian shot over Thompson's outstretched hand.

"Swish!"

A crisp sound was drowned out by the explosive cheers of the fans at the scene!

Tang Tian immediately returned Curry's three-pointer!

He had scored 11 consecutive points since the start of the game!

O'Neal didn't say anything in the commentary booth, but just made a very fierce, bloodthirsty expression.

No amount of words could describe Tang Tian's performance, only the Shark's expression was worthy of it.

Barkley and Smith were also impressed.

Barkley even agreed with O'Neal's nonsense at the start of the game.

Tang Tian was in too good of a form tonight, so good that it was unbelievable, so good that he could break through any form of defense!

This was his personal zone!

Last year when the Pelicans were eliminated, the Pelicans' teammates were unwilling, Davis cried again, and the fans were also very sad.

But the most affected was actually Tang Tian, as the team's leader.

Now that Tang Tian had returned, he wasn't trying to prove that he could lead the team to seek revenge, but to show everyone that he could defeat the Warriors, even with his own strength!

ps: Continue to work hard for three updates today, and continue to ask for guaranteed monthly tickets. I have already hired a caregiver, who costs 160 a day, which I can afford. I will take more time to code.