Chapter 2 Opening Stage

In the opening stage of the second quarter, Kerr put Durant and Thompson on the court together.

His purpose was clear: to close the score gap during the substitution period.

However, Stevens didn't stand on ceremony with him and also adjusted the rotation in the second quarter, putting Tang Tian and Butler on the court.

This was a blatant targeting.

And this kind of targeting was really effective.

Butler and Tang Tian were both well-known stamina monsters in the league.

The former used to have the highest average playing time in the league under Thibodeau, and the latter had made Durant throw up twice.

Not to mention targeting in this quarter, if it was really necessary, Stevens could have both of them play the entire game.

After more than five minutes in this quarter, the score on the court was 49 to 29, and the point difference between the two sides was still 20 points.

Kerr was standing on the sidelines at this time with a blank expression on his face, already looking like he was thinking, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"

He had simply wasted Durant's stamina during this period!

Both sides continued to rotate. Durant and Thompson went off to rest, and Green and Curry came on.

The Pelicans also had rotations, but Rose and Siakam were the ones who went off, and Walker and Davis came on!

Tang Tian and Butler remained on the court!

This substitution stunned Kerr.

The camera also gave a close-up of Stevens, who had an expression of, "I'm just playing dirty."

It seemed that Green's words were not only responded to by Tang Tian, but he also wrote them down in his notebook!

Kerr didn't dare to let Durant and Thompson play for so long. In terms of stamina, they still had a gap compared to Tang Tian and Butler.

As a result, the Warriors were still at a disadvantage during this period.

At the end of the first half, it was 69 to 43, and the point difference was widened to 26 points!

Some fans who had just turned on the TV thought they were watching a fake Western Conference Finals.

The Warriors were beaten by the Pelicans without any power to fight back!

And the same situation continued in the second half.

The Warriors were not able to play their best offensive surge in the third quarter, but instead had the point difference widened to more than 30 points by the Pelicans!

Unable to attack and unable to defend, the Warriors were losing in every quarter!

Moreover, Green and Durant had a fierce quarrel because of defensive communication problems, and the former even threw his towel when he was substituted off the court.

The game had already lost its suspense at the end of the third quarter.

In the end, the Pelicans defeated the Warriors 126 to 99 at home, taking the first victory of the Western Conference Finals.

Six Pelicans players scored in double figures, while only Durant, Curry, and Thompson scored in double figures for the Warriors.

The Pelicans' victory was expected by many fans, but no one thought it would be this score.

After all, the Warriors had two supergiants, two All-Stars, and the lineup was as strong as last year, and they had been working together for another year.

It was precisely because of this that the discussion about the game on social media after the game was noisy.

"Green Draymond is really a clown! With this score, does the Warriors have a chance?"

"Although the game can't be judged by just one game, I still want to say that the Warriors have no power to fight back at all!"

"Damn it, I was deceived before. The Pelicans have been playing conservatively in the first two rounds. When they meet the Warriors and really play, they beat the Warriors so hard that they don't even recognize their mothers!"

"The main thing is that Tang and Butler are too perverted. It's fine if their defense is top-notch, but their offense is also top-notch. It's fine if they are integrated with offense and defense, but they are also stamina monsters."

"Yes, with these two people, plus Davis who can defend Durant, this is really too much of a counter to the Warriors!"

"Look at what you said, is there a team that the Pelicans' lineup doesn't counter? (ಡwಡ)"

"Truth, brother, I think unless James and Durant join forces, no team can beat the Pelicans in the playoffs."

"Don't say beat them, I think if the Pelicans play seriously and want to win wholeheartedly, the Warriors and Cavaliers won't win a single game..."

"Although the words are very absolute, this seems to be the reality."

"Bullshit, a bunch of keyboard warriors who only judge by one game!" A comment from Jokic's fans.

"That's right, the Warriors just had a bad touch in this game. When Stephen and Durant explode in the next game, wait to be slapped in the face!" A comment from the Godfather's fans.

"Speaking of which, these few accounts are too obvious! @Kevin Durant, shouldn't you register a few new accounts first? (＿＿)ノ｜"

"Hey, hey! I saw on the news that Tang Tian said 'four.four.four' to the media before the game!"

"What?! Damn it, is it so explosive? I remember Malone said this when he played against the Lakers before?"

"Yes, Moses Malone, and 'Dr. J' Irving swept Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!"

"Love it, love it, Tang is strongly confronting Green and the Warriors! This game is interesting!"

"Although this flag is super big, I think it's more likely that Tang will be acting tough!"

"It's over, it's over, the Warriors will either be swept or be swept now. After Tang said this, the entire series will be full of firepower!"

……

"fxck!"

"Bang!"

In the Warriors' locker room, the players who had just finished the game were resting.

Because of the crushing defeat, the atmosphere in the locker room was a bit depressing. Only Curry and Thompson were communicating, and everyone else was silent.

At this moment, Durant, who was typing quickly on his phone the second before, suddenly stood up. After swearing, he smashed his phone in front of him.

Curry and Thompson stopped communicating, and all the eyes of the other people in the locker room focused on Durant.

"Kevin, what happened?"

Curry walked over and asked.

Durant glanced at Curry, his eyes full of anger.

That guy Tang Tian actually said "four.four.four" in front of the media.

After that sentence was made popular by Malone, it became one of the synonymous with contempt and showing off among players.

In other words, Tang Tian's saying this meant that he didn't take him and the Warriors seriously at all.

"Nothing."

He retracted his gaze, didn't explain much to Curry, put on his pink backpack, and left the locker room straight away.

Leaving Curry stunned, and a group of Warriors players looking at each other.

This was the first time they had seen Durant get so angry in the locker room, and even smash his phone.

However, Durant was a free agent who joined the Warriors. If his former Thunder teammates had come with him, they would have been used to this scene.

Changing phones and changing phone cases were all the old tricks that Westbrook had done.

After Curry turned around, he went over and put the broken phone back in Durant's closet.

"Losing the game and losing your temper at your teammates, what kind of ability is that."

Green couldn't help but mutter at this time.

Because no one was talking in the locker room, the voice was not loud, but many people heard it.

"Draymond."

Curry looked at Green at this time and said.

Green didn't continue to say anything. His relationship with Curry and Thompson was still very close.

The players left the locker room one after another. Before Curry left, he glanced at Durant's closet, and a trace of worry flashed across his always optimistic face.

With this team atmosphere and the Pelicans as their opponent, it was really difficult for the Warriors this year.