[Observation] How did the Pacers defend the Thunder in the end of the G3 period?

In the second game of the finals, the Pacers lost to the Thunder with a big score. They played the team's worst defensive performance in this year's playoffs, giving the Thunder 127 points in a hundred rounds. But two days later, the Pacers had a completely different look in the home game against the Thunder. They relied on their solid defense to let the Thunder play the worst offensive quarter of this round of the series - only scored 18 points in 24 rounds in the last quarter - and finally got a 2-1 lead. So how do walkers do it?

1. Leader's pressure

Although the Pacers' defense is not as destructive as the Thunder, their pressure on the ball is incomparable to other playoff teams. According to statistics, 38% of the Pacers took the lead and put pressure on the opponent's goal, which is the highest among all teams this year's playoffs. (The second is the Magic team that leads the 31% rounds to defend the pressure.)

In addition to putting pressure on the ball, they also make it difficult for them to attack by limiting the Thunder's passes. In the following round, Jaylen Williams was forced to stop near the center line, and Nemhard desperately entangled Alexander who was running without the ball, and eventually forced the Thunder to make a mistake in passing.

This is one of the Thunder's 13 live ball mistakes. The Finals G3 is the Thunder's most live ball mistakes this year, and it is also the second most live ball mistakes in their entire season.

In the following round, the Pacers scored a jump shot from Nemhard. Caruso was too careless when serving the baseline ball and passed the ball directly to McConnell, who accepted two points and tied directly. After a timeout in the middle of the last quarter, the Thunder set up a Chicago tactic for Alexander, and the Thunder defender borrowed Dorte's off-ball cover to hand over Harten. But Nemhard held Alexander tightly, and Harten had to hand over the ball to Dort first. When Dort handed over with Alexander again, Halliburton retreated to defend, and Nemhard tried to chase back. In the end, the two worked together to force Alexander to make a mistake in the steps. In the game of

G3, Halliburton's defense only made 5 screens for Alexander, lower than the 14 in the first game and 8 in the second game.

2. Turner shines

The coverage area of ​​Turner's defense in the third game of the finals was much larger. According to statistics, G3 defended 33 rounds of pick-and-roll, 17 of which chose delays or lightning pinch (52% ratio), which was a significant increase from the previous two games (20%). This strategy change allowed the Thunder to get some layups or three-pointers in the corner in the early stages of the game, but Turner's performance in the final quarter was to a higher level.

in the middle of the last quarter, he defended Jaylen Williams and Harten's pick-and-roll. Although it had expanded beyond the three-point line, Turner still returned to the position in time, preventing Harten from getting an open shot. Three rounds later, Turner defended Homgren's breakthrough one-on-one.

Then with early 2 minutes left in the game, the Pacers led by 6 points, and Turner made several possible career-best defenses. Facing the pick-and-roll of Jaylen Williams and Homgren, he came out of the three-point line again, but Turner backed well to control Jaylen's breakthrough line, then stayed in the penalty area and took into account the front and back, completing the steal.

The next round, Turner first blocked Homgren's three-pointer, and then blocked the latter's breakthrough again.

Turner blocked the draw five times in this game and the highest block in a single game in the NBA Finals in the past three years. Overall, the Pacers won more points when Turner was not on the field, but he was very present at the critical moment of the final quarter.

3.NeSmith's Crushing Screen

For all outside defenders, Crushing Screen is a very important skill, and Nesmith's performance in the G3 in the final quarter is quite amazing.

With 3 minutes and 3 seconds left in the game, he made a very critical fixed-point three-pointer, and after that he began to lead Jaylen Williams from the backcourt. Homgren sets screens for his teammates twice, once in the backcourt and once in the middle line. The second time Nesmith has been caught by Homgren's cover, but he squeezes through and quickly chases to the side that is enough to interfere with Williams.

Nesmith continued to put pressure on Jaylen Williams, who eventually dropped the ball under Siakam's assisted harassment, and the Thunder made another live ball mistake.