When your teammate returns from injury and frequently gets open looks after coming on the court, but misses his first few shots, would you still pass him the ball?
Kayce felt he should pass, after all, the game had just started, and missing shots could be considered him finding his rhythm; maybe he would suddenly get hot later.
Durant also felt he should pass, because Jeff Green was his staunch supporter in the locker room. When a little brother returns from injury, the big brother must give some encouragement!
As for Russell, he didn't think about these things; he just played basketball when he was on the court.
But after more than 6 minutes in the first quarter, Jeff Green's shooting was truly awful!
Besides a two-point basket from a backdoor cut, he was 0-for-3 from three-point range on open shots. The Bulls truly gave him opportunities, but Jeff Green truly couldn't make them.
However, the Thunder's trio performed normally, and the Bulls couldn't pull away. Coach Brooks saw that time was almost up and immediately called a timeout; he had to substitute Jeff Green.
With the offense struggling and two defensive rebounds lost, the Bulls showed signs of gaining momentum. At this point, it was necessary to disrupt their rhythm.
"Sorry, guys, my shooting touch was terrible in this game. I should have made those damn open shots!"
Jeff Green said dejectedly as he sat on the bench.
"Your shoulder injury just healed, and your shooting touch will definitely be affected. Don't worry about the field goal percentage; keep shooting when you get an opportunity!"
Kayce also briefly comforted Jeff Green. At this time, it was important to stay calm; impatience wouldn't solve the problem. Coach Brooks also began to instruct his players:
"Guys, we must protect our defensive rebounds and box out. If the opponent increases their outside shooting, we must also control long rebounds and absolutely not give them second-chance opportunities!"
Clearly, Coach Brooks was not satisfied with the team's defensive rebounding performance. If they couldn't secure rebounds in time, the Thunder's transition offense would be very difficult to execute.
"It's okay, Green, you haven't played an official game in almost a month. Don't worry about the stats; I'll keep passing you the ball!"
As the timeout was about to end, Durant also whispered comforting words to Jeff Green beside him. As the leader, he couldn't let his little brother feel disheartened.
"Thanks! Bro, I'll get back in form quickly!"
Jeff Green naturally knew his performance was poor, but in his first game back from injury, he faced the impact of Gibson and Noah from the Bulls. He felt he couldn't keep up with the game's pace, especially when switching to guard Rose, whose speed was simply too fast.
After the timeout, the Thunder brought Ibaka back onto the court. Russell's high pick-and-roll tactic failed, and after passing the ball back to Kostić, Kayce quickly moved to the three-point line to receive the ball and reorganize the offense.
After a hand-off with Kostić, the Bulls' defense intentionally allowed Kayce to drive to his right. Shooting statistics showed that Kayce's accuracy was slightly lower on the right side of the court.
Kayce was not polite, he accelerated with the ball in his right hand, breaking through. Noah, who switched to defend him, desperately chased, always keeping his hands high, trying to prevent Kayce from getting an opportunity for a pull-up jumper. After two big dribbles, Kayce suddenly gathered the ball, faking a shot.
Noah, who was defending closely, was directly faked into the air. At this moment, Kayce pivoted on his left foot, skillfully turned, and again faked a shot. Noticing that Gibson, who was helping on defense, was also faked, Kayce flicked his wrist and passed the ball to the trailing Ibaka.
The latter received the ball, took off with the momentum, and slammed it down with both hands!
"Clang!" The trailing dunk was successful.
"Wow!!!"
After Ibaka dunked the ball, the Ford Center immediately erupted in a huge cheer. The Thunder had played somewhat sluggishly in the first quarter, and this dunk ignited the home crowd's atmosphere.
"Great pass! Kayce continuously faked out two Bulls' big men, assisting Ibaka for the dunk. Perfect offensive rhythm!"
Home commentator Twin also raised his voice.
Kayce smiled slightly, high-fiving Ibaka in celebration. After half a season of training, Kayce's body coordination had been effectively developed. This kind of footwork after a fake, seemingly simple, greatly tested his ball-handling ability.
The Bulls' offense was still initiated by Rose. From the start, Rose played exceptionally aggressively, constantly attacking the rim. Noticing that the Thunder's defense was heavily collapsed, he passed the ball directly to Luol Deng beyond the three-point line after his breakthrough.
The latter received the ball, without adjustment, and shot it up.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in perfectly.
Coach DeNegro applauded on the sidelines, indicating it was a good play. After losing to the Thunder in their previous matchup, the Bulls had consciously increased their outside shooting, completely improving their stagnant offensive spacing.
Although the team's outside shooting was inconsistent, Coach Ben still stuck to this offensive strategy. After all, if they missed, the Bulls could still crash the offensive glass, and Noah and Gibson could do a great job of that.
With Luol Deng's three-pointer, the Bulls' outside shooting started to Heat up frequently in the remaining minutes of the first quarter, and Hinrich also made two consecutive three-pointers.
32:24, after the first quarter, the visiting Bulls led by 8 points.
During the break, Kayce was a bit frustrated. He hadn't expected the Bulls to relentlessly crash the offensive glass. Gibson and Noah were like two big troublemakers, and the Thunder couldn't get a single fast break in the first quarter.
In the subsequent game, the Bulls adopted the Grizzlies' defensive style, frequently increasing physical contact, resolutely denying three-pointers, and maintaining their attack on offensive rebounds, making it difficult for the Thunder to easily execute transition offense.
With the excellent performance of Gibson and Noah, the Bulls' rebounding completely suppressed the Thunder, and Noah's outstanding rim protection even caused Russell to slowly fall into a slump in the second half.
In the final quarter, with both Jeff Green and Russell missing shots, the Bulls tightened their defense even further, starting to double-team Kayce and Durant. In the end, at 100 to 90, the visiting Bulls successfully avenged their loss.
This was also the Thunder's second-lowest single-game score this season. With continuous research by various teams in the NBA, everyone gradually found a way to counteract the Thunder: crashing the offensive glass!
56:44, the Bulls outrebounded the Thunder by 12. Tough defense and fierce rebounding, that was their recipe for victory.
After the game, Kayce looked at the beaming Rose and smiled helplessly:
"Congratulations, Bro! You successfully made the All-Star team. You played great tonight, I really envy your explosiveness!"
Rose had 26 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 turnovers in this game. No three-pointers, no free throws, 13-for-23 shooting, all from drives and mid-range. His scoring was pure.
"Actually, I'd rather have your shooting ability. Maybe we can train together in the offseason; I really want to learn from you about shooting."
"It's a shame we can't be on the same team for the Rookie Challenge. Just thinking about partnering with Russell in the backcourt gives me a headache!"
Rose, in high spirits after the win, also playfully teased Russell about his missed shots.
"Haha, actually I've always looked forward to playing with you, but the Sophomore team needs to be careful, I have a super shooter Steph Curry on my side, don't accidentally lose to us."
Kayce heard Rose mention the Rookie Challenge and immediately responded with a smile.
"Cool! I'm already looking forward to our matchup, good luck, Bro!"
Rose was very confident, he didn't think the Sophomores would lose to the Freshmen; this was an advantage of experience. The two then exchanged pleasantries on the sidelines for a long time before embracing and departing.
In the Thunder locker room, except for Russell and Jeff Green, who looked a bit dejected, the other teammates were not affected by the loss.
Kayce and Durant still performed steadily in this game, scoring 24+7+6 and 28+7+2 respectively. The two accounted for half of the team's points, and aside from a few missed three-pointers, their performance was impeccable.
"Alright, Russell, you should have chatted with Rose after the game, so those boring media outlets don't start criticizing your personality again. Rose even said he's really looking forward to playing with you in the Rookie Challenge!"
Kayce said, icing himself, while comforting his good brother.
Unfortunately, as soon as this was mentioned, Russell became even more depressed. In last year's Rookie Challenge, the Freshmen were crushed by Durant. In a 40-minute game, Durant easily scored 46 points, truly terrifying!
Sure enough, before Russell could even speak, Durant was already laughing and saying:
"Haha, last year Russell and Rose had almost no chemistry. We were able to turn the game around in the second half thanks to them. Kayce, prepare for the Freshmen to get slaughtered, Russell will definitely get his revenge this year!"
"Shit! I don't like partnering with Rose. If Kayce was there, I guarantee we would have won last year. But I won't hold back this year either; it's a league tradition for the Sophomore team to win."
Remembering how Durant dominated him in last year's Rookie Challenge, Russell replied dejectedly.
"Go for it, Kayce, I'm rooting for you guys to overthrow the Sophomores, otherwise the Rookie Challenge is truly too boring, with the Sophomore team winning every time."
Jeff Green, who had been bricking shots all night, also said with a smile. He and Russell both scored 10 points, completely losing their touch after returning from injury.
"Don't worry, with me here, the Freshman team definitely won't give up easily, Russell, you have to work hard then!"
Kayce put on a look of certainty, which made his teammates burst into laughter. Only Russell had a premonition of something bad, he felt that he might actually lose the Rookie Challenge two years in a row.
On January 28th, the NBA officially announced the All-Star Rookie Challenge roster. The Sophomore team was led by Derrick Rose of the Bulls, and the detailed roster was:
Michael Beasley (Heat), Marc Gasol (Grizzlies), OJ Mayo (Grizzlies), Danilo Gallinari (Knicks), Eric Gordon (Clippers), Brook Lopez (Nets), Kevin Love (Timberwolves), Russell Westbrook (Thunder), Derrick Rose (Bulls).
The rookie team was led by Kayce, and the detailed roster was:
Omri Casspi (Sacramento Kings), DeJuan Blair (Spurs), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Tyreke Evans (Timberwolves), Taj Gibson (Bulls), James Harden (Sacramento Kings), Brandon Jennings (Bucks), Jonas Jerebko (Pistons), Kayce (Thunder).
Kayce, who was surfing the internet at home, saw the Rookie Challenge roster announced on the NBA official website and immediately felt a surge of joy:
"First, a small goal: win the Rookie Challenge MVP!"
On January 29th, the Thunder were scheduled to face the Nuggets at home. Unlike their previous encounter, Carmelo Anthony continued to sit out this game due to a knee injury.
The Nuggets currently hold a record of 31 wins and 14 losses, placing them sixth in the Western Conference. Although the team has lost consecutive games since Anthony's injury, they still lead the 7th-placed Utah Jazz by two wins.
Coach George Karl also made a big gesture, giving the bench players a lot of playing time, but without the strong presence of Anthony, the Nuggets only held on for one quarter before directly surrendering.
Kayce played a powerful game, tightly guarding JR Smith. When the Nuggets couldn't score from beyond the arc, the Thunder outscored them 36-19 in the second quarter, easily securing the victory.
The Thunder players flourished across the board, winning 110-88 at home against the Nuggets.
Kayce achieved a double-double of 20+5+11 in this game, successfully sparking the Thunder's offense. Durant was also exceptionally efficient, easily putting up 30+5+2. The only minor flaw was padding his stats with 6 points in garbage time.
On January 31st, the Thunder's final game of January, they would host the Golden State Warriors, who were diving for the first overall pick.
The Golden State Warriors currently have a record of 13 wins and 32 losses, placing them third from the bottom in the Western Conference. Second from the bottom are James Harden's Sacramento Kings, and last place belongs to Kevin Love's Timberwolves.
With half the season over, and considering the fierce competition in the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors have essentially said goodbye to the Playoffs.
At a private restaurant in Oklahoma City, Kayce once again hosted the unlucky Steph Curry. Compared to his previous gloom, Curry's mood was noticeably better this time visiting Oklahoma City, though it's highly likely he had simply accepted his fate.
"Wow, you seem to be doing well, Bro. Last time you came to Oklahoma City, you were almost crying from frustration!"
Kayce looked at Curry, who was dressed casually in a grey hoodie, and chuckled, teasing him.
"Come on! Kayce, I've never lost so many games in my life. It's torture for me. But maybe it's because we're out of the Playoffs, the team atmosphere has gotten a lot better."
"Of course, I still don't get much playing time, and I still have to run errands for my teammates to buy donuts from time to time, but maybe this is NBA life. I think I'm starting to adapt to it."
Stephen Curry said he had lost so much that he was completely resigned to his fate at this point.
"Sounds a bit rough. Has Ayesha adapted to life in Oakland too? I think you could focus on family and training first. If Nelson really sees you as a core player, all you need to do is patiently wait for your chance."
Kayce looked at Stephen Curry, who was exuding an air of dejection, and simply comforted him.
"Actually, life in Oakland is pretty good. Ayesha is slowly starting to like it there, but the Warriors are truly a mess. The locker room is full of cliques, everyone has their own agenda, but few genuinely want to win."
"Monta Ellis is a good person off the court, but on the court, he's not a teammate who likes to share the ball. Plus, Corey Maggette also needs his shots, so I don't get many opportunities. But you're right, Kayce, I'll wait patiently."
Stephen Curry was also rarely able to confide in a friend. In front of his family, he had to appear as if everything was under control.
But in reality, he was very anxious every day, and chatting with Kayce was one of his few moments of relaxation.
"To achieve success, you always have to go through some hardships. Keep it up, Bro. Oh, by the way, if you like fishing, you can come to Oklahoma City to find me during the offseason. This is definitely a great place for fishing!"
Kayce motioned to the waiter that they could serve the dishes while also teasing Stephen Curry.
"Haha, that's a really interesting suggestion, but I prefer golfing. I'm actually looking forward to the Rookie Challenge. This will be the first time we're paired up in the backcourt!"
"Hehe, let's try to take down the sophomore team then. Believe me, it will definitely be an exciting game!"
On the evening of the 31st, the Ford Center was packed with spectators. Oklahoma City fans were increasingly enjoying watching games at home. The Thunder's playing style was explosive and dazzling, with team play and star isolations, offering everything.
Many Oklahoma City fans had also figured out Kayce's warm-up routine and arrived early at the arena just to get his autograph. If they were lucky enough, they could even get a photo with him.
"Kayce, I love you so much, and I'm really sorry. I rallied all my friends to vote for you for the All-Star game, but we still missed it this year. Damn NBA, oh! Sorry, I shouldn't swear, I'm just too excited!"
Kayce was currently surrounded by a group of local Oklahoma City female fans. The security personnel had all been pushed to the outside. The enthusiastic female fans almost wanted to pounce on Kayce.
"Don't worry about the All-Star game. Thank you all for your support!"
Before Kayce could finish speaking, a buxom blonde female fan suddenly shouted loudly:
"Kayce, sign one more for me, right here!"
With that, she proudly puffed out her chest, signaling Kayce to quickly sign, but this action angered the girls around her.
"Bitch! Is having big breasts so great! You hateful cow!" "Get out of the way, Kayce doesn't like girls like you!" "Move, shorty!"
Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, the security personnel quickly separated everyone. They often saw such scenes. Ever since Kayce's single "Shape of You" became a huge hit, some female fans had gone crazy!
Of course, this was all due to money. Young, rich, and in great physical shape—such a catch was hard to find!
Durant watched from the side with envy, jealousy, and hatred. He was about to become the scoring champion and Nike's top star, yet his popularity was far behind Kayce's.
Noticing a chubby kid next to him holding a Thunder jersey, he immediately spoke up:
"Hey, buddy, do you need an autograph from me?"
The chubby kid seemed to just realize, noticing Durant beside him, and immediately exclaimed in surprise:
"OMG! KD, I never thought I'd run into you here! I'm a huge fan of yours, your ball-handling skills are truly amazing!"
Durant smiled slightly upon hearing this, feeling very popular in Oklahoma City. Just as he was about to sign for the chubby kid, the latter part of the boy's sentence made his mouth twitch.
"But today I only brought one jersey. I want Kayce's autograph, KD, can you help me?"
At this moment, Durant's heart was filled with intense jealousy, but on the surface, he remained calm, smiling as he replied:
"Of course! You're in luck, buddy, I happen to have another signed jersey here. Kayce will sign for you, and I'll also give you a jersey to thank you for supporting the Thunder!"
"Cool!!"
What is the Thunder's best skill right now? It must be beating weaker teams. With Kayce as the on-court tempo setter, the Thunder's ability to dominate weaker opponents is absolutely rock-solid.
As a bottom-feeder team in the Western Conference, with virtually no hope for the Playoffs, the Warriors' defense in this game was completely lacking. All the players on the court were thinking about padding their stats. Everyone seemed to be asking, what is defense?
The Thunder's defense exerted a little effort, and they ended the first quarter 38-24. Kayce found such a game extremely boring. Corey Maggette and Monta Ellis almost accounted for all of the Warriors' shot attempts in the first quarter.
Both took 6 shots each, while the unlucky Stephen Curry only got 2 shot opportunities, the same treatment as Andris Biedrins. As for Anthony Tolliver, that guy just kept running back and forth after coming on.
In the second quarter, Kayce watched the Warriors continue to play wildly and finally fully understood Stephen Curry's predicament.