NBA Finals: From being killed to winning by 16 points What has changed to the Thunder?

The Thunder beat the Pacers 123-107 to tie the overall score at 1-1. From G1 being killed by Haliburton to G2 winning by 16 points and leading by as many as 23 points, what has changed for the Thunder?

The core lineup has been adjusted

The Thunder's changes began with Alexander, the number one centerpiece, who saw his individual score go from 38 to 34 compared to Game 1, a decrease of 4 points, but his assists went from 3 to 8. He interpreted the level of MVP with a more comprehensive performance. A key change was that when faced with the opponent's pack, Alexander repeatedly activated the team's offense with clever balls, leading the Thunder to play a smooth transfer ball. This is what was lacking in the first game.

In Finals G1, the Thunder only had 13 assists in the whole game, while in Finals G2, their assists almost doubled to 25. The second and third leaders of the Thunder also stood up. In the finals G1, Jalen Williams and Holmgren combined for 8 of 28, with a shooting rate of only 28.6%, while in the G2 game, both of them rebounded, with a total of 11 of 25, and the shooting rate increased to 44%.

Holmgren, in particular, scored just six points in the last game, but in this game, he scored nine points in the first quarter and made a number of key distractions on the defensive end to set the tone for the team's victory.

Dagneault stuck with the starting line-up that he had made in the first game, while making subtle but effective changes, such as bringing in two big men, Holmgren and Hartenstein, to give Aaron Wiggins, who has been doing well this season, more playing time.

The iron-blooded defense is no longer slack

In the Finals G1, the Thunder's defense was already excellent, causing the Pacers to make 24 turnovers, but their defense was not consistent, 19 of the 24 turnovers occurred in the first half, and the Thunder's loose defense in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, gave the Pacers a chance to reverse the game. In the finals G2, this scene was no longer repeated, and the Thunder's iron-blooded defense remained until the end of the game.

With three and a half minutes left in the G2 game and the Thunder leading by 21 points, all starters were still on the court. This may seem strange...... But that's because they're up against the Pacers — a team that is used to countering in desperate situations and upsetting opponents.

The lessons of G1 made the Thunder choose a prudent and sensible strategy.

Under the tight defense of the Thunder, the Pacers never rang the bell for a counterattack. At the start of the fourth quarter, they trailed by 19 points; Halfway through the fourth quarter, the margin widened to 20 points; With two minutes left in the game, they were still trailing by 18 points.

This is because the Thunder showed no mercy this time. They scored 30 points in the final quarter and never let up. It's the way they need to finish the fight. Under the Thunder's tight defense, Haliburton made five turnovers, tying his playoff career record. In the first three quarters of the game, he was limited to just five points, and although he scored 12 points in the final quarter, it was basically a garbage time score, and he couldn't get back.

So far in the playoffs, the Pacers have a 13-5 record — 8-1 when Haliburton scores 18 or more; And when he scored less than 18 points (he scored 17 in G2), the Pacers' record was 5-4.

Role players enhance output

In Finals G1, the Thunder's bench lineup performed averagely, scoring only 28 points in total, which was not as good as the Pacers' bench (39 points). In G2, the Thunder's bench rebounded and led the Pacers 48-34. Caruso contributed 20 points, and Aaron Wiggins was the key to the game. The Thunder bench, who scored only 3 points in G1, contributed 18 points in G2 and made 5-of-8 three-pointers, and in his 20 minutes on the court, the Thunder outscored their opponents by 24 points. Wiggins' plus/minus of +24 is also the highest on the team.

"He's been a big part of our success during the season, and his role has changed in the playoffs," Thunder coach Daigneault admitted, adding that Wiggins was "crucial tonight."

Both Caruso and Wiggins scored more points than any Pacers player. It's a doomed sign for the Pacers, "Caruso and Wiggins shoot well," Pacers coach Carlisle said, "They caused a lot of trouble, ran well, finished the offense, cut in the right moments, and hurt us in multiple ways." ”

Overall, the Thunder equalized with a textbook response, showcasing championship-level defense and depth. With the Finals moving to Indiana, the Pacers will be looking to find their rhythm at home, while the Thunder will be looking to continue their current momentum. The suspense of this year's finals has just begun.