It was worth mentioning that after Chen left the team, the Thunder quickly changed their planned series of tactical hand signals to guard against this "traitor" with his exceptional defensive awareness.
Even so, the experienced Chen Xi quickly recognized the play from their familiar movement patterns. It was the Spanish Pick and Roll he had once used more than any other.
Whether they had added any new variations or extensions remained to be seen.
But since he had spotted it, he certainly had to warn his teammates.
"Spanish! Isaiah, cover the weak side and hedge!"
Standing on the wing, Chen Xi shouted out an immediate warning.
The entire Knicks team reacted at once.
On the perimeter, Westbrook sought out Davis for a pick-and-roll, then drove into the paint.
Harten immediately turned his body, trying to cut off Westbrook's driving lane without straying too far from the paint.
Meanwhile, Chen Xi, who was personally assigned to chase Alexander, was already prepared. He easily slipped around Davis's back screen, then accelerated out to the perimeter to keep his man contained.
At the same time, George immediately left Barrett on the side to help in the middle, limiting the threat of Davis rolling to the basket.
Finally, Ethan decisively abandoned Miro, whom he should have switched onto, and chose to cover for George instead.
It sounded complicated, but the entire sequence unfolded in just a few seconds.
The Knicks' defensive reactions and discipline were frighteningly good, inevitably bringing Oklahoma's offense to a standstill.
Wary of Chen Xi's threat to steal the ball, Westbrook did not dare pass directly to SGA. With his path blocked, he had to choose the safer option.
Davis then received the pass as he rolled toward the basket.
After catching it, he took a hard power dribble, lowered his