With big data at their disposal, the coaching staff had prepared strategies for players with all kinds of skill sets well in advance.
Among those traits, the most decisive was undoubtedly certain players' ability to shoot from outside.
If you couldn't space the floor, hit open shots, or produce enough scoring, you posed no threat.
And if you posed no threat, defenders could help, rotate, and create problems for your teammates without a second thought.
Especially for a team like the Knicks, whose discipline was excellent and whose defensive strategy was executed to perfection, those players were their favorite targets.
The game was evolving, and the bar for being a good role player was rising along with it.
Possession went to the Knicks.
It was New York's turn to attack.
Unlike the Thunder, the Knicks decisively chose to squeeze in a quick possession with just forty-two seconds remaining.
Chen Xi accelerated with the ball and reached the frontcourt in three seconds. Then he chained a between-the-legs crossover into a behind-the-back dribble and a little hop, followed by a front crossover that took him cleanly past Cunningham. He stepped up to the three-point line, gathered, rose, and fired a three.
That was a shot Chen could take.
Unfortunately, it didn't fall.
The ball bounced high off the rim and into Gafford's hands, and the Thunder turned around to push the break.
Cunningham caught the ball near the logo in the frontcourt, then dribbled as he waited for the clock to wind down.
Only when fourteen seconds remained on the shot clock did he initiate the offense.
He called for a high pick-and-roll with Gafford and tried to drive, only to run straight into the Knicks' perimeter trap.
Reacting quickly, C.C. immediately passed out of it.
Gafford then found himself wide