Chapter 172: The Opener
The preseason win did not break the Pacers' minds, and this year, the NBA's office has also started to cause trouble. The opening game did not have the first match of last year's finals opponents as usual.
Although both the Warriors and the Cavaliers are in the opening game, they are no longer opponents. They all have their own new opponents.
The Warriors challenged the Thunder away. They just snatched their cornerstone ace Durant from the Thunder three and a half months ago. Now their first game is to go to Oklahoma?
When the Warriors' management learned that they were going to Oklahoma, they directly increased the Warriors' security strength by three times. Durant even carried several personal bodyguards with him. Extreme fans of the Thunder burned their jerseys after Durant announced the transfer, and life threats were all truly displayed in Oklahoma.
In everyone's hearts, the Thunder is no longer the Thunder that won 73 games last year with the Warriors in 73 games. At the same time, the Warriors are not the runner-up of the 73-win total. They have two MVP players who are at the peak after Durant, and they are also paired with two top 20 players in the league, Thompson and Green. In many people's view, the Warriors have already written a finale for the NBA this season in advance.
But they still have to be careful when facing the Thunder. The Thunder's moves in this game will not be small.
Relatively speaking, the showdown in the East is completely different. On the other hand, Durant returns to the Thunder, and on the other hand, the championship member Lin Sen returns to Cleveland. Compared to Durant returns to the Thunder, there may be no sensation on this side, and there is no tension like Oklahoma in the atmosphere.
"Welcome home! But don't think about taking victory away from here."
"Lin! Are you ready to bear the feeling opposite us? The champion will learn more!"
"Do you know why Lin was the best player in the playoffs last season? Because the best offensive player is in our team. Sorry, now you don't have to face the best offensive player in the world."
Compared with Thunder fans, the Cavaliers seemed more happy. They joked about Lin Sen in the community that for the next game, both the Cavaliers and the Pacers had a very friendly attitude.
At the community forum, Cleveland fans were merciless, but when the Pacers came to the Speed Loan Center, they could see various placards that welcomed Lin Sen at the Speed Loan Center.
"Lin, you guy has only been with the Cavaliers for one season, right? So popular?"
Eric Gordon saw the Cavaliers' welcome to Lin Sen. The Pacers are the third team he is here, but he has never received treatment like Lin Sen. As for his departure from the Pelicans this year? Haha, Pelicans fans are afraid that they would not applaud? This Glass man has finally left?
Lin Sen smiled: "Eric, if you can help your old club win the championship last season, then I believe that one thing you will receive this kind of treatment."
After saying that, Lin Sen ran to hug the former teammates of the Cavaliers before the game began.
"There is an old saying in China that is polite first and then soldiers? Does it mean that you are polite now and then beat you up on the battlefield?" O'Neal in the commentary seat said with a smile. O'Neal, who has good popularity in China and has many endorsements, will have a tour of China every summer, and has his own unique understanding of some Chinese idioms.
"Don't worry! There is probably no "beat" happening on this side. If you switch to the same shift with your espn colleagues, you probably can enjoy that scene, not just a battle on the court." Barkley smiled sluggishly, obviously having great interest in the game in the West one and a half hours later.
On this side, after the friendly meeting between the two sides, the starting lineup of both sides was also lined up. The Cavaliers' starting lineup changed little compared to last season. Irving, JR Smith, James, Love, TT.
After Lin Sen left the Cavaliers, TT, who had an annual salary of 17 million, finally became the starter, and played a substitute for a player with an annual salary of 800,000, which was embarrassing to say it!
There are earth-shaking changes on the Pacers side. Hill, Eric Gordon, George, Thadis Young, and Linson, three new starters are coming, and they are not the same lineup at all, and the coach has also changed, which is not the same Pacers as last year.
Lin Sen was ruthless in the face of his former club and substitute, and directly crushed TT in jumping ball and got the ball first. Hill advanced at the speed of the ball after getting the ball, but he was facing the Cavaliers. Last year, he played the Cavaliers who were relaxed and comfortable in the Warriors' counterattack. The Pacers, a team that had just started learning to counterattack, did not put any pressure on the Cavaliers at all.
The Cavaliers' defensive line was very open, TT was in the middle, and he took on Lin Sen's defensive task in the Cavaliers three months ago. Lin Sen simply started to ask in the inside. Hill did not hesitate, and he had basically no breakthrough ability, and even Irving had no chance. He directly sent the ball to Lin Sen with one strike.
"Tristan, let me see if you have made any progress this summer." Linson looked at Thompson face to face near the free throw line.
Before tt could reply, Lin Sen's offense still began. Frame attack, which is a compulsory course for a ball-holding center. Of course, if your body is strong to O'Neal's level, then you don't say it, but O'Neal also has a small throw shot with a face-frame attack, and the All-Stars showed off a very beautiful back-to-back to Jordan.
The tt sticker is not compact, and his sight is more on other Pacers players to prevent empty cuts from the opponent. This is something Lin Sen often does. Lin Sen, who is in the Cavaliers, must be prepared to help everyone wipe their butts, including James who occasionally commands traffic with his hips.
Do you still have the intention to observe others when you face me? Lin Sen was immediately very unhappy, and directly face to face with a jump shot**. After taking the action, he ran to his own half and scored goals without any doubt. You were so empty, and I was embarrassed to not score.
Chapter completed!