Chapter 691 The feud continues
In the last game of the preseason, the Lakers faced the Cavaliers, which was a prediction of last year's finals.
However, neither team seemed to care too much about this game. They played as substitutes for most of the game. Unlike the Warriors, although the two teams played in the finals, due to Tang Shuai's absence, the game was not as intense as imagined.
117 to 115, relying on the mid-range jump shot from the team's new aid Yi Jianlian in the last moment, the Lakers successfully defeated the Cavaliers, winning their seven-game winning streak in the preseason, and ended perfectly.
Yi Jianlian played for 32 minutes in this game. He made 5 of 11 shots efficiently and contributed 16 points, including a final shot at the last moment.
After this game, his position was truly confirmed.
When the matter is settled, looking back, it is somewhat full of drama. At that time, Yi Jianlian's agent Feigen tried every means to seek status for him, and even made a fuss about not wanting to go to Milwaukee. Even if he changed the team later, this idea did not change. In the end, he was abandoned by the league. Now he returned to the league and won with his own efforts. It is a championship-competitive team like the Lakers. This has to be said to be thirty years, thirty years, Hexi.
After the preseason ended, on October 30, US time, under the expectations of various teams, the 2017-2018 season finally kicked off his prelude. In the new season, 30 teams once again launched a new impact towards the O'Brien Cup.
The seven-game winning streak in the preseason made the Lakers look forward to the new season, but at the beginning of the season, they have to face the biggest challenge.
Their opener opponent is the Warriors.
The players' suspension starts from the regular season. To be honest, the best news for this game is naturally Draymond's suspension.
F4 lacks an inside support point, which is definitely a good opportunity for the Lakers to win.
But even so, the Lakers did not dare to take it lightly, because Curry, who was absent in the preseason, would play in this game, and Durant's strength, no matter from any perspective, is stronger than Green.
Moreover, although Green was suspended, he was not idle. Before the game, he posted a message on Twitter and would watch the game live broadcast at the Los Angeles Rugby Stadium, hoping that his brothers could bring a big victory.
The Staples Center was also particularly lively on this day, because it was the season opening game, and the opponent was the Warriors. Coupled with the grudges of the preseason, the game was very interesting. Some fans who had not bought tickets came to the sidelines early to take up the seat in front of the LED screen. As for those who bought tickets, they also came to the stadium in advance, and made all preparations and waited to watch this century-old battle.
Although he won seven consecutive games in the preseason, Billups knew that the regular season and preseason were two completely different games, and this **** led the players to the stadium for training two hours in advance.
Before the game started, the presence of Tang Shuai and Westbrook caused a commotion among the audience in advance. When the two started training, they took out their mobile phones to take photos, and the scene seemed particularly lively.
Many viewers can't wait to hold slogans such as "The champion is ours" and "Our only goal is the championship."
Such a scene was not uncommon when the Lakers were strong in the past, but now it reappears, which shows that the performance of this team has been fully recognized by fans.
The Warriors were late, and except for Green who could not appear in the venue due to the suspension, all other players arrived.
During the pre-match training, Curry and Thompson were talking and laughing, and Green's absence did not seem to have much impact on them.
In the last three minutes before the game, the lineups on both sides appeared on the large LED screen on the spot.
The Lakers' lineup is exactly the same as the pre-season lineup. Yi Jianlian and the one predicted before the game appeared in the team's power forward position.
After Green was absent, Cole pushed Durant to the power forward position, while Iguodala appeared in the small forward position.
Including Bogut, this lineup is not bad at all compared to last year's Western Conference Finals.
"Hey, brothers, the season has begun, and it's time to get all your strength out." Westbrook yelled at the players before the game began.
"Guys, show all our enthusiasm. Like last year's playoffs, it's time to start construction." Tang Shuai also said.
"For victory!" the team members shouted, and then Wuhu walked towards the field.
After both sides stood in the center of the venue, Noel and Bogut were about to start jumping, and the fans on the scene couldn't help but get restless.
Bogut is much better than Nor in terms of experience. Amid the cheers of fans, he pushed the ball back to the Warriors' half, and the Warriors got the opportunity to take the lead in attacking.
As soon as Curry was holding the ball, Thompson and Durant landed in the frontcourt and ran in the opposite direction.
The Lakers' defense was reluctant to leave and did not give the two the chance to catch the ball easily.
However, at this time, I have to talk about the benefits of Durant playing the fourth position. When he ran out, Yi Jianlian was forced to follow him, and the inside line suddenly became weak.
Curry saw the opportunity and called Bogut a pick-and-roll, and pushed Nol, who was forced to defend, retreated repeatedly, and waited to get to the basket and directly threw a close range.
Noel started to block the block, but his move was too fast and he was out of here.
With a "swish", Curry's throw shot made, winning the first point in the regular season for the Warriors.
The Lakers' offense, Tang Shuai's arc top organization, Westbrook's running position, he saw the opportunity to pass, and the latter directly squeezed out Durant to prepare for a layup.
However, at the moment of taking action, Bogut, who was inside, rushed out and successfully interfered with him.
His last move came out of the basket.
This is the change brought about by Bogut with the Warriors. Green was not present, but instead gave him enough room to play.
Thompson rushed to the inside to grab the defensive rebound, the Warriors launched a fast break, and Curry gave Durant a hand as he advanced, who directly took the knife from outside the three-point line.
5 to 0!
The Warriors caught the Lakers off guard as soon as the game started.
"Defense! Follow your own defender!" Xiao came to the sidelines and reminded the players loudly.
Shuai Tang reached the frontcourt and then handed over Westbrook.
After Westbrook signaled his teammates to leave, he directly chose to attack Thompson. This time he rushed more thoroughly and deeper, but when he got to the basket, he encountered a double double-team between Bogut and Durant, and then took action and slipped out of the basket again.
The rebound was snatched by Bogut, and the Warriors were ready to launch a fast break. This time, Batum was quick-witted and took the initiative to interrupt their fast break.
"Russell is too anxious. The Warriors are best at playing such fast counterattacks." Although the fast break was stopped, Chris Webber, the commentator in the commentary seat, couldn't help but say.
"But that's his style of playing, it's a double-edged sword." Home commentator Mike Smith said.
In the Warriors' offense, Curry held the ball from the outside and asked Bogut to do an off-ball pick-and-roll for Durant. When the tactics there were about to be reached, he measured the ball in advance.
"Bang!"
Just as he was passing the ball, Westbrook suddenly rushed out from the side, snatched his pass, and then lowered his center of gravity, like a cheetah who accelerated with all his might, rushed to the frontcourt in the blink of an eye. The cheers of fans at the scene, and taking the ball was violently abusing the basket with one hand.
The atmosphere at the scene was ignited.
Shuai Tang turned around and clenched him.
Although the previous two rounds were a little different, he still trusted Westbrook, his teammate.
In the Warriors' offense, Durant and Thompson made a pick-and-roll without the ball. After receiving the ball, they faced Westbrook who assisted in defense. They took a cross step and followed the trend and took the back and took a back shot with two hits.
A series of movements did not hesitate, and the tilt shot was also a steady hit.
7-2, the Warriors' offensive success rate at the opening game was quite high.
Perhaps in response to the goal when Westbrook dunked just now, Durant turned around and slammed Curry with a ruthless face.
Seeing this scene, Westbrook unconsciously pressed his fist.
For the Lakers' offense, Tang Shuai organized the group to go to Westbrook, who then rushed to the inside.
Seeing this scene, Webber couldn't help but shake his head and was about to speak.
At this moment, a scene that he unexpectedly happened.
After Westbrook rushed to the inside, he did not go straight to the point like the previous two rounds. Instead, after attracting double-teams, he quickly passed the ball to Tang Shuai on the outside.
Tang Shuai had already prepared and did not give the Warriors some reaction time, so he directly took three points.
"Swish!"
The open three-pointer hit without any suspense.
A burst of cheers suddenly broke out at the scene.
"Unbelievable, I suddenly felt that Russell did that on purpose in the first two rounds." Webber's words suddenly changed.
In fact, Weber's words were right in mind. This was indeed Billups' arrangement before the game. Whether it was Tang Shuai or Westbrook, the two of them had strong inside impact. No matter who they started, they needed to attack the inside and compress the defense. This time the choice started with Westbrook.
Tang Shuai made a three-pointer, and the Lakers immediately scored the score to 5-7.
The Warriors attacked again, Durant played back and restrained the defense, and passed the ball to Thompson on the outside, who shot three-pointers.
The ball has a very positive trajectory, but its strength is too strong, and it hits the edge of the basket and pops up.
After a scramble at the basket, Yi Jianlian competed continuously to win defensive rebounds.
The Lakers advance to the frontcourt.
Cole shouted on the sidelines, and the Warriors' defensive focus was obviously to lean on Westbrook.
The Lakers seemed very straightforward and still gave Westbrook a strong attack from the right wing to rush into the inside.
However, just as the Warriors contracted their defense, he quickly passed the ball to Batum at the top of the arc, and Batum then played against Tang Shuai on the left.
Tang Shuai didn't stop for a second to catch the ball, and launched an attack from the left, using Yi Jianlian's pick-and-roll to walk to the left, and Thompson, who was shaking and assisting in defense, staggered under his feet, followed by a sudden stop and pulled out his hand.
(To be continued.)
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Chapter completed!