The atmosphere at the Target Center was as cold and chilly as the air in Minneapolis. At a glance, there were empty seats everywhere, and a sparse audience sitting in twos and threes. The atmosphere had nothing to do with fanaticism.
Part of the reason for this is due to the impact of the financial crisis, but more importantly, it is because the Timberwolves' record is so bad.
This summer, the Timberwolves and Celtics conducted a big trade, sending away Kevin Garnett, the most famous star player in team history, and acquiring the new Wolf King Al Jefferson and starting to rebuild.
. Al Jefferson's performance is pretty good, averaging 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, even reaching the All-Star level. Compared with Kevin Garnett's long-term average per game with the Timberwolves,
Not to mention more concessions.
It is a pity that Al Jefferson cannot convert his data into the team's victory. In the past 50 games, the Timberwolves have only won 10 games, and the winning rate is just 20%.
You're going straight for the No. 1 draft pick. How can you make the fans willingly pay for it in this situation?
Spend money to go to the arena and watch the home team get beaten?
What are you kidding!
Therefore, there are no die-hard Timberwolves fans in the Target Center. Although there is a 40% attendance rate, these people are all here to see the stars, see Kobe, see Gasol, see Adrian, see Odom, see
Lakers. You can expect them to have a strong atmosphere at a home court like this. For the Timberwolves players, it would be great if the audience didn't immediately cheer for the Lakers as soon as the game started.
And for Adrian...
"Is this empty stage my last farewell performance? It seems a little unenthusiastic?" Looking around the empty stands, Adrian smiled: "Then let's heat him up."
"I think something will happen in today's game." This game is the last game of the Lakers' nine-game road trip. ESPN chose to broadcast it nationally and dispatched the golden pair of Barkley and Kenny Smith.
Commentary on the game.
"Oh, Charles. Just now you were complaining that this game would be a boring, one-sided massacre." Kenny Smith sold Charles directly without hesitation.
"Yes, that's right. As far as the performance comparison between the two sides is concerned, that's for sure. But I always feel that the atmosphere today is very unusual, and this will be an unusual day." Charles Barkley said with a godly voice:
"My gut tells me something big is going to happen today."
"Oh, intuition? Are you a woman Charles?"
"Okay, the players from both sides have started to play..." Kenny Smith was about to continue to complain about Barkley's great achievements. Charles Barkley changed the subject sharply: "Let's take a look at the lineups of both sides. The Timberwolves'
The lineup is a bunch of supporting actors. The Lakers' lineup is a few protagonists and a bunch of supporting actors, well, it's a good lineup."
Players from both sides appeared on the court. The Lakers' lineup is as always: Center: Andrew Bynum, Power Forward: Pau Gasol, Small Forward: Adrian, Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant, Point Guard: Derek Fei.
Sher.
The Timberwolves also sent out their entire main lineup.
Bynum successfully won the jump ball, and the basketball came into the hands of veteran Fisher, before it reached the three-point line. Adrian had already opened his hand to ask Fisher for the ball. Fisher looked up and looked
Kobe, after noticing Kobe nodded slightly, immediately threw the basketball to Adrian like a hot potato.
After receiving the basketball from Fisher, at Kobe's signal, everyone else pulled away, leaving room for Adrian to play singles.
Adrian stood sideways and straight, with the basketball held on his shoulder. The person guarding Adrian was the Timberwolves' No. 8 player Ryan Gomez, who was used by the Celtics to trade for Kevin this year.
-One of Garnett's important bargaining chips.
A player who can play the 3rd or 4th position, but no matter which position he plays, he has both advantages and embarrassment. The congenital defects of not being tall enough and not fast enough are really serious. Fortunately, his wingspan of 7 feet 2 inches can be used defensively.
I can make up for it.
Ryan Gomez acted very seriously.
Whether he is with the Celtics or now with the Timberwolves, he is just a role player. However, role players also have ways of living as role players. No matter how bad the Timberwolves' record is, as long as it is their own job, whether they can do it or not
Do it seriously. This is Ryan Gomez's rule of survival.
Moreover, defending Adrian really made him feel pressured.
He entered the NBA a year earlier than Adrian, and now that Adrian has already become famous, he is still an unknown figure. Adrian has shown strong singles ability in the low post this season and his first
The passing organization skills shown this season are also very good.
For Ryan Gomez, although the Timberwolves' record is as bad as it gets, he doesn't want to be beaten every night.
"Oh, the situation on the court is a bit strange. The first ball is played by Adrian, and everyone else is pulling away. This is obviously to give Adrian a singles shot. Is today Adrian's birthday?
"Charles Barkley was a little confused.
"Sorry, Ryan." Adrian said with a smile. Such a harmless smile confused Ryan Gomez.
"Do I know you well?"
"Although we are not familiar with each other at all." Adrian tilted his neck and said calmly: "The memory I will leave you with tonight may not be too good."
As soon as he finished speaking, Adrian suddenly started to move. One step, two steps! It was a complete show of speed. After two steps, Adrian had already thrown away Ryan Gomez, and Al Jefferson pounced from the inside.
, was about to block Adrian's route of action.
"Bang!" At the moment when the two were about to collide, Adrian slapped the basketball hard, and then turned around with a sharp slide, bypassing Al Jefferson like a top. In Al Jefferson
In Ferson's eyes, the basketball in Adrian's hand seemed to disappear in an instant.
And when Adrian bypassed Al Jefferson, the basketball appeared in Adrian's hands again. Facing the empty basket, Adrian took off lightly and put the basketball in.
"Adrian's offense is always like this..." Charles Barkley said angrily: "He has an extremely exciting beginning, but the results are always mediocre and disappointing." (To be continued...
