On October 31, US time, the NBA officially opened.
The two games in the Eastern Conference started first. The Celtics of the Big Three defeated the Pistons at home, and the Heat also relied on the explosive performance of Dwyane Wade to defeat the defending champion Mavericks.
The results of both games exceeded many people's expectations. At the same time, at Toyota Center, the Cavaliers' away game against the Rockets was about to begin.
"The opening game of the 2006/07 NBA season, the Houston Rockets' home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers is about to begin, and the starting players of both teams have already appeared."
Of the four opening games on the first day, CCTV only broadcast the Cavaliers' away game against the Rockets. The reason was naturally the Chinese Derby.
The camera showed Lin Yu and Dayao. Dayao, who was wearing the Rockets No. 11 jersey, and Lin Yu, who was wearing a heavy training jacket, hugged and said hello.
"Dayu, aren't you starting today?"
Dayao was a little surprised that Lin Yu was wearing a training jacket that marked a substitute player.
"For the time being, I am still a substitute, but for me, being a substitute is also a good thing. I can sit on the bench and observe for a while. Later, Tracy McGrady will understand why being a substitute is a good thing."
Lin Yu smiled, and Dayao also smiled, and they separated after hugging each other.
"Dayu has been a substitute in the Cavaliers' eight preseason games. He should still be a substitute in this game. The Cavaliers' starting five are veteran point guard Snow, shooting guard Larry Hughes, and small forward LeBron James.
, power forward Drew Gooden, center Big Z.”
"The Rockets have point guard Rafe Alston, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, new small forward Sean Battier, power forward undrafted Chuck Hayes who performed well last year, and center Dayao."
The commentators of Yangwu were still Yu Jia and Zhang Weiping. After they introduced the starting lineup of the two teams, the game started...
"The 2.21-meter big Z versus the 2.26-meter big Yao, this set of jump balls can be said to be evenly matched. Of course, big Yao may have a negligible advantage."
Just like what Yu Jia said, in a evenly matched jump ball, Big Z, who was slightly at a disadvantage, took off at a better time and got the basketball first.
LeBron James received the ball in the backcourt and advanced to the frontcourt. His defender was Sean Battier.
This is why McGrady is very satisfied with the Rockets' signings for the new season. With the arrival of Battier, who has a reputation for defense, he can focus on offense.
Battier's defensive effect on James was good. On the first ball of the game, Battier blocked James' right wing, and James broke through from the left wing and made a jump shot.
With a bang, the shot missed.
Dayao successfully blocked the position and got the rebound.
McGrady received the ball and advanced to the frontcourt, then found Dayao and played a pick-and-roll.
After passing the screen, McGrady accelerated directly to the three-point line and made a mid-range pull-up. Larry Hughes's defense was somewhat weak.
With a swish sound, the ball goes in.
The Rockets scored first, but the Cavaliers' offense was still leisurely. Eric Snow advanced to the frontcourt with the ball and then handed the ball to James.
It was James' singles again. After a breakthrough, Shane Battier stood firmly in front of James.
He is still guarding James' right wing. After last season's playoffs, Lin Yu's skills in guarding James were spread. Now everyone knows how to guard James.
James' right wing was blocked again. Unlike the Celtics in the playoffs, the Rockets defended James by not only using Battier's single defense, but also the help of wing Chuck Hayes.
It can be said that even if James forces his way from the right, he will encounter a double attack from deep inside.
This may also be the reason why Chuck Hayes starts the game. Hayes, who is 1.98 meters tall, is more flexible and can quickly cover up and assist defense.
James couldn't find an opportunity from the right, and when he went to the left, he was not used to breaking through in a direction, so he could only make a mid-range shot again.
Bang, strike again.
In the opening two games, the Rockets seized the opportunity and relied on Tracy McGrady to smash through Larry Hughes' defense and score consecutive points.
At the beginning, the Cavaliers were directly at a disadvantage.
"At 4:0 in the opening game, the Rockets played very strongly. Now it's the Cavaliers' offensive round. Let's see how they play."
During the Cavaliers' offense, James was without the ball for a while, but none of the Cavaliers' five starters had stable long-range shooting, and the space on the court was all squeezed together.
With Yao in the penalty area, the Rockets' defense didn't panic at all.
After playing for more than ten seconds, the basketball was back in James' hands.
He hit a three-pointer directly from outside, made a clang sound, and continued to hit the ball.
The rebound was still scored by the Rockets.
When it came to the Rockets' offensive round, Larry Hughes still couldn't withstand McGrady's one-on-one attack. Just like that, at the beginning, the Rockets went straight to a 6:0 victory.
The entire Toyota Center also burst into violent cheers because of the home team's strong start.
Phil Handy, who was sitting on the coaching bench, began to remind Mike Brown: "Mike, it's time to make a substitution."
Larry Hughes was turned into a defensive sieve by Tracy McGrady. Without a substitution, the Cavaliers may face a completely unstoppable McGrady.
Mike Brown shook his head, he didn't want to make a premature substitution.
On the court, during the Cavaliers' offensive round, James finally scored. He used all his strength to push past Battier's defense and reach the penalty area, then hit a layup, completing the Cavaliers' first score of the game.
But then, McGrady took the ball directly from the backcourt, broke through to the frontcourt, and hit a chasing three-pointer.
Larry Hughes's defensive performance was even worse. He waited inside the three-point line for this ball and did not guard it at all.
"Larry Hughes' beautiful defense helped t-mac score the 9th point of the game!"
Toyota Center once again erupted into violent cheers. Mike Brown on the sidelines finally couldn't bear it anymore and stood up angrily.
"Larry, guard the next ball. If you can't do it, get off here."
Mike Brown still didn't make any substitutions. He gave Larry Hughes enough opportunities. Of course, after consecutive poor defense, Larry Hughes didn't have many opportunities.
It is impossible to say that Lin Yu has no opinion on Mike Brown's high tolerance for Larry Hughes.
But Lin Yu knew that if Larry Hughes, who had been playing crazy all summer, really found his form so easily, his defense would not always be so bad.
For the Cavaliers, the preseason can allow Larry Hughes to play more games to find his condition. In the regular season, Mike Brown must consider the issue of record.
Especially in today's game, against a team that is evenly matched with itself, this victory must be won.
In the Cavaliers' offensive round, James still had a hard time. He struggled to break through Sean Battier's defense and then made a close shot.
In the opening offense, James always felt like he was playing one versus five.
Back on the defensive end, McGrady, who also heard the harsh words from Mike Brown on the sidelines, became more serious and called a screen again.
After passing the cover, accelerate directly.
Larry Hughes, who had just bypassed the screen, could only follow McGrady and eat dust.
"Tracy McGrady went in, and Big Z could only rush to cover up the defense. The inside line was empty, and Dayao caught the ball!"
With a bang, Yao, who was 2.26 meters tall, jumped lightly and hung directly on the basket.
"A beautiful dunk, and Dayao scored. Of course, McGrady's passing contribution was greater. He directly broke through the Cavaliers' defense, attracted the defense, and then used the pass to find the open Dayao."
The Toyota Center burst into cheers again, and Mike Brown finally couldn't bear it anymore and walked to the sidelines to call a timeout.
"The Cavaliers finally paused. They got off to a bad start. The score of 4:11 meant they gave the Rockets too many offensive opportunities."
"Larry Hughes' defense is so eye-catching, he should have been replaced a long time ago." Marv Albert was very puzzled in the ESPN commentary box. "I don't know why Mike Brown was pulled.
Lee Hughes has so many opportunities, and there is obviously Lin Yu on the bench who is more capable and performs better!"
On the Cavaliers' bench, Mike Brown called out to Lin Yu: "Lin, when you go on the court, your opponent will be T-Mac. Go on the floor and guard him."
Lin Yu secretly rolled his eyes. At this time, he was replaced. Against McGrady, who had already scored 9 points and 1 assist, at the beginning, he had to face a Hall of Fame level of difficulty.