NBA opening draw to twilight Shaquille O'Neal

Chapter 233 Never pretend to be a pig and eat a tiger
"Even the Warriors can lose, and Wang Zelin seriously lacks the responsibility of a leader. It can be seen that LaMarcus is the real thigh of the Blazers!" - "ESPN"

"The recent performance of the Blazers has fluctuated violently, does it indicate that the playoffs will not be peaceful..." - "Bleachers"

"I said earlier that the Eastern boy is not as strong as he looks." - Well-known basketball commentator Kamara

"We have been on the right path, but the process inevitably has some bumps!" - "Portland Weekly"

Except for the local media, most of the media turned their backs one after another, accusing the Blazers of not being able to lose the game, and the arrows pointed to the Blazers' super rookie Wang Zelin.

Wang Zelin didn't care about the outside world's comments, because he knew that these media people were just a group of female cousins, since they should stand up, let them go.

As long as you don't take the initiative to provoke yourself!
As an aspiring professional basketball player, the most important energy should still be focused on training and competition.

In the final analysis, at this stage, Wang Zelin only has to deal with the intrigue and dirty things from the outside world during the preparation period and the competition period, and leave it to his agent Zhou Yang and public relations to deal with it.

And sports competitions have this kind of benefits. Everything depends on strength. As long as you perform well, who has time to control what egg-filled pancakes you eat...

Taking Zhu Ba as an example, smoking, drinking... almost burnt his head. As a result, there were voices of doubt from outside the venue, but they were only negligible, and he could not achieve any grandeur.

……

From April 2013, 4 to Tuesday.

The Trail Blazers kick off April, heralding that the countdown to the regular season is getting closer.

The opponent is an old acquaintance, the Utah Jazz who are also in the Northwest Division of the West.

This game is an away game, and Wang Zelin came to the away arena with the team in the morning for pre-match training.

The crazy victories in the first half of this season have gradually created a strong team in the Blazers. In the eyes of all members, there are less than five worthy opponents in the West, and there is only one Miami Heat that can pose a serious threat to them in the opposite East.

As you become more confident, side effects are inevitable.

Proud and self-satisfied...it has been on the door for a long time.

It was fine before, victory could drown out all other voices...but now.

Whether it's because of the team's strategy or other reasons, the Blazers have indeed been losing recently.

Take the last game against the Warriors as an example, Wang Zelin and his teammates wanted to win, and they took action for it... The result was beyond their surprise, the team lost.

Therefore, the atmosphere in the Trail Blazers team has become a bit depressed now.

It's not just as simple as losing to the Warriors. The key is that the team's momentum of a strong team that has just been established for a short time feels like it is falling apart.

The coaching staff only discovered this point recently, and they regret it very much.

You shouldn't have deliberately lost because of "picking opponents" before, but the result is the current evil.

In the final analysis, the Blazers are too young.

The reason why the Spurs dare to rest at every turn is that the "GDP" combination, the backbone of the Spurs, has been cooperating tacitly for ten years. As long as three people don't have accidents at the same time, the Spurs can't be messed up.

The Blazers are different.

There are many young players, which often indicates that there are many variables. Their stability is far less than that of the Spurs. If they play more downwind balls, they will naturally be able to quickly cultivate the temperament of a strong team.

In the same way, if they play too much against the wind, they will quickly defeat their edge.

The next April schedule is particularly important for the Blazers. They need to reshape the temperament of a strong team through victory, and they really can't lose anymore.

At the same time, it is also very difficult, because the opponents behind are all strong teams at the playoff level, none of them are easy to fight, and every game is tough.

Theoretically speaking, except for the Thunder in the first echelon that can steadily beat the Trail Blazers, the Clippers, Grizzlies, and Nuggets in the second echelon are all close to each other. The remaining five teams want to win, and they are certain.

However, who can say accurately about the NBA?

Terry Stotts felt that he was under a lot of pressure. The momentum at the beginning of the season was so strong. If he only got 52 and three wins in the end, it would be too disappointing for the fans.

"If only LaMarcus could come back."

Terry Stotts, who hadn't slept all night, looked at Wang Zelin and others who were doing tactical practice on the field, and scratched his head helplessly.

In his plan, the team should have all members in the April schedule, otherwise it would be difficult to face a playoff-level opponent back-to-back...but Aldridge was suddenly injured.

It didn't disrupt his overall plan, but considering the weakening of the team's energy and spirit, and thinking that the team lost a strong player who averaged 20 points per game, his mood inevitably became a little more impetuous... What a mess!

It never occurred to me that pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger could actually become a pig in the end.

……

"Shh!"

"Shh!"

"Shh!"

"Oh!"

In the energy solution arena, the auditorium is crowded with people, and the players of the two teams are warming up on the court. The beautiful notes from the friction between the basketball and the Nets gradually relieve the oppression and tension in the players' hearts.

Unlike the losing Trail Blazers, the Jazz had just celebrated 4 consecutive victories, 41 wins and 30 losses, half a game behind the Lakers, and temporarily ranked tenth in the West.

This position is undoubtedly awkward.

If you want to play badly, there are not many games left.

It seems too late to compete for a ticket to the playoffs.

Jazz coach Tyronn Cobin struggled for several days to no avail, and directly said to the players: "Just watch and play!"

It just so happens that Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are also unwilling to be lonely, showing an eager attitude towards the Blazers who came to challenge.

Trailblazers here.

In the tactical meeting before the game, the coach, uncharacteristically, made a death order to win the game before the game, which made the players puzzled for a while, but everyone soon became excited.

Playing every day, the mother is tired of acting, we want to win!
After practicing two sets of hooks and layups, the time is almost up.

Today's game has average attention, the ups and downs of the state and the low entertainment in Utah, so it didn't get a full-meter live broadcast.

In addition, it is currently in the critical period of the NCAA men's basketball championship process. Starting in mid-March, the sweet 3 rounds have been released one after another, and now the top 16 is going on.

Fans who know a little bit know that from the crazy March to the middle and late April, during this period of time, there is only one main theme in the American basketball world, and that is the NCAA.

Not to mention the NCAA finals, even if it is some extremely hot games, such as the game between NCAA superstar players, the NBA has to make concessions.

During this period of time, how many points were scored by the players of which university, and how many rebounds were scored by the players of which university...all made headlines.

In the end, it made this game, which was originally focused on mediocre, appear even more bleak.

Of course, the reporters from Portland and China will never leave, and Wang Zelin is there.

……

At 6:00 p.m., the two teams ended their warm-up and the starters played.

Jazz starters: The first to play are countless old acquaintances of Chinese fans ~ Mo Bu Chuan, followed by Randy Foye, Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.

Tyronn Cobin is full of energy today. He will definitely win the first game in April, and then there will be good luck.

Anyway, you can lose even the Warriors, so why not lose another game!

For the Trail Blazers, the starting lineup is as follows:

Lillard, Matthews, Batum, Mike Roberts and Wang Zelin.

The defense of this starting lineup is actually better than the defense of the original lineup. After all, when Aldridge wants to defend, he must be able to do a good job defensively.

But the problem is, this guy is not like Mike Roberts, who mainly relies on defense for food, and offense can play his best value.

"Mike, you are in charge of Paul Millsap, and Al Jefferson entrusted it to me. As long as the Jazz's inside line is locked, the outside line will not make much progress."

Since Coach Terry gave the order to win, Wang Zelin naturally had to lift his spirits.

Anyway, the opponent has already lost to them three times this season, so why not lose again!

With such thoughts on both sides, the fight started.

Wang Zelin easily won the jump ball, and the Jazz seemed to have been prepared and stood up ahead of time.

The Blazers attacked, and Lillard advanced to the top arc with the ball.

Since Deron Williams left the Jazz, the Jazz has changed several starting point guards, but none of them worked well. The current starting point guard is Mobu Chuan who has just been traded from the Clippers not long ago~Mo Williams.

This guy, like Lillard, is different from a traditional point guard. His personal offense is stronger than his organization, and he is generally defensive.

Continuously changing directions ahead of time, Lillard swayed away from Mo Williams and rushed to the paint area.

Tyrone Corbin shook his head. He knew this would happen, and he had told other players to pay attention to supplementary defense before the game.

One step into the free throw line, Hayward lifted it up, stretched out his right arm and blocked Lillard in front of him.

Hayward, the ninth pick in the first round of 10, is 2 meters tall and weighs 01 kilograms. He is very talented and is the main target of the Jazz management.

A big white man appeared in front of him, Lillard was not in a hurry, stabilized the rhythm, and made a mid-range emergency stop.

"Duang!"

There was the sound of iron strikes, and Lillard didn't feel good at the beginning.

but……

"Oh!"

Wang Zelin yelled violently and made up the dunk.

The Blazers opened the scoring first.

"Shh!"

He was bombarded as soon as he came up. The Jazz fans couldn't bear it, and boos sounded in the Energy Arena.

"Al, one more!"

The fans set their sights on Al Jefferson and chanted.

"Al, feel the voices around you, you can't be the boss, the fans have changed sides."

It seems that in the backcourt, Wang Zelin said to Al Jefferson on the side.

"Boy, these cheers are for me, you are too shameless!" Al Jackson said angrily.

"But obviously I scored the goal. You see, the scoreboard shows that you scored 0. They are celebrating for me."

Seeing Al Jefferson getting angry, Wang Zelin smiled triumphantly.

"You wait for me!"

Al Jefferson let out a low growl, waiting for his teammates to take their positions.

Jazz attack.

Mo Williams has a strong desire to attack. He pretended not to see Al Jefferson asking for the ball inside. He unceremoniously reached out for the pick-and-roll, then broke into the paint and made a jump shot.

The same trick, Mo Williams entered.

2: 2!

"I just said, you are not a good boss, do you believe it now?" Wang Zelin refused to let go.

This time Al Jefferson didn't say anything, and returned to the defense with a dark face.

em. . .

No, he was originally a black face.

Trail Blazers attack.

Mike Roberts came up as a screen, taking Paul Millsap in and out of the paint, draining Paul Millsap.

Paul Millsap understood that this was a conspiracy, and he had a wry smile on his face, but he could only follow.

At this time, Wang Zelin stood in a low position and asked for the ball, and Lillard immediately lobbed in.

The moment he received the ball, Wang Zelin immediately turned around, threw away Al Jefferson, who was about to make a small move, and entered the paint.

Paul Millsap ran back and forth, throwing away Mike Roberts, and came from the other side to defend.

After careful study, he is very clear about the characteristics of No. 36 on the opposite side, unsolvable strength, soft touch, rich low-post offensive skills...I really don't know how this freak has so many things at the same time.

It's so outrageous!

He knows better that as long as No. 36 completes the turn and gets rid of the defender, there is almost no defense except for double-teaming.

But... Paul Millsap looked at Wang Zelin who was getting closer, and his mood became uneasy.

Why do I suddenly feel that the double-teaming is not stable!

"careful!"

Mike Roberts reminded loudly.

As for Wang Zelin.

Of course he saw Paul Millsap. With an indifferent smile, he continued to take a step, took off, raised the ball with his right arm, and smashed fiercely at the basket.

The arrow is on the string, and it has to be sent!
At the same time, Paul Millsap ignored the anxiety in his heart, took off on the left side of the basket, stretched out his right hand, and covered the basketball.

In this situation, whether it is the fans at the scene or the Chinese and Mimi audience who are watching the game in front of the TV, their eyes are deeply attracted.

"roll!"

Wang Zelin saw Paul Millsap's hand getting closer and closer to him, and nameless anger welled up in his heart.

The next moment, Wang Zelin followed up with his left hand, combined his hands with the ball, pressed Paul Millsap and poured the ball into the basket.

When the two bodies collided, Paul Millsap was inferior to Wang Zelin in terms of height, strength, and overall quality. No one knew what kind of courage he had in choosing to take off.

But it's just courage.

"Snapped!"

After the physical contact, Paul Millsap took the lead in flipping backwards in the air, landing a bright gun, his knees softened, and his buttocks landed directly on the ground.

At this time, Wang Zelin also landed, ignoring the angry eyes of the Jazz players around him, and went straight to the backcourt.

4:2, the Blazers lead away.

The fans in the auditorium were dazed at first, and quickly realized what happened on the field.

There was another booing.

"Paul, are you all right?"

Hayward and Al Jefferson hurried forward to pull their teammates up.

"No, it's fine."

With lingering shock on his face, Paul Millsap stood up and stared blankly at the back of No. 36...

He almost thought he was going to die just now.

If God can give him another chance, he will not go up again even if he is killed.

(End of this chapter)