ATPnovel Chapter 421 New Season
Chapter 421 New Season
Chapter 421 New Season
Throughout the offseason, Presti stayed with Anjali and the child, and the team's affairs were handed over to Myers. Saric, a power forward who performed well last season, was also used to make a trade.
The summer league is handed over to Cole. Of course, although this draft looks good, there are no players who can change the league structure. Therefore, Cole took players led by Harrell and Porzingis to participate in the summer league. In the end, he was disgraced and eliminated in the first round!
And in an instant, there were doubts about Presti. Of course, this is a very small number. Presti's draft ability is beyond doubt, and being selected by Presser does not mean that you can easily exchange potential, and you need Presti's training!Looking at the players who have left Presti, they are not as dazzling as they were at the beginning, of course Durant, Harden and others are exceptions, but although they improve, they have always fallen in front of Presti.
Before I knew it, October came, and the Pelicans held a press conference!
When Presti came to the New Orleans Arena, he was relieved for a while. Now he realized how difficult it is to be a baby daddy. Therefore, when he was interviewed by the reporter, the reporter looked at Presti's exhausted appearance and asked: "Presti, how is the life of a baby daddy?"
Presti said with a smile: "Pain and happiness, the pain is that this little guy is too clingy, see my dark circles, I think I'm going to be a panda."
The reporters laughed, and then Presti said, "But it's fun to watch him grow up every day!" This drew approval from the reporters, especially those with children.
Then he began to ask about the team. When asked about the preseason, Presti said: "This preseason, we don't plan to let Curry, Thompson, Paul George, Green and Davis play. You know, we have added new members this season. We need to let them quickly adapt to the game and play their own value, and the preseason is the best testing ground!"
"That is to say, do you plan to use the second and third teams in the preseason?" The reporter continued to ask.
"Well, more or less, but the fans can rest assured that even if we don't start, our game is still good, and our new players will make you see something different."
The reporter asked: "Can you tell me which aspect you are specifically referring to?"
"Tactics!" Presti laughed.
After the interview, the Pelicans training camp began. Presti carefully explained the tactics to the players, letting them know what to do and what not to do on the court. Because Presti is so famous, the newcomers didn’t have any doubts. Besides, even if they asked them to question, they didn’t dare. They didn’t want to be traded. Now everyone knows that coming to the Pelicans is equivalent to having a championship.
But this time in the preseason, Presti directly accepted Cole as the head coach. He now wants to give Cole a chance to play, because Presti's forward vision has become shorter and shorter. Not to mention anything else, Presti has completely lost sight of what the 2017 and 2018 rookies will eventually develop into.
Cole began to follow what Presti said, using Jokic as the axis to launch the offense. Of course, this tactic is really eye-catching. The quality of the cover after Jokic's hand-off is too high, so that Middleton, Carter and others have almost no interference in their shots!
And Jokic is supporting the organization at the top of the arc, and the opponent's big man can only come out, because Jokic has a three-pointer and dare not defend easily. After Jokic came out, the inside line became the world of Brother Antetokounmpo, dunks of various bulldozers!
In the first game, Kerr led the Thunder to beat the Pistons.
But it didn't work when facing the Thunder in the second scene. After the Thunder's little Jordan pulled out to the outside line, he could quickly pounce back, and the inside line brother Antetokounmpo couldn't go on the rampage like a beast again when he beat Ibaka.
The current Ibaka is not the closed Ibaka in his previous life. The current Ibaka is really at the peak. Whether it is technically or physically, there is no way that Antetokounmpo is strong. If Antetokounmpo has projection, it will be much easier to play.
And Durant on the other side singled out the Pelicans' striker, it was even easier. Middleton was completely beaten, but although the Pelicans lost in the end, they didn't lose too much because the Thunder's Westbrook rushed again, and then pulled out, all kinds of iron!Let the Pelicans have hope of chasing points.
In the third game against the Cavaliers, it was a big defeat. Tyronn Lue has something, just play the pick-and-roll at the 1st and 5th positions, and pull Jokic out for military training!Jokic was also fainted by training,
This is Jokic's weakness. The defense is too average. Jokic has no problem with top defense, but defending pick-and-rolls and switching defenses against small players is a big problem. This is why the Rockets always won the Nuggets in the previous life.
In the fourth game, the Pelicans played against the Clippers. There is no doubt that Jokic was trained in the military again. Paul is really an expert in playing small games. The changes in rhythm made Jokic very uncomfortable!Cole decisively replaced Jokic with Gorbe,
As a result, everyone knew that Gobert was trained even worse!In the previous life, the Rockets eliminated the Jazz, but they used Paul to single Gobert, all kinds of mid-range shots, and Gobert wanted to die.In the end, the Pelicans lost again.
In the fifth game against the Spurs, he finally won a game, but Popovich, like Presti, did not start a single game, even the main players of the second team. In the end, the Pelicans won easily.
In the last game of the preseason, the Pelicans played against the Lakers. People carefully observed the quality of the Lakers Towns. Presti knew Towns too well. How can I say that Towns' offensive talent is unquestionable. Many people laughed at Towns' post-up in his previous life. In fact, Towns is indeed unattractive many times, but it does not prevent him from throwing the ball in. Towns' touch is definitely the top level in the league.
But Downs' defense is different. Of course, Wolfmi and Tang Simi in the previous life thought he was okay, but Presti, who had watched the game, knew that Downs' frame protection was really bad, especially when he first entered the league!
Therefore, in this game, Barea, Antetokounmpo, and Towns couldn't defend against the basket. At this time, many Lakers fans said that Towns was useless, and Presti could only smile. It can be said that the best player in this year is probably Towns.
In the interview after defeating the Lakers, when Presti talked about his views on Towns, Presti affirmed: "Many fans like a round, or even a half-court theory. They don't understand the ball at all. I can say with certainty that Towns is a very talented big man. It is possible to become a superstar with good training."
This passage certainly attracted a wide audience. Towns, who was conservatively criticized in the preseason, suddenly became popular. Presti even praised it personally. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
And the Lakers fans also withdrew their criticism of Towns, and turned to the management and coaches to let them train Towns well. The rise of the Lakers depends on Towns.
After the preseason ended, Presti found Jokic who was a bit uncomfortable. After all, Jokic performed very well in the first two games, but he got worse as time went on, and loss was inevitable. Seeing this, Presti also asked him to talk to him alone.
"You have just landed in the NBA, and it is already very good to play like this. I can tell you very responsibly that you can be the core of a team!" Presti encouraged.
"The core of team building? Really?" Jokic's eyes lit up all of a sudden!
"Well, work hard, work hard," Presti patted Jokic on the shoulder.
"Yeah!" Jokic promised emphatically.
The first official strength list of the nba was announced. The Pelicans still ranked first with a preseason record of only 2 wins and 3 losses. No one would rank the only four consecutive championships in history behind.
The Cavaliers ranked second. Last season, Irving and Love were missing. Although they were swept away, the strength James showed is worthy of recognition. In addition, Love and Irving should not be underestimated next season.
Ranked third is the Spurs. The Spurs are really no joke. With the addition of Aldridge, the Spurs can really pose a threat to the Pelicans. Many people also think that the Spurs are stronger than the Cavaliers.
Ranked fourth is the Thunder. Although they were swept last season, they are already very successful in reaching the Western Conference Finals!
On October 10, the NBA's opening game began, with the Pelicans playing against the Thunder!
Before the game, there was the presentation ceremony of the Pelicans' championship ring. Nash and Boozer were invited to the scene, and the moment they put on the ring, they couldn't hold back and cried bitterly again!
Before the game started, the morale of the Pelicans had risen to an astonishing level. All players were full of strength, and the Thunder players were equally fearless, but they knew in their hearts that the chance of winning today was too small.
Pelicans starting: Curry, Thompson, Paul George, Green, Davis.
Thunder starting: Westbrook, Robertson, Durant, Ibaka, Jordan Jr.
Davis won the jump ball and the game started.
Curry dribbled the ball to the three-point line, and Green blocked Westbrook with a screen.
Curry rushed to the left, Ibaka switched defenses, Green made an air cut, Curry passed the ball to the middle in time, Green squeezed away Westbrook, and made an air cut with the ball.
Jordan retreated to the basket to block Green's way. Green immediately placed Davis on the right. Davis took the ball and leaned against Ibaka, turned to the left and shot.
His footsteps are very smooth, and he showed his few offensive skills without any pressure. Ibaka can only try his best to interfere, but the ball still hits. In fact, Ibaka has always been average when defending. He was blown away by Aldridge and Nowitzki in his previous life!The reason why Ibaka is strong is because his help defense is so good, he can interfere with shooting very well!
Westbrook dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and waited for his teammates to pull away. He didn't look for a cover and went straight to the singles.He changed his mind to break through to the right, and faced Curry with a sudden stop for a jumper, which interfered with the ball and bounced out of the frame.
Presti knows that Westbrook is on the top again tonight, and this kind of fighting will definitely continue!
And once Westbrook pulls out like this, then this game will be too easy for the Pelicans.
If a superstar feels good and is hot, he can play like this, but Westbrook is not. Westbrook's shooting has always been bad, but he is very keen on this kind of dry pull.
Westbrook's biggest weakness is not independence, but being too strong!Watching Thunder games in previous lives, you will find that Westbrook passes a lot, but other players often can't finish. If the Thunder is behind at this time, especially behind by double digits, then you will see Westbrook rushing to make a jump shot, or take a tentative step outside the three-point line, and then pull up a three-pointer and hit an iron!
In the previous life, Westbrook used all kinds of mid-distance pull-ups and three-point arc top pull-ups.And Westbrook has a very stubborn personality. He likes to compete with himself and his opponents. He just shoots when he gets the ball, and he doesn't think about it when he gets the ball!
Now Westbrook can play like this. After all, the breakthrough speed is really fast, and few people can defend it, but when he gets older, Westbrook will decline very obviously, especially in the small ball era. It can be said that no shooting is equal to a dead end.
Green grabbed the rebound, and Curry slowly took it to the frontcourt, playing a pick-and-roll with Davis in the middle, and this time he went to the right.The Thunder's defense is man-to-man, Ibaka switches defenses very quickly, Curry distributes the ball to the middle, and Davis cuts to get the ball.
Westbrook chose to chase after Curry, and Ibaka retreated a little slower. This time Jordan went into the basket to make up for the defense, forming a partial pincer attack. Davis passed the ball to Green in the bottom corner.
Ibaka rushed out to interfere with the shot, Green threw a three-pointer, still nothing!
Presti has always encouraged Green, it doesn't matter if you don't make a three-pointer, shoot when there is an open space, the Pelicans will not lose the game because you shoot an open three-pointer, but if you don't shoot, the space will be compressed, and you will lose the game instead!
Davis saw the opportunity and jumped up, and pushed the ball out of the penalty area with one hand. Jordan got stuck and failed to get the rebound.Green on the left cut in in time, picked up the offensive rebound, landed and hugged the basketball, and distributed it to Curry, who was on the outside, for the second organization.
After Curry got the ball, he had a pick-and-roll with Davis in the middle. This time, he directly switched Jordan out and played in a misplaced position. Curry swayed in front of Jordan, shook Jordan's center of gravity, and immediately accelerated to pass!
After arriving at the basket, Ibaka quickly helped defend, and then gave Green in the bottom corner, who was emptied again, and then made a bold shot!This time Green took aim for a while and hit it steadily!
Westbrook quickly led the frontcourt, facing Curry and accelerated past. At this time, the Pelicans players did not help to defend and rushed over, but gave Westbrook a mid-range shot, and Westbrook did not disappoint. He pulled up and hit the iron!
Green grabbed the rebound, speeded up the frontcourt, gave it to Thompson who followed up on the right, and made a chasing three-pointer! !
Thunder paused!
(End of this chapter)