The Pelicans and Trail Blazers played in Portland, and the Moda Center, which can seat 20,000 spectators, was packed.
Portland's ball market has always been very good. From Roy to Lillard, the city can always find players who play and suck.
This game was played against the Pelicans, coupled with the season opener, many elements together, it is difficult to pay close attention to.
ESPN also sent Mike Brin and Reggie Miller in this game. In addition, they also invited a special guest "Glider" Drexler.
Drexler has a reputation as a Rocket, but in fact, 12 of his 15-year career has been spent by the Trail Blazers.
The reason ESPN invited him to this game is also very simple.
The Trail Blazers have a short set-up time and not many famous names. Except for Bill Wharton, it is Drexler.
"Lillard said the Blazers' goal this season is the championship. What do you think of this sentence?"
Before the game started, Brin turned to look at the two partners beside him.
He started professional digging again.
Miller didn't speak, but instead looked at Drexler, who was clearly the focus in Portland.
"They are good, but there is still a long way to go before the championship."
Drexler thought about it.
"Glider" is the second point guard behind Jordan in the last century. His strength is unquestionable, but his character is relatively simple.
Miller on the side couldn't help laughing after listening. Drexler's words were not biased at all, and Brin's pit was dug for nothing.
"Then you think the Pelicans, are they close to the championship?"
Brin asked.
"They are closer. Although they are young, I like how they played at key moments last season. They have a chance in the next five years."
Drexler was really telling the truth.
Miller laughed a lot, Drexler didn't smell like a trailblazer.
"So you think the Pelicans will win this game?"
Brin did not succeed in digging continuously, and finally made a big move.
Drexler nodded, his character was simple, but his vision was not bad.
Brin also laughed.
It seems Drexler is not too cold about ESPN's season forward.
However, he agrees with that forward-looking. The Trail Blazers core lineup has been running for so long, and this season is about to break out.
And the Blazers have a bigger win at home.
Although the previous continuous digging did not work, but this last should be done.
When they talked about Xi Kankan, players from both sides entered the arena from the player channel one after another.
The scene quickly entered the opening ceremony.
The starters of the two teams introduced one after another.
On the Pelicans side, Davis and Ariza took the lead, followed by Holloday and Whiteside, and then Tang Tian.
This new starting lineup is similar to what the pre-match experts predicted.
From the calm look of the Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, this was also expected.
After the Pelicans, the Blazers' starting side also played one after another.
First Aldridge and Batum, followed by Matthews and Robin Lopez, and finally Lillard.
"Damian ~ Lillard!"
When Lillard's name was introduced, the cheering of the scene reached a peak.
Although still young, Lillard's popularity is already very high in Portland.
Before the start of the game, Lillard reached out and touched his chest, licked his fingers and looked at the timer, his eyes were full of murderous.
Leaving aside strength, Lillard's game temperament is definitely the highest in the league.
Davis and Lopez jumped the ball, the former returned the ball to the Pelicans halftime, officially opening the curtain of the new season.
Holliday took the ball to the front court and gave it to Tang Tian.
Although the lineup has changed after an offseason, the Pelicans play the same as last season.
Tang Tian dominated the ball, and others opened up singles space for him.
The Trail Blazers didn't use double-teams, and Matthews was defending one-on-one.
Matthews is the league's top perimeter defender, with the same strength as Green and slightly weaker than Allen.
And his defense is the same as Allen's. He is aggressive and sticks close to Tang Tian.
After seeing it, Tang Tian accelerated a change to the right.
"Oh!"
A moment, Matthews was directly passed by Tang Tian!
Stokes on the sidelines widened his eyes.
No other player on the Trail Blazers had time to react.
After Tang Tian stepped away from Matthews, he quickly rushed to the inside.
Lopez was dead by Whiteside Cards at this time.
"Oh!"
Tang Tian rushed into the interior without anybody's defense, directly hitting the ball into the basket with a flat-box Tomahawk.
There was an uproar at the scene.
As soon as Tang Tian came up, the attack was so cruel!
The Trail Blazers' offense, Lillard hit the basket with Lopez's pick-and-roll, and the layup caused Whiteside's hitter.
He returned with two free throws.
Offensive by the Pelicans, Tang Tian continued to play Matthews one-on-one.
Matthews pressed tighter this time.
"Oh!"
But the result is still the same, Tang Tian passed him one step further!
"Good startup speed!"
At this time, Miller, the commentary, took the lead in responding, and he finally found out why Tang Tian passed Matthews.
When Tang Tian broke through, the speed of start was not a little faster than last season!
After Tangtian passed Matthews, he went straight inside, this time Lopez came in defense.
He threw the ball directly into the air.
"Oh!"
Whiteside jumped to a direct air relay slam dunk.
The sidelines were restless.
The Pelicans started to bombard the Blazers' baskets in turns, this is something to do!
Lillard rushed into Whiteside in the frontcourt and shot after dodging.
"boom!"
This time Whiteside seized the opportunity to block the shot and Ariza turned around and grabbed the basketball to Hollodi.
The Pelicans made a fast break, Tang Tian received the ball to speed up the sprint after halftime, and came to the frontcourt almost at the same time as Matthews.
He flew up and jumped up.
Matthews' defense is excellent, but his wingspan and bounce are not good, which is the limit to his ceiling.
At this moment, he wanted to cover his hands and couldn't cover it shortly, and during the air confrontation, he clearly felt that he was in a disadvantage.
"Oh!"
In the stunned eyes of the fans on the sidelines ~ www.novelhall.com ~ Tang Tian jumped through Matthews and pushed the ball into the basket again!
"beep!"
The referee sounded a whistle, signalling a defensive foul by Matthews.
It's a spacer!
Still 2 + 1!
Tang Tian does not play elegant dry-drawing tonight, and starts a brutal explosive frame style!
"Can anyone tell me what happened this summer?"
Brin said in amazement at the commentary.
He thought of everything, but never expected that Tang Tian's play would change, as if he had completely changed a person!
In fact, don't talk about him, Drexler on the side was surprised, Tang Tian changed really suddenly, and it was too big!