The Godfather of Basketball

Tang Tian didn't pay too much attention to the difference between the strawberry flavor and the apple flavor. After he really used it, he realized that besides the taste, the strawberry flavor was also grainy...

It is also thanks to the sound insulation effect of the new car, otherwise the uncle and aunt in the house must have been woken up several times.

After tossing and tossing for more than an hour, Tang Tian finally knew how powerful Hathaway was.

Back at the Toyota Center the next day, Tang Tian felt his legs go weak.

"Coach, are you alright?" During training, seeing Tang Tian was a little tired, Mai Di came over and asked concerned.

"It's okay, I was a little tired from staying up late last night." Tang Tian waved his hand.

McGrady nodded, returned to the training field, and then shouted loudly at the players: "The coach has worked so hard at night, why don't you train harder?"

The team members agreed, and the training on the field became full of enthusiasm.

Tang Tian couldn't laugh or cry after watching it.

The Rockets' opponent in the opening game of the new season is the Lakers.

Playing three games in a row, the arrangement of the NBA's schedule is to create a new feud.

However, the preseason games are all small fights, and the regular season is the stage to test the true strength of the two teams.

During the warm-up before the game, a local reporter in Houston interviewed Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

"Phil, it's a brand new season. The Lakers ushered in the opening game away. What do you think of tonight's opponent, the Rockets?"

"They are the defending champions. They have introduced Mr. Big (Billups) this season, and they have selected two very good rookies. This will be a difficult game." Jackson said with a serious expression.

"Do you think the team can win tonight?"

"Of course, why not?" Although he praised the Rockets again, Jackson was still very confident in winning.

"I don't really understand the causal relationship. You praised the Rockets, but you still believe that the team can win. It seems that you praised the Lakers in a different direction?" The reporter seemed to understand.

Jackson laughed.

"Well, Phil, you are always so confident, but I know that the Lakers lost two preseason games, and one of them was a disastrous one. Will this have any impact on the team's morale?" The reporter then asked road.

"Of course not, you said it was a preseason game, and we played halftime seriously, and we took the lead." Jackson was talking about the first half of the second game in China, when the Lakers led 56 to 46 Beat the Rockets by 10 points.

"But I know that Kobe scored 26 points in that half. It's hard to guarantee that Kobe will have that kind of touch this time, right?" the reporter said with a smile.

"Then who can guarantee that Kobe will not have that or a better touch?" Jackson asked rhetorically.

The reporter was at a loss for words, no one can guarantee this.

After the interview, Jackson's self-confidence was beyond words, and it could be felt that he was very confident in winning tonight.

Shortly after the interview ended, the lights on the scene began to turn from bright to dark, and then the lights were focused on the center of the court.

Because it is the defending champion, according to tradition, the league will award the championship ring to the champion team before the start of the opening game.

Surrounding the golden championship trophy in the center of the court, there are dazzling championship rings surrounded in a ladder shape.

The live camera zoomed in, and the ring came into view.

Made of pure gold, the Rockets team logo is engraved on the front, surrounded by sparkling diamonds, which is golden and valuable.

The honor of the championship trophy belongs to the entire team, and the championship ring is the greatest affirmation for everyone on the team in the past season.

Not only the hard-working players on the field, but also the management and coaching staff will get their exclusive rings.

League president David Stern, as the guest of honor, held the award ceremony of the ring together with team owner Alexander.

From the management, to the coaching staff, and finally to the players.

Some people who have an important position in the team have their exclusive names engraved on the ring, which is unique.

As the head coach, Tang Tian naturally had it on his ring.

The faces of the people who got the rings were full of smiles. For them, a small ring is worth cherishing for a lifetime.

The ring awarding ceremony ended, and with the cheers of the fans, the third championship banner belonging to the Rockets slowly rose to the sky above the arena under the passionate background music.

The cheers on the scene were loud, and everyone's blood was boiling with enthusiasm when they saw the banner that belonged to the city's glory.

After completing the pre-match warm-up and opening ceremony, the starting players of the two teams appeared one after another.

For the Rockets, Tang Tian made targeted adjustments in the starting lineup. Pietrus, who had a good defensive effect before, replaced Battier as the starting 2 position, and McGrady moved to the 3 position. It's about to go head-to-head with the Lakers.

Compared with the preseason, the Lakers have made a lot of changes. Walton replaced Radmanovich as the team's starting small forward, and Odom, who returned from injury, debuted as the starting power forward. The other three positions are still Fisher, Kobe and Bynum.

"beep!"

As the whistle sounded to start the game, Yao Ming turned the ball back to the Rockets' half court in a jump ball, and the team's new season opener officially started!

The Rockets still followed their preseason style of play, with Yao Ming holding the ball in a high post and allowing Billups to serve as a transfer station.

Like the Spurs' hammer tactic, this tactic is a bit unsolvable because of the variability of tactics.

Billups hit the ground after receiving a pass from Yao Ming, and Tracy McGrady on the weak side rushed to catch the ball with a one-handed split dunk.

Cheers erupted at the Toyota Center, and the Rockets got off to a strong start.

In the Lakers' offense, Odom held the ball at the top of the arc, Kobe wanted the ball from the right wing, and other points opened up the space. This is a typical triangle tactic, using the team's strong points to attack the city.

Pietrus was very tight on the defense, and Kobe continued to swing uncomfortably after receiving the ball.

After standing still, he followed and chose to fight hard.

After shaking continuously, he chose to step and make an emergency stop, and Pietrus flung him away.

"Shua!"

Kobe Bryant drifts the ball into the basket.

There was a commotion in the arena.

Jackson said before the game that no one can guarantee that Kobe will feel bad tonight. In fact, he was right. Kobe's touch in the opening game was quite hot.

Drifting and leaning back was just the beginning. In the next whole quarter, Kobe was in a hot state. He stopped suddenly after receiving the ball, held the ball against the strong defense, and threw the ball in after being fouled by Pietrus.

In Kobe's eyes tonight, the basket was as big as the sea.

In the first quarter of the game alone, Kobe scored as many as 20 points from inside and outside shots. Looking at the posture, it was another 40+ night.

But after the first quarter, Phil Jackson was in a mixed mood.

Kobe wanted anything and everything, scoring crazy points, but in this game, the Lakers only led the Rockets by 1 point 30 to 29...