The Godfather of Basketball

Everything is like yesterday.

From the cleaning at the gate, to the gatekeepers in the arena, and even the caddies in the training hall, everything is still so familiar.

But Tang Tian knew that he was no longer the head coach of this arena, he was now a challenger.

Thunder training attracted many reporters to visit.

How Tang Tian's entry into the Thunder will bring about changes to the team, and Tang Tian's return to Cleveland for the first time after leaving, are all points worth reporting.

After the training ended, there were interviews with the Fourth Young Masters, but most of them gathered around Tang Tian.

"Coach, how does it feel to be back in Cleveland?"

"Yes, it's amazing, as if I'm still coaching the Cavaliers."

"Then will you be entangled in tonight's game?"

"No, I know my role, I'm here to win games."

"Are you worried about the audience tonight? They might boo you?"

"Maybe, but judging from the statue at the door, I don't think they would do that." Tang Tian said with a smile.

Unlike when James returned to Cleveland and said he hoped the fans would give him cheers, Tang Tian gave an affirmative answer.

The Quicken Loans Arena that night was full of seats.

As the defending champion, there will be a championship ring awarding ceremony in the opening game at home, fans will naturally not want to miss it, and the opponent is the team coached by the former head coach Tang Tian, ​​so they will not miss it.

When Tang Tian appeared in the arena, he saw a lot of fans holding up signs saying "Welcome back, coach". Most of the Cleveland fans still welcome him now.

Before the opening ceremony, the awarding ceremony of the championship ring was held on the spot.

This is the third championship of the Cavaliers, Dynasty, and Gilbert has invested more in the ring. The entire ring is half the size of an egg, and the red diamond in the middle is the size of a pigeon egg, full of vigor.

The ring was awarded from the management, and after it was awarded to President Burke, Tang Tian followed.

The camera showed the Thunder team's halftime, and Tang Tian walked over with a smile.

It's a very subtle and strange feeling that the winning team is giving rings to the opposing coach.

But when Tang Tian appeared under the spotlight, there was still a burst of deafening cheers.

No matter what Tang Tian's status is now, but this man led them to the team's first championship, the first dynasty, this is a fact that no one can erase.

Sensing the enthusiasm of the fans, Tang Tian waved his hand.

As expected in his pre-match interview, the difference between fans giving him and James is cheering instead of booing.

Walking to Gilbert's side, the two greeted each other with smiles. They hadn't broken their faces in the past, and they still had a good relationship on the surface.

Shake hands, hug, take rings, kiss rings.

Like the past two years, Tang Tian still kept these habits.

This is the sixth ring he has won after entering the NBA, and he can no longer wear it on one hand.

The ring awarding ceremony was over, followed by the opening ceremony, and the starters of both sides were introduced one after another.

For the Cavaliers, Paul and Green are on the perimeter, Butler and Yi Jianlian are on the front line, and Yao Ming is the center.

For the Thunder, Westbrook and Kidd are on the outside, Durant and Ibaka are on the front line, and Kwame Brown is the center.

After the starters, the coaches of both sides were introduced successively.

When Tang Tian was introduced at this time, there were many boos at the scene.

Tang Tian was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but shook his head with a smile.

Cleveland fans can cheer for what he did in the past and boo him for what he does now.

After the opening ceremony, after a brief warm-up, the two sides started their debut, and the game started immediately.

Yao Ming and Ibaka's jump ball.

Ibaka relied on the bounce to give the Thunder a chance to take the lead.

Westbrook dribbles to the frontcourt and calls Ibaka's pick-and-roll.

In the first block, the Cavaliers directly choose to double-team.

Westbrook chose to take the ball directly, but he didn't grasp the angle well and passed it directly out of bounds.

There was cheers at the scene.

Westbrook shook his head angrily. Even though Tang Tian had done targeted training before the game, it was still different when it came to the game.

The point that Kidd reminded him to pay attention to when he retreated.

In the Cavaliers' offense, Paul played a pick-and-roll with Yao Ming in the frontcourt. After the defense was changed, the Thunder did not double-team.

Paul directly broke through Brown for a layup.

Brown played very smartly, keeping Paul with his body.

However, Paul's reaction was faster, and an emergency stop turned around and threw the ball into the basket.

The Cavaliers took the lead.

Westbrook's frontcourt reorganization.

Ibaka took the initiative to put on the pick-and-roll at this time, but Kidd called him back directly.

Kidd's insight on the field is very strong, and the pick-and-roll is like a button that triggers the Cavaliers' double-teaming. He directly cut off the button in advance.

Westbrook holds the ball at the top of the circle, and Durant's weak side wants to use the pick-and-roll to get out.

However, with the successful experience of last year's finals, the Cavaliers' defense on the weak side is very good. Butler and Yi Jianlian's defenses were switched in a timely manner, and Durant did not get a good chance to catch the ball.

As a result, the tactical movement took nearly ten seconds, and there was no chance.

Westbrook saw that there was not much offensive time, so he directly chose to eat Paul one-on-one.

Skills and speed are not dominant, but in the height confrontation, Westbrook still managed to squeeze past Paul.

Green on the weak side had already assisted in the defense in advance, and Paul also turned around to catch up, and the double-team was still formed in the next second.

"Ball! Ball!" Just then, Kidd shouted from the outside.

Westbrook was blocked, jumped up and threw the ball back to Kidd outside.

Kidd catches the ball, takes a look at the basket, and shoots before Green returns to the defense.

"Shua!"

Kidd's three-pointer went hollow into the net.

Kidd is nicknamed "Basic not attacking". At the beginning of his career, there were often scenes of being emptied outside the three-point line, but in fact, in the later period of the Nets, he had already practiced a stable three-pointer. Undead, but the grasp of the vacancy is very strong.

The Cavaliers' offense, Paul picks and rolls and then rushes to the basket, encounters Ibaka's help defense, points Yi Jianlian, Yi Jianlian misses a three-pointer from the outside.

Brown received the defensive rebound, and Westbrook continued to hold the ball in the frontcourt.

Durant entangled for a while and still didn't run out of position, Kidd directly signaled Westbrook to attack the basket.

Westbrook rushed in with the explosive bag, and Green wanted to help defend early, but Kidd made a gesture of reaching out for the ball and pulled him back directly.

When he rushed to the free throw line, Westbrook made a signature zombie pull.

Paul stopped abruptly and stretched out his hands to interfere.

"Shua!"

Westbrook shot straight up and down with a high point, over the interference and sent the ball to the basket.

2 points and 1 assist, after experiencing the first mistake in the opening game, Westbrook seemed to have suddenly learned how to deal with double-teams!

Tang Tian couldn't help but smile at this moment.

Kidd's role on the field is still obvious, and the Thunder's last signing in the summer will definitely make a fortune.

It doesn't matter if you don't know how to handle the ball, Grandpa Ji will teach you how to play!