The Way of the Center

When Anjie was the first to run out of the player tunnel, the fans in the entire Portland city cheered hoarsely. No matter how they question Anjie, in fact, all Trail Blazers fans hope that Anjie can rejuvenate in the Trail Blazers.

Originally, they were still worried about whether An Jie would be absent again, but when they saw An Jie, they suddenly relaxed. Now, it is definitely not a problem for An Jie to play. How far this former butcher can play has become what the fans are most looking forward to.

Looking at the Kings on the opposite side, An Jie was really moved. Back then, he thought he would be a member of the Kings anyway. Unexpectedly, now, he is confronting the king as a player of the Trail Blazers.

An Jie also found that many fans in the stands were holding their own posters or slogans welcoming them. Although he didn't play a game with the Trail Blazers, it seems that the fans here still like him. After all, the Thunder and the Blazers had no problems before, and the arrival of Anjie gave these guys new hope.

"Ann! Did you see him!?" Just as An Jie was looking around, Ricard suddenly came out and patted An Jie on the shoulder.

"Who?" An Jie looked in the direction of Ricard's finger and found a big guy who was warming up.

"Do you know why the Kings chose him? Because they are afraid of losing another guy like you. DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings are now a well-deserved new core. He was selected last season, and his rookie season was just like yours. This year, his improvement is definitely not small. Later, he will also be your biggest opponent!"

"It's quite big. I'm really looking forward to it. The Kings will find a replacement for me." Hearing Ricard's words, Anjie, instead of being timid, rubbed his hands together, eager to try.

"That guy is a ruthless character. Maybe other rookies will be afraid of you, but he won't. Well, get ready, you'll start today." Ricard finished speaking and blinked at An Jie.

"Starting!?" An Jie thought that he would sit on the bench for a while after he just returned from injury, but unexpectedly, Ricard put himself on the starting lineup in the first game.

"Where there is a core to play as a substitute, come on, let the world know you again. I know what kind of person and what kind of player you are. Your success in the Cyclones before was not accidental." Ricard said to An Jie is full of confidence, his career is on the right track because of this guy, and now, he will also be promoted to a higher level because of him.

After the warm-up, the coaches of the two teams nervously made the final deployment on the sidelines. Ricard's tactics are still based on team offense. Although Anjie is the core, Ricard did not ask him to attack.

Looking at this familiar tactic, An Jie felt as if he had returned to four years ago, back to the time when he had just made his mark in the United States.

The fans of the Trail Blazers stared at the team's bench. It was not until Anjie took off his training clothes and stood on the court that they finally burst out with their passion.

An Jie not only wants to play, but also to start! The tall No. 00 stood on the middle circle, he was still the same as before, always reassuring.

"Don't think I'm afraid of you, what a shit butcher, he's just a cripple." As soon as An Jie and Cousins ​​met each other, Cousins ​​squirted unscrupulously.

"Ha, you have a personality." An Jie didn't respond, but smiled secretly in his heart. How would Cousins ​​feel if he knew he was just a replacement for himself? An Jie stared at Cousins ​​fiercely. Although he didn't say a word, Cousins ​​felt his heart tremble.

"It's been a long time! How long has it been since we watched Anjie play? Now this guy is standing in the middle circle, although he is wearing a different jersey." Charles Barkley is now a die-hard fan of Anjie, t.nt Arranging this game as a live broadcast across the United States, he simply agreed with it.

"I know you are very happy Charles, and so am I. Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both sides." As soon as Kenny Smith finished speaking, the starting lineups of both sides appeared on the screen.

For the Trail Blazers, the starting point guard is Raymond Felton, the shooting guard is Wesley Matthews, and the small forward is the former "Elvis" Gerald Wallace. The power forward is the most stable scoring point for the Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge. As for the center position, the Trail Blazers sent their biggest gainer this year, Anjie.

The lineup of the Kings has gradually taken shape. With Jeff Green leaving Boston, the starting lineup of the Kings has also become clear. The point guard is a young Marcus Thornton, and the shooting guard is still the unshakable John Salmons. As for the small forward, Tyreke Evans, a model of driving high and low, will play the role. The power forward is Chuck Hayes, the former "Hai Ye" of the Rockets. As for the center position, he is now arguing with Anjie Cannon's Cousins ​​is gone.

Judging from the lineup on paper, the Trail Blazers seem to be stronger. But there are too many uncertain factors for the Trail Blazers, especially Anjie, how his performance will be is completely unknown.

In the first jump ball, An Jie, who had rarely lost before, was defeated by Cousins ​​this time. An Jie had to admit that he was a little rusty about the jump ball. Although he has the advantage of height and wingspan, Cousins ​​has better timing.

Ainge took a deep breath as Kings point guard Marcus Thornton drove the ball. here we go! His chance has finally come!

An Jie just stood in the defensive position, Cousins ​​took the initiative to find him. From the first contact with Cousins, Anjie realized what impact is.

Cousins ​​is a big guy, and he is still pushing back with his back without sparing any strength. If An Jie's body hadn't been much stronger, he might really make this guy lose his defensive position.

Cousins ​​was surprised to find that he did not have much advantage in this confrontation. As usual, he was already in position to catch the ball and attack the basket. But today, facing this outdated Chinese, Cousins ​​​​discovered that he had not yet stepped into the restricted area!

Can't control that much, the grumpy Cousins ​​​​wouldn't give up just yet. Although he did not advance to a favorable position, Cousins ​​still opened his big hand and motioned Evans to pass the ball to himself.

Evans' performance in his rookie season was simply a miracle. People thought that the Kings really had a soul. Who knows that in the next season, Evans' performance will be worse day by day. Now, he has become the second point of attack after Cousins. When Cousins ​​asked for the ball, he had to give it.

Evans supported Wallace with one arm and slammed the basketball to Cousins ​​with the other.

Cousins ​​got the basketball, and fans all over the Rose Garden gulped. How destructive Cousins ​​is, fans have seen it last season. They were worried that An Jie, who had just returned from injury, would not be able to withstand such an impact.

After Cousins ​​took the ball, he sat back hard. Even the strengthened Anjie was forced to take a step back. But he is not worried. In his opinion, Cousins' actions are full of loopholes!

In the second shot, Cousins ​​continued to hit back. Anjie deliberately took a step back, causing Cousins ​​to almost fall.

Seeing that Anjie gave up his position, Cousins ​​immediately turned around and prepared to dunk! But as soon as he took off, he found that An Jie's palm completely covered the basketball, and he had no chance to dunk at all!

Anjie's step back was to induce Cousins ​​to attack. In fact, he has been observing Cousins' actions and waiting for the opportunity to prepare to complete the block.

Anjie did not forget what Divac taught himself during the injury period, and fighting inside is not simply about being stronger than anyone else. Hard resistance and dead knocking are not the only ways to defend inside.

Cousins ​​is still rising, but basketball has never been able to escape the range of Anjie's palm. An Jie pressed hard, Cousins ​​suddenly lost his balance and fell down, but the basketball was slapped out abruptly by An Jie!

No whistle, no referee. Anjie's block this time is a clean and beautiful block!

"Wow!!!!" The moment Cousins ​​fell, but the moment the basketball slapped, the Rose Garden erupted. The Blazers' defense was not penetrated by Cousins, who has unlimited potential. Now, they have a real patron saint inside!

The flying basketball was grabbed by Wesley Matthews. After getting the ball, he and Gerald Wallace quickly advanced, forming a two-on-one frontcourt situation. In the end, Matthews sent a second pass, and Wallace vacated and dunked successfully, completing the conversion attack.

Angie raised his arms in celebration long before Wallace dunked. After that, he gave Cousins ​​a contemptuous look. Cousins ​​immediately rushed to confront Anjie, but was hugged tightly by Hayes on the side.

"Come if you have the ability, keep coming! I'll tell you you're a jerk, I'm not afraid of you!" Cousins ​​was a jerk, and An Jie was also not good at it. The strength that had been suppressed for a season broke out. Most people in this league would stay away from Cousins, a lunatic, for fear of getting into unnecessary trouble. It's a pity that An Jie is also a lunatic. The person who should stay far away is Cousins!

Cousins, a guy who can easily bring emotions into the game, has been completely irritated by An Jie, which actually happened to be in An Jie's arms. After a serious injury, An Jie has been able to face everything more calmly. Now that there is only an angry Cousins, Anjie has no pressure to deal with it.

On the defensive end, Anjie easily took the basketball from Cousins. Under the influence of anger, Cousins ​​became very careless. He only wanted to score, but forgot how to protect the basketball.

After the Kings failed to attack again, Angie finally got a chance to compete with Cousins ​​on the offensive end.

"Let'! Let'!" Anjie's two successful defenses have already won him the respect of the Blazers fans. Seeing that An Jie is preparing to attack in the interior, all the fans in Rose Garden shouted An Jie's name collectively.

Felton was also unequivocal. Before the Kings' defensive lineup settled down, he made a strong pass and sent the basketball straight to the penalty area. At this time, Aldridge Limara is in the mid-range position. This power forward's precise shooting is quite threatening. Letting him shoot in the middle distance is more deadly than letting Anjie play singles inside! Therefore, Hayes had to stick to Aldridge, and only Cousins ​​and Angie were left in the entire inside line.

After An Jie received the ball, he couldn't help smiling suddenly. The feeling of attacking with the ball has not been seen for a long time!

Under the sound of cheering from the audience, Anjie held the ball and made his first offensive move after joining the Trail Blazers. His swaying shoulders can be completely faked, and a newcomer like Cousins ​​can't tell which way An Jie will turn.

Just when Cousins ​​was in a daze, An Jie suddenly turned around and broke through. After the preseason and long-term team training, An Jie's legs recovered almost 80%. This level is not enough for him to easily pass Cousins, but with his shoulders against Cousins, Anjie still entered the penalty area.

Cousins ​​didn't expect this Chinese to be so strong. You know, he just suffered a serious injury. An Jie rushed to the basket, held the ball with both hands, took three steps, and pushed Cousins ​​with his shoulder, gaining space to attack the frame!

"Go to hell! Don't even think about it!" Cousins ​​gritted his teeth. Seeing Anjie lift the basketball, he jumped suddenly, hoping to retaliate with a violent block.

"Hahahahaha! I knew it! Cousins ​​was tricked! An is definitely one of the most cunning insiders in the league!" Charles Barkley saw Cousins ​​being thrown into the air by a fake move by Anjie. I couldn't help laughing out loud.

After Cousins ​​took off, Anjie made a real layup. And for this layup, Anjie deliberately leaned on Cousins.

"Beep beep!" The referee blew the whistle, and the basketball fell into the net at the same time. Not only did Cousins ​​fail to complete the block, he was also treated as a clown by Anjie. In the end, he also gave Anjie a chance to hit a three-pointer.

Wesley Matthews was the first to rush up and collide with An Jie. This young black defender became very excited for An Jie's goal.

Now, Anjie has begun to be truly accepted by the Blazers. Both fans and players have begun to regard An Jie as one of their own!

"Good job Ann!" Matthews gave An Jie a thumbs up, and An Jie responded with a smile. After that, in the quiet atmosphere of the entire Rose Garden, Anjie made two free throws and completed his first offense in the Trail Blazers.

Ricard didn't seem too excited, he just applauded An Jie lightly. All of this was just what he expected.

He knows what kind of player Anjie is like anyone else, and he knows what Anjie can do.

Put away that surprised expression, this is just the beginning. An Jie, what Rickard needs, can do far more than that!

See the happy faces of Trail Blazers fans? An Jie is taking over the city of tearing. (To be continued..)