Starting from the last bus in the NBA

Chapter 284 Preseason

On October 10, the Sonics appeared in Atlanta as scheduled.

Because it was a preseason match, there were not many fans at the scene, and they took up about one-third of the seats.

Moreover, there are sporadic Sonics fans among them.

Mainly wearing the Supersonic No. 9 jersey, yes, it belongs to Wang Hao's jersey.

Today's Wang Hao still has some crowds in the NBA.

It's not just Chinese fans, nor is it limited to Asian fans. In fact, there are also a large number of American fans.

In the past two years, Wang Hao and his supersonic performance are indeed not bad.

Of course, there is another very important reason, that is, in recent years, the performance of the Eagles has been really mediocre.

Especially last season, Mutombo, who has played for many years, was traded, directly announcing the reconstruction of the Eagles.

In the first game of the new season, Paul Westphal still arranged the starting lineup of last season.

Gary Payton, Wang Hao, Rashad Lewis, and the inside line composed of PJ Brown and Ewing.

To be honest, this was a bit of a surprise.

Because in the previous training, Paul Westphal actually made adjustments, new changes in the new season.

Ewing was assigned to the bench, let him play O'Neal's role, the Sonics once for a drill.

As for the starting lineup, PJ Brown is directly referred to the center position. PJ Brown can play center.

It's just that, in the center position, PJ Brown's confrontation is obviously insufficient, and he suffers a bit.

It's just that, correspondingly, his movement speed is faster.

Since supersonic speed is to be increased, it is natural to do everything possible, and such an adjustment is also very suitable.

As for the position of power forward, it is naturally handed over to Lewis.

At the small forward position, Paul Westphal initially wanted to use Quentin Richardson.

However, in the training camp, Michael Reed performed better, especially the three-pointer.

Wang Hao seems to trust Michael Reed's three-pointers more, and will consciously look for him during the game.

Don't underestimate this, because the core players are more willing to cooperate, which is definitely a big support for the starting lineup.

It's just that Michael Reed's defense is obviously not enough compared to Quentin Richardson.

Yes, Paul Westphal asked Quentin Richardson to improve his defense.

In addition to defense, there are three-pointers, especially the three-pointers from the left and right corners.

This is the standard 3D player.

At the current position, Paul Westphal has not yet made a decision on who will be the starter.

It can also be said that both of them have the opportunity to start, it depends on whose performance can conquer the head coach better.

For the Hawks, the starting lineup Sherif Rahim and Theo Ratliff partnered inside.

As for the outside trio, they are Jason Terry, Emmanuel Davis, and Dean Glover.

This is actually a lineup of three defenders.

By the way, Emmanuel Davis was still playing for the Sonics last season, but unfortunately he didn't stay.

And Jason Terry, is this going to use him as a point guard?To be honest, it's a little unreliable.

At the beginning of the game, it is worthy of being one of the best technical insiders in the league today, and Rahim takes the lead.

As the new aid introduced by the Eagles this season and also the core of the team, this first offense is naturally handed over to him.

Then, after getting the ball, Raheem chose to face PJ Brown head-on, and the continuous fake moves seemed to have no effect.

No way, Raheem and PJ Brown are actually somewhat similar, neither of them is a powerful insider.

Of course, one is good at offense and the other is good at defense.

After a series of feints, Rahim simply chose to make a shot, but of course he didn't.

Facing a player like PJ Brown, he can't play hard. It can be imagined that Raheem's choice is too soft.

It's not hard to imagine, obviously the team's head star, why did the Grizzlies choose to give up on him?
To put it bluntly, Raheem's character is not suitable as the cornerstone of the team, so after Gasol was selected, he was decisively abandoned.

When it was the Sonics' turn to attack, they had already made arrangements.

Everyone pulled to the other side and gave the space on this side to Gary Payton and Wang Hao.

However, what's interesting is that this time it was Wang Hao who fell to the low post, while Gary Payton was outside the three-point line.

You know, in the previous two seasons, this tactic was also a routine method for the Supersonics.

However, now the two have switched places.

Gary Payton didn't delay, he found the right time to throw the ball to Wang Hao, yes, it was to bully the defender's height.

Standing behind Wang Hao happened to be Emmanuel.

There is a height difference of nearly 20 centimeters between the two, so naturally Wang Hao will not miss the opportunity to bully others.

I saw that he hit back immediately after getting the ball, using his physical advantage to push Emmanuel in.

Seeing that he was about to enter the three-second zone, the high-ranking Ratliff quickly moved over to double-team.

In low-post post-up singles, it is very important to keep an eye on the six directions and be careful of the opponent's double-teaming by surprise.

Wang Hao spotted Ratliff immediately, but he didn't choose to pass the ball either.

After all, the first goal of the new season, if the goal is not scored, it is too unreasonable.

Before Ratliff's double-team came, Wang Hao turned his back decisively, and then shot back directly.

It is extremely difficult to block a shot leaning back, not to mention, there is a height difference of nearly 20 centimeters.

Emmanuel jumped up with all his strength, stretched his arms as hard as he could, barely touched Wang Hao's elbow.

"Shh!"

Without any accident, the basketball was hollowed into the net!
This is just a preseason game, and the strength gap between the two teams is huge, and it seems that there is nothing to pay attention to.

In fact, it's quite the opposite.

For no other reason than supersonic.

As last season's regular season champion, he fought the Lakers in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.

Even if Wang Hao hadn't been caught in a foul crisis in the seventh game, the outcome would really be unknown.

For every team, especially for teams that want to make a difference in the playoffs, the Sonics will be concerned.

Not to mention other teams, the Lakers are paying attention.

Regardless of how confident the Lakers are, they are the defending champions and they are not afraid of any challengers.

As for the Sonics that the reporter focused on, they also regarded them as the same as other challengers.

However, everyone also understands that this is to say to the Lakers' own fans.

The Sonics haven't changed much from last season. Is it really necessary to pay attention?
Of course it is necessary!
Not to mention anything else, how will the third-year Wang Hao and the second-year Wang Hao improve?

The core lineup remains unchanged, but a little bit of subtle changes may also lead to incredible progress.

Sure enough, as soon as the game started, someone discovered the new supersonic tactics.

Wang Hao's low post singles.

If it's just once, then of course it's nothing, who hasn't had a fairy ball by chance?
However, in the next few rounds of the game, all of them were singles played by Wang Hao.

The only problem is that Emmanuel's defense is too poor to see Wang Hao's level.

No, the Eagles are not polite here, and directly double-team to help defend.

Although it's just a preseason game, they don't want to play too ugly, at least they have to show enough competitiveness.

At this time, Wang Hao's pass can help his teammates.

It's a pity that this is a preseason game after all, and coupled with the large gap in strength between the two sides, Wang Hao didn't play for too long.

In the opening stages of the second half, each played 10 minutes.

If the game is tight, then in the fourth quarter, there may be a chance for Wang Hao to play.

It's a pity that the Eagles didn't give a chance at all.

Not surprisingly, the Sonics easily won their first game of the preseason.

On the one hand, the Eagles are naturally lacking in strength, and on the other hand, the Supersonics are playing too seriously.

No way, the internal competition of the Sonics this season is not small.

For example, Michael Reed and Quentin Richardson still need to compete for a starting spot.

In addition, although Earl Watson is a rookie at the end, he has shown quite a talent in passing organization.

He now has every opportunity to compete with Shamond Williams for playing time.

There is also Brandon Heywood, as a newcomer to the team, he also needs to express himself for playing time.

After all, PJ Brown is not an orthodox center. At certain moments, someone has to support him.

Last season, this person was Ewing, but, after all, Ewing is old, and sometimes he can't do anything.

This season, Ewing is one year older, and the Sonics need a newcomer.

Currently, the Sonics already have 3 centers, and PJ Brown and Gerani McCoy can both top them.

It's just that, the Sonics still intend to pile up the center.

The requirements are not high, the weight and height are enough, and the body is enough to get a needle, and you can have a good income.

In the second game, the Sonics visited Memphis.

As the new home of the Grizzlies, the Memphis Grizzlies ushered in an NBA team for the first time.

Not only the city government, including Memphis fans, also showed great support for the team.

Even if Memphis is not a strong team and the fans don't dislike it, the attendance rate is very good.

As for the fact that many of them support the Sonics, even Wang Hao, that's normal.

After all, if a team wants to establish its true heritage locally, it needs not only time, but also victory.

There are only victories one game after another, one honor after another, which makes the fans proud.

At this time, the fans will unconditionally support the team, and this is the primary level of the team's background.

The Grizzlies played very hard, but it was just hard work, but in the NBA, the most important thing is hard work.

The two cores of the previous team, Sharif Rahim and Mike Bibby, were sent away one after another.

The players left today are almost unknown.

Of course, the old players are gone, and the new players who stay represent potential.

In fact, the potential of this Grizzlies team is really not to be underestimated, it can be said that it is full of talent.

Fourth-year Jason Williams, aka White Chocolate, and rookies Pau Gasol and Shane Battier.

In addition, last year's No. [-] pick, Stromile Swift, is all potential newcomers!

Then the game was over and the Sonics won again.

116:83
In the preseason, and with the Sonics on the bench most of the time, they still won by 30 points.

There is no way, the so-called full potential means that the combat power is not enough.

It's just that, for the Grizzlies, which have not been established for a long time, especially when they just moved to Memphis.

The team has enough patience, waiting for their growth.

To be honest, this lineup lacks a superstar leading the team, whether it is Pau Gasol or others, it is not enough.

Whether it is to put Wang Hao or Kobe in this lineup, it is definitely a team with great potential in the playoffs.

After two games, the Sonics finally returned to Seattle.

And a few days later, they also ushered in their first opponent at home this season, the first game of the key arena in the new season.

However, there is actually a small problem about the key arena.

That is, this arena is relatively old, and, on the outside, it is not worthy of the NBA.

Whether it is the team or the fans, there are actually some rumors about changing the home team's stadium.

But, it's not easy.

Because in Seattle, or even in Washington State, the sport of basketball has not received enough attention.

For example, the arena, the key team is already the largest basketball stadium in Seattle.

As for building a new basketball stadium?

Sorry, Schultz Howard, as the team owner, probably doesn't have that much money.

Even if there is, he is probably too stingy to bear it.

In the original time and space, the Sonics had to move to Oklahoma because of this incident.

The Sonics also became the Thunder.

However, this time, Wang Hao didn't worry too much. In the final analysis, it was still a question of the strength of the team.

The Sonics, after the new century, have not achieved too decent results.

In this way, Seattle as a whole doesn't really care about this NBA basketball team.

But it's different now, the Sonics are enough for the city of Seattle to give more support.

Looking at the current key arena, even in the preseason, the entire arena is full of seats.

Again, as long as there are achievements, everything is not a problem.

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have come to Seattle to challenge the Sonics.

The results are self-evident, the Sonics easily won four consecutive preseason games.

Whether it is the Warriors or the Cavaliers, these two future championship teams are still a bit too weak now.

With a four-game winning streak in the preseason, the Sonics finally entered the preseason.

It's just that, after all, the preseason is a preseason, and it mainly focuses on rehearsing tactics and testing lineups.

Winning is not something to be proud of, as long as you win in the regular season, or even in the playoffs, that is the most important thing.

One more thing to say, today's NBA preseason is actually quite lively, especially in China.

Although CCTV did not broadcast live, fans still learned about the preseason through various channels.

Because this year, in addition to Wang Hao, there is another Wang Zhizhi, and Battelle was also invited to participate in the Denver Nuggets game.

Not only did he play in the preseason, it seems that in the original time and space, he still played a few regular season games, but was cut.

(End of this chapter)