The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 271
The Hornets have worked hard in the summer, and with a competitive boss, they certainly won't like standing still.

While it won't cost a fortune, it won't be as frugal as it used to be.

They entered the playoffs last season, and this season they also want to go further.

In order to strengthen the front line, the Hornets took Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams in the summer, and also promoted the young space-based insider Cody Zeller.

From the configuration point of view, it may not be enough to compete for the championship, but it is already a stable playoff level.

It's just that I didn't expect that Lance Stephenson, who played well in the Pacers, seemed unacceptable, and the team's start was also a mess.

And as Al Jefferson, the key figure who improved the team's strength last season, this season seems to have gone downhill a bit. This buddy is only 30 years old, and the Hornets management is also very depressed.

At the beginning of the game, the Cavaliers played very smoothly offensively. James kept passing good shots, and Irving and Love also felt good.

But on the Hornets side, only Kemba Walker's offense was brilliant.

Their positions from No. [-] to No. [-] were all locked up by the Cavaliers.

To what extent is the lock-up? The Hornets did not score at halftime and were beaten 21:0 by the Cavaliers, which is very rare.

It wasn't until they adjusted their roster that things started to get normal.

Leading by 20+ all of a sudden, the Cavaliers are also happy to rotate.

I didn't expect the team to have problems at this time. The opponent's main force could not score, and the Cavaliers could not score as a substitute.

Gary Neal and Marvin Williams, who came off the bench for the Hornets, both hit consecutively, and the difference of more than [-] points was less than halftime and it was about to tie.

Cavaliers head coach David Blatt couldn't help but want to swear. In fact, his ability is to make ordinary players better. According to his vision, the team's firepower should not decrease during the rotation.

It's just that the fact is so cruel. After returning the main force, the Cavaliers got back a few points, leaving a 9-point lead at halftime.

David Blatt also calmed down by this time, and he didn't want to curse so much.

He took out the tactical board and entered the analysis, telling the team to play as it started and keep it.

Of course, the only player he trusts now is Tristan Thompson on the bench.

However, the Cavaliers have enough star players. In the third quarter, James and Love played the entire court, Irving and Zhang Xiaotian almost played the entire court, and the Cavaliers extended their lead to more than [-] points.

This is what ordinary teams cannot achieve. Even if the tactics are not going well, even if the substitute is not satisfactory, just turn the table and play with the star team.

Driven by all-star players, sometimes complex tactics are not needed at all, and most teams can be killed by playing wild ball.

In order to chase points, the Hornets played one big and four small ones, and Lance Stephenson, who was addicted to blacksmithing, was pushed on the bench.

It has to be said that after the Hornets brought up two substitute players, they became more active defensively.

It's a pity that it is difficult for them to chase points and kill the Cavaliers in the final quarter. Four All-Star players plus a rebounding idiot, just ask them if they are afraid.

In the end, the Cavaliers still managed to win [-] consecutive victories without any risk, continue to secure the No. [-] throne in the Eastern Conference, and sprint towards the goal of No. [-] record in the league.

James was naturally in a good mood. During the training break, he chatted with Zhang Xiaotian and the players he had invited, "I'm not wrong, we can create a dynasty."

Zhang Xiaotian belonged to other people who thought he was James' direct descendant, but everyone's relationship was only at the level of basketball.

Of course he would not pour cold water at this time, but chatted with James about some training tips, because the system has a training room, Zhang Xiaotian has not hired a personal trainer for the time being, and it is good to communicate with his teammates.

James' training conditions are much better than ordinary players.

Talent and hard work can keep players at the All-Star level for a long time.

Just when the team was about to do a big job, there was an accident in the home game against the Eagles.

The Eagles are getting better and better this season, and are now competing with the Raptors and Wizards for the second place in the Eastern Conference.

Teague was absent in this game, but Schroeder played very well in the first game.

The Cavaliers still controlled the situation in the first quarter, but the Hawks' substitutes performed very fiercely, and immediately pulled the score advantage over.

The Hawks really played team basketball, where everyone could assist and everyone could score.

The Cavaliers collapsed in the third quarter and fell behind by 20 points.

David Blatt simply didn't let the main force play again, and the substitute was led by Waiters. When all the ball was in his hands, Waiters showed his scoring ability again.

David Blatt can only sigh. In terms of ability, Waiters is a good seed, but he doesn't have time to teach slowly.

On the court, Waiters made consecutive shots, and the score gradually increased, but the point difference was also increasing.

After eleven consecutive victories, the Cavaliers lost at home and stopped the pace of competing for the first place in the league.

Zhang Xiaotian felt that this might be a good thing. After all, the Cavaliers' own problems had not been completely resolved, and the previous winning streak was only obtained by relying on the playing time of the main players.

As long as the problem is solved, it doesn't matter if the record is slightly worse. After all, there are so many star players on the team. If everyone can perform well, there are really few opponents in the league.

In an interview after the game, Zhang Xiaotian also said that the victory or defeat of a game can't explain anything, and he hopes that the fans will support them more.

Xu Yi told him that many fans on the other side of the ocean voted for him, which reassured him.

Speaking of voting, Zhang Xiaotian was also looking forward to it. During this period of time, his statistics have improved again, which is much better than the same period last season. Maybe this time he really has a chance.

It's just that the number of votes has not been announced, and there will always be some worries about gains and losses.

He decided to add some shooting training during this period, so as not to let his wild thoughts affect his state.

On December 12, the Cavaliers played against the Nets at home.

Lopez can't play again, and the Nets have nothing to do. Last time they were sieved on the defensive end, this time they also changed the starting lineup.

Telitovich for Mason Plumlee, and Alan Anderson for the taller Sergey Karashev.

In the first quarter, the Cavaliers didn't seem to come out of the field, and they kept making the Nets hit three-pointers.

And the newcomers they replaced this time played very well. Plumlee gave James and Irving a big cap respectively, which the Nets did not have before.

The Cavaliers have completely given up on Waiters, but no one from other teams has come forward to wrestle with Jarrett Jack.

Coach David Blatter hesitated, wondering whether to use the main force or let more substitutes come up to try.

After losing to the Hawks, he taught the players a lesson called team basketball.

But now he is a bit led astray, always wanting to use star players to finish everything.

(End of this chapter)