The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 396 Opener

On October 10, the Spurs challenged the Suns in an away game in the preseason.

Fans who want to see the complete lineup of the Spurs may have to wait, because the main players are only Zhang Xiaotian and Leonard with the team, and the preseason team is still mainly investigating role players.

Zhang Xiaotian and Leonard started with rookies and fringe players, and the two teamed up to defeat the Suns' front and defense lines, overwhelming the Suns who were playing with all their main players.

At halftime, the two scored 15 points each, and the team led the Suns by nearly 20 points.

Although it was a preseason match, the abilities of the two were already frightening. This was a crushing match on both offense and defense.

What if the two were paired with Danny Green on the defensive end, and Aldridge on the offensive end. The Spurs had a level of strength before, but they lacked a strong ball-holding point at critical moments.

Zhang Xiaotian made up for this loophole, and the Spurs in the new season are exciting.

They only played half the game, and the old man thought there was no need to watch it again. In the second half, he directly used the substitute wave to lose the game, so he could only try the depth of marginal players in the preseason.

Dedmond played very mediocre when he met Chandler, but he is no longer a rookie. He has been cut many times and has come over, so he will not be affected.

Back on the field, the Spurs will make their real full lineup debut.

Zhang Xiaotian has already prepared tickets for Zhang Dajun, and Zhang Dajun will take his old bragging friends in the town to the home court to show off his son, the old man kept talking about it, so that's enough energy.

On October 10, the Spurs played against the Eagles at home.

Gasol and Aldridge formed the starting line, Zhang Xiaotian played the second position.

There is no essential difference between playing the third position in the game and playing the second position this time.

The Hawks didn't bring the main players over, and the first half was basically an exhibition game for the Spurs.

But the main players are all on the field, Zhang Xiaotian can't play that much, the game is not as exaggerated as last time.

He easily scored 11+5+6 in the half, showing his comprehensive skills, and Zhang Dajun in the stands smiled crookedly.

The main force in the second half was only exposed, but the Spurs still easily won the game.

Six preseason games, with a record of four wins and two losses, the Spurs did not really play, and Popovich's investigation of role players has also come to an end.

I am not used to the absence of Mr. Duncan, but a coach is gratified by the strength of the army.

The preseason is becoming less and less important now, and the regular season is the focus. Especially the Spurs' opponent in the first game is the Warriors, and there are too many fans who are interested.

Zhang Xiaotian fought his old club, and David West also fought his old club, but he was by the way.

In terms of role players, there are indeed a lot of Warriors who go to the Warriors. After Durant joined, the Warriors are strong and strong, and their soldiers are directed at the Dynasty.

But in the West, they will eventually pass the Spurs, and the contest between Zhang Xiaotian and Durant made many fans even more excited.

Last season, Zhang Xiaotian's status could not be compared with Durant, but now, a Finals MVP can make Durant jealous.

However, there is still Leonard in the Spurs, and the comparison ultimately depends on the final outcome.

Danny Green is absent due to injury, so the Spurs don't need to choose a lineup. Zhang Xiaotian plays the second position, Leonard plays the third position, and new aid Gasol starts the center.

Zhang Xiaotian said in an interview before the game, "The opening game is no different. What I have to do is to help the team win. Durant is an excellent player, but I will do what I say."

In fact, Leonard was the main defense for the Spurs against Durant. At the beginning of the game, they attacked the inside first, and Aldridge played in front, which was very reassuring.

The Spurs took the lead in scoring, and then Durant returned the favor.

Zhang Xiaotian is currently facing Klay Thompson. When he was a teammate, Klay Thompson would not have imagined that Zhang Xiaotian would put so much pressure on the defensive end.

Klay Thompson was interfered by Zhang Xiaotian several times, and he ate a duck egg in the first quarter.

But Zhang Xiaotian seized the opportunity and hit several times in a row.

Compared with Gasol, who played a supporting role in the interior, Zhang Xiaotian's debut was perfect.

Both sides did not allow the main players to play for too long. Many players were still on vacation at the beginning of the season, and attention should be paid to preventing injuries.

The bench looks like the Warriors should be stronger, but it's not.

Sophomore, undrafted player Jonathan Simmons beat Iguodala on the court.

Iguodala may not have entered the state yet, and he did not expect the young man in front of him to be so fierce.

Zhang Xiaotian didn't expect such a young man with such a fierce style of play and excellent physical fitness on the Spurs bench, although this buddy was very good in the summer league.

This kind of physical condition will also lose the selection at the beginning, so it is difficult for the alliance to come in.

In addition, Ginobili and Mills also performed well. This season, the Spurs definitely have no shortage of outside players, although they are basically scoring.

Dedmon also played in rotation. He was very hard on the defensive end and tried to grab rebounds. Zhang Xiaotian sat on the bench and nodded slightly. Popovich, who was desperate to defend, would definitely give him a chance.

In the first quarter, the Spurs took a double-digit lead over the Warriors.

Curry and Durant on the Warriors' side were able to score, but at a normal level, but Klay Thompson was completely suppressed by Zhang Xiaotian.

Zhang Xiaotian is very good at the opponent's shooter, and Clay himself has not fully entered the state.

In addition to the bench bandits, the Spurs, Zhang Xiaotian, Leonard and Aldridge all performed very stably.

The Warriors sacrificed their dead five juniors, and the Spurs are not worried. Their strongest lineup is Aldridge playing the fifth position.

Even if Aldridge is pulled out, Leonard and Zhang Xiaotian can switch to the inside to help defend.

Danny Green is not in the Spurs' defense, but the offensive end is already the strongest. After all, even if Danny Green is there, Popovich may not necessarily use him at critical moments.

Leading by 18 points at halftime, the Spurs' performance left many stunned.

Is there a running-in problem? It is reasonable for both sides to have it. It can only be said that the Spurs are relatively well prepared, even though they are away.

But in a regular season, I didn't pay too much attention to it.

During the intermission, only David West was in a complicated mood. Last year, he defected to the Spurs for the championship. It is the same when he came to the Warriors this season. He will not be so unlucky.

In the third quarter, Klay Thompson recovered some touch, Draymond Green also hit two three-pointers, and the Warriors' sharpest attack came out.

But it seems a bit late, the key is that they did not limit the three strong points of the Spurs.

Not as many three-pointers as the Warriors, just a blunt mid-range shot, maintaining an offensive efficiency similar to that of the Warriors.

The guarantee is the huge advantage on the backboard.

If most of them fall behind in the fourth quarter, will the Warriors still have a chance? Last season, the Warriors were the strongest team in the final quarter, but the man who claims to dominate the final quarter is already on the opposite side.

(End of this chapter)