The Way of the Center

　　 Jeff Green leaned tiredly in front of his locker in the locker room. This was only the first game of the new season. He was supposed to be full of energy, but he felt this kind of fatigue that shouldn't have appeared.

　　 In the first season, he and Durant were called Thunder Gemini, and the two potential forwards were brilliant in their rookie season, giving the Thunder a lot of hope.

　　 In the second season, **** fate made a big joke with him. While he was still looking forward to what he could achieve with Durant, Presti informed him that he had been included in the trade list.

　　 In the third season, he did not expect that he would run into his old club in the first game of the new season. However, a terrible fact is that he found that the gap between himself and Durant and Anjie seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.

　　 "Jeff, have you listened carefully?" Paul Westphal had been observing Jeff Green, who was distracted, for a long time.

　　 "Huh? I'm listening, you continue." Jeff Green had to cover up his disappointment with a lie. He was not disappointed in the transfer to the Kings, but in himself.

　　Cool Jeff Green, he is actually very good among his peers. It's just that he prefers to think of himself and Durant as the same level, which makes him show unnecessary regrets for himself.

　　 The thing that Van Gundy continued to emphasize in the locker room is still defense. The 17-point gap cannot be stabilized by offense. Only defense can bring the advantage to the end.

"In the third quarter, I want you to completely defeat your opponent! Don't think that there is still a fourth quarter to play. It is foolish to drag the game into the fourth quarter! Go on the court and do our best. We will solve the fight in three quarters!" Jeff. Van Gundy is full of confidence, he was absolutely unable to say such a thing last season. However, the Thunder this season is different from the past.

　　 Anjie and Durant, who scored 15 points at halftime, were naturally the center of the conversation for each TV station during the intermission. The progress of these two guys is obvious, and the cooperation is more tacit.

"The Thunder team's team building idea is not wrong, as long as they draw other puzzles around the Thunder three minors, they don't need a fourth guy with super scoring ability. Morris may be the scoring method among the top seven picks this year. The poorest guy, but he is also the most suitable piece of the puzzle for the Thunder."

　　 "As long as An Jie can stay healthy and not follow in Yao Ming's footsteps, the Thunder will definitely surprise people this season."

　　 There are endless discussions about the Thunder, and the high-profile team has played the state expected by the fans, which is indeed worthy of everyone's praise.

　　 Chesapeake Energy Arena finally went quiet for 15 minutes, but now it has become noisy again with the start of the third quarter.

　　 When Anjie appeared again, he clearly found that the spirits of the Kings players were different from when they first started. The disparity in strength in the first half has already chilled the hearts of the Kings players for the most part.

　　 At this time, the power forward who played with the first team partner was no longer Krstic, but Andrew Morris, who performed well on the defensive end in the first half and used an air relay to hit the buzzer.

　　 "Sergi, you are ready, I will let you in the second half." In order to prevent the morale of the players, Van Gundy also decided to try Ibaka in the second half. The sooner the first team wins the game, the more opportunities Ibaka can get.

　　 This time the Kings did not dare to let Hawes alone support the inside. Paul Westphal sent Dante Green and Hawes to the field at the same time, in order to make the last resistance inside. Unfortunately, the defensive ability of these two guys is not enough to make the Kings penalty area safe.

　　 "When Morris and An Jie are on the court at the same time, An Jie's chances of getting one-on-one in the interior are significantly increased!" Morris was able to entangle others for An Jie in college, giving An Jie a license for one-on-one singles. This point has not changed since the NBA.

　　 The tacit cooperation of the two made Dante Green and Hawes only be beaten, and Anjie still did not make his own way in the game. In the most "fancy" time, An Jie just used a double-shouldered jumper and Hawes didn't respond.

After 　　 frequently succeeded in the low position offense, Anjie elusively mentioned the high position to hold the ball.

　　 I didn't get rid of it, I didn't want a position. An Jie held the basketball high behind the free throw line, and the entire Thunder team quickly moved around the tower of An Jie.

　　 "This is the **** I came up with, it's me." Watching the familiar offensive moves on TV, Ricard couldn't help but chuckle secretly. He wanted to laugh out loud, but was afraid to wake Peggy who was resting.

　　 Anjie's strong scoring performance in the first half made many people forget one point. Last season, he was the real offensive organizer of the Thunder.

　　 After Anjie held the ball in the high post, everyone was wondering what else the No. 16 could do. The result was that Westbrook successfully made an inside cut with Morris's off-the-ball pick and roll, and An Jie's precise pass from the ground made Westbrook an easy layup.

"Ann is simply the most versatile center in the league! When he first held the ball in the high post, I couldn't guess what he wanted to do. Because within Ann's ability, he could do anything." Ken Ni. Smith's commentary is a true portrayal of Hawes's heart now.

　　 He couldn't guess what An Jie wanted to do, because there were so many choices An Jie could make in that position. So when Anjie uploaded the ball from the top of Hawes' head, Hawes, who didn't react in time, still didn't react.

　　 There was no response, it was almost the epitome of Hawes on the defensive end in the third quarter. He didn't dare to act rashly, because An Jie was full of drama. But when An Jie made a real move, he had no time to react.

　　 "An this guy, if he stays healthy, he will be terrible in the future."

　　 Kenny Smith turned his head to look at Charles Barkley in disbelief, and Barkley stared at the court with a serious face, staring at the No. 16 big man.

　　 "I heard you right Charles, are you complimenting Ann?" Barkley rarely praised others in his commentary, let alone use the word "horror".

"The premise is that he can perform so well in every game. Isn't it scary to be a center who is proficient in both low and high positions?" Barkley silently prayed for Anjie in his heart, praying that this guy will not be tortured by major injuries. . Yao Ming was reimbursed for the season, and O'Neal's state is no longer in the past. In this twilight period of the center, Barkley hopes that a representative can hold the honor of this ancient position.

　　 In addition to Anjie's eye-catching performance, Westbrook couldn't hold back anymore in the second half. He handed over the task of organizing the offense to An Jie, and he began to attack the basket frantically.

　　 He and Durant left and right, and the Kings’ defense was full of loopholes. Unfortunately, when Westbrook is stubbornly offensive, his shooting percentage is often not high.

　　 Anjie gave him a few good passes, but Westbrook only seized one of the opportunities.

　　 "Damn, I owe you a good dinner." Westbrook and An Jie bet before the game that they would definitely not miss three consecutive goals in this game. But when he knocked out for the fourth time in the third quarter, An Jie could not worry about tomorrow's dinner.

　　 From this small detail, it can also be seen that the entire Thunder team has played very easily. Because they even discussed tomorrow's dinner.

　　 Relaxation and relaxation are not a matter of a while. The Thunder players played easily, but they did not relax a bit against the Kings.

　　 Although Anjie and Morris did not block many shots, they gave the Kings little chance to score in the three-second zone.

　　 No one stood up for the Kings in the third quarter. They had long been beaten by the fully upgraded Thunder team and lost their confidence.

　　 "My God, can you believe Reggie. Now the Thunder is a truly strong team!" 68 to 89, the players ended the game in just three quarters, as Van Gundy wanted!

　　 At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Van Gundy let Serge Ibaka play and put all the Thunder's three young players on the bench.

　　 "Tomorrow I'm going to eat seafood Russell." Anjie grinned and stabbed Westbrook with his elbow.

　　 "Hey, the bet only says to invite you to dinner. I will order where to eat."

　　 "Do I have a role as a middleman." Just as Westbrook was dealing with An Jie's "painful slaughter", Durant actually got in.

　　 The third thunder master was talking and laughing on the bench, the game? Was the game over in the third quarter?

　　 Ibaka may be due to nervousness, so the offensive end missed three consecutive shots. However, his and Morris' impressive inside defense allowed Jeff Van Gundy to find a new possibility for an inside combination.

"So Presti came from the future, otherwise how could he pick a good rookie every time? Look at the inside defense of Morris and Ibaka, I think many NBA teams can't reach it. To the inside defensive level of the Thunder's second team."

　　 The Kings did their best, hoping to stage a comeback in the fourth quarter. Van Gundy was not in a hurry, and he just let the third thunder master sit on the bench for a whole section.

And the third young man sat on a bench and came to the conclusion that Westbrook, who was struggling with iron, would have to invite Anjay, Morris, Durant and Ibaka to eat tomorrow~www.NovelMTL.com~ Since it’s not expensive Yes, then we will bring more people. My brother Morris is inseparable from me, he must be with us. "

　　 "Ibaka just came to the United States, you have to be friendly." Durant also gave a thief smile.

　　 Westbrook held his forehead. It seemed that he couldn't escape without spending a few thousand dollars.

　　 These three guys, like Van Gundy, really didn’t take the fourth quarter seriously...

　　Because they know that with a solid defense, even if the offensive end is not as good as before, such a big point difference is absolutely impossible to be reversed.

　　 When the whistle sounded at the end of the game, the three Thunder Juniors stood up and gave high-fives to the next teammates in turn. People who don't know thought these three young people were marginal figures on the team.

　　 89 to 102, even though the Kings were approaching some points in the fourth quarter, they still could not complete their dream of a comeback.

　　 All members of the Thunder stood in a row holding hands and bowed to the audience. The first game of the new season ended perfectly!

"You know Charles, this game reminded me of one thing, that is, the Thunder may not be satisfied with making the playoffs! They may have bigger goals!" Kenny Smith said to the Thunder. Surprised by the progress, they are now a team that can solve the battle in three quarters.

　　 Don't jump to conclusions in such a hurry, the Thunder's performance has just begun. (To be continued.)