The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 398
"Did you not do your best in training?"

"Yes, you have an opinion."

Leonard didn't say a word, and Zhang Xiaotian didn't know if this buddy had any objections, but the pair training between the two didn't stop, and their confrontation training was good for both of them.

"You two are so boring, if it weren't for my thigh strain..." Danny Green sighed beside him.

Danny Green is also under a bit of pressure this season, but he was injured before the last game of the preseason.

However, in the small ball era, he is not afraid of falling out of favor relying on his perimeter defense ability. He still has a place reserved in the Spurs' strongest lineup.

On October 10, the Spurs ushered in their first home game.

The Pelicans have made a lot of adjustments this summer. Except for Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, the starting lineup has changed beyond recognition, and the first substitute Ryan Anderson has also left.

The actions of the Pelicans are not reinforcements, nor are they reconstructions. They are just making adjustments around Anthony Davis, but they cannot attract truly powerful players in one step.

In this game, Zhu Holiday missed the game due to injury, and the Spurs can be said to have taken the lead.

However, the start of the game was not as smooth as expected, Leonard didn't feel good, and Aldridge and Anthony Davis just exploded each other.

However, Zhang Xiaotian is very stable on both offensive and defensive ends. Leonard is more comprehensive than him on the defensive end, but he has more means on the offensive end.

In the third quarter, Leonard's touch recovered, and the situation was overwhelmingly slaughtered.

The fourth quarter became garbage time, Zhang Xiaotian did not play again.

Zhang Xiaotian felt a little regretful when he saw that the score did not reach 20. Since when did he become interested in statistics? The fifth year in the league is completely different from his rookie season.

Zhang Xiaotian's stability also stimulated Leonard to practice more. The player who could only shine in the fourth quarter and needed his teammates to restrain his defensive attention had grown to such an extent.

Leonard has also grown rapidly under the full training of the Spurs, but compared to Zhang Xiaotian, he is a bit depressed.

After the home game, they will go to the away game to play back-to-back. The start of this season is not easy for the Spurs.

But unlike previous seasons, their core players are all in their prime, and the Spurs' old age has become a thing of the past.

When I came to Miami, this team was completely different when I stayed with Zhang Xiaotian. It was not very long. Wade did not renew his contract. Bosh left the game due to illness. Ji Qi.

They also acquired Dion Waiters at a very cheap price. West's troubles in the Thunder were worse than those in the Cavaliers, which also caused a sharp drop in his worth. The proud boy back then is now much more silent.

The strength of this Heat team is neither bad nor bad, mainly due to the lack of top All-Stars.

Letting Wade leave because he was unwilling to spend a little more dollars, the outside world once again saw Riley's ruthlessness, and the business league was most vividly reflected in many teams.

The season has just started, and the Spurs have started to rest.

Playing Parker and Ginobili, this is Aldridge.

It just so happens that the Heat are also playing one big and four small, and the Spurs use rookie Kyle Anderson to start the top, and they also use a large and four small lineup to compete.

Whiteside came up to attack the inside, but Paul Gasol, who did not perform well in the previous few games, became tough when he was alone in the inside, proving that he is still an All-Star insider.

Zhang Xiaotian is now completely suppressed against West.

Although West has calmed down a lot, his strength has not improved. He has not met a good team to train him, and his aura has not been transformed into strength.

Once known as Wade Jr., but now he replaces Wade in the second position of the Heat, but he can't play the role of Wade.

On the other hand, Winslow, who was in the second grade, performed well, going back and forth with Leonard.

It's just that the Heat's attack power, which is still running in, is a bit insufficient. Although Whiteside suppressed Gasol, he didn't win much, that is, he took advantage of his youthful vigor.

During the rotation period, both sides have good substitute players, but the Spurs can play more players.

The Spurs have always been known for having a large number of players. Whether the main players rest in rotation or take more rest, they can always overwhelm their opponents in this regard.

This is Popovich's method. Make the best use of everything, and the players who stay on the team have the opportunity to contribute.

In this regard, no team in the league played better than the old man, and the Warriors who followed were slightly inferior.

At halftime, the Spurs led by 8 points.

But the Heat did not give up. Without Aldridge, the Spurs have only two strengths, and the Heat's internal and external core are also strong points.

In fact, Parker is not particularly old, but he has played for more than ten seasons. After his best speed is affected, Dragic can also bully him.

When both sides have strong points, the Heat are biting the score.

In the final quarter, the Heat's momentum at home was even worse. Dragic made consecutive hits, as if to turn the situation around.

The Heat's backup striker James Johnson spat out trash talk, "That's what the Finals MVP is like, I will clean you up."

"Man, trust me, you can't."

Zhang Xiaotian downplayed it, and then responded again and again, and the Heat's double-teaming allowed Mills to hit two three-pointers from the outside.

After a few minutes of mad attack, the Heat found that the situation had not changed, and the enthusiasm of the players also dropped.

They replaced the main force and started the final struggle. Leonard also took the Spurs.

It is very difficult to deal with Zhang Xiaotian alone. After adding Leonard, the Heat's defense is undoubtedly lost. Although they have Whiteside inside, they have contributed four blocks before.

But there is no one who can stand up on the front line, and it is useless for Whiteside to help defend well.

In fact, it's not that they can't top, it's just that they can't reach the level of Zhang Xiaotian and Leonard. Everyone is not hiding at the end of the game, and the slightest difference at critical moments will be infinitely magnified.

At 3 minutes and 54 seconds, Zhang Xiaotian hit the next offensive rebound, 25+10, and a double-double was achieved.

The team also extended its lead to double digits because of this two points. The Heat missed two three-pointers in the next two shots. The result of this game is doomed.

The opening four-game winning streak is not a very good result for the league or the Spurs.

It's just that they took rotations at the beginning of the season, which is a bit too much. The key is that the main players on rotations still win so easily, which makes people very uncomfortable.

"They're a bit uncomfortable, maybe they're weak for the intensity of the training."

Zhang Xiaotian made a joke and then put on a serious expression, "Of course, as long as I am on the court, I will help the team win every game."

(End of this chapter)