76. Counterpoint Pierce
On Nov. 20, the Cavaliers' first game back at home after three away games was against the Boston Celtics from Massachusetts, a superpower team with a glorious past.
The Cavaliers are currently seventh in the East with a 9-7 record, while the Bostonians are second in the East with a 14-4 record, behind the Chicago Bulls, who are already in first place.
Of course, the highlight of this game is naturally what kind of performance Wu Dawei, who is a starter for the first time in his career, will achieve in tonight's matchup with Pierce, Garnett and even Ray Allen.
The people who have frankly said that Wu Dawei will return to mediocrity have prepared the sharpest and harshest words, ready to let Wu Dawei fall into a situation of no return in this game; In the same way, those who have expectations for Wu Dawei hope that Wu Dawei can play an extraordinary form in this game and quell the rumors that are not good for him in one fell swoop.
So, this game has attracted the attention of many.
Once again, the Quick Loan Center was as full as night fell, and instead of being as lonely as one might expect before the season began, it was still as hot as last season as the conversation unfolded on the Cleveland team.
The only pity is that the game is still not broadcast live in the United States. Maybe the league hierarchy didn't think the game was going to be a big topic before the season started.
Therefore, it will still be Carlson, the commentator of the local sports television station in Cleveland, and his "unnamed" partner who will appear on the commentary table at the Quick Loan Center tonight......
At this time, there was a loud cry in the stadium because the Quick Loan Center was carrying out the home player's appearance ceremony.
The substitutes were already introduced one by one, with Wu sitting on the bench and being told he would be fifth from the bottom, having been in the top few for the first few home games.
And tonight, his identity is a little different. He'll be the starter for tonight's game, so naturally he'll have to enjoy some of the same treatment as well.
"Next!" After introducing all the substitutes, the DJ began to introduce the team's starting lineup for the night. He yelled hoarsely, his voice raised even more than just now: "It's our starting small forward tonight!" He's a newcomer because he's been helping our team from the bench until then and tonight he's going to be the player! β
The DJ shouted here, and everyone in the quick loan center knew who he was talking about. So, cheers mixed with boos, and the roof tiles shook in this large modern arena!
"From China! Six feet eight inches! 248 lbs! We call him GREAT~ Wu! Big! Great! β
Wu Dawei stood up from his chair, and he heard boos, but more of them were cheers from the scene. That's what motivates him to work hard in the race.
Playing as a starter for the first time, Wu Dawei was more excited than nervous, because it was a moment he had dreamed about for a long time.
The home team's players came out of the ceremony, which ended with the appearance of the team's main point guard, Maurice Williams; Next, it was the turn of the visiting Boston Celtics.
Compared to before, the treatment of the away team is obviously not comparable. And the Green Shirts in front of them are still the team that makes the Clevelands gnash their teeth, and naturally, when they play, there is a rambling boo all over the field.
And when Paul Pearce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett came out, the boos almost peaked. The little boos when Wu Dawei appeared on the stage, compared with this time, can't be compared at all!
Because these are the people who have repeatedly crossed the Cleveland people's way to winning the championship. β¦,
So, this hatred didn't build up in a day.
After introducing the players of both sides, it was time to play the national anthem. Then, the competition officially begins!
Byron Scott called the players to his side and said to the players who had already taken off their coats: "Boys, tonight is going to be a tough game, I don't think I need to say anything more. Boston are a tough team, but they're old and decrepit, and you're in the prime of life! So, we're going to play a very fast pace tonight, and we're going to drag down those old guys on the pitch! β
This is the first time Wu has become a player, so not only does he attach great importance to it, but also assistant coach Wright Tibbetts, who taught him defensive for a summer.
Before Wu Dawei came on the court, Tibbetts grabbed the young man who was already ready to take a leap and said, "Hey, GREAT." Listen to me, your opponent tonight is very difficult, although he is already an old guy, don't underestimate him, his offensive means are surprisingly many, but you just need to remember one thing, don't be fooled by his feints! β
Wu nodded and glanced at the court, where the Celtics players had all walked onto the court, and Paul Pearce rubbed his hands together as if he was ready to defeat his opponent.
The '08 Finals MVP player, despite reaching the twilight of his career, is still a player to be reckoned with, and will even give you a fatal blow at any moment when you relax.
Wu Dawei had already watched the footage of Paul Pearce's game last night, and he was a player who was very creative on the offensive end, and his mastery of offensive means simply put everyone to shame.
Therefore, Wu Dawei understands that he has to maintain his concentration in every minute and every second of the whole game tonight.
David Wu took a deep breath, and then he walked onto the court, and Paul Pierce came over and bumped his fist with him, and the two men stood together.
There are no changes to the Cavaliers' lineup tonight, except for David Wu replacing Joey Graham as the No. 3 position. On the Boston Celtics side, the two guards are Ray Allen and Racho Rondo, the forwards are Kevin Garnett and Paul Pearce, and the center is Shaquille O'Neal.
So, when O'Neill tossed the ball into Rondo's hands after the jump ball started, there were some boos from the fans in the stadium. Of course, it was for O'Neal, because this girl was determined to go during the most difficult period for the Cavaliers, although the big fat man had no relationship with the Cleveland people in the first place.
The game begins. Rondo quickly advanced the half court with the ball, and instead of rushing to pass the basketball to Pierce or either Garnett or Ray Allen, he waited for the faltering O'Neal to get into position and fed the basketball inside after he got stuck on Vallejo behind him.
Ao Fat got the ball, Paul Pierce ambushed on the bottom corner three-point line on the strong side, Ray Allen ambushed on the three-point line outside the 45-degree corner area on the weak side, and the Celtics' two most accurate three-pointers stood inside the three-point line, so that the Cavaliers players did not dare to shrink the defense wantonly.
And Ao Fat faced AndrΓ© Vallejo, who was much thinner than him, on the inside, although the difference between the two was big in age, the difference in tonnage was not small. In addition, the two have been teammates for a year, so Ao Fat knows Vallejo's defensive tricks behind him well.
He dribbled the ball and ran it inside like a tank on the road.
But Ao Fat's move of encroaching on the Cavaliers' paint area was as slow as an old and decrepit snail in Wu Dawei's eyes. Although Pierce stood on the three-point line to contain Wu Dawei's thoughts, he certainly wouldn't just watch O'Neal bully Vallejo. β¦,
Sitting back and waiting has never been Wu's basketball philosophy.
Doug Rivers stood on the sidelines with his arms folded, and Shaquille O'Neal's arrival this summer gave the Boston Celtics hope of a renewed championship attempt. Although the once killer super center is on the verge of retirement, his huge tonnage can still bring a lot of energy to the team on the offensive end.
Letting O'Neal single in the opening court is one of the Celtics' new tactics this season, using O'Neal's abundant body in the opening court to impact the opponent's interior line, quickly establish an advantage, and give the Celtics veterans Pierce, Garnett, Ray Allen and others more calm time to fight.
The head coach of the Celtics watched O'Neal's progress on the inside step by step, and was very satisfied with this new tactic, watching O'Neal's movements, Doug Rivers couldn't help but think of the offensive rhythm of this big guy.
Collect the ball, turn around, hook shot......
Then, instead of a crisp and neat sound of brushing the net at the speed center, Wu Dawei suddenly appeared on O'Neal's side, alarming the fans.
Syllable!
He jumped up directly, and at the moment when O'Neal made a hook shot, Wu Dawei jumped up, and then he waved his right palm without hesitation, and slapped the basketball that O'Neal hadn't even left in his hand directly!
The orange ball flew away from the penalty area, like a kite with a broken string, leaving the stunned writing on the faces of every Celtic on the scene, so the Cleveland people were ecstatic.
The basketball flew out of the three-point line and was picked up by Williams, and the Cavaliers switched from defense to offense in just a split second!
PS: It's a new week again~ Mushroom is working hard to correct its shortcomings and increase the number of words in the chapter to promote the rhythm of the game~~ So, please give some collection and recommendation to your buddies and sisters~~~