Chapter 1152 New Starting Lineup

Just two days after the start of training camp, all 18 members of the Pelicans team arrived.

They've completed their dynasty, but the four-peat Stevens said at the championship parade is their next goal.

But it is also a very challenging goal.

Not just for the team, but also for the players.

After the major changes in the lineup, the competition on the back line, forward line, and even inside line is very fierce.

No one wants to be left behind on a dynasty team.

The day after everyone arrived on the team, Stevens upgraded the training from basic items to full-court confrontation.

The first question before him is the starting lineup for the new season.

Two of the five starters left. He needs to adjust not only the personnel, but also the tactics.

You must know that Wodai's pick-and-roll last season was the No. 2 tactic after Tang Tian's singles.

But now Walker is gone.

In the first full-court confrontation training session, he divided the team into a starting group and a substitute group.

Nash leads the starting team, and he leads the bench team, and they conduct a 10-minute full-court confrontation on the court.

Nash is good at offense, and he is good at defense. He can see the problem best.

On the starting team, Parker and Tang Tian are on the outside, Green and Davis are on the forward side, and Dedmon is on the center side.

On the bench side, Alexander and Brogdon are on the outside, Jeff Green and Siakam are on the forward line, and Harrell is on the center line.

The purpose of this lineup allocation is also very clear, with Parker replacing Walker and Green replacing Butler.

After 10 minutes of play, the starting team won 25-15.

Tang Tian scored 10 points, Davis had 8 points, Green had 3 points, and Parker had 4 points and 3 assists.

After a 5-minute rest, both sides played for a second 10-minute period.

However, Stevens' lineup has been adjusted. The small forward has been replaced by Crowder from Jeff Green, and the center has been replaced by Mitchell Robinson.

After 10 minutes of play, the starting team still won, but the score was 17 to 15.

Stevens changed to a stronger defensive lineup, and Parker's shooting points were targeted, and the performance of the starting group dropped significantly.

This is also a problem they will definitely face in the new season.

Without Walker and Butler, Tang Tian and Davis will face greater defensive pressure, and the ability of other players to seize opportunities will be very important.

One plan was rejected, followed by a second.

Alexander, Tang Tian, ​​Green, Davis, Dedmon.

Alexander's organization and experience are still too immature, and he is not on the same page as others.

The second set didn't work, then the third set.

Parker, Brogdon, Tang Tian, ​​Siakam, Davis.

A lineup with one large player and four small players has strong offensive firepower and quick defense, but it obviously suffers when defending big men.

Then immediately came the fourth set.

In the Pelicans' training camp for nearly a month, Stevens has been experimenting and groping.

In addition to looking for a suitable starting lineup and tactics, we are also examining the status and suitability of the team's substitutes.

Because the purpose is clear, the effect is also very good.

And the coaching staff made a surprising discovery.

Kyle Kuzma.

Kuzma is 2.06 meters tall and weighs 100kg. He can play three or four, or neither three nor four.

This past summer, he lost weight under the guidance of the management, reducing it to 95kg, and also changed from focusing on the fourth position to focusing on the three position.

The weight loss has made him more flexible. Although he is half physically gifted, he has a positive attitude and has made considerable defensive progress. He is already close to the league average.

What's even more gratifying is that his offensive shooting is becoming more and more accurate, just like a big Klay Thompson.

At the end of training camp, he finally emerged from fierce competition with Jeff Green and Crowder.

On October 18th, US time, after a long offseason, the NBA preseason officially started.

The Pelicans also faced off against the Rockets at home.

The Rockets completed Paul's contract extension during the offseason. The four-year, $1.6 contract is a big burden for them, but they have no choice.

Coupled with the hard salary cap, Ariza can only be let go in vain, and Capela can re-sign Cousins.

Their overall strength has dropped a lot compared to the Big Three period and even last year.

But D'Antoni is still in office, and they will be happy when they play against the Pelicans.

In the first preseason game, the Rockets released their entire main lineup.

Outside Paul Harden, forward Gordon Tucker, center Capela.

The average height of this lineup is really short, but D'Antoni is now obsessed with Moneyball, which is the lineup he often used last season.

For the Pelicans, Stevens also put in the starting lineup that he has been exploring for more than a month.

Brogdon and Tang Tian on the outside, Green and Davis on the striker, and Dedmon on the center.

Official games are different from team training. The Rockets are determined to play, and Stevens can just take a look at the strength of this new starting lineup.

Capela successfully jumped the ball and won the first opportunity for the Rockets.

The Pelicans retreated to half court, with Brogdon and Paul, Tang Tian guarding Harden, and Green guarding Gordon.

Paul and Capela played a pick-and-roll, and Brogdon successfully went around and destroyed Paul's jump shot.

Paul changed to a breakthrough, but Brogdon had solid steps and gave Paul enough to fight under the basket. Paul's layup failed to score.

Brogdon's defense is underrated.

His ability to become the Pelicans' sixth man last season relied not only on his offense, but also on his defensive skills and attitude.

Tang Tian scored two points with an emergency stop jumper in the frontcourt.

The Rockets' defense is like a black hole, dark and deep.

Looking back, Harden tried to score, but Gordon, who received the ball, was blocked by Green and had no chance to make a move.

Gordon's last reluctant breakthrough layup was directly blocked by Tang Tianxie's defense.

The Rockets failed to score in consecutive attacks after the opening.

Let’s not talk about offense first. The defensive intensity of the Pelicans’ starting lineup on the outside is no lower than last season.

Looking back, Tang Tian continued to break through the inside line, as if he was in no one's land.

Not only is this black hole dark and deep, it's also incredibly loose.

The Rockets shrank their wings and tightened their defense in the middle.

Tang Tian made a trademark back pass to the bottom corner, and Green was ready early.

"Uh-huh!"

A corner three-pointer hit the net, and Green hit the Pelicans' first three-pointer after the opening game.

There was a burst of cheers.

Harden's step-back jump shot was blocked by Tang Tian, ​​and Dedmon protected the defensive rebound.

Rockets still hasn’t opened yet!

D'Antoni's expression was solemn.

With Walker and Butler leaving, the Pelicans' strength should have dropped significantly, but with the defensive pressure at the beginning, the Pelicans have not weakened at all!

"Uh-huh!"

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, the Pelicans used tactics in the frontcourt. Green used Davis to pick and roll, and received Tang Tian's pass and hit another three-pointer!

8 to 0!

The Pelicans beat the Rockets again!

There were constant cheers.

Demps also waved his fist excitedly in the stands.

Green was the most important part of the Pelicans' operations this past offseason.

If he can't find his form as Tang Tian said, the Pelicans' starting small forward will be a big problem.

But Green defended well in the opening game and made consecutive three-pointers.

Tang Tian really wasn't lying. Green was in good shape playing next to the super giant!