The Lakers' lineup looks very strong, but the entire Lakers team is unwilling to face the SuperSonics in the opening game and is timid before fighting.
They know that it is too difficult to defeat the defending champion in the opening game. Every team wants to get a good start and boost team morale. On the contrary, if they lose or even suffer a disastrous defeat in the home opening game, it will seriously affect morale.
The Jazz are an example of this. After their disastrous defeat to the SuperSonics in the opening game last season, they faced the SuperSonics 8 times throughout the season without any decent resistance.
To make matters worse, the Lakers' lineup was not complete in this game, and the core inside line Shaquille O'Neal was absent due to injury. The Lakers' biggest advantage against the SuperSonics was gone, and the inside line was at a disadvantage.
The Sonics do not have any injuries, and the coaching staff will only worry about arranging a 12-man roster for each game. There are young players who cannot be included in the roster and cannot be trained.
After consideration, George Karl did not let Mookie Norris, Nate McMillan, and Ben Wallace enter the lineup. There were too many capable people, and the three of them had little chance to play.
Yang Jian only felt that the team's lineup was a bit too strong, and Ben could only be a marginal player. It was not his turn to fight inside, and Mason was there. On the offensive end, Mason was much better than Ben.
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TV5 also broadcast the opening game live, and many Chinese fans were excitedly waiting for the kick-off.
Zhang Lili said: "This year's SuperSonics are only stronger than last season. I don't know how Yang Jian will perform in the first game."
Sun Zhengping said: "I think he must still play with a combination of sudden points and shooting, attracting double-teams and assists to teammates. He played this way in the Asian Championships and preseason. No team has ever been able to completely restrict his performance.
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Zhang Lili said: "George Karl is called 'Crazy Karl', and it's still crazy. In the new season, he plans to let Mason, who is only 201cm tall, serve as the starting center, Barkley as the power forward, and Schrempf, the tallest player on the court, is 206cm.
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Sun Zhengping laughed and said: "SuperSonics just want to attack and win. Everyone says that their inside players are too short and the team is determined not to strengthen them. The SuperSonics manager also has quite a personality."
The starting lineup for both sides. SuperSonics five players: Payton, Yang Jian, Schrempf, Barkley, Anthony Mason Jr.
Lakers five: Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Rick Fox, Donyel Marshall, Eldon Campbell.
Fox is an important signing for the Lakers in the summer, strengthening the team's wing defense. Even if O'Neal is not there, the Lakers' lineup is still strong, which can be seen from the fact that Kobe is still a substitute.
There was a hilarious tidbit at the beginning. The person responsible for jumping the ball for the SuperSonics was actually Barkley. Barkley didn't jump at all, and there was a huge height difference between him and Campbell.
The Lakers' positional battle started with hanging inside and playing in the low post. Campbell had an obvious height advantage. However, he couldn't squeeze out of Mason when he turned his back to get the ball. Although the latter was only 201cm tall, he was too thick and now weighed 116 kilograms.
There is only one center in the league who can easily squeeze out Mason with strength, O'Neal. When Mason was in New York, he usually trained against Ewing, and Ewing was quite convinced of him.
In the SuperSonics, Ben Wallace is also convinced. He regards Mason as his idol and has determined his future life path. He wants to play like Mason, defend against people in the penalty area, and also be able to quickly pass the ball to open teammates on the offensive end.
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Within the team, Barkley taught Harrington and Mason taught Ben. Both young players benefited a lot.
Campbell couldn't get into the penalty area and passed the ball out to the outside. As soon as Eddie Jones got the ball, Yang Jian got close to him. He took a dribble and hurriedly passed the ball to his teammates.
Yang Jian is the nemesis of players like Eddie Jones. As long as he defends seriously, there is nothing the opponent can do.
Eddie Jones does not have kaleidoscope offensive skills, and his confrontation ability is average. He is not good at forcing shots against people in confrontations. He cannot get rid of Yang Jian by running at speed, and he can't get rid of him with the ball. Yang Jian is capable of guarding him.
Scoreless throughout the game.
In the playoffs last season, Eddie Jones collapsed after being guarded by Yang Jian. Now when he sees Yang Jian, he feels weak in his legs.
Van Exel also couldn't get rid of Payton, so he passed the ball to Fox...
When the 24-second attack time was about to expire, all five players of the Lakers passed the ball. Finally, Van Exel caught the ball from the left and shot a three-pointer, which missed due to Payton's interference.
Lakers coach Del Harris felt helpless just watching this round. The two SuperSonics perimeter stars are too strong in defensive ability. As long as Yang Jian is serious, he can even defend better than Payton. The Lakers perimeter players must cooperate and fight one-on-one.
It can't be efficient.
Mason grabbed the rebound for Yang Jian to launch a fast break, a three-on-three frontcourt. Yang Jian quickly advanced to the left to the three-point line and passed to Barkley in the middle. The latter took the ball and took three steps to crush Marshall for a layup.
Score.2 to 0.
Marshall is 206cm tall and weighs 100 kilograms. He looks like a small forward in body shape. He is a softie who is strong in offense and weak in defense. Against a strong man like Barkley, he cannot jump at all in a confrontation.
When the Lakers attacked, Campbell pulled out a screen in the penalty area. Van Exel took the ball and rushed to the right but was blocked by Mason. Payton quickly bypassed the screen and caught up.
Van Exel passed the ball to the center, and Mason immediately moved back to block Campbell's breakthrough route. Campbell was not good at attacking with the ball facing the frame, so he had to pass the ball again after being stuck.
Mason's style of playing center is similar to that of Ben Wallace. They are both insiders with strong defensive capabilities. Their height is destined to be more flexible than tall inside players.
If the Sonics players defend seriously every game, the overall defensive efficiency will definitely be in the top five or even first in the league. There are several defensive experts in the team, and the defense is stronger than last season.
After passing the ball several times, Marshall caught the ball at a 60-degree angle on the right side and made a jumper. Due to Barkley's interference, the mid-range shot missed. This time, Schrempf retreated to grab the backcourt rebound and passed the ball to Payton for rapid advancement.
After halftime, Payton passed the ball to Mason who was following up in the middle. Mason was out of position when he hit Campbell. He broke through and missed the layup due to interference. As soon as Campbell landed, Yang Jian flew up from the left and passed Campbell.
Scored a two-handed dunk! 4 to 0.
After Yang Jian landed, he beat his chest and roared, adding a buff to himself. Many home fans gave Yang Jian applause. His performance was much better than the Lakers' perimeter players.
Sun Zhengping shouted: "Today's top five goals are here. Yang Jian scored unreasonably, pushed past Jones and took off directly."
Zhang Lijia sighed: "His jumping ability is so strong. When he was doing activities in the summer, he completed a 720-degree dunk. There is probably no other person on the planet who can do it."
The Lakers' offense was relatively simple this time. The point guard played a pick-and-roll in the middle and then distributed the ball. Campbell received the ball and rushed to the basket. As soon as he took the ball, he was cut off by Mason with a palm and made a mistake.
Payton picked up the basketball and started a fast break and passed it to Yang Jian, 2 on 2 in the frontcourt.
Yang Jian dribbled the ball towards Eddie Jones at full speed. When he was about to hit him, he pulled the ball and slightly changed its direction. He took the ball with both hands and leaned against his opponent to forcefully take three steps.
Jones knew he couldn't resist, so he quickly pulled the foul with both hands and sent Yang Jian to the free throw line.
Yang Jian steadily made two free throws, 6-0.
Zhang Lili said: "Every game in the Asian Championships has such a scene. No defender in Asia can withstand Yang Jian's forced breakthrough. In the NBA, his physical advantage is also very obvious, he is too strong."
Sun Zhengping said: "The most terrifying thing about Yang Jian is his physical fitness. He played in the finals last season and the Asian Championships in the summer, and he played full attendance. Now he still seems to be the person with the best physical fitness in the game.
People who have rested for a whole summer are better able to rush."
As soon as he finished speaking, Eddie Jones made another mistake. After receiving the ball, he was unable to break through. When he was moving sideways with the ball to find his teammates, Yang Jian suddenly reached out and stabbed the basketball away.
Yang Jian picked up the basketball first and went for a fast break alone. Eddie Jones fell to the ground and missed the ball, missing him completely. Yang Jian calculated the right distance on the left and took off with both feet, turning 360 degrees in the opposite direction and turning his right hand.
Dunk ball scored! 8 to 0.
Yang Jian roared angrily, and even more Lakers fans clapped. They couldn't help it, this shot was so exciting!
Zhang Lijia shouted: "The opening is simply a slam dunk contest. Yang Jian should have scored 50 points with this shot!"
