On the evening of December 9, the Bobcat Time Warner Center Arena.

In the away team's dressing room. Vallejo said to James: "LeBron, the news media are not optimistic about us? They almost decided that we were going to lose, saying that the Bobcats could score more than 120 points in almost every game, the first in the league, and that the 'Elvis' Hayes would definitely overwhelm the 'Emperor'. The media doesn't look at what the Bobcats were before, they have only met the Suns in the West, and if they meet the Spurs and Mavericks like us, it is impossible to play the current record. We're no worse than the Bobcats! ”

"It's hard to say. The way they play now, as long as the players find their touch, it's hard to defend. James looked serious and said something that Vallejo didn't expect: "I've seen Hayes' footage and he's improved again this season. The Bobcats may be tougher to play than the Rockets last season. ”

James left the impression on Vallejo that he was confident, absolutely strong, he always thought he was the strongest, Kobe, Wade, Howard and others could not compare to him. In Vallejo's view, James is the strongest individual in the league, and if it weren't for the team's low record, James would have been the MVP last season.

James never thought he was going to lose. Today, however, he seems to be running low on confidence.

"Last season we played against the Rockets, Hayes didn't dare to challenge you at all, just pass the ball in a pair, and this season the Bobcats don't have Maddie and Yao Ming." Vallejo said.

James raised his head and said with emotion: "It's just that he doesn't fight with me, which is the most terrible thing about him." Didn't you notice that he always played lightly? Where the opponent has a weakness, he will take his teammates to fight wherever they are. Where there is a weakness in his team, he will make up for it, so he is playing center now. My bounce, speed, and power may not be below him, but it's not about heads-up to see who is better. ”

Speaking of which. A smile tugged at the corner of James' mouth. When he is competing, he will often provoke his opponent to play one-on-one with him. But Hayes, who never singled him out, was what he admired the most. Those who don't need their teammates to block and dismantle and have to compete fairly with their opponents at every turn are more like idiots in his eyes. This is the NBA, not the street courts. James does often have one-on-one with people, but most of them are opponents who are thinner than him, and when he encounters opponents who can resist him, he will wait for his teammates to block and dismantle, he is also a high-IQ player, otherwise how can he get 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists?

Vallejo has also watched the Bobcats play now and knows Hayes' style. Now the speed of the Bobcat is too fast, and all five of them are shooters. James can defend Hayes at home, but can Big Z (Ilgoskas) keep up with Bagnani's pace? Can he and Gooden defend the perimeter? How did the Cavaliers' bench play against the Bobcats' bench gang? Vallejo remembered what Hayes said in the Adidas ad - the game was for five people.

The Cavaliers' roster is too weak, and it's a miracle that James led such teammates to the Finals last season.

Centre-forwards: Ilgoskas, Dwyane Jones.

Power forwards: Drew Gooden, Anderson Vallejo, Cedric Simmons.

Small forwards: LeBron James, Hassan Adams, Marshall, Ella Newbell.

Defenders: Pavlovich, Gibson, Larry Hughes, Devin Brown, Damon Jones, Eric Snow.

"However, if we can beat the Suns, we are not afraid of running and bombing. If my teammates can't open it, Hayes can't beat me. Tonight, defense is key. James said.

Cavaliers head coach McBrown rallied his players and said, "We're going to guard the Bobcats on the outside tonight." Man marking, Anderson (Vallejo), today you start in place of Big Z, with Bagnani. LeBron defends Hayes, and Drew (Gooden) stares Wallace. Wallace's outside shooting is the worst of the Bobcats' starters, but he's also very athletic, so you'll have to watch a little bit closer......"

On the other side, D'Antoni emphasised the exact same tactics as he did on the pitch, with Hayes still playing as a central striker.

"Today, with Chuck as the core offense, the Cavaliers are likely to use James to mark Chuck, Gerrard and Andrea, you two cover Chuck, and pay attention to the running position after blocking and dismantling. Use your speed to drag down Big Z and Gooden. Defend 122 joint defense, Gerrard is the main defense of James, Chuck is staring at Gooden, and he can help defend at any time. ”

"Wait, I have a request." After D'Antoni arranged his tactics, Hayes said.

"Chuck, what's the matter?"

Hayes smiled: "At the beginning, I want to defend James alone, is that okay?" When attacking, I also want to try to play one-on-one with him when no one is covering. Just three, no, five times, and I want to see how far I've gotten to myself. James is the best opponent. Please allow me to ask for this surname. ”

Although Hayes said that he had his surname, his expression was extremely relaxed, as if James was just one of his sparring partners.

"Good. I'll give you a minute. In the first quarter, you and James played against each other as much as you wanted. When attacking, decide how to play for yourself, and I believe you can win him. D'Antoni smiled with satisfaction.

"Hi, LeBron."

"Hello, Chuck."

In the crackling, continuous flashing lights, the hands of the two macho men, white No. 44 and red No. 23, were clasped together.

"The knight sent you to keep an eye on me, right?" Hayes asked with a smile.

"I took the initiative to mark you, did I still pass the ball to attack as usual today? When will you challenge me once? James chuckled.

"Do you mean one-on-one? Last season, I couldn't go heads-up with you because of the coach's arrangement, I was different from you, and I didn't have much status in the team at that time, so I had to give heads-up to Maddie. But this season is here to fulfill your wishes. Hayes said.

"This one? I hope you do what you say, haha, don't put on a heads-up stance, get caught up in my defense, throw it to my teammates, like you did with Dwight. James laughed.

"Now it's decided, I'll discuss with the coach in a while, how about being completely one-on-one with you, don't block and dismantle the offense, don't wrap up the defense. Do you dare to fight like that? Hayes asked, looking James in the eye.

James could see the determination in Hayes's eyes. Puzzled: "Can I not accompany me?" I'm just curious, why did you suddenly make such a decision when you never played like this. ”

"Because the opponent is you. Looking at individual ability, I think you're the best guy in the league, speed, power, bounce, shooting, passing vision...... Almost everything is outstanding, and you led this bad team to the finals, and I also admire it. Only by defeating you once and for all can I justifiably say that I am the strongest player in the league. Hayes said earnestly.

"Interesting, apart from you, there aren't many people in this alliance that I can look up to. Then let's fight. I'll do my best to blow you up. ”

"That's what I want to say, too."

James and Hayes clapped each other's hands and made a war letter.

Cavaliers starting lineup: point guard Gibson, shooting guard Larry Hughes, small forward LeBron James, power forward Drew Gooden, center Ilgoskas.

Because Hayes and James are ready to go head-to-head, the offense will not be dominated by Bagnani. So the head coach of the Cavaliers was replaced by Ilgoskas.

The Bobcats starting lineup remains unchanged: Calderon, Azubuuk, Wallace, Hayes, Bagnani.

At the start of the game, the basketball was dropped from mid-air by a high-flying Bagnani and flew towards Azubuike, who took the basketball firmly in his arms, held it steady, and handed it to Calderon, who passed to Hayes from the three-point line.

As soon as Hayes got the ball, James blocked in front of him, and the two looked at each other calmly. The other four Bobcats didn't come up to block the pick-and-roll, but pulled out to the four corners to make room for Hayes to single.

As soon as they saw this posture, most of the audience stood up excitedly. As two of the most versatile and statistically beautiful players in the league, "Elvis" and "The Emperor" will go head-to-head in the first round.

LeBron, I unfortunately missed the opportunity to face you in the finals last season, and today I want to beat you and prove myself. Hayes dribbled twice in a row under his hips, dribbling the ball from the left side of James in disguise, ready to sprint with all his might. James was shaken out of position by the feint, but his physical fitness was not comparable to ordinary players, and he immediately adjusted, turned around with explosive power with a tense calf, and accelerated to keep up with Hayes.

Hayes went into the three-second zone, pivoted with his right foot, stepped out with his left foot, and made a one-handed layup with the ball in his left hand, and James chased from behind and shrugged his shoulders but didn't jump.

Hayes' feint was seen through by James, who immediately turned back and jumped up, and put the ball on his right hand to hook the basket. James crouched slightly, his legs jumped on the spot, his head almost the height of the basket, and his right hand was swung out, knocking Hayes's hook shot cap off.

"Interfered with the shot!" Hayes yelled at the referee, who ignored him. Gibson picked up the basketball just as the ball was about to go out of bounds, and as soon as James landed, he immediately launched a fast break.

Hayes said a word, and was immediately thrown away. Gibson passes Larry Hughes, who hands it to james. James, who rushed up, was a humanoid tank, unstoppable. Azubuuk is a recognized defensive stalwart and didn't dare to stand in his way at this time, as James strode into the three-second zone and scored with a tomahawk dunk. 0 to 2.

James roared when he landed.

This orangutan is too arrogant. There were a lot of boos in the arena, but James' dunk was really beautiful and had a thunderous momentum.

"Don't be too happy." Hayes said lightly. His mood has also taken a little bit, he has rarely been easily covered when he enters the interior to play skills, and James is stronger defensively than he was last season. If you go to the basket to play James, it doesn't seem to be a good choice, his physical fitness is too good, and his super explosiveness can make up for the error of judgment.

Hayes didn't know that James watched a lot of game videos in order to beat him, and he studied almost all of Hayes's offensive methods, and he also practiced in the team. The trick just now happened to be used by Hayes when the Bobcats were playing magic, and James came prepared.

The Bobcats attacked, and although Hayes was deflated in the first round, his teammates believed him and passed the ball over. Hayes took the ball with both hands, swung his arms, and slammed into action, taking a step to the left with his right foot, while rushing to the left with the ball with his left hand for a stop-and-go jumper. James followed, but this time he didn't cover.

Hayes shot before he could jump to the top of the line, and then his body went up, and the basketball flew into the hoop with a soft thud. 2 to 2.

Fast jump shot, this is a shooting method often used by NBA guards, because the guard is not tall enough and is easy to be blocked, so he often shoots without jumping to the highest point, disrupting the rhythm of the defender.

James frowned, this guy has too many tricks!

(To be continued)