NBA preseason is a warm-up game for each team before the start of the NBA regular season, because after each season, each team has considerable changes in the lineup, in order to let the teams run in the lineup, familiar with their respective teams' playing style, and determine the lineup of each team for the new season, before the start of each season, the NBA holds a number of preseason games, in order to allow the teams to be in a better state to devote themselves to the long regular season game.

NBA preseason generally has several characteristics: one is to run in the lineup, enrich the style of play and test the competitive state of new and old players, each team has about 8 preseason games, and at the same time, in order to avoid the main players before the battle is tired, the main players in this kind of game generally do not play more than 30 minutes, so it is also an opportunity for substitute players to take the opportunity to show themselves.

The second is to warm up the NBA regular season, in order to better attract fans to watch the NBA regular season and playoffs, the NBA official also makes full use of the preseason to build momentum for the new season of NBA games.

With the further maturity of NBA's commercial operations and the acceleration of the internationalization process, the NBA has sent a number of teams to play preseason games overseas in order to cater to the tastes of international fans and expand overseas markets, and China, Japan, Mexico, Spain, France and other countries have hosted such games.

Although it was only a preseason game, it still had a special meaning for Gao Dazhuang, because it was Gao Dazhuang's first game since coming to the United States, and he faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Western Conference champion last season.

Gao Dazhuang intuitively felt the culture of American basketball for the first time, just stepped into the court from the locker room, looking at the home fans full of arenas, Gao Dazhuang's first feeling was shock.

The exterior of the Chesapeake Energy Arena, the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is the same as most buildings in Russia, with a dark red exterior on the outside, which looks classical, but the interior facilities are modern and beautiful, the locker room equipment is new, and more importantly, the arena can accommodate 19,000 spectators.

In 19,000, Tall and Strong had never played in front of so many people, and the Chesapeake Energy Arena was like Staples Center, Arco Arena, North Shore Gardens, and Rose Garden, and the cheers of the fans could tear the roof off.

After losing to the Heat last season and missing out on a championship, as a sign of support for the team, enthusiastic Thunder fans in uniform royal blue T-shirts filled the arena in a sea of blue and the slogan "OKC" resounded throughout the arena.

"Yes, they're Western champions, but so what? The stronger the team, the more you can prove your worth, boys, you have to put on a shocking performance to get the whole of America to look at you......" Rockets head coach McHale was mobilizing before the game.

"What, a little nervous?" Seeing the rookie's tall and strong hands clenched and his lips clenched, Rockets power forward Patrick Patterson couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

Patterson was drafted by the Rockets with the 14th pick in 2010, and Patterson's kind personality and humorous words were very much an appetite for Tall Zhuang, who quickly became very good friends with him.

"Nervous? No, I'm more excited now," Tall Stout said disdainfully, glancing at Patterson.

"Don't be nervous, why are you wearing your jersey backwards," Patterson said with pretended surprise and disdain.

"Lean" Gao Dazhuang was taken aback and quickly looked down at his jersey, "That's right", and when Gao Dazhuang looked up and saw Patterson's unbearable smile, Gao Dazhuang knew that he had been tricked by this "living treasure" again.

"Gao, you and Lin partner in the backcourt" Just as Gao Dazhuang was about to counterattack Patterson, the voice of Rockets head coach McHale rang out.

McHale decided on the starting lineup for this tournament at the last minute before the game: point guard Jeremy Lin, shooting guard Gao Da Zhuang, small forward Kevin Martin, power forward Patrick Patterson, and center Asik.

Starting!

Gao Dazhuang was surprised and delighted in his heart, Gao Dazhuang himself didn't expect to be able to get the affirmation and favor of coach McHale so quickly, you must know that Gao Dazhuang is a "rookie" who has just entered the league, and he has not even learned the team's tactical manual, but in this case, Coach McHale still handpicked Gao Dazhuang's starter.

"Gao, what do you think of the Thunder's home court? Will you be able to win? As soon as Gao Dazhuang calmed down and was about to appear on the stage, a reporter on the sidelines suddenly threw a sharp question at Gao Dazhuang.

The NBA has so many characteristics of its own, and interviewing players anytime, anywhere is one of the key ones.

"Of course, everyone is talking about how noisy the Thunder's home court is" Without waiting for Gao Dazhuang to answer, Jeremy Lin, the Rockets point guard standing next to him, took the initiative to block the reporter's question for Gao Dazhuang, "But I think it's very ordinary, nothing special, I've played on many courts, for me the Thunder's home court is no different from other home courts, of course we can win"

"This is the NBA," Jeremy Lin turned to Gao Dazhuang after being pressed by reporters.

"Thank you" is constantly feeling and learning the culture of the NBA.

The opening of the Thunder team was very special, before the entrance ceremony, there was a local pastor, leading the players and fans to do prayer activities, Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka and other Thunder players stood in the middle of the court, and the whole arena was filled with a sacred atmosphere.

In fact, for the core players of last year's finals team - "Thunder Three Less", tall and strong are very familiar:

Durant, the star of the Thunder, is the first person in the league in scoring ability, tall and tall, strong explosiveness, soft feel, scoring is as simple as eating and drinking, no one in the league can prevent Durant, including the current first person in the league, James, LeBron in the east, and Durant in the west, which is the current status quo of the league.

The second leader Westbrook, physical fitness, breakthrough and foul making ability is incomprehensible, he only does two things on the court - scoring and defense, and the overall situation, offensive rhythm, team commander These esoteric knowledge may not be understood by him yet, but there are many people in the league who can't understand the coach's tactics, but Wei Shao is a little better than most players in the league, he is not afraid of the sky, no distractions, no worries about the offense, often can open up the situation in difficult situations.

Three young Harden is a young man, superb ball skills, excellent IQ, is a strange soldier cruising on the outside, winner of the sixth man of the year, Moxican hairstyle makes him look extraordinarily different, he often steps on a bizarre rhythm, takes European steps, kills halfway, and kills the enemy unprepared.

The "Thunder Three" is a representative of the new forces in the league, but today's Rockets are younger than the Thunder.

"Beep" As the referee blew the whistle, players from both sides entered the field.

"Hi" Gao Dazhuang took the initiative to greet Durant and other Thunder players who walked by him, this is the first time Gao Dazhuang has really come into contact with NBA All-Star players, the best player Gao Dazhuang has ever seen before may be Irving and Marbury, but Irving is an NBA recruit after all, although he is the champion, he is still far from a real superstar, and Marbury is just a veteran who has passed his prime.

But at this time, Durant, who is standing tall and strong, is now the No. 2 man in the league.

In the face of Gao Dazhuang's greeting, Durant smiled slightly and responded kindly, but the second leader of the Thunder team didn't look at Gao Dazhuang.

However, this is also very much in line with Westbrook's character, and before the game has even started, the tall and strong can feel his unruly personality and the huge energy contained in his body.

As for the three-man Harden, he did not appear in the Thunder's starting lineup at all, and the sixth man of the year was still hidden in the shadows, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy at any time.

Unlike the Rockets, the Thunder fielded a special lineup for this preseason game: point guard Russell Westbrook, shooting guard DaQuan Cook, power forward Durant, power forward Lazar Hayward, and center Cole Aldridge.

With the exception of Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder's remaining three starters aren't even part of last season's rotation.

Last season, the Thunder lost to the Heat in the Finals, and the biggest flaw was that the thickness of the bench lineup was not enough, so in the new season, the first thing the Thunder needed to build was their bench lineup.

The referee blew the whistle and the game officially began.

Rockets starting center Asik took the lead in gaining possession of the ball on a jump ball over Thunder center Cole Aldridge, and Jeremy Lin began to control the ball amid boos from the fans.

"Pull away, pull away" Jeremy Lin, who was in possession at the top of the three-point line, waved his hand to his teammates to open up the space, and soon only Westbrook, the Thunder's starting point guard directly opposite Jeremy Lin, was left in the entire middle area.

Westbrook lifted his pants, set up a defensive position, and stared at Jeremy Lin without showing weakness, but at the moment when Westbrook inadvertently turned back to observe the position of his teammates, Jeremy Lin suddenly picked up speed and threw Westbrook behind him with a lunge.

This goal Jeremy Lin gave full play to his breakthrough advantage, you must know that when he was in the New York team last season, Jeremy Lin ranked 6th in the league in the number of breakthroughs per game, and the breakthrough is Jeremy Lin's killer feature.

However, Jeremy Lin had just stepped into the paint field after breaking away from the defense, and the Thunder's Durant suddenly pounced from the side, and his excellent height and reach quickly blocked Lin's attack lane.

But Jeremy Lin seemed to have been prepared, a sudden stop, hitting Durant with a time difference, and the moment Durant fell in the air, Jeremy Lin pulled up on the spot and threw a shot.

With a loud "pop", Jeremy Lin's throw had just been shot, and a black figure roared from behind him, and fanned the basketball out of ten meters away with one palm.

Westbrook, it's Westbrook! After being broken by Jeremy Lin, Westbrook followed suit and completed his redemption with a chasing hat.

"Awesome" saw the whole process of Westbrook's hat chasing the whole process on the side, and his terrifying speed and bounce moved the tall and strong.