While other teams are waving checks and making up for them, the Timberwolves have been extremely low-key for an offseason.

He signed a rookie at the end of the first round, signed a new head coach, matched the Cavaliers' contract with a backup point guard, and hasn't done anything since.

In such a situation, reporters are very skeptical about Thibodeau, is it possible to bring changes to the Timberwolves with such a lineup that has hardly changed?

Anyway, they didn't believe it, so they found Thibodeau to ask for clarification.

Therefore, the Timberwolves' closed training on the first day was chased and intercepted by reporters. After Thibodeau sent them away, there were still quite a few reporters who were obsessively waiting for the Timberwolves players.

It wasn't until Zheng Ke and their two-hour practice were over that they swarmed up and surrounded the Timberwolves players.

"What are the Timberwolves' goals this season?"

"Zheng Ke, the team did not carry out large-scale reinforcements in the summer, and there is news that you are very dissatisfied with the team's operation in the summer, is this true?"

Of course, Zheng Ke will ignore these reporters, today is the day of the Timberwolves players, there is a party to attend in the evening, and he still needs to hurry home and change his clothes. So, in front of the reporters, he smiled his trademark smile and nodded and floated away.

Thibodeau's team of assistant coaches has been very good, at least defensively.

Thibodeau also found a very good thing about the Timberwolves, that is, the speed of the rapid counterattack, which basically grabbed the rebound as soon as Lefu grabbed it. As soon as the front court was thrown, Zheng Ke received the ball and could attack the basket directly when he took a step. The cooperation of these two people is now more tacit and powerful than the cooperation of Zheng Ke and Billups.

The fast break is an offensive style that is integrated into the Timberwolves' bones, and every player has this offensive awareness. In the case of being able to play fast breaks, Zheng Ke can still grab 8 rebounds per game, which shows how good his rebounding awareness and ability are.

Thibodeau's adjustment of the player's defense not only starts from the overall tactical system, but also starts from the change of each player's temperament.

Thomas on his assistant team is an excellent defensive master. On the first day of meeting, they taught the inside gate Anderson and Jordan Jr. the "iron elbow stunt". directly shouted that if the two of them grabbed the rebound, they would raise two big elbows as soon as possible. Then shake from side to side. He said righteously: "Protecting the ball is our first priority, even if it hits someone else, it doesn't matter.

The height of the two of them, this place is an elbow, if there is an outside player who comes directly to pull the ball. Bao Buqi was a concussion, which made Zheng Ke shudder on the sidelines. I think the Timberwolves have the intention of becoming a bandit army

Time flies by in the summer training camp, and in the blink of an eye, it's time for the players to set up and for the pre-season to begin.

"In a game like the pre-season, it's naturally training-oriented, and every player will have a fair amount of playing time, so I hope you can show your success during this period without hiding it." On the way to the Staples Center. Thibodeau said to the players before the game, "People with strength are not afraid of being known. Pre-season is all about bringing out the strongest weapons, and it's time. ”

The Timberwolves' first game of the preseason was against the defending champion Lakers.

Such a game that has nothing to do with winning the regular season really can't arouse the willingness of the two teams to fight, like Kobe Bryant only played 6 minutes, Zheng Ke only played 9 minutes, and the combined playing time of the two leading stars was less than half a game, which made fans who spent money to buy tickets angry.

But no matter how noisy they were, Thibodeau and Phil Jackson would not be able to shake easily.

"This defense!"

Phil Jackson looked at Little Jordan, who had slapped Bynum off the court again, and couldn't calm down anymore, showing a look of surprise, "Why is this little Jordan improving so amazingly?" Last year at the Timberwolves was only the third bench, this year's bounce, this arm span and this defensive awareness, as a weak team's starting center is more than enough. ”

Whether it is a good state or an improvement in strength, Phil Jackson did not dare to be careless and observed carefully.

Towards the end of the first half, Lowry broke through to the Lakers' interior in the middle, and suddenly a subtle pole pass was handed to Jordan Jr. near the free throw line.

The Lakers' Bynum and Gasol were attracted to Lowry, and there was a slight hole in the defensive lineup.

Jordan Jr. took a sideways step, shouted, lifted the ball strongly, made a slam dunk posture, and easily flew over the heads of Gasol and Bynum.

The movement was so fast that Gasol and Bynum could only subconsciously raise their hands.

"Boom!"

Jordan Jr. walked between the two and completed this violent dunk that stunned everyone on the court, including Lakers fans and Timberwolves players.

Zheng Ke was the first to stand up and applaud Jordan Jr., this dunk was very powerful, the speed and angle were perfect, let him do it, and that's it. Jordan Jr. is really talented at dunking, especially when he's so tall, but he still has excellent bounce, and flat-rim dunks have become very easy for him.

"If you have picked up a treasure, good cultivation can definitely be a gate on the inside line, not to mention Mutombo, at least at the level of Kambi." Thibodeau looked at Jordan Jr. flying on the court and felt how wise the decision to come to the Timberwolves was in the first place.

In the first game of the preseason, there was a domineering two-person split dunk from Jordan Jr., although it was not as seeking physical contact as Zheng Ke's dunk, but it has already attracted a lot of attention. Immediately, the NBA's official top ten first-day balls came out, and Jordan Jr.'s goal was selected and ranked first.

Although the preseason is mainly practice, many teams still see the clues of the Timberwolves lineup.

The Timberwolves' bench lineup is stronger than before, the point guard who started the preseason is Lowry, and after Billups came off the bench, Marcus Thornton, Brewer, Gibson and Jordan Jr. had a perfect bench lineup, with some defending and some attacking with the ball; There are good goalscorers, there are wing defenders.

The Timberwolves, in 10 preseason games, have won nine games, the only one being to the Kings.

After more than 20 days of preseason practice, the Timberwolves returned to the target center, where they will take on the Bucks in their first game.

This year's NBA regular season opener has a total of three games.

The Big Three team of the Heat take on the Celtics, the Suns, who lost last season, take on the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Houston Rockets take on the Lakers on the road.

One of the most notable was the first game of the Heat against the Celtics.

Last season, the Celtics eliminated James' Cavaliers again, and when it comes to the grudge between James and the Celtics, it is the tangle between Camby Zhengke and the Trail Blazers. This time, James went to Miami and found the help of the Dragon King and Wade, although it caused Cleveland fans to be unhappy, but it is undeniable that the Heat's book strength is on par with the Celtics, and they have the capital to call the board.

A lot of people look at the Heat, thinking that two superstars who need to hold the ball will struggle to put up a good record.

However, Zheng Ke does not think so.

Both Wade and James are currently among the top scorers in the scoring charts, and their individual offensive ability can be called the top five in the league. And the two of them together, no matter how well they cooperate, at least the goal is very clear, that is, the championship, before they get the championship, at least the three of them are grasshoppers on a rope, and the energy that bursts out is absolutely beyond imagination.

So Zheng Ke has never looked down on the Heat, and regards them as the biggest enemy on the road to the championship.

But Zheng Ke looked away in this game, the current run-in degree of the Heat Big Three is obviously not enough, Wade is very uncomfortable with the feeling of not having the ball, and Bosh is also not suitable for the new role positioning, the two of them have 13 points, 6 assists and 6 turnovers, and only 8 points and 8 rebounds on 3-of-11 shooting. Although James scored 31 points, he also had a full 8 turnovers, and the Celtics won the battle of the focus 88-80.

"Nima, so many mistakes and wool." Zheng Ke watched the game and complained.

"Look at you like you seem to want the Heat to win, isn't it that ESPN's survey shows that most of the United States does not support the Heat Big Three?" Taylor said.

"Ha Luha, I don't have any particular support. It's just that I think the Heat should be able to play better, and they still have a long way to go, and I'm afraid that when they come back, my Timberwolves' record will be a big cut ahead of them. Zheng Ke laughed and explained.

"Everyone will not be used to changing the style of play suddenly, and the Heat will be in big trouble." Zheng Ke smiled and said with some schadenfreude, although he still sees that the Heat can rise in the future, he is happy to see the three of them eat.

"Tomorrow is the first game of the Timberwolves, you should have confidence against the Bucks, right?" Taylor laughed.

"Fortunately, I'm actually afraid of a team like the Bucks that relies on some hands, but fortunately Jennings is a bit iron." Zheng Ke said, but Taylor showed an incomprehensible expression and said, "Isn't Jennings quite powerful?" Last season, I scored 55 points or my rookie season, so after a summer, it should be stronger, right? And your national team teammate Yi, that's a long-range anti-aircraft battery, and the three-point shooting percentage is almost 40, right? ”

"Okay!" Zheng Ke was impressed by Taylor, gave Taylor a thumbs up, and said with a smile: "After a few years of being a husband, basketball knowledge has skyrocketed!" I even remembered Yi Jianlian's shooting percentage, and I have the potential to be a senior fan! ”

Taylor gave him a blank look, and said helplessly, "Who told you to talk about this all day?" I can't help it even if I don't want to be a fan" (To be continued......