When a superstar continues to improve, it's a very scary thing.

Leonard nodded.

On the Spurs' offense, Duncan orchestrated from the free throw line, passing to Leonard who cut to the basket.

Leonard leaped for a layup.

But Durant stretched out his long arm from behind at this moment, almost blocking it!

"Bang!"

Leonard's shot was interfered with and went wide, the rebound collected by Perkins.

"Wow~ Durant's strength has improved a lot compared to last season," Barkley said from the commentary box.

"Yes, this may be the most important factor for the Thunder to still be a championship favorite after losing Harden," Smith nodded in agreement from the side.

Not only Barkley and Smith, but the eyes of the fans at the scene were also on Durant at this time.

In this offensive and defensive play just now, they could clearly feel Durant's improvement in strength.

It seemed that Durant had not only developed his dribbling skills during the offseason, but also continued to improve in other aspects.

It was only at this time that many people remembered that this was already Durant's sixth season.

For NBA players, at this stage, if they stay in the league, either their skills are finalized, or they should have a major breakthrough.

Durant now clearly belonged to the latter.

He was not willing to just be the team's former Ray Allen!

On the Thunder's offense, Leonard was already guarding Durant closely, but Durant's off-ball movement was very fast, and Ibaka's screen was very well-placed.

Durant caught the ball and saw Duncan's help defense arrive, so he dribbled in place to create space before shooting.

"Swish!"

He made the shot!

Durant scored 4 consecutive points to start the game!

This was the biggest difference after Durant learned to dribble, he finally didn't have to use his signature long-stride breakthrough on the left every time.

On the Spurs' offense, the hammer play created an opportunity, and Leonard seized the opportunity and hit a three-pointer.

Although he didn't train with Tang Tian this past summer, he didn't waste his time during the offseason.

Turning around, Durant continued to receive the ball.

This time, the other players on the Thunder spread out the space very wide.

Durant made a large change of direction dribble in place.

This time, Leonard didn't risk a steal, but instead preemptively blocked Durant's breakthrough route.

Although he was already a top defender, he was still learning and improving by constantly watching Tang Tian's defense off the court.

Durant's right was blocked, but he didn't stop the ball, and directly switched to a long-stride breakthrough on the left.

It was the same offensive style, but it was clearly smoother than last season.

Durant broke through to the inside and went for a big loop layup against Leonard.

Leonard defended hard, but couldn't block it, and hit Durant's arm, drawing a defensive foul.

"Bang!"

What was even more fatal was that Durant maintained his good hand shape after being fouled, and the shot under the contest still went into the basket!

2+1!

There was a commotion on the sidelines.

Durant was simply unstoppable after the start of the game!

The camera immediately focused on Durant, who high-fived Westbrook fiercely, but his expression remained cold.

"Now I think Kevin can really compete with LeBron for MVP, he looks a bit unstoppable right now," Kenny Smith said with emotion.

During Durant's free throw opportunity, Popovich called Tang Tian to the sidelines.

"Can you defend him?" Popovich asked quickly.

Tang Tian shook his head.

The current Durant, due to Harden's trade, the Spurs' award ceremony, and many other factors intertwined, had different strength and state compared to last season.

If we continue to use the "Bleach" manga as a comparison, he had evolved from the strength of a "Mask" to the state of a "Hollow."

"Are you going to defend him?" Popovich then asked.

Tang Tian didn't hesitate and nodded directly.

Leonard couldn't defend him, so he was the only one who could, and he had to defend even if he couldn't.

Popovich nodded in satisfaction and turned to call Green up.

The substitution on the sidelines, Green came on to replace Leonard.

There was a burst of cheers at the scene.

Tang Tian was the Spurs' biggest trump card on the defensive end now!

"Here it comes, the Tang vs. Durant we're familiar with," Barkley said loudly on the sidelines, as if that was the most attractive part of the game to him.

"Two guys who don't get along," Smith echoed from the side.

Durant used a burner account to attack Tang Tian, and Tang Tian used trash talk to spray Durant, the two were at odds with each other on and off the court last season.

Now, the new season had arrived, and the two's matchup began again!

Durant saw the Spurs' substitution and realized that Tang Tian was going to match up with him again, the murderous aura on his face became even stronger.

"Swish!"

Durant's free throw also went in.

He scored 7 consecutive points to start the game, helping the Thunder lead 7-3.

The Spurs continued to run the hammer play on the frontcourt, and it was still zip.

With Leonard off the court, Tang Tian replaced his tactical position, waiting to receive the ball at the bottom corner.

Parker's pass after the breakthrough arrived, but Tang Tian was followed by Ibaka's help defense as soon as he caught the ball.

With the experience of last season, the Thunder were very clear that Tang Tian's three-point threat was much greater than Green and Leonard's, and the pressure they gave on defense was not on the same level.

But just as Ibaka pounced up to help defend, Tang Tian suddenly dribbled forward one step, and then threw the ball with his right hand.

The ball flew past Ibaka's side, and then flew directly into Duncan's hands under the basket.

Duncan made a close-range bank shot after catching the ball.

"Bang!"

The ball banked into the hoop.

"Cake King" Duncan was online.

Duncan pointed to Tang Tian after scoring.

The two brought their cooperation from the China game to the regular season!

Whistles rang out from the sidelines.

If Tang Tian's passing ability shown in the preseason still made them worry that the intensity of the game was not enough, then this pass just now completely dispelled their worries!

Tang Tian could pass now!

"Durant is not the Durant of last season, and Tang is not the Tang of last season either, buddy, you have to be careful of his passing!"

After Tang Tian and Durant matched up, Barkley's commentary emotions had been high, and he shouted loudly at this moment.

Durant received the ball in the frontcourt to attack Tang Tian, and after being blocked by Tang Tian in the dribble breakthrough, he directly connected with a sudden stop and fadeaway, the whole movement was very coherent.

"Swish!"

Durant scored another goal against Tang Tian's defense, scoring 9 consecutive points after the start of the game!

In "Bleach", Ichigo's strength doubled when he entered the Mask state, but after Hollowfication, his combat power exploded directly.

Just like Tang Tian said to Popovich, he couldn't defend him now either.

But after Durant scored a goal here, Tang Tian ran out of an opportunity in the frontcourt again.

This time Ibaka helped defend again, but he obviously didn't dare to pounce as thoroughly as he did last time, and instead diverted his attention to Duncan's position behind him.

Tang Tian shot directly.

Ibaka didn't have time to interfere.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian returned Durant with an answerball three-pointer!