“If the opponent is using Tim Hardaway to defend, we need to spread the court as much as possible and play one-on-one with strong points…”

In fact, not only the Pelicans' players, but also coach Williams was creating more opportunities for Tang Tian.

This game was about the Pelicans' pride.

The commentators for this game were Mike Breen from ESPN and Knicks legend, the "Mid-Range King," Allan Houston.

The commentary arrangements in the NBA are actually quite interesting to delve into.

For example, for this game full of trash talk, ESPN brought in Knicks legend to be the guest commentator.

"Allan, do you think Hardaway can do what he said before the game?"

Taking advantage of the fact that the game hadn't started yet, Breen and Houston were warming up on the sidelines.

"Yes, he will. I know that kid, he has great physical attributes, and he has a lot of heart."

Houston wasn't a professional commentator, and his words were quite absolute at this moment.

"I'll be looking forward to that scene."

Breen said with a happy face.

Compared to commentating with that old fox Miller, he was obviously much more relaxed now.

Setting traps and digging holes, Houston was falling for every single one.

After the final pre-game tactical arrangements were completed, the starting players from both sides took to the court one after another.

The Pelicans' side had its regular lineup: Holiday and Tang Tian on the outside, Aminu and Davis on the frontline, and Reggie Evans at center.

On the Knicks' side, Anthony was sitting on the sidelines in a suit and tie.

The outside consisted of Raymond Felton and Little Tim Hardaway, the frontline was Shumpert and Bargnani, and Tyson Chandler was at center.

Amid the cheers of the home fans, Davis won the tip-off for the Pelicans for the N+Nth time, securing the first offensive opportunity.

Holiday dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and after the other players spread out, he passed the ball to Tang Tian, pulling Felton away himself.

Tang Tian received the ball, and the person defending him was indeed Hardaway.

There was already a chorus of heckling on the sidelines at this time; they were the ones who most wanted to see Tang Tian beat Hardaway up.

"Going left? Or going right? I know you'll choose a pull-up jumper, that's all you know how to do, just float out there and shoot."

Before Tang Tian even started his offense, Hardaway started with the trash talk.

Durant said that Tang Tian was easily provoked, so he was provoking Tang Tian right from the start.

Tang Tian looked at Hardaway with concern. Was this guy's brain even worse than Whiteside's, oh no, than Cousins'?

He lowered his body and dribbled, a crossover to the left.

Hardaway's height was 1.98 meters, not much shorter than Tang Tian, and his wingspan was excellent, so his defensive ability was still quite good.

He stayed with Tang Tian on the first move.

But Tang Tian suddenly went to the right again, directly shaking him open.

Hardaway's body was good, but as a rookie, he lacked experience. This time he was obviously too close, and he didn't have time to adjust his defensive center of gravity.

After shaking Hardaway open, Tang Tian directly chose a pull-up jumper.

He was barely interfered with on this shot.

"Swish!"

The basketball went into the net cleanly.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

The Pelicans' bench also shouted excitedly.

Hardaway confidently said he would defend Tang Tian, but he was cleanly shaken in the first possession?

The Knicks' offense, Felton and Bargnani ran a pick-and-roll, and the return pass went to Bargnani for a layup.

Davis on the weak side came over to help defend and successfully interfered, and Evans secured the defensive rebound.

The Pelicans advanced to the frontcourt, and Holiday immediately passed the ball to Tang Tian.

Hardaway learned from his previous experience and didn't stick so close this time.

Tang Tian dribbled twice, and seeing the distance between Hardaway and himself, he directly pulled up and shot.

Aggressive defenses like Tony Allen and Butler were still very effective against him now, but Hardaway was obviously far from that level.

Hardaway didn't expect Tang Tian to suddenly pull up, and it was obviously a little late to pounce out again.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian's second shot also went in.

Didn't Hardaway say that he only knew how to pull up?

But you have to be able to defend it!

"He needs to play with more aggression in the next defensive possession, that's the only way to defend Tang's offense."

Houston gave Hardaway very sincere advice at the commentary booth at this time.

"Yes, he will defend successfully in the next possession," Breen echoed from the side.

He had commentated on many Pelicans games, or Tang Tian's games.

He knew very well that Hardaway couldn't defend Tang Tian no matter what, and he also knew the reason why ESPN arranged for Houston to be his partner.

Didn't the audience like to see this kind of commentary being proven wrong?

Then he would cater to the audience and make the slap in the face even more thorough.

Felton's three-point attempt from the outside was off, and Evans boxed out Chandler to secure the defensive rebound again.

The Pelicans advanced to the frontcourt, and it was still Tang Tian's one-on-one play with the ball.

The Knicks didn't double-team.

Trusting people, Woodson would give enough trust since he chose to believe in Hardaway.

Hardaway was back to close defense at this time, he could see that Tang Tian was intentionally using pull-up jumpers to attack after being provoked by his trash talk.

So, by sticking close and controlling his center of gravity, he had a good chance of defending it.

Tang Tian crossed over to the left.

Hardaway followed to the left as well, but this time his center of gravity wasn't completely shifted, and he was ready to move to the right at any time.

"Bang!"

At this moment, Tang Tian suddenly accelerated directly, and after a physical confrontation with him, he completely squeezed past him!

Tang Tian's offensive methods were relatively simple, but when several techniques were combined, it was difficult to defend against!

Hardaway was knocked off balance completely, and when he turned around, Tang Tian had already turned and rushed to the basket.

Evans was holding Chandler off tightly under the basket at this time.

Bargnani's movement speed was slow, and he was completely unable to help defend.

Tang Tian had a wide-open path in front of him.

He charged to the basket and leaped up, raising the ball high with his right hand.

His entire head was level with the rim.

"Boom!"

A powerful, rim-grazing, one-handed dunk!

The cheers from the crowd instantly exploded.

Tang Tian scored 6 consecutive points at the start, and also contributed a wonderful dribble and dunk!

More importantly, the person defending him for all three possessions was Hardaway.

Hardaway said he would defend Tang Tian?

Those words, to put it nicely, were the fearlessness of a newborn calf, but to put it bluntly, it was not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth!

Hardaway took two deep breaths, he had never matched up against Tang Tian before, and only when he matched up against him at this time did he realize that feeling of helplessness.

He had the feeling that he had been tricked by Durant.

Of course, it would be a good thing for him to step on Tang Tian to get to the top, but the problem was that what stood in front of him now was Mount Everest, and he couldn't even see the top, let alone step on it!

"Pa!"

Durant slammed the cigar in his hand onto the table.

This Hardaway was really trash, even if he didn't need to attack and just defended, he was still blown away by Tang Tian so cleanly.

It seemed that he had really overestimated Hardaway.

But soon, he picked up a new cigar and lit it.

This might not be a bad thing, Tang Tian's touch was so good at the start, the Knicks should be doubling him soon.

Double-teaming might not work, but it would definitely limit Tang Tian's scoring.

Different paths leading to the same destination, as long as he got the effect he wanted.

Woodson didn't double-team.

Taking advantage of a dead ball due to a foul on the court, he called Hardaway to the sidelines.

"Aggression, play with aggression!"

He shouted, waving his fist.

Although he was a student of Larry Brown, he didn't dislike using rookies like his mentor.

When he coached in Atlanta, he single-handedly cultivated Josh Smith into an All-Star player.

Although Hardaway's draft pick wasn't high, his talent was good, which was also one of the reasons why he was willing to try letting Hardaway match up against Tang Tian.

Matching up against superstars was a shortcut for players to grow quickly, but the process was very critical.

Hardaway nodded, he could feel the trust from Woodson's words.

Felton made one of two free throws, finally breaking the Knicks' scoring drought after the start.

The Pelicans advanced to the frontcourt, the ball transitioned in Aminu's hands, but it was still passed to Tang Tian.

The Pelicans' players only had one thought in their minds tonight, which was to give the ball to Tang Tian.

Tang Tian matched up against Hardaway again.

Hardaway started to use his body and make small movements at this time.

But he was still too young, and after a few movements, the referee's whistle sounded on the sidelines.

Hardaway's defensive foul!

Although Tang Tian didn't have superstar whistle treatment yet, this was still the Pelicans' home court!

It was inevitable that Hardaway would be called for doing this kind of thing under the referee's nose.

The Pelicans inbounded the ball from the sideline, and Tang Tian received the ball again in triple threat.

Hardaway was obviously a little hesitant at this time, sticking close would get him dribbled past, giving him space would get him shot over, and making moves would get him called for a foul.

It seemed like whatever he did was wrong.

In the instant that he hesitated, Tang Tian moved.

A crossover to the left, a step forward and then a crossover to the right, followed by another crossover to the left.

Continuous crossovers in front of his body, and it was the fastest dribbling frequency that Tang Tian could use.

Hardaway's center of gravity was obviously swaying, and his judgment was off, his body lunging to the right.

When he saw Tang Tian going to the left again, his body couldn't keep up with the shift in his center of gravity, and his legs staggered, falling directly to the ground!

Hardaway was shaken to the ground by Tang Tian!

There was a burst of laughter and whistles from the sidelines.

Hardaway really underestimated Tang Tian too much, and overestimated himself too much!

The consequence of this forced attempt to stand out was instant fame, but this fame wasn't a good thing!

After shaking Hardaway to the ground, Tang Tian had an uncontested pull-up jumper.

"Swish!"

The basketball went through the net again.

He was 4 for 4 from the field at the start!

Hardaway wanted to beat Tang Tian to get to the top, but he was blown away by Tang Tian right from the start!

"holyshit!"

Houston cursed inwardly at the commentary booth.

He didn't expect Hardaway to be blown out so badly, and he felt a burning sensation on his face.

Houston was mmp in his heart, but ESPN's commentary effect was fully realized, and the fans were laughing happily in front of the TV.

This feeling of being slapped in the face was so good!

Woodson reached out and rubbed his forehead.

He felt that he shouldn't have agreed to Hardaway's request. It was a good thing to match up against superstars, but if the gap was too big, it would be forcing growth, and it would actually harm Hardaway.

But he still couldn't take Hardaway off, taking Hardaway off at this time would really ruin Hardaway completely.

The Knicks didn't double-team, and Hardaway wasn't taken off the court either.

This quarter became Hardaway's nightmare time, he didn't even need to think about attacking, Tang Tian was bombing him wildly over his head, and he was completely stunned.

By the time he was replaced with four minutes left in the first quarter, his head was still buzzing.

He had already greeted Durant's ancestors eighteen generations in his heart, this was really using him as cannon fodder!

And he only realized after being abused that Durant hadn't even beaten Tang Tian when the Thunder and Pelicans played, how could he have believed Durant's nonsense back then!

In the first quarter, Tang Tian received the full support of his teammates, and scored 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting, breaking his single-quarter scoring record!

The Pelicans also led the Knicks 35-18 at the end of this quarter!

ps: Congratulations to The Cat Who Can't Program for becoming the 9th Alliance Master of this book!!

ps: Special thanks to Zilong for the ten thousand reward!!