Chapter 1 There are still 9 days before the official start of the All-Star Game, and the Pelicans have 4 more games to play, against the Mavericks, Celtics, Knicks and 76ers respectively.

The first two games will be tough, and the last two will be easier.

Especially the first game against the Mavericks.

Embiid has been in great shape recently, averaging 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 blocks in his last ten games, with a shooting percentage of 49%.

Driven by his outstanding performance, the Mavericks have won 9 of their last 10 games and are currently on a 7-game winning streak, also in excellent form.

With Cousins' post-injury decline, Embiid's performance this season has clearly made him the league's top center.

This is obviously a test for the Pelicans who have just experienced the trade.

Moreover, this game is played in Dallas, and the Dallas team, which has lost the previous two encounters, obviously hopes to win back a city at home.

On the night of the game, the American Airlines Center was packed.

Under the leadership of boss Cuban, the enthusiasm of the Dallas cowboys was particularly high tonight.

The Mavericks have been on a winning streak recently, with high morale, while the Pelicans have just traded and lost to the Lakers, and their morale is at a low ebb.

One high and one low, it is clear who has a better chance of winning.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of the two teams were released one after another.

For the Mavericks, the outside players are Conley and Holiday, the forwards are Harris and Dwight Powell, and the center is Embiid.

For the Pelicans, the outside players are Brogdon and Tang Tian, the forwards are Green and Davis, and the center is Harrell.

Stevens didn't start Gasol right away.

Gasol has only been with the team for one day, and he is not yet familiar with the tactical system.

Amid the cheers of the fans, the game started quickly.

Embiid won the jump ball against Davis, kicking off the battle between the Pelicans and Mavericks.

Embiid came up and scored on Harrell in the low post.

Harrell is tough, but Embiid looks big, but his basket skills are very skilled, and he scores with continuous foot movements.

And this is just the beginning.

The Mavericks gave Embiid the ball to play inside several times in a row after the opening, from the low post all the way to the free throw line, and Embiid scored all of them!

His condition lately is unusually good.

Moreover, after the Pelicans contracted, Holiday and Harris on the outside also showed excellent form, hitting consecutive shots.

After Jokic left, Carlisle simplified the team's tactics, using Embiid's inside containment to bring the inside-out play to the extreme.

Halfway through the first quarter, the Mavericks led the Pelicans 17-10.

It's not just Embiid, the entire Mavericks team has been in good shape recently.

Stevens turned around and called Gasol up from the bench.

Harrell seems to have met his nemesis against Embiid. He can't beat him in height or wingspan, and he can't beat him in skills. He is suppressed and has no temper.

Embiid shook Harrell at the free throw line and killed him under the basket, scoring a shot and causing Harrell to foul.

The scene was boiling, and Embiid roared like a beast at the sidelines after scoring.

This is really playing at the level of "the Great".

During Embiid's free throw opportunity, a short whistle sounded from the sidelines, and Gasol replaced Harrell.

Harrell was a little frustrated. Gasol patted him on the head when he came on the court to give him some encouragement.

This kind of behavior looks like an old ball rogue.

Embiid's free throw was made.

20 to 10, the Mavericks expanded their lead to 10 points.

This is the first time they have taken such a big lead at the start in three games this season.

Cuban on the sidelines had a flushed face and an excited expression.

The Pelicans have fallen into trouble this season and are no longer the invincible team they were last season!

It's time for the Mavericks to get some back!

"Defense! Defense!"

The emotions of the fans at the scene also rose, cheering for the home team under the leadership of the on-site DJ.

The Mavericks have gained momentum.

Tang Tian broke through with the ball. The Mavericks contracted their defense, and Embiid also let Gasol go and double-team from behind.

Tang Tian saw the opportunity and passed the ball back to Gasol at the top of the arc.

Gasol has a wide open three-point opportunity!

He has a three-point range, and his career three-point shooting percentage is close to 35%.

He didn't hesitate, and threw it up after catching the ball.

"Clang!"

Unfortunately, his three-point shot failed to hit, and it was obviously off.

His condition this season, especially on the offensive end, is really not very good.

Taking the three-point shooting percentage alone, he is only a little over 31% this season.

Embiid protected the defensive rebound.

Fans on the hotline are generally pessimistic about Gasol.

The former All-NBA center is gone. Gasol doesn't have much gas left in his tank. The Pelicans' trade deadline deal was a huge loss.

The Mavericks attacked the frontcourt and played a positional battle.

Embiid continued to catch the ball at the free throw line, and the Mavericks continued to play their previous inside and outside tactics.

Embiid leaned against Gasol and turned towards the basket.

He is very big, and Harrell couldn't get up because he was suppressed by him.

However, Gasol is also big, and he has good footwork and kept up with Embiid.

Embiid didn't have a direct scoring opportunity under the basket. He feinted, but Gasol didn't move at all.

He turned back to the free throw line, and Gasol followed him.

He used all his offensive methods, but failed to create a scoring opportunity for himself!

He finally chose to lean on Gasol's hook shot.

But Gasol stretched out his long arm and gave him enough pressure.

"Clang!"

Embiid's shot hit the rim and bounced out, and Gasol turned around and grabbed the defensive rebound!

The Mavericks' overwhelming offense was interrupted!

Stevens nodded in satisfaction from the sidelines.

Although Gasol has lost his touch this season, he can't lose his defensive skills.

The Pelicans attacked the frontcourt and played a positional battle. Tang Tian broke through and encountered the same defensive treatment. He also passed the ball to Gasol.

Gasol didn't pass the ball. He dribbled the ball directly to the basket.

Embiid returned to defense, and he made another straight pass to Davis on the weak side.

The Mavericks' defensive focus was on Tang Tian, and Gasol's sudden breakthrough and pass were very decisive, and they didn't have time to return to defense.

"Shua!"

Davis steadily hit a mid-range shot from the corner.

The Pelicans broke the scoring drought!

Davis took the initiative to high-five Gasol while retreating.

The ball he passed just now was very comfortable.

With one defense and one offense, the Pelicans' morale obviously recovered.

Embiid had no chance to pass the ball back to Conley, so he took the initiative to step up and play a pick-and-roll.

Conley broke through and layup, but was interfered by Gasol.

The ball didn't go in, and Gasol grabbed another defensive rebound.

The Pelicans attacked the frontcourt again. This time, Tang Tian tried holding the ball on the outside, and Gasol suddenly took the initiative to cut to the basket.

Tang Tian saw the opportunity and made a ground pass through the defense. Gasol caught the ball and easily made a layup.

The Pelicans' offense was quite comfortable.

Tang Tian also high-fived Gasol while retreating.

When playing basketball, having a brain is really a good thing.

Gasol knows that he is not in good form, so he is always able to make himself "valuable" on the court by breaking through, passing, and actively cutting without the ball.

Regardless of whether Gasol can regain his touch on the offensive end, just from this point of view, the Pelicans' trade has already been a good deal.