Williams saw that Ajinca couldn't hold up and brought on Jason Smith ahead of time.

But Smith was even worse than Ajinca, and the Pelicans were in a passive position from the start.

Whiteside was watching from the sidelines at this time, with a little smugness on his face.

Serves you right for not putting me on the active list, huh?

Ajinca and Smith are simply not as good as him. The reason he didn't play well before was because Williams gave him too little time and it was too fragmented.

Williams finally called Reggie Evans up.

If Evans couldn't be used either, he would have to let Davis play center and put Gordon in to speed things up.

Although playing against the Bulls like that would be very disadvantageous, it was better than being ravaged in the paint like this.

Butler's strong drive caused Smith's second personal foul, earning him two free throws.

The first free throw was made.

The Bulls led 11-5.

Evans came on to replace Smith.

Butler's second free throw missed.

Evans secured the defensive rebound.

The Pelicans attacked to the frontcourt, and Tang Tian called Davis for a pick-and-roll. The Bulls directly double-teamed him, and he knocked the ball to Davis.

But the Bulls' defensive rotation was very fast, and Davis' shot was interfered with by Noah.

"Bang!"

His shot missed.

Boozer switched to the basket, and stretched out his long arms to prepare to collect the defensive rebound.

But at this moment, a hand suddenly poked the ball out.

Boozer turned his head in surprise, and Evans jumped up again and grabbed the offensive rebound!

After Evans got the rebound, he didn't even look at the basket, and turned around to pass the ball back to Tang Tian.

Tang Tian took the ball and shot again, but Butler interfered closely.

"Bang!"

The ball still bounced off the rim.

Noah had already returned to the basket at this time, reaching out to grab the rebound.

But Evans directly positioned himself under the basket after passing the ball. This guy had zero offensive desire, but his desire to grab rebounds was 100!

Noah had no position, and Evans' judgment of the ball's landing point was perfect. After jumping up, it was another offensive rebound!

Two consecutive offensive boards!

The Bulls fans on the sidelines were stunned.

The Bulls have always been known for their toughness and ferocity, but this 2.03-meter-tall old guy looked like he was fighting even harder than them!

Evans passed the ball to Tang Tian again!

This was really in response to what he said when he first came to the team: Boss, leave the rebounds to me.

Tang Tian took the ball this time and directly attacked inside, scoring after a physical shot against Butler.

After the goal, Evans was even more excited than him, roaring in place.

This guy was already 34 years old, but he was still full of energy!

In the Bulls' offense, Boozer had no chance to hold the ball and play back-to-the-basket in the high post. He passed it inside to Noah under the basket.

Noah was a head taller than Evans, and shot directly after the physical confrontation.

But it was this confrontation that pushed him out, and the close-range shot was an air ball!

The worst All-NBA team, living up to its name!

Evans turned around and grabbed another defensive rebound!

Although he was short, he was 2.03 meters tall and weighed 110 kilograms!

The four heavenly kings of amateur basketball courts: flexible fat man, short and strong rebound monster, hook-shot old man, tall and thin abnormally accurate.

Evans was the short and strong rebound monster on the professional court!

Tang Tian couldn't help but laugh when he saw this.

Evans' effect was better than he expected. He could resist, had rebounds, and had the kind of fighting spirit that could infect his teammates.

The Pelicans had tried n interior players, and finally found the real answer to their center position.

With Evans' rebound guarantee, Tang Tian attacked even more resolutely.

The Pelicans slowly stabilized the situation on the court.

Whiteside's expression was not good at this time.

Obviously, he looked down on Smith and Ajinca, but Evans' performance made him feel the pressure.

The two teams stalemated until the fourth quarter.

At the last moment, the Bulls resolutely double-teamed Tang Tian, and Butler stuck to Tang Tian from the beginning, not letting him break through easily.

The Pelicans' offense was greatly restricted, and they eventually lost 91-99, ending their 8-game winning streak.

But this loss was nothing unacceptable. The Pelicans were eighth in the West, and the Bulls were third in the East. There was still some gap in the overall strength of the two teams.

Tang Tian was restricted by Butler in this game, and only scored 25 points and 9 assists on 9 of 21 shooting.

Evans' Pelicans debut was eye-catching, getting 2 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block in 27 minutes of play.

This rebounding efficiency of 1 rebound every 2 minutes lived up to the name of rebound obsessive.

He proved with his performance that even in professional competitions, in addition to talent and strength, hard work and fighting spirit can also earn playing time.

After the game against the Bulls, Tang Tian took Butler out for a late-night snack.

This guy was originally planning to do extra training, but when Tang Tian opened his mouth, he postponed his extra training plan until late at night.

"You still have to practice when you get back later?"

When Tang Tian heard Butler say that when the late-night snack was almost finished, he couldn't help but look at his watch.

He definitely needed to rest after eating, and he wouldn't be able to practice again until two or three in the morning.

Tang Tian was considered a very hardworking player, but Butler was simply a pervert.

"It doesn't matter, I'll just get up at 6 tomorrow morning."

Butler said with a smile.

When Tang Tian heard this, he suddenly felt that this guy was a lunatic.

"By the way, I've always been curious, aren't you tired from training so hard?"

Tang Tian couldn't help but ask.

He had lived two lives, and knew that there was a limit to how much he could love basketball.

Butler's approach was even more exaggerated than Might Guy in Naruto. He was really burning his life.

"Tired? No, I don't feel that way anymore."

Butler shook his head with a smile.

Okay, this guy was indeed a pervert.

Tang Tian finally shook his head helplessly. He suddenly felt that Butler was really unique in the NBA.

"By the way, what do your parents do? How come I've never heard you mention them?"

At the end of the chat, Tang Tian asked.

The other hard-training brothers usually talked about their families when chatting.

Thompson's star father, Irving's handsome father, Walker even took Tang Tian to the New York neighborhood where he lived as a child.

Only Butler had never mentioned these things.

"They... they are very kind. When summer comes, I'll go visit them with you."

Butler's expression changed several times when he said this, but in the end it was a happy and sweet expression.

Tang Tian nodded. Butler said that, but he was a little curious instead.

After finishing the game with the Bulls, the Pelicans continued their road trip.

In the next few days, they would face the Heat, Wizards, and Mavericks. The schedule was not easy.

There was a gap in strength between the Pelicans and the Heat, and the Big Three were also in good condition in this game. Tang Tian's efforts to score points still couldn't help the team win.

The team suffered a two-game losing streak.

Williams, who was always mild-tempered, was furious in the locker room after the game.

It wasn't because the team lost, but because Whiteside had returned to the locker room early before the game was over.

Tang Tian was on the court playing and didn't know about this. When he heard Williams say it, he looked back at Whiteside.

This guy really didn't want to get better!