"The Pelicans played well in the preseason, but the preseason is just the preseason. Did ESPN decide the Pelicans are the strongest based on one preseason?"

"I also think ESPN's predictions this year are a bit of a stretch. Let's not even talk about the Warriors, the Cavaliers have added so many quality role players, the Spurs have added Aldridge, and there are the Rockets' Big Three. What about the Pelicans? Even if Bojan and Gordon cancel each other out, they're still missing Whiteside! What's the basis for this?!"

"They're underrating the Rockets too much. A top-three center, a top-two shooting guard, and the number one point guard, ranked only fifth? That's ridiculous!"

"Yeah, and what about the Mavericks and Lakers? I think the Mavericks can definitely be ranked fifth, and as for the Lakers, with Kobe, they'd be in the bottom five? No way!"

"Did you guys notice that this year's list wasn't made by Ford, but by someone named Pelton?"

"Was Ford fired because he was wrong too many times? But this Pelton, it's obvious that the expert level is getting worse every year! Experts, experts, why don't you just ask me to do it, I could do it more professionally than him!"

……

The amount of criticism this issue of ESPN's predictions has received is the most in recent years.

But this also reflects the views of most fans, who don't think the Pelicans, with little improvement, can break through among the Western Conference powerhouses.

The Pelicans' season opener is at home against the Hornets, and with two days to go before the game, Stevens has scheduled team training every day.

Although easy-going in attitude, he is much stricter in training than Monty Williams.

After training that day, the players chatted and laughed in the locker room.

During training camp, they were full of confidence, and then they won all the preseason games, which made them even more excited about the new season.

The team's current state is the best it's been since Tang Tian joined.

"Tang, did you see ESPN's prediction list? We're ranked first!"

Davis said, laughing, as he sat down next to Tang Tian.

When good things happen to people, they are in high spirits. Being favored by ESPN after winning all the preseason games is a double blessing.

"ESPN is finally becoming professional this year. I could have made better predictions than them with my toes in the past."

Bojan said with a smile. He is now the most talkative person in the Pelicans' locker room.

"This year they changed an expert to do the predictions."

Tang Tian knew a lot about this and told the truth.

The previous Ford hadn't been very accurate in his predictions since Tang Tian's draft year. This new one seemed to be pretty good at making predictions.

"Then this expert is a ball懂球帝 (dongqiu di, someone who understands basketball)! If I have the chance, I must invite him to dinner, so that we'll always be number one on the prediction list in the future."

Bojan said with a smile.

After he finished speaking, the other players laughed one after another.

When the Pelicans traded for Bojan, they just wanted a shooter, but they didn't expect to find a chatterbox for the locker room.

With him around, the whole atmosphere has become a lot more relaxed.

"But I saw fans saying that this list isn't accurate."

Davis frowned as he swiped through Twitter on his phone.

"Then let's make it accurate."

Tang Tian said with a smile.

His words drew a burst of jeering from the players.

The atmosphere of the Pelicans is really enviable.

"Tang, your shampoo is really good."

At this time, McGee had just finished taking a shower and came out of the shower room wrapped in a towel. He came out and said to Tang Tian.

He's grown a beard and hair this season, making him look a lot rougher.

"I felt good when I used it last time too."

Davis echoed.

"Really?"

Ariza turned his head and asked.

"Trevor, what are you doing? Does your hair need shampoo? Give me a bottle, my pure Bosnian hair needs good shampoo to nourish it."

Ariza has a buzz cut. Bojan stopped him and came over to say.

Tang Tian shook his head with a smile after hearing this.

The shampoo they were talking about was Head & Shoulders' latest men's shampoo, which he endorsed, and the people there sent him several boxes of it.

He brought a few bottles over during training camp, but he didn't expect it to be so popular.

But speaking of which, many of the Pelicans have mid-length hair, which is rare in the league.

"There's enough for everyone, I'll have someone move a few boxes over tomorrow and give them out."

Tang Tian said with a smile.

His words drew a cheer from Bojan.

"I knew it, after I try it for a while, if it's really good, I'll be a loyal customer of this brand."

The next day, Tang Tian asked Karl to find a few people and move all the shampoo from his house over, and distributed it directly in the locker room.

This stuff isn't worth much, but it's mainly Tang Tian who gave it, so the meaning is different.

Bojan, the goofball, went to the bathroom to try out the shampoo as soon as he got it.

While they were distributing it, Stevens came in.

"What are you guys doing?"

Stevens asked after coming in.

When the players heard his voice, they stopped booing and returned to their seats.

Stevens is very easy-going when he's not training or playing games, but he's really strict when he's training.

Training is about to start now, and the players know they can't joke around casually.

"I'm giving them shampoo."

Tang Tian said to Stevens with a smile.

"Tang, this shampoo is really good! After I used it..."

Bojan was coming out of the bathroom at this time. Seeing Stevens, he said half of the sentence, and forced the second half back.

Stevens looked at Bojan, then at the things in the cardboard box, and frowned slightly.

Just when the players thought he was going to get angry.

"Can you give out that many?"

Stevens' next sentence almost choked them with saliva.

"Give me a few bottles too, to help you share some of the load."

Stevens said with a smile.

This time the players were completely happy.

Stevens looks even more handsome when he's being humorous.

After the shampoo was distributed, Stevens led the players to continue training.

Because the opening game is tonight, Stevens was especially serious when training that day.

The outcome of the preseason can't explain anything, tomorrow's regular season is the real test of strength.

It's a good thing that ESPN is optimistic about the Pelicans, but if they slap ESPN in the face like those teams before, then this year will definitely not be a good thing.

When training was over, the players returned to the locker room and uniformly started using the shampoo that Tang Tian had just distributed.

With McGee and Davis praising it, and Bojan personally trying it out, they had to try it out.

After the experience, the players all praised it.

The shampoo makes the hair loose and a bit floaty after washing, which is very appropriate with the word "飘柔 (Piao Rou, Head & Shoulders in Chinese)."

"Guys, I'm more confident now, I'm going to perform well in tonight's game."

Bojan said, stroking his hair.

This made everyone else laugh.

But they all agreed with the second half of what Bojan said.

Whether it's a mule or a horse, you have to take it out for a walk to know. They were full of confidence, and now that they've washed their hair, they're just waiting to use the Hornets as a sacrifice tonight!