The Pelicans had a great start to December, going 3-1 in their first four games.

But the difficulties brought by Davis's absence also followed.

Their first game back in New Orleans was against the Warriors.

Tang Tian scored 41 points, but the Pelicans still lost 103-113.

Curry and Thompson combined for 15 three-pointers and 58 points.

Thompson, because he left the nightclubs early and followed the Ku Lian (bitter training) brothers training camp every year, his strength was much better than in history.

Moreover, in the other matchups, Bogut suppressed Whiteside, and Iguodala also held down Gordon.

Even with Davis, the two teams were evenly matched and could put up a good fight.

After losing to the Warriors, the Pelicans faced the Grizzlies in a back-to-back the next day.

The loss to the Warriors took a toll on the Pelicans' morale, and they seemed lost against the Grizzlies' high-intensity defense in the back-to-back.

The Pelicans' shooting percentage was less than 40% throughout the game, and the outcome was decided by the end of the third quarter.

After losing to the Grizzlies, the Pelicans suffered a three-game losing streak and relinquished the top spot in the Western Conference to the Warriors.

For a time, fans were talking about it.

Those haters also seized the opportunity to bash the Pelicans to death.

Words such as "See, they finally fell" and "I said they couldn't do it" emerged one after another.

Even the Pelicans management showed concern about the team's recent performance.

The coaching staff was under great pressure, and Williams often sat alone in the coach's office, with a splitting headache.

After a training session that day, Tang Tian took the initiative to knock on the door of Williams' office.

Seeing that it was Tang Tian, Williams felt like he had seen a savior.

Last season, Tang Tian not only turned the tide on the court, but also provided a lot of help to the team off the court.

"We can try adjusting the starting lineup."

Tang Tian gave his suggestion.

His suggestion was to replace Aminu with Teletovic.

His current breakthrough ability is very strong, and the best way to play is with one star and four shooters, but Jokic's strength is not enough for the starting lineup, so one star and three shooters is the limit.

In fact, even before Davis was injured, he was mostly shooting from mid-range.

Aminu can't develop a stable three-point shot, the space on the court can't come out, forcing Tang Tian to choose more dry shots.

Especially in the game against the Grizzlies, Randolph was shrinking in the paint, and the game was very similar to last season.

As for defense, with Holiday, Ariza, and Whiteside, the help defense is actually not as bad as imagined.

You know, the Pelicans also used Morrow as a starter in the playoffs last season, and they weren't blown out.

This season, the wing defense has become stronger, and it is worth a try.

Williams adopted Tang Tian's suggestion after listening.

A three-game losing streak is a predicament, and change is always better than no change.

Moreover, Tang Tian's previous suggestions had worked.

The Pelicans' next opponent was the Clippers.

Although the Clippers were eliminated in the first round last season, after a season of running in, the tacit understanding between the Big Three has been very good.

This season, in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, they are ranked fourth, ahead of the Rockets.

Without Davis, the Pelicans, in their poor situation, this is a good game for them to boost the team's morale before Christmas.

Not to mention the grudge between the two teams, they had experienced the 58 massacre at the hands of the Pelicans last season.

This game was held at the New Orleans Arena, the Pelicans' home court.

On the night of the game, the attendance rate of the arena was around 80%.

The previous high attendance rate of the arena showed that the recent losing streak has still had a certain impact on the market.

The game was about to begin, and the players from both sides went to the court from the locker room one after another.

Tang Tian called Whiteside before he got up.

"Hassan, don't you want to buy a big house next year?"

Tang Tian said in a low voice.

Whiteside nodded, Tang Tian had talked about this when he went to his house a few days ago.

But his eyes were full of doubts, he didn't know why Tang Tian suddenly mentioned this at this time.

"Now is your chance to show your defensive value in the paint."

Tang Tian knew that Whiteside was not very smart, so he spoke more directly.

Whiteside understood.

Williams had already talked about Teletovic starting yesterday.

If he starts, others have to help defend, but the key role is still Whiteside.

After all, Teletovic is a power forward, and if the opponent wants to attack him, they will most likely go to the basket.

Whiteside has proven in previous games that he is a qualified starting center, but whether he can exceed this definition, this is the opportunity.

If he can do excellent help defense, even one-on-two defense, then his value will definitely be different from now.

"I will definitely buy a big house."

Whiteside said with firm eyes.

Tang Tian's reminder was very timely, and his emotions about the game became excited again.

After the opening ceremony, the starting players from both sides took the court one after another.

Both sides used regular lineups, the only change was that Teletovic replaced Aminu in the Pelicans' starting lineup.

Rivers' eyes lit up when he saw this adjustment, obviously, he found a breakthrough in the game.

Whiteside and Jordan jumped for the ball, the former jumped high and dialed the ball back to the Pelicans' half, he looked very excited.

With Teletovic starting, the Pelicans spaced the floor very well.

Tang Tian broke through Barnes and went straight to the inside.

The Clippers contracted their defense, and Tang Tian passed the ball to Teletovic at the bottom corner.

The latter took a three-point shot and hit it.

Although he failed to enter the rotation before, he is a good player like Anderson, and he is meticulous in training.

Although he is not worth 20 million standing there, he is still worth 10 million if you cut it in half.

Redick's three-pointer around the tactic missed, and Whiteside blocked Jordan under the basket to protect the defensive rebound.

Back on the offensive end, the same tactic, Teletovic shot again.

"Swish!"

He made two consecutive open three-pointers from the bottom corner!

It was as if he had turned on the "bottom corner three-pointer" skill in the game!

Rivers shouted on the sidelines, signaling the team to adjust their tactics.

Paul controlled the ball to the frontcourt, and Griffin directly dropped to the low post and asked for the ball.

Paul passed the ball in, and Griffin posted up Teletovic.

The gap between the two's confrontation was too big, and Griffin turned around and completely got rid of Teletovic.

He took a big step and flew up to dunk.

Whiteside helped defend at this time.

Griffin went for a dunk right over him.

"Bang!"

There was a collision between the two, Whiteside was like he was on drugs, and furiously slapped the ball out of Griffin's hand!

A frontal block!

The fans at the scene were stunned, this was too hard!

"This.is.my.house!"

After the block, Whiteside shouted to the sidelines.

Griffin was stunned after hearing these familiar words.

When the Clippers played the Spurs in the playoffs, he said this to Tang Tian, and Tang Tian used "horse" to anger him at the time.

He didn't expect Whiteside to turn around and use it against him!

He frowned and glared at Tang Tian.

It must have been Tang Tian who instigated it!

But this time, he misunderstood Tang Tian.

He even misunderstood Whiteside's original intention of shouting these words.

There are many interpretations of the meaning of "house." Dwyane Wade shouted it out and extended it to mean "home court," but Whiteside was shouting its original meaning.

House, the big house he and Tang Tian talked about!

He wanted to earn a big house with his performance, and he wanted to use such a slogan to remind himself all the time, he wanted to earn a big house!