A successful team is easily targeted, just like other teams did their best to end their winning streak before.

And even if the winning streak ends, they will be proud to beat the Pelicans, after all, the Pelicans are now the top team in the league.

Beating the Pelicans is a great help both for external public opinion and for boosting team morale.

The Trail Blazers have only lost one game since beating the Pelicans, which is a living example.

And in order to achieve this goal, some teams and some people will use unconventional methods, and they emerge one after another.

With Davis and Ariza being crippled one after another, Tang Tian, as the team leader, needs to respond positively.

This is his warning to the next opponents, and it is also an attitude that he, as the core of the team, must show.

Just like he said, he admitted that his approach was not appropriate, but he would still choose to do so.

"I admit that I smell a hint of a bad boy from Tang, which Jordan, Kobe, and James don't have."

"As a senior Pelicans fan, I also think Tang was impulsive this time. He will be suspended and fined by the league. Perhaps Nike and other endorsement brands will also talk to him, and it may even affect the MVP selection."

"Yes, superstars have too many things to worry about, which is why super giants need enforcers around them, instead of going down to the court themselves."

"You are all right, but from today, I am a hardcore fan of Tang. He definitely knows these concerns, but he still chooses to do so because he puts the team and his teammates first!"

"Yes, I have gotten Tang's autograph more than once. He is always full of enthusiasm for fans. Compared with other superstars, he is simpler and purer, which will make him different."

"No matter how the league punishes him, I will support Tang. Just like he said, he must do that. This is our best season. Now it's just Ariza. If Davis, Jokic, or even Tang are out for the season, then what we lose will be this best season."

……

After the game, fans on social media also talked a lot, and people who supported and opposed the approach were divided into two factions, with clear banners.

Not only fans, but even the media and the media internally, had completely different voices on this approach.

In TNT's latest program, Barkley, Smith, and O'Neal quarreled live on the spot.

"No matter what your opponent does, you as the core of the team should not do that, it is likely to cause a large-scale brawl."

Barkley obviously disagreed with Tang Tian's approach.

"Yes, Ron Artest did something similar with the Pacers, which resulted in a large-scale brawl. After multiple suspensions, the Pacers also changed from a championship team to a second-rate team. Although this time it did not cause such a thing, there is indeed such a possibility."

Smith nodded in agreement with Barkley's statement.

"You should respond in the way on the court, this is a basketball game, not a boxing match."

Barkley joked with a smile.

"No, no, guys, you are all basketball players, don't you know the horror of underfooting? It may turn a superstar directly into a second-rate player, or even end his career. Have you forgotten that Carter was underfooted by Bowen? Or have you forgotten that Kobe was underfooted by Jalen Rose?"

O'Neal retorted loudly.

In 2000, Kobe was underfooted by Rose happened to him. Rose's foot in the Finals almost cost the OK Lakers the championship.

So he really hates the behavior of underfooting.

"The behavior of underfooting should be suspended, but Tang can respond in other ways. He was impulsive, and then suspended, which is not a good thing for the Pelicans."

Smith then retorted.

"No, no, a basketball game is not a boxing match, but if you are not tough enough, it will only make your opponents intensify. If such a thing happens in the playoffs, and the target is Jokic or Davis, then it will be too late."

O'Neal insisted on his point of view.

It is better to make a tough response now to deter opponents than to experience such problems later.

"If I wasn't strong enough, the Lakers' three-peat might not have happened."

O'Neal continued.

At the beginning, Kobe was crippled, and he didn't dare to make too many moves, because it was the Finals, and he had to consider the subsequent games.

If he was suspended, the Lakers' championship might really have been stolen by the Pacers.

Just like he said, instead of experiencing something like that later, it's better to be ruthless now.

The attitudes and viewpoints of the two sides are completely different, and like the fans on social media, no one was able to convince the other.

The next day, the Pelicans officially announced the results of Ariza's injury examination.

The result of his MRI examination was positive, a grade three sprain, and he is expected to be out for 2 to 3 months.

This time the degree of injury is much more serious than Davis's before. Ariza may not return until the regular season is close to the end at the latest.

And it is not known what his condition will be after his return.

This is undoubtedly a huge bad news for the Pelicans, because Ariza's role in the team is irreplaceable.

Moreover, at this point in time, the trading market is very small, and there are no suitable candidates on the free market.

And not long after that, the league officials also announced the additional punishment results for the Pelicans and Mavericks game.

Pachulia was suspended for 2 games and fined $15,000 for non-basketball actions.

Tang Tian was suspended for 5 games and fined $25,000 for violating sports ethics.

This is considered a very fair punishment result.

And compared to the Auburn Hills incident, such a punishment is considered relatively light.

Adam Silver doesn't need to pick on the Pelicans on this kind of thing. Tang Tian's influence in the league is also what he needs to consider.

Moreover, Tang Tian has already apologized to the fans at the post-match press conference. The league only needs to show that such fighting behavior is not encouraged.

A five-game suspension is acceptable to the Pelicans, and Tang Tian can also accept it.

Losing some money is nothing to him, and that bit of krypton gold value is also within an acceptable range.

But for the Pelicans, they have ushered in the most difficult part since the start of the season.

Ariza is injured, and Tang Tian is suspended. Two of the five starters are missing, and one is still the team's star player.

This is also a huge test for team head coach Stevens.

Because the Pelicans' schedule is not so easy next, it is even a bit devilish.

The strength of their opponents at the beginning of the season was generally low, but in 82 games, all the opponents that should be played still have to be played.

Their next game is a road game against the Spurs, and after that, they will sit at home and usher in their second match against the Mavericks.