Chapter 1 Western Conference Semifinals

The Rockets arrived in New Orleans the day before the Western Conference Semifinals began.

It was hard to say when it started, but the Pelicans were like a powerhouse team, waiting for their opponents to come and challenge them in each round of the series.

Compared to last time, the Rockets were noticeably more low-key this time.

Training was not open to the public, and players did not accept interviews with reporters in private.

Not everyone is a Whiteside. After last year's loss, the Rockets had clearly learned their lesson.

This performance made the Pelicans even more cautious.

The Rockets had become stronger and more low-key. This game would not be easy.

On the day of the game, the New Orleans Arena was packed.

Not only did many fans come to the scene, but also many local wealthy people and celebrities.

The first round against the Thunder was just a warm-up, but now facing the Rockets, it was a big scene, with five superstars alone.

They would not miss such an opportunity for exposure.

Emilia Clarke, the actress who played Daenerys Targaryen in *Game of Thrones*, also came to the scene.

The sixth season of *Game of Thrones* was a global hit, and Clarke's popularity was also soaring.

She showed her signature awkward smile to the camera, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Actually… she looked better when she didn't smile.

However, another former actress in attendance had even greater popularity here.

Elizabeth Olsen.

Olsen also came to the scene, each of her and the maid holding a child.

Yongqi and Towns were both over two years old and looked very cute.

When the photographer gave them a close-up, the cheers at the scene were overwhelming.

Tang Tian was a hero of this city, and his two sons were like the sons of this city.

Of course, the most important thing was that they had completely inherited Tang Tian and Olsen's genes and were so good-looking.

Olsen sat in the front row, and Tang Tian went to greet her while warming up, and kissed his two sons.

The careful movements and intimate gestures all revealed the kindness and love of a father.

Whistles were constantly heard at the scene. This was the first time they had seen Tang Tian reveal this kind of emotion. They usually saw the God of Basketball who dominated the court.

Sure enough, even a god was still a man.

After the pre-match warm-up, the award ceremony for the Best Defensive Player was held in advance.

Tang Tian received his fourth Best Defensive Player award from Tatum.

The cheers at the scene were deafening.

This trophy boosted their morale, but their expectations for Tang Tian and the Pelicans were far more than this.

Just like what was written on the KT boards they held high: Win MVP again, defend the title!

After the opening ceremony, the starting players of both teams took the stage one after another.

Both teams used their regular lineups.

After last year's playoff encounter and the tit-for-tat competition in the regular season, the two teams already knew each other quite well.

There was nothing to adjust in the lineup. It all depended on the tactical arrangements and on-the-spot performance of both sides.

Cousins and Davis in the center circle for the jump ball.

Amidst the cheers of the fans, Davis tipped the ball back to the Pelicans' half, giving the home team the opportunity to attack first.

Holiday dribbled the ball across the half court and handed it to Tang Tian.

On the sidelines, Budenholzer and D'Antoni exchanged glances. They had judged correctly before the game. The Pelicans would not play them the way they played the Thunder in the first round.

After the space was opened up, Tang Tian called for Jokic's high pick-and-roll, and then dribbled the ball inside.

The Rockets' contraction was very fast, and Tang Tian was double-teamed by three people as soon as he reached the free throw line.

He passed the ball to Holiday in the open spot, but Paul's return defense was very fast.

The Pelicans' first wave of tactics failed.

Over the course of two seasons, Budenholzer had built the Rockets' defense into a very good one.

Holiday finally passed the ball to Davis, who posted up against Markieff Morris in the low post.

Morris used all kinds of physical contact. Although his height and wingspan were absolutely inferior, his confrontation was really tough.

Not only Morris, but the off-ball confrontation was also full of muscle collisions.

Compared to the regular season, which already had a high intensity of confrontation, the players of the two teams on the field were completely like muscles tearing at each other.

Davis's turnaround to the basket failed, and he chose to turn around and fadeaway.

"Clang!"

Frequent physical contact consumed a lot of energy, and his first shot failed to score.

Cousins and Jokic fought for and protected the defensive rebound.

Paul dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and, after signaling to spread out, fed the ball to Cousins in the paint.

During the regular season, the Rockets relied on Cousins's interior advantage to stalemate with the Pelicans and almost win the game.

However, Jokic's confrontation was also sufficient, and more importantly, Davis's help defense was fast enough.

Cousins threw the ball to Morris at the far end. Morris was double-teamed by Ariza as soon as he received the ball.

The Pelicans' defensive system was more complete than the Rockets', and they had perfect chemistry.

The Rockets' first offense also failed.

The ball was finally given to Harden, who dribbled past Holiday, but his sudden stop shot was almost blocked by Davis, and the ball hit the front of the rim and bounced out.

Under the basket, Jokic and Cousins were in a melee, with frequent small bumps between the two, causing the front-row audience to feel a twinge of pain.

Finally, Davis fought hard to grab the defensive rebound.

The audience held their breath.

The first round of the playoffs was already over, but this was the first time they had seen this scene.

There was a feeling that the air was filled with the smell of burning muscles.

Many veteran fans were even more excited. The collision of those powerhouses in the playoffs in the early century was this kind of feeling!

The players on the court seemed to be tearing at each other, and the fans watching the game didn't dare to breathe!

Although there were no points, it was even more exciting than scoring!

Tang Tian suddenly passed to Jokic, who flew up for a dunk but was blocked by Cousins's tough block, and the ball flew out after the confrontation.

The Rockets launched a fast break, but it was forcibly stopped. Paul's signature sudden stop mid-range shot in the frontcourt was met by Tang Tian's frontal block.

In this level of confrontation and intensity, any goal was difficult, and any goal was worth a fortune.

In the first three minutes of the opening, neither team was able to put the ball in the basket.

"Go! Pelicans!"

The fans at the scene were excited and shouted loudly to cheer for their team.

Holiday continued to give the ball to Tang Tian in the frontcourt.

Tang Tian noticed out of the corner of his eye that Olsen and his two children were all looking at him.

He didn't call for a pick-and-roll, but signaled everyone to spread out.

His role on the team now was to stand up when his teammates couldn't open up the situation.

No matter what game it was.

Triple threat, probing step, fake shot and real breakthrough after receiving the ball.

Tang Tian's technical movements were completed in one go, and he successfully broke through to the free throw line.

However, the Rockets' inside player Morris and outside player Paul's help defense came quickly.

Tang Tian did not choose to pass the ball, but turned around and faded away towards the baseline.

Three people rushed out to interfere, and Morris gave him a confrontation in the air.

Tang Tian completed the shot in the double-team.

The ball flew straight towards the basket, passing over the defense.

"Swish!"

Under the gaze of the fans at the scene, the basketball went through the net cleanly.

Tang Tian, scored the first field goal of the game!