The Rockets still had one game to play, and the Pelicans had more time to rest and adjust.

But Stevens didn't arrange for the players to relax like before the first round. Instead, he seized the time to train and maintain their condition.

The Mavericks played very well in their last game. If it hadn't been for Tang Tian, they might have had to play a fifth game.

And in terms of strength alone, that Mavericks team was actually similar to the later Rockets.

The Big Three's Rockets were definitely a team not to be underestimated in the playoffs.

After the training, Stevens chatted with Brown and then turned around to chat with Tang Tian about the opening game of the next round.

The opening game was very important for both sides. The side that took the advantage first would take the initiative in the entire series.

The two men had similar opinions this time.

In terms of starting strength, the two sides were evenly matched. They had played four games in the regular season and knew each other well in terms of tactical targeting.

The Pelicans had two advantages in the series. One was Tang Tian, whose strength was higher than any of the Big Three.

The other, and the biggest advantage, was the bench.

On the Pelicans side, Bojan and Dinwiddie had plenty of playing time in the first round and were in good shape.

In addition, with Jokic rotating early to lead the bench, the Pelicans' bench connection was their strong point.

On the Rockets side, second-year player Capela was not good enough, and the strongest point was veteran David West.

And D'Antoni liked to rotate eight or even seven players, and Brewer, Andre Miller and others had dropped out of the normal rotation.

In response to these two points, the Pelicans began training in advance.

While the Pelicans were preparing for the game, the first-round matchups in the other playoff groups were also coming to an end.

The Raptors and Knicks successively eliminated the Hornets and Pacers to advance. In the East, only the Heat and Hawks were left to finish, with the Heat temporarily leading 3-2.

The Warriors and Rockets also successively eliminated the Clippers and Trail Blazers. The Spurs pulled back a game at home, bringing the score to 2-3.

The playoff powerhouses, the Cavaliers and Warriors, still had to wait for the results of the final two groups.

But the Pelicans had already taken the lead in welcoming the divisional semifinals against the Rockets.

Regular season grudges, Chinese elements, head coach turmoil, star-studded...

There were too many highlights in this matchup.

In the TNT program, O'Neal, who successfully predicted the Pelicans sweeping the Mavericks, said bluntly that this was the most exciting matchup so far in this year's playoffs.

Barkley and Smith agreed this time.

The first game of the series was in New Orleans. The day before the game, the Rockets players arrived in New Orleans and conducted an open training session.

The players looked energetic and in good condition.

Head coach D'Antoni was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines.

"The Pelicans have had five days of rest, but you just finished the series. Will you be at a disadvantage in terms of physical fitness?"

"Of course not. We had a relatively easy time in the first round. Our physical fitness is not a problem. On the contrary, we just finished the game and are in good shape."

D'Antoni replied with a smile, his little beard raised with confidence.

"You have a 0-4 record against the Pelicans in the regular season. Will this put psychological pressure on you in the game?"

"Of course not. We spent a lot of time integrating this season, and this is the playoffs. We have three superstars who have been the main players and have proven themselves."

D'Antoni continued to reply with a smile.

"Do you have any defensive tactics against Tang?"

The reporter asked the inevitable question at the end.

Carlisle had failed to solve Tang Tian's defensive problem from beginning to end in the first round.

"Of course we do. We know their playing style, we know Tang's playing style, so you'll see it in the game."

D'Antoni was still very confident.

From beginning to end, he had been conveying confidence to the outside world.

Such interview content was also very encouraging to Rockets fans.

Everyone said that Stevens' coaching this season was better than D'Antoni's, but D'Antoni wasn't bad either!

The Suns' bombardment in the past was classic, and the Rockets' Big Three definitely needed time to integrate this season. It was already very good to get this record.

As for Stevens, he was picking up ready-made peaches like Kerr did in the beginning!

Who knows if D'Antoni coaching the Pelicans would be better than this? Or what would Stevens coaching the Rockets be like?

In an atmosphere of confidence, the first game of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Pelicans and Rockets officially kicked off at the New Orleans Arena.

The arena was packed.

In the commentary area, in addition to the TNT Big Three sitting in the most conspicuous position, Zhang Weiping and Su Qun also sat in the next best positions.

This series was the Western Conference Semifinals in the United States, and it was even more of a popularity collision in China.

"Although D'Antoni's pre-match interview was very confident, the Pelicans' strength is there. In my understanding, if the defensive methods he said can't limit Tang Tian, no matter how many superstars the Rockets have, the Pelicans will still win."

After becoming Weiping Tian, Zhang Weiping's familiar tone whetted the appetite of domestic fans.

Before the opening ceremony, the award ceremony for the Best Defensive Player was held on the scene.

Tang Tian raised the trophy high, completely igniting the atmosphere of the scene before the game.

After the opening ceremony, this atmosphere reached a climax.

As the playoffs went deeper and deeper, the atmosphere in the New Orleans Arena was getting better and better.

Davis won the jump ball against Cousins, opening the curtain of the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Pelicans played the No. 1 tactic in the frontcourt. As soon as Tang Tian dribbled and broke through, Harden on the weak side of the Rockets helped defend and double-teamed.

Tang Tian passed the ball to Ariza, who hit a three-pointer in the corner.

Harden responded with a breakthrough layup in the frontcourt.

In the next round, Tang Tian broke through on the left, and Morris' help defense came up immediately.

Tang Tian passed the ball to Davis, who cut in. Davis met Cousins' help defense and threw the ball above the basket. Jokic jumped up and gently tapped the alley-oop successfully.

The opening rounds became the epitome of the first quarter.

The Rockets resolutely double-teamed on the defensive end, but Tang Tian's passing speed was very fast, and the Pelicans' offense rotated very quickly.

Basically, they could find the Rockets' defensive loopholes and score in every round.

The Rockets' own offense was not a problem, but this defensive strategy made them lose points quickly.

"This is incomprehensible. There's no reason to double-team like this. You have to see Tang Tian's feel first, right? This really doesn't make sense."

Su Qun shouted that he couldn't understand.

"What did I say? What D'Antoni said is all lies. The game is basically like this."

Zhang Weiping smiled on the side.

The Rockets insisted on double-teaming Tang Tian for the entire first half, and even double-teaming the ball-handler, but the Pelicans' offensive system was almost integrated, and this approach was completely counterproductive.

At the end of the first half, the Rockets scored 45 points themselves, and the offense was not a big problem, but they allowed the Pelicans to score 60 points!

This score refreshed the Pelicans' playoff halftime scoring high this season.

In the second half, D'Antoni finally made adjustments and stopped double-teaming Tang Tian, but it was too late.

The Pelicans' whole team was already in good shape in the first half, leading by 22 points after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Jokic led the bench to another 12-2 run, and the game ended early.

The score on the field was finally fixed at 123 to 100.

Seven Pelicans scored in double figures, and Tang Tian easily scored a near triple-double of 21 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds in three quarters.

When the final whistle sounded, the fans on the scene cheered.

Tang Tian and Stevens looked at each other.

This script was completely different from what they had imagined!

They had prepared so much, thinking it would be a fierce battle, but D'Antoni's actions made them all work for nothing!

ps: Today my mother is in much better condition. She will have surgery the day after tomorrow. I saw a lot of concern and blessings, but I don't have time to reply to them one by one, but I am really grateful.