Chapter 1 Kidd's Face

Kidd got up from the bench and walked to the sideline.

Even though it was just the preseason game, he still wanted to save face after the Pelicans showed off like that right from the start!

He started by reminding his players to retreat faster on defense, then turned his head to look at Stevens sitting calmly on the opposite half of the court, and turned back to sit down.

After all, it was just the preseason game. He couldn't lose in terms of imposing manner.

The Bucks advanced to the frontcourt, but the tactical movements still didn't create a good scoring opportunity. The ball ended up in Hayward's hands.

Hayward was the type of player with high basketball IQ. He glanced at Butler, who had made the All-Defensive First Team last season, and didn't force a drive. Instead, he called for Monroe to come up for a pick and roll.

Monroe was a traditional center with slow movement speed, but he was big, and the pick and roll blocked Butler.

Hayward took the opportunity to attack the basket and challenge Dedmon.

Dedmon, known for his defense, retreated and defended, always maintaining his defensive position.

After leaning against him, Hayward showed off his personal skills with a low-handed bank shot layup.

"Clang!"

But at that moment, Davis rotated over again to help, and directly gave Hayward a chase-down block!

The fans in the arena erupted in cheers.

Davis had consecutive blocks to start the game!

Over the past few seasons, Davis's help defense had become increasingly strong, but because he was paired with Jokic, he needed to rotate to cover and defend, so although he had many blocks, it didn't feel as strong.

But this season, with Tang Tian and Butler, two defensive monsters, plus Dedmon, who was also a top-notch defender in the league, he could block shots without restraint!

The Bucks had consecutive failed isolation plays after the start of the game!

They immediately switched from offense to defense, but they were still too slow.

Walker and Tang Tian had already fast-breaked at the first opportunity!

After the block, Davis easily grabbed the defensive rebound, and then threw it to Butler at the three-point line.

Butler made an extra pass, and the ball went directly to Walker.

Walker and Tang Tian faced Irving in a 2-on-1 in the frontcourt.

Walker cut into the middle, and with Irving in front of him, he threw the ball into the air. Tang Tian, with perfect understanding, leaped up.

"Boom!"

A one-handed alley-oop dunk!

Kidd's body stiffened, and he clenched his fist involuntarily.

He had already reminded the Bucks to pay attention to retreating on defense, but they still couldn't stop it!

The Pelicans' speed in switching from defense to offense was too damn fast!

This was the characteristic of superstar basketball.

Just like the Heat back then, they were known for their defensive counterattacks, and James and Wade often made quarterback-style passes.

The same was true for the US national team. Their fast breaks were often so fast that their opponents couldn't react.

The stars' awareness, passing ability, and teamwork were far superior to ordinary players, so the speed and success rate of fast breaks were naturally high.

Among these four Pelicans players, Davis's passing ability was online, Butler had done a great job as a core facilitator when he was in the Mavericks, Walker was a point guard, and Tang Tian, needless to say, was even better.

Plus, they were all hardship brothers.

Others had superstar big threes where 1+1+1<3, but they were 1+1+1+1>4!

6 to 0!

When Bucks general manager Jon Horst put together the Big Three, he confidently said that the Bucks had a chance to beat the Pelicans.

But judging from these opening possessions, they didn't seem to have much of a chance!

The Bucks finally ran their play in the frontcourt, but the opportunity went to Antetokounmpo standing outside the three-point line.

Antetokounmpo caught the ball and shot a three-pointer.

"Clang!"

Unfortunately, he didn't have that kind of range!

Dedmon boxed out Monroe and secured the defensive rebound.

Dedmon didn't have any other offensive means besides catching lobs and his newly developed three-pointer, but his defense in these two possessions was already worth 6 million!

After forming the four-star lineup, the fans' view was that Walker + Butler + Tang Tian + Davis + anyone could win the championship.

And for that "anyone", Tang Tian found the most suitable one for the Pelicans!

The Bucks' Irving, Hayward, and Antetokounmpo each attacked once, but all failed.

Fortunately, they finally managed to retreat in time this time.

The Pelicans didn't have a chance to run a fast break again, and Walker dribbled the ball to the frontcourt.

This time he passed the ball to Tang Tian.

Tang Tian glanced at Dellavedova, who quickly closed in on him, and used a low dribble and acceleration to squeeze past him before starting up again to blow past him directly.

The Bucks were forced to help.

In fact, they had long been prepared to help. Although Dellavedova's defense was fierce, it was unrealistic to rely on him to defend Tang Tian one-on-one.

Tang Tian broke through to the free throw line and was double-teamed. In the double-team, he passed the ball to Walker, who had already cut to the basket from the weak side.

Monroe was forced to rotate over to cover, but Walker directly threw the ball into the air above the basket.

Davis had already leaped up.

"Boom!"

Another powerful alley-oop dunk!

The Pelicans had four offensive possessions to start the game, with three dunks!

The fans in the arena were already going wild.

Although it was just the preseason, and it seemed that the Pelicans weren't playing with much effort, the situation was already too one-sided!

The Bucks simply had no power to resist!

Irving held the ball in the frontcourt, and, unwilling to admit defeat, continued to break towards the basket.

He used his dribbling skills to their peak, continuously getting past Walker and Dedmon, and then pulled off a big aerial lean-back against Davis.

But just as he was about to release the shot, Butler and Tang Tian had already flown over to block the shot.

They knew Irving's technical characteristics very well.

As long as he broke through to the basket, passing the ball was out of the question.

Irving desperately dodged in the air to barely avoid the two brothers' blocks, but the ball was obviously off, and it bounced off the rim.

Dedmon grabbed the defensive rebound again.

The Bucks still couldn't score!

They had already failed on four consecutive offensive possessions!

The Pelicans' defense was freakishly good!

In the Pelicans' frontcourt set offense, Walker created an opportunity, but Butler failed to seize a three-point opportunity on the outside, and the basketball hit the rim and bounced out.

Monroe secured the defensive rebound, and they "defended" a possession.

The Bucks launched a counterattack, Hayward caught the ball and dribbled it across half-court, then passed it to Antetokounmpo, who passed it to Irving.

"Pa!"

But before the ball reached Irving's hands, Tang Tian anticipated the pass and intercepted the ball directly!

The Bucks' original fast break, after the change of possession, became the Pelicans' fast break again!

The Pelicans had a 3-on-1 in the frontcourt!

Walker, Butler, and Tang Tian, against Monroe!

After stealing the ball, Tang Tian dashed to the three-point line in the frontcourt and passed the ball to Butler.

Monroe helped defend Butler.

Butler had a mismatch opportunity but didn't take it, passing the ball to Walker on the left side of the basket.

Monroe used all his strength to help defend.

Walker didn't shoot either, passing the ball again to Tang Tian who was cutting in.

Monroe was being moved around like a headless fly, running around frantically!

After catching the ball, Tang Tian leaped up, swung the ball around, and threw down a windmill dunk in the air!

Showtime!

"Boom!"

The moment the ball was smashed into the basket, the arena exploded again.

The Pelicans' fourth dunk since the start of the game!

10 to 0!

Although it was just the preseason, and it seemed that the Pelicans weren't playing with much effort, they had already pinned the Bucks to the ground and were mercilessly pounding them!