The opening game of the series between the two sides was played at the New Orleans Arena.
On the day of the game, both teams held public training sessions.
The Warriors' training session attracted particular attention.
The battle between the Pelicans and the Warriors has been full of highlights in every season, but it is no exaggeration to say that this year should be the most disparate in strength.
Although the Pelicans won 80 games last year, the Warriors also had a four-star lineup and weren't afraid on paper.
But this year, Kevin Durant left, and Draymond Green's drastically changed style led to a serious decline in the team's defense.
The outside world said it was a reunion of rivals, but everyone knew that the Warriors were at a disadvantage this year.
Especially with Tang Tian reaching the peak of his career.
After the Warriors' training session, Green was surrounded by reporters.
Because of the disparity in strength, they hoped to hear some trash talk from Green, just like in the past.
That would also make the game more interesting.
"Draymond, the outside world believes the Warriors will be eliminated, and ESPN also thinks the Warriors are the weaker side. What do you think about this?"
A reporter from TNT took the lead in asking a question, and his question was quite inflammatory.
Other reporters also pointed their recording pens at Green.
They were anticipating Green's next words, which would likely be a war of words.
"Yes, we are indeed weaker."
However, Green's next words surprised everyone.
Because of his average performance this season, reporters didn't like to interview him in the past, and instead went to the Splash Brothers.
This was the first time in a long time that he had been interviewed by so many reporters.
But Green's answer really shocked them.
Green actually admitted that the Warriors were weaker?
Was this still the fearless, big-mouthed Green?!
"But we will work hard to win, and I believe we can win."
Although Green added some words afterward, it seemed more like he was explaining his previous statement.
Other reporters asked some questions one after another, but the answers they received were similar.
Green really didn't seem like the Green they knew!
These interview contents were quickly reported by the media.
On the afternoon of the game day, the Pelicans' players successively arrived in the locker room to prepare for the game.
As soon as Tang Tian sat down, Danny Green came over to talk to him about Draymond Green's interview.
"Is he doing this on purpose? Using another way to provoke a war of words?"
Danny Green was also full of curiosity. The Green he knew wasn't like this. These words were too strange.
Tang Tian smiled.
"Do you believe a person's personality can change?"
After smiling, he didn't answer directly, but asked a question in return.
Green didn't expect Tang Tian to ask that suddenly. After thinking for a while, he shook his head and said.
"A person's personality is partly innate, and partly determined by the environment they grow up in. Once formed, it's hard to change."
Tang Tian nodded. Green was still very mature, and his view of human nature was very comprehensive.
"I used to think so too, but now I don't think so."
However, after nodding, Tang Tian expressed a different opinion.
"Why?"
Green looked puzzled.
"Kevin Durant."
Tang Tian didn't explain, but said a person's name.
Green was stunned for a moment, thought for a long time, and then nodded.
Durant was Tang Tian's opponent, but his personality this season really changed a lot compared to the past.
Just like he said, a person's personality is partly determined by the environment they grow up in, but after experiencing some major events, their personality will also change.
Durant could change, and Green would naturally change, and it should be even more reasonable.
After all, he had a physical defect.
In fact, his change in playing style at the beginning of the season already showed some signs.
As for why he was still a big mouth at that time, just like Durant, the transformation of personality also takes time.
Just like Tang Tian had a system cheat, it also took time to train to get a skill.
Those instantaneous changes only happen in fantasy novels.
"So don't worry, the first round of the game will be easy."
Tang Tian said to Green with a smile.
Green looked at Tang Tian in surprise. Tang Tian rarely boosted himself like that.
But if Tang Tian dared to say that, it meant he was really confident.
That night, the Pelicans hosted their first playoff game at home, and their opponent was the Warriors.
The New Orleans Arena was packed, and even the live broadcast screen outside the arena was crowded with people.
This year was the year the Pelicans were aiming for a four-peat, and their opponent was the Warriors, and this was the first game of the series, a game that could very well determine the trend.
It was hard for them not to pay attention.
After the on-court introductions, the starting lineups for both teams were announced.
For the Warriors, the Splash Brothers, Curry and Thompson, were on the outside, with Iguodala and Draymond Green at forward, and Cousins at center.
Since Green's style of play had changed, Kerr's small-ball lineup was no longer usable, and Green had gone from being a swingman at the four and five positions to a swingman at the three and four positions.
For the Pelicans, Brogdon and Tang Tian were on the outside, with Danny Green and Davis at forward, and Gasol at center.
Both sides had their regular lineups.
Amid the cheers of the fans, Gasol won the tip-off against Cousins, officially kicking off the game.
Brogdon dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and Davis posted up in the low post, and then the Pelicans spread out on both wings.
Brogdon passed the ball to Davis, and Davis posted up against Green.
This was clearly Stevens' tactical arrangement.
Davis made a series of foot movements, finally shaking off Green, and scoring with a jump shot off the backboard.
Green couldn't defend Davis when he was at his peak, let alone after his style of play changed drastically.
The Pelicans scored the first point, but Curry came back and hit a three-pointer from the outside off an Iguodala screen.
His condition this season was really good.
In the Pelicans' frontcourt, Davis continued to post up against Green in the paint.
The Warriors hadn't doubled yet.
After Davis felt that Green's defensive intensity was weak in the previous possession, he directly used his strength this time.
After forcefully digging in a few times, he directly turned around and squeezed past Green.
"Bang!"
He scored with a two-handed dunk!
Cheers erupted from the audience.
Davis scored two consecutive points against Green to start the game, and the second basket was a dunk.
It seemed that Green was right when he said the Warriors were weaker before the game!
The Warriors' offense didn't score, and Gasol secured the defensive rebound.
The Pelicans went to the frontcourt and played in the paint again, with Davis continuing to play against Green.
But this time Iguodala shrank inside.
The Warriors rotated their defense, and the ball finally ended up in Tang Tian's hands.
Tang Tian accelerated and broke through to the free throw line, and the Warriors all contracted.
Tang Tian was prepared, and made a straight pass to Davis at the baseline in motion.
Davis took the ball and took a step, taking off directly against the recovering Green.
"Bang!"
Amid the cheers of the fans, Davis directly dunked on Green!
Green was still called Draymond, but he was completely dominated by Davis!
In the Warriors' offense, Green held the ball at the top of the arc to organize, and Thompson and Curry ran around the screen.
Green passed the ball to Thompson at the right time.
"Pa!"
But he didn't pay attention to Tang Tian's movement, and the ball didn't reach him. Tang Tian directly intercepted it!
After intercepting the ball, Tang Tian accelerated for a fast break.
Green was at the top of the arc, turned around and quickly retreated to defend.
The two of them arrived in the frontcourt one after the other.
Tang Tian rushed to a step inside the free throw line and took off, and Green jumped up to block.
But after jumping up, he had a lot of vaguely painful memories in his mind, and the original blocking action was withdrawn and directly turned into dodging.
But it was too late.
"Bang!"
Amid the cheers of the fans, Tang Tian directly smashed the ball into the basket over Green!
The cheers at the scene continued, but some fans on the heat were a little unbearable to watch.
It was one thing to be beaten by Davis, but to be dunked on, and to be dunked on by Davis was one thing, after all, Davis was an inside player.
But now he was also dunked on by Tang Tian!
From the beginning of the game until now, Green's situation was really a bit heart-wrenching!