Before the warm-up match with the Chinese team, an American reporter interviewed the head coach of the US team Mike Shasevs (i.e., coach K): "Mike, this year's national team warm-up matches are targeted at intercontinental champions from all continents. We know that the basketball level in each state is quite different, especially in Asia and Africa. The Chinese team and Nigeria are recognized as the bottom team. This way, only looking at the rankings and not the strength, will the quality of the warm-up match be low and not meet the requirements of the warm-up?"

"You said that the Chinese team and Nigeria are the bottom teams?" Shaschevs stared at the reporter for a while.

"Yes, Nigeria has played against the US team once before. If I remember correctly in that game, the US team scored 156 points and won 73 points in the end. The Chinese team played against the US team ten times, and they lost more than 30 points in each game. I don't think such a team can pose much threat to the national team." The reporter nodded and said.

"It's not my first time coaching the national team. I know what you said, but you have to believe that every team will change, let alone once every four years." Shaschevs said. As a coach of the US men's basketball team for 15 years, he obviously knows his opponent better than reporters.

"But will this be without momentum? We have always been Olympic champions, we are the Dream Team, and our opponents in the warm-up match should be France, Spain, or Serbia with comparable strength." The reporter retorted.

"There were many guys twelve years ago, including me, who thought so, but we lost that champion, didn't we?" Shassevs said coldly.

The reporter was stunned by the story. Of course, he knew that the team called the "Nightmare Team" in 2004 had 5 wins and 3 losses, and finally only won one bronze medal. The coach happened to be Shasheffs in front of him. In short, it was Shasheffs' First World Olympics when Shasheffs coached the US team.

"If there is no other problem, just do it." Shasevs said as he was about to leave, but he turned around and patted the reporter on the shoulder and said, "Brother, next time this problem is tactful, I can't guarantee whether there are Chinese or Nigerian fans outside the arena."

Just as the reporter was stunned, he had already turned around and left.

After the reporter came to his senses, when the photographer behind him turned off the shooting, he couldn't help complaining to his companions: "Lao K is really a boring person. He has no confidence in winning a weak team like the Chinese team. It's really a waste of our time. Let's go and interview the players."

Unlike Shaschevs' cautious attitude, more than ten years have passed since the defeat of Athens in the 2004 Olympics, the fans' mentality seems much more optimistic, and they even look even more disdainful of the warm-up match that will be played with the Chinese team. Like this reporter, in the eyes of most of them, the role that an opponent who loses more than 30 points in every fight seems to be limited to warm-up.

However, it is not all the same. Unlike the one-sided support of most parts of the country, Los Angeles, which is about to usher in the first warm-up match between China and the United States, many fans supporting the Chinese team emerged, not only Chinese, but also many Americans, who have also "turned over" and become fans of the Chinese team.

The reason is no different, because there is a person named Tang Shuai in this Chinese men's basketball team.

The deeds of Tang Shuai leading the team to eliminate the Warriors alone were imprinted in the hearts of every Los Angeles fan. Although he was traded to the Lakers, for them, it was just a change of a jersey, and even the game venue was the same.

Moreover, Tang Shuai was just traded, and the Clippers fans also supported him. The Lakers fans were extremely excited about getting Tang Shuai and could not wait to support him. It can be said that Los Angeles fans were all looking forward to Tang Shuai because of this game.

On July 24, US time, the Staples Center Staples Stadium in Los Angeles was packed, and the scene was like the NBA playoffs.

Amid the expectations of the fans, players from both China and the United States came out of the player channel one after another. The appearance of the players immediately attracted a burst of excited cheers from the fans at the scene.

After superstars such as James and Curry withdrew one after another, the core of this American team is Durant and Paul George.

After the players entered the court, they conducted a simple warm-up. After the warm-up was completed, the supporters on the scene began to introduce the players from both sides, first introducing the visiting team China team.

Zhao Haoyan was first introduced, followed by Sui Ran and Zhai Xiaochuan.

These players of the national team enjoy a high reputation in China, but when they come to the United States, their awareness is quite low. In addition to the Chinese who make some noises, they are really less cheering. Even if Guo Ailun was introduced, it did not cause much reaction.

It was not until Zhou Qi that there was a relatively neat cheer on the scene. As the first round pick of the NBA in 2016, he still attracted the attention of many fans.

"Gentlemen, ladies, the next one to appear is Tang Shuai from the Chinese team!!" The dj at the scene lengthened the tail sound and shouted Tang Shuai's name loudly.

As soon as Tang Shuai's name was shouted, the cheers at the scene suddenly surged to the highest level. This jumping cheer shocked the players of the Chinese and American teams.

Even if James arrives in Los Angeles, he will definitely not enjoy this level of shouting. This is a cheer that only appears when welcoming heroes.

"Don't leave us, Don!" Amid the cheers, some Clippers fans could hear the voices of the followers.

"Welcome to the Lakers, Don!" Some Lakers fans were shouting loudly.

Tang Shuai himself was also a little shocked. The cheers were louder than he had heard in all previous games. He waved at the fans excitedly.

The cheers at the scene were even more intense.

After Tang Shuai put down his hand, all the Chinese players were introduced.

"Brother Tang, you are so handsome!" Zhao Haoyan said with envy as soon as the scene happened.

Tang Shuai smiled and said nothing, because this is in Los Angeles, where fans will have such cheers, and it is only at the beginning. If you want to really impress the fans, the next game is the most critical.

After the Chinese team, American team players were also introduced one after another. Mike Conley, DeMarcus Cousins, and Keith Farid, compared with Chinese team players, the cheers they received were significantly higher, but even if George and Durant appeared in the end, they received much less cheers than Tang Shuai.

"Damn it, why do I feel like I'm playing away!" When the game ended, Cousins ​​couldn't help but complain. He couldn't suppress his bad temper. This was the first time he was selected for the US National Team's roster in his career.

"Shh, DeMarcus, be careful, coach K can stare at you." George, who was walking beside him, reminded.

Cousins ​​shook his head in dissatisfaction and then walked down the field.

The Chinese team had some changes in the previous warm-up match. Gong Luming replaced Li Gen with Zhou Peng. Li Gen faced Thompson. Not to mention his strength, his height was absolutely crushed.

Except for Zhou Peng, the other four positions are still the same as before, with Guo Ailun, Ding Yanyuhang, Zhou Qi and Yi Jian in the number of contacts.

The US team maintained the lineup in the last game against Argentina. The backcourt was Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, the team's core players Durant and George on the front line, and the center was Tang Shuai's former teammate Jordan Jr.

The game is about to begin, and players from both sides appear one after another. Tang Shuai walked to Jordan Jr. After a deep hug, the two of them said good luck to each other, turned around and returned to their half.

After being traded to the Lakers, the Clippers' players contacted him one after another. The former players were all full of reluctance. Smith, a big man, even choked on the phone several times, but everyone knew that business was just a business principle and had no other choice except to accept it.

Maybe it was not until Smith's choking voice that Tang Shuai really empathized with James' approach. In principle, it is inappropriate to interfere with the management's decision as a player, but if a general manager like Wall cannot influence the management, then this will end up being such an end.

But to put it another way, leaving such a cold-blooded general manager may be a brand new beginning for him.

"beep!"

Just when he was thinking, the referee blew the whistle to the start of the game. Jordan Jr. knocked away Yi Jianlian, gaining the right to take the lead in attacking for the American team.

The fans at the scene suddenly burst into cheers.

Yi Jianlian is definitely the top-notch physical presence in the country, but he is much inferior to Jordan Jr.

Irving pushed the ball into the frontcourt and called George to a pick-and-roll. A few beautiful steps swayed past Yi Jianlian. Before Zhou Qi's backup defense, a light small trolley sent the ball into the basket.

Zhou Qi has excellent blocking ability, but facing Irving, who is the top NBA defender, he is at an absolute disadvantage in speed, and even if he judges, he cannot cover it.

"Promotion! Promotion!" Assistant coach Yanis Christopoulos shouted loudly to the Chinese team members on the sidelines.

Guo Ailun pushed the ball to the frontcourt, signaling Zhou Qi to the top of the arc to hold the ball, and after pulling out the inside Jordan, Yi Jianlian directly made Paul George play from the low post.

After the Chinese team's tactical running has improved a lot compared to before. After Yi Jianlian took the ball and leaned against George, his eyes were filled with the shadow of playing against the NBA a few years ago.

The movements of leaning on, turning around, leaning back, and carrying on the back were completed in one go.

But just as he was about to take action, a big hand directly covered him.

Although George was seriously injured, after a season of polishing, he was much more mature in his mentality and skills than before he was injured. He seemed to have guessed Yi Jianlian's offensive method and rushed directly.

Yi Jianlian wanted to avoid the cover, but his technical action was deformed and he was blown away.

"Don't do this, man, you've been doing this since your rookie. It's almost ten years since you were here. Why are you still doing this?" As soon as the referee's whistle sounded, Barkley on the commentator's seat couldn't help laughing.
Chapter completed!