rpbooks Chapter 823 Unwavering
Chapter 823 Unwavering
Chapter 823 Unwavering
When the preseason of the new season was about to start, something happened that made Westbrook, An Luo and others feel very uncomfortable.In ESPN's forecast for the regular season record in the new season, the Thunder, as the defending champion, only has 50 wins.
50 wins is a lot!In such a fiercely competitive West, there are not many teams that can win 50 wins.For any team, it is a thing to be happy when people think they can win 50 games before the season has even started.But the Thunder is different. This is not a very optimistic forecast for them.You know, the Thunder won 66 games last season and played 60+ games in the regular season for two consecutive years.However, compared to several other mainstream media, ESPN is already the most optimistic about the Thunder.Even so, they are only slightly more optimistic about the Thunder than the other media.
In the hearts of everyone in the Thunder, although Paul George is missing, they still have Westbrook and An Luo, and the overall strength has not been greatly reduced.Paul George is indeed very strong, but Gallinari will not be too far behind.You know, in the past season, Gallinari averaged 33 minutes per game and was able to hand over 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The overall shooting rate was 46%, and the three-point shooting rate reached 43%.Paul George's average per game was indeed much better than Gallinari last season, but he took more shots, but his overall shooting percentage was only 43%, and his three-point shooting percentage was only 37%.
But this is just the Thunder's own opinion. In the eyes of the outside world, they are missing a double-team superstar, while Gallinari is just a quasi-All-Star player. The gap between the two is not small.After all, the gap between stars and ordinary players is not reflected by those numbers.The impact on the offensive and defensive ends of the team, the explosive power at critical moments, and the catalytic effect on other players, etc., ordinary players must not be able to do well.For stars, especially superstars, as long as they are willing, it is very easy to do these things.This is also an important reason why some teams quickly become squishy after the head star leaves.
From this point of view, it will be difficult for the Thunder to continue the performance of the previous two seasons in the new season.At least, the mainstream media and basketball players are not optimistic about them.You know, for both the Clippers and the Lakers, ESPN has given a prediction of 60+ wins.
However, An Luo, Westbrook and others did not take this prediction seriously.At the beginning of each season, everyone will make various predictions.Different people and different media will have different opinions.There will also be various versions of "seed" teams emerging.But in reality, most of these predictions will turn into jokes as the schedule progresses.
"The championship has always been our goal. In the first two seasons, we were successful. We defeated all our opponents and became the final winners. I think we should be able to maintain this momentum this season. A championship attack. I believe we have the ability and we have the experience."
When Westbrook faced the media interview, he did not deliberately hide his thoughts.Of course, perhaps to protest against the outside world's unfavorable attitude towards the Thunder, he seemed particularly confident when he talked about winning the championship.
"We have won the championship for two consecutive years. Every time, our opponents are very strong. But we worked together, everyone tried their best, and finally defeated them. This is the result of the hard work of all of us, Me, Ann, Paul, Steven, etc. are all part of it. Now, the new season is about to start again. We know that state very well, and we have enough experience to face any opponent. I will Tell the new teammates what we did in the first two seasons, and we will work together, just like the previous two seasons."
"I know, a lot of people don't like us. But I don't agree with this view. Our overall strength has not weakened. Daroni and Shay are very good guys! They will bring us more Different things, our game will be different, but no matter what, we will still be the most powerful contender for the championship. What I want to say is, don't underestimate us, after all, we were the champions in the first two seasons .”
Westbrook didn't show any particular emotion when he was asked about the Clippers trade.
"It's true that something quite special happened in the offseason just past. Our team made a deal with the team in Los Angeles and swapped some players. This kind of thing is quite normal, it happens every season. All kinds of trades, no surprises. Paul is a very good player, he has been the key to our two championships in the past two years."
"Everyone has a different choice. Paul is from Los Angeles. It is only natural for him to return to Los Angeles to play. I believe that in the upcoming new season, he can lead his team to a good result."
Except for Westbrook, almost all Thunder players were questioned by those reporters and media last season.Although everyone's rhetoric is different, the meaning expressed is very unified: the Thunder will not weaken because of Paul George's departure, nor will they give up the pursuit of the championship because of personnel changes.
Among them, the most confident person is An Luo.Westbrook is already very confident, but he is still not as good as An Luo.
"The championship of the past two seasons is the Oklahoma City Thunder, not Russell Westbrook, not An Luo, and not Paul George. This is a team with the blood of the championship, and our players are just one of them. A part of this team. This team will not become different because of the lack of someone, and it will not stop its progress because of some personnel changes.”
"We're still a championship-caliber team, like L.A., Houston, Oakland, Milwaukee, Brooklyn. I have full confidence in our team, and we're going to have an unexpected season, like It was the same as two years ago. At that time, there were no more people who were optimistic about us than now. But the result is that we had the last laugh.”
Many people agree with the remarks of An Luo, Westbrook and others, and many people are not optimistic.But whether you look at it or not, there are always some people who are unswervingly moving towards the championship.
(End of this chapter)