NBA: Starting with James Harden

Entering the playoffs as the second or third place will not have any impact in the first round.

But the impact will be great in the second round.

If the second and third place both meet in the second round smoothly, then the second place will have the home advantage!

The home advantage in the playoffs is very important, so both sides attach great importance to this game!

The Nuggets are not short of talented players this season.

Anthony, a nervous knife JR, and inside players such as Nene and Kenyon Martin, who have rich offensive means.

During the Iverson period, although Iverson had strong personal abilities, he lacked the ability to organize the offense. The team fell into a situation where the golden double guns alternated singles, like a dish of loose sand.

Since Billups came, they have become better. Billups has a good control of the team, and the Nuggets' offense and defense have been upgraded to a higher level.

Under the leadership of Billups, Anthony and JR can score reasonably, and Nene and Kenyon Martin bomb the inside.

The Nuggets' average number of possessions per game dropped from 98.8 last season to 95.3. Although the speed has slowed down, the Nuggets have played more maturely after the slowdown, unlike the singles and chaotic battles in previous seasons. The current Nuggets can fight both chaotic battles and positional battles.

This is their progress, and they have reached third in the Western Conference.

In addition to the offensive end, the Nuggets have also made great progress on the defensive end.

The Nuggets' average points lost per game dropped from 107.7 last season to 100.2 points.

Under the leadership of Billups, Martin, Nene, Chris Anderson and other inside players have played their defensive skills, and even Anthony, who has never liked defense, has played defense seriously.

Head coach Carlisle kept emphasizing the importance of this game before the game.

Especially in the second round, the two teams are likely to meet, and this game is a preview of the playoffs.

But Li Zhen remembers that in fact, the results of the Nuggets and the Mavericks this season were not good.

Both the Nuggets and the Mavericks were defeated.

Both teams failed to enter the next round.....

It's a tragedy....

However, the butterfly effect is hard to predict. Now because of Li Zhen, the Mavericks have become different. It is not so easy to win the first round.

In Carlisle's tactical arrangement, the most important thing for the Mavericks is to defend Anthony. Anthony averaged 28.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season, ranking fourth in the scoring list. The second is Billups, who averaged 19.5 points and 5.6 assists per game.

However, their main defenders are not Li Zhen.

Li Zhen's job is to defend JR well, and then play against the Nuggets' second lineup with Terry.

After Nowitzki and Butler came back, Li Zhen felt that his burden was much lighter.

Li Zhen also likes this state. He doesn't want to carry the team alone like Harden. Playing like this to enter the playoffs will only lead to failure.

Nowitzki's state in the last game also shows that the Mavericks have gradually returned to the right track.

April 7.

The Mavericks team once again came to the Pepsi Center, the home court of Denver.

Why say again? Because in the middle of the season, the Mavericks had already visited here, and that time the Mavericks lost here by 3 points. The difference between today and that day is whether Li Zhen is there.

For Li Zhen, this is a regular season game.

But in the eyes of the media, this is a"love-hate" grudge battle.

Before the game, Anthony and Li Zhen had a fierce verbal battle.

Will there be any stories between the two on the court?

Li Zhen felt that the pre-game quarrel with Anthony was very normal. He thought Anthony should also feel that it was very normal. For them, it was just a matter of face.

Li Zhen could not stop the fans from imagining the story between them.

Because it is true that the two of them are unhappy with each other.

During the warm-up, Anthony never looked at Li Zhen straight in the eye, and Li Zhen was the same.

Both of them talked nonsense with their teammates as usual. The two of them had a crackling verbal battle outside the court, but they said nothing when they really saw each other.

Anthony has watched Li Zhen's game videos. To be honest, he doesn't dare to underestimate Li Zhen's ability. After all, there are only a few guards who can score 50+ triple-doubles twice in their rookie season. He can't do it.

It's just that this rookie speaks a little bluntly.

It's painful for Anthony not to have a championship and to be suppressed by him in points per game.

Li Zhen really hurt him.

If it weren't for these words, Anthony wouldn't take Nelson's words too seriously. If

Li Zhen flattered him, Anthony would also have some business blow-by-blow with Li Zhen.

But Li Zhen didn't do that.

This forced Anthony to find a way to educate Li Zhen on the court.

"Chauncey, Kenyon, pass the ball to me and screen more today. I want to beat that rookie."

After returning to the locker room during warm-up, Anthony found two teammates and said

"OK！"

"No problem!"

Billups felt that Anthony was a bit low for making such a fuss against Li Zhen.

Looking at the responses of Kobe and James, they don't care about these off-court remarks.

Even Kobe and James have praised Li Zhen many times off the court, praising his strong ability and the future of the league.

Their approach is that of a superstar with a leadership pattern. In this comparison, Anthony is still a little bit behind.

But Billups didn't say these things, he was used to Anthony's approach.

Anthony is a guy who regards personal data as more important than the team's victory or defeat.

If he doesn't get 30 points in a game, even if he wins, he will not be happy, but will yell at his teammates.

This is Anthony!.............

In the visiting team's locker room,

Li Zhen changed into a new jersey and was about to put his phone in the closet when his phone vibrated.

He opened it and saw that it was from Reba. The content was roughly that she would watch Li Zhen's game in the dormitory and asked Li Zhen not to pay attention to the comments outside the court and to cheer up.

Li Zhen could see that Reba must have been paying attention to the news about him in real time.

About him and Anthony on the court���She must have noticed the quarrel.

Li Zhen was touched to think that there was a girl who paid attention to everything about him. Reba was different from a female fan.

Li Zhen and her were more than friends but less than lovers.

Li Zhen was thinking whether he should find an opportunity to confirm his relationship with her.

"OK"After receiving the message, Li Zhen put down his phone and closed the closet.

With the girl watching, he had to consider his face in this game.

Although playing in the plateau has some impact, it is not exaggerated.

The veterans of the Mavericks will not have altitude sickness, but Li Zhen will not.

Appearance ceremony.

Li Zhen enjoyed louder boos than ever before!

The Pepsi Center was packed, and the fans tried their best to create more pressure on the Mavericks players.

The home team bench before the game

"I emphasize again the importance of this game.

If we win, we will be the second.

If we meet them in the playoffs, we will have the home advantage.

If we lose this advantage, I think it will be difficult for us in the playoffs.

We must focus on the team's goals, not individual heroism, and do our best to win this game!

"Head coach George Karl kept shouting at all the Nuggets.

He obviously didn't want to see Anthony fall into a state of fighting alone.

The opponent is the Dallas Mavericks, a team that is not inferior to them in strength.

If they don't play according to the team's tactics, the probability of losing will be very high.

Nuggets starting lineup: Billups, Afflalo, Anthony, Nene, Kenyon Martin.

Mavericks starting lineup: Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Nowitzki, Dampier.

Li Zhen still sat on the bench.

Unlike before, Li Zhen's position is now the C position, with the best viewing angle.

Li Zhen no longer has to look after the water dispenser.