At two o'clock in the afternoon, the familiar Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena was the scene of Memphis' game against Michigan State.
In a pre-game interview, Michigan State University coach Tom Izzo, a famous coach who has coached Michigan for 15 years, said that the fact that Memphis has reached this point shows that these guys are not simple and everyone has underestimated them.
He also said that Memphis has a balanced lineup inside and outside, with Elliott Williams outside and Li Kaiming inside, and two stars shining brightly. Memphis is an extremely difficult opponent.
The classic pre-game breast-feeding session.
Pastner did not hesitate to give in. He kept praising Michigan players and said that Tom Izzo was his idol growing up...
This made Li Kaiming on the side feel sick after hearing this. These guys are so hypocritical, especially Pastner, who even tells lies without blushing. Even he knows that this guy's idol is obviously the old coach K!
The players' pre-game interviews were not so harmonious. Elliott Williams, who was beaten into panda eyes by Dream Green, uncharacteristically said in the interview, "Today Michigan will be a stepping stone for us to enter the finals." !”
Li Kaiming:?
If you have no work, you can bite a lighter! Just follow my example, right?
The reporters at the scene were in a commotion when they heard Williams' harsh words, because Williams has always been a relatively modest and cautious image in front of the media, but unexpectedly, he suddenly made such harsh words before today's game!
After hearing the content of Williams' interview at Michigan, the players were dismissive, especially Green, who even said, "Today, if Elliott can score more than 15 points, I will do it backwards." Get out of the arena!”
As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked!
Good guy, the game hasn't even started yet, but the smell of gunpowder is already so strong. How exciting that field is!
After hearing such tit-for-tat remarks from both sides, the security personnel at the scene became anxious and immediately temporarily increased risk checks on the players and locker rooms to prevent players from bringing weapons into the arena!
After all, there are gun battles everywhere in free America. If there is a conflict and some unthinkable guy shoots at the whole place, their careers will be over!
No, maybe not just your career, but your life career may be over!
As for Li Kaiming, due to his "wonderful performance" in the last pre-game interview against Maryland, the media will naturally not let him go easily. "Li, last time you said Maryland was your stepping stone, and now it seems that you have indeed done it." , then what do you think of today’s game?”
After the reporter asked this question, the whole place fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at Li Kaiming quietly to prevent him from saying anything earth-shattering and not hearing it clearly.
A gentle smile appeared on Li Kaiming's face, "Michigan is a very strong opponent, they are a team that can compete for the championship!"
Wow!
The scene instantly erupted into a huge discussion!
What's going on? This guy has changed his gender? Why did you learn to compliment your opponent after three days of absence?
The reporter who just asked the question couldn't wait to add, "Lee, do you mean that you might not be able to beat Michigan?"
Li Kaiming sneered, "What an international joke!"
"Then you just said that they are a team that can compete for the championship..."
Li Kaiming waved his hand to interrupt the reporter, and then said word for word, "Yes, they can compete for the championship, and we will be the champion this year!"
Hearing his words, the reporter who was still excited just now was instantly frozen, and everyone else at the scene also looked at him blankly.
I thought this guy had changed his gender, but he was still as crazy as ever!
The excitement of the pre-match confrontation between the two sides whetted the appetite of the audience. All fans entered the arena half an hour early, ready to enjoy a real strong showdown.
In the stadium, the starting lineups of both sides have been listed on the big screen.
University of Memphis Tigers: Point guard Willie Kemp, shooting guard Elliott Williams, small forward Daniel Mack, power forward Wesley Weatherspoon, center Kaiming Li.
Michigan State Spartans: Point guard Kalin Lucas, shooting guard Isaiah Dahlman, small forward Jon Crandall, power forward Draymond Green, center Tom Hull Zog.
Seeing that Dream Chaser Green actually appeared in the starting lineup, all the audience's attention became more focused!
Tom Izzo changes lineup! He actually put Dream Chaser Green in the starting lineup!
Logically speaking, Dream Green is only a sophomore this season and basically plays the sixth man role in the regular season, but today Tom Izzo actually put him in the starting lineup, which seems to be a unique arrangement.
But things were different here in Memphis. When Elliott Williams saw Green being the starter, the anger and hatred in his eyes instantly became a little stronger!
Pastner frowned. Tom Izzo's change made him confused as to why Green, who had been a substitute for a season, was chosen as the starting power forward. He could only wait until the game started to see...
——
On the court, the basketball in the hands of the referee was thrown into the air under the watchful eyes of more than 10,000 people. At the same time, the whistle symbolizing the start of the game also fell!
beep!
Li Kaiming struck first, and his powerful explosive power allowed him to rise up from the ground the moment the ball took off. Then he stretched out his long arms, and the basketball that flew to the highest point was accurately shot into the hands of point guard Kemp!
Michigan State University center Herzog's eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw how fast Li Kaiming took off!
Before the game, the coach said this guy was fast and could jump high, but no one told me he could jump that high!
However, the next scene surprised him even more. Li Kaiming jumped to the ball and immediately started to move after landing. He took a big step and surpassed him who was retreating in two or three steps, and went straight to their penalty area.
If it weren't for the help of Dream Chaser Green on the side, Li Kaiming would have been able to rush into the paint and dunk in the first round!
Next to Michigan's bench, Tom Izzo's frown relaxed a little.
The decision to start Green was the right one!
It turned out that as early as before the game, the Michigan coaching staff watched a lot of Memphis game videos, focusing on the Tigers' No. 34 center. They keenly discovered that the reason why the previous team was beaten inside by this Chinese boy was because Their inside line was completely unable to match Li Kaiming.
Either the inside line was too short, and he grabbed rebounds over his head, or the inside line was tall enough, but couldn't keep up with the speed, and Li Kaiming broke through.
Michigan's starting positions 4 and 5 also have this problem. If they follow the regular starting lineup, Michigan's inside line will be blown to pieces just like Memphis' previous opponents.
So Tom Izzo had an idea and thought of starting with Dream Green to solve this problem.
In this case, center Herzog can effectively protect the inside and rebounds with his height of 2.13 meters. Green, who is 1.98 meters tall, can play as a power forward to defend the perimeter and take advantage of his fast movement. , help Herzog defend Li Kaiming's breakthrough!
Seeing that his arrangement worked in the first round, Tom Izzo couldn't help but feel proud of his bold change.
[The second update has arrived today, please vote, thank you for your support! 】
