The Rockets were swept out of the game last season, and Harden and Howard spent the whole summer holding in their anger and feeling very aggrieved.
But there's nothing they can do about holding back. They really can't beat the Thunder's Big Three.
The Thunder's strength is too strong, suppressing the Rockets in every position without any temper.
Especially Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen beat the Rockets cornerstone Deng Ge until he couldn't hold his head up.
When Harden and Kardashian quarreled, Kardashian would use Zhao Chen to mock Harden...
In short, the Rockets didn't even have the courage to take revenge on the Thunder. They lost so miserably.
This season, Zhao Chen joined the Lakers, giving Harden and Howard hope of venting their anger.
If you team up with Westbrook and Durant, we can't beat you.
Now that you're alone, it's all over.
The rest of the Lakers are ignored by Harden and Howard.
Especially Howard. During Howard's one season with the Lakers, his relationship with the Lakers management and players was extremely poor.
Howard doesn't like everything about the Lakers. He thinks the players there are too watery!
...........
at the pre-match press conference.
When Howard talked about Zhao Chen joining the Lakers, Howard said bluntly: "This is Zhao's business decision and has nothing to do with basketball. If he chooses to join here, he doesn't need to care about the team's victory or defeat."
Howard said it very directly, he just looked down on the Lakers and believed that if Zhao Chen joined the Lakers, there would be no possibility of competing for the championship.
Harden also said: "Zhao is very good. He comes to a new environment and needs a longer time to adapt. Without Russell and KD, I have experienced his state and I know how he feels."
Zhao Chen is now a superstar and has a certain status in the NBA. Howard still pays attention to the bottom line when talking to Harden, and will not criticize just for the sake of blackmail.
As for the Lakers.
Zhao Chen also cautiously stated that he would do his best to help the team win.
For the Lakers, the current Rockets lineup is deeper than them, and they need to go all out.
.....
After the interview, Zhao Chen went back to the locker room to change clothes and warm up. Then he went back to the locker room to change clothes and prepare for the appearance ceremony.
Zhao Chen continued to make adjustments to improve his condition to the best.
The Staples Center, home of the Lakers, was full 30 minutes before the game started.
After experiencing the darkness of the past few seasons, Lakers fans are even more eager for the new Lakers season.
Staples was courtside with a number of Hollywood stars appearing.
Leonardo DiCaprio, his supermodel girlfriend, Schwarzenegger and his family...the Lakers have too many Hollywood star fans.
There are also many of Zhao Chen's neighbors, and Zhao Chen has a good relationship with them.
This game is not only the Lakers' opening game, but also the league's opening game of the new season.
Domestic TV stations and Penguin have made arrangements to broadcast the game live.
Domestic fans sitting in front of the TV or computer are also very concerned about Zhao Chen's Lakers debut.
No. 10!
This is Zhao Chen’s new jersey number.
During the appearance ceremony, Zhao Chen was the last one from the Lakers to appear.
Zhao Chen's appearance brought the scene to its first peak tonight.
"Zhao, welcome to LA!"
"You have to lead the Lakers back to the championship."
"Come on, you can do it!"
"Zhao, you are the best!"
The fans gave all their cheers to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen jogged all the way to the court and high-fived the staff and teammates.
Looking up, Zhao Chen patted his chest, touched the platinum jersey on his body, and then focused on the championship banners and retired jerseys.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic...
This is the foundation. What Zhao Chen feels is the weight of history and responsibility!
As a player, Zhao Chen knows how difficult it is to get so many championship banners and retired jerseys.
Almost every championship and every retired jersey of the Lakers represents an era.
And now, it's his time!
Zhao Chen's heart gradually boiled!
Standing on this court, Zhao Chen wants to make this his home court and make the fans in this city go crazy for him!
.........
The Rockets' lineup looks even better.
The relationship between James Harden and Dwight Howard has also become more harmonious.
It seems that after experiencing this summer, they also know that they need the two to cooperate with each other in order for the Rockets to go further.
Zhao Chen looked at Harden and Howard chatting and laughing, and he felt the difficulty of tonight's game.
In terms of external public opinion, the Rockets have the upper hand.
Although Zhao Chen is very strong, the media and experts generally believe that he can only cause trouble to the Rockets and is unlikely to defeat them.
The Lakers have too many rookies in their lineup, most of them only in the second round, and the new players they introduced are just role players.
It is difficult for such a lineup to compete with the Rockets, who have been working together for several seasons.
............
In the CCTV broadcast booth.
The ones responsible for commentating the Lakers' opening game were Zhang Weiping and Xu Jicheng.
Xu Jicheng said: "Director Zhang, what do you think of Zhao Chen joining the Lakers?"
Zhang Weiping said: "Zhao Chen has already won a championship with the Thunder. He went to the Lakers to meet new challenges. The Lakers have a big market and Kobe is here, which will be more helpful to Zhao Chen's career."
As a veteran, Zhang Weiping almost laughed all summer after learning the news that Zhao Chen had joined the Lakers.
He is also looking forward to this opening game very much!
Xu Jicheng asked: "Who do you think has a greater chance of winning tonight?"
Zhang Weiping said: "Of course it's the Lakers. Zhao Chen is a defensive point that the Rockets can't solve. Driving his teammates is also what Zhao Chen is good at."
Director Zhang has full confidence in Zhao Chen.
Xu Jicheng said: "What do you think of the rookies selected by the Lakers this summer?"
Zhang Weiping said: "The Lakers' draft is very interesting. They have hoarded a bunch of second-round picks. Judging from the preseason, the styles of each of these second-round picks are very obvious. On the contrary, the No. 7 pick they selected was Rand. My style is not very clear, so it shouldn’t be difficult to pick out one or two of these people.”
.....
Some non-Lakers fans felt a little confused when they heard Coach Zhang's boast. Coach Zhang was different from what the online media analyzed?
It seems that according to Director Zhang, the Lakers crushed the Rockets?
Of course, according to Lakers fans and Zhao Chen fans, the Lakers' defeat of the Rockets is not an upset.
The Lakers' rookies are all outstanding, and Zhao Chen is even better. How can the Lakers have any reason to be weak?
Anyway, the Lakers championship is over! !
After a while, the ceremony on the field was completed.
Players from both sides remain on the court.
Lakers starting lineup: PG Zhao Chen, SG Joe Harris, SF Covington, PF Tucker, C Hill.
Boozer sprained his ankle in practice two days before the start of the regular season, and Tucker took his place.
At the center position, Boban, who Zhao Chen requested, has not yet arrived. Boban himself is very interested in the Lakers. Kupchak is trying to communicate with the club in Serbia to try to buy out. Before the buyout is reached, Hill occupies the Lakers' starting lineup.
The Lakers' lineup has almost completely changed last season's lineup, but Lakers fans seem happier at the moment.
It was a nightmare for them last season, and it doesn't look like it will be a nightmare this season.
Rockets starting lineup: PG Beverley, SG Harden, SF Ariza, PF Jones, C Howard
Jeremy Lin was originally revealed to be joining the Lakers in the summer, but everything came to an abrupt end when Zhao Chen moved to the Lakers. Not only did Jeremy Lin fail to join the Lakers, Jeremy Lin was also pushed to the bench by Beverley in the Rockets.
The Rockets' lineup changes were mainly at the small forward position. Chandler Parsons left for the Mavericks, and they rediscovered Ariza.
With Harden and Howard around, Ariza no longer needs to be the boss, he just needs to be a 3D player.
As the referee threw the ball high.
The new regular season officially begins!
"Dang, inspire [Team Leader]"
Zhao Chen didn't hesitate and immediately launched his ultimate move!
