The Warriors were the defending champions last season, and as they entered the new season, their record became even more impressive.
Cole was on leave, and under the guidance of assistant coach Walton, the Warriors have yet to experience a loss this season, accumulating an 18-game winning streak.
Throughout this process, the Warriors have been breaking one record after another, both in the league and in their own team history.
Being familiar with NBA history, Zeng Xingyang clearly understands how strong the Warriors are in this regular season.
They will break the long-standing record of the Bulls’ 72 wins and 10 losses, raising their regular season record to 73 wins and 9 losses.
To lose only 9 games in a season, Zeng Xingyang knows how difficult that is.
Keep in mind, only a fifth of the season has passed, and the Nuggets have already lost 9 games.
Zeng Xingyang is very clear that the reason why the Warriors are so strong is due to multiple factors.
The first is their formidable lineup, with key rotation players including Curry, Thompson, Green, Barnes, Livingston, and Iguodala.
All positions other than Curry and Thompson are at an upper league level, giving them ample depth.
This lineup not only excels offensively but is also very intimidating on the defensive end.
Especially with the emergence of the "Death Lineup," nearly every position can switch defensively, with very few mismatches occurring.
Curry’s defense is considered slightly weaker, but unless facing top-level offensive players like Owen, James, or Durant, trying to frequently isolate against Curry doesn’t have a very high success rate.
Then there’s their dominance in three-point shooting; the Warriors’ three-point shooting percentage is extremely high this season.
The team’s four core players—the Splash Brothers, Green, and Barnes—combined average 11 three-pointers per game.
This kind of powerful perimeter shooting is very frightening and is one of the key reasons the Warriors can quickly widen or catch up in a game’s score.
Next is their fast-paced offensive style.
The Warriors’ offensive style is very fast and efficient, emphasizing quick breaks and three-point shots.
With Green acting as the ball-handling forward, Curry and Thompson are always ready to shoot threes from the perimeter, while Barnes and Iguodala are prepared to fast break.
Not only is this offensive approach fast, but it’s also hard to defend, allowing the Warriors to often blow out their opponents in games.
Following that, the Warriors have an excellent team atmosphere, with outstanding chemistry between the players.
After just winning the championship in the previous season, every player on the court shows great unity and confidence, willingly sharing the ball and encouraging each other in adversity, exhibiting resilience.
This is not common in an NBA that often venerates individual heroism.
When facing the Nuggets, it is clear that their goal is a 19-game winning streak.
At the pre-game press conference.
When a reporter asked about their evaluation of the Nuggets, tonight’s opponent.
Green boasted loudly: "What I want to say is, I don’t care about them. I don’t even know if there’s anyone in their lineup worth our attention. We’ll easily secure a big win."
The reporter continued to question: "Of those hailed as the strongest contenders for this season’s Rookie of the Year, what do you think?"
Green chuckled, covered his mouth, then picked at his ear and flicked it: "I think you’ve overhyped him. Kevin can completely destroy him; Kevin is the best rookie."
This year’s 30th pick for the Warriors was Kevin Rooney, who averages only 5 minutes of playtime per game this season, with stats of 1.8 points per game, already out of the rotation. Yet Green is unreasonably partial to his younger brother.
Green continued with a fierce tone, "Tonight, I’m going to show that rookie what NBA intensity is all about."
Beside him, Iguodala joked, "Drummond, don’t make the kid cry."
Green and Iguodala both burst out laughing.
They have the best record in the league; the Nuggets, let’s look at the standings—they’re already down to tenth in the West.
Recently, they’ve been on a four-game losing streak, and they don’t think the Nuggets will pose any trouble for them.
In contrast to the Warriors’ relaxed and arrogant demeanor.
The Nuggets’ locker room seemed somewhat quiet, with the continuous losses putting everyone in a bad mood, each engaged in their own activities.
Zeng Xingyang was also conducting pre-game interviews in the player tunnel.
The interviewer was Song Xue, someone he had met before.
Song Xue, still dressed in jeans and a casual shirt, appeared very professional.
She held a microphone, looked up, and asked, "Xingyang, Green said he wants to teach you a lesson on the court. How do you respond?"
"Before he talks about teaching me a lesson, I’ve already said on Twitter that I’m going to blow him up."
"What do you think are the chances of the Nuggets beating the Warriors?"
"Before the game is played, it’s always fifty-fifty."
After a simple interview, Song Xue put down the microphone, indicating the end of the work mode.
"Xingyang, do your best tonight, I’ll always Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform."
"Don’t let temporary setbacks affect you. Defeat them and make them shut up and talk properly," Song Xue said seriously.
Since their first meeting, Song Xue had continuously interacted with Zeng Xingyang several times.
She became more familiar with Zeng Xingyang’s life.
Sunshine, confidence, effort, ambition, attractiveness, wealth.
When these labels are all concentrated on a single man, his appeal to the opposite sex is huge.
Song Xue also developed some feelings for Zeng Xingyang but, due to traditional feminine shyness, did not express it as overtly as Western girls would.
Most of the time, she only showcased her professionalism in front of Zeng Xingyang to demonstrate she wasn’t just a pretty face.
Hearing Song Xue’s encouraging shout and seeing the seriousness on her face.
It’s rare to have someone so optimistic about their chances of winning when they’re consistently losing.
Zeng Xingyang smiled and nodded, "Mm, alright, I know. I’ll make sure they talk properly."
As time passed, everything proceeded in an orderly manner.
When the Nuggets players once again emerged from the locker room and stepped into Oracle Arena.
The fans here did not hide their sense of inflation from the winning streak.
"Zeng, Jokic, welcome to the NBA, to our territory. You’re waiting to be trampled by us."
"Little rookie, go home and reflect for a few years, then come back to get beaten by us again, haha."
"Prepare to fight for the top draft pick this season."
"That Chinese man and Serbian are not your future."
The Warriors’ fans are of average civility, at least their mouths aren’t filled with racial slurs or vulgar references to sexual organs.
These taunts and shouts still add a lot of tension to the beginning of the game.
This raucous atmosphere also gave the Nuggets an overwhelming sense of pressure.
However, these voices quickly disappeared with the entrance of the Warriors players, instantly turning into endless cheers.
The man known to have changed the NBA era was finally on the court.
After Curry appeared, he sized up Zeng Xingyang.
It was said that this rookie had been quite popular recently.
Zeng Xingyang also unabashedly sized up Curry, unfazed by his fame.
Their eyes even locked for a moment.
The game is imminent!