After more than 4 months of waiting and waiting, in the end, basketball fans around the world have witnessed NBA stars playing.
A series of friendly matches
Los Angeles Clippers defeated Orlando Magic with 99-90 in the first match. Denver Nuggets with an impressive debut by rookie Bol Bol, beating Washington Wizards 89-82. The remaining two matches, the New Orleans Pelicans overcame the patchwork squad of the Brooklyn Nets 99-68. In the final match, the Sacramento Kings were defeated by the Miami Heat at 98-104.
Through this series of friendly matches, the players had the first experience when playing on an audience field. Some players don’t pay too much attention to this, while others feel empty when there is no audience cheering.
In the post-match interview, Lou Williams, one of the Los Angeles Clippers‘ most important players, shared about the experience he felt during his first match at the ESPN Wide World sports complex.
The Clippers star hears familiar sounds as if he is playing at the Stapples Center, such as the familiar cheers of announcer Eric Smith when the ball is in the basket, or the characteristic sounds Clippers players are heard when playing at home.
In addition to the case of Lou Williams, a few other players felt the lack of support from the stands. One of these was the basketball dunk star of Orlando Magic – Aaron Gordon.
Although playing on the field without an audience is something that no NBA player wants to experience, for a rookie, that’s another story. The lack of a live audience has somewhat relieved the pressure that Denver Nuggets rookie Bol Bol had received during his first NBA match.
Bol Bol had an impressive debut with double-double when scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks. His outstanding performance helped Denver Nuggets to overcome Eastern Washington Wizards with the score 89-92.
Bol Bol made an impressive debut in Denver Nuggets
Whether or not they are affected by playing on an off-site stage, the players will have to get used to this as the tournament will take place in about 4 months. Not only the players, but the fans will also begin to return to the habit of watching the news about NBA matches in the near future.