Rebirth of Hayes Cyclone

Chapter 110 [What is a leader, two types of players]

The Rockets played an 11-0 offensive climax, and the Clippers quickly made adjustments to the lineup. Tim Thomas came on and replaced Mobley in order to increase the height of the field. Maggette changed to the position of shooting guard superior.

The Rockets immediately switched defenses, with Battier on Maggette and Hayes on Thomas.

Maggette didn't become easy because of the change of position. After receiving the ball, Battier kept shaking his hands in front of him, interfering with his passing route. It was difficult for Maggette to transfer the ball to Bran on the inside. Germany, had to pass to the periphery.

Thomas, who was new to the game, made an outside shot, and the basketball bounced out of the hoop again.

This time, Hayes didn't rush down quickly, the arc of the ball was very flat, and the distance of the bounce was relatively far. Brand took the offensive rebound and raised his hand to feint. David Lee raised his arms and lost the defense. Position, Brand immediately cut into the inside with the ball, Hayes let go of Thomas, chased up from the side to block the block, a step slower, Brand used the throwing method, put the ball in,

11 to 2, the Clippers finally scored.

But Brand didn't have the slightest joy, their offense was too difficult.If he hadn't chosen to throw the shot and took one more step, he would have fallen into the encirclement of Hayes and Yao Ming.

When defending, the Clippers changed to a 122 zone defense.

Livingston entangled McGrady on the outside, and the other four stood in a rectangular position.

This kind of zone defense is to limit the Rockets' breakthrough after the pick-and-roll. They can use two players to defend the breakthrough player in the adjacent area. The biggest feature of the formation is that it can flank the enemy.

The Rockets immediately used their actions to prove that the Clippers' defense was useless.McGrady raised one hand and made a gesture with four fingers. David Lee didn't come up to pick and roll, but asked Yao Ming for the ball on both sides.Hayes and Battier pulled to the top of the arc.Tracy McGrady passed to Hayes in the middle. After Hayes attracted Maggette's defense on the weak side, he handed the ball to Battier at a 4-degree angle on the left.Battier's position is empty, and he hits a three-pointer steadily. 60 to 14.

Against a team with multiple pitchers, shrinking defense is tantamount to self-criticism.

The Clippers have no good way to defend the Rockets.The Rockets' outside defense is not bad, and Livingston has no advantage against McGrady.What the Clippers can do is to pull away and transfer to Kaman and Brand for a one-on-one.This is what the Rockets are happy to see.

Brand made an inside pass to Kaman, who missed a jumper.David Lee took the rebound, the Rockets launched a quick counterattack, three-on-three in the frontcourt, McGrady received a pass from Hayes, broke through Livingston in disguise, and made a mid-range shot. 16 to 2.

The gap is too big.The singles ability of the Rockets is higher than that of the Clippers. As long as they counterattack quickly and the defensive formation is not formed, the Rockets can guarantee a high offensive efficiency.

The audience shouted excitedly. The Rockets used to be impotent as soon as they reached the playoffs. This time it was different. Their offense was sharper than in the regular season.The only person in the Rockets who hasn't scored is Yao Ming, and Yao Ming hasn't even made a single shot yet.On several occasions, he didn't pass the half court. He just got a rebound and made a long pass, and his teammates ended the battle.

This kind of quick counterattack is a new tactic that Van Gundy asked the players to practice after watching the star game.Yao Ming and David Lee, who protect the rebounds in the backcourt, and Hayes, who is good at judging the rebounds and starting early, are the key to the tactics.

If Yao Ming does not participate in the fast break, there will be no problem in retreating. Another advantage is that it makes it difficult for the Clippers to play fast break.Yao Ming has first-class anti-post attack ability and is a reliable inside defensive barrier.

Brand singled David Lee and hit a hook. 16 to 4.No one blames David Lee for being unfavorable defensively, because his opponent is the strongest.

When the Rockets attacked again, the Clippers had changed their formation to the same three-two defense as the Rockets. Otherwise, the Rockets' three pitchers would gather at the top of the arc, and it would be easy for the Rockets to play more and play less.As soon as the Clippers changed their formation, the Rockets also changed their offense.

David - Lee pulled out, Hayes ran to McGrady.McGrady didn't pass the ball, but broke through from the left by Hayes who suddenly stopped the pick-and-roll.Brand quickly defended, but was blocked by David Lee again. McGrady dribbled the ball to the edge of the left three-second zone with a double pick-and-roll, and hit a jumper. 18 to 4.

After the goal, McGrady showed a proud smile.He felt more relaxed than usual training.Because it was either Hayes or Battier who defended him during training, and now Livingston and Maggette defend him, and he has no pressure at all.

The Clippers adjusted their lineup. Maggette was off, and Quentin Ross, who was good at defense, was on. Ross had no offensive ability. The weapon he relied on for survival was defense.Coach Dunleavy wants him to pester Tracy McGrady.

Livingston made an outside shot, 18 to 7.Rose strengthened the defense against Tracy McGrady. This time the Rockets had a simpler offensive option. Tracy McGrady was handed over to Hayes, and Hayes was transferred to Yao Ming.Yao Ming caught the ball and turned around for a jumper, and the ball went in again. 20 to 7.

The Rockets' offense can be described as crazy, so far their shooting percentage is 100%.

Seeing that the Rockets were completely in control of the situation, Drexler laughed and said, "The gap between the Clippers and the Rockets is too great. They can't attack, and they can't defend. The Rockets used Yao Ming as a blue-collar worker, and it worked wonders." .If the regular season is played like this, maybe it will be the record for the Bulls."

Matt Brad said: "Yao Ming protected the backcourt rebounds and launched a quick counterattack. Hayes and Tracy McGrady are both very strong in singles. As long as the Clippers' defense is not in position, it is difficult to prevent their assaults. I definitely didn’t expect the Rockets to play fast break with Yao Ming on the court, it’s not the same as the Suns’ running and bombing, the Suns ran with five players, and the Rockets are now attacking with three players, Yao Ming and David Lee are watching.”

The Clippers' defensive strategy was changed to man-to-man again. Dunleavy wished he could send Thomas to follow Hayes when he was aggressively attacking, and finally prevented the Rockets' quick counterattack.However, the Rockets still have the upper hand in battle.Fisher replaced David Lee, the Rockets used the usual play of the regular season, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady played singles, and Hayes controlled the rebounds.The score continued to widen.

At the end of the half, the Rockets led 69 to 41 by 28 points, and the Clippers were gone.

McGrady scored 24 points in the half, but when Drexler commented on the game, he thought Hayes played better. McGrady had 5 goals directly assisted by Hayes. "Hayes is great, the championship needs this kind of capable team players. It's a pity he couldn't be born a few years earlier. If he and I and Olajuwon form the Big Three together, I bet there will be no Bulls reign."

Matt Brad, who has been a player in the Rockets for many years, also said: "If he was in that era, I might not be able to get into the ring. With him in the Rockets, I doubt that the backup power forward will not have my place. May be cut."

Drexler said seriously: "The MVP of this season's regular season will be announced after the first round of the game. McGrady's voice is very high now, but judging from today's game, I feel that Hayes is the real Rockets. The core of him. His ability to read the game is very strong, no matter what position he plays, he can play his due role. I can feel that he is very reliable when I watch the game here."

Matt Brad laughed and said: "There are too many people who are optimistic about Hayes. A few days ago, Magic Johnson also came to Houston to look for him, and there was a transfer scandal. If Hayes hadn't said in the press conference Will stay, the fans are in a hurry. During the All-Star Game, Kobe deliberately sent the MVP to please Hayes. The Lakers have not had a good record for three consecutive seasons, and they desperately hope that he will join."

"Hayes is becoming more and more like a leader," Drexler sighed.

What is a leader on the pitch?

A qualified leader is not what he says, but what he does.

A qualified leader does not score [-] or [-] points, grab rebounds, or get assists when facing underdogs, but the one who stands up and scores at the most critical moment when his teammates have nothing to do and the team is in adversity. It is the person who can lead the team to victory even if the data is poor against a strong enemy; the person who can play the most reasonable team basketball and bring confidence and hope to teammates even if they lose the game.When such a person appears in a team, the team has a soul.

A leader may not be the strongest scorer on a team, but he will be at the forefront and lead the team forward. When difficulties come, he will say "no problem" and "leave it to me"; Sometimes, he takes the blame on himself, even when he's the best player in the game.
There are two such players.

One is a person who is very capable, self-proclaimed, and people around him also say that he is a leader.He may have the team's right to fire at will. When he is leading, he desperately scores points. At the last minute, he can't see his teammates and likes to force shots.Good luck, winning the game is due to him alone.If he is unlucky and loses the game, he blames his teammates for not supporting him enough.Can we call such a person a leader?
Another kind of player, he may not be the strongest, but he can show momentum at critical moments of the game and cheer everyone up.Nobody said he was a leader, not even himself.But when the first type of person mentioned above passes the ball to him, he can seize the opportunity in the most appropriate way and turn the tide for the team.Then, he would walk out of the court in silence, resigned to being plain.In his heart, the team will always come first.

Now, Hayes is beginning to approach the second type of player.

The Rockets continued to firmly control the situation in the second half. The Clippers made various attempts, but were still unable to catch up with the score.Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are players who need to double-team. As long as they choose to double-team, other players will get a chance.In the second half of the third quarter, the Rockets sent all substitute players, and the game entered garbage time.

With a final score of 115 to 87, the Rockets made a good start to the playoffs at home.

(End of this chapter)