Zhiba NBA

Chapter 30 (29) Defending Compaq

The training on the 21st ended early, and Coach Smith didn't want the players to be overtired.But the team members did not go home individually, they were gathered together by Yuan Fei.

"I want to hear what everyone thinks about the first game we lost. Please tell us." Yuan Fei said.

"This..." Don't look at these players playing with vigor and vigor, but most of them are not well-educated, so it's not easy to get them to say something.

"Let me talk about it first." Captain Dameng spoke first: "The Lakers have two superstars, and we only have Tracy who is at the same level. Now I can't handle the sharks, and Yao is still too young. We must be at a disadvantage in these two strengths."

"The main responsibility for this game lies with me. It was because I didn't guard Kobe that we fell behind so much in the first half." Jefferson also took the initiative to take responsibility.

"It's because I don't have any sense of offense. I am the main player and I have the greatest responsibility." McGrady also reviewed it.

"Stop, stop." Yuan Fei interrupted them unbearably. "I want everyone to discuss their opinions and countermeasures, not to hold a review meeting. What are you all doing with your heads down? Do you want to win tomorrow's game?"

The players were silent for a while, only Yao Ming shouted: "I want to win!"

"Yes, it's Yao's kind of momentum. It's normal for us to lose the first game of this series. After all, the Lakers are very strong, but the longer we play, the more we will have an advantage. If we reach the tiebreaker (note: since 7, the first round of the playoffs has 2003 games and 7 wins, before it was 4 games and 5 wins), we will win!"

The players looked at each other in blank dismay, all silent.

"Do you think I'm talking nonsense? When did you see me say something unfounded?" Yuan Fei said slowly and deliberately: "Kobe played 44 minutes in the last game. He is young and strong, but it's nothing. O'Neal is different. He suffered a foot injury last year, and both feet have inflammation. He has not healed, and his weight has exceeded 325 pounds (approximately 147.4 kilograms), which puts too much burden on his feet. Why did the Lakers lose several more games in the regular season than us? The main reason is that O'Neal is absent too much, which is the proof of his inability to support consecutive high-intensity games."

"Jason means that O'Neal's physical fitness and injuries will be a big problem for the Lakers after continuous high-intensity combat." Smart general Billups quickly understood the meaning of Yuanfei.

"Yes, although we lost the first home game on the 20th, we will play the second home game tomorrow on the 22nd. After a day of rest, we will go to Los Angeles to play an away game on the 24th. Before O'Neal rested for three days, he was so strong yesterday. These two games can only be rested for one day. Will he still have such energy? Obviously not. If O'Neal only has 8 successes, our substitute lineup will destroy their substitutes. As long as Tracy can contain Bryant, we will definitely win the game."

"Jason is right. Although we lost one game, the score was very close, which shows that we are not weak. If O'Neal played 5 minutes less, maybe we would win." Veteran Mark Bryant also encouraged the players.

"But the disadvantage for us is that we lost a home game. If we lose the second home game, the series is basically over. If we go to Los Angeles and lose one of the two away games, it will be 2 to 3, and it will be difficult to play later." Yuan Fei continued to analyze: "So this second home game must be won. If we lose, the probability of our being eliminated is more than 1%."

"So we must win tomorrow and we must defend the Compaq Center!" Coach Smith shouted.

"Speaking of the arena, I think everyone knows that next season we will move to a new arena to play." Olajuwon suddenly talked about this sad topic. "I have played here since I first entered the league. I have won many honors and experienced the most difficult period for the team. If we lose tomorrow, it is likely to lose 2 games in a row in Los Angeles. This will be the last game in this arena."

"We can't lose this game, the season isn't over yet," Wallace shouted.

"Let's defend Compaq together!" Unknown who made the start, all the players responded one after another. "Defend Compaq! Defend Compaq! Defend Compaq!" The slogan continued to echo in the arena.

***
In the game on the 22nd, as soon as the game started, the Lakers players felt a different pressure from the first game.

The Rockets players are as crazy as if they had been injected with chicken blood, defending hard, and running more actively without the ball.In particular, McGrady defended Kobe very uncomfortable. He used his long arms to constantly harass Kobe, making Kobe unable to move comfortably.Although O'Neal is still playing against Yao Ming, his physical fitness is a bit lacking, and the frequency of shots is not as high as in the first game.

It was difficult for OK to play, let alone a substitute.The backup point guard Genilo Pargo is short (185cm), and Billups and Reed shot three three-pointers in a row as soon as he came on the court.As soon as O'Neal went to rest, Yao Ming beat Holly and Madsen to the ground.

At the end of halftime, Kobe scored 15 points, O'Neal scored 12 points, but the Lakers only scored 43 points, while the Rockets McGrady scored 19 points, Yao Ming 10 points, Billups 10 points, Wallace 7 points, and Turkoglu 6 points.

"How can you be beaten by the Rockets!" An angry Kobe kicked the closet angrily.

"Kobe, you have to calm down." The team's Dinghaishenzhen "Zen Master" Jackson spoke, and Kobe immediately calmed down. "Don't forget that we still lead 1-0 with a big score. Even if we lose this game, we have 5 home games in the remaining 3 games, and the advantage is already in our hands. So this game, we can afford to lose. Since we can afford to lose, we must correct our mentality and play calmly."

"Yeah, we are still ahead." O'Neill agreed with a playful smile. "Houston people want to beat us, it's not impossible, but they have to pay a price. Let them know how good we are in the second half. Fisher, in the third quarter, you must contain the opponent's French point guard. He is the core of the Rockets' small lineup."

"I will, boss!" Xiaoyu promised.

On the other side of the locker room of the home team, the Rockets players did not communicate much.

"Defend Compaq! Defend Compaq!" Under the leadership of Olajuwon, the players shouted slogans.At the moment, they only think about winning in their hearts.

***
Fisher tried his best to follow the "French sports car" Parker, but his footsteps became a little messy. "This guy is so fast. I defended against Iverson. Both of them are fast, but their types are completely different. Senge is a sudden explosive type of lightning, but this Parker uses very small steps to quickly adjust his rhythm, as if he will pass the ball in a breakthrough at any time."

Sure enough, Parker flicked suddenly, and the ball did not know when it had reached Reed on the weak side, and the latter hit a three-pointer. At 45:66, the Lakers fell further and further behind.

Even the optimist O'Neill couldn't laugh this time, he roared angrily, and ate Okur raw in singles like a wild bear.The strong Turkish guy couldn't form an effective defense in front of the stronger fat man and was completely defeated.O'Neal made 7 of 5 shots in a single quarter and scored 10 points.But 10 points is undoubtedly a drop in the bucket compared to the Rockets' sharp offense. The Rockets continued to expand their lead under Parker's organization.McGrady made a three-pointer at the buzzer in the third quarter, 66:92.The Rockets led by 26 points and entered the final quarter, and there was no suspense in the game.

第四节双方都换下了主力球员，连乔.约翰逊都替补登场得到了4分。火箭队12人中没有出场过的球员只有王治郅了。杰弗森统治了第四节，他单节砍下18分。85:120火箭获得了一场酣畅淋漓的大胜。

The game is not over yet, and the audience is full of cheers.The young Rockets overturned the Triple Crown. This topic has been covered by the media for a few days.The same is true on the bench, Billups put his arm around Wallace's shoulders and chatted happily, making Wallace laugh out loud.Only Wang Zhizhi remained silent.

"Wang, isn't it a bit uncomfortable not to play?" Yuan Fei's voice came, and this time he came to the away game with the team.

Da Zhi turned his head and smiled, and said, "It's great to win, it doesn't matter if I play or not."

"Although you have played in the league for several years, you have never played against the Lakers in the playoffs. They don't know you very well." Yuan Fei looked at Dazhi sincerely and whispered: "I told the coach not to let you play. You are our secret weapon. When you arrive at Staples, you have a chance to show it."

Da Zhi's eyes widened in surprise, he was about to say a lot but kept his mouth shut, and he didn't know what to say.

"Thank you!"

The bell rang for the end of the game.

"I'm going to treat you tonight, everyone has a good meal. Go to Los Angeles tomorrow and kill them!" Olajuwon shouted to the players.This big brother is deeply loved by the younger brothers, and he also gives back to the younger brothers with sincerity.

***
But two days later, it was Dameng's turn to stop laughing.

Back at the Staples Center, the Lakers were too fierce. O'Neal scored 9 points and 6 rebounds on 15 of 8 shots in the first quarter.You must know that Yao Ming averaged 13+8 per game throughout the regular season, and O'Pang, who showed off his power, played Yao Ming's data in one game.But Kobe didn't feel good but played smartly, causing McGrady to foul again and again. Coach Smith could only replace McGrady early to rest.Jefferson, who was put on defense, was also fouled by Kobe Bryant consecutively.In the second quarter, Kobe made 10 of 10 free throws and scored 13 points in a single quarter.

Losing McGrady, the Rockets' offensive end stalled half, and they could only rely on Billups' organization and Yao Ming's singles.And O'Neal also fought hard in the first half, and he didn't rest for a minute at all. Facing the crazy sharks, Yao Ming couldn't take advantage of it at all. At 1:43, the Rockets trailed by double digits to end the first half, and OK contributed 58 points each.

The Rockets' tactics have been figured out by the seasoned Phil Jackson.The Rockets rely on nothing but Cheng Yaojin's three axes: one is to rely on McGrady's super personal ability to bite the score; the other is to take advantage of the weakness of the Lakers' short inside bench, and let Yao Ming hit the Lakers' backup center as soon as O'Neal rests; the third is to fight for a small lineup in the third quarter.Now McGrady came up with 3 fouls, and O'Neal didn't take much rest but consumed Yao Ming almost. In the third quarter, a small lineup may not be able to catch up with such a big difference.

"Use new tactics!" Yuan Fei finally couldn't help it.

　I have taken on a few big jobs in the past few days, and the work is relatively busy, but I will try my best to keep updated.Thank you readers for your support.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)