Zhiba NBA

Chapter 46 (45) The battle for the top spot
After the last two consecutive losses, the Rockets played a wave of 5 consecutive victories, and this time it is the same.The strength of the next opponents is relatively average, and the Rockets are full of energy to play a wave of winning streak.

12月17日，火箭东征克利夫兰，麦迪和03一届的状元“小皇帝”勒布朗.詹姆斯首次交锋。此时还未年满19周岁的詹姆斯可远不是未来君临天下的超级巨星，很快他就在华莱士和特科格鲁的轮番防守下迷失了。全场詹姆斯19投仅7中得到了17分3助攻，而麦迪轻松砍下33分给他上了一课，101:89火箭轻取对手。

19日火箭坐镇主场22分大胜快船。王治郅面对老东家毫不手软砍下了16+6，麦迪只打了3节就得了24分。快船老板斯特林估计又会郁闷一阵子。

The next day, the Rockets went to Phoenix to fight back to back. The Suns Stoudemire was absent due to a sprained left ankle, which gave the Rockets a lot of opportunities inside.Rookie Bosh scored 9+9 in an eye-catching performance, and McGrady scored another 30 points. 102:97 The Rockets won and avenged their early-season defeat.

三连胜后火箭21-5，仍然稍稍领先于20-5的湖人和19-6的国王排名联盟榜首。但关键时刻到了，圣诞节前后，火箭要连战步行者和湖人。

***
On the 23rd, the Toyota Center ushered in the challenge of the first Pacers in the East.

The Pacers didn't make much action in the summer, and their rise basically came from the training within the team.The 38-year-old Reggie Miller, the soul of the team, is always strong, the new core O'Neal is 25 years old, the wing defensive giant Artest is 24 years old, and the sixth man Harrington is 23 years old. They are all at their peak.

"Most of the Pacers' starting lineup this season is a double-tower configuration, and O'Neal is partnered with Jeff Foster, a 211cm center. And the opponent's starting small forward Artest is also very strong, enough to serve as a power forward." Tang Shuai explained the tactics: "There is only one person in our team who can face Artest head-on, Gerrard, and the starting third position depends on you."

"No problem, leave it to me!" Wallace answered briskly, sweating in his heart.He is considered a relatively strong No. 3 in the league, but he is still much thinner than a muscular man like Artest.

"Tracey and Chauncey are the first starters on the outside, and Yao and Chris are on the inside. The burden on the inside of this ball is relatively heavy. First, Yao will defend O'Neal, and Chris pays attention to assisting defense. You guys have to work hard."

"Me? Starting?" Bosh was stunned. He didn't expect that the first time in his life would be in such an important game.

"Of course it's you, follow the coach's instructions. You want Yao to face Jermaine O'Neal together. The burden is very heavy." Dameng pulled Bosh away and began to impart experience.

Tang Shuai's design is the result of the coaching staff's discussion, so it makes sense.The only players on the team who can defend O'Neal head-on are Yao Ming and Dameng, while Foster's offensive ability is not strong, and he basically has no singles ability.Although Bosh is thin and weak against this kind of rough guy, it is still possible, and Bosh's movement speed advantage will help Yao Ming.On the bench, Dameng, the most defensive player, was allowed to rest and fully substitute to defend O'Neal alone.

What about the offensive end?The Pacers' impregnable defense is difficult to deal with, which depends on Tracy McGrady and Billups.

The first quarter was almost developed according to the script designed by Tang Shuai.Although the two superstars Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal did not face each other directly, they played lively with each other.

The Pacers suffered from the Rockets' targeted defense. It was not easy for Jerome to play against Yao Ming alone, and the agile Bosh would always help defend in place.O'Neill managed to get away from Yao Ming and just got the chance to make a move, and he got a flying cap from Bosh.

But the Rockets suffered because of the player's touch. Except for Tracy McGrady, other players hit the iron one after another. Like Bosh, O'Neal was excited. Looking back, his own jump shot was also blocked by Jermaine O'Neal in the same way.

McGrady did his best. On the offensive end, he took 8 of 4 shots and scored 12 points. On the defensive end, he frantically chased down the great pitcher Miller, preventing the old Miller from making a shot in the first quarter.

首节战罢，21比17火箭还落后4分。小奥尼尔7投仅2中得了6分，但贡献了4个篮板1次抢断和1次盖帽，撑起步行者铁壁的防守屏障名不虚传。

"According to reason, we are not far behind in the first quarter except McGrady. If the hand feels better, we should be able to get back." Yuan Fei said to Smith.

But the sport of basketball is full of unknowns, and sometimes it really doesn't make sense.

As soon as McGrady rests, the other Rockets players will not play.Jefferson, who was the most capable in singles outside, was also stared at by Artest. Billups kept sending exquisite passes, but the Rockets players who lost their touch were wasting opportunities again and again, especially the open three-pointers repeatedly hit the iron.In the end, it could only be solved by Yao Ming's singles. Okur, who came off the bench, pulled Ole away from the three-second zone, and Yao Ming singled Foster to solve the battle.

But after hitting twice, the Pacers are not stupid.Foster defended with Okur, Xiao Ao defended Yao Ming alone, and Yao Ming was not so easy.After dribbling the ball with his back a few times, he found no chance. Dayao had to pass it to the outside, and the 2 seconds of attack time was approaching (little fact: the NBA stipulates that the offensive team must shoot within 24 seconds of getting the ball, otherwise it will be punished as a 24-second illegal exchange of possession. Some point guards will deliberately let the ball roll on the ground for a few seconds before picking it up when receiving the serve, because 24 seconds will not be consumed if they do not receive the ball).Seeing that the situation was not good, Tang Shuai quickly replaced McGrady.

And this time after Tracy McGrady played, the Rockets did not improve much.The Rockets had a bad offense in the first half, trailing by double digits 47:37.

In the third quarter, the Rockets released an important X factor to eliminate the Lakers, running and blasting a small lineup.But even this bottom-of-the-box trick has lost its magic.In the fourth quarter, McGrady turned on the killing mode again and scored 12 points in a single quarter, but it was too late.

At 89:84, McGrady scored 33 points alone, and the Rockets lost another game at home.

***
The 24th is Christmas Eve, a traditional American holiday, and the Rockets players did not rest.They have just lost their top spot in the league and are still practicing hard.After discussing with Tang Shuai, Yuan Fei and Tang Shuai suspended the training and asked everyone to sit together to discuss the reasons for the loss.

The players talked a lot about tactics, contingencies, status and other factors. Yuan Fei took out his notes and cleared his throat, and everyone immediately fell silent.

"Our coaching staff's overall strategy is fine, especially the defense against O'Neal's strong point in the first quarter and the deployment of a small lineup in the third quarter is a good choice." Yuan Fei said: "But why didn't the good strategy get good results? On the one hand, there is a problem with the state, and on the other hand, our team's players and coaching staff are indeed flawed. Losing to the Spurs, Timberwolves, and Pacers, these three teams have a lot in common. The strong defense lost its proportions, and the offensive end couldn't open up. It fell behind from the first quarter, and fell behind until the end, and couldn't catch up after chasing."

"That's right, but we seem to have a relatively strong bench. Every time in the fourth quarter, we are chasing points." Yao Ming stood up and made a self-criticism: "As the starting center, I have the responsibility. Every time we come up, we lose too many points."

"This matter cannot be said to be your fault. Our power forward is indeed a little weak. Gerrard is too short, Wang is not good at defending, and Chris is too young. Facing Duncan, Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal, it must be incomparable." Yuan Fei continued to analyze: "But we should be dominant on the outside, but we always fail to open the situation. Here I want to name and criticize one person!"

Billups' face darkened, and he thought: This is clearly criticizing me.

"It's you, Tracy McGrady!"

(End of this chapter)