Zhiba NBA

Chapter 56 (55) Crashed Weber

Whether you can win the regular season championship depends not only on your own strength, but also on your opponent.The Rockets can firmly hold the number one in the league. On the one hand, it is their own strength. The young players they have cultivated in the past few years have grown to the harvest period, which can be said to be a matter of course;

The Kings of the Lakers were injured and missed many games. The Spurs changed their new main point guard and had a bad start. The Nets lacked new aid center Mourning.

Among these strong teams, the Kings seem to be the most able to compete with the Rockets.In the absence of the main player Webber, they started with the twin towers of Miller and Divac, and the effect was good. As of February, they had an impressive record of 2 wins and 43 losses, ranking second in the league after the Rockets.What is valuable is that they have won two games against the Rockets and maintained a psychological advantage.

On March 3, the Kings finally ushered in the comeback of their core superstar Chris Webber in their home game against the Clippers.Brad Miller, who played very well before, sat on the bench, and Webber made his debut.He scored 2+18+12 on 26 of 12 shots and led the team to victory over the Clippers.For the Kings at this time, this is a strong improvement, and this season seems to be developing in a good way.

可很快韦伯就暴露出了问题。6日客战弱旅热火，韦伯21投仅8中，得到了22+9，而他对位的热火大前锋奥多姆则砍下了30+19+11的三双，让韦伯黯然失色。国王6分憾负。

On the 7th, they played against the Magic back-to-back. Webber, who had just come back, took a break. As a result, the team won the away game with 17 points. In the game against the Warriors on the 9th, although the Kings won the ball, Webb made only 21 of 2 shots and scored only 5 points.

The media is harsh, and if the ball is played abnormally, criticism will naturally come.Some media even began to discuss whether the Kings no longer need Weber and whether Brad Miller is more appropriate to start.Some Kings fans also began to have doubts about the hero. Some fans even booed Webber and called him a softie.

3月16日，韦伯17投仅5中得到15+9，国王17分惨败于篮网。次日，背靠背再负于弱旅奇才。

Webber started to experience a lot of pressure, which he hadn't experienced in his previous career.Due to the injury, his knee has not recovered 100%, and his weight has also increased, resulting in a decrease in his jumping, speed and agility.He also began to doubt himself to a certain extent.

***
The Rockets lost to the Suns and narrowly defeated the Warriors, with a record of 52 wins and 15 losses. On March 3, the Rockets went to Sacramento to challenge the Arco Stadium, home of the Kings.

"The Kings are a team with a strong offense and a weak defense, and they are slightly better than the Mavericks in terms of imbalance. It should be noted that their three-pointers are very powerful, and they can kill any strong team if they shoot with firepower." Tang Shuai arranged tactics: "The good news is that their defense has obvious shortcomings. Although they have two towers, their ability to rebound and protect the frame is relatively average. As long as we feel normal and shoot our rhythm, we will definitely be able to win them."

This time Tang Shuai was obviously crowed.The Rockets have played well but have been lagging behind. The player's shooting touch is mediocre and they still can't even out the point difference.In the first half, only Billups and Turkoglu scored a three-pointer each, and the others hit the iron one after another on the outside.The Kings made 12 of 7 three-pointers, and Stujakovic scored 4 three-pointers alone.Wallace scored 12 points in the Rockets' halftime. Tracy McGrady only scored 8+3+4, which is not bad for others, but it can only be regarded as a mediocre performance for superstars.

"Guys, why don't you call when you're playing against the Kings?" The elegant Tang Shuai didn't panic, he arranged his defensive strategy; "Webber's shooting was very unstable last season, and this season's condition was even worse shortly after he returned from injury. So Okur started in the second half, and you have to assist Yao to protect the penalty area, because Divac may pull Yao out to the free throw line. When encountering Bibby's pick-and-roll, dare to switch to the outside. Distraught."

"This... I'm really not very good at this kind of work." Okur is a European, and there is still a gap with American culture.

"Haha, don't lose your face." Dameng smiled and patted Okur on the shoulder. "Jordan did this kind of thing back then. He didn't just destroy you with his skills on the court. I even doubt that he destroyed some players' entire careers with trash talk."

"I'll do my best!" Okur nodded.

(Note: Provoking opposing players is a common thing in the NBA. Jordan’s official trainer, Glover, once wrote an article revealing that Jordan is a master of psychological warfare. He will use various tricks to interfere with the state of the opponent’s players, such as running to the visiting team’s locker room to harass the opponent, and even spout trash talk to undermine the confidence of the opponent’s star when he is not in good condition.)
"Coach, you probably didn't come up with this kind of offensive defensive move?" Dameng, who had worked with Tang Shuai for many years, secretly asked.

"Of course, that's what Jason said in a text message." Lao Tang chuckled, "Webb only made 8 of 2 shots in the first half, let's see how he performed in the second half."

***
Tang Shuai knows very well that the 15-point lag is not a difficult point for the fiercely fired Rockets to catch up.The key lies in how the Rockets defend against the King's violent outside shots.The Rockets, who have always played cleanly with the image of a good baby army, should finally show their ferocious minions.

Jefferson's first shot was blocked by defender Christie.Miller got the ball, McGrady pressed on the spot, forced Miller to miss the ball for a few seconds with a suspected foul action, and killed the King's fast break opportunity.

Weber held the ball in a high position. He turned skillfully and was about to break through with the ball, but was surprised to find that Okur was three meters away in front of him. "What is this Turk doing? Can't be guarded? The Rockets coach doesn't scold him?" Weber was a little confused for a moment.

"You vote!" Okur yelled and made a vicious expression.

This is unbearable!When Webb pulled it up, it was a jump shot, but unfortunately his movements were a bit deformed and he missed the shot.

Yao Ming grabbed the rebound and quickly made a long pass. McGrady got the ball and gave it to Parker on the other side. The latter made an easy layup, 45:58.

Bibby's personal ability is not outstanding in the league, but he has accurate shots and a calm mind.At this moment, he clearly realized that Weber was losing his mind. Seeing Weber's loud demand for the ball, he hesitated and passed the ball to Miller.

But Miller also struggled to face Yao Ming's height, and he missed the shot.

Jefferson assisted Okur to score a three-pointer, 48:58.

Bibby was forced to give Webb this time, and Webb seized the opportunity to make the shot this time.Bibby secretly heaved a sigh of relief, hoping that Weber could adjust to this.

"Don't waver, Okur, keep going!" Assistant coach Smith shouted from the sidelines.

Parker's pass was cut off, and Christie was about to make a one-stop layup.McGrady slammed and knocked Christie down.Whistle, two free throws and one throw!
The Rockets players were not frustrated by this call, but very excited.Even the mild-mannered McGrady fought with the attitude of a villain, so there is no reason not to fight!
Christie made two free throws, but immediately his pass to Webb was intercepted by Wallace who had just played, and Yao Ming made a shot, 50:60.

Okur cast Webber again.Faced with this kind of defense, Weber's best footwork and passing skills were useless, and he hit the iron again with a jumper.McGrady hit two points.

Weber's face was livid, and he didn't know how to fight in such a strange situation.

　The history of the NBA is not only a glorious and glamorous history, but also a tragic history that has no choice but to end.In competitive sports, there are always more losers than winners.I found the point of Weber, and I wanted to write about not only Weber, but also the silent players that exist widely in the history of the league.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)