The invincible kryptonite of basketball

But the Pelicans have taken the lead in ushering in the conference semifinals with the Rockets.

Regular season grievances, Chinese elements, head coach turmoil, star gathering...

There are too many things to watch in this matchup.

In the TNT program, O'Neal, who successfully predicted the Pelicans' sweep of the Mavericks, bluntly said that this is the most exciting matchup in this year's playoffs so far.

Both Barkley and Smith agreed this time around.

The first game of the series between the two sides was held in New Orleans. The day before the game, the Rockets arrived in New Orleans for a public practice.

The players looked energetic and in good shape.

Coach D'Antoni was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines.

"The Pelicans have rested for five days, but you just finished the series, are you going to be at a disadvantage physically with him?"

"Of course not. We played relatively easily in the first round. Our physical fitness is not a problem. On the contrary, we have just finished the game and are in good shape."

D'Antoni replied with a smile, his mustache raised with confidence.

"Your record against the Pelicans in the regular season is 0 wins and 4 losses. Will this put you under psychological pressure during the game?"

"Of course not. We spent a lot of time running in this season, and this is the playoffs. We have three superstars who have been star players and proved themselves."

D'Antoni continued to reply with a smile.

"Do you have any defensive tactics against Tang?"

The last question the reporter asked was also a must.

Carlisle failed to solve Tang Tian's defensive problem from beginning to end in the first round.

"Of course, we know how they play, we know how Don plays, so we'll see that in the game."

D'Antoni is still confident.

From beginning to end, he has been revealing confidence to the outside world.

Such interviews also encouraged Rockets fans.

It is said that Stevens' coaching this season has beaten D'Antoni, but D'Antoni is not bad!

The original Sun bombardment was a classic. This season, the Big Three of the Rockets must have time to adjust. It is already very good to get this record.

As for Stevens, just like Cole was picking up ready-made peaches!

Who knows if D'Antoni could get better than that with the Pelicans?Or what can Stevens do coaching the Rockets?

In a confident atmosphere, the first game of the Western Conference Finals between the Pelicans and the Rockets officially kicked off at the New Orleans Arena.

The arena was packed.

In the commentary area, besides the three giants of TNT sitting in the most conspicuous positions, Zhang Weiping and Su Qun also sat in the second best positions.

This round of the series is the Western Conference finals in the United States, and it is even more popular in China.

"Although D'Antoni was very confident in the pre-match interview, the strength of the Pelicans is here. According to my understanding, if the defensive method he said can't restrain Tang Tian, ​​it doesn't matter how many superstars the Rockets have. The Pelicans should win or win."

After Zhang Weiping became Weiping Tian, ​​the familiar arguments whetted the appetite of domestic fans.

Before the opening ceremony, the award ceremony for the best defensive player was held on the spot.

Tang Tian held up the trophy to completely ignite the pre-match atmosphere.

After the opening ceremony, the atmosphere reached a peak.

As the playoffs deepened, the atmosphere in the New Orleans Arena became better and better.

Davis beat Cousins ​​and kicked off the Western Conference semifinals.

The Pelicans played the No. 1 tactic in the frontcourt. Tang Tiangang broke through with the ball, and the Rockets' weak side Harden assisted in double-teaming.

Tang Tian gave the ball to Ariza, who made a three-pointer from the bottom corner.

Harden's breakthrough throw in the front court returned the favor.

In the next round, Tang Tian made a breakthrough from the left, and Morris' defense came up immediately.

Tang Tian gave the ball to Davis who was cutting in. Davis met Cousins ​​and threw the ball above the basket. Jokic jumped up and made a successful alley-oop.

The first few rounds became the epitome of the first quarter.

The Rockets are resolutely double-teaming on the defensive end, but Tang Tian's passing speed is very fast, and the Pelicans' offensive rotation is also very fast.

Basically every round they can find the Rockets' defensive holes to score.

The Rockets have no problem with their own offense, but this defensive strategy makes them lose points very quickly.

"It's incomprehensible. There's no reason to pinch it like this. You have to look at Tang Tian's touch first, right? It really doesn't make sense."

Su Qun said that he didn't understand.

"What did I say? What D'Antoni said is false. This game is basically like this."

Zhang Weiping smiled all over his face.

The Rockets insisted on double-teaming Tang Tian for the entire half, and even double-teaming the ball holder. However, the Pelicans' offensive system was almost perfect, and this approach was completely negative.

At the end of the half, the Rockets scored 45 points themselves, and the offense was not a big problem, but they allowed the Pelicans to score 60 points!

This score set a new high for the Pelicans in the playoffs this season.

In the second half, D'Antoni finally made an adjustment and stopped attacking Tang Tian, ​​but it was too late.

The state of the Pelicans team has been raised in the first half, leading by 22 points after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Keech played another 12-2 with a substitute, and the game ended early.

The final score on the field was fixed at 123 to 100.

Seven Pelicans scored in double figures, and Tang Tian easily scored 7 points, 21 assists and 10 rebounds in the third quarter.

The fans cheered when the final whistle sounded.

Tang Tian and Stevens looked at each other.

This script is completely different from what they imagined!

They had prepared so much, they thought it would be a fierce battle, but D'Antoni's operation made them all work for nothing!

ps: My mother is in much better condition today. I had an operation the day after tomorrow. I saw many people’s concerns and blessings and I didn’t have time to reply one by one, but I really appreciate it

Chapter 8 Harden: Target me?

The process and results of this game were astonishing.

The Rockets of the Big Three were powerless in front of the Pelicans, and they even played worse than the Mavericks in the first round.

D'Antoni became the target of public criticism.

Those who boasted how strong D'Antoni was before, now they are short of greeting D'Antoni's family.

However, amidst the scolding, Tang Tian, ​​who played well, could not escape.

"What is the best defensive player, just rely on the system to win, system player!"

The Pelicans won with ease, Tang Tian played with ease, and some of the angry ones brought out the players from the system again.

Tang Tian couldn't laugh or cry when he saw it, there were thousands of sprayers, only you can't think of it, there is nothing they can't spray.

However, players in this system said that they reminded him.

The Rockets' unexpected loss in the first game was related to D'Antoni's suffocation operation.

As long as D'Antoni is not stupid in the second game, he will definitely not do that again.

At that time, in addition to using the highlights he and Stevens thought of, the Pelicans had to consider how to defend Harden.

The Rockets lost Game 26, and Harden only played 9 minutes, but he scored a team-high 7 points on 25 of [-] shots.

Basically, the scoring efficiency of one point per minute is enough to explain his state.

In fact, playing against the Blazers in the first round, Harden averaged 28.8 points, 7.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game, and his shooting percentage reached 44%.

Although D'Antoni has just coached and Harden has not yet become the MVP-level unsolvable player in history, his strength and state are indeed the best among the Big Three of the Rockets.

The Pelicans won the first game easily, but it doesn't mean they will play easily later.

Similarly, the useless preparation for the first game does not mean that there is no need to prepare later.

Plan ahead, they are aiming at the championship, and they must do this well.

Tang Tian took the initiative to talk to Stevens about this this time, and the two hit it off immediately. It turned out that he had been thinking about this issue.

They studied for one night and came up with a system that can definitely surprise Harden.

Didn't those sunspots say that the Pelicans rely on the system to win, then they will continue to rely on the system to win!

While the two were studying tactics, the final group of the first round of the Western Conference had just ended.

The Thunder defeated the Spurs 118 to 108 at home, eliminated their opponents with a total score of 4 to 2, completed the next victory, and successfully advanced to the conference semifinals.

Tang Tian's premonition at the beginning came true, and the last game of the regular season was really the last time he and Duncan competed on the same stage in the NBA.

The Thunder's opponent in the Western Conference semifinals will be the defending champion Warriors.

As luck would have it, Durant was debating whether to go to the Warriors or stay in the Thunder, and now the Warriors have become his opponent.

The grievances between Westbrook and Curry, the duel between the Thunder and the Warriors, this group of finals is also full of highlights.

But the game will be two days later. Before that, the second game of the Pelicans and Rockets conference semifinals will continue to play at the New Orleans Arena.

Fans are even more excited than they were two days ago.

The big victory in the first game made them look forward to the home team.

The Rockets fans scolded D'Antoni bloody after the first game. They were obviously dissatisfied, so they continued to fight until they were convinced!

With 15 minutes left before the start of the game, players from both sides entered the arena one after another.

Although the first defeat was disastrous, the state of the Rockets players did not look bad.

It seems that their ideological work and psychological adjustment in the past two days have been done very well.

Both starters have not been adjusted.

The regular lineup on the Pelicans side, as well as the Rockets side.

Paul Garharden on the outside, Tucker Morris on the striker, and Cousins ​​​​at the center.

Davis used the bouncing jump to beat Cousins, officially kicking off the game.

The Pelicans attacked the frontcourt, Tang Tian broke through with the ball, and the Rockets did not double-team.

D'Antoni's operation in the first game was not completely gratuitous.

Playing the Trail Blazers in the first round, he had a very good effect of pinching two guns like this. Both Lillard and McCollum performed well below normal levels.

That's why D'Antoni said those words before Game [-] with such confidence.

It's just that he underestimated the difference in strength between Tang Tian and the pioneers, which led to the first tragedy.

But after trying it, he felt compelled, and he didn't do that again this time.

Tang Tian borrowed Davis' pick-and-roll to surprise Morris, and made a quick stop and made a hit.

The Rockets don't double-team, Tang Tian can rest assured that he will fight one-on-one.

The Pelicans took the lead, and Paul dribbled the ball to Harden after halftime.

The core of the Big Three is Harden.

Harden has the ball and Ariza guards him.

But Ariza's defense is very strange.

Ariza stood on Harden's left side, to be precise, it should be the left back.

This weird defensive style completely empties the right flank.

Harden can go in with any breakthrough.