NBA: The man who passed the ball to Yao Ming

McGrady nodded at Van Gundy and said, "Understood, coach!"

The two teams returned to the court, and the Pistons' lineup was also adjusted.

Big Ben Wallace and Hamilton re-entered the field, replacing Prince and Rasheed Wallace who had no rest in the first quarter, and continued to match McDyess, Arroyo and Evans.

At the end of the first quarter, Zhang Jinshui has observed that both McDyess and Evans have good defensive skills.

Coupled with Big Ben Wallace who re-entered the field, the skeleton formed by these three people allowed the Pistons to maintain a relatively high defensive intensity on the field.

Before, I always heard the media say how strong the Pistons' defense was. It wasn't until today that Zhang Jinshui realized that the most terrifying thing about this Pistons team is that they can maintain a high-intensity defense for 48 minutes on the court.

The Rockets' substitute players other than McGrady naturally cannot rely on team offense to pose any major threat to the Pistons' defense.

In fact, there is no need for Van Gundy to deliberately exhort before the start of the second quarter. In every offensive round of the Rockets, when the offense is not running smoothly, the basketball will naturally return to McGrady's hands.

In the first 4 minutes of the second quarter, McGrady took almost all of the Rockets' shots.

And without Yao Ming and Zhang Jinshui to distract attention, the Pistons were able to focus all their defense on McGrady, limiting McGrady's offensive success rate to a very low level.

In the end, McGrady made 8 of 3 shots and scored all 7 points for the Rockets during this period.

Fortunately, the Pistons' offensive efficiency was not high, and the Rockets barely bit the score 32-33.

Then, according to the rhythm of previous games, Van Gundy replaced all the main players except Zhang Jinshui.

For the Pistons, the starting five will also be put on the field together.

The defensive strength of the Pistons went up to a new level, dragging the game into the death swamp they are best at.

At this time, Yao Ming and McGrady were double-teamed internally and chased externally, just like the OK combination in the 03-04 season finals. They obviously possessed a strong personal offensive ability, but were held back by the Pistons' defensive system. .

Although Yao Mai occasionally has flashes of brilliance for tipping dunks and rushing into the penalty area for layups, the rhythm of the game is firmly controlled by the Pistons.

In the 6th minute of the second quarter, the Rockets trailed the Pistons by 38 points 41-3.

But these 3 points gave Rockets fans a sense of despair, but it was stronger than 15 points.

In the stands at the Toyota Center, the atmosphere that had reached its peak at the end of the first quarter sank again.

On the sidelines, Van Gundy crossed his arms and looked stern. He shouted loudly: "Zhang Jinshui, it's your turn to play."

Then, he turned his head and told Zhang Jinshui:

"Defensively, I need 120 percent of your input.

On the offensive end, I allow you to use any offensive method you want, but remember, you must be determined, even if the goal is not scored, you must attract part of the opponent's defense to you. "

Zhang Jin was delighted, Van Gundy's words were tantamount to acquiescing to his unreasonable operations of all kinds of ultra-long three-pointers and step-back three-pointers.

Of course, from another angle, he can also feel Van Gundy's despair.

After more than one quarter of the game, it was obvious that the Rockets' usual offensive tactics and running positions could not shake the Pistons' defensive system at all.

Under this premise, giving Yao Ming, McGrady and him Zhang Jinshui the unlimited firepower should be Van Gundy's last fight to the death.

"Okay, coach!" Zhang Jinshui stood up from the bench and shouted loudly.

However, after playing, Zhang Jinshui was not in a hurry to attack by himself, but first looked for the rhythm and feel of the game.

In the first two offensive rounds, after he took the ball to the frontcourt, he passed the basketball to McGrady.

It wasn't until the third offensive round that he tried a [Retreating Magic Shot], but unfortunately, the basketball bounced out of the frame, causing regretful sighs in the stands.

Correspondingly, after Zhang Jinshui came on the field, the Rockets did not score a single point from the 6th minute to the 9th minute, and the Pistons only scored 2 points with Hamilton's mid-range shot.

The Rockets trailed by 38 points 43 to 5. Although the point difference is not big, anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Rockets at this time are being dragged into a slow death process by the Pistons.

This game so far is definitely the ugliest game the Rockets have played since the start of the season.

The Pistons played ugly, too, but for them, this situation is commonplace.

On the field, the faces of the five Pistons were as usual, in stark contrast to the humiliated and suppressed expressions of Yao Mai and Zhang Jinshui.

In the end, Yao Ming, who had been suppressed for a long time, broke out first. In another attack by the Rockets, Yao Ming immediately reached out to Zhang Jinshui for the ball after taking a good position inside.

Although Big Ben immediately defended around the front, Yao Ming still resolutely shouted at Zhang Jinshui: "Jin Shui, give me the ball."

"Okay!" Zhang Jinshui lobbed the ball without hesitation, and Billups also turned around to double-team Yao Ming in anticipation.

After Yao Ming received the ball, he didn't take the ball out. Instead, he faced Billups and Wallace Big Ben, turned around forcibly, stumbled into the inside lane, and caused Wallace's defensive foul.

Going to the free throw line, Yao Ming made two free throws and helped the Rockets break the scoring drought of more than 3 minutes with difficulty.

Seeing Yao Ming's tenacious attack this time, Zhang Jinshui couldn't suppress the depression and fighting spirit in his heart.

In the next round, after receiving a double-team from Yao Ming, he dribbled the ball into the penalty area without hesitation.

Under the supplementary defense of Big Ben Wallace and Prince, he just held the ball and threw himself on Prince, in exchange for two free throws.

Next, it was McGrady's turn to follow suit.

In the last 3 minutes of the second quarter, the Rockets' situation can only be described as tragic.

However, after Yao Ming, McGrady, and Zhang Jinshui threw their bodies into the opponent's defensive quagmire time and time again, the Rockets finally chased the score to 43 to 45.

With a whistle, the first half ended.

The Rockets fans at the scene applauded the Rockets soldiers.

But their expressions were unusually serious.

There is still a full half of the game. This desperate style of play can temporarily continue, but it will definitely not lead the Rockets to the final victory.

In this game, there is not much room left for the Rockets to struggle.