NBA: The man who passed the ball to Yao Ming

The current Toronto Raptors are still a struggling team in the East.

虽然他们的建队核心克里斯波什，已经从02-03赛季场均可以贡献11.5分7.4篮板的菜鸟内线，成长成了场均可以贡献22.5分9.2篮板的全明星级别内线。

But he is still at least one season away from becoming the Dragon King Bosh who can't be underestimated in the East.

What's more, the suspected second-in-command standing next to Chris Bosh is the wandering guard Mike James who signed with the Raptors on a one-year short contract this year.

没有在选秀大会被选中过，且之前场均数据从没有超过12.5分5助攻的他，今年在猛龙却突然场均能贡献20.3分5.8助攻3.3篮板。

However, as far as he often ignores the team's tactics on the court and takes the initiative to attack, no matter how he looks at it, he looks like another contract fighter.

None of the other Raptors players can play.

Either it was a rookie like Villanueva who was just starting out this year, or a veteran player like Jaylen Rose who had passed his peak. What impressed Zhang Jinshui the most was the one who won the championship with the Spurs later. Mark Bonner, however, is not profound about his football skills, but his life experience of being able to play the piano and having a beautiful wife.

Even if the game against the Raptors is the second back-to-back game against the Cavaliers, after arriving in Toronto, the Rockets have no time to rest and will challenge the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena that night.

But whether it is Zhang Jinshui, or Van Gundy and other Rockets generals, there is really nothing to worry about.

After arriving in Toronto, Van Gundy didn't even call a meeting with the players to do any tactical targeting, and left the afternoon for the players to rest in the hotel.

Then, that night, at Scotiabank Arena, the Rockets built a 56-39 halftime 17-point advantage and clocked out three quarters for an easy 100-88 victory.

In this game, the biggest contributor to the Rockets' victory was Yao Ming. He contributed 30 points and 18 rebounds in a large double-double, and sent out 3 hot pots. .

Bosh, who is still in the developing stage, was not enough to look at in front of Yao Ming. He finally scored 19 points and 7 rebounds, which was far below the average level of 22.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season.

而因为姚明的强势发挥，张金水和麦迪乐得清闲，分别拿下了18分6助攻和20分5助攻5篮板的及格成绩。

Especially Zhang Jinshui, he didn't even touch the other badges except for the randomly activated purple badge [Fu Lin Xinzhi].

Compared with the lackluster game, what impressed Zhang Jinshui the most tonight was the fans in the stands of the Scotiabank Arena.

What Zhang Jinshui didn't expect was that there were no fewer or even more Hua Guo faces at the scene today than at the Oracle Arena a few days ago.

They also held various big signs to say hello to Zhang Jinshui and Yao Ming, and even wore the Rockets jerseys of Zhang Jinshui and Yao Ming. During the game, they also wholeheartedly cheered for Yao Ming and Zhang Jinshui. Star's second home.

After the game, Zhang Jinshui, who was quite moved in his heart, took the initiative to wave and applaud the Huaguo fans in the stands, and high-fived the Huaguo fans on both sides when returning to the player channel.

With the end of this game, the Rockets completed 4 consecutive away games and achieved 3 wins and 1 loss. Considering the rotation between the middle and the Cavaliers, there is nothing to be picky about such results.

The Rockets' record this season has also reached an exaggerated 27 wins and 4 losses, still ranking second in the Western Conference.

However, the competitive pattern in the Western Conference this year is really fierce. In front of the Rockets and behind the Rockets are the Spurs with 27 wins and 3 losses and the Mavericks with 26 wins and 5 losses.

If this rhythm continues, the West will have three teams with a record of 60 wins or even 65 wins this year. This should be a situation that has not happened in many seasons.

This also invisibly put some pressure on the Rockets' regular season record. After all, the regular season record determines the home and away advantage of the playoffs. If they can enter the playoffs with the No.1 score in the regular season, it will naturally be the most perfect Of course, ensuring the health of the players is still the biggest prerequisite.

After the game against the Toronto Raptors, the Rockets spent the night at a local hotel before flying back to Houston the next day.

After traveling for the first time in a week, the Rockets players can finally go back to their beds and have a good sleep.

However, they can't relax too much. After all, the next night, they will face the challenge of the Western Conference powerhouse Tunneling team non-stop at the Toyota Center.

Fortunately, the Rockets just played a game with the Nuggets before the Christmas break, and the time is not too long.

Although the Nuggets came up with three axes in that game, and the performance of the little Melon Anthony was very bad, but in the end they were easily won by the Rockets.

Based on his knowledge of the opponent, Van Gundy didn't even need to call the players to do any special training. He disbanded the team after arriving at the Houston airport and arranged for the home team to be directly at the Toyota Center an hour before the game the next day. Dressing room collection.

After bidding farewell to his teammates, Zhang Jinshui naturally called Zi Chunlin who hadn't spoken well for a few days immediately.

It's a pity that Zi Chunlin, who was taken advantage of by Zhang Jinshui that night, didn't seem to calm down. After connecting the phone, he snorted angrily and hung up the phone.

Zhang Jinshui is also very helpless about this. In the past two days, he has carefully recalled what happened that night. Although he can't remember the process at all, Zhang Jinshui can probably judge from the content of his dreams. He took advantage of Zi Chunlin for a while, but not long after falling asleep, he began to take advantage of Zi Chunlin, and took advantage of it all night.

Therefore, Zhang Jinshui can fully understand why Zi Chunlin is still so angry after a few days.

It seems that today I have to go home from the airport by myself.

Zhang Jinshui looked back at Yao Ming, McGrady, the family supporter and others who were walking towards the parking lot, hesitated for a while, and decided not to bother them, and took a taxi home by himself.

However, just as Zhang Jinshui walked out of the arrival hall with his luggage on his back, a familiar figure immediately appeared in front of him.

Zi Chunlin, who was wearing a white sweater and slender blue jeans, was standing at the door. When he saw him, he immediately showed an angry expression.

Zhang Jinshui was overjoyed, he ran forward quickly, and said with a smile: "Xiao Chunlin, I knew that if you were angry again, you would not leave me alone at the airport."

Zi Chunlin glared at Zhang Jinshui fiercely, and announced loudly: "I'm still angry, and I won't have any interaction with you before tomorrow."

For the rest of the day, Zi Chunlin also fulfilled her declaration.

Whether in the car, or going to Yao restaurant for dinner together, no matter how Zhang Jinshui picks up words, Zi Chunlin always shows a gesture of refusing to communicate.

Even though Zhang Jinshui hypocritically asked about the operation of Tai Chi Zijin, Zi Chunlin just answered Zhang Jinshui's question in a businesslike tone without leaving any room for Zhang Jinshui.

In this way, until after 10 o'clock in the evening, the two of them had to go back to their rooms to sleep at home.

Zhang Jinshui, who was driven a little crazy, hugged Zi Chunlin in his arms, and announced solemnly that the two hadn't seen each other for several days, and they couldn't sleep well at night without a hug.

Only then did Zi Chunlin soften, and he didn't struggle anymore, and obediently let Zhang Jinshui hug him for a while.

......

The next day, at 7 o'clock in the evening in Houston, the Rockets' second home game against the Tunnelers started as scheduled.

The Rockets' starting lineup was the same as it was against the Nuggets in the last game. Except for center Yao Ming, small forward Battier, shooting guard Tracy McGrady and point guard Zhang Jinshui, Van Gundy replaced Charlie Huo with mid-range and long-range shooting ability. Mike Hayes, so that Uncle Huo can pull Kenyon Martin out to create enough room for Yao Ming to attack inside.

The Nuggets also continued to maintain the starting lineup of the previous game.

Overall, the Nuggets with the young Melo Anthony as the core is a young team with unlimited potential, and Melo Anthony also showed the most precious spirit that a young talent should have in this game—— Be fearless.

After the start of the game, Melon was not afraid because of the disastrous defeat in the previous game. On the contrary, he made a comeback, turned over and made a jumper from the low post as soon as he came up, successfully singled out Sean Battier, and hit the three-point line again. Hit a three-pointer from outside to help the Nuggets start with a score of 5:0.

Moreover, George Karl put a lot of thought into the arrangement of the defensive end. He always put Kenyon Martin between Yao Ming and Uncle Huo. Disturb Yao Ming to the greatest extent and directly pass the ball to Uncle Huo.

This trick played a miraculous effect at the beginning of the game, successfully limiting Yao Ming's performance in the paint.

However, McGrady of the Rockets stepped forward at the right time. He first made a jump shot from the outside to cause damage, and then ran to the weak side of the Nuggets' defense inside. After receiving the ball from Yao Ming and Zhang Jinshui, he broke through decisively. Into the inside of the Nuggets to cause damage.

When the game lasted more than 6 minutes in a quarter, the Rockets and the Nuggets scored 13 to 13.

And when McGrady rested according to the routine arrangement, Zhang Jinshui took up the offensive banner of the Rockets.

In order to continue to put pressure on the inside of the Nuggets, Zhang Jinshui activated the golden badge [best route] for two consecutive breakthroughs without hesitation. Made two free throws at the free throw line.

On the Nuggets side, Melo Anthony and Andre Miller led the offense together.

For a while, the Rockets and the Nuggets played inextricably. When the first quarter ended, the Rockets and the Nuggets scored 27 to 27.

Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin teamed up to limit Yao Ming, which made the Rockets' offense in the first quarter not smooth.

And if the Nuggets lost to the Rockets two weeks ago as a mark, it can be seen that although only two weeks have passed, the Nuggets have made very rapid progress.

However, the balance of all this, entered the 5th minute of the second quarter, Zhang Jinshui and McGrady continued to break through to the inside, allowing Marcus to take the lead and his third defensive foul began to be broken.

Considering that there are more than 30 minutes to play in the whole game, Nuggets coach George Karl had to replace Marcus Camby with a backup center.

In this regard, Yao Ming, who was tied up in the first quarter, only scored 3 points and 1 rebounds on 2 of 2 shots, and made 1 turnover, finally ushered in a revenge-style explosion.

He first squeezed the opponent's backup center directly, got a position in the reasonable collision zone, and directly smashed the ball into the basket after receiving a pass from Zhang Jinshui.

Then, he received a pass from Zhang Jinshui at a 45-degree angle on the right side. After receiving the ball, he did not give Kenyon Martin a chance to double-team, turned around and entered the penalty area, completing another dunk.

After the next offensive Zhang Jinshi's three-pointer bounced out of the frame, Yao Ming directly confiscated the rebound under the basket and put the ball into the basket.

In just 3 minutes, Yao Ming made 3 of 3 shots, 2 of 2 free throws, scored 8 points and 3 rebounds, and single-handedly brought the Nuggets to a timeout.

And when the timeout ended, Yao Ming didn't stop, and continued to ravage the opponent's backup center inside, and let the score between the Rockets and the Nuggets change from 33 to 33 to 39 to 35, and finally came to halftime At the end of 51 to 41, the Rockets ended the half with a 10-point lead.

In the second half, the Nuggets' defensive strength in the interior increased again.

However, Zhang Jinshui, who felt the murderous spirit of the little melon Anthony, is not going to let the Nuggets easily chase the score back.

After Yao Ming's first inside attack was blocked in the second half, Zhang Jinshui immediately called Yao Ming's high pick-and-roll, and then handed the ball to Yao Ming after being misplaced. The opportunity to run out of space and hit a three-pointer.

Immediately afterwards, the purple badge [Fu Lin Xin Zhi] was randomly triggered. After Zhang Jinshui dribbled the ball to the frontcourt again, he immediately made a three-pointer with a knife in his hand.

Then, Zhang Jinshui used [Ability Value Explosion] to pull the three-point ability value to 100, and continued with another step-back three-pointer.

After scoring 3 points with 3 consecutive 9 points, Zhang Jinshui successfully activated the purple badge [hot state], and continued to put the greatest pressure on the Nuggets on both offensive and defensive ends.

Under Zhang Jinshui's operation, the Rockets' lead gradually expanded from 10 points at the beginning of the third quarter to 13 points, 16 points, and finally became 91 to 71 at the end of the third quarter. 20 points.