new lord of the rings

Chapter 222 The Exhausted Harden

The half-time break is very long for the fans, but it is only a short moment for the players. They may not even be able to breathe properly, and the second half of the game has begun.

The Warriors sent Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut, Zhang Xin and Draymond Green.

The Rockets sent James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Patrick Beverley, Donatas Motiejunas and Dwight Howard.

The Rockets had the ball, Beverly held the ball at the top of the arc, and started to conduct the ball. Zhang Xin looked at it and smiled: Is Harden tired?
The top of Harden’s arc is used as the node to transfer the ball. Harden has a wide field of vision. It’s easy to do such a simple thing, but when other players have no way to create space, Harden’s center support effect is not as good as his ball holding effect. .

But this is impossible. The Rockets turned to Howard and asked him to single-play Bogut inside. The Warriors' defensive strategy is very firm. Howard can play singles, but it is impossible to give you a chance to create space for the outside.

Howard happily played singles. Bogut really didn't defend Howard very well. Howard scored a few goals, but the connection between the Rockets' players was severed.

The Warriors are not in a hurry, anyway, you score and I score, and the efficiency is higher, and the Warriors shoot more three-pointers.

The reason why Howard's tactical status became lower and lower later was determined by his style of play. Later centers either focused on eating cakes like Capela, or became the axis of a team's operation, such as Jokic of the Nuggets, or Like Embiid, it becomes a kaleidoscope of offense, ensuring efficiency.

An advanced blue-collar player like Howard can trade his physical fitness for high efficiency when he is young, but once his physical fitness declines, he really becomes a blue-collar player.

Howard played lively and knocked Bogut up and down. It seemed that the effect was good, but after half a quarter, looking at the scoreboard, the difference between the two sides had widened to 8 points!
McHale hurriedly called a timeout. There was no problem with the offense, but the efficiency of the two sides was different. The Warriors mostly passed and cut to get open shots, with a higher shooting percentage, and most of them were opportunities from the three-point line. Thompson, Curry, Zhang Xin teamed up to rain three-pointers in the third quarter.

So Howard played happily and scored goals, but the team just fell behind!
McHale understands that he can't continue to play like this. Although it is not a wave that takes the game away, this situation is like boiling a frog in warm water. If the Rockets don't make changes quickly, after the third quarter, it is estimated that the fourth quarter will not be enough. Need to fight.

McHale made adjustments.

Back from the timeout, Harden finally held the ball again. With Harden holding the ball, the Rockets finally opened up the outside line. They played hard against the Warriors. The point difference has been changing between 2 and 10 points. The Rockets have never been able to surpass the Warriors. With 1 minute left in the fourth quarter, the score between the two sides was 114:116, and the Warriors temporarily led by 2 points.

Harden's lips turned white, his body was sweating profusely, his footsteps slowed down, and his shots began to become unstable, missing two consecutive three-pointers at critical moments.

Today, the Warriors’ strikers took turns to consume Harden, Thompson, Iguodala, Barnes, and Zhang Xin all defending Harden at different times to ensure their own physical strength. Under the Warriors’ wheel battle, Harden is already at the end of his battle .

The Warriors had the ball, Curry dribbled the ball across half court, and Beverly still maintained his attitude, but the bite was not so strong anymore. After all, no one can maintain a mad dog defense for the entire game.

At the critical moment, Zhang Xin went to the top of the arc to catch the ball. Zhang Xin was not in a hurry, what he wanted now was the success rate.

Green hurried up to the high position and helped Zhang Xin block Ariza. Zhang Xin took two quick steps to give Green the opportunity to go down. These two steps were very clever. If Motaiyunas did not switch defenses, Zhang Xin would directly If he went to the basket, if he switched defenses, Motaiyunas would be directly exposed to Zhang Xin's muzzle.

There are too many options for Green's rotation:

If Ariza chooses to double-team Zhang Xin, then Zhang Xin will give the ball to Green, and Green will attack the basket directly, attracting supplementary defense from the wing players, then the two historical-level shooters Curry and Thompson on both sides will get a chance;

If you don't defend Green, Green probably will directly dunk.

So Ariza still chooses to defend against Green, and Motaiyunas can only rely on himself.

Zhang Xin observed that Curry Thompson was ready to catch and shoot, attracting their respective defensive players. The Rockets' defensive formation was stretched wide, and it could become Zhang Xin's racetrack!

Zhang Xin smiled, and the basketball in his hand suddenly accelerated. He dribbled the ball under his crotch and the ball went to his left hand. This is a classic hesitation step to observe the opponent's reaction.

Motaiyouas had no choice but to follow, Zhang Xin made a big change in front of him, and roared past Motaiyunas, Howard was waiting under the basket, trying to give Zhang Xin a big hat!
Looking at Howard's position, Zhang Xin couldn't help laughing, he didn't choose his position well, he was almost under the basket, and I was so stupid to send it up for you to block the shot?
After Zhang Xin passed Motie Yunas, two steps away from Howard, a light and small throw, the basketball obediently fell into the basket.

There was a burst of cheers at the Oracle Center, the goal at this moment is too critical!

The Warriors lead by 4 points!
When Harden passed the half court quickly with the ball, the fans at the scene shouted in unison: "Defense! Defense!"

Thompson followed Harden step by step. Thompson's defensive steps were too solid, and his hands were very clean, but his body kept fighting against Harden.

Harden pursed his lips tightly. Under the cover of his beard, he could only see the determination in Harden's eyes. With all his strength, Harden dribbled the ball with his left hand and broke through. Thompson quickly followed. Get rid of Thompson and shoot from the three-point line!

The basketball draws a wonderful arc in the air and hits the basket!Strike the iron!
Harden, who broke through with the ball throughout the game and created opportunities for his teammates, was finally tired, and this ball has already hit three irons in a row!

Zhang Xin quickly controlled the ball, only 20 seconds left, Ariza rushed over to foul, Zhang Xin stood on the free throw line and made two free throws!
张信已经拿下39分12助攻11篮板的大号三双，在第二节的时候就拿下16分8个助攻，几乎第二节的所有得分都和张信有关系。

The Rockets had the ball, Harden quickly dribbled across the half court, and under Thompson's interference, he quickly shot a three-pointer, three non-stick!
The Rockets did not foul again, and time was running out. The Rockets, who were already six points behind, chose to let the time run out. The score of the two sides was 114:120. The Warriors finally defeated the Rockets by 6 points!
The Warriors ushered in their 20th consecutive victory!
(End of this chapter)