NBA: Being criticized for half a year at the beginning

Soon, the two teams and the league officially announced the trade between the Rockets and the Heat. The Rockets sent Carroll to the Heat's 2011 first-round pick and a scrap player, and the Rockets directly cut him.

On December 31, the Rockets played their last game of the year at the Dynasty Center against the Mavericks.

The Mavericks are currently ranked third in the West with 22 wins and 10 losses, second only to the Rockets and the Lakers.

This Texas civil war has attracted a lot of attention, and everyone wants to see when Tang Yu's team will lose.

Before the game, Tang Yu said to the players: "We have won 26 consecutive games, we have achieved an extraordinary achievement, and you are already the best players in the league. Don't worry about the final result, you are invincible if you play your own rhythm."

Now the team's top priority for the entire coaching staff is to relieve the pressure on the players in every game. Although the players look relaxed, they still have a certain amount of pressure in their hearts. Too much pressure will lead to poor performance.

Carlisle put Josh Howard on the bench tonight, and veteran Marion started the game.

Unlike the Rockets, most teams in the league now play with 8-9 players. The Rockets and Spurs have the most players. Tang Yu and Popovich are both coaches who like to expand the rotation.

The coaching styles of the two are not much different. They like to change the lineup according to the opponent. They are not like some particularly stubborn coaches who use a lineup for a season.

Tonight, Tang Yu put Carter and Ibaka in the starting lineup, using Ibaka's mobility to defend the Mavericks' King Nowitzki. Marion's limited offense is also suitable for Carter.

The game between the two teams started soon. The Dynasty Center was crowded. A large number of fans held signs of 27 consecutive wins in their hands, and some fans even made bold statements that they would surpass the league's historical record of 33 consecutive wins.

The Mavericks got the ball first, but Nowitzki missed his one-legged stand due to Ibaka's interference. Curry's transition three-pointer also missed. The first attack of both teams ended in failure.

The Mavericks scored the first point. Old Kidd organized the attack and found Marion who was cutting in the air. The 'hacker' inserted into the basket and made a layup to get two points.

Harden passed the half court with the ball, and he passed the ball to Curry and then ran.

Curry held the ball and looked for opportunities. He saw Ibaka in the paint and passed the ball to him.

After Ibaka received the ball, he forced the basket and caused Nowitzki to commit a foul.

Ibaka made one of two free throws.

The Rockets players played completely according to Tang Yu's tactical arrangement. Except for Dayao, everyone gave up mid-range shooting and regarded three-pointers and basket offense as the team's important scoring methods.

During the 26-game winning streak, the Rockets became the team with the most three-point shots in the league. They averaged 35-40 three-point shots per game, and the hit rate was 38.9. Such a terrifying three-point hit rate made all teams unable to cope.

Every night, the Rockets can score nearly 50 points with three-pointers, when many teams in the league now have an average score of less than 100.

The Rockets' average score has reached a terrifying 117.5, which is more than 7 points higher than the average score of the second fastest team in the league, the Suns.

It can be seen how exaggerated the Rockets' offense and defense transition is now. Tang Yu's team is challenging the entire league's style of play by relying on Curry and Harden, two backcourt engines.

The hit rate of both teams after the opening was not too high, and the two rookies Curry and Harden obviously had not let go.

Three minutes into the first quarter, the two teams scored 6-2, and the Rockets were temporarily behind by 4 points, but Curry on the Rockets side missed two three-pointers, and Harden made two unnecessary mistakes.

Seeing this situation, Tang Yu called a timeout directly after 3 minutes of the first quarter. This timeout seemed a bit inexplicable, but Tang Yu thought it was necessary.

Curry and Harden returned to the bench, and Tang Yu said to them: "James, Stephen, relax, all we have to do is enjoy the game. This is your favorite sport, we love this sport, that's all, do you understand?"

Curry and Harden looked at Tang Yu, and then they realized that the coach called this timeout for them.

Dayao also said on the side: "If you are a little nervous, you can share the ball with your teammates. James will use your breakthrough to pass the ball, and Serge and I will open up space for you."

Tang Yu has mixed feelings about Dayao, a modest gentleman, and he doesn't care about the position of the team leader. Whenever Tang Yu talks to Dayao about this issue, Dayao will agree, but his personality is not that of a boss.

This makes Tang Yu very depressed. Although Curry and Harden are now capable, neither of them has gone throughThe baptism of the playoffs cannot bear this heavy responsibility.

After the timeout, Curry and Harden immediately changed their playing style. Harden broke through and passed the ball continuously, and Yao Ming and Ibaka scored in the paint area.

Then, the Mavericks contracted their defense, which also gave the Rockets' outside players a chance. Curry and Carter hit three-pointers in succession, and the Rockets gradually regained their form.

When the official timeout in the first quarter came, the Rockets caught up with the score, 16-10, and the Rockets were already 6 points ahead.

After the timeout, the Mavericks strengthened their defense against Curry and Harden, but this gave other Rockets players more opportunities.

Jordan and Battier, who came off the bench, got open opportunities to score continuously.

When Curry and Harden started to play reasonably, they immediately raised the scoring efficiency of the entire Rockets to a higher level.

Tang Yu applauded on the sidelines and cheered for his disciples' performance.

In the last stage of the first quarter, when Harden led the team alone, Tang Yu used Yi Jianlian, Iverson, Battier and Jordan to partner with Harden after Nowitzki left the court. This is the Rockets' usual lineup now.

At 3 minutes and 12 seconds, Harden and Jordan were picking and rolling outside the three-point line. The Mavericks' backup center Gooden could not keep up with Jordan's speed at all. After the pick and roll, Jordan turned and rushed directly to the three-second zone.

Harden used the rhythm to involve Gooden and threw the ball into the air. Jordan completed an alley-oop dunk under the basket. After landing, Jordan looked around the court with a domineering look.

This dunk immediately ignited the Dynasty Center. On the defensive end, Jordan and Yi Jianlian turned the Rockets' inside line into a no-fly zone. Josh Howard's strong inside attack was flanked by Jordan and Yi Jianlian.

Harden faced Jason Terry with another tomahawk dunk.

Before the end of the first quarter, the Rockets relied on Harden to lead a 10-2 run, and ended the first quarter with a 14-point lead of 30-16.