Barkley took a deep breath.
"The Rockets were able to beat the Trail Blazers in the last game because they relied on the lead established before halftime."
"Now that the half is tied, both Yao Ming and McGrady were exhausted by the transition in the first half. What kind of performance they can play in the second half is really worrying."
"More importantly, this Trail Blazers team is a youth army!"
"They're younger, more aggressive, more physical, and the Blazers have a 10-man rotation, while the Rockets have been using a nine-man rotation for three games."
"In this round of the series, can the Rockets really maintain their momentum as always?"
Listening to Barkley's analysis, Kenny Smith also gradually understood why the Trail Blazers let Zhang Jun enter the offensive mode early in the first quarter.
Although it is just a simple change of the first offensive point, it actually has a great impact on the Rockets' entire rotation defense and substitution arrangements.
It will also have a very big impact on the upcoming second half of the game.
Kenny Smith couldn't help reminding: "Chuck Hayes was fouled four times by Zhang Jun in a single quarter. He is the best defender of Zhang Jun in the Rockets, but now he is in deep foul crisis."
"In other words, Zhang Jun is about to explode in the second half."
The referee blows the whistle and the game continues.
The Trail Blazers got their all-starters, as did the Rockets.
Compared with Luo Yin's main offense in the first quarter, Zhang Jun and Luo Yin will jointly attack with the ball in this quarter.
The two have played this quarter many times throughout the regular season. They know how to reasonably distribute the ball during this period of time, and they also know how to attack the opponent with the ball to play more comfortably.
Jarrett Jack passed the ball to Zhang Jun at the top of the arc immediately after halftime, and Luo Yin quickly ran without the ball at a 45° angle on the right.
Inside Aldridge picks and rolls without the ball at the horns, Luo Yin cuts to the other side and takes the inside Luis Scola out of the penalty area, and at the same time clears the right side.
Zhang Jun lowered his center of gravity and began to play singles, while Battier opened his hands and concentrated.
This is already the fourth game series between the Rockets and the Trail Blazers. Compared with the two teams meeting in the regular season, the current four consecutive games have given Battier a deeper understanding of this year's No. 1 pick. .
The first step is extremely fast, never weaker than the peak McGrady, and the change of direction during the march is extremely large, a bit like Iverson of the Nuggets. Although there is still a clear gap between the mid-range singles and Kobe Bryant, But it definitely belongs to the first class in the league. The most important thing is that his change of direction during the breakthrough process does not slow down, which is the only one in the league.
Battier clearly realized that the offensive ability of the rookie he is facing now may already be among the league's top stars, and the opponent's ability to become the league's scoring leader this season is a well-deserved one.
Snapped!
Zhang Jun's first step is still very fast, and so far no one in the entire Rockets can fully keep up with his speed.
Battier used the defensive strategy of his teammate Chuck Hayes, let Zhang Jun pass in the first step, anyway, you can't keep up with him, but when the opponent breaks through, immediately get up and increase the confrontation.
While using confrontation to slow down Zhang Jun's breakthrough speed, he also yelled to remind his teammates to help defend inside.
"Yao!"
Battier shouted loudly.
Yao Ming quickly mentioned it. This is also a defensive strategy that has been used throughout the league since the Spurs Popovich used big men to defend Zhang Jun.
The big man raised up to prevent Zhang Jun from continuing to break through the basket.
Slap!
With a very dexterous back turn and change of direction, Zhang Jun quickly pulled the ball to the other side of Yao Ming's defense.
McGrady had to throw away the opposing Aldridge and hurried forward to defend again. Zhang Jun attracted the defense of three players in one round.
call!
"Zhang Jun passed the ball, is it for Aldridge in the waist?"
"No! The ball is coming!"
"The ball went to the corner, in the hands of Braden Royne, and Aldridge stepped up and blocked the path with his huge body."
"McGrady wanted to rush over, but he couldn't! Luis Scola was also blocked. This turned out to be an offensive tactic! Passing from Zhang Jun."
"This is also a shot that couldn't be more empty!"
The players on the Rockets have completely given up defending this round, and everyone stands still.
Luo Yin took a deep breath, looked at the frame, and then shot the ball as easily as if he was in a shooting training class. He didn't even fully take off.
Swish!
!
The clear sound of basketball hitting the net resounded through the Toyota Center Arena.
"The ball went in!"
"A pass from Zhang Jun!"
"The Blazers started the first possession of the second half and led the Rockets by three."
Luo Yin raised his finger, indicating that Zhang Jun had passed a good ball.
After all, from the regular season to the present, Zhang Jun's passes are almost all opportunistic passes, which are only passed when his teammates are completely empty.
But the ball just now was a tactical pass. Luo Yin was originally defended by Luis Scola in front of him, but Zhang Jun's pass mobilized the defense, and both McGrady and Luis Scola were blocked by Al at the same time. Derich blocked it.
Therefore, although Aldridge did not get any data for this pass, his importance is self-evident.
"The ball came through, very beautiful offensive tactics."
"Besides the Suns, Mavericks and Hornets, I have rarely seen other teams play such a subtle combination of offense and tactics."
Kenny Smith said with bright eyes.
Barkley said: "Those three teams can play such an offensive tactic without looking at who is in their team, and this tactic is obviously not the regular tactic of the Trail Blazers. It should be played by the players themselves on the court. .”
"It's kind of a flash in the pan, but it's pretty good."
"This ball made me really believe that in the future Zhang Jun may really be able to practice his passing."
"I heard that the management of the Blazers asked Steve Francis to guide Zhang Jun's passing. To be honest, I think this is a very bad decision. He can teach Zhang Jun not much."
on the pitch.
The Rockets replied, McGrady and Yao Ming played a pick-and-roll and scored a two-pointer for the team to stabilize the situation.
But the offensive firepower of the Trail Blazers is too fierce, especially Zhang Jun and Luo Yin are attacking on the court at the same time, which makes the Rockets do not know who to defend.
In the next round, Luo Yin used Aldridge's pick-and-roll to pass the ball, and Zhang Jun made an alley-oop in the middle.
boom!
Another riding buckle, also Yao Ming.
The efficient cooperation of the two helped the Blazers directly lead the Rockets by 6 points in this quarter.
Game four.
McGrady and Yao Ming felt completely affected by their physical strength. One of them made 1 of 3 shots and the other made 1 of 4 shots.
The inefficient offensive efficiency not only failed to help the Rockets keep up with the Blazers' offense, but also allowed Zhang Jun and Luo Yin to play consecutive defensive counterattacks.
"Our strategy is done!"
Monty Williams couldn't help but said excitedly.
The tactical changes arranged by the Blazers in the first quarter were to consume too much energy of Yao Ming and McGrady. The Rockets have been using a 9-man rotation, and the Blazers have already seen it clearly.
In addition, there is no third ball-holding point in the Rockets. Almost all offenses are launched from Yao Ming and McGrady. Will be the opponent of the Trail Blazers.
"It is indeed done."
"Boy Zhang Jun, you can see clearly. Why don't you think of further consuming Yao Ming and Mai Di's physical strength?"
"This guy doesn't like to play offensively, but he really knows the ball."
Nate McMillan couldn't help but said with a smile on his face.
on the pitch.
Zhang Jun once again played Yao Ming on the pick-and-roll list from the outside.
Aldridge went down the pick-and-roll, and the Rockets did not have Chuck Hayes at this time, because he was afraid of Zhang Jun's breakthrough and Aldridge's mid-range, so Yao Ming could only switch defenses.
Zhang Jun lowered his center of gravity.
This all retreated directly to the free throw line.
Zhang Jun didn't hesitate, facing the defensive space in front of him that was more than 3 meters away, he shot directly from outside the three-point line.
Swish!
The basketball crossed a perfect range in the sky, and then hit the basket steadily.
"The ball went in!"
"This is Zhang Jun's third three-point shot in this round of the series. Currently, he also maintains a 66% three-point shooting percentage."
"I really can't put Zhang Jun's three-pointers like this. Anyway, he also has a 33% three-point shooting percentage in the regular season, but he shoots less. Compared with his breakthrough threat and lethality, it is not inaccurate."
Although Kenny Smith didn't suggest that the Rockets let Zhang Jun's three-pointer go, everyone present didn't think there was any problem with Yao Ming's defensive choice.
Yao Ming really can't prevent Zhang Jun's breakthrough. Instead of letting the opponent score inside and cause damage, it is better to let Zhang Jun shoot the three-pointer that he is not good at.
It's just unfortunate that Zhang Jun made the shot, and the latter is not a three-point blacksmith.
Yao Ming put his knees on his knees and closed his eyes tightly, then raised his head and took a big breath, and McGrady also put his knees on the court and took a big breath.
The two turned their heads to look at each other at the same time, then stood up and walked towards the front court at the same time.
Yao Ming knew very well that after losing this game, the big score would be 1:3, but after winning this game, the two teams would return to the same starting point, 2:2 tie.
This is the cruelty of the playoffs.
A game, the outcome of a game is enough to plunge a team into the abyss.
McGrady also knows what it means to lose this game, so he and Yao Ming must win this game for the Rockets, even if they are exhausted, even if they have no strength to score points for the team , They must also stand up and stand up.
Because the Rockets only have the two of them able to attack with the ball at this time.
At this time, halfway through the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers have established a double-digit lead.
McGrady and Yao Ming once again screened and rolled outside, and then the latter hit the ground and passed the ball into the inside. Yao Ming received the ball and immediately encountered a double-team from Aldridge and Joel Puerzbila.
Yao Ming pushed hard to the inside, and Yao Ming, who had completely crushed any inside of the Trail Blazers, failed to hit the ball.
Yao Ming can only make a small hook throw from the waist.
This shooting action stunned everyone present.
Yao Ming's hook has always been comparable to Skyhook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His hook shooting percentage is extremely high and extremely threatening. Compared with his predecessor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he is only slightly different in shooting distance.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's hook range is any corner near the half-block, while Yao Ming's hook is any corner of the paint area.
Therefore, Yao Ming's hook has also gained the reputation of ground hook.
But at this moment, Yao Ming's hook distance is comparable to that of his predecessor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is also near the mid-range half-block.
This is also because he can't support the two insiders of the Trail Blazers at all, and he can't get into the penalty area, so he can only make such shots.
Swish!
The basketball was hoisted into the basket at a perfect angle, and the goal directly shocked Kenny Smith and Barkley on the scene to get up.
"Nice goal!"
"This goal is worth a thousand dollars, and it is the best response to the Trail Blazers and Zhang Jun."
"It's really rare. I haven't seen such a long hook shot for a long time."
McGrady greeted him excitedly, raised his hands and high-fived Yao Ming excitedly.
"Hit it tough bro."
"It's my duty, brother."
It's just that the two haven't been happy for a long time. Zhang Jun suddenly accelerated with the ball on the outside like carrying a dynamite bag and rushed to the basket. He resisted Yao Ming and Luis Scola's defense and scored a layup.
"This layup angle is really tricky."
"Going up from under Yao Ming's arm is simply unbelievable."
"The pressure is back on the Rockets."
"They have to close the gap as soon as possible, otherwise there is not enough time."
The Rockets attack.
McGrady took a deep breath and wanted to continue to hang Yao Ming, but after seeing that the opponent's position in the paint was even Joel Puerzibilla couldn't handle it, he clearly realized that his old partner had reached his limit.
"go!"
Maddie waved his hand vigorously.
The tacit understanding between the two also let Yao Ming know how the other party wants him to fight.
Yao Ming raised to the free throw line, and McGrady tried to switch defenses through the pick-and-roll.
This round Zhang Jun took the initiative to defend McGrady and handed Battier to Luo Yin like in the first game. He squeezed ahead of time and used Chuck Hayes' defensive method to limit the opponent.
Chuck Hayes, who was off the court, was a little surprised to see this scene. He was amazed at Zhang Jun's learning ability. He even learned his defensive details and defensive methods in just three games.
"He squeezed this step ahead of time and grasped the timing very well."
call!
Maddie moved!
His speed is not fast, and at this time he also knows that it is difficult for him to get rid of Zhang Jun's defense with his speed. UU reading www.uukanshu.com
But he has experience and rhythm.
McGrady dribbled the ball and squeezed past Zhang Jun to the waist, and then started back hitting.
One library!
Like Yao Ming, he has no strength to push Zhang Jun back.
McGrady could only turn his back and walk sideways. Zhang Jun has long been used to McGrady's singles moves to keep up quickly and not give McGrady a chance to fall back.
But at this moment, McGrady immediately turned around and used his experience to pass Zhang Jun by half.
"It's a good shot!"
"But McGrady doesn't have many options, and the shooting angle is not good."
"He still voted!"
"Wait, what kind of pitch is this?"
McGrady smashed the basketball on the backboard from bottom to top, and at the same time his body quickly caught up, the basketball bounced and McGrady flew into the air.
boom!
"Throw and **** yourself! Throw yourself and buckle yourself!"
"McGrady struggled to score two points for the Rockets."
After scoring the goal, McGrady took a long breath and swallowed, and then saw Zhang Jun quickly picked up the basketball and quickly came to the bottom line to serve.
"Counterattack!"
Zhang Jun yelled, and Luo Yin stepped down quickly.
Just like McGrady's self-throwing and self-grabbing made everyone unresponsive, Zhang Jun's sudden halftime long pass also caught everyone by surprise.
To be honest, recently I have been using reading to follow up, change sources, read aloud with many timbres, and both Android and Apple can be used. 】
call!
Luo Yin received the ball, and the frontcourt was empty.
Swish!
He made a light layup.
Yao Ming and Mai Di, who hadn't had time to return to defense, took another look, and they both sighed helplessly.
Compared with them trying their best to get 2 points, the Blazers' offense is too easy.
All! All!
The referee's halftime whistle sounded, and the Trail Blazers won the game 114:103.