Chapter 273 One inch long, one inch strong

When you see a guy who is 7 feet 6 inches tall making such a sensitive defense action, in addition to cheering for his cover, the only thing you can do is to look up at the tall figure.

The Little Giant from Shanghai, China, has never been a standard defensive support point for inside, although this season's statistics show that he can contribute two blocks per game, and can also guarantee 9.4 rebounds.

But no one will use him as a protector of the inside line, especially on the defensive end. Even Van Gundy himself admitted that he hopes that YAO can play a role that involves the opponent's energy in the inside line, play his soft touch when attacking, and interfere with the pitch on the defensive end. Basket.

It's just interference. You really can't expect YAO to be a block machine on the inside line every game day, running back and forth, and constantly moving his body that is getting stronger and stronger.

The same is true of YAO Ming's cap. He doesn't have that kind of shocking feeling, but he knows how to use his height to stand on your shooting route, and then he doesn't have to wave his big slap too hard.

Just like just now, Jefferson's little hook is very standard, which is completely the offensive template of the inside line, but he still can't avoid a slap brought by YAO's height advantage. There is no feeling of banging, but the basketball still flew out. No matter what the expression is on Jeffson's face now, he can only accept this. The result.

You really can't expect YAO's more than 50 centimeters of bounce to give you a flying super hot pot, but there is no heavy muffle, and the basketball has also been fanned, which has reached his purpose.

And this slap not only fanned the Celtics' hope of equalizing, but also made the Rockets fans start shouting "YAO! YAO! The greatest YAO!" Maybe they really want to sing, medicine, medicine, Chek, but at this time, they may let go of the howl of their voices to release their emotions.

This season is definitely the happiest time for Houstoners who are eager to return to the peak. Although they only ranked fifth in the West, no one denies that the current Rockets are absolutely competitive.

Maybe except for the two main opponents in the West, the Jazz and Spurs, they don't fall behind when they meet the Mavericks and the sun. Although the scene is not as gorgeous as their opponents, the Rockets fans don't care so much. They only hope that their team can go further in the playoffs. Some.

In fact, Van Gundy's team has done this. If they can maintain the current pace of the game and continue, maybe they can really make a cursed first round in the playoffs this season. At least Van Gundy and his players have this confidence, and the home win rate is their basis. War.

Especially when McGrady and YAO can play their abilities normally, they will hardly be defeated at home. Even the newspaper before the game started wrote that although the Celtics had hundreds of Lakers away from home, don't forget that two weeks ago, we also won Los Angeles at Toyota Center. Five points.

This is the confidence of Houstonians. On their doorstep, their steady tactics, although they look a little rigid, there are really few teams that can completely defeat them in the Toyota Center.

If McGrady's one-stop attack made the whole Toyota Center begin to enter the atmosphere of cheering, then Jefferson's shot by the YAO fan almost made the Houstonians fall into a carnival.

"Perfect cover! YAO! You are the patron saint of Houston! You are the best!" The almost numb explanation of the live DJ made all the fans' nerves begin to boil, and they were roaring wildly.

Van Gundy has always been a coach who rarely shows his emotions, but when YAO Mingfan flew Jefferson's shooting, this guy also waved his fist fiercely on the sidelines, as if he had covered the ball.

Jefferson can only stand beside him very hard now, watching the cheers of the fans on the sidelines, and the guys in the Rockets uniforms in front of him high-five each other. Although the guy who fanned his own basket did not shake his fingers like an old guy sitting on the bench, it was enough to make Jefferson angry. It is.

He absolutely didn't expect such a result after squeezing out Howard. He had already stuck the interference behind him, but he didn't expect that his usual little hook would be so simply blown out.

Although it is now the ball rights of the Celtics, the block just now really made Jefferson a little angry. You know, the guy in the No. 11 uniform rarely has such a simple block!

This is the double core of the Rockets, the two biggest players under Van Gundy. The whole team is also composed of them. It is these two all-stars who gave the Celtics a head hit in their own way, which is both accurate and fierce. One is a quick attack, and the other is a head-on. Cover!

The performance of the two of them really immediately detonated the whole Toyota Center. Almost all the Houston fans were shouting at them, and the crazy voices around them were almost drowning everything on the field.

With such an atmosphere, even the Rockets, who followed every step, showed aggressive momentum. After the Celtics served on the sideline, the Rockets' tough defense made the Bostoners back incompetrated.

Originally, Pierce had already received Rondo's pass from the bottom line, but at the moment he shot, he was disturbed by Battier. In order to avoid this block, Pierce's shot was also slightly higher. The thrown ball hit the basket and bounced out by YAO in the first time. Take it away.

After Pierce missed the shot, he swung his fist at the air fiercely. It can be seen that this guy is also in a bad mood now, especially by Battier. When the guy interferes with Pierce's shooting, his hands are about to be sealed on the opponent's face. No wonder Pierce's shot will be biased. Point.

Battier is a smart player in defense. His movements may seem very aggressive, but in terms of fouls and non-fouls, this guy who has practiced at Duke University will make it difficult for the referee to judge.

Even if his interference just now is about to put his hand on Pierce's face, he will still stop before being blown off.

This made Pierce have to complain to the referee while not shooting. At least in his opinion, Battier was definitely a foul, including when he ran before shooting, he was also pulled by the guy for a long time.

But the referee will not whistle on this kind of ambiguous confrontation. After all, this is just the beginning, and this is the home of the Rockets. The most important thing is that Battier has a good grasp of the action scale when defending.

Even if Pierce complains a few words now, he will not shake the referee's idea. It is difficult to change what those guys determine, so Pierce can only complain and then go back to prepare for defense.

Although Rivers also shouted a few words on the sidelines, it was just to exert some influence on the referee. It was not helpful at all for the situation on the court. The Celtics' attack after the beginning of the game has not been achieved.

Two attacks are fruitless, which is not very bad. After all, when any team has cold hands, the Celtics' attack firepower is just a temporary setback, which does not prove that the team is playing badly now.

But compared with the Celtics' frustration, the Rockets' attack was extremely smooth. Although Alston was also entangled by Ron in the periphery, he did not choose to rely on the hand control skills he had practiced on the street to fight alone, but threw the ball to YA after crossing the half. O Ming.

This is the Rockets' offensive approach. The point guard does not need to make any breakthroughs. As long as he gives the ball to his double core after half-time, even if he completes the task, if Alston uses his surpassing skills, that is the last scene Van Gundy wants to see. What the bald man needs is stability. Some.

So even if Van Gundy has Alsmstone as the point guard, he is considering whether to continue to strengthen the position, and Morley is indeed thinking about trading on the point guard throughout the transfer period.

If there is no suitable candidate, maybe Alston has said goodbye to his starting position now, but if he doesn't make any changes, even if Van Gundy is replaced by some novices, he will not risk using a point guard who likes to single out against a group of people, although Alsstone He used to do that on the street, but this definitely doesn't mean that Van Gundy will tolerate him playing this trick in the NBA.

So after Alston came to the Rockets, he has changed a lot in general. Although passing the ball is often a little unreliable, the habit of using "walking in the clouds" is gone.

Just like now, after half-time, Alston throws the ball to the inside line. As for whether YAO holds the ball by himself or finds an opportunity to pass the ball and organize it, it is up to him.

Then Alstoon and McGrady or Battier began to look for vacancies in the periphery or middle distance.

If YAO's attack on the inside is frustrated or disturbed, they will always wait on the weak side. As long as the little giant can pass the ball, it may be a very good shooting opportunity. This is definitely a very standard inside-out, inside-out tactics, and the cooperation may not be very gorgeous, but Ken It must be very practical.

The old man Sprewell once said that when he was with the New York Knicks, Van Gundy liked to crack the opponent's defense in this way. Ewing held the ball on the inside line, and then Alan Houston and Sprewell swam on both sides, once the "gorilla" If the attack is not smooth, the two of them will have a chance.

It is with such a simple and effective offensive strategy that the Knicks can create the Black Eight miracle in that season.

Van Gundy likes to use such a very effective offensive method. He doesn't need how gorgeous and beautiful the attack process is, especially he doesn't need to have a feeling of storm like the Suns. He just likes such a steady position battle, involving, covering, running, and then shooting. Points.

It's the same now. It is absolutely not in line with Van Gundy's character. He not only can use it, but also uses it very well. Since the day Van Gundy officially took over the Rockets, he has made up his mind to make YAO into a core in the attack and defense. It's all.

Maybe this bald guy wants to replicate his successful experience with the Rockets with the Knicks, or he has seen YAO dodge O'Neal's wonderful performance with flexible footsteps, so he uses a center as an offensive fulcrum. This idea has been applied to the game by Van Gundy, except for McGra. In addition to the singleness of the ball, the inside attack has always been one of the main directions of the Rockets. At least Van Gundy needs YAO to involve the opponent's defensive energy in the inside. When there is a chance, don't miss your own ball-holding attack.

YAO is not the kind of guy who likes to show his head, but this does not mean that there is something wrong with his personal ability.

If he was born in the golden age of the center, he may be the cornerstone of a team, but the current environment that requires sprinters is destined that he will not become the kind of Chamberlain or Olajuwon.

Even the fans in Houston admit that they do not expect that the Chinese giants can take the team to restore the glorious experience of winning the championship for two consecutive years, but they hope that YAO can try its best to help the team get out of the long-lost trough, at least to become a strong West. .

YAO Ming did not disappoint his reputation as the champion. At least in terms of data, in this era when traditional center forwards have become rare, he can also help O'Neal support the other half of the sky. Maybe he doesn't have the fantastic footsteps of Olajuwang, nor does he have O'Neal's domineering offensive firepower, but In this era of bombardment, the existence of the little giant can more or less remind people of what the role of the center should be.

Just like this attack, Alsstone sent the basketball into the three-second zone. The other players of the Rockets are running, but YAO only made a simple back-to-back holding the ball on the inside line, which has made Jefferson feel a little overwhelmed. It's not how strong the opponent is, but that The sense of oppression brought by height makes Jefferson obviously feel that even if he stretches his hands straight, he may not block the other party's eyes looking directly at the basket. Unless he jumps up, he may interfere with the opponent's shooting vision.

On his back and leaning on the opponent behind him, YAO Ming's movement range did not become slower because someone was holding it. On the contrary, because Jefferson was resisting, the little giant's crushing forward to the inner line became more active, although YAO Ming's power is against The resistance is not strong, but his 140kg weight definitely makes Jefferson, who has always boasted his solid body, a little unbearable. After all, the difference between the two is 20 kilograms.

He put his back and turned around. Jefferson raised his hands desperately, trying to block the possible angle of YAO's shot, but his waved hands did not touch the basketball and did not fan anything. He looked at the tall figure and took a retreat action after turning around, and instantly returned the two people. The bodies close to each other pulled the distance, and then the guy was like this and shot on the three-second line!

YAO Ming feels not a little soft. Even O'Neal has said that YAO's shooting feels very good.

Indeed, when YAO just stepped on the NBA field, his small body was not strong. When he fought against those muscular men under the basket, he obviously suffered a loss. He could stand still, but he relied on his soft touch.

Even when Olajuwon saw the big man's game that inherited his man's man, he sighed that YAO's middle-handling skills would make many centers blush at the level of free throw baskets, because the Chinese giant feels so good!

I don't know how many people have praised YAO Ming's feel at the beginning, but he has really experienced it now. The whole offensive action of the other party was completed in one go without any pause at all. Even when he took action, he had the opportunity to adjust his hand shape. Jefferson raised his hands did not hinder Y at all. AO Ming.

wiping the net with a slam, he was already reminding Jefferson that he was not only blocked by YAO Ming during the attack, but also defeated by the other party in a one-on-one way on the offensive end, and the attack made him very helpless.

"YAO! Beautiful mid- pitch! The opponent's defender was like a puppet and had no reaction to his shot. YAO added two more points to the Rockets! Hey, man, you did a good job!"

The live commentary is really a little high today. The Rockets' games are generally a little dull, but today's opening is very active. Both ends of the attack and defense give the Celtics a down, especially the inside YAO Ming, and a big hat, followed by a beautiful mid-range shot. Shooting.

The players play proactively, and there is no reason to mobilize the atmosphere of the whole stadium without their own loud voice. Naturally, fans also like to see such a game and can win at home. Who will be unhappy?

Houstonians are very high, but Rivers and Siebodeau never took advantage of the idea of human beauty, but just now, YAO's attack was indeed a little puzzled. "Ayr's height is still too at a loss in the confrontation."

This is the truth. Rivers can't do anything about it. After all, one is only 2.06 meters tall, and the other big guy has a giant figure of more than two or 20 meters, with a drop of more than 20 centimeters, just like Chen Feng looking down at Rondo. He may not feel anything at ordinary times, but if he puts it on the field to fight, he can immediately feel it. I felt the irreparable gap, especially when Jefferson defended YAO's attack, and he suffered even more.

"And that guy's hand feeling is really very good." Sibodu has no good way to deal with this talent gap. He can only sigh at the other party's height and the soft and unimaginable touch.

"Dude, don't sigh. When I met the Rockets two years ago, I would sigh like this almost every time because of that guy's shooting, but in addition to the feel of the hand, the weight of YAO is also a big problem."

Rivers may be more empathetic than Sibito. After all, his team has met the Rockets more than once in the previous two seasons. He witnessed with his own eyes that YAO has changed from a slim guy to a heavyweight.

Now I have to rely on Rivers to defend against such a big man. It seems that it's really a little difficult for that guy.

But there is no better way now. The Celtics' inside line has such a natural defect. The strength may be impeccable, but in terms of height, they do suffer a little.

But there was nothing I could do. There was an Ogvokandi who could support it, but that guy had basically become a disabled person, so he was fired by the Celtics a month ago.

And another guy named Ratliff, although he used to be a block king, now he is almost half-disabled. Rivers put him on the injury list and did not plan to release him again.

In the face of such a big man as YAO Ming who can turn over the river in the inside line, Rivers is also worried. The advantage of height of more than 20 centimeters is really an inch long and an inch strong...