After Yao Ming came up, the Rockets' defensive intensity suddenly increased.

McGrady's breakthrough and distribution effect is very good, and the Rockets' strategy is clear, which is to let the Hawks' role players shoot. However, Korver's touch was not good today. If he can't make the shot, he can't make the shot. The Rockets seem to be dragging the Suns to death with their rhythm.

In this way, in the last four minutes of the second quarter, the Hawks only scored 4 points, while the Rockets scored 7 points.

In the second quarter, Liu Mang scored 7 points and 2 assists, Jason Terry scored 13 points and 3 assists, and Iguodala and Mohan scored 17 points through the passing of Liu Mang and Jason Terry.

Mulder, Josh Smith, Mourning, at halftime, the Hawks led the Rockets by 10 points 55-45.

In the last three minutes, Kwame Brown finally relied on McGrady to break through to the basket and was double-teamed by Yao Ming. He then lobbed an alley-oop and scored 4 points. It was not easy!

In the third quarter, the Rockets' little Van Gundy used Yao Ming very sparingly, so Yao Ming was told to rest when he was tired in the previous games. Yao Ming's toe was dislocated. The team doctor recommended a two-week rest, so Van Gundy let Yao Ming rest.

Yao Ming rested for two weeks.

After the halftime break, Yao Ming wanted to play at the beginning of the third quarter, but Van Gundy Jr. did not agree. It was not just a matter of Yao Ming's physical fitness. Richard Jefferson had to rest even after playing the first half. The Rockets'

The strongest defense lies in the presence of David Wesley, Richard Jefferson, and Yao Ming, which can make up for the lack of defensive strength of the shooting guard and power forward.

Now if Yao Ming is replaced, David Wesley alone is not enough. It is just a waste of Yao Ming's physical strength.

It is true that Van Gundy is not good at reacting on the spot, but game planning is his strength.

Van Gundy Jr. could only use Sura, another veteran defensive cutter witherspoon who had averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds per game at the age of 32 in the contract year to defraud the Rockets into a mid-level salary of 14 million in three years in the summer of 2003.

, the 2.06 meter basic salary forward Scott Padgett, Maurice Taylor, and Mutombo were replaced in the lineup.

Liu Mang came on the field in the third quarter, bringing Iguodala, Prince, Josh Smith, and Kwame Brown on the field.

Coach Kruger felt that it was better to stagger the playing time of Kwame Brown and Yao Ming, and let Mourning guard Yao Ming. Kwame Brown was badly abused.

It’s hard to fight hard, but you can’t prevent it!

Jason Terry finished his swing, and this time it was Liu Mang's turn.

The Rockets are very afraid of Liu Mang, the player who ranks first in the league in three-pointers per game, in isolation from beyond the three-point line. Witherspoon mainly blocks Liu Mang's three-pointers, and Liu Mang uses Witherspoon to stay close.

, chose to break through and attack the basket, and faced the aging Mutombo with his footsteps to score consecutive points.

The Rockets' offense was at its most miserable in the third quarter.

When the Rockets play other teams, they often have the advantage in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the rotation lineup comes up and kills, and the point difference is tied or even surpassed. In the third quarter, when Sura leads the team, basically only

Sulla played in singles. Sulla's personal ability was not bad, at least he was technically good in his level, but he was too confident and overconfident. Now that Yao Ming is more domineering, he would pass the ball to Yao Ming when Yao Ming is on the court, but except for Yao Ming

Together with Richard Jefferson and David Wesley, he was looked down upon by the others, so he only went one-on-one to dig holes for the Rockets.

In the third quarter, Liu Mang drove to the basket and made a mid-range pull-up jumper. He broke through and scored. In six and a half minutes, he scored 12 points and 3 assists, helping the Eagles achieve a 19-10 half-quarter score. Kwame

-Brown played very excitedly. Yao Ming stopped trying to defend and made air cuts, deceiving Liu Mang into two assists.

With five and a half minutes left in the third quarter, the Eagles already led 74 to 55 by 19 points!

Seeing that the score difference was about to widen to 20 points, after the official timeout came back, Van Gundy had no choice but to replace the entire team in advance.

Liu Mang and Jason Terry are so brutal when it’s time to rotate!

For the Eagles, Coach Kruger made a very correct judgment. After the official timeout came back, he replaced the outside duo of Liu Mang and Tracy McGrady.

If role players can continue to contribute, they will not be role players, but stars. In the last 5 minutes of the third quarter, the Eagles only scored 6 points, but Liu Mang made a mid-range shot. Tracy McGrady suddenly

After getting to the basket and causing Juwan Howard to commit two consecutive fouls, he scored six points after making all four free throws. During the intermission and the third quarter, the defense of the Rockets' main lineup resumed its performance in the first quarter.

Performance and defense are still very targeted.

The Rockets are really good when they have enough energy. Otherwise, with such poor substitutes, it is impossible to remain fifth in the Western Conference. The Hawks can only rely on defense and the scoring of Liu Mang and Tracy McGrady to maintain the score.

After three quarters, Liu Mang had 27 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds, McGrady had 11 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. The Hawks led 80-65 by 15 points.

…

Leading by 15 points in the third quarter, Liu Mang felt that the point difference was relatively stable. If the Rockets, mainly Yao Ming, were exhausted, the game would be considered stable.

The Eagles coaching staff also thought so, so they replaced Calderon, Jason Terry, Korver, Muhammad, and Mourning with a lineup to consume Yao Ming with the twin towers.

Sen Terry led the scoring.

After the inter-quarter break, the Rockets unsurprisingly put on the full lineup at the start of the fourth quarter.

Little Van Gundy has no choice. If he doesn't fight at this time, he will have no chance.

When Yao Ming saw that neither Liu Mang nor Tracy McGrady came up, you can imagine his anger.

It’s so disrespectful!

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Eagles took the lead. Jason Terry hit a three-pointer and missed a fadeaway jumper under the defense of Richard Jefferson. Yao Ming struggled to beat Muhammad and Mourning.

Grabbed a defensive rebound from a double attack.

In the transition from offense to defense, the Rockets attack first, and Yao Ming starts to show off his power by asking for the ball in the low post!

Yao Ming sat in the low post and beat Mourning in singles. The fierce Yao Ming was definitely the most powerful inside killer in the league besides O'Neal. Not to mention Mourning, even Ben Wallace, who was at his peak last season, was defeated.

Yao Ming got a double-20 once.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Yao Ming hit Mourning hard into the basket and smashed the ball into the basket through Mourning.

Mourning has tried every means to fight against Yao Ming, but he just can't stand it!

When the Eagles attacked, Jason Terry was denied a three-point chance by Richard Jefferson. He suddenly made a mid-range pull-up jumper and scored two points.

On the Rockets' second offense, Mourning began to go around Yao Ming. Yao Ming followed Mourning and took a step to the middle distance of the baseline. David Wesley passed the ball to Yao Ming in time. Mourning pounced.

He went up to block the shot, but Yao Ming's fadeaway jumper was about equal to Nowitzki's golden rooster independence. It was almost impossible to block the shot from the front. Yao Ming shot from mid-range and then scored!

Yao Ming is starting to show off his power!

Mourning stayed in position, and Yao Ming played in low singles. Muhammad came up to attack from a double flank, but there was nothing he could do. Yao Ming got angry and dunked through the defense of the two.

When Mourning moved forward to defend, Yao Ming went to the baseline to catch the ball and shoot from mid-range. Mourning moved forward and had to press back. When Yao Ming cut to the baseline, Mourning couldn't keep up immediately!

Yao Ming launched a fierce attack and scored 12 points in half a quarter, while the Rockets only scored these 12 points in half a quarter...

The Eagles, during this period, relied on their better outside shooting ability to hold the score.

Jason Terry made a pull-up jump shot and passed the ball to Calderon and Korver. Jason Terry scored 4 points on 2 of 5 shots. Korver finally got something in the fourth quarter after playing for so long.

A three-pointer was hit, and Calderon also made a steady three-pointer. The Eagles also scored 10 points when Yao Ming stormed!

At the sixth minute of the fourth quarter, when the official timeout was about to enter, the Hawks still led the Rockets by 13 points, 90-77.

Just when the Eagles thought it was safe and were waiting for the dead ball to enter the official timeout, the situation suddenly changed!

The Rockets used Yao Ming to attract a double team of Muhammad and Mourning. Juwan Howard provided Richard Jefferson with an off-ball pick-and-roll from the outside.

Chad Jefferson made a three-pointer.

On the next Rockets offense, the Rockets followed the same pattern. Yao Ming sent a three-point pass to Richard Jefferson, and Richard Jefferson scored again!

On the third Rockets offense, Richard Jefferson received the ball. Korver panicked and slapped Richard Jefferson on the floor, committing a three-point foul!

Richard Jefferson went to the free throw line and made all three free throws. The Rockets scored 9 points in a row in 1 minute!

The Eagles only relied on Jason Terry to hit a three-pointer and were beaten 9-3!

Richard Jefferson took advantage of Yao Ming's restraint and scored 9 points in a row. The two combined to score 21 points in the first half of the quarter. At the same time, relying on defense, the Rockets limited the Eagles to only 13 points in the first half of the quarter!

In 7 minutes, the Rockets scored 21-13, narrowing the 15-point difference to 7 points!

86 to 93, the Rockets suddenly narrowed the point difference to less than 10 points!

As Richard Jefferson's free throw ended, the game entered an official timeout.

…

Everything happened so suddenly!

The situation changes suddenly!

Seeing a solid 13-point advantage, Coach Kruger originally waited for the official timeout to replace the main players, defend the point difference, and wait for the end of the game.

Moreover, the rotating lineup played very well in the first half of the quarter, withstanding the strong performance of Yao Ming from the Rockets who scored 12 consecutive points.

But who knew the Rockets would score 9 points in a row in 1 minute!

Liu Mang and Tracy McGrady quickly took off their training clothes and threw two hot hands. They had rested for most of the quarter. They originally thought that they would just go up and sharpen their defense in the last few minutes, but the opponent suddenly narrowed the point difference to 7 points!

Seeing that the Rockets are already gaining momentum, this kind of morale may allow them to reach the limit of their physical fitness. This will cause trouble for the Eagles!

Liu Mang was originally watching Yao Ming show his strength and was led by Jason Terry to resist, and he was still happy. He thought: I am dumbfounded. Your awesomeness in the inside is useless. Without teammates, it is useless to shoot 6-for-6 from the field.

!

Unexpectedly, I was the one who was dumbfounded in the end!

Richard Jefferson only dunked once today. He was very low-key offensively throughout the game, but he still scored 28 points, which was only two points less than Yao Ming's 30 points.

After the middle two quarters of the game, Liu Mang never expected that he would be able to play a critical moment. He was prepared to score a "low score" of only more than 20 points in this game. Who knows, he would still have to play a critical moment!

…

…

The Hawks changed their lineup, Liu Mang, Tracy McGrady, Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Mourning.
To be continued...