Bulldozer of the NBA’s Restricted Area

As the game continued in the second half, the situation for the Hornets became increasingly difficult.

A strong team is strong. When the leading players are blocked, role players can also stabilize the firepower. What is more embarrassing for the Hornets is...at the beginning of the third quarter, Li Shengli was blocked and forcibly carried Ola. Zhuwang and Thorpe played a few games, but the effect was not ideal. The focus of the offense shifted to Curry, and it was Kenny Smith who defended Curry.

Kenny Smith is not a star, but he is the most important role player of the Rockets. He has a stable shooting hand and tireless running. Curry cannot get out of the open space at all and can only rely on pick-and-roll tactics, which has no effect. ideal.

In the first half of the third quarter, most of the Hornets' shots were handed over to three breakthrough knives led by Bogues. With the Rockets' internal and external defensive focus clear, the three players performed well and slightly stabilized the Hornets' score. But the point difference returned to 8 points again.

…

Alan called another timeout.

The conventional way of playing, if the Rockets beat the Hornets, is to really hang the Hornets up and beat them. But now the Hornets have to face the bitter consequences of physical exhaustion and the number of fouls. Fortunately, the same is true for the Rockets. Although there are fewer fouls, the fierce confrontation leads to The problem of declining physical fitness also exists.

So Alan changed his lineup and played a five-up, five-down game, asking Johnson to bring four substitutes to replace the five Li Shengli on the court. The task of the five new players on the court was to fight against the defense at all costs and consume the Rockets' main force. With his physical strength, he pushed the offense to Johnson.

Under normal circumstances, five ups and five downs...it is either garbage time and giving up treatment, or it is too advantageous to train new recruits, but the Hornets are not among the two. Alan's big change this time is to create a time difference. , stagger the playing time of the main players of both sides, and use the inferior horses to compete with the Rockets' superior horses.

There are two reactions from the Rockets to this kind of substitution. Either they follow the substitution and save the physical strength of several main players, or they use the main players to hold down the Hornets and create a huge score difference entering the fourth quarter.

Alan certainly hopes the Rockets choose the latter...

Let the Rockets use their main force to beat the Hornets for half a quarter. In this half quarter, he knows that the situation will definitely collapse. However, the combination of Olajuwon and Thorpe of the Rockets has already played for two and a half quarters. It is impossible to play the full four quarters. At most Three and a half quarters, and this vacant half quarter... will be the time for the Hornets to launch a counterattack, with Li Shengli tearing apart the Rockets' inside line.

Tian Ji's horse racing was staggered. Now it depends on Rocket's reaction!

…

Back on the court, everyone was stunned by Alan's five substitutions.

Are you planning to give up? Four substitutes plus one Larry Johnson, this lineup is simply a joke if you want to face the Rockets head-on!

The fans couldn't understand. Rockets head coach Rudy probably understood the Hornets' intentions, but he really didn't care at all, because in his opinion...the Hornets had no chance of winning at all.

The Rockets are now leading by 8 points and continue to play without substitutions. It would be too easy to beat the Hornets, a substitute second team with low combat effectiveness, to 20 points. And entering the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead, what will the Hornets get? Is the comeback purely based on your head? !

So the second half of the third quarter started.

The Hornets' substitutes showed unusual wildness, running wildly all over the defensive end. They responded to the task assigned by Alan and defended at all costs. However, the substitutes are just substitutes, and it makes sense to receive a low salary. Even if they enter In an almost crazy defensive state, it only caused some minor troubles to the Rockets.

As for the offense, Larry Johnson faced the marking of Olajuwon's right-hand man Puso, and the effect was not ideal, but fortunately, with the help of the other four substitutes, he also scored.

Until the end of this section.

The score between the two sides was 66:82, with the Hornets trailing by 16 points. In the first half led by Li Shengli, the point difference changed from 4 to 8, while in the second half with Johnson, the point difference changed from 8 to 16.

Obviously, the 16-point difference did not meet Alan's expectations, and the situation was still difficult.

…

In the fourth quarter, the Hornets made substitutions and once again played a game of five ups and five downs.

Even Larry Johnson was put on the bench. If Li Shengli leads the team and nothing goes wrong, he will play the entire fourth quarter. Of course... the premise is that no one leaves the field with a full foul. After all, several people have been fouled. Quite a few.

"Cheer up! It's the last quarter. Although we are still 16 points behind, we still have a chance!" Alan roared. The tactical board at hand was empty and empty, because there was no need to make any arrangements until now. Now, their only chance is to seize the opportunity of the Rockets' inside rotation and launch a counterattack.

"Defense, I emphasize defense again!"

"Boggs, Newman, Bennett, you three keep an eye on your opponents. Don't be afraid of confrontation or fouls!"

"Listen, if you can't prevent it, hug them to death in advance. Don't let them take action or impose additional penalties!"

"And Curry, you must be decisive in your shots. I have to see the Rockets' basket get smashed!"

Alan's voice was hoarse, and the four of them nodded with heavy expressions. Alan was the last one to tell Li Shengli a few words alone, "Li, let go and fight in a while. I have no requirements for you, so behave well!"

"good!"

Li Shengli just said hello and led the team to the fourth quarter. With the trade turmoil outside, he also knew that this might really be his last game with the Hornets.

…

In the fourth quarter, the Rockets' lineup rotated a bit, and the combination of Olajuwon and Thorpe rested off the court to prepare for the game.

Although they only led by 16 points, not as much as Rudy expected by 20 points, 16 points was enough to give them confidence. Even the Rockets' substitutes looked relaxed because their task was very easy. ... It takes half a quarter to keep the point difference above 10 points.

However, facing a weak team like the Hornets, the Rockets substitutes felt that they looked down upon them, and even wanted to widen the point difference to let their head coach see their own strength, so everyone worked hard to score points.

The Hornets serve first.

After Li Shengli was positioned, Bogues suddenly accelerated into the penalty area, rubbed his body, and handed the ball to Li Shengli hand in hand. However, without the joint suppression of Olajuwon and Thorpe, Li Shengli easily turned around and scored with a dunk. The Rockets substitute center ambitiously wanted to show his defensive skills, but he got a foul.

Li Shengli hit 2+1 and the Hornets scored 3 points.

The offense and defense changed sides, and the Rockets' offense encountered the clamp of the Hornets. The perimeter guarded by four small men made it difficult for the Rockets to break out alone. Kenny Smith, who was the focus of the gap period, just ran into an open space and was about to take a shot. Bennett He rushed forward like crazy, and before he could take action, he was given a foul.

Kenny Smith's touch was too hot and his position was too good. Bennett couldn't let go, so the best way was to foul early. The result was good, the Rockets made 1 of 2 free throws.