One Guard

The 15-16 season was a brilliant season for most people and teams. The Warriors and Mavericks both won 70+ games. Kobe Bryant left without any regrets. The Spurs once again completed the upgrade, winning 67 games and continuing to remain competitive. The Cavaliers finally won the first place in the Eastern Conference. Tyronn Lue successfully took over, fulfilling his dream of being a head coach...

But some people are happy and some are worried. The much-anticipated Chicago Bulls failed to reach the playoffs, and the Rose era was completely over. The 76ers only won 10 games throughout the season, making the team once again nailed to the pillar of shame. The unlucky Utah Jazz finally knelt at the door of the playoffs, oblivious to everyone. For the Rockets, who stole the Jazz's playoff spot, the 15-16 season was also dark.

On the basis of having the two giants Harden and Howard, Ty Lawson, a powerful point guard, has joined the team. No one would have thought that this season's Rockets would barely make it to the playoffs.

The Rockets' performance during the regular season can only be described as chaotic. Last season, the Rockets created a miracle of coming back from a 1-3 deficit, but this year, they have become one of the most disappointing teams.

Howard, the former super center, has seen his tactical status with the Rockets decline. In the regular season this season, he averaged only 8.5 shots per game, and his data dropped to 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. Since joining the Lakers, "Warcraft"'s data has continued to decline. This season has undoubtedly hit rock bottom.

The rest of the Rockets are either injured or completely out of shape. You often see Harden scoring 30 or 40 points, but no one of his teammates scores in double figures. Except for Harden, no one on the team could score. The Rockets' chaotic locker room atmosphere and poor results have made the team's chemistry extremely poor. People say that the Rockets want to win unless Harden scores 40 points in every game.

This is also true. Even if the Rockets play a "warmth" team like the 76ers, Harden still has to score 50 points. Moreover, it was still a narrow victory!

Before the season is over, Howard has made it clear that he will definitely leave Houston. The future of the rest of the Rockets is also uncertain. The entire team is simply a mess, with no cohesion at all. After the All-Star Game, Harden played more than 40 minutes in every game, averaging 33+7+8, and barely managed to drag the Rockets into the playoffs. Moreover, the Rockets are lucky. If the Jazz hadn't encountered the Mavericks and Lakers, the Rockets would have had no chance at all!

This season, Harden averaged 38 minutes per game and played in all 82 regular season games, making him the player with the most playing time. If it weren't for Harden's dedication to the Rockets, the Rockets might have "crashed" long ago.

But precisely because of this, Morey recognized Harden's strength. This guy definitely has the potential to become a superstar! The following summer will be the key for the Rockets to take off.

In other words, although the Rockets have just reached the playoffs, they have actually given up early. Last season, the Rockets also dreamed of wrestling with the Mavericks. But this season, the Rockets haven't even thought about it. Going through the motions is what this series is about.

Therefore, it was inexplicable that the Mavericks won the first game of the playoffs this season. Yiyang felt that this game was even easier than the regular season! The Rockets are really wasting their spot in the playoffs in this state! If it were Hayward and the Jazz, they would definitely not disappoint the fans!

The rest of the Rockets have no fighting spirit at all. The Rockets' first 20 points were all scored by Harden! In other words, Harden played for 12 minutes in the first quarter, and he was the only one who scored.

Howard tried to hit the basket three times, but Gobert missed each time. Dwight Howard, he has really become a blue-collar guy through and through.

In the first quarter of the game, 32 to 20, only one person from the Rockets scored, and even Terry, who was always full of passion, did not score a point. The team's environment has a huge impact on the players.

Terry seems to have become a different person in the repressive team atmosphere of the Rockets.

Terry's contract with the Rockets is about to expire at the end of this season. If the Mavericks call him this summer, he will definitely choose to return, even if it is the most humble veteran's basic salary. Playing in a happy environment is sometimes more meaningful than making money. It was too painful for Terry to earn this money from the Rockets.

After the game, Mike Breen's eyes widened even more. After the Rockets fired McHale, the coaching position fell to rookie coach B.J. Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff's coaching ability cannot be said to be very good. Letting him lead the team in the playoffs is actually evidence that Morey has given up on this season.

During the playoffs, many teams rotate eight or even seven players, just to maintain the strongest firepower! Those like Carlisle who are willing to continue the ten-man rotation are only in the minority.

As a result, Bickerstaff created a 12-man rotation! As long as there are people on the team's roster, Bickerstaff will send them all to play for one round, always hoping to find one or two who are in good condition and can suddenly appear.

But people like G-League MVP Goodlock and Michael Beasley, who is in poor form, just waste time after playing. Bickerstaff's "human sea tactics" had no effect. At halftime, the Rockets fell behind by 20 points. Howard was like a rookie on the court, being held in the palm of Gobert's hands and unable to break free.

After the second half of the game started, people saw Yiyang sitting on the sidelines in training clothes and chatting leisurely with Nash in a suit and tie. As the Mavericks' player development consultant, Nash was also present in person today. However, this game obviously disappointed Nash.

Facts have proved that even without Yiyang, the rest of the Mavericks are enough to handle the disorganized Rockets. Deron's solid field control ability kept the situation from collapsing. Gobert's guarding in the paint also caused Howard to humiliate himself time and time again.

Although Harden's performance is remarkable, in the playoffs, such a huge gap cannot be made up by Harden alone.

Throughout the second half, Yiyang did not play again. After only playing 20 minutes and clocking out, Yiyang was perhaps the most leisurely star player in the first round of the playoffs.

At the end of the game, Harden scored a game-high 38 points. Howard only scored 14 points and shot only 30% from the field. For a center like Howard, whose shots are basically in the penalty area, a 30% shooting rate is simply incredible.

For the Mavericks, although Yiyang only played one half, Deron still organized the team's offense in an orderly manner. Deron himself had 24 points and 8 assists, Wade had 17 points, Dirk had 16 points, Yiyang only played 20 minutes, so he only scored 15 points, and even Gobert scored 12 points.

Without even breaking a sweat, the Mavericks easily defeated the Rockets at home. 108 to 78, a 30-point gap, faithfully reflects the performance of both sides on the court.

"The Rockets should be lucky, because in three more games, their dark days will be over." Mike Breen said this directly after the game. Now he really dares to pat his chest and say that the Mavericks can win 4 games. 0 swept the Rockets.

After all, without Yiyang, the Mavericks could win easily, and the Rockets would really have no threat at all. Although it is nothing new for the Mavericks to sweep their opponents, it is really rare for the Mavericks to advance directly without encountering resistance.

In the next three games, as Mike Breen said, the Rockets had no chance at all.

116 to 106, 121 to 102, 108 to 76, in three games, the Rockets could not even narrow the gap to single digits in any game! In the four playoff games, Harden averaged 38.6 minutes per game and was able to score 26+5+5. But even so, the huge gap will be difficult to fill.

On the night of April 24, the Mavericks won a big victory at Toyota Center, officially sending the Rockets out with a 4-0 score. Instead of booing the Mavericks, Rockets fans held up signs insulting Howard and wildly booed the super center they once dreamed of.

Thirty years in Hedong and thirty years in Hexi. The once popular Howard has now become a hot potato that the Rockets can't even get rid of.

Yiyang wore training clothes to celebrate with his sweaty teammates. He only played 20 minutes in each game. He seemed to have returned to the days when he was a substitute for Kidd in his rookie season. But that's okay, at least in the conference semifinals, Yiyang has enough physical strength to fight Westbrook! Judging from the current situation, the Clippers have no chance of defeating the Thunder. And the rest of the Mavericks also took advantage of this to get into shape.

Just as Yiyang and his teammates were celebrating their victory in the locker room, Yiyang's cell phone rang. Yiyang's heart suddenly tightened when he saw the caller ID. It was Vignali's father, Alex.

"Alex, what's going on?" Yiyang's heart was beating fast. It was approaching Vignali's expected delivery date, and anything could happen.

"Come on, the due date may have to be brought forward."

Alex's voice seemed very anxious.