Super Role Player

In the sixth minute of the second quarter, Anxi reappeared.

The Rockets also changed their players, with Corey Brewer starting to guard Anxi, and Josh Smith on the inside to cover up. The Rockets still maintained a tight defense against Anxi. On the offensive end, James Harden reappeared, and the Rockets' The goal is to maintain the current lead before half-time.

But Anxi played, and he obviously would not give the Rockets a chance to lead at halftime.

From the very beginning of the game, Anxi exploded.

After Anxi came back on the field, he played without the ball, came out from the baseline, bypassed the screen of Nolens Noel, and accelerated to get rid of Corey Brewer. Then, outside the 45° three-point line on the left, Anxi encountered Josh Smith's backup defense.

But he didn't hesitate at all. He shot a three-pointer directly from the outside. The shot was so fast that the ball flew out almost as soon as he raised his hand.

Josh Smith had no time to react. When he turned around and looked at the basket, the basketball fell just in time and plunged into the basket with great accuracy!

Uh-huh!

The ball goes in!

Three points!

As soon as Anxi came on the field, he scored a three-pointer and narrowed the point difference to 6 points.

Immediately after the Rockets' offense, Anxi faced off against Corey Brewer. James Harden, who was also new to the game, was handed over to Jae Crowder for defense. Anxi continued to complete the task of supplementary defense on the defensive end.

James Harden held the ball and beat Jae Crowder in isolation. After a change of direction, Harden made an emergency stop and shot a jumper. However, because he had rested for a few minutes and his hand was not warm, the jumper missed.

Channing Frye collected the rebound and then handed the basketball to Anxi.

Anxi received the basketball and after taking a look at the Rockets' retreating speed, he immediately accelerated and rushed to the frontcourt. He broke into the paint and hit a layup, catching the Rockets off guard.

The score difference was reduced to 4 points.

The 4-point difference is nothing. As long as they play the next two rounds well, the 76ers will have a chance to get the two teams back to the same starting line.

This left Kevin McHale a little helpless. A minute ago, the Rockets were leading by 9 points. As a result, Anxi's score was immediately narrowed to 4 points after one minute of playing, and it looked like it would continue to be narrowed.

Of course Kevin McHale couldn't bear it anymore.

He felt that Corey Brewer's defense against Anxi was not good enough, so he called a timeout and made adjustments.

Trevor Ariza replaced Corey Brewer, and the player defending Anxi became Ariza again.

The Rockets started a wheel battle on the defensive end, and Anxi's response was simple - continue to play in isolation.

On the court, the Rockets' offense missed again, and the basketball came into Anxi's hands again. Anxi directly dribbled the ball from the backcourt to the frontcourt. Trevor Ariza, who had just appeared, stood outside the three-point line and saw Anxi dribbling the ball. After halftime, it was like sticking up immediately.

At this moment, Anxi suddenly changed direction and passed Trevor Ariza in a flash.

Ariza was completely unable to react. He stretched out his hand to grab Anxi, who was accelerating his breakthrough, but was knocked out of the air.

So, Anxi rushed inside and faced Josh Smith who was on defense alone. He made a throw against the defense and voila! Two more points.

The point difference was only the last 2 points, and Kevin McHale suddenly realized that he seemed to be too concerned about the restrictions on Anxi on the defensive end, but he completely ignored the offensive end.

But in fact, the 76ers' continuous pursuit of points in these waves relies on successful defense on the defensive end. If the Rockets can score a few goals on the offensive end, the result will be completely different.

Therefore, after James Harden got the ball in the backcourt, Kevin McHale stood on the sidelines and made a gesture, asking the team to strengthen their offense.

Harden's offensive talent is still very strong. As soon as Kevin McHale's adjustment came out, he then held the ball in singles and fouled Jae Crowder in the frontcourt.

Then, he stood on the free throw line and made two free throws, and the Rockets finally scored.

In the 76ers' offense, Anxi held the ball in singles and started a strong attack.

A post-up single, turned around and shook off Trevor Ariza, shot a jumper directly on the spot, and hit two points. Under the leadership of Anxi, the 76ers clenched the point difference.

The Rockets were not to be outdone. James Harden entered his personal mode, took another European step on the offensive end, rushed into the paint, and succeeded in a layup.

Jae Crowder was quite helpless. He could have defended this shot if he had been tougher, but he didn't dare to be tough because James Harden clearly had an attitude of either you foul or I'll score, and the league still tolerated him. In this style of play, James Harden's trick is very effective at critical moments.

Therefore, now, James Harden has also used this trick continuously. At this time, Jae Crowder, who has already committed three fouls, naturally does not dare to reach out easily.

Anxi didn't take it seriously and patted Jack Crowder's shoulder to express comfort.

Subsequently, Anxi continued to attack on the offensive end.

The Rockets quickly responded with double-teams, but facing the double-teams of Josh Smith and Trevor Ariza, Anxi turned around and shot a jumper, holding up two defenders and shooting the basketball.

Uh-huh!

The crisp sound of net wiping sounded again, Anxi scored another 2 points, and the point difference was still 2 points.

Back on the defensive end, the Rockets still use James Harden to attack, and they still use the same old European step to attack the basket. Jae Crowder is still very frustrated in defending, not daring to reach out, and can only watch Harden send the basketball into the basket. basket.

In the 76ers' offense, Anxi continued to score in the same way. It was still a strong attack. He challenged Ariza from outside the three-point line, took a pull-up three-pointer, and hit it again!

The goal was a three-pointer. After Anxi scored, he glanced at James Harden provocatively.

Anxi's meaning was obvious. Either Harden would give in, or Harden would give up the idea of ​​drawing a foul and concentrate on giving Anxi a three-pointer.

But back to the Rockets' offensive end, James Harden seemed to have given in. After holding the ball from the outside, he made a single block and once again used European steps to rush into the inside.

Everyone thought James Harden had given in, but what no one expected was that James Harden rushed into the paint and jumped forward in an extremely weird posture. Jack Crowder didn't have time to react and bumped into him.

After the mid-air collision, the referee's whistle sounded, and one second before it hit the ground, James Harden aimed at the basket and shot the basketball.

Uh-huh!

The ball goes in! Additional penalties!

But the next second, Jack Crowder rushed out.

"Is this ball a foul on me?" Apparently, Jae Crowder thought this ball was an offensive foul on James Harden.

In fact, this is indeed the case. The foul committed by James Harden looks more like he hit Jae Crowder himself, so the correct penalty should be an offensive foul. Even the commentator on the sidelines said: " This ball should be an offensive foul, James Harden obviously leaned forward, and the amplitude was quite large. It was obviously James Harden's own problem."

But the referee didn't think so, and he resolutely punished Jack Crowder for a foul.

This made Jae Crowder very angry. He was already frustrated in his defense in this game, but in the end, this obvious offensive foul was called a defensive foul on him. How could he not be furious?

After the referee pointed at him firmly, Jack Crowder couldn't help it and pushed directly in front of the referee.

Anxi did not hold back. In the end, Jae Crowder received another technical foul. Counting the technical foul, he had already committed five fouls. Brett Brown had no choice but to take Jae Crowder off the court and replaced him with Troy Daniels. .

After the substitution, James Harden began to take free throws, a technical foul free throw, and made a hit.

Then, three players stood on both sides of the free throw line, and the extra penalty for a common foul was also hit.

James Harden made two free throws, and the point difference widened to 5 points.

Jae Crowder left the game and the 76ers replaced Troy Daniels, which meant that Anxi had to move to the third position, and everyone who defended James Harden also had to leave it to Anxi.

Many people are already used to the issue of James Harden's whistle. Even Anxi is used to it. After all, he likes to read news and visit forums. James Harden's body hair whistle is mentioned in news forums almost every day. Anxi Already knew this.

Therefore, after another strong attack, the point difference between the two teams became 3 points, and Anxi faced James Harden on the defensive end.

At this time, there was not much game time left in the second quarter, and James Harden's offense was basically his last offense in the second quarter.

Facing Harden's attack, Anxi showed that he is smarter than ordinary people. Harden broke through with a European step, held the ball with both hands, and rushed into the penalty area. At this time, as long as Anxi reaches out, it will definitely be a foul.

But if Anxi didn't reach out, Harden could complete an easy layup.

So, this is a dilemma.

The next second, Anxi's defense surprised everyone.

Anxi didn't reach out, and everyone thought Harden was going to score. But when Harden jumped up and went for a layup, he collided with Anxi who had his hand behind his back in the air. Then, the layup went up. .

The crowd was in an uproar. Many people saw clearly how Anxi defended Harden's layup. Even the referee was stunned, wondering if Anxi had committed a foul.

But in fact, Anxi just put his hands behind his back and collided with strength in the air, interfering with Harden's layup. There was no foul. This was a clean defense!

James Harden missed a layup, Nerlens Noel grabbed the rebound, and the 76ers made a fast break. Anxi passed the ball to Troy Daniels, who shot a chasing three-pointer in the last seconds of the second quarter. Uh-huh!

The ball goes in!

The halftime timer buzzes and the second quarter is over!

The two teams were tied. Anxi played half the time in the second quarter and scored another 16 points. He scored 29 points in the half, heading towards a high score again.

The two teams were tied at halftime, which means that judging from the first half of the game, the two teams were evenly matched.

Anxi scored 29 points in the first half. James Harden was slightly behind, but he also scored 20 points and 6 assists.

In the comparison of core players, James Harden did not lose much.

But in fact, the Rockets were able to hold off the 76ers because of the efforts of Dwight Howard. In the first half of the second quarter, it was Dwight Howard who was on the court and led the team to two waves of offensive climax. Difference.