Zhiba NBA

Chapter 157 (156) The fighting spirit of the sun

Chapter 157 (150) The Fighting Spirit of the Sun

ESPN summarized Huoyang's first battle with the title "Tang Shuai Seizes the Sun's Vulnerability". The article believes that Tomjanovich's formation is the key to the Rockets' away victory.He cleverly released the powerful backup point guard Parker to attack the core of the Suns Nash, and effectively protected Yao Ming to keep him as the last trump card until the fourth quarter broke out.The conservative D'Antoni was dwarfed in employment. The Suns have maintained an 8-man rotation so that the physical fitness of the players in the fourth quarter has a lot of trouble. In the end, the Suns collapsed and lost to the Rockets in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets uniform team has been recognized by public opinion, and Yuanfei is also elated.He made a special promise that after the series, he would invite all the team members to have a big meal at Yao Restaurant, which is in trial operation.Yao Ming helped him contact Yudi, the shareholder of the restaurant. Yudi was very happy and thought this was also a great opportunity for publicity and promotion.The two parties hit it off immediately, and initially set the date on May 2005, 5. This day happened to be the first day of Yao's restaurant's official opening, which was considered a lucky start.

On May 5, the second battle of Phoenix.There is no way for the Suns to retreat. In the last round, the Mavericks were eliminated by the Rockets in two home games and finally eliminated. The Suns definitely do not want to repeat the same mistakes.As soon as he appeared on the stage, he opened his posture with a murderous look, intending to kill the Rockets under his horse.

Although the Rockets are in a brave state, there is no momentum at all.Yao Ming had a smile on his face, McGrady looked lazy, and Billups and Bosh beside him were chatting and laughing. How could there be the tense atmosphere before the war?

But it was different after entering the game. Yao Ming won the ball, and Bosh came up to meet Marion and hit a jumper to set off first.

Unconvinced, Marion returned a jumper from the same position, but unfortunately his mid-range and long-range shots were not so reliable, and he missed the shot.But Stoudemire rose up and pulled out the offensive rebound. Nash got the ball and Marion made a pick-and-roll and went into the penalty area. The Rockets shrank the defense but he was assigned to the bottom corner. Richardson hit a three-pointer, 2:3.

But that was the last time the Suns took the lead in the first half.

Yao Ming dominated the first quarter with great prowess. He made 5 of 5 shots and completely blew up the inside of the Suns.The defensive end has also repeatedly played brilliantly to serve Richardson with a big hot pot.McGrady and Billups didn't score much, but they made wedding clothes for the inside players and continued to send assists.Driven by them, Bosh also performed well in the first quarter with 6 points and 5 rebounds.In the second quarter, the Rockets hid Yao Ming, and the Suns finally set off a storm of counterattack under the leadership of Nash, but the Houstonians struggled to maintain the lead under McGrady's scoring and ended the half with a 54:48 lead.

"If we continue to play like this, we will end this season!" The elegant Nash finally couldn't help but began to complain. He was as efficient as ever in the first half, shooting accurately and constantly sending wonderful passes for his teammates.But the inside line was constantly blasted by the Rockets, lost rebounds and lost rim protection, and several pitchers were also in mediocre state and did not perform well.

"We are the champions of the Western Conference. The last time the Suns led the Western Conference was 1993 in the Barkley era." D'Antoni encouraged the players: "The Suns that were in full swing that year were shot down by Jordan's Bulls in the finals. Now the ambition of the seniors to win the championship is on your shoulders. Now we are back to the top of the league. We only need to win 12 more games, and the championship is ours!"

"We have won 62 wins in a regular season, isn't it enough to win only 12?" Stoudemire shouted.

"Sink the rocket!" Marion felt full of fighting spirit.

"Sink the rocket!" All the players echoed in unison.

***

The Suns team showed the momentum of breaking the boat, and the Rockets gradually began to be overwhelmed, and the score was quickly overtaken in the second half.But after all, the superstar is still there. Just as the Suns were about to widen the gap, McGrady scored two three-pointers in a row and chased them back.Nash relied on his skillful running and bombing system and made a pick-and-roll with Marion. Marion caught the ball and attacked the basket successfully, widening the point difference to 5 points again.

In the last 23 seconds of an attack, McGrady dribbled the ball calmly and wasted time.The Suns players did not dare to neglect and stared at him with full attention.

McGrady started, and he suddenly accelerated and took a big step. At the same time, the Rockets' pitchers Billups, Big Zhi and Reed understood and immediately started flexible interspersed running.

"Keep an eye on Reed!" Stoudemire yelled, pointing to Reed who was running towards the left corner. He was deeply impressed by this guy's three-pointer in the last game, "I will defend against those who come in!"

But McGrady didn't go in. He made an emergency stop and seemed to be about to pull up the shot, but he received the ball in the air and distributed it to Wang Zhizhi on the right wing.Marion was one step behind. Given the height difference between the two, it was impossible for him to interfere with Big Zhi's shooting.

Go in! 80:82, only 2.1 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Suns failed to make an offense, and the Rockets managed to narrow the point difference to one goal.

In the fourth quarter, as Yao Ming and Parker returned to the field, the Rockets stepped up their attack on the inside of the Suns.Stoudemire was struggling. He was not good at defending big center forwards, let alone against a 226cm monster like Yao Ming?

In the last 2 minutes of the game, the Rockets led by 2 points and had possession of the ball.McGrady once again gave the ball to the energetic Yao Ming, who forced his way to the basket and caused Stoudemire to foul.

Stoudemire is already sweating profusely. He has been carrying Yao Ming for 43 minutes, but at this time he must grit his teeth and hold on!

Yao Ming made two free throws steadily, 4 points behind!

The Rockets players have the chance to win, and they are particularly strong in defense.The Suns had no chance and had to give it to Stoudemire. He forced a jumper at the free throw line, but Yao Ming didn't defend it.

The goal is scored, 106:104!

"It's so lucky!" Xiaosi secretly called out luck, he was so tired that he could barely lift his arms.

The Rockets handed Yao Ming a singles match again, but Marion left Bosh and rushed to Yao Ming to help defend.And Yao Ming happened to turn his head back and hit, so he didn't see this scene.

Just as Bosh was about to remind him, he saw that Yao Ming had already turned around to shoot.Marion rushed forward and slapped the ball from behind, successfully blocking the shot!Jackson grabbed the ball and handed it to Nash immediately. The Sun commander ran tirelessly to the Rockets' half court, but the alert Billups had already stood in front of him.

Nash signaled for the pick-and-roll, and Stoudemire, who was tired and almost out, stepped forward to cover him.Nash started, Stoudemire followed, and Yao Ming immediately rushed to Nash.The ball was in Stoudemire's hands and he made a layup!

Unfortunately, because he was too tired, his movements were a little deformed, the ball bounced on the basket a few times, but still fell down.But Stoudemire rallied, pressed his knees, squatted and jumped higher than usual, and he touched the ball first.

A tip-up hit, 106 tie!

There are only 40 seconds left in the game, and the two sides are tied!

Stoudemire fell to the ground, unable to get up.

For the sake of this team, the little overlord of the Suns used all his strength to make up for this crucial goal.But he was so tired that he didn't have the energy to persist until the last moment.

Perhaps shocked by the opponent's courage, Billups, who has always been calm, made a mistake, and his pass was intercepted by Richardson.Nash frantically dribbled to the frontcourt, but a tall figure was already blocking him.McGrady, the tall guard on the All-Defensive Team, was eyeing Nash, who was much smaller than him.

"Let's decide the outcome!" Nash did not hesitate to shoot the basket head-on!

At this moment, many memories emerged in his mind: I was just an ordinary member of the Mavericks, and even Cuban boss refused to renew my contract and drove me out of Dallas.But the Suns trusted me and built a team with my 30-year-old guard as the core.My teammates trust me, respect me, and believe that I can lead them to win continuously.

I'm not a genius like McGrady, but I have my persistence!I want to win the game for the trust of these people!

The goal was scored, and the Suns overtook at 106:109!

The last shot of the Rockets was handed over to McGrady. He made a three-pointer. Only McGrady’s die-hard fans can count how many key shots he has made. He has saved the team countless times like this, including the miracle of 35 seconds and 13 points.

But this time God seemed to be moved by Phoenix's fighting spirit.McGrady's shot hit the back edge of the basket and popped out, Yao Ming missed a tip-up, and the game was over!

"There are still 11 games left!" Marion's roar resounded through the arena.

With a big score of 1:1, the suspense of the series was brought back to the Toyota Center Arena.

(End of this chapter)