The Godfather of Basketball

The attendance at the Toyota Center is still full. As the defending champion, the Rockets are still very strong.

The Rockets played all players, and the starting lineup was the same as it was for most of the regular season.

On the outside are Billups and McGrady, on the front line are Battier and Millsap, and center Yao Ming.

The Hornets also continued their usual starting lineup, with "Queen Bee" Paul on the outside, and his partner in the backcourt was 3D player Maurice Peterson. Tojakovic and David West with Tyson Chandler at center.

Counting Chandler, the Hornets are actually barely considered the Big Three.

Amid the cheers of the fans, the referee blew the whistle to start the game.

Chandler turned the ball back to the Hornets' half court, taking advantage of the bounce, from Yao Ming's fingertips to the Hornets' half.

Paul advanced with the ball, and immediately directed his teammates to run when he reached the top of the arc.

Most people's impression of Paul stays in the Clippers or the Rockets, but the core role of Paul in the Hornets is more obvious. His role is a bit like James, and a bit like Rose in his peak period. People form a team system.

At this time, Westella's high pick-and-roll, Chandler's roll, and Peterson's pick-and-roll for Peja, the entire Hornets moved immediately.

Paul used West's pick-and-roll to switch directly to Millsap, and then accelerated inward.

His first step was so fast that he almost started in the blink of an eye.

However, Millsap took a big step back in advance, and Paul failed to break through after accelerating.

Paul's reaction was also quick, and he directly threw the ball back to West who was walking towards the high post.

The classic pick-and-roll coordination, Paul and West, this effect is not inferior to Deron and Boozer.

West received the ball. Usually he can shoot directly in this position, but Billups has already predicted that he is already in place ahead of time, and he raises his hands high to prevent him from jumping directly.

After seeing it, West turned around and hit back.

But as soon as he turned his back, McGrady from the oblique side double-teamed him directly, and he was forced to give the ball to Peterson on the outside.

Peterson made a three-pointer, and McGrady rushed to defend.

"boom!"

Although it was not covered, McGrady's interference still had an effect. Peterson missed a three-pointer and the rebound was accepted by Yao Ming.

The Hornets played, very uncomfortable.

In the regular season and the first round, this kind of round can basically be ended by Paul or West.

Rockets offense, Yao Ming holds the ball at the free throw line, holds it high, and passes after seeing Billups in the air.

Billups received the ball and pressed the Hornets defense, and then divided the bottom corner Battier, who opened his hand and hit a three-pointer.

The Rockets played very smoothly.

Paul of the Hornets pushed the frontcourt and played again. This time he hung the ball directly to Chandler inside.

The Hornets played very gorgeously in the regular season this season. Paul and Chandler's lobs are frequent visitors of the top ten goals.

But this time, Yao Ming closed in, and Chandler didn't have the space to catch the ball directly.

There was cheers at the scene.

The head coach of the Hornets, Byron Scott, had an ugly expression on his face. He frowned and turned to look at the Rockets' bench. Tang Tian's attack was too targeted.

The audience may not be able to see it, but as a coach, he can see it at a glance.

Millsap's early retreat and McGrady's double-teaming are all playing against the Hornets' offensive routine.

Tang Tian's offensive routine against the Hornets has been well studied!

The game continued, the Hornets played very awkwardly, West didn't have a few comfortable shots at all, let alone the two outside shooting spots of Peja and Peterson, Peterson was better, Peja Battier almost never catches the ball, not to mention Chandler in the paint, he can't hit a lob in the regular season, Yao Ming in singles is a dream, and he has almost zero sense of presence on the offensive end up.

The game lasted more than half a quarter, and the Rockets led the Hornets by 23 to 11 by double digits.

"Unbelievable, the Hornets completely lost the momentum of the regular season and the first round!" Mike Breen, the commentator, couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"This is the strength of the defending champion. Tang Tian's defensive strategy is very successful, and the execution of the Rockets' players is also exceptional." Miller also nodded in agreement. The Rockets' defense is amazing for being able to limit the Hornets to this score. .

At this moment, the two sides changed players and replaced the substitutes one after another.

For the Rockets, Tang Tian used a 9-man rotation. Except for Battier who remained on the court, the other four positions, Marc Gasol, Scola, Pietrus and Sun Yue, all played.

The rotation lineup of the Hornets is much smaller, except that Wells came up to replace West, Pago came up to replace Peterson, Paul and Chandler in the starting lineup remained on the field.

"Fight according to the tactical arrangement, move your legs away!" Tang Tian shouted at his substitutes at this time.

When they played in the regular season, the Hornets let Pago take the lead to play this time period. Now that Paul is not down, they don't know how the game will be played.

Paul took advantage of Wells' pick-and-roll breakthrough, and Scola took the position ahead of time. Paul took a look at this time, and did not return the ball to Wells, but directly made a small throw with an emergency stop.

Scola's defensive habits are much worse than Millsap's. He didn't raise his hand when he closed his position, and it was too late to raise his hand again.

"Shua!"

Paul's small throw hit.

"Louis, pay attention to reach out." Thibodeau stood on the sidelines at this time to remind.

In the Rockets' offense, Sun Yue and Gasol played a pick-and-roll, and then split the ball to Gasol.

Gasol glanced at Paul who was half a body shorter than himself in front of him, and directly chose the middle distance.

"Snapped!"

Paul made a lightning shot and directly slapped the ball in his hand.

Before Gasol could react, Paul took the ball and rushed forward for a while. He directly crossed the Rockets' defense line at a meteor-like speed, and rushed to the frontcourt to score a light layup.

There was an uproar at the scene.

Tang Tian also paused, this speed is comparable to the peak Ross.

He got up and called Sun Yue who was retreating to the sidelines, and gave him instructions for a while.

The Rockets attacked the frontcourt again, and Sun Yue handed the ball to Scola in the low post, and then pulled Paul to the other side beyond the three-point line.

Paul is the league's steal leader this season, and Tang Tian deliberately arranged for Sun Yue to pull him to the far end of the offense.

Sun Yue had 3 points, and Paul didn't dare to let him go at will.

Scola responded in the low post, Pietrus made an empty cut to the basket, Scola hit the ground, and the latter took the ball and layup directly.

Chandler stood up early at this time and blocked Pietrus' layup.

Although he was suppressed by Yao Ming on the offensive end in the first half of the quarter, he was still an iron gate on the defensive end.

Pietrus missed the layup and the rebound was accepted by Chandler.

Paul holds the ball and advances to the frontcourt.

This time he beckoned Chandler to come out for a pick-and-roll, and after breaking the ball, he glanced at Peja on the outside.

Battier moves out.

At this moment, Paul suddenly accelerated, directly broke through the defense of Battier and Scola, and rushed to the basket against the retreating Gasol.

Gasol reached out to interfere, and at this moment, Paul suddenly changed direction and jumped up without slowing down.

Gasol turned and went to the card position, but the speed did not keep up.

"boom!"

In the incredible eyes of the fans at the scene, after Paul jumped up, he directly pressed the ball into the basket through Gasol.

queen bee.

crazy!