The Way of the Center

Chapter 73 : Height advantage

After experiencing a good performance against the Bucks in the last game, Chinese fans also look forward to An Jie’s entry into the starting lineup to start a duel with Yao Ming from the first second. But before the start of the game, the person standing in the middle circle preparing to compete with Yao Ming is still Nick Collison. Westbrook is already starting for the second consecutive game, and Angel is still placed by Callesimo. On the bench.

“We saw Chinese player An Jie sitting on the bench at this time. He will definitely observe every movement of Yao Ming off the court, because this is an opponent of extraordinary significance to him!” The CCTV commentator clearly The focus of the commentary is on these two Chinese players. The game is about to begin and the atmosphere continues to heat up.

Under the continuous cheers of the fans in the Toyota Center, the referee finally threw the basketball into the air. Yao Ming easily won the ball for the Rockets. The height of 2.26 meters is not something that Collison of 2.08 meters can reach.

The Rockets point guard “Streetball King” Ralph Alston steadily controls the rhythm. Today’s Rockets team has the strong Ron Artes in addition to the familiar Yao and Mai combination of the audience. Special and Argentine genius Luis Scola. Also sitting on the bench are Carl Landry, Sean Battier and Aaron Brooks. Such a lineup is not unforgiving, so the Rockets are also high expectations this season. As long as their lineup is healthy, the Rockets are even considered one of the strong contenders for the championship.

Therefore, when facing a rebuilding team like the Thunder, the powerful Rockets are able to play with ease. Alstom leaned on a false pass from Westbrook, allowing Yao Ming in the penalty area to receive a basketball for the first time.

“Yao Ming got the ball, he should not have too much pressure facing Collison’s defense.” The CCTV commentator is very confident in Yao Ming.

As expected, Collison, who couldn’t stand An Jie, was naturally unable to withstand the impact of Yao Ming’s huge tonnage. In just two times, Collison was hit by Yao Ming and completely lost his defensive position.

Yao Ming held the ball, turned around, and made a small hook easily. No one could interfere with him at all. Yao Ming seemed to be doing warm-up training, beating Collison like cutting melons and vegetables and ushered in a good start.

“This kind of inside defense is not difficult for Yao Ming. Then the head coach of the Thunder will definitely send Anjie up early to try!” Yao Ming has already shown his performance, and now everyone is looking forward to the second Chinese. Debut.

In addition to Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady’s hand feels hot today. In the face of Desmond Mason’s weak defense, McGrady also continuously demonstrated his super-high shooting ability.

However, facing the strong team’s perfect defensive system and Yao Ming’s absolute control on the inside, Westbrook also frequently hit a wall on the offensive end today. He can easily break through Alstom’s defense with his strong body, but when he faces Yao Ming after breaking through the penalty area, Westbrook’s impact obviously has no effect.

Fortunately, Kevin Durant, who did not perform well in the previous game, recovered his form in time today. After Westbrook joined the Thunder and controlled the ball, Durant also discovered and demonstrated his high level. Without the ball. Faced with Artest’s tough defense, Durant is not afraid, making three-pointers and making one shot at a time. Durant’s excellent performance ensures that the Thunder will not be pulled too far.

But as the saying goes, one punch is harder than four hands. Durant performed well alone, but he couldn’t hide the fact that the rest of the Thunder were completely suppressed. In particular, Yao Ming’s easy scoring in the paint made Durant very helpless. He can’t do anything. If he double-teams hastily, Artest will definitely make him regret this second-year rookie.

PJ Calesimo also knew that he had to make some changes in the center position. In the gap of a dead ball, he looked at the bench. Angel also happened to have eye contact with Calesimo. He was ready to take off. She dropped her jacket and went to battle.

“Petro! Go! I don’t care what method you use, I’ll tie Yao to me!” Contrary to everyone’s expectation, Kalesimo did not send Anjie, but instead used the team. The French center, Johan Petro.

“Huh!?” Petro himself couldn’t believe Kalesimo’s words. He also thought that the head coach would definitely call Anjie on the field. After Angel joined the Thunder, Petro knew he would become the third center after Angel and Collison. Although this Frenchman is tall and handy, he is still very self-aware. His role is just a blue-collar center, which is incomparable with the all-rounded An Jie.

“Are you stupid, Johan!? Come on!” Seeing the Frenchman staring at him blankly, Calesimo couldn’t help furious.

“The Thunder has changed, and we saw Collison preparing to leave. Huh!? French center Johan Petro, who replaced Collison, did coach Kalesimo not send Anjie?” All China The fans held their breath and couldn’t wait to see An Jie on the court, but Calesimo let this group of people’s hopes come to nothing.

In Carlesimo’s opinion, Durant is feeling hot now, and Durant should continue to maintain his momentum on the offensive end. After An Jie came on the field, the strange play style would only make Durant lose his rhythm, and at the same time, An Jie would also occupy some of Durant’s outing. That’s why he decided to replace Collison with the strong and tough Petro, and he also hoped that the Frenchman could prevent Yao Ming’s impact.

Not to mention Petro and Anjie, even Durant looked at his coach in disbelief. If An Jie plays, his pressure on the offensive end will be much less, and with An Jie’s high position to support Durant, he can score more easily. What’s going on now? The head coach actually sent in that Petro, who didn’t appear in the first game?

An Jie lowered his head in disappointment, and at the same time his hands were clenched into fists. In addition to unwillingness, there is anger in his heart! P.J. Carlesimo is obviously doing special treatment! Just because Anjie is not the kind of center in his mind.

Everyone knows that Anjie’s strength is higher than that of Petro. No, it can be said that Anjie’s strength is even higher than that of the team’s starting center Nick Collison. As a rookie, An Jie, it is excusable for Calesimo not to let him start, but now he doesn’t even have the opportunity to come on the bench, which is a bit unreasonable.

But the head coach’s decision has been made. No matter how many people question it, it will not change the fact that An Jie still failed to play.

Although Johan Petro is indeed stronger than Collison, he is also much tougher than Collison. But in the face of Yao Ming, this level of improvement is far from enough.

Yao Ming leaned on Petro and hit the back directly. Petro thought that Yao Ming would continue to chisel in and immediately changed his center of gravity. Unexpectedly, after Yao Ming finished the back hit, he immediately took one and turned around, ready to take off and shoot at close range. This kind of shooting is very stable for Yao Ming.

After Petro was deceived, he was completely unable to interfere with Yao Ming. Yao Ming’s basketball shot also fell into the net with precision. In the first offense, Yao Ming told Kalesimo that your substitution was meaningless.

played for a few more minutes, and after Westbrook was replaced, Durant’s strong offensive performance stopped completely. Now Durant, who lacks support, has to hold the ball and head-on with Artest, the villain, but this is exactly the situation Artest is eager to see.

After a strong start with three of the first three shots, Durant, who lacked help, took the ball to face Artest’s defense and missed two consecutive shots. When only more than two minutes were left in the first quarter, all the starting players on both sides of the field came to an end one after another. It was at this time that Anjie got his first chance to play.

“We saw An Jie finally play, but at this time Yao Ming was also resting on the bench. To see the direct confrontation between An Jie and Yao Ming, I think I have to wait a little longer.”

Yao Ming saw An Jie on the court and focused all his attention on him. What kind of level is this kid at?

After Anjie came on the field, he faced the Rockets’ alternative center, Chuck Hayes, who was only 1.98 meters tall. An Jie is fortunate that the Rockets’ lineup is not completely healthy, otherwise the person standing in front of him might be the “mountain of Africa”.

Facing Hayes, everyone in the Thunder also saw that Anjie had the advantage in the paint. Therefore, Anjie has rarely become the main attack point of the Thunder on the court.

Although Hayes is dexterous and intelligent and has strong lower limb strength, when faced with such a big height disadvantage, Hayes’ shortcomings of insufficient hardware are also fully exposed.

An Jie found that it was a bit difficult for him to push this short center forward, but An Jie is not Howard, his offensive methods are more than just hard hitting the rim.

Like Yao Ming, An Jie’s back-turning and retreating short-range jumper is also a must. I believe many people still remember the scene when An Jie used this trick to kill Stanford University.

Facing Brook Lopez Angel can do so well, let alone facing Hayes, an opponent who is 21 centimeters shorter than himself.

After 　　 easily scored on Hayes, the Chinese fans also cheered. Today, Yao Ming’s Rockets are no longer the home team in the hearts of Chinese fans. Everyone has become a neutral fan at this moment.

“The basic skills are pretty good.” Yao Ming smiled after seeing An Jie score a goal, and just show off any other tricks.

once again caught the ball, An Jie shook his shoulders and then made a small hook, the basketball knocked to the front of the hoop but eventually bounced in.

For the third goal, Anjie quickly went down after giving teammate Earl Watson a pick-and-roll. Watson dropped the ball in Lowry’s head, and Anjie took the ball and took it off, completing the Thunder’s last offense in the first half with a dunk.

The Thunder were nine points behind before An Jie came on the court, but after An Jie came on the court, his three consecutive goals made the Rockets’ advantage less obvious.

“An Jie performed very well in the first quarter. He succeeded in three offenses and scored six points in a row. I wonder if Yao Ming was on the sidelines to arouse this young man’s fighting spirit?” The CCTV commentator was overjoyed. Both Chinese players have played very well so far in this game.

Yao Ming didn’t worry when he saw the Rockets’ lead instantly became only three points left. On the contrary, he was a little happy in his heart. He vaguely felt that Chinese basketball would have a good player again.

And An Jie’s performance can be regarded as a big slap in the face of Callesimo. If he still makes An Jie guard the drinking fountain when An Jie’s performance is so good, then it is not only An Jie himself, Russia The fans of Klahoma City will not agree.

17 to 20, the Thunder narrowed the point difference to only three points under Anjie’s last-minute effort. But Anjie was not complacent. He knew that he was just facing the Rockets’ third team. His true opponent Yao Ming has not yet faced him.

Whether Anjie can perform well in the face of Yao Ming, whether Anjie’s offensive efficiency can impress Carlesimo, no one knows the result until the last minute Book friends are welcome. Come and read, the latest, fastest and hottest serial works are all at For mobile phone users, please go to read.