.....................
On the Rockets bench, McHale said to Harden seriously: "James, you need to control your emotions and don't take it seriously with that rookie."
McHale was dissatisfied with Harden's performance.
Harden is one of the keys to whether the Rockets can defeat the Thunder. If he gets into a fight with the unknown young player from the Thunder, this game will become difficult to win.
Harden wiped his sweat and said dejectedly: "I know, I will call a pick-and-roll later."
After McHale finished talking about Harden, he continued to ask Howard to give Harden a pick-and-roll screen.
Although Howard was reluctant, he still nodded and agreed.
This side of the Thunder bench.
Coach Brooks praised Zhao Chen emphatically: "You did a great job. Please work harder and try to open up the score."
Brooks is quite satisfied with Zhao Chen's performance. He can plug and play and contribute to the team. It's hard for him not to like such a player.
Zhao Chen was very motivated when he heard the head coach's praise.
Zhao Chen's name rang out from time to time at the home court, which made him feel more confident.
.........
TNT commentary booth.
Barkley and Smith were discussing Zhao Chen.
"Zhao's three-pointers are different from other rookies. He is very stable. He has three consecutive three-pointers, including a three plus one. This kind of explosive three-pointer is rare for other rookies." Barkley said.
"Yes, most rookies need to get a feel for the game after sitting on the bench for a long time, but Zhao doesn't need that. It's as if he comes to the game with a feel," said Kenny Smith.
"The Houston Rockets must find a way to limit his three-pointers. Otherwise, instead of falling to the Thunder King, they will fall to this rookie. This will be very embarrassing." Barkley laughed. .
After returning from timeout.
Rockets offense.
Harden no longer played Zhao Chen alone, but began to organize an attack.
Howard's screen was slow, and Harden failed to cooperate with him.
Howard dropped to the low post for the ball, Harden passed it to Jeremy Lin, and Jeremy Lin lobbed the ball in.
Howard singled on Adams.
"boom!"
"boom!"
After continuous collisions, Howard turned around to the left baseline and made a crappy little hook! !
The arc is very low, but it bounces into the basket.
62 to 67.
After scoring, Howard looked at Harden proudly, as if to say that the ball had been given to him earlier and scoring couldn't be easier.
Harden ignored Howard and turned back to defend.
"James, Dwight is really a bit ungrateful. He thinks Houston is his territory." Zhao Chen caught up with Harden and said next to Harden.
Harden glanced at Zhao Chen and replied: "What does it have to do with you?"
Zhao Chen said: "It's really none of my business, but I think he's unhappy. He's a blue-collar guy now, but he just wants to be the leader and wants to be the core. Don't you think he's unhappy?"
Seeing Howard's proud smile, Harden replied: "It's a bit annoying indeed."
If Zhao Chen is not his opponent, Harden is willing to sit down with Zhao Chen and complain about Howard.
Zhao Chen was also happy when he saw Harden's micro-expression. Such an easy tactic to alienate people?
Westbrook carried the ball across half court.
Zhao Chen and Harden chatted slowly on the right side.
Westbrook did not make a breakthrough by himself, but gave the ball to Zhao Chen first.
Zhao Chen's touch is very hot, just give it to him.
Seeing Zhao Chen holding the ball, Harden didn't dare to be careless and immediately defended.
Harden's defense mainly depends on whether he wants to defend. If he wants to defend, players of Antetokounmpo's level will have a hard time beating him.
If he doesn't want to defend, he will defend with his eyes.
Harden is obviously serious now.
Zhao Chen scored too many points on him, and he was a little embarrassed.
Although everyone can't see his face clearly because of his beard...
Zhao Chen has three threats with the ball, and the Thunder players skillfully open up the space.
As role players around the two young players, they have rich experience in opening up space.
In an instant, a situation emerged where Zhao Chen challenged Harden.
Zhao Chen is also struggling a bit, as his singles ability with the ball is not as strong as his teammates imagined.
After a series of tentative steps, Zhao Chen chose to explode [Lightning Breakthrough]
Harden was too close, so Zhao Chen burst out from the right and passed him with the first step. When Harden was unprepared, he could barely pass him.
Harden didn't expect Zhao Chen's first step to be so fast, so he immediately turned around and chased after him.
After Zhao Chen passed Harden, he did not choose to continue to rush in. He still has no way to challenge Howard head-on like Westbrook.
Zhao Chen chose to back Harden first, and then suddenly stopped at the free throw line!
Zhao Chen's shot was very fast. Harden's interference by jumping from behind was unsuccessful. Instead, his body hit Zhao Chen.
After being hit, Zhao Chen still maintained his shooting posture and smoothly leaned forward to shoot.
The arc is pretty standard!
"Uh-huh!"
62 to 69.
Zhao Chen's hand still felt hot.
Beep! !
After the ball was scored, the referee blew the whistle, which was a little slow.
Zhao Chen once again caused an additional penalty.
Zhao Chen was knocked down by Harden, and Westbrook came over to pull Zhao Chen.
After pulling Zhao Chen up, Westbrook patted Zhao Chen's butt and said, "Are you okay?"
"fine!"
"Yeah, well done."
Westbrook is very satisfied with Zhao Chen's performance.
It's not easy to foul Harden.
Harden himself was also very depressed. He spread his hands helplessly towards the referee.
The referee did not change the penalty.
The fans at the scene burst into laughter when they saw this scene.
Who is James Harden? He is the king of the league and is known as the man who breaks the free throw line, but tonight he fell into trouble at the hands of Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen's ball looked like it was hitting Harden's rhythm.
Well done! !
"Rookie, you succeeded in irritating me, and you will regret it." After complaining to the referee, Harden came over and said to Zhao Chen.
Harden rarely talks trash to rookies, but Zhao Chen was one of them. Harden was so angry that his beard almost stood up.
Seeing that Zhao Chen had angered Harden, Durant felt very comfortable off the court and kept applauding and cheering.
Zhao Chen made Harden a clean foul.
Faced with Harden's voice, Zhao Chen innocently extended his hands toward the referee.
The referee immediately warned Harden.
"Haha, James Harden was so irritated that he kind of forgot this was an away game." Barkley laughed.
"Yes, there's no way not to be angry. Harden got three fouls in the first half, and he got a fourth shortly after the start of the second half. This is very dangerous." Smith said with a smile.
The fans at the scene were accompanied by cheers and boos.
The cheers are for Zhao Chen.
The boos were for Harden.
The referee signaled Zhao Chen to hurry up and take the free throw.
Harden's tablet is bigger than Zhao Chen's, and it's not easy for the referee to favor Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen stood on the free throw line and hit the extra penalty steadily!
62 to 70.
During the free throw period, Harden was replaced by McHale.
Harden needs to be protected. His mood is not right.
Howard looked at Harden with an unhappy expression.
Zhao Chen walked over to Howard and said, "Dwight, how can that guy be the core of Houston? I think he is far from you."
Although Howard didn't reply to Zhao Chen's words, he nodded.
It's not that Zhao Chen's words have any magic power, but that Zhao Chen knows that Harden and Howard are at odds, and he is just adding fuel to the fire.
In itself, the other party is unhappy, and if someone agrees, it will further fuel their unhappy arrogance.
After Zhao Chen's wave of tricks, the situation of the next game was directly changed.
The Thunder began to open up the score, but the Rockets, led by Howard alone, were unable to launch a counterattack.
It won't help if Harden comes on again.
In the end, the score of this game was fixed at 94 to 114.
