(PS: The chapter number of the previous chapter was wrong, it should be chapter 852)
On the Trail Blazers side, Wang Zelin was making various guesses in his mind, but little did he know that the opposite Mosaic coach D'Antoni was looking at Howard with a cold face at the moment.
As for Howard, he also looked at D'Antoni with a stern expression, including other teammates, who also didn't give a good look.
Because he was unconvinced. He was obviously the strongest insider in the Mosaic team, but now his starting position was taken away by a second-year rookie.
No one expected that after losing the second game of the series, the Mosaic team, which was supposed to be actively preparing for the game when they returned home, would now have internal disagreements, with head coach D'Antoni and main center Howard having a conflict.
D'Antoni believes that Howard's effectiveness in protecting the basket against Wang Zelin in the past two games was average, and with the impact of age and injuries, Howard's invincible help defense that once shocked the league's perimeter giants has also disappeared.
Under such circumstances, Howard still couldn't let go of his so-called top inside figure. He was reluctant to play more efficient pick-and-roll cooperation with Harden. At the same time, he had to go to the low post to hit a few in every game. He wanted to use this to to show one's identity.
In D'Antoni's mind, this is an extremely ridiculous behavior and a harm to the Mosaic team.
Rather than letting Howard drift outside the system, he would rather replace him with a more obedient and energetic young insider to improve the Mosaic team's mobility on the field.
This approach undoubtedly hurt Howard's self-esteem, so he and D'Antoni had several quarrels in the past two days, which caused the management to be very dissatisfied. However, it was still in the playoffs at this time, and they had to get off the court to persuade them before they managed to calm it down. This storm.
Just when Howard thought the management would favor him, the management actually said "leave professional matters to professional people," which meant that he subconsciously chose to support D'Antoni's approach.
This made Warcraft completely disappointed with this team, and decided to enter the summer trading market to test the waters after the contract expired this season.
…
With this bad team atmosphere, the Mosaics and Trail Blazers began the third game.
The starting players of both sides met at the technical table. Wang Zelin walked up to Harden and said: "I heard that you think you can defend your home court. Are you sure?"
Harden stared at Wang Zelin for a few seconds and finally chose to remain silent.
However, this is also in line with Wang Zelin's impression of him. No matter in his previous life or in this life, the bearded man in front of him has never been a person who likes to speak out. In the face of doubts and provocations, the latter prefers to use his strength to prove himself.
This is also why Wang Zelin, a former fan, likes Harden!
"Snapped!"
With a jump ball in the center circle, Wang Zelin easily defeated Capela, who served as the starting center in the playoffs for the first time, and won the jump ball for the team.
The ball was in Lillard's hands. Wang Zelin signaled his teammates to open one side, and he went directly to the low post to ask for it.
Stuck in position, Capela was pinned behind Wang Zelin. Perhaps he has not yet recovered from the impact of replacing Howard as the starting center. Perhaps it is the first time he has encountered a basket monster of Wang Zelin's level on a big stage like the playoffs.
Capela seemed to be helpless. Wang Zelin simply turned his back, passed his defense and went straight to the penalty area. The ball exploded, and a ruthless and brutal one-handed windmill dunk wreaked havoc on the home team's basket at Houston's Toyota Center Arena. basket.
The veteran Brewer on the other side seemed to be frozen, watching Wang Zelin succeed with a heavy dunk.
Harden, who was outside the three-point line, felt that his face was in pain from being slapped. Before the game, he threatened to beat the Trail Blazers to defend their home court, so he came up to Wang Zelin for a dunk and a critical hit.
Mosaic attack.
Harden took the initiative to find Capela for a pick-and-roll. The two had already cooperated during the regular season. After the separation, Harden took a mid-range shot from the free throw line.
"Uh-huh!"
A solid hit from mid-range.
Before Harden became a complete Magic Ball player, he was actually an out-and-out mid-range shooter.
"Defend! Defend!"
Harden's mid-range shot echoed Wang Zelin's dunk, and the duel between the bosses on both sides made the home fans excited.
"Uh-huh!"
However, Wang Zelin and Lillard hit long-range hooks after the pick-and-roll, which immediately stopped the cheers.
The unsolvable Sky Hook hit the young cake king like a heavy hammer. At this moment, he finally felt Howard's helplessness and despair.
Against such a monster, it's no wonder Howard becomes more and more autistic as he fights.
But fortunately, Capela is far better than Howard in one thing, and that is youth!
Not only physically young, but also mentally young.
Therefore, Capela, who failed to defend Wang Zelin one after another, was not only not depressed, but full of fighting spirit. After serving from the baseline to starting point guard Thornton, he quickly moved forward and positioned himself on the court, highlighting his enthusiasm on the court.
Outside the three-point line, Harden continued to play pick-and-roll with Capela. This time Harden faked a pass and attracted Wang Zelin and Batum to attack, and then directly gave an alley-oop...
Capela, wearing the No. 15 jersey, rose up, caught the basketball in the air, and smashed the basket with one arm.
"boom!"
Capela did it in one go and dunked directly!
4:4, the two teams tied.
D'Antoni pumped his fist excitedly on the sidelines.
No one knows how much pressure he endured in order to put Capela in the starting position, including many fans at the scene. After seeing Howard's name not on the starting list, there was a burst of fierce boos.
Fortunately, Capela completed a wonderful cooperation with the boss Harden when he came up. This beautiful alley-oop won the applause of the whole house.
"This kid can do it, he can jump really high!"
"He reminds me of DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers. He jumps high and fast and dunks very hard!"
"What a strange face! What is this guy's name..."
"This dunk is so cool! I declare that I will be this guy's fan from now on."
"what is his name?"
"Who is this guy?"
"..."
The home fans around the Toyota Center Arena kept whispering to each other, and their purpose was very simple. They eagerly wanted to know who the No. 15 who just dunked on the field was?
I have to say that Capela's dunk came at just the right time, and it was such a relief!
In the past two games, the Mosaics lost the first game by 52 points and the second game by 37 points, averaging a record-high 44.5 points per game.
Against this background, one can imagine how bad and depressed Mosaic fans have been during the past period.
When suppressed emotions accumulate to a certain level, an outlet is inevitably needed to vent them.
At this time, Capela's well-timed dunk naturally became an outlet for the emotions of countless Mosaic fans.
With this goal alone, all basketball fans in Houston will remember the name Clint Capela, and it is not an exaggeration to call it a blockbuster.
(End of chapter)
