In the past three seasons, the Rockets have always been able to play back and forth with each other most of the time.
But at the critical moment, no one can stand up and make the final decision. The team lacks a real star.
Just like a rocket that fails to launch, it always starts to fall downwards before it breaks through the atmosphere due to lack of stamina.
But this season, things seem to be a little different.
The arrival of Harden and Jeremy Lin ensured that the team had a backbone they could rely on at critical moments, helping the Rockets continue to rise, break through the atmosphere, and shoot straight into the universe.
Harden stood on the free throw line, took a deep breath, patted the ball, adjusted his rhythm, and shot.
The free throws were made steadily. In this game, Harden made 8 of 8 free throws and has not missed a free throw yet.
100:105.
"Harden is really good. The Rockets are like an invincible little team. The Heat have opened the score to more than ten points several times, but the Rockets can always get the score back. In the final battle, it depends on how both sides perform."
Yang Jian found every opportunity and said it just right.
When the Heat attacked, James took possession of the ball and used Bosh's cover to attack the inside. Asik, Morris Jr. and Patterson surrounded each other, and the basket was very crowded.
James did not choose to force the ball and gave it to Battier, who was smoking in the corner.
Battier didn't catch the ball much in the last quarter. Although he was let go, the shot didn't hit.
Bosh jumped up hard and hit the ball. Wade and Jeremy Lin rushed to the landing point.
Shuhao was one step faster, making a goalkeeper-style dive and got the basketball.
Wade did not hesitate to give in, fell to the ground and tackled, hoping to cause a competition for the ball.
Jeremy Lin was well prepared and made a timeout gesture as soon as he got the ball.
The sideline referee blew the whistle, the timeout was called, and the Rockets had the ball.
McHale motivated the whole team. At this time, he had nothing to say about his arrangements for this game. He mainly focused on magic output and encouraged the whole team to actively fight and defend tenaciously.
Xu Xin scratched his head when he saw it. The team needs a better head coach, a head coach who can make correct judgments on the spot. This is also the job he will do in the future.
After the timeout, the entire Rockets team's magic buffs were filled up and they walked onto the court with high spirits, as if they were leading by 5 points.
McHale was very proud to see the team's spirit.
After Harden received the ball, he continued to pick and roll with Jeremy Lin to defeat Ray Allen.
"You're guarding me again. I don't know how good I am today. It seems that Coach Spoelstra must hate you. You must have offended someone."
Harden was spewing trash at his old comrade.
Ray Allen was unmoved. As an old man, he had seen all the storms and waves.
He just blocked Harden's left hand and prevented Harden from using his dominant hand to break through.
Harden dribbled continuously to find rhythm, and suddenly started to break through from the right side. Ray Allen quickly followed up, and James on the right was ready to help defend.
Harden saw it all, broke through and braked near the elbow area, and made a sudden stop for a jumper.
"Bang!"
Missed the shot.
In the box, Xu Xin felt helpless when he saw this scene.
The mid-range pull-up jump shot was once one of Harden's killer moves when he was just entering his prime. But after practicing Magic Ball, Harden gradually abandoned this skill.
But in fact, mid-range shooting is definitely one of the most effective offensive options at critical moments.
At this stage, Harden is not confident enough in mid-range jump shots.
The two sides fought fiercely for rebounds. After several points, Patterson jumped high and collected the offensive rebound.
The Rockets still have an advantage at the basket. This season's Heat have completely pushed Bosh to the 5th position, and rebound protection has become a problem they cannot solve.
Patterson passed the ball to Jeremy Lin on the outside, who shot directly from the three-point line.
McHale jumped up and down the sidelines and yelled until the basketball hit the net.
"Reorganize the offense, huh? Why did you just shoot? Good shot, good shot!"
103:105.
The Heat attacked, Wade signaled Bosh to put up the pick-and-roll, and James was ready to catch the ball on the side.
Wade chose to do it himself, used the screen to get rid of Harden, and instantly broke out and passed Asik who was defending.
Facing the last barrier of the Rockets - Patterson's frame protection, he kicked his feet hard on the ground, and the Flash took off, shouting:
"Sit down!"
One shot hit Huashan and dunked Patterson.
Patterson fell to the ground.
The noisy arena fell silent for an instant. After watching the game through the big screen in the dome, the audience burst into exclamations again.
Wade's dunk can be called a silencer on the court.
103:107.
Morris Jr. and Harden ran over and pulled up Patterson, who was a little confused.
"Brother, the game is not over yet, we still have a chance, cheer up."
Harden shouted encouragement to Patterson.
The Rockets attacked, Harden broke through and faced the Heat's three-man encirclement, and passed the ball with difficulty. The Rockets quickly moved the ball from the outside. After passing it several times, they found Patterson who was left open at the top of the key.
The Heat's coaching staff carefully studied Patterson's shooting hot spots before the game, and the three-pointer at the top of the arc was the area where he was least accurate.
Therefore, at the critical moment, there is nothing wrong with choosing to shrink the defensive line and not give Harden an easy layup opportunity. Instead, he chooses to give the opponent's pitcher the most inaccurate point to finish.
Sure enough, Patterson missed the shot.
The Rockets struggled for offensive rebounds, and in the chaos, Morris Jr. got the ball.
But before he could control the ball, a pair of big hands covered the basketball and took it away.
It's James!
Upon seeing this, Zhang Weiping couldn't help but sigh:
"James' upper body strength is really amazing, and this is actually not even a half-goal.
Morris Jr. had already got the ball, and James snatched the ball away immediately. This was a huge blow to Morris. "
After James grabbed the basketball, he threw away his arms and dribbled to the frontcourt. He took three steps inside the three-point line, jumped high, rounded his right arm, and smashed towards the basket.
"Bang!"
The battle ax chop was successful.
103:109.
The game came to the last minute.
McHale called a timeout. He needed to calm down the players and play this offense well.
After the timeout, Harden once again broke through and scored. The Heat's defense shrank, denying the Rockets a chance to score inside.
The Rockets quickly passed the ball and found Patterson at the top of the arc again.
Patterson didn't hesitate and took a jump shot.
This is McHale's tactic!
If the head coach chooses to believe in his three-point shot from the top of the arc, he must make a decisive shot no matter what.
"Uh-huh!"
The net shook slightly, which was why the basketball entered the net.
This time, Patterson made the shot.
106:109.
"Patterson has really grown up. He just finished a dunk, and it was a three-pointer from the top of the arc that he is least good at.
At such a critical moment, if the goal is not scored, the game will basically lose suspense, but he dares to take action and show his sword, well done. "
Zhang Weiping praised.
Coach Spoelstra asked on the sidelines if he wanted to call a timeout for arrangement. Wade waved his hand and rejected the proposal.
This is the privilege of superstars, they have the right to dominate the game at critical moments.
And this privilege is earned by Wade over the years, leading the team to win games time and time again, and making key-moment kills time and time again.
Wade dribbled to the frontcourt and waved his hands to let his teammates move away. Facing Harden's defense, he did not rush to attack.
Instead, he chose to consume the attack time until there were only 8 seconds left.
