The Hornets thought that Harden would take a rest and the defensive pressure would be less. Unexpectedly, Jeremy Lin and Butler stood up again.
Jeremy Lin frequently uses screens to break through and distribute the ball, creating good shooting opportunities for Ariza, Tucker, and Butler. The Rockets are also very smooth in passing the ball from the outside. They can often find the one with the best opportunity, although there is no guarantee that every ball will be scored. , but the hit rate also reached 45%.
After the Hornets tightened their restrictions on Jeremy Lin, Butler stepped forward again, making small floaters from behind, mid-range pull-ups, two plus one breakthrough attacks, and another combo that made the Hornets lose their temper.
After the first quarter, the Rockets scored an astonishing 45 points and only allowed the Hornets 20 points.
45:20, a 25-point lead, another good quarter.
In the second quarter, Harden once again took the field, leading Ariza, Livingston, Delfino, and O'Neal to another 12:5 spurt.
Including the five and a half minutes of the first quarter and the rest between quarters, Harden was very physically fit. Facing the Hornets substitute whose defensive intensity had dropped a notch, he played with ease, scoring when he wanted and assisting when he wanted.
The Hornets were dominant in no period. At halftime, the Rockets led by 40 points at 90:50.
The terrifying offensive firepower, Xu Xin couldn't help but sigh, this is very close to the 18-fire. When Yao Mai returns, his strength will be upgraded to another level. By then, the Rockets' offensive firepower may reach unprecedented levels.
In the second half, the Hornets struggled for another half of the quarter, with the point difference reaching 50 points, so they surrendered and replaced themselves with substitutes, and the Rockets also retreated.
This kind of game is not exciting enough for fans, but they love to watch it! Who doesn't love to watch the home team win a big victory?
The game was no longer suspense, and the fans began to dance in the stands again. The team mascot Rocket Bear also joined in and started to liven up.
The fans laughed and the atmosphere was so lively.
Xu Xin saw all this and couldn't help but sigh, when will fans in our country be able to enjoy basketball games and victory like they do?
There is a long way to go.
Amid the laughter, the Rockets easily defeated the Hornets 139:110.
Raising his win tally to 22, winning 22 of the first 30 games of the season, this was something no one would have thought of before the start of the season. Such a result had never been achieved even during Yao and Mai's peak.
This New Year fans feel comfortable physically and mentally, and positive energy can be seen everywhere in the forum.
"The Rockets are now 22-8, tied with the Spurs in terms of record, and only 0.5 games behind the Thunder. Do you think the Rockets are likely to be No. 1 in the Western Conference this season?"
A fan asked and quickly received a large number of replies.
"I think so. The Rockets are obviously playing better and better during this period, and as Harden and Butler continue to improve, the league has begun to take more care of the Rockets, obviously to build momentum for a new generation of stars. Unlike the beginning of the season At this stage, the referee will not call the foul if it is fouled."
"I feel the same way. The referees have obviously been fairer in their decisions during this period. Since the Knicks game, there have been basically no problems."
"I don't think so. If you look at the Rockets schedule, the first half is relatively easy, but at the end of the season, the schedule is tight and the average strength of the opponents is stronger. I'm worried that the team may fall behind in the sprint phase."
There are also those who hold different opinions.
"Why are you thinking so much? Have you forgotten that at the beginning of the season, all we were thinking about was that the team could make the playoffs? Just be content, Azus."
As soon as this statement came out, it quickly resonated with many people.
Xu Xin scrolled on the screen to read the comments and felt comfortable. Most Rockets fans are still very sensible and will not put much pressure on the team.
I can’t let you down, I’m determined to win this championship.
Xu Xin said to himself, and the latest news released by Wo Shen suddenly popped up on his phone. He clicked on it to view:
"A blockbuster deal, the Lakers and the Nuggets reached an agreement. The Lakers sent Huo Moode and Chris Duhon in exchange for Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee and the 2014 first-round pick."
Boy, Kupchak finally took action.
Xu Xin knew some inside information. Kupchak had started selling Huo De as early as a month ago. The conflict between him, Kobe and the entire team had reached an irreconcilable level.
Other teams also saw the opportunity and took advantage of the situation, generally offering low prices, and Kupchak's eloquent talk did not help.
Everyone knows that if you want to trade, the price will definitely be lowered. Kupchak compared and compared, but he couldn't find a suitable one.
This is also the reason why Huo Moode has been unable to trade.
However, there is no sure path, and the contract extension negotiations between the Nuggets and Iguodala have reached a deadlock. Iguodala wants to break out of his contract and compete for the championship. Furthermore, he doesn't like to stay in Denver for a long time. California is his first choice.
Seeing that Iguodala had made up his mind, Ujiri chose to cut his losses in time and send him away, so as not to lose his life and wealth in the summer.
So Ujiri found Kupchak, and the two hit it off. Huo Moode and Iguodala were also willing to renew their contracts with the Nuggets and Lakers, and the deal was quickly reached.
The Lakers got Ci Shiping's successor, Kobe Bryant's knife-wielding bodyguard. There is also Big McGee who is obedient and does not take possession of the ball.
The Nuggets have acquired another top star after Melo. Together with the team's new outside star "Italian Powerful" Gallinari, they have a dual-core driver inside and outside. They have great potential in the next five years.
It seems like this is a win-win deal.
Xu Xin smiled knowingly and suddenly thought of the hidden easter egg in this deal.
Iguodala did not go to the Warriors according to the script in his previous life. Now it depends on how the Warriors strengthen this summer.
This deal once again detonated the league. The trade market this season is particularly lively. Previously, Huo De, Nash, Harden, and Butler changed teams, then the Wolves traveled to the West, and now Huo De and Iguodala have exchanged teams. .
Several transactions are heavyweight. Is the alliance going to change? The previous one-man-one-city rule is gone?
Starting from the time when the Green Army stud formed the Big Three to win the championship in the future, James made his decision, Huo Moode and the Magic broke up. Almost every year, leading stars change teams. Times have indeed changed.
Xu Xin lamented that his workload was also increasing invisibly. Although the team's current situation is very good, the issue of contract renewal is still a big stone in Xu Xin's heart. Some time ago, he and Harden and Butler After a preliminary discussion, the two gave the same answer. They wanted to focus on this season and think about it after the season is over.
This rhetoric is all too familiar to Xu Xin. It was obviously their agent who gave them the advice. Both of them have performed brilliantly at a career high. Testing the free agent market will undoubtedly maximize their interests.
Xu Xin feels that he can't wait any longer. Harden's rookie contract expires this summer, while Butler's contract expires next summer.
