“We played well offensively in the first half, but the opponent’s defensive intensity improved significantly towards the end, and you need to be careful in the second half.
Regarding Paul, Jimmy (Butler) did a good job. We relied on switching defenses to cover up positions and prevent our opponents from having open opportunities. "
McHale was in a good mood. In this strong dialogue, he was very satisfied with the performance of his disciples in the first half.
After the intermission, the situation on the field changed in the second half.
Paul resolutely launched the pick-and-roll to create inside scoring opportunities for Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers inside duo frequently attacked the defense line composed of Asik and Garnett. In less than five minutes, both of them received 4 fouls and were forced to end.
Xu Xin frowned. Coach Negron still had something to offer. O'Neal Jr. was expelled and one of the regular rotation players was missing.
At this time, if Asik and Garnett are killed in a targeted manner, the Rockets' inside line will be stretched.
McHale was forced to replace Tucker and Ariza. Butler moved to the fourth position to face Griffin. Tucker faced Jordan, who was half a head taller than him. This was also a helpless move.
The Rockets' interior height dropped sharply, and there were problems with rebound protection and interior frame protection.
The Clippers' outside players, Paul, Willie Green and Caron Butler, began to frequently break through and kill the basket. Jordan and Griffin took the opportunity to rush for offensive rebounds, and also gained some gains in the second offense.
Although Tucker and Butler have good defensive abilities, they are not professional frame protectors after all. Their height and size are too disadvantageous, and they also lose a lot of defensive rebounds.
For a time, the Rockets were completely lost inside.
With Griffin working in the air, he succeeded in making up the dunk, 76:76, and the two sides returned to the same starting line again.
McHale quickly called a timeout to adjust his defensive strategy.
After the timeout, the Rockets adopted a second and third zone defense position, with three people on the top line and two people on the bottom line. The advantage of this is that the five members of the team can shrink to the basket in time. If the level is not enough, they can make up the numbers.
McHale intends to use the crowd tactics to make up for the disadvantage inside.
It's a pity that he missed one point, Paul's overall view.
After breaking through the first pick-and-roll and being intercepted by Griffin, Paul quickly made adjustments.
After once again using the pick-and-roll to break through, he found Willie Green on the wing, who raised his hand and shot, hitting a three-pointer.
76:79, the Clippers took the lead.
"Paul is indeed the best commander in the league. He can quickly discover the Rockets' defensive loopholes and then make targeted arrangements to create the best opportunities for his teammates."
Xu Xin sighed.
"We can only hope the Clippers can't make the shot."
The teaching assistant sighed.
Xu Xin nodded. It was like having to choose one of two poisons. He would definitely not be able to guard the inside, and he would lose rebounds. Although the zone defense exposed the space on the wings, the two Clippers pitchers are not top-notch, and it is foreseeable that they can defend at least a few rounds.
As long as the rebounds are protected, the Rockets will have a chance to counterattack.
If the Rockets lineup wants to take the initiative, it is unrealistic to rely on defense. They can only play as good an offense as possible.
Harden did exactly that, pulling up against Green and hitting an "answer ball" to help the Rockets equalize the score, 79:79.
Looking back, Paul once again found space on the wing. This time it was Caron Butler who shot an open three-pointer. The Rockets were lucky. Caron Butler's shot had a very positive trajectory, but it was a little less powerful and hit the target. Basket front.
Jeremy Lin reacted quickly, predicted the landing point, controlled the ball, and handed it over to Harden.
Harden caught the ball and turned around, avoiding Willie Green's tackle. He saw Ariza coming down from the front left, and then made a long pass from the four-point position and accurately found Ariza.
The ball was passed just right and got stuck in Ariza's step. Tieza took three steps to catch the ball and dunked easily and happily with one hand.
At 81:79, the Rockets took the lead again.
Paul continued to launch pick-and-rolls, and the Rockets blocked both ends and resolutely retracted, denying Griffin and DeAndre Jordan the opportunity to easily dunk.
Only Harden accidentally expanded and deliberately blocked Willie Green from catching the ball. The latter had just scored a three-pointer and was feeling hot.
Paul had no choice but to pass the ball to Caron Butler who just missed a three-pointer.
Caron Butler received the ball, which was an absolutely wide open opportunity, and Ariza, who was closest to him, was also two steps away.
Ariza reacted quickly and turned around to pounce, but Caron Butler was very determined and took the ball without hesitation, without being affected at all by the lack of an open shot just now.
"Uh-huh!"
This time the shot was made, Butler excitedly celebrated with the "three-pointer" gesture and turned back to defend.
This is the confidence of a two-time All-Star and member of the Mavericks' championship team in 2010. Although he is already 33 years old, his physical function has declined and he is no longer a flying and escaping existence.
But Caron Butler has worked hard on his shooting. He has shot a career-high 42.7% of three-pointers this season. He has regained his second youth with his stable shooting.
When the Rockets attacked, Harden once again held the ball in singles, changing directions continuously to try to get away from Willie Green, but Green defended well and lowered his center of gravity, always blocking Harden.
Seeing this, Harden resorted to his unique skill, hanging his arm to break through and causing a foul. When the referee's whistle sounded, he threw the ball with his left hand.
The referee clearly saw that the defensive team committed a shooting foul.
"Aren't you cheating?"
Willie Green said angrily.
"It's clearly written in the rules. It's a foul for you. Why aren't you convinced? If you have the ability, make one for me!"
Harden muttered something in his mouth, very confident.
Paul on the side didn't speak, he just looked at Harden steadily, not knowing what he was thinking in his heart.
Seeing this scene, Xu Xin couldn't help laughing. Harden was right, and he didn't violate the rules. In a league that didn't call for body hair fouls at the time, the number of free throws was outstanding.
Those players who say that Harden is a mastermind are one of them. Most of them want to learn this skill, but they just can't.
After all, Harden is also one of the only five stars in the league who has single-handedly made the league change its rules.
The difference is that they are the beneficiaries of the rules changed by the league for Jordan, O'Neal and James, while the rules changed for Chamberlain and Harden are restrictions on them to a certain extent.
Harden made two free throws, 83:82, and the Rockets took the lead again.
Paul dribbled to the frontcourt, handed it to Caron Butler who slipped over from the bottom corner, and ran towards the bottom corner himself.
Jordan used a ball-free screen to help Paul get rid of Jeremy Lin. Paul ran from the bottom corner to the same side at a 45-degree angle, received a pass from Caron Butler, and raised his hand to shoot from outside the three-point line.
83:85, this is the third three-pointer scored by the Clippers in less than three minutes.
McHale looked at the time. There were about 4 minutes left in the quarter, and it was already Harden's time to rest.
