Rebirth of Hayes Cyclone

Chapter 76 [This captain is not too cold]

On December 12, the Rockets VS Clippers.

Rockets starting five tigers: Alston, Sean - Battier, Chuck - Hayes, Juwan - Howard, Yao Ming.

Clippers five crew: Sean - Livingston, Quentin - Rose, Tim - Thomas, Elton - Brand, Kaman.

Bunch - Wells and David - Lee swap is a foregone conclusion, so Van Gundy can not let him play the game.

This is a protective measure to avoid injuries to traded players.After this game, Wells will go to the Knicks for a physical examination. As long as there is no problem in the physical examination, the two will complete the swap, and David Lee will appear in the Rockets' home game against the Clippers.

Bunche-Wells was conflicted when he learned he would be traded.

Wells likes the New York Knicks because he likes money.The Knicks are stupid and have a lot of money. As long as they play stats there, they don't have to worry about not earning high salaries.

More importantly, "Lone Wolf" Marbury's condition is getting worse and worse, and Thomas has lost confidence in him.Wells felt that if he went, he might still be the boss.But he is also somewhat reluctant to part with the Rockets, because the Rockets are very strong this year and have a chance to hit the championship. Who wouldn't want to be a championship in their career?

However, he had no choice. NBA players are sometimes like commodities, the difference is that this "commodity" is more expensive.

Knowing that the Rockets lacked a strong player before the game, the Clippers seemed to see hope of victory.

Clippers coach Mike - Dunleavy made some careful deployment.Meeting the Rockets, Dunleavy thought it was an opportunity, an opportunity to reverse the impression of Angel City fans.The Lakers have failed in the past two seasons. He hopes that the home team can defeat the Rockets in an upset, so as to draw some Lakers fans to the Clippers.

With a face, Dunleavy spent a lot of effort to mobilize the enthusiasm of the players.If you want to win, the atmosphere must first be like a big battle, not a friendly match, and the players must muster courage.

Before the start of the game, the serious atmosphere carefully created by Dunleavy was broken by Brand and Hayes.

Brand stood on the sidelines, observing Hayes, and suddenly felt a little funny.His height is 203cm, almost the shortest among the inside stars. Now Hayes is 5cm shorter than him. He didn't expect that he would also have an advantage in height.Also, Hayes' arms and legs look so short...

Brand secretly laughed in his heart, and didn't notice that Hayes had been peeking at his arm.

After a while, Hayes came over and suddenly said to Brand: "Man, I'm sorry, I'm so curious, I want to compare arms with you."

"what?"

"Compare your arms...it's as simple as that." Hayes said, putting his arms together with Brand.

Brand's wingspan is exaggerated, reaching 223cm (some say 225cm), while Hayes is only normal 198cm, which is obviously shorter in comparison.

After getting this result, instead of feeling inferior, Hayes laughed loudly: "Your arms are really long, too long. Hehe, hahaha... I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Why is there such a difference, hahahaha." Brand couldn't help laughing.

The two laughed out of control, shook hands and hugged each other friendly while laughing.The players next to him, including the assistant referee, were stunned. How come the game hasn't started yet, are these two people mentally ill?Could it be that they know each other very well, and it is a joy to have friends come from afar?

Brand thought of Shrek, koalas, Ankang sheep, (with huge and short limbs).

Hayes thinks of gibbons, macaques, Marion (there's that too?)
There is love at first sight between men and women, and there is also love at first sight between macho men.

Hayes has always admired Brand, and entering the league is a stable 20+10 player.If it weren't for the fact that he was out of shape due to injuries later, Brand would be the most stable insider besides Duncan.

Brand also appreciates Hayes, because Hayes is shorter than him and less talented than him. It is very difficult to get today's results.Hayes even ranked ahead of him in rebounding, which made him feel incredible.

The two laughed, and the tense atmosphere before the match disappeared all of a sudden.

Hayes stopped laughing and said seriously: "Elton, it's a pleasure to meet you, you are my role model."

"It's the same for you. Go all out and I'll show you my strength." Brand also calmed down and smiled.He straightened his back, calmed down with all his body and mind, and had a glimmer of hope in his heart.He has the confidence to guard Hayes.Although Hayes has good statistics, he mostly plays team basketball. When facing the league's top insiders, he only took advantage of the Suns who are not good at defense.

Hayes smiled and walked back to his side's bench.

Brand flexed his long arms and said to his teammates, "Are you ready?"

"Okay." The other Clippers players said.

"Beat the Rockets!" Brand roared.

"Defeat the Rockets!" The rest of the Clippers shouted in unison.

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy nodded with satisfaction.Brand is the backbone of this team, and he is responsible for driving the morale of the team.

"They are very energetic, but there is no way to beat us. Don't lose to them in terms of momentum, let's make a slogan." Jeff Van Gundy clapped his hands and said.

"Come on." Everyone said.

Hayes raised his head and roared with all his strength: "16 consecutive victories!"

"16 consecutive victories!" The Rockets players roared in unison.

This is a very tempting slogan, which not only uplifts the spirit of the team, but also hits the opponent.

The Rockets all believed they would win, but the Clippers were a little discouraged.The opponent has won 15 consecutive victories, can they really be upset?
Not only the players on both sides are affected, but also the fans on the field.

Is it interesting to watch the underdog Clippers upset?Or is it interesting to watch the Rockets continue their winning streak and challenge the league's best record in the regular season?

This is a problem.

Most fans will choose the latter.

Hayes' roar won a lot of applause for the Rockets, and it was a bit hard to tell whose home field it was.

Mike Dunleavy was stunned when he heard Hayes' roar from the sidelines. Looking at the substitutes around him, he seemed not as energetic as before.He looked a little uneasy, and said to himself: "This guy Hayes...why did he weaken our momentum just by shouting?"

The players stood in their positions, the whistle sounded, and the referee raised the ball.

Yao Ming grasped the timing of the jump very well, beat Kaman, and accurately transferred the ball to Alston. Alston slowly dribbled the ball across the half court, and transferred the ball to Yao Ming, who was in the important position on the three-second zone line.Yao Ming turned around and passed Kaman, slid the bottom line and dunked with both hands.

Yao Ming's recent state is also very good, this season's statistics have reached the peak of his career.

The momentum of the Clippers was slightly affected by this dunk, but this did not include Brand.

Livingston dribbled the ball into the Rockets' half court and, under pressure from Alston, passed the ball to Brand on the left, who made a tentative double-bounce and didn't squeeze Hayes. , the tonnage of the two is similar, Hayes is a few centimeters shorter, and the foot plate is more stable.Brand dribbled the ball toward the center and hit the Clippers' first shot with his long-armed hook.

The Rockets attacked and fell into positional warfare.

The Clippers implemented the pre-match tactical arrangement, Kaman defended Yao Ming, and Brand stared at Hayes.

"Come on, let me see how you pass my test." Brand said against Hayes.

How will Hayes fight?The two have similar speed and strength, but Brand has the advantage of height and wingspan.

Before the game, almost all experts analyzed the matchup between the two and believed that Brand had the upper hand.

Hayes ran back to the outside.Alston accurately passed the basketball into his hands.

To break through, or to turn around and make a three-pointer?Before the game, Brand watched videos of several Rockets games and did a full study of Hayes' offense.

There is no acceleration, and the range of movement is not large, it seems that it is preparing to break through.After making a careful judgment, Brand took a step away from Hayes.

Hayes did not shoot, catch the ball and turned around, Brand's hand stretched out in front of him.

Hayes protected the ball, and Howard ran over and leaned towards Brand. In an instant, Hayes moved, using Howard's body to break through from the right side, pick and roll and switch defenses, and it was Tim who defended him. -Thomas.

Tim Thomas is 208cm tall and not bad in strength. Hayes failed to break through and didn't stick to the ball. He made a high-profile call to Yao Ming who wanted the ball from a 45-degree angle.

The Clippers came back immediately, and after a few passes, they called Brand again. Brand turned around and made a jumper, but Hayes was slower to block the shot.

"Elton Brand!" the Clippers DJ yelled, and the audience burst into applause and cheers.

This arm is really not easy to cover.However, I don't believe you can make it every time.Hayes resisted Brand outside the three-second zone, with the goal of preventing breakthroughs and interfering with shots.He defended well both times, but the opponent felt too good.

Brand also felt that the attack was very difficult, and it was Kaman who was even more difficult than him.

Kaman is responsible for defending Yao Ming alone.

Kaman is not Kaspersky, let alone Seaman. No one gave him strength, so he couldn't prevent Yao Ming's bug-level jumper.Yao Ming made 4 of 4 shots and the Rockets opened the score.

"You don't plan to attack once? Don't be so afraid of me?" Brand asked Hayes.

"Hehe, Elton, there are many ways to win, not necessarily singles." Hayes said, catching the ball and passing it to Battier who made an air cut in the middle.Shane Battier scored on the basketball.

NBA stars often attack tit-for-tat when they encounter superstars in the same position, in order to prove that they are stronger.And this unwritten rule doesn't apply to Hayes.When playing the Cavaliers against James, he consciously reduced his shots, and this time against Brand, the same is true.

People who know that the opponent has an advantage and are likely to defend themselves, why should they rush to the muzzle of the gun?
Hayes' ideas have always been very practical, winning is the key.What's more, he is trying to practice passing the ball today.

Throughout the first half, Hayes only scored 5 points, one was when Brand defended Yao Ming, he caught the ball and made a mid-range shot, and the other time he grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a jumper, causing Brand Foul, successful three-pointer.

Hayes only took 3 shots, with 5 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Brand had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. The goals are almost entirely due to the heat of the pitcher.What about the score?The Rockets are 14 to 61, leading by 45 points.If this continues, the fourth quarter will turn into garbage time again.

"Bastard!" Mike Dunleavy, who has always been a gentleman, swears.

The Clippers don't know who the head coach is talking about?
Was it Yao Ming who scored 20 points in the half, or Juwan Howard who scored 14 points?Or one of them who is disadvantaged in defense.

Mike Dunleavy didn't expect the Rockets to play this way.

If this continues, the Clippers will lose.

Hayes has never taken the initiative to attack, and kept pushing Brandela out of the perimeter. Brand had no choice but to choose to follow the defense, wasting his awareness of assisting defense and blocking shots.Brand can't double-team Yao Ming, and Yao Ming's singles, the Clippers can't defend.The pick-and-rolls of Howard and Hayes are not easy to guard against.Hayes passed the ball several times and assisted Howard to make a mid-range shot.

The one who put the Clippers in such a situation, apart from Yao Ming, was Hayes, who didn't score much.

In Mike - Dunleavy's view, Hayes is indeed a headache star.

If Hayes chooses to play hard against Brand, Mike Dunleavy will be very happy.Even if Hayes scores more points, the most he can do is explode with Brand, and they have a chance to win.

But now, Hayes did nothing on the offensive end except catch and pass the ball occasionally, and even stood outside the three-point line most of the time without moving, dragging the Clippers to death.

Mike Dunleavy has no idea when was the last time he saw a player like Hayes. He is obviously capable of attacking, but he is willing to be a green leaf. The ball passes through his hands and is allocated to a reasonable position. He seems to have the ability of a point guard mind.

Generally, rookies like to score points with each other's stars to prove themselves.Hayes' performance today is not like a rookie at all, he is too stable, but like a veteran who has played for more than 10 seasons.

During the intermission, the head coach often explained tactics in the locker room, and the players gathered around the coach.Mike Dunleavy looked at Brand and asked, "Elton, how does it feel?"

"It's very uncomfortable. Hayes is very powerful. I think he can resist O'Neal even if he meets him. His movement speed is not slow. This guy is very defensive. It is difficult for me to hit the basket." Brand smiled wryly.

"You're right, their inside line is really strong."

Mike Dunleavy pondered for a moment, and said: "Tim (Thomas), Corey (Maggette), you need to strengthen your breakthrough. We will switch to the outside in the second half. In the offense, Sean (Livingston) is the core!"

(End of this chapter)