From today on is the king

Chapter 899. 898. Eating, Sleeping, and Playing High School Center

Liu Mang complained to the referee, but the referee gave Liu Mang a blank look and ignored him completely.

First of all, the referee really didn’t see Yao Ming’s little move. Just now it seemed that Liu Mang rushed over and bumped into Yao Ming who was trying to stop him. When Yao Ming blocked Liu Mang and was about to touch Yao Ming before Liu Mang wanted to change direction and accelerate, Yao Ming suddenly pushed his crotch.

The point is that the referee really didn't see it.

Moreover, Yao Ming is also one of the most famous players in the Western Conference. Although there is still a big gap in terms of strength from the former No. [-] center in the Western Conference, Yao Ming is now the second center in the league in terms of the weaker and weaker center position.

But if it was Yao Ming, the referee would not give Liu Mang any face. Yao Ming is also a player praised by the league. He averaged 32 free throws per game in an average of 7.5 minutes per game. This season, only O'Neal, Yao Ming, Howard, Ben Wallace, and Eddie Curry are registered as centers.

Among them, O'Neal, Howard, and Ben Wallace are all players who will be targeted for tactical fouls. O'Neal averaged 10 free throws per game, and Howard and Ben Wallace both averaged 5 free throws per game.

Yao Ming and Eddie Curry are free throws made purely by their ability, because both of them have high free throw percentages. Yao Ming has a free throw percentage of 80.00%70.00, and Eddie Curry has a 5.3%[-].

Yao Ming's free throw percentage and number of free throws are also very good in history at the center position. Olajuwon's career-high average of free throws per game is just 8 times.

Seeing Yao Ming's bewildered expression when he was pointed at, Liu Mang didn't expect that this guy actually learned to act!And it's really good!

During Liu Mang's four-day break, he watched many videos of the Rockets' games this season. The reason why he felt that Yao Ming was showing signs of iron blood was not because Yao Ming clenched his fists and shouted more times after dunks, but because Yao Ming's small movements became more!
However, Yao Ming has a simple and honest face with Chinese characters. The referees rarely notice his small moves.

Liu Wei didn't expect that, Yao Ming didn't know when the more he learned, the more he became "bad". If it was the national team competition, Liu Wei would be happy, but now he is an opponent...

Seeing that the referee ignored him, Liu Mang could only run forward and fell into a positional battle.

After Liu Mang crossed the center line, McGrady passed the ball to Liu Mang first. Liu Mang dribbled the ball to the top arc, and David Wesley defended him.

Liu Mang looked at David Wesley, who looked exactly like Mickey Mouse, with his small steps. His defensive mobility was very good. He was short and fast. Liu Mang pretended to rush forward, and David Wesley immediately came up to give him a physical contact. When Liu Mang was about to change direction, David Wesley immediately took half a step away, and he could keep up with Liu Mang's footsteps without being too far away.

The defense is really good!
Liu Mang felt that the Rockets had all kinds of bargain-hunting deals, and this 34-year-old veteran was considered a bargain. The veteran who was abandoned by the Hornets was very suitable for him to come to the Rockets, much better than Sura.

Afraid of Yao Ming's deterrence at the basket, Liu Mang didn't have a good shot from mid-to-long range. He didn't want to make a strong shot from mid-to-long range at the beginning. He was stuck to the basket, and there was Yao Ming under the basket.

Kwame Brown came out to help Liu Mang block David Wesley. Liu Mang cut in from the middle, but Yao Ming stepped on the semi-circular arc of the reasonable collision zone, and the defensive area almost reached the free throw line. The terrifying height of 45 meters was too much of a defensive threat at the basket.

Cooperate with the mid lane learned by Stockton!

But Richard Jefferson blocked Liu Mang when he just received the ball at a 45-degree angle to the left, and David Wesley, who was blocked by Kwame Brown, did not go around the pick-and-roll to chase Liu Mang, but switched defenses with Richard Jefferson immediately to defend McGrady!
With David Wesley at point guard, the Rockets have a much better defensive rotation!
Time is running out, and there is no chance to create a mobile phone for Liu Mang. Liu Mang immediately throws the ball to McGrady, and McGrady, who has an advantage in height, will attack.

McGrady catches the ball and shoots a three-pointer...

Yao Ming turned around and used his broad back to block Kwame Brown, who might rush in to grab an offensive rebound. He blocked Rasheed Wallace with one arm, and Juwan Howard ran in to easily receive the defensive rebound.

Liu Mang hurriedly greeted his teammates to quickly return to defense. The Rockets' defense surprised Liu Mang!It is indeed a top defensive team that only allows opponents to score 91 points per game!

Van Gundy Jr. and Thibodeau, speed killers. The coaching staff of this team, that is, there are fewer players who can score. Otherwise, with the defensive system of Van Gundy Jr. and Thibodeau, if the Rockets have a guard who passes the ball better, they can't take off!

Liu Mang suddenly had some sympathy for the little Van Gundy who held Mourning's thigh back then. He only allowed his opponent to score 91 points per game, but his own team only scored 93 points, which was worse than the Spurs' offense...

Sure enough, the Rockets' current offensive style has stabilized, starting with Yao Ming's singles. David Wesley is much more self-aware than Sura, and waits for Yao Ming to take the position after halftime.

Under Kwame Brown's rough pushing, Yao Ming pouted his buttocks and his waist sank. At 135 kilograms, he weighed one kilogram more than Eddie Curry's big fat man.

David Wesley lobbed the ball to Yao Ming, and Kwame Brown tried to consume Yao Ming with the strategy of defending O'Neal that consumes O'Neal. At the moment when Yao Ming leaned forward and prepared to push back, Kwame Brown pressed up to steal with his wingspan.

However, Yao Ming spent no less time studying the Eagles than the Eagles players spent studying him!He has long known how Mourning and Kwame Brown, the two insiders, deal with O'Neal, who is also a giant center. The moment Kwame Brown pressed up, Yao Ming turned around in a spiral, with his right foot as the axis, picked up the ball with his left hand and turned halfway to the right, stepped out with his left foot, leaned towards the basket, and threw the ball directly to the basket.

Kwame Brown also wanted to let the opponent make a cut and step back to the basket to face Yao Ming's defense. Who knew that Yao Ming got a gap in that position and directly threw a one-handed shot!
Yao Ming's hand feeling was excellent, the ball was thrown out, rolled around the hoop and fell into the hoop.

Wonderful low-post singles, such a height, such a weight, such footsteps and touch, Kenny Smith of TNT Sports, who broadcast the game live, yelled "the best center" in the fat Barkley's very unhappy expression.

Liu Mang watched Yao Ming play Kwame Brown, and then looked at Rasheed Wallace who was pulled away by Uncle Huo. Should Rasheed Wallace be double-teamed, or should Kwame Brown continue to be abused?
Yao Ming played Kwame Brown and Howard very well. It would be a waste of physical fitness for Kwame Brown to gain weight to the size of the Lakers in the original time and space before he turned 23. In this time and space, Kwame Brown has developed a very good way of using his physical fitness.

After Liu Mang received the serve, the Rockets had already retreated. After Yao Ming scored the goal, he tried his best to return to the defense. The Rockets' overall retreat speed was good. The team that can suppress the speed of the Suns is really not good.

Let's start with the offensive end first, and let's talk about breaking the Rockets' defense.

After Liu Mang advanced halfway, he passed the ball to McGrady, and then directly helped McGrady block Richard Jefferson at the top arc.

McGrady used Liu Mang to block Richard Jefferson from cutting inside. McGrady's first three moves were very fast. David Wesley couldn't keep up, so he could only try his best to stick to McGrady.

At the same time, after Liu Mang blocked Richard Jefferson, he bypassed Richard Jefferson and cut to the basket from the left side of the top arc.

After McGrady rushed into the distance of the free throw line, he took three big steps, crossing from the right side of the three-second zone to the left side of the three-second zone, trying to bypass Yao Ming's throw. Richard Jefferson immediately released Liu Mang to chase McGrady. David Wesley also tacitly switched defenses and came back to block Liu Mang.

At this time, Kwame Brown came up to block David Wesley, Liu Mang stopped suddenly on the way to cut, and ran back to the top arc. McGrady threw the ball in the air to the top arc without a chance after taking off in three strides.

Liu Mang received the ball, and the Rockets defended quickly. Sura rushed to defend Liu Mang. Liu Mang received the ball and immediately threw it to Prince.

After a round of cooperation, Prince finally got the shot opportunity, and Prince seized it and hit a three-pointer.

The current defense of the Rockets is much stronger than that of David Wesley, Sura, McGrady, Uncle Huo, and Yao Ming in Liu Mang's impression. The main reason is that Richard Jefferson doesn't need to be as tired on the offensive end as McGrady. His scoring methods are cuts and three-pointers.
The three-person team on the perimeter rotates at high speed, Yao Ming is at the basket, and Huo Ershu is not very good, but his hard work is commendable. He is criticized only for not being worth the big contract he has been getting all year round. He has a very positive attitude.

The Eagles can see it. The Rockets have played for half a season now and have reached the "peak" performance in the middle of the season that they will appear almost every season. They don't need to deliberately suppress the rhythm at all.

Liu Mang thought that the Rockets would go crazy in the month before and after the All-Star Weekend every year. Even the 22 consecutive victories were played during the period from the end of January to mid-March when other teams were complaining. This team is no one.

When it came time for the Rockets to attack again, Yao Ming continued to go to the low post to ask for the ball, and stuck Kwame Brown tightly for the ball.

The method of defending against O'Neal is not good, and Kwame Brown has a good sense of single defense. Immediately, he will try to use another defensive method to defend against Yao Ming.

Kwame Brown tried to use his explosive power to directly impact Yao Ming. Yao Ming bumped back and felt the impact of Kwame Brown. He realized Kwame Brown's intentions and slapped the ball hard on the ground.

For the jump that was five centimeters above the ground, Yao Ming dropped his hands on the basket and left his feet in the air when he dunked the ball into the basket, making a gesture of jumping 20 centimeters.

After Yao Ming landed, he clenched his fists and ran back with a low growl. There was no Boozer. Yao Ming was so pissed when he played against the Eagles!
Kwame Brown is going to cry!

Liu Mang looked at Yao Ming who roared and ran back with all his strength, and looked at Kwame Brown. Unexpectedly, before Howard was good, Yao Ming, who was eating, sleeping, and fighting World of Warcraft, used his skills in fighting World of Warcraft on Kwame Brown.

Really press the hammer!Liu Mang remembered that Yao Ming played Howard with an average of close to 24+12 per game, and he prevented Howard from averaging 12+9 per game which was far below his career average. In the 08-09 season at his peak, Howard was bullied wantonly by Yao Ming without McGrady.

Now playing Kwame Brown with a similar style, Yao Ming also plays Kwame Brown!
It's really embarrassing, this kind of team with the same style of play...

The top three in Texas...

Liu Mang continued to advance with the ball, and cooperated with Tracy McGrady on the pick-and-roll outside to deal with the excellent single defense of David Wesley and Richard Jefferson.

Originally, the single defense effect of the two was not so good. If the opponents were Liu Reck and McGrady, they would not be able to block the breakthrough if they blocked the outside line. But with Yao Ming at the basket, they only need to block the mid-range shot.

The Rockets' defensive execution is really nothing to say, and the defensive strategy is very targeted. They would rather let Prince and Rasheed Wallace of the Eagles shoot three-pointers than Liu Mang and Tracy McGrady.

The cooperation between Liu Mang and McGrady created a lot of shooting opportunities for Rasheed Wallace and Prince. Fortunately, the two have rested for a few days. Now they are in good physical condition and feel good.

For the Rockets, after Yao Ming played a few times, he began to use his pick-and-roll ability and mid-range shot to cooperate with David Wesley to create scoring opportunities for Richard Jefferson. After Yao Ming finished playing, it was David Wesley and Richard Jefferson’s turn to score. David Wesley’s three-pointer after the pick-and-roll, Richard Jefferson’s air cut and reverse run three-pointer are very powerful. They are all first-class three-point shooters. .

The key point is that every time the Rockets score a goal, a group of local college students in Houston will boo their team with a "mission" and a "sense of ritual", and the Rockets players will play harder.

Because of Yao Ming's presence, the Eagles did not dare to lower the height of the lineup easily, so the two teams played the entire first quarter in a daze.

Liu Mang only made 3 successful shots in the first quarter. This kind of anxious situation is really not easy to shoot blindly. He made 3 of 2 shots and 2 of 2 free throws. Liu Mang only scored 6 points in the first quarter, but he had 3 assists!This was very rare when McGrady was there. When McGrady was there, Liu Mang sometimes didn't have 3 assists in a game.

When McGrady was away, Liu Mang had a little more assists in the first quarter. After Jason Terry, Iguodala and Calderon came on the field, Liu Mang mainly shot. Passing to the three of them, Jason Terry was more willing to pass than Liu Mang.

McGrady scored 3 points and 3 assists. Together with Liu Mang, they scored 9 points and 6 assists in the first quarter, helping the Eagles score 24 points. Rasheed Wallace and Prince performed well today. They scored 4 three-pointers in the first quarter, two of them, plus two rare counterattacks.

Kwame Brown had 0 points and 3 rebounds. He had no way to attack Yao Ming at the basket, and it was difficult to defend against Yao Ming's mid-range shot.

Kwame Brown felt the bleakness of the future Howard in advance...

However, the Hawks only scored 24 points, and the Rockets really didn't have any advantage. The two teams were evenly matched. The Rockets only defended against the Hawks' fast break, and the positional battle forced the Hawks to pass the ball to Prince and Rasheed Wallace. Their own scoring, except for Yao Ming who scored 6 points on 4 of 8 shots in the first quarter, the others' shooting percentages were as bad as usual.

The Eagles' defense is not vegetarian either. When the Rockets played very hard, the Rockets only scored 24 points in the first quarter, which was on par with the Eagles.

Yao Ming scored 8 points, and Richard Jefferson also scored 8 points. He made two three-pointers and an air-cut layup, which caused Liu Mang's supplementary defense foul and then made two free throws.

The Rockets' two cores combined to score 16 points. As a result, the Rockets only scored 24 points in the entire quarter.

During the holiday break, Liu Mang returned to the bench. It was really difficult to deal with. The top three in Texas is really scary. The three teams have their own characteristics, and they are all so strong.

Fortunately, the league did not arrange a trip to the top three in Texas for them this season, otherwise they would have to peel off their skins!

Fortunately, it supported Yao Ming to eat, sleep and play... During the period when he was playing the No. [-] pick in high school, Liu Mang and Jason Terry, who had taken off his training uniform, looked at each other. Their time had come!
(End of this chapter)