Zhiba NBA

Chapter 146 (140) Howard, the leader alone

After a bad start in the playoffs, the Mavericks players suffered a lot of pressure when they lost to the Rockets.Even Nowitzki also felt bad and only made 19 of 5 shots. He was criticized by coach Johnson by name.Only Josh Howard was praised by the little general.

In the first game, Josh not only scored 17 points, but also grabbed 10 rebounds. He even prevented Richard Jefferson from making only 6 of 2 shots.The disadvantage of the Mavericks team is that it is a little weaker, and Howard's hard work is exactly what this team needs.

And Josh was trying his best to show off his skills at this time, and he had a deep affection for the Mavericks.This feeling started when he was in his third year of high school: Josh’s grades in cultural subjects were very poor at that time, and he failed to pass the admission threshold of a prestigious school. This caused him to repeat his studies for a year and finally entered Wake Forest University.He had the opportunity to enter better basketball schools, but these schools did not express enough sincerity, and the head coach of Wake Forest expressed his willingness to give Josh a scholarship.Josh has cultivated tough nerves in the year of repeating his senior year in the military school. He is no longer easily moved by some verbal promises, but only cares about those who really respect him.

Under such circumstances, Josh Howard continued to work hard to polish his skills, and was finally elected to the All-American team and the best player in the ACC division in his senior year.At this time, he finally ushered in the moment of college graduation, and he has achieved impressive results on the court, enough to make himself advance to the NBA with his head held high.But something happened that made Josh angry. In the 03 draft, all nine teams that tried him out gave up on him, causing him to not only drop out of the expected top ten, but even drop out of the top twenty.

At this time, the Dallas Mavericks extended a friendly hand.The Mavericks drafted only the 29th in the first round. They did not expect to be able to select the more popular Josh, and they did not arrange a trial training for him before.In this way, Cuban gave a player he was not familiar with a chance, and Josh saw unprecedented sincerity and respect in Cuban.At the critical moment of the team's life and death, he is willing to give everything to repay the trust of Bole.

On April 4, the Mavericks played against the Rockets at home, and the second game started!
It was Dampier who came up to jump the ball and got the ball again.The referee didn't throw the ball high enough, and Yao Ming was slightly dissatisfied.

Nowitzki held the ball in a high position, and under Bosh's tight defense, he didn't have a chance to make a phone call.The ground pass wanted to be handed over to Terry, but Billups took the initiative to steal the ball.Chauncey dribbled to the front court and handed it to Yao Ming. Yao Ming pulled out to a relatively outside position and turned around and made a jumper, 2:0.

The Mavericks were handed over to Finley this time. He rushed to the basket and was surrounded by many defenders. During the chaos, Yao Ming grabbed the ball and threw it to McGrady.The latter drove straight in and made an easy layup.

Terry broke through to attract the defense and passed to the outside. Howard stepped on the line and shot a large two-pointer, finally opening 4:2 for the Mavericks.

The Rockets didn't panic, and the two superstars Yao Mai made a pick-and-roll and disrupted the Mavericks' formation.McGrady made an emergency stop and made a fake jump shot, but threw it high to Yao Ming who was running down. Yao Ming jumped sideways to the basket and flicked lightly in the air. This time, he made four or two shots and made Dampier a foul and scored 2+1.

Nowitzki missed a jumper, but Howard grabbed the offensive rebound and handed it to Terry.Yao Ming was very active in defense and expanded to the outside to exert pressure. Terry responded quickly and dropped it back to the inside line Dampier.

McGrady strong sudden inside again caused Dampier foul, Johnson was forced to replace it.Van Horn came off the bench.McGrady made 2 free throws, 9:4.

Josh Howard forced a breakthrough and made a very reluctant layup, but the ball slipped into the basket after 3 laps.The audience also gave him warm applause.

McGrady missed a three-pointer, and Nowitzki also made a shot.But Josh steals the pass and goes straight to the basket for a violent dunk, 9:8!

The fans of American Airlines were very excited. When other players were in poor condition and couldn't make shots, the young Josh Howard stood up and took the lead and carried the team forward alone.

But the Rockets don't just have concentrated firepower. Billups stepped up and scored a three-pointer to widen the point difference.

Nowitzki is not willing to let Howard focus on the front. Harris makes a layup and is blocked by Yao Ming. Nowitzki grabs the ball quickly in the air and makes up the ball. 12:10
After several rounds of fighting, Yao Ming's singles caused consecutive fouls by Van Horn. Johnson saw that it was not good, and replaced Bradley as a substitute, hoping to fight Yao Ming with a high command.

Johnson's arrangement is also very targeted. He hopes that the outside line will strengthen the rotation to increase the double-teaming of McGrady, while the inside line will try to contain Yao Ming one-on-one.But Bradley's strength is really limited, Yao Ming turned around again and scored with a small hook.

Mavericks Josh made a three-pointer!He still carries the team's offensive powerhouse on his shoulders.

McGrady gradually became impatient. The opponent's rotation was very fast, and they always double-teamed him suddenly. Let alone shooting, even passing the ball was not easy.McGrady was gradually outraged and wanted to vent.

Finally, Stackhouse was distracted for a while, and McGrady suddenly accelerated to the bottom line and broke through his defense.Bradley quickly stepped forward to help defend, McGrady jumped high, his head was level with the basket.Bradley, the highest in the league, failed to cause interference, and was almost ridden by McGrady to complete the dunk!

"My God!" Barkley couldn't help but be shocked, "McGrady can have another nickname—Giant Killer!"

"This ball must be among the top ten balls of the week." CCTV commentator Xu Jicheng commented.

McGrady was also very excited after completing this difficult dunk, beating his chest and applauding.His teammates also gave him high fives to celebrate.The ball also caused a defensive foul by Bradley, and Madiga made a free throw.

Josh Howard is at it again, and he hits another pull-up jumper.Scored 11 points in the first quarter.

"Come on, Rocket! Come on, McGrady!" Josh roared, he dared to provoke the former MVP.

Tang Shuai also started to worry, this little-known Howard was too fierce.He gestured on the sidelines to ask the ace McGrady to switch to Howard, but McGrady was so engrossed in the court that he didn't notice.

In fact, Lao Tang was a little too worried, the Rockets still firmly grasped the rhythm of the game.Yao Ming, who was sluggish in the previous game, was reborn in this game, and he was completely worthy of his opponent. He once again caused Bradley's foul and made 2 of 2 free throws.

Johnson's brows were furrowed and his face was full of sorrow. The combination of Yao and Mai was too lethal to the inside.After the first quarter, Dampier made 2 fouls, Van Horn made 3 fouls, Bradley made 2 fouls, and the Mavericks' center trio were all troubled by fouls.No one can guard against the brave Yao Ming, who has scored 7 points on 7 of 17 free throws.All relying on Howard's hard support, the Mavericks ended the first quarter only 4 points behind.

　McGrady's buckle riding is a very classic scene. Friends who are interested may wish to check the video on Baidu.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)