Zhiba NBA

Chapter 211 (210) The Call of 73 Wins

When the Rockets lost to the Suns before the All-Star Game, few teams were optimistic that they could break the record of 72 wins, and even it was difficult to tie.They must win at least 29 of their final 27 games to break that record.

而全明星赛后他们的战绩是惊人的18胜1负，带着这样火热的状态来到了4月。常规赛的最后10场球，如果他们能赢下9场就将创造新的NBA历史纪录。

The mainstream media has cast the focus on the Rockets' record.Fox Sports pointed out that the Bulls had a record of 96-4 until April in 62, but the Rockets are now 8-64, half a step ahead.It is not a dream to surpass the Bulls, at least they have a great possibility of tying the Bulls.

As for whether the Rockets can break the record, we have to ask Kobe's Lakers whether they agree. On April 4, their final test came - a trip to the Los Angeles Staples Center to face the arch-rival Lakers.There is no need to repeat the grievances between the two teams, especially Jason Bass has a strong competitive mentality towards Wang Yuanfei, and he keeps urging the players to win this game.

And more fans regard this game as a head-to-head matchup of MVP.Although Nash, Duncan, Bodi Loga and Nowitzki have led the team to achieve good results, in the eyes of fans, Kobe and Yao Ming are already the only candidates.

The two sides are also very familiar with each other's formations. They know each other well and have not been too entangled in changes. They each sent the most common starting lineups.The Rockets still let Jefferson defend Kobe, and the Lakers still let Dikembe Mutombo guard Yao Ming.

Yao Ming got the jump ball and Billups got the ball.He yelled at Reid and Jefferson to move, but he lobbed the ball to Yao Ming in the low post when the defender's attention was drawn to the wings.

Yao Ming took a step with his back, and Mutombo couldn't resist the first move and was a little out of balance.Dayao turned around and shot with a hook, the ball went in!

Deron's somewhat random pass was intercepted by Reed who suddenly started.Reed wanted to score directly on the fast break, but Kobe, who was fast enough, returned to the defense in time, and used his burly body to cover Reed's breakthrough route, preventing the opponent's fast break.

"Even Michael, who has the worst defense, is so active. It seems that the players really want to win this game!" Curry said to Adelman.

"This is a very good signal." Ashuai was also very satisfied.

Bosh and Yao Ming's inside combination is powerful, not only capable, but also seamlessly coordinated.If Gasol faces other opponents, it is easy to form a double-team with Mutombo, but Bosh will pull him away from the basket.As soon as Yao Ming got the ball this time, Gasol saw that Mutombo couldn't stand it and rushed to help defend.Yao Ming gave the ball to Bosh at the free throw line without hesitation, and the latter made a jumper, 4:0.

"Don't drop your man!" Van Gundy yelled from the sidelines.Gasol's complexion turned blue and white, and his expression was very ugly.

Kobe was competitive, and he missed a strong shot with the ball.Bosh grabs the rebound.

The Rockets were still handed over to Yao Ming. This time Gasol did not dare to let go of Bosh, but Kobe wanted to double-team him and try to steal the ball.Yao Ming also reacted quickly. He handed over the ball just before Kobe made a shot. Reed got the ball from the outside and made a three-pointer in the wide open area. The goal was scored!

This time the Lakers let Kobe attract the defense and hand it over to the outside line Battier, but Reid knew that the opponent was very accurate in three-pointers, so he stuck to it tightly.But Battier feinted and tricked Reid into a breakthrough layup after taking off.But facing Yao Ming's overwhelming height, his layup was interfered and missed.Gasol squeezed Bosh to grab a rebound, and the whistle blew!
The referee ruled that Gasol was fouled by pushing while grabbing a rebound, and the Rockets had the ball.There was booing immediately.

"How do you feel that today's whistle is very upright? There is no feeling of encountering a biased whistle in an away game." Spence said.

"You guys from Europe, don't you know this referee?" Curry laughed. "This bald old man is the famous referee Joseph Joy Crawford (usually shortened to Joe Crawford). He has been a referee in the league since 77 and has been a referee for almost 30 years. Usually, the referee will give some privileges to the stars, and he will be more relaxed in whistleblowing. But this old man is stern and selfless, and there are not a few superstars who have been sent off under his judgment."

"So that's the case." Spann suddenly realized.

"Don't look at him being so serious now, but he's actually a joke." Adelman told the old story like a grandfather telling a story to his grandson: "Once Crawford was very excited to give Bill Fitch (the well-known head coach from the 70s to the 90s) a technical foul. As a result, he dislocated his finger with too much force. We laughed at him for a long time."

(Small allusion: There are many anecdotes about Crawford’s law enforcement. The most famous one is that when he enforced a Mavericks Spurs game in 07, he sent off Duncan sitting on the bench. The reason was that Duncan laughed and challenged the majesty of the referee on the bench. Because the penalty was too ridiculous, the old man was suspended by the league for many games afterwards.)

When everyone in the Rockets heard the story and laughed, they looked at the court again. Yao Ming had already scored in singles again, 9-0.The Rockets have made a fantastic start, and the players seem to have seen 73 wins beckoning!
The rocket's opening tactic is very simple, that is, to use Yao Ming's inside advantage to force the aging Mutombo.If the Lakers double-team, Yao Ming passes the ball immediately.The other four of the Rockets all have good shooting ability, as long as they get an open space, they have a great chance to grasp.

Van Gundy finally couldn't sit still and called a timeout.He made lineup adjustments early.

Odom and House on, Mutombo and Deron off.House's ball-handling ability is not as good as Deron's, but the Lakers have Odom and Kobe Bryant, two capable guest guards, so passing the ball is not a problem.

In this way, Yao Ming's opponent was replaced by the young and powerful Gasol, while Bosh's opponent was replaced by the faster Odom.The Rockets' inside matchup advantage is no longer that great, and there are few players in the league that can compete with the Rockets' twin towers, and the Lakers are one of them.

Bryant hit Jefferson with a turnaround jumper and hit the Lakers' first goal of the game.

The Rockets still handed over to Yao Ming singles, this time under the interference of Gasol, Odom grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break.Kobe attracted the Rockets' two defenses and ran to the bottom corner. Odom gave the high position to Gasol, and Gasol turned to the outside House. It was empty!
Eddie House made a three-pointer!This guy's overall strength can't be said to be very strong, but if he only talks about shooting three-pointers, he won't even accept Reed.

The eyes of the Lakers players are full of fighting spirit.Want to win 73?Staples would not agree.

(End of this chapter)