NABC Chapter 183 Yet another clever and cunning fatso.
Chapter 183 Yet another clever and cunning fatso.
Chapter 183 Yet another clever and cunning fatso.
Lin Tian did not retreat to defend as quickly as before. Instead, he immediately marked Marloni after scoring and began to lead the defense across the entire field!
Lin Tian's defense is certainly not as good as top point guards like Payton and Kidd who rely on defense, but he's not dealing with any star guards right now!
With his A-level one-on-one ability and S-level steals, Lin Tian could easily handle Marlonny without any problems!
Faced with Lin Tian's sudden increase in intensity and physical confrontation, Malone struggled to dribble the ball across half-court, almost committing an 8-second violation. However, after dribbling across half-court, he was seen through by Lin Tian!
Lin Tian guessed that this guy would definitely find a receiving point to pass the ball as soon as he crossed the halfway line, so he took a step back immediately after Marlonny crossed the halfway line, giving him a moment to handle the ball, but it was only for a moment!
Because Lin Tian immediately spotted Ellie running over from a distance to receive the ball after taking a step back, Lin Tian rushed forward to block the passing route between the two. By the time Marlonny realized something was wrong and knew that Lin Tian had anticipated his move, it was too late!
Lin Tian intercepted the ball in mid-air and dribbled it towards the frontcourt!
No one could keep up with Lin Tian's speed. The entire Rockets team could only watch helplessly as Lin Tian completed the fast break!
This time, Lin Tian pulled up early, one hand on the basketball, and glided towards the basket after just one step past the free throw line!
At the same time, Lin Tian's entire torso and body stretched out completely in the air, making him look like he was performing rhythmic gymnastics!
"boom!!"
With a loud bang, Lin Tian completed a gliding dunk with an extremely long gliding distance, under the watchful eyes of the entire city square stadium!
"Can Lin actually pull off a dunk like that?"
"That flight distance is comparable to Drexler at his peak!"
"Isn't Lin a floor-bound guard? How can he fly so high?"
"Floor-bound? You should go watch Lin's highlights; he had so many explosive dunks with the Bulls! He just doesn't like flying!"
"That's right! Chicagoans often complain that Lin seems to have a fear of heights. He can dunk very beautifully, but he often chooses to end the fast break with a layup or a plain one-handed dunk, which makes Chicago fans very sad."
"If this is a ground-based style, does the league even have a flying style anymore? He'd be jumping up and dunking while standing on the free-throw line!"
The cheers and discussions of the audience resounded throughout the City Square Stadium. Lin Tian also cooperated by stretching out his arms and making a glider-like gesture, gliding down the court with the wind!
Who says the "Leap of China" is useless? Do you even understand basketball?!
You're a complete novice when it comes to sports!
Such a cool dunk, without that talent, Lin Tian couldn't do it!
Hmm? Wait a minute, didn't that come from my Lord Lin himself?
That's alright then. The actual effect of this talent is really just so-so.
"Lin is soaring again!" Smith roared. "I've always said that Lin is the most overlooked top dunker in this league. How many spectacular dunks has he already made in games?"
"Violent and fierce, elegant and graceful, Lin is definitely the most versatile and well-rounded dunker in the league today! He should participate in the dunk contest! It's a loss for the dunk contest if he doesn't participate!"
"It's a pity that such a dunking guy doesn't usually like to dunk. Too many times, when he only needed to face the basket on a fast break, he chose to do a boring one-handed dunk. If Lin could seize every opportunity to perform a dunk, how many classic plays could he have given us!"
Regarding the discussion among commentators and fans, Lin Da Guan Ren said: Don't worry, I'll show you dunks every day from now on!
It wasn't that I didn't like to show off before, it's just that trial cards aren't available every day!
It's not that I don't want to button it up, it's just that I don't look cool enough with it on, so it's better not to button it up at all!
But from now on, I, Lin Da Guanren, will be the King of Gliding every single day!
Just as Lin Tian was soaring across the court with his wings spread, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Malone had regained possession of the basketball and was starting to advance towards the frontcourt. So Lin Tian turned around, then suddenly accelerated and rushed towards Malone!
"Matt, watch out!" Before Drexler's warning had even finished, Lin Tian had already closed in on Maloney from the side. Together with Rose, who had been maintaining his defensive position and blocking Maloney, the two completed a double-team in the blink of an eye. Lin Tian poked the ball from the side, and Rose grabbed the basketball and threw it towards the frontcourt.
Lin Tian turned around again and sprinted towards the front!
It's still a 1v0 situation with no one in the frontcourt!
Holding the basketball beyond the three-point line, Lin Tian first observed to make sure no one from the Rockets was chasing him. Then he slowed down, adjusted his pace, and jumped up again, holding the basketball one step ahead of the free-throw line!
This time, Lin Tian turned his body to the side in mid-air, and at the same time, his body suddenly pulled back, and his whole body stretched out into an inverted bow shape in the air!
As he got closer and closer to the basket, Lin Tian suddenly roared!
He used his waist to propel his entire upper body toward the basket!
"boom!"
After another loud bang, Lin Tian's side-stepping tomahawk slammed into the net again!
The entire city square stadium was once again ignited by Lin Tian's powerful dunk!
Amidst the cheers of the fans, Lin Tian once again spread his arms and glided across the field!
"Clyde, Mario, you two step back a bit! Help Matt push the ball up the court, and remember to remind him about the Pacers' defense! Communicate more and don't let the Pacers set up any more defensive traps!" Tomjanovich stood up anxiously from the bench and shouted at the court.
The team suddenly lost their rhythm in those two rounds, and the score gap widened in an instant. But apart from shouting a few times, Tomjanovich really didn't have much to do.
Should we change the ball handler?
Maloney is already the most reliable point guard on the team. As for the others... well, let's just say they're not good enough. Tomjanovich is really worried that Lin Tian might give them a psychological scar.
At the very least, Malone had a highlight moment in last year's Western Conference Finals where he saved the team, proving he's a guy who's seen it all.
Tomjanovich's roar and the Rockets' strategy of having their entire perimeter line drop back to help Malone advance the ball finally helped the Rockets stabilize the situation on the court temporarily, preventing the Pacers from easily launching a counterattack.
This balance continued until the end of the first quarter.
The score is now 30-20.
The Pacers are now leading by 10 points.
Lin Tian played the entire first quarter, scoring 13 points and 5 assists without a single turnover, while Rose also scored 8 points in the first quarter. Together, these two scored more points than the entire Rockets team!
On the Rockets' side, Hakeem Olajuwon also played the entire first quarter. Although he relied on inside drives and outside shots in the first quarter, he single-handedly supported half of the Rockets' offensive firepower, scoring a game-high 15 points in the quarter!
But it was clear to everyone that after Ben Wallace came on and started guarding Hakeem Olajuwon one-on-one, although Olajuwon continued to score, his energy was significantly depleted.
Of course, Ben Wallace only played for 6 minutes before committing 2 fouls due to excessive defensive intensity and actions, which can be considered a good lesson from Hakeem Olajuwon.
But when the first quarter ended, Hakeem Olajuwon, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, and his inefficient shooting performance of only 1 of 3 in the last 3 possessions of the quarter, told the whole of Indiana: this price was absolutely worth it!
At his age, Hakeem Olajuwon is still unstoppable and difficult to defend, but he has passed his prime and suffered the most serious injury of his entire career this season, leaving him with severely insufficient physical reserves.
Therefore, at this moment, Hakeem Olajuwon doesn't look like he's only played one quarter, but rather like he's played the entire game.
As soon as he reached the bench, he plopped down, panting heavily, not even having time to drink water.
The consumption is too high!
Seeing Olajuwon's condition, Tomjanovich knew he couldn't continue to deplete his team's only hope. He pulled Willis and Drexler aside and said, "The second quarter depends on you two. We have to stabilize the situation and not let them widen the gap!"
"Clyde, run! Kevin, you too, make sure you hold the rebounds! Try not to leave the paint, let them have the mid-range shots! Rebounds, protect the rebounds!"
Compared to Tomjanovich's worries, the Pacers' situation was much more relaxed, and Bird's plan was equally simple.
He patted Barkley and Dumars on the shoulder and said, "Olajuwon will definitely be out in the second quarter, beat them to a pulp! Beat them to death!"
Barkley, who had rested for a full half-quarter, nodded and stood up.
He's bursting with energy right now, ready to wreak havoc on the Rockets' interior defense in the second quarter!
This was actually one of Bird's key game plans after Lin Tian returned to the court!
Barkley started and played for 5-7 minutes before being the first to leave the court for a rest. Then, in the second quarter, when Lin Tian and others were resting, Barkley came on as the team's main offensive point, leading the substitutes to compete against the opponent's connecting lineup.
During the opening minutes of the second quarter, Barkley's task was to exert all his energy and go all out, putting in every last bit of effort in those 3-5 minutes!
After all, Barkley's current problem is actually very similar to Olajuwon's. Both still have the ability and destructive power, but they can't sustain it. If you really let them attack hard, they can still give you a very good output, but their influence on the outcome of the game can no longer be compared with their peak.
The most obvious one is the ability to get high scores.
If Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley were to score 20+10 in a game now, it would be a piece of cake. But if you asked them to put up 30+15 or even 40+20 like they did when they were younger, it would really be the death of them.
For them now, instead of spreading their energy across the entire game, they should concentrate on attacking those 3-5 minutes!
Before stepping onto the court, Barkley clenched his fists together, tilted his head, and said, "Joe, just give me the ball, and I'll send them to hell!"
"Does it hurt?" Lin Tian frowned as he listened closely to the dull thud of two fists slamming together. "It sounds painful."
"It doesn't hurt!" Barkley grimaced. "The ones who will feel the pain are the Houstonians!"
"Yeah, they're definitely the ones who'll be in pain! They actually wanted you to be a substitute! What a fucking brilliant tactic! What kind of idiot would put the great Sir Charles on the bench?"
"That's right!" Barkley slammed his fists together again, his face contorted with rage. "What kind of idiot would want me to be a substitute?"
After saying that, Barkley suddenly quickened his pace and walked rapidly towards the court.
"I bet $300 that Charles is in so much pain he's practically crying," Lin Tian said in a voice Barkley could definitely hear. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have sped up his run."
Yes, Barkley did hear Lin Tian's words, but he didn't stop or turn around.
It really hurts! My eyes are definitely watering; it's a physiological reaction, I can't control it!
Even though it hurts, I can't let Lin Tian see it and laugh at me.
As both teams' players stepped onto the field, the referee quickly blew his whistle, and the game continued!
The Rockets had possession on the first possession, and Drexler took over Olajuwon's position, becoming the Rockets' primary offensive option. He dribbled the ball constantly at the top of the arc, looking for an opportunity to score.
Compared to Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler's decline was actually more obvious!
During his peak, his shooting was very inconsistent; neither three-pointers nor mid-range shots were his strengths.
His strength lies in running and attacking, using his incredible footwork and long legs to break through defenses and find opportunities during transitions between offense and defense.
It can be said that Drexler relied most on his physical attributes and speed.
This is why Drexler always struggled against Jordan, who had better physical attributes than him.
What you're best at is being completely outmatched, while what you're not good at is being outmatched. How are you supposed to win?
There's no way to fight!
Now, as he gets older, Drexler's once-proud explosiveness has mercilessly left him. Although he has increased his frequency of shooting from beyond the three-point line and from mid-to-long range, his efficiency has not improved much.
So far this season, he has averaged nearly 6 three-point attempts per game, but has only made 1.8 of them, with a shooting percentage hovering around 3%. His signature fast break has also become far less threatening than it was in his prime due to a decline in speed and rebounding ability.
Drexler faced Davis, the tough, physical defender he fears most these days. He dribbled at the top of the key for a long time but couldn't find a way to break through. In desperation, he could only force a three-pointer with a very poor rhythm.
"Whoosh!"
With a crisp sound, Drexler's reluctant attack, which he himself had given up hope of, actually hit the target!
"YES!" Drexler clenched his fist and shouted to himself, overjoyed at the unexpected surprise. It seemed his shooting touch was good today. He should have tried shooting a few more three-pointers in the first quarter!
Without Lin Tian and Rose, the Pacers' offensive rhythm and speed noticeably slowed down. Dumars calmly dribbled the ball across the frontcourt and then had his teammates spread out to the other side of the court, where he and Barkley played a 2-on-2 combination on one side of the court.
After Dumars lobbed the ball to Barkley, Barkley didn't disappoint Bird and all the Indiana fans. Facing his old partner Willis, Barkley used his lower body strength, and the first blow almost made Willis spit out his dinner from the night before. Then, with the second blow, he turned around and in the blink of an eye, he brushed Willis behind him.
Then Barkley easily jumped and scored 2 points!
Turning back, Drexler wanted to try another three-pointer, but this time the basketball made a crisp sound as it missed. It proved that he was just lucky, not that he had a good touch!
The Pacers didn't rush into a fast break, but instead kept Barkley in the low post to go one-on-one with Willis.
"Does Charles have a grudge against this Willis?" Thomas, watching from the bench as Barkley once again slammed into Willis, leaving him dizzy and disoriented, couldn't help but ask, "That ruthless?"
"Wasn't that what you taught him?" Lin Tian said, "Wasn't it you who taught him to use all his strength without reservation during this time period, to beat the person to death with all his might?"
"Isn't this a bit too cruel?" Thomas pouted, looking like he couldn't bear it.
"It's definitely a bit cruel for Willis," Bird said, nodding as he joined in.
Then the three men exchanged glances and simultaneously shouted at Barkley, who had just scored a goal, "Charles, give it your all! Didn't you eat dinner?"
"Didn't eat?" Barkley, who had just scored two baskets and was excitedly showing off his muscles, immediately got angry when he heard these three guys say that: "I'll show you what it means to be well-fed and full of energy!"
"What energy do you still have? If you can't hold on, tell me Charles soon, and I'll come up and help you!" Lin Tian stood up and said, "Don't push yourself; getting hurt is not good!"
"Barely? Injured?" Barkley's eyes widened, as if he had been subjected to some monstrous insult: "I'm fighting this thing, and I need to barely manage? How could I get injured?"
After saying that, Barkley's smile vanished, replaced by a fierce expression like that of the Midnight Butcher.
"Charles, why are you looking at me like that?" Willis shuddered, his hair standing on end, intimidated by Barkley's murderous aura.
"Shut up, you bastard! Don't talk to me! Get lost!" Barkley cursed fiercely, and after cursing, he raised his elbow and gave Willis a slap.
"What did I do to you? What's wrong with you? Are you sexually frustrated, you black bastard?" Willis was never one to mince words. Although he had just been startled by Barkley, he was now at a disadvantage and started cursing without thinking. At the same time, his elbow lashed out, making a stealthy jab at Barkley's chest!
"Go to hell!" Barkley winced in pain, and without thinking, shoved Willis across the neck. He then aggressively chased after Willis, pointing his finger at Willis's nose and yelling, "Are you tired of living?"
"Beep beep beep beep!" The referee's whistle blew immediately, and he rushed onto the court to separate Barkley and Willis.
"Calm down! Stop! Calm down! FUXX! Are you all crazy? Do you all want to be banned? Stop it!"
Watching the referee shouting frantically on the field, trying to end the conflict, Lin Tian scratched his head off the field and said, "Is Charles always this short-tempered? Did we go too far just now?"
"It seems so," Bird nodded.
"You still need to stay calm when playing basketball," Thomas chimed in.
Just then, Barkley, who had been persuaded to leave by the referee, walked over to the bench while cursing.
"Charles, don't be impulsive! If you lose your composure, you'll easily fall into their defensive trap! Don't let your emotions get the better of you!" Lin Tian immediately turned around and yelled at Barkley.
"Charles, you can pass the ball to your teammates on the perimeter next, because Willis is hard to deal with if he gets serious! Passing the ball out might increase your success rate!" Bird, as the head coach, gave Barkley a new tactic.
"Charles, use more feints later! He's definitely trying to block you two to save face, so don't let him get away with it!" Thomas added sarcastically, giving Barkley another jab.
"Defensive trap? Passing? Low success rate? Fake moves? Getting blocked?" Barkley scoffed at the three guys who were talking in unison, "Why would I care about this stuff when I'm playing against him?"
After Barkley finished speaking, he raised both hands and slapped himself hard across the face, making a crisp "smack." Then, Barkley glared at them and said, "We'll see!" He then walked back onto the court.
Rookie Crosher, seeing Barkley's furious expression, asked in confusion, "Danny, why is Charles so angry? Wasn't the tactic Lin and the coach explained just a very simple and normal play?"
Crosher looked puzzled, hoping to find the answer from Danny Ainge, the friendliest, most nonchalant, and seemingly best-natured member of the team.
"Austin, cover your ears. Don't listen to a single word those three bastards say from now on. The combined malice in those three guys is enough to solve the water shortage and drought disasters in the whole of Africa." Angie shrugged and gave the most beneficial advice for the growth of teenagers.
On the court, the referee gave Barkley a technical foul for provoking trouble, ordering him to continue playing obediently. With Drexler making the free throw, the rest of the game completely belonged to Barkley!
This guy really went all out, holding nothing back, and didn't even think about how to allocate or conserve his energy.
Barkley used whatever offensive method was the most aggressive, ruthless, and capable of tearing apart and destroying the Rockets' defense.
He relentlessly attacked the paint, repeatedly using his elbows to clear the way, pushing past the Rockets' defense, and then putting the ball into the basket time and time again!
Because of Barkley's ferocity and imposing presence, the Rockets' interior players were quite intimidated by him. Several times when Barkley missed the shot, the Rockets' two interior players, Willis and Harrington, did not dare to go head-to-head with him or confront his iron elbows. On two occasions, they even watched as Barkley grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on the putback.
第二节打了不过4分钟，巴克利就9投4中，罚球3罚全中拿下了11分！
Although his efficiency was low, with a shooting percentage of less than 50%, it was because Barkley played too aggressively and was too physically strong. He missed several layups, but Barkley did not waste any offensive opportunities. He grabbed the offensive rebound for almost every shot he missed!
In addition to his 11 points, Barkley also grabbed 4 offensive rebounds!
Barkley had a phenomenal four minutes, completely dismantling the Rockets' interior defense!
Without Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets' offense is in serious trouble. While the Pacers can rely on Barkley's outbursts to score, the Rockets lack a reliable scoring option.
Although Drexler scored 5 points with 2 baskets, his 5 points were not enough to change the course of the game, and the Rockets were at a significant disadvantage during this period!
46: 32!
The Pacers' lead has reached 14 points!
At this point, Tomjanovich knew very well that unless he didn't want to win the game, he only had one option: bring on Olajuwon.
Regardless of whether Tomjanovich brings in Olajuwon, Lin Tian, Miller, and Schmitz of the Pacers all stood up. They had rested enough, and it was their turn to take over and win the game!
As Barkley walked off the court, panting, he happened to brush past Lin Tian and the others. He reached out and gave Lin Tian a high-five, then suddenly grinned mischievously and said, "Thanks. Last season I was annoyed that Willis was always trying to replace me and become the starter, but I never had a chance to beat him up."
"You know we're trying to provoke you?" Lin Tian felt a little embarrassed.
"I've played for over 10 years, won MVP, and reached the Finals. I've seen this kind of thing countless times." Barkley shrugged, plopped down on the bench, and covered his head with a towel.
Although he only led the team for a few minutes, those few rounds were all tough battles, all head-on clashes, a direct confrontation of muscles. He scored a lot, but he also expended a lot of energy!
Lin Tian looked at Barkley, who had plopped down there, and didn't bother to figure out whether the guy had seen through him from the beginning and was trying to provoke him along with Bird and Thomas, or whether he suddenly realized it afterward and said those words to save face.
Anyway, Barkley's image in Lin Tian's mind had been completely overturned. This was definitely not a silly fat guy. This guy was cunning!
No wonder, to make it into the NBA and become a top star who has dominated the league for more than a decade, talent, hard work, and self-control alone are absolutely not enough!
Lacking any one of these qualities—IQ, EQ, or AQ—can cause a star athlete to fall from grace instantly!
Barkley not only maintained a high level of performance while playing basketball, controlling his physique and condition, but even after retiring, he remained active in the TNT commentary booth and was widely recognized as one of the best commentators in the United States.
You can't get this kind of praise just by acting cute, silly, and cheeky!
From now on, we can't treat Barkley like a stupid fatso anymore!
At this point, the game continued. Hakeem Olajuwon returned to the court for the Rockets, while Larry Bird had already instructed the Pacers players to change their defense.
During this phase, the team primarily defending Olajuwon was still Schmitz, who had been dominated by Olajuwon in the first quarter. However, the Pacers suddenly changed their strategy of never double-teaming Olajuwon, which had been relentlessly attacked in the first quarter. From the very first possession Olajuwon entered the court, they began to double-team him relentlessly!
Regardless of their actual defensive abilities, the Pacers players on the court are all highly experienced and seasoned veterans. Their timing for help defense is extremely cunning, always coinciding with the moment Olajuwon is about to launch his attack after a confrontation.
Double-teaming Olajuwon at this point would make him feel very awkward, making him feel uncomfortable whether he passes the ball or attacks himself.
Bird's tactical philosophy was very clear: to prevent Olajuwon from making individual attacks, exhaust his physical strength and energy, and make every attempt by Olajuwon to establish position and engage in confrontations fruitless!
As for the ball that Olajuwon passed out?
Bird bluntly stated, "Don't worry about it, let them shoot! Shoot all they want. If those third-rate shooters on the Rockets can keep hitting threes, I'll change my name! All of you, just double-team Olajuwon! Don't worry about anything else, if we lose, it's on me!"
Bird's arrogance and decisiveness meant that the Pacers players would double-team Olajuwon with equally quick and decisive movements, ensuring that there would never be a situation where they only half-teamed him and Olajuwon couldn't be defended, and the outside shooters would get going.
The key is to be resolute!
When the Pacers started to double-team him very aggressively, Hakeem Olajuwon, who has top-tier playmaking ability in the league, did not make any mistakes. He was not made too badly by the Pacers' double-team defense. On the contrary, he was able to pass the ball out every time, and the pass was just right!
Every time a Rockets shooter receives the ball, there is no one in front of him, giving him a very comfortable shooting space!
Then came their disappointing moment!
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
After Hakeem Olajuwon entered the game, his teammates failed to capitalize on the passes he made in the next three possessions. Marlonny, Ellie, and Drexler each took a shot, missing all three attempts in a row.
Taking advantage of the Rockets' three consecutive missed shots, the Pacers scored seven consecutive points: Lin Tian's fast break dunk, Rose's layup after receiving a pass from Lin Tian, and Miller's three-pointer, extending the lead to over 20 points!
In the fourth possession, when the Pacers once again used double-team defense against Olajuwon, the former best big man in the league finally chose to force a one-on-two attack. This extremely difficult hero shot was not only successfully scored by Olajuwon, but also drew a foul from Schmitz, resulting in a 2+1 play!
Sometimes, that's just how basketball is. Hakeem Olajuwon made the right choices three times in a row, using textbook inside play and high-low post connections to result in three missed shots.
The fourth time, he was clearly a bit overconfident in the one-on-two situation, but he ended up scoring 2+1!
Sometimes, the most important thing in basketball is never whether it's reasonable or not.
If they score, it's justified! If they don't, they're just weaklings!
Unfortunately, although Hakeem Olajuwon's 2+1 play greatly boosted morale and narrowed the gap to within 20 points, it was almost the Rockets' last stand.
After all, Hakeem Olajuwon has not only aged this year, but has also suffered serious injuries! He is truly no longer the player he once was.
In the remainder of the first half, despite Hakeem Olajuwon's best efforts, the score difference between the two sides never narrowed to within 20 points, hovering between 20 and 25 points.
With just one minute left in the first half, the Rockets' perimeter players finally found their rhythm, with Allie and Drexler each hitting a three-pointer, barely helping the Rockets narrow the gap to 19 points.
66: 47!
The Pacers had 66 points by the end of the first half!
Then, when the second half started, the Pacers increased their intensity on both ends of the court, especially their speed on offense. In the first possession, Lin Tian broke through the Rockets' defense and scored 2 points with a layup in just 8 seconds.
Then, whenever the Rockets miss a shot, the Pacers will quickly grab the rebound and start a counterattack. They will definitely take the shot as soon as they have even the slightest opportunity, and they will never give the Rockets a chance to slow down and play a half-court game!
How could the aging and slow-moving Rockets possibly keep up with the Pacers' relentless run-and-gun style of play? The two three-pointers at the end of the second quarter now look more like the team's last stand!
Once the second half began, all of the Rockets' struggles vanished.
The team's three-point shooting touch disappeared again. Hakeem Olajuwon was exhausted, with his stamina and shooting touch declining significantly, and his shooting percentage plummeting.
The more shots the Rockets missed, the more opportunities the Pacers had to grab rebounds and launch fast breaks. As a result, the Pacers quickly widened the score gap once again!
This time, they pulled away even more thoroughly!
When the final buzzer sounded at the end of the third quarter, the Pacers led the Rockets 100-69 by 31 points!
In the fourth quarter, Bird rested all the key players, preventing them from playing in what was already garbage time.
On the other side, Tomjanovich gave up even earlier. With three minutes left in the third quarter, he substituted Olajuwon and Drexler, signaling the end of the game!
After all, the Rockets are older, and they actually need more rest and to adjust their form, as there are 82 games to play in the long regular season.
Therefore, Tomjanovich has put a lot of thought into how to control the playing time of the team's veterans this season!
Besides drastically reducing playing time, increasing the depth of the team's rotation, and making use of bench players as much as possible, the thing Tomjanovich has done most this season is to surrender early.
In several games this season, even though the Rockets hadn't lost by much and seemed to have a chance to win, Tomjanovich would choose to pull his key players early to give them a rest.
For a team of this age, making this choice is a last resort. Rather than having these veterans play their hearts out when they are down by 10 points in the last 3 minutes of the game with only a small chance of winning, it is better to let them rest for a few more minutes so that they have more energy for the next game.
This is what happens when a once-great dynasty team declines. They carry the hopes of many fans and have a seemingly luxurious roster, but both the players and coaches know very well that their era has actually come to an end.
However, out of their love for basketball and their desire not to disappoint the fans, these people are still doing work that has become meaningless.
120: 93.
When the final whistle blew, the Pacers defeated the Rockets by 27 points, securing Lin Tian's first victory since returning from injury!
Although Hakeem Olajuwon of the Rockets scored a game-high 31 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, the rest of the Rockets team performed poorly. The team's second-leading scorer, Clyde Drexler, only made 5 of 17 shots, scoring 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Veteran Mario Elie also only made 3 of 11 shots, scoring 10 points.
Apart from these three players, no other Rockets player scored in double figures!
Such a poor team performance was indeed exhausting for Olajuwon, and it was difficult for them to win the game.
步行者这边，复出的林天本场比赛出战31分钟，16投8中，3分球3投2中，罚球5罚4中拿下22分13助攻5篮板3次抢断的漂亮数据！
Under his leadership, the Pacers swept away the gloom of their previous 20-plus games and challenged the entire league with a resounding victory: the fully-formed Indiana Pacers are here!
除了林天之外，步行者队巴克利拿下20分15个篮板的大号两双，杰伦·罗斯19分6篮板4助攻表现全面，再加上命中了5记3分拿下17分的雷吉·米勒以及拿下11分5篮板的施密茨和替补出场供献13分的乔·杜马斯。
Six Pacers players scored in double figures, and the team's offense flowed smoothly. The multi-faceted offense that Bird envisioned, featuring fast breaks, three-pointers, mid-range shots, and strong attacks under the basket, was finally showcased in this game!
Even after Lin Tian returned to the court, with a top-class point guard available, Bird dared to significantly increase the playing time of defensive stalwarts Ben Wallace and Anthony Davis.
Because if Lin Tian is not on the court, the Pacers' offense will definitely face many difficulties if these two players are on the court.
When Lin Tian was around, even if they were just two blue-collar workers, he could always find a way to give them a couple of hot meals, so that the opponents wouldn't dare to double-team them and would completely let them go.
Therefore, Lin Tian's return not only improved the Pacers' offense, but also greatly enhanced their defense!
For example, in this game, the Pacers successfully held the Rockets to under 100 points! The last time they held an opponent to under 100 points was on November 30th against the Denver Nuggets.
However, this Nuggets team has a record of 3 wins and 12 losses, and even NCAA teams can hold them to under 100 points, so it's nothing to brag about.
(End of this chapter)