: 838: The paint on the free throw line is worn out

Latest website: James Harden made Gasol a foul at the beginning of the game, which gave Georgel a headache.
Originally, the Grizzlies' current internal reserve is quite weak. If Gasol had to rest because of foul troubles, the Grizzlies would be even more passive.
Use Gasol to resist Howard, and you can hold on. But if Azeri is allowed to face the angry "Warcraft" alone, the Grizzlies' inside line is estimated to be penetrated.
Although Howard did not have the dominant power of the year, he still averaged close to 20 points per game and shot up to 60%.
He can still kill the game.
Georgel has already begun to plan for the worst. If there is a problem with the inside line, he must find other ways to overcome the difficulties.
Indeed, there is no need to compete in every game during the regular season. Especially after the Grizzlies have won 74 games last season, they no longer need to prove anything in the regular season.
But if the problem is not resolved, all teams will use this method to deal with the Grizzlies in the future.
Losing one game or two may not affect the overall situation. But if it remains unresolved and keeps losing, the Grizzlies’ prospects are really worrying.
When Georgel was thinking about countermeasures, the Grizzlies had already attacked.
It's not an exaggeration to say that the Rockets' defense last season was poor, mainly because of Harden's inaction on the defensive end and the weakness of the Rockets' entire defensive lineup.
But this year, the Rockets' defense has improved considerably. Beverly naturally needless to say, he is based on the tenacious style of the NBA.
As one of the few outstanding 3D players in the league, Ariza has no major problems on the defensive end.
Inside, once Howard gets serious, he is still a master of frame protection.
Therefore, the Rockets' defense this year is not bad at all. Except for Harden's weakness, there is not much short board.
Conley was crazily pressed by Beverly just after halftime. Beverly is really like a "mad dog", as long as he sees a "prey", he will attack at any cost.
The first position is pressed, the offense of the whole team will be affected to some extent.
In the end, Jimmy Butler had to take the initiative to go out and catch the ball. He hoped to continue his outstanding offensive performance on Harden who was not defensive.
Butler successfully received the basketball and was about to break through, but found that Harden was also close to him!
Today, James Harden has a completely different defensive attitude from the past!
After Harden got serious, although it was not a defensive gate, at least it was no longer a cash machine.
Butler gritted his teeth and walked to the basket against Harden. But Harden refused to give up and kept disturbing. Just as Butler layup, Dwight Howard suddenly jumped into the air and waved his hand to shoot the basketball.
"This won't work, Jimmy Butler, don't think of the Rockets too simplistically! Dwight Howard's ability to protect the frame is undoubted, and this level of offense can't be difficult for him!" The Houston commentator was full of excitement. While speaking, he did not forget to look at Van Gundy triumphantly.
The aggressive Beverly finally grabbed the basketball that Howard fanned out, and the Rockets instantly switched from defense to offense.
The Rockets counterattacked quickly, and in an instant, Harden and Beverly rushed to the forefront.
Link can't pounce inside, hoping to prevent them from making an easy layup with a chase. As everyone knows, Beverly, who reached the basket and attracted Link's defense, passed the ball to the right corner.
There, Tvor Ariza is unmarked!
"Damn, it's over!" Link tried to change his focus and rushed towards Ariza, but it was too late.
Ariza shot 40% of three-pointers in the Wizards last season. After returning to the Rockets this year, Ariza's three-pointers were equally accurate. After receiving the ball, he made a decisive shot without being frightened by Link.
The basketball finally hit the net hollow, the Rockets hit a three-pointer!
Link shook his head, he didn't mean to miss Ariza. But if you don't make up the inside, Harden and Beverley will have an easy layup.
If you have to choose, you must choose to close the inside line. After all, even if there is no one outside the three-point line, there is a probability that you will not make a shot, and if the inside line is left alone, it is impossible for the opponent to miss a layup.
Unfortunately, this time Ariza seized the opportunity.
"Nice counterattack, Link's lack of skills! So far, the Grizzlies are playing very embarrassed. In the last game without Durant and Westbrook, the Grizzlies dragged their wins, which is enough. Explain the problem. Although the Grizzlies won, it was because the Thunder really didn't have much strength. But the Rockets are different. Today, the Grizzlies will lose their last fig leaf!"
The local commentary gets happier as you watch it. The Grizzlies are raging across the league and no team can handle it. Now it's about to be done by the Rockets. Can he not be hilarious?
5 to 0, the Rockets started like their current 6-game winning streak, quite perfect.
Then the Grizzlies' offense, although Harris hit Motai Junas a goal, pulled back a city. But soon, Howard sat inside to pull the score apart again.
After Gasol fouled early on his back, he would inevitably be fearful on the defensive end and dare not make any moves.
And this is exactly what McHale and Howard hope to see.
Howard topped Gasol twice in the paint before turning around and breaking through.
If it was the Howard of the Magic period, it would be a step away from Gasol.
But now Howard is only half ahead of Gasol, Gasol stuck the other side firmly and prevented Howard from getting close to the basket.
But Howard didn't care so much. He leaned on Gasol and layup directly after two strides!
If Gasol interferes with the jump, there is a high probability that Howard can stop the goal. But now, he was really afraid of being called a foul if he jumped together.
Therefore, Gasol could only stand in place and raise his arms to interfere with Howard. But this level of interference will not make Howard lose.
In the end, Howard forced a layup and hit the board into the frame. 7 to 2, the point difference continued to be stabilized at 5 points!
Link wanted to help defend, but the result of Ariza's three-pointer had just been seen. Let Butler help? That's even worse! Harden's three-pointer is more threatening than Ariza.
Even Harris was firmly nailed outside the three-second zone. After playing 6 games in the regular season this year, Motai Yunas hit more than 35% of his three-pointers, and his mid-range shooting was even more gratifying.
Against the 76ers a week ago, Motai Junas scored 21 points, because the 76ers hardly doubled Howard, allowing the Lithuanians to get many three-pointers and mid-range shots.
In this way, he was shot alive by Motel Yunus.
For now, Gasol can only rely on himself to contain Howard.
Link knows that today's game cannot be played by conventional means. So he took over the offensive power early, ready to use violence to control violence.
But Link's first offense today did not go well.
Link broke through Ariza and killed the inside line, but unexpectedly Howard rushed back to the basket in time and violently knocked Link down in the air. Under this fierce confrontation, basketball naturally failed to progress.
And after Link fell to the ground, he found that the referee was indifferent at all! The referee thought Howard was a reasonable collision, and Link missed his first attack today.
The Rockets hit Harden with a counterattack, and Harden saw that Jimmy Butler was sticking very tightly, so he repeated the trick and leaned on Butler "enthusiastically".
Butler was the kind of very steely character, instead of dodge, he took Harden's shock. He doesn't believe it, as long as he feels his actions, Harden can cheat free throws.
As everyone knows, the moment Harden and Butler came into contact, they were blown out exaggeratedly as if they hit the rubber.
Butler himself was stunned. Did he use that force just now?
Of course he didn't, but Harden's acting was so superb that Butler couldn't find any flaws.
The referee blew the whistle again, and James Harden hit the free throw line for the second time today! After continuing Gasol, Butler also received today's first foul early!
"Well, James made the Grizzlies defense at a loss. He stood on the free throw line again, this is a good opportunity to open the score!"
Van Gundy looked at his dancing partner and shook his head. Although Harden's trick is indeed effective, it is really...too shameful.
Harden continued to make two free throws, and the Rockets extended the point difference to 7 points!
Howard happily high-five with Harden, no matter how they got along before, but at least they are intimate now.
In the subsequent games, Harden continued to show his superb touch porcelain skills. He caused two fouls by Butler and Gasol successively, which forced Tony Allen and Azeri to play early.
With 8 free throws in a single quarter, Link really admired the five-body shot. Watching Harden get to the free-throw line time and time again, Link felt that the paint on the free-throw line was so quickly worn out.
After Butler and Gasol were forced off the court, the Grizzlies' offense also became thinner. After all, neither Tony Allen nor Azeri have the ability to attack independently.
The Rockets completely dominated the first quarter. Harden scored 12 points in a single quarter, 8 of which came from free throws! Howard has 8 points in a single quarter, and Azerley, who has no height and wingspan advantage, can't limit the "Warcraft" at all.
Tobias Harris was forced to play a full 12-minute quarter, and Georgel was worried about Harris being injured while there was no substitute available.
In the end, the Rockets ended the first quarter with an 8-point advantage. If it weren't for Link's bravery and strung the Grizzlies' offense, the points difference would definitely have gone to double digits.
After the first quarter of the game, the atmosphere at the Toyota Center became extremely hot.
If we say that before the game, the Houston fans are somewhat lack of confidence. So now, when the Rockets lead the Grizzlies by 8 points in a single quarter, they put aside all their worries and started carnival.
"Hahaha, did you see Jeff? As I said, the Memphis Grizzlies are no longer the best team in the league!"
On the commentary stage, Jeff Van Gundy could only accept the cynicism from his partner.
Link sat back on the bench, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then smashed the towel on the ground. "What a shame!"
Seeing Link lost his temper~EbookFREE.me~ The Grizzlies team did not speak. After all, Harden’s clash of porcelains is not the first time that a team’s head star has failed in Toyota Center.
Now, the defense that the Grizzlies are proud of has been completely taken apart. There is only one way before Link and the Grizzlies-offense.
Superb, efficient, fierce, able to overcome the Rockets' offense.
But in the absence of major generals and foul trouble, it is difficult for the Grizzlies to produce a powerful offensive lineup. And today, Link was obviously not taken care of by the referee on the court. It is very difficult to make a fierce attack.
Link took a deep breath to calm himself down. He believes that the game is not over and the Grizzlies still have a way.
After a few seconds, Link looked up at Georgel.
"In the second quarter, I will try to play the offense. But I need space and speed. Dave, what do you think?"
Georgel immediately picked up the tactical board and squatted in front of Link. The team was in trouble, and it was time to fight for the stars.