I'm really not a superstar

Chapter 251 Advance to the playoffs

McGrady returned, but lost the trust of the team and the love of the fans.

Most of the time, he sat at the end of the bench, watching his teammates gallop on the court with a pair of sleepy eyes.In his very short playing time, he also had to endure waves of boos from the fans.

But he endured all this silently.In fact, since he returned to the team, the Rockets can clearly feel his changes.

If it was the same as before, who dared not let him play, he would have lost his temper. He would definitely make a fuss in the locker room, and might even overturn the offices of the coaching staff and management.But this time he didn't do anything, not even complain!

On the training field, he seemed to be a different person, conscientiously fulfilling the tasks assigned by the coach, and would actively practice with Wayne Hall. complete their tasks.

The change was so jaw-dropping that Brooks quietly asked Dorsey, "Did you break his brain?"

However, McGrady's good attitude did not allow the Rockets coaching staff and management to give him more opportunities.It's just that the previous psychological shadow was too great. Now that it's the playoffs, no one dares to take the risk of destroying the team's chemical reaction and give McGrady a chance to try and make mistakes.

What if he didn't send it out, or drifted away again when given a chance?
On April 4, the Rockets defeated the Hornets 16:86 at home and ended their regular season tour with a big victory.

On April 4, the NBA regular season schedule was all settled.

In the end, the Rockets' record was fixed at 54 wins and 28 losses, with a winning percentage of 65.9%.

Coincidentally, it has exactly the same record as the Nuggets, Spurs, and Trail Blazers.

According to the rules, if the records among these four teams are calculated, the Rockets have the best results in the small circle of these teams, and they can be ranked second in the Western Conference after the Lakers with 65 wins and 17 losses. Secondary.

But there is a constraint before this rule.That is to compare the teams in the same division to see if they are the champions of the division.

These four teams are divided into the Northwest and Southwest divisions.

In the Northwest Division, between the Nuggets and the Trail Blazers, the Nuggets are ahead.In the Southwest Division, the Rockets and the Spurs are compared, but the Rockets' results are slightly inferior to the Spurs.

In the contest between the two division champions, the Nuggets won more.

Therefore, after comparing each other, the final ranking results are:
1. The Lakers are 65-17

2. Nuggets 54 wins and 28 losses

3. Spurs 54-28

4. Rockets 54 wins and 28 losses

5. Trail Blazers 54 wins and 28 losses

6. Mavs 50-32

7. Hornets 49 wins and 38 losses

8. Jazz 48-34

These 8 teams are also the teams that entered the playoffs in the Western Conference this year.

Eastern record:
1. Cavaliers 66-16

2. The Celtics are 62-20

3. Magic 59 wins and 23 losses

4. Hawks 47-35

5. Heat 43 wins and 39 losses

6.76 people 41 wins and 41 losses

7. Bulls 41-41

8. Pistons 39-43

Through the comparison of records, it can be seen that the overall strength of the league is still strong in the west and weak in the east. The Pistons, ranked 8th in the East, have a winning rate of less than 50%.The Suns (46 wins and 36 losses), the ninth in the West, can be ranked fifth in the East, but in the West, they can't even make the playoffs. Who can ask for an argument!
But in terms of top teams, the Eastern Conference is stronger.

The Cavaliers have the best record in the league, and the top three in the Eastern Conference restrain each other. It seems that everyone has the appearance of a champion.

Compared with Dorsey's previous life, the Rockets' record has not changed much, they have advanced by one place, and they have been adjusted with the Blazers.

In the playoffs, they still played, but the Rockets had one more home court.

For this opponent, the attitude of the outside world is generally optimistic.

Not to mention holding the home court advantage now, even if there is no home court advantage, the Rockets still have psychological and tactical advantages when facing the Trail Blazers.

The record of confrontation in the regular season can well illustrate this point.

The Blazers are a young team, and their experience is not even as good as the Rockets, who have been in the playoffs for a round.And starting from the away game will magnify their disadvantage of inexperience.

The advantage of the Rockets is first of all in the interior. After being ravaged by injuries, the Blazers center Oden is now developing in the direction of a blue-collar center.It is no longer the bravery of beating Horford and Noah with one arm.

To put it bluntly, now Dorsey and Oden have been completely adjusted. The blue-collar coolie of the year has now become a hot attacker in the league; Live blue-collar center.

Since the Blazers couldn't provide enough pressure inside, Yao Ming could try his best to help defend; on offense, Prizbila and Oden couldn't stop Yao Ming either.

Yao Ming is the number one weapon against the Blazers.

Another restraint killer lies in the front line.

The Blazers mainly rely on the front line to attack, while the Rockets' front line has excellent defensive ability. Metta Shiping and Battier are the best defenders in the league.

If the game is suppressed in the rhythm of the half-court attack, and the Blazers' outstanding athletic forwards are not given the opportunity to run, the Rockets will play steadily and combine internal and external, and they will have a great chance of winning.

Not to mention the emergence of Dorsey, the panacea style of play can strengthen the team in any aspect.This is where the legendary calcium deficiency supplements.

It can be said.The existence of Dorsey has made the Rockets no longer have sore waists, no leg pains, and no longer get up to pee in the middle of the night. He is good and I am good!

However, the Blazers are not without opportunities.

As Billing Burley wrote his playoff preview in a column for the Houston Chronicle:
"The playoffs are very different from the regular season, and to exaggerate, they're two different kinds of basketball.

In the regular season, the young Trail Blazers actually played at a slow pace. Like the Spurs and Pistons, they are one of the slowest teams in the entire NBA.

But facing the Rockets, they are bound to speed up and use their impact, deep bench lineup, and large-scale personnel rotation to attack the Rockets!They will never play with the rhythm of the Rockets.In terms of defense, the Blazers will definitely continue to use expansion and flanking defenses, approaching the weakness of the Rockets point guard. If the Rockets can smoothly pass the ball, attack Yao Ming, and suppress the rhythm, the Rockets will win; If a mistake prevents the ball from passing through half court and disrupts the Rockets' offensive rhythm, the Blazers will win.

Another possible change for the Blazers is point guard.

Yes, Blake's personal impact is not strong, and he can't kill the Rockets' short guards.But don't forget, the All-Star Roy can return to the No. 1 position.

The Rockets must first solve the guard problem.

The abilities of Brooks and Lowry will not improve. Once faced with the Blazers' expanding press and flanking attack, they will pinch the guards and the Rockets' weaknesses. The Rockets must help their guards and make up for their own loopholes.

The Rockets' shooting guard needs to better respond to the point guard. Dorsey's speed and ability to break through with the ball are likely to play a key role in this round of the series; Use your own height to transition on the center line to ensure that the ball is safely advanced to the frontcourt.

At the same time, the Rockets must solve Yao Ming's defense around the front.

To solve this, Adelman can only rely on Dorsey, using Dorsey's breakthrough on the other side to tear apart the defense.

Therefore, the key to the Rockets' victory lies with Yao Ming and Dorsey.

Of course, don't forget that there is another talented McGrady on the Rockets' bench, but now he is full of problems. How much effect he can play, or whether it is a positive effect or a reverse effect, has to be marked with a big mark. question mark! "

The life-and-death battle between the Rockets and the Trail Blazers in the playoffs is about to begin.

(End of this chapter)