unfinished glory

Chapter 44

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, McGrady made a layup first, and then scored another goal through the pick-and-roll to tie the score.

Then the two teams fell into a scoring drought, and the 58-level score lasted for more than three minutes until the first official timeout.

After the timeout, the Rockets replaced Yao Ming.

Popovich also began to change his lineup. Li Chongxiao appeared on the stage and played at the same time as Bowen again, mainly to defend McGrady and strangle his connection with his teammates.

Yao Ming came up and really had an immediate effect. He received a pass from Taylor, turned around and scored with a hook to overtake the score.

On the Spurs side, Li Chongxiao also made an "answer ball". He received a pass from Ginobili and made a mid-range shot.

The Huaxia audience standing in front of the TV was hypnotized to sleep by the "bang bang bang" sound of the two teams hitting iron.This time, the two Huaxia people fought for a round, which instantly lifted the audience's spirits.

It's a pity that the good times didn't last long, and the Rockets' offense was blocked again.

Duncan faced Yao Ming, and Malik Rose waited for an opportunity to double-team.On McGrady's side, Bo Wen and Li Chongxiao will take care of them. No matter how they change positions, one of them will always be in front of him.

The Spurs are okay here, there are many people who can attack, and although the efficiency is not high, but after every two rounds, there are always goals.

Even if Manu Ginobili took a rest and replaced Parker, who was not in good shape today, he played a 13:2 offensive climax, and with more than three minutes left in the game, he opened the score to more than [-] in one fell swoop.

At this time, Duncan was still making free throws. He caused a foul by Ryan Bowen of the Rockets and sent the opponent to rest.

The first free throw was made. Duncan's free throw was quite accurate today, and he actually hit 11 of 10 free throws.

Li Chongxiao thought he taught well. When Duncan made the second free throw, he clapped his hands with a smile like an old mother to show encouragement.

As a result, Duncan failed to make free throws and missed the rebound to Li Chongxiao.

What can Li Chongxiao do about his "apprentice"'s disappointment, of course he is to forgive him and help clean up the ending.Back in the Rockets' offensive half, Li Chongxiao intercepted McGrady's pass.

The ball was organized in Parker's hands, but he didn't feel right today.Not only is he only shooting 8 of 2 shots, but his passing is not very good, and he can also have problems with the dribble. He stumbles and often drops the ball.

This made Parker change direction, and the ball bounced directly into McGrady's hands.In order to prevent McGrady from rushing up for a fast break, Li Chongxiao could only make a foul.

Although the Spurs' fouls were not counted and no free throws were required, Li Chongxiao paid for his fifth foul.

Parker came over and patted Li Chongxiao's arm, indicating that the ball was his fault.

Li Chongxiao didn't have any emotions. We are a team and need to help each other.He just regrets that he will be replaced at a critical moment.

However, Popovich did not replace him, because this would be the moment when the Spurs started their momentum and had established a great advantage. Li Chongxiao needed to continue to put pressure on McGrady on the court, and resist the Rockets' most likely counterattack point. .

Even if it is only for 1 minute and then sent off, it can increase the team's chances of winning.What's more, there are teammates waiting on the sidelines, ready to play to support at any time.

Based on this consideration, Popovich specifically called Li Chongxiao to him, telling him not to be afraid, but to act decisively.

When the Rockets landed, Bowen took the initiative to stand in front of McGrady.

McGrady still looked a little angry when the chance of fast break was destroyed, so he decided to do it himself.It's a pity that the persistent shot was blocked by Bowen, and he hit an iron with anger and added an offensive rebound to Yao Ming.

Before Yao Ming tiptoed to a dunk, Malik Rose fouled first.

The first free throw was made, and Yao Ming also made the second free throw, leaving Li Chongxiao, who was stuck at the basket, with no rebounds to take.

Yao Ming's free throw allowed the Rockets to get back within ten points.

At this time, Li Chongxiao looked Duncan up and down, and then sighed, making Duncan baffled.

Then he said leisurely: "Look at other people's free throws, and then look at yours, alas!"

Before Duncan could respond, Li Chongxiao shook his head and walked away with an angry look on his face.

……

Back in the offensive half, Duncan realized his shame and acted bravely. First, he singled out Yao Ming on the offensive end and hit an iron, and then assisted Parker to hit another iron, helping the Spurs, and missed two consecutive rounds.

Fortunately, Bob Sura of the Rockets was not to be outdone, and also missed two consecutive shots, successfully dragging the time to only one and a half minutes left.

This time the Rockets attacked again, the ball hit Yao Ming, and Malik Rose stepped forward to double-team.Yao Ming dribbled the ball and was about to turn around, but Rose cut the ball directly.

With a "snap", Li Chongxiao heard the thug's voice from far away, and Yao Ming also yelled at the same time.But the referee who was close at hand did not respond. Duncan picked up the ball and handed it to Parker to advance.

But the Rockets returned to defense very quickly, and the ball still fell into a positional battle. Duncan singled Yao Ming, and after a feint, he jumped and hooked, causing Yao Ming's foul.

Yao Ming's one offense and one defense, he didn't even get a foul, and he paid for the last time.

Li Chongxiao watched the entire round from the sidelines. As a member of the Spurs and a compatriot of Yao Ming, he had mixed feelings.

Duncan was still expressionless here, but his free throw betrayed him, and he made another two free throws.

For the first free throw, he ignored Li Chongxiao's hand and only slapped Malik Rose.He hit the second free throw and ran back to half court.

The Rockets attacked, and McGrady felt that he was really going to stand up. He held the ball at the top of the arc and faced Li Chongxiao's defense.

Seeing Bowen and Parker in the distance ready to double-team at any time, McGrady called Yao Ming to come over to pick and roll.

The quality of Yao Ming's pick-and-roll is quite high, and he put Li Chongxiao behind him in one fell swoop.Seeing this, Duncan could only keep up with McGrady by himself.

Then Yao Ming went down, and Li Chongxiao quickly stepped forward to pester him.

I have to say that McGrady's passing vision is quite good. From a position that Li Chongxiao couldn't reach, he lobbed the ball to Yao Ming.

However, Yao Ming has a problem with playing ball, that is, sometimes he is used to dribbling after receiving the ball or putting it down and then taking it up.It was the same this time, after dribbling the ball, he prepared to dunk through Li Chongxiao.

Li Chongxiao saw the opportunity, directly hit the ball with a knife, and hit the ball cleanly, then he picked up the ball and prepared to pass the fast break.

"Beep", the referee motioned for the thug, and made a gesture for the Spurs No. 6 to foul.

Before Malik Rose cut the ball for a standard foul, Yao Ming made a mistake; when it was Li Chongxiao's turn to steal the ball so cleanly, the referee blew the whistle without hesitation.

Li Chongxiao was very annoyed. He said to Yao Ming in Chinese: "Fuck, you are fine if other people stab you. I will call foul as soon as I do it."

Yao Ming narrowed his eyes with a smile, stretched out his hand to stroke Li Chongxiao's head, and was about to speak.

At this time Duncan came over, pushed Yao Ming's hand away, dragged Li Chongxiao aside, stroked the top of Li Chongxiao's head with his own big hand, rubbed him vigorously, and then pushed him to the Spurs' bench.

Li Chongxiao fouled six times and was sent off.

(End of this chapter)