On the 15th, the Knicks hosted the Rockets.

The game was broadcast live across the United States, and of course Chinese radio would not have missed it, with high-profile balloon stars on both sides. Harden is likely to be named to the All-NBA team at the No. 2 spot this season. The No. 2 position in the league is already very weak, Wade and Ginobili are declining, Roy is retiring, Kobe Bryant is injured and has not returned, and there is no one to compete with Harden.

During the warm-up, the Knicks had a stern expression.

Leonard admires Zhou Xuan and is always learning, and people hardly see him laugh except for winning the championship last season. He really doesn't like to laugh, he doesn't have any hobbies, basketball is his only hobby. Jefferson was a man who couldn't laugh, and his expression was like he wanted to fight all day long. When discussing why he couldn't make it to the All-Star, some people said it was because the fans didn't want to see his face.

In contrast to the Knicks, Howard and Harden laughed happily on the court, as if they didn't care about the team's record rubbish, and were criticized by experts.

Su Qun said: "As early as 2011, Howard and Anthony showed favor to the Knicks, hoping to join. After leaving the Lakers, he mentioned that he wanted to play in New York. However, the management brought in Bosh and cut him off, and neither team in New York showed interest in him. ”

Yang Jian said with a smile: "The Nets have no salary space, and if Howard is introduced, the tax money can support three NBA teams." The Knicks don't need it, I think Jefferson is better than Howard on the offensive end. This matchup between the two must be exciting. ”

Su Qun said: "Some fans asked who is the core of the Rockets? Both Harden and Howard are unqualified, and they won't get far from making the playoffs if they are in this state. ”

Knicks starters: Zhou Xuan, Matthews, Leonard, Bosh, Jefferson.

Rockets starters: Beverley, Harden, Jerebko, Jones, Howard.

Howard jumped the ball to beat Bosh, and the Rockets attacked first. Zhou Xuan followed Beverly and put a step and a half away. Beverley went to the frontcourt and passed to Harden, and the players pulled away.

Harden is the main point of attack and the master of the team's rhythm. Matthews defended, Harden dribbled the ball under his crotch twice, at this time Beverley covered with Jones on the side and got rid of Zhou Xuan, Bosh changed the defense very timely, Harden did not pass, and suddenly changed to the right side to break through.

Howard drew the defense in the low post, and after Harden passed, no one made up for it, and the pull-up jump shot went in. 0 to 2.

The Knicks attacked, Zhou Xuan dribbled the ball across the half court, moved slowly in the face of Beverley's ball protection, and was not in a hurry to break through, and Bosh came out to cover. Zhou Xuan saw the opportunity to break through to the left side, and Jones changed defense.

On the left side, Jefferson gave Matthews an off-ball cover to block Harden, and Howard chose to continue to defend Jefferson and did not go out.

With only Howard being a big man, he can't let Harden switch to Jefferson, although they are both bearded, but the weight difference is too big, as long as Jefferson cuts to the basket in the air, it is an opportunity. Harden also failed to chase down in time after being blocked. Zhou Xuan took the ball and paused, passed the ball behind his right hand, and lightly handed it to Matthews, who ran to his side.

Matthews received the ball and made a three-point shot, and Beverley let go of Bosh to block from the side, but he was too short to interfere, and the ball hollowed into the net.

Zhou Xuan sent the first assist. 3 to 2.

The Rockets attacked, Beverley passed to Harden, Harden and Jones blocked and were blocked by Bosh and passed to Jerebko on the perimeter. The latter hobed to Howard in the low post on the left and stood 60 degrees for a shot. As a big man forward, he also shoots well.

Howard singled out Jefferson with the ball, dribbled a quick step to the middle and half-hooked. Jefferson didn't jump, he just stuck in position and raised his hands to interfere. Howard's hook hand was stiff, the ball bounced out of the frame, and Jefferson turned and grabbed the rebound.

In the Knicks positional battle, Zhou Xuan slowly walked through the half, Beverley stepped forward to press, and Bosh blocked and dismantled on the periphery. Zhou Xuan got rid of the left side and paused with the ball in front of the three-point line.

Jones was still a substitute for the team last season, and he didn't play against Zhou Xuan much, so he immediately stepped forward and took a small step, Zhou Xuan's "worship Buddha" feint broke through successfully, and the left side made a 60-degree emergency stop, and Beverley rushed up to make up for the block. Zhou Xuan took the ball and looked at the basket, and gave it to Bosh in the middle. Bosh took a step forward from the free throw line and hit a jumper from close range. 5 to 2. Zhou Xuan's second assist.

The Rockets attacked, Harden and Jones blocked and dismantled, and Matthews chased and defended to form a pack. Harden passes the ball to the middle, and Jones makes a jumper. 5 to 4.

Jones was able to be the starter mainly because of his shooting ability, and he was excellent on the offensive end, and he impressed in summer league.

The Knicks attacked, Zhou Xuan and Bosh blocked, Jefferson covered on the side, and Howard defended out. Zhou Xuan took the left side after covering, and as soon as he got rid of Beverley, he suddenly accelerated, jumped and Jones opened up space, turned his head to look at Matthews on the outside, and sent the ball to the left low post with both hands. Jefferson cut into the air, took the ball and turned around with Harden to the baseline, and threw the ball in with his right hand.

Harden was knocked to the ground because he didn't stand firm on his feet, he was still retreating, and the referee didn't blow it. 7 to 4, Zhou Xuan's third assist.

The Rockets attacked, Harden continued to dribble under his crotch outside the three-point line to withdraw a little space to shoot, dodged Matthews' block, and the ball went in! 7 to 7.

This choice is not reasonable, and it is completely based on the soft touch of the score, and Harden stretches out three fingers when he returns to the defense, and his expression is arrogant. But he was back in the background.

Jefferson blocked the high position, Zhou Xuan broke through on the right, Bosh covered on the side to block Harden, and Matthews got rid of it. Jones hurried out, and Harden stood still like a magic obstacle, not chasing the defense, and not blocking Bosh Kong. Zhou Xuan threw the ball to the basket with a throwing action during the run, the force was not great, looking for a meter outside the basket, and when he reached that position, the ball began to fall, and the speed was very slow. Bosh leaped to his feet, caught the ball with both hands and smashed it into the basket. 9 to 7.

Zhou Xuan's fourth assist, Harden stared at from the sidelines, still petrified......

McHale saw that his opponent scored continuously, stood up and rushed to the field and shouted "defend"! He shouted at Harden, if he is misplaced, even if Harden tries hard, he may not be able to prevent it, how can he stand and watch?

The Rockets attacked, Harden and Jones blocked, and Matthews didn't chase the defense and handed it to Bosh. Howard asked for the ball in the low post on the left side, and Harden dropped the ball in, who hit hard, turned and carried Jefferson, relied on explosiveness to gain space, and scored with a half-hook ball. 9 to 9.

The ball goes in but it takes a lot of effort to play, in fact, all it takes is an off-ball cover to make Beverley or Harden misplaced to face Jefferson, but Howard is reluctant to go out and block and like to show his "dominance" in an imbecile way.

D'Antoni believes in the quality of the players, and this time he didn't even arrange foul tactics, otherwise Howard might have gone to the free throw line by now.

The Knicks attacked, Zhou Xuan and Jefferson blocked and dismantled in the middle, or Jones switched defenses. Bosh blocked Harden at 60 degrees on the right side, a trick that was tried and tested. Howard didn't go out again, let Harden chase after him, Zhou Xuan made an easy transfer, and Matthews scored a three-point jumper in the right vacancy. 12 to 9.

The Knicks scored five times in a row, all from Zhou Xuan's assists, and McHale was a little anxious. He knew that Zhou Xuan had been playing super assists recently, and he was still very depressed when it was his turn.

The Rockets attacked, and Zhou Xuan faced Harden at the top of the arc. The Knicks 32 joint defense, Zhou Xuan's defense of high blocking, Jones is only 206CM, and the pressure is less.

Harden passed the ball to the side Jerebko, Howard reached for the ball in the left low post, Jerebko hung in, Howard leaned his back against Jefferson, shook his left shoulder, turned quickly to the baseline, and just jumped up Jefferson and pulled it down.

The referee blows the whistle and Howard makes a free throw. After two free throws and one hit, it was 12-10.

The Rockets attack, or block and dismantle. Zhou Xuan broke through on the left side without seeking to pass, dribbled under his crotch and opened up space with Jones, turned his head to look at the bottom corner, and dribbled the ball very slowly. His movements feel like it's not a regular season, it's training, and it's the kind of play.

At this time, Jefferson cut to the left low post, Howard rushed to the top, and Beverley chased after it. Zhou Xuan took the ball and brought it towards Beverley, and the choice was unreasonable to the limit. Jones saw this and immediately retreated to the basket. His psychology was very accurately grasped by Zhou Xuan. At this point, he withdrew to the basket, and both Jones and Howard followed Jefferson without the ball. Zhou Xuan jumped up and relied on his height advantage to transfer the ball from Beverley to the bottom right corner.

Bosh is empty. Howard hurriedly pounced to defend again, but Bosh had already shot before he could jump, and the bottom corner three-pointer was close to the basket, and Bosh had a very good rhythm and popped into the frame. 15 to 10. Zhou Xuan had his sixth assist.

McHale didn't call a timeout, he was stunned on the sidelines, and thought to himself: I'm not mistaken, right? It seems to be his sixth consecutive assist, and no matter how he passes, he scores!

McHale didn't know how to adjust, because Zhou Xuan didn't break through at all, and completely relied on his super passing awareness to observe the passing of his teammates after running, he didn't attract the bag, and it was the same for him to change his main defense. McHale knows what level Harden's single defense is, and let him and Zhou Xuan not be as effective as Beverley. At that time, Zhou Xuan may score alone, not that he didn't try last season.

The Rockets attacked, Howard asked for the ball again in the low post, Jerebko hoisted in, and in the same position, Howard turned and hooked his hand in the middle, and the ball was deflected again. His athleticism is stronger than Jefferson's, and he has already had his chances, and his inability to shoot is entirely due to his poor hand. Bosh returned to the interior to protect the rebound in the backcourt.

In the Knicks positional battle, the four pulled away, and Zhou Xuan in the middle faced Beverley. Two inside players give teammates off-ball cover from outside the three-point line on either side. One left and one right.

The two interior lines of the Rockets chose to switch the defense for three points, Zhou Xuan moved at this time, took a quick step to the left, pulled the ball up when he was close to Beverley, and turned around with a big stride to the right. As he turned, Bosh cut into the middle. Zhou Xuan jumped up and sent the ball in.

At this time, he has two options, direct jumpers, Beverley may not be able to block, and passing Bosh has a height advantage.

Howard hurriedly retreated inside, a step late, Bosh received the ball and turned to beat Harden, and went deep under the basket to score on the board. 17 to 10.

McHale called a timeout, and the Knicks hit seven straight shots in a three-and-a-half-minute period, all from assists from Zhou Xuan.