In December 2005, Artesia High School had just lost the first game of the season. On the plane back to California, Artesia High School's basketball team coach Scott Brown. Pera walked down the airplane aisle, looking for his talented, but somewhat shy little star, James. Harden.

"We can't win unless you start shooting more in the game." The coach told the young player that he needed him to score, he needed him to dominate the game, he needed him to finish the opponent.

It seems that from that day on, shooting and scoring and dominating the game became what Harden did every game. With that belief, Harden began to make his mark in college, and he became one of the greatest basketball players in Arizona history. In his sophomore season, Harden averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 50% from the field! After 1995, only five college players had this kind of all-around statistic, including Dwyan. Great players like Wade and Brandon Roy.

The belief in scoring and dominating the game led him to the NBA, and still as a scout. This belief earned him the Sixth Man of the Season and the Finals with the team.

Whenever the team is in trouble, Harden remembers the December 2005 issue when Scott Harden was in trouble. Those words that Pera said to herself on the plane.

Just like now, Scott. Brooks walked up to Harden and patted him on the shoulder, "It's up to you, James." ”

"James. Harden is on the court, he replaces Sephorosa, and Coach Brooks needs more offensive firepower! There is no doubt that Harden will be able to meet his tactical needs! ”

After the timeout, the camera gave a close-up of Harden on the court. This highly-anticipated Sixth Man of the Year was a key reason why the Thunder were able to knock the Spurs out of the last series. In particular, his finishing ability in the fourth quarter allowed the Thunder to win a lot of 55-free shots.

Although Harden plays as a shooting guard on the court, if Harden is on the court, the ball control is handed over to him. This time was no exception, with Harden confidently possessing the ball through the halfcourt, and with him, the Thunder's offensive playmaking ability would be a little better. After all, Westbrook is a guard who only has the basket in his eyes. And James. Harden, he's been in high school and hasn't wanted to be just a shooter.

Harden stopped outside the three-point line and passed the ball to Durant, who ran out of gap. Durant didn't shoot because Green was still pressing him closely. Four minutes before that, Durant had already missed several shots. If it were Westbrook, he wouldn't care how many opportunities he wasted, but Durant was different.

So the small forward, who was as heavy as George, had too high a center of gravity and had not yet fully formed the dribble, stopped himself. He's waiting, waiting for James. Harden runs for a chance!

James. Harden is an all-around scorer who can break through with the ball on his own and attack off the ball. But today, Harden found that it wasn't easy to get a slot.

Against the San Antonio Spurs, he may be able to shake off the aging Ginobili with a simple counterrun. After all, Popovich has focused his defense on Durant and Westbrook, and Harden doesn't have much of an obstacle.

But in Indianapolis, Harden's counterrun didn't make any difference.

Eventually, he had to play an off-ball screen with Perkins. Perkins is about the same height as Horford, but he's very strong and a very good pick-and-roll.

George was stopped by Perkins, but instead of chasing Harden, he ran straight for Westbrook. Because Chris. Paul, has completed the supplementary defense for George!

What is a key defensive object? You don't get a gap all the time, and that's called a key defensive object!

"Damn!" Harden cursed that he still didn't get a chance. Paul. George's defense has already given Harden a headache, not to mention that at this time he is facing Paul, who has been selected as the best defensive team of the season!

The Thunder's offense couldn't work, and the Pacers cut off the connection between the three young as much as possible, forcing them to go it alone!

Brooks is a "nurturing" coach who knows how to develop youngsters, but is not a master tactician. In the face of Henson's focus on Harden's defense, even Brooks has nothing to do, let alone the young players on the court.

Seeing that Harden didn't have a chance, Durant broke through with the ball himself and then made a pull-up jumper. There is no doubt that he has been introduced into Henson's defensive trap, because the Thunder's three less singles are exactly what Henson wants to see!

"Bang!" Another iron strike, and it seems that Durant's touch has still not been recovered. And the much-anticipated Harden did not show any performance.

The Pacers immediately countered, and they were still advancing fast, and they were not afraid to run against the young Thunder. Harden has a very fatal flaw, and this flaw is similar to Cameron's. Anthony is similar – he can't concentrate on the defensive end.

When George had already gained space, Harden was still looking at Paul who was in possession of the ball. It wasn't until the basketball crossed Harden's eyes that he knew something was wrong!

So, George hit the first three-pointer of the game! James. Instead of helping the Thunder open up the game on the offensive end, Harden's appearance made it easier for George than he had just been. After all, Harden's defensive ability and the "Swiss Army Knife" can't be compared.

George yelled after the goal, and Henson rarely saw him so excited.

yes, before the series started, people were talking about James. Harden said that Harden would be the Thunder's blade to finish the Pacers. And Paul, who is about to play against Harden. It was as if George had been completely ignored, and no one had even mentioned it.

He reached the Finals with the Pacers as the team's second-leading scorer in just his sophomore year and was seen as a matter of course. His playoff average of nearly 18 points per game is taken for granted. Against the Heat, George's successful defense against Wade was taken for granted......

All eyes were on James. Harden, the best sixth man, was attracted by the light, but he never noticed that Paul was the best sixth man. George is also a very good young player!

This grievance and unwillingness eventually turned into strength, which made George extremely excited on the court.

After responding with a successful defense against Harden and a beautiful three-pointer, George's heart finally exploded.

That's why this tall No. 2 position, who usually doesn't talk much, will roar like he did just now.

"Hmm......" Henson pouted, admitting that he didn't expect George to be so excited about these things.

After that, George seemed to be incarnated as Leonard in the Eastern Conference Finals and became the "wonder soldier" of the Pacers, while Harden became the "James" belonging to George.

Throughout the first quarter of the game, George prevented Harden from shooting 1 of 7! And that's not even counting the fact that George scored nine points in the first quarter, seven of which came on Harden's head.

Scott. Brooks didn't replace Harden early, he originally wanted Harden to play until the end of the first quarter. But Harden, who was supposed to be a wonder soldier, became the team's weakness instead, which Brooks did not expect.

It wasn't until "Swiss Army Knife" returned to play that George's scoring momentum was halted. But again, after losing Harden, the Thunder's offense has not changed at all.

Halfway through the first quarter, the Thunder trailed by 13 points. The Pacers' performance today was perfect, but just when everyone thought Henson had completely controlled the game, the scoring champion Durant exploded!

He first hit consecutive three-pointers in 35 seconds to close the gap! Then he repeatedly staged difficult jumpers, and the defense of Green and Leonard seemed to exist in front of Durant's hot hand.

In the last four seconds of the first quarter, Durant unleashed the final blow. When Leonard was completely unbalanced by his body, Durant still scored the ball and hit the whistle, so that Henson couldn't help but smash another tactical board.

Henson doesn't blame his players, and if Durant scored because he didn't do a good job, Henson wouldn't be so angry. But when you defend to the extreme and are still scored, you can't suppress the anger.

And most of Durant's goals in the second half of the first quarter were scored when the defense was done to the extreme! Henson thought that Durant would score a high score, but Durant's performance of 12 points in a single quarter was beyond the range that Henson could accept!

Scoring champion Durant played a full 12-minute game, and it seems that Scott. The skill of Brooks' main force is no worse than that of Sibodeau. But it was precisely because of Durant's outbreak in the second half of the quarter that the Thunder almost erased the 13-point disadvantage, which is why Brooks is not without offensive tactics, but the Thunder is still one of the best offensive teams in the league!

Sanshao's personal attack ability conceals Brooks' weakness in this regard.

24-29, the Thunder entered the second quarter with a five-point advantage! Henson controlled himself and tried not to get angry at the players. After all, it is not the fault of the players that Durant scored so many points.

Since defense can't contain a full-fledged Durant, then attack for offense! What to attack? Don't forget, the Pacers have a Paul who scored nine points in a single quarter. George! And this guy is the easiest to forget!

"George." Henson walked up to George like the high school coach he walked up to Harden in 2005.

"We can't win unless you start shooting more in the game."

It's time for everyone to get to know this low-key Los Angeles boy.