The Houston Rockets, who lost Yao Ming and Maddy, have been in a very awkward position since the 08-09 season and the Lakers battled seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.

Morey doesn't seem to be resigned to just messing up, so the team didn't make a big move to tear down and rebuild. After all, no one knew at the time that the injury would lead to Yao Ming's retirement. Therefore, the Rockets still have the playoffs as their first goal, waiting for Yao Ming to come back and lead them to the sky.

Who knows, the "Great Wall of China" finally collapsed overwhelmed, so the Rockets also ranked only in the embarrassing position of ninth in the West for two consecutive seasons.

There is no superstar, but the configuration is barely good, and the lineup can be described as very embarrassing. Ninth in the West, this result is just one step away from the playoffs. Although it is in the lotto area, there is no too high order to use, and the results are also very embarrassing.

So this season, the Rockets don't want to be so embarrassed anymore. They're hungry for the playoffs, they're hungry to show what they're capable of. Then try to attract superstars this summer.

Currently, the Rockets are temporarily ranked seventh in the West. However, it is only 0.5 wins away from the Jazz, who are eighth in the West, and only one win away from the Suns, who are ninth in the West.

So, with almost a month left in the regular season, the Rockets' playoff spot isn't safe. There is no doubt that they are the kind of team that doesn't have to think about anything, just play and play hard!

And Henson's Pacers, although now in second place in the East, are not unscrupulous.

After the loss to the Spurs, the Pacers currently have a 38-11 record. The Chicago Bulls played three more games than the Pacers and had an impressive 41-11 record.

So, if Henson wants to be the top spot in the East, he must keep catching up! The Bulls' results in the regular season were so explosive that this group of guys could run for 50 wins in a shrinking season, which is really a bit incredible! If Rose is as healthy as he was for the previous three seasons, God knows how bad the Bulls can be.

Therefore, Pacers will not play "health basketball" in the last month because of self-satisfaction. Although they have secured a playoff spot, they will also be very desperate. Because Thibodeau and Rose's bulls will not be so easy to catch.

"Cheer up and forget about last night's loss! The Houston Rockets are not easy to mess with, and if you take it lightly, you will have to go home from Texas with two straight losses! Does anyone want to lose two in a row? ”

"Nope!" Henson asked on the sidelines, and the players answered on the pitch.

The Rockets' seventh-place finish in the West and their 28-24 record don't look like they're very strong. As a result, Henson had to keep his players on their toes before the game began.

The Rockets haven't been bad lately, and they even took out the Grizzlies in the last game, which even Henson is afraid of three-pointers.

Among them, the Slovenian defender Golan, known as "Little Nash". Dragic's performance was particularly impressive.

Last season, Dragic was just an average bench averaging 7 points and 2 assists per game. But in the second half of the season, Dragic undoubtedly played his worth.

In the latest week, Dragic averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game! Without a doubt, this is already the statistic of one of the league's top point guards.

Of course, Dragic wasn't the only one who broke out on the Rockets. This season, he averaged only 11.2 points per game. Lee, who averaged 20.2 points per game in the last week. The Rockets' first-year rookie and white forward Chandler, who was drafted with the eighth pick in the second round in '11. Parsons, who is also averaging 13.7 points per game in the latest week. For a second-round show, such data is simply incredible. After all, in Parsons' final year, he only averaged 11.4 points per game in the NCAA.

And Marcus, Camby and Scola played a back-to-back performance.

As Henson said, the Rockets are now in a situation where they have to play the playoffs even if they are desperate, so their full potential is being unleashed.

Facing such a team that dares to fight and is in great form, Henson naturally does not allow the players to take it lightly.

At night at the Toyota Center, Henson did not dare to relax for a moment. Even when he was interviewed by reporters on the sidelines, he didn't play as usual.

Serious, that's all Henson makes today.

"It seems that the Pacers don't want to leave Texas with a two-game losing streak. Before the game started, Coach Henson was pulling his face. It's as if this is an existential playoffs. "Former Rockets coach Jeff. Van Gundy laughed from the commentary podium.

Outsiders don't know that Henson's goal is to be first in the East, so it's natural to be puzzled. The Pacers are all so good, why is Henson not satisfied?

Henson doesn't need to be understood, and when the Pacers stand on the stage of the Eastern Conference Finals or even the Finals in two months, they will understand.

After the game began, the performance of the Pacers players did not disappoint Henson.

Although at the beginning of the game, "Nash" Dragic Jr. kicked off with a precise three-pointer under the cheers of the Rockets fans. But soon, the Pacers, under the leadership of "Real Paul", immediately responded with a wave of 5-0.

After this wave of 5-0, the game completely fell into the rhythm of the Pacers. Paul threw and passed in a row, allowing the Pacers to score back-to-back points on the offensive end. On the defensive end, the Pacers' strong perimeter defensive lineup also made Dragic and Konteni . Lee's two defenders were dumbfounded.

In a matter of minutes, the Pacers got off to a perfect start with a 13-4 run! Van Gundy couldn't help but shake his head: "The difference in strength between the two sides is obvious, and Coach McHale must think of a way!" ”

After speaking, the scene camera focused on the former Green Shirts "Refrigerator" McHale, who replaced Adelman in Houston.

The Rockets fired Adelman because Adelman gave the Rockets two embarrassing seasons in a row. And McHale's goal is undoubtedly the same as Henson's when he first took office, which is to do everything he can to get the Rockets back into the playoffs.

It's only the first quarter, and the Rockets are on a 13-4 run. If they lose this game, the Rockets may even fall directly into the top eight in the West!

McHale called for a halt, and the cheers in the Toyota Center were much quieter than they had just been. With a 13-4 ups, the Pacers undoubtedly poured cold water on the Houstonians.

"Well done everyone, keep it up!" Henson wasn't idle, and for him the game wasn't a sure win. But for the players, they are undoubtedly thinking, "The Houston Rockets are not as good as the leader said." ”

However, in the game, the players have this kind of thinking, and it is often a problem......

After the timeout came back, the Rockets began to "go crazy".

Dragic shot a three-pointer against Paul's interference, and Conteny. Lee easily shook off the absent-minded George and hit the mid-range shot. Even Marcus, who is almost 40 years old. Camby, too, staged a layup on Horford's head!

In an instant, the Pacers' advantage was lost. Henson was so angry that his nostrils smoked, and his shouting and scolding from the sidelines became the most beautiful "scenery" of the first quarter of the game.

In the end, the Rockets managed to stabilize the situation. 23-27, they are only 4 points behind!

"What did you promise me during the day today!? What the hell is it fighting now!? It's only 4 points away, gentlemen! The Houston Rockets chased the difference to only 4 points! Don't just talk about it, we need to take control of the game, take control of the game! Between the breaks, Henson's roar made his throat hoarse.

It has to be said that Henson's roar played some role, but it was limited.

In the second quarter, the Rockets made more turnovers under the Pacers' slightly improved defense. Dragic passes out of bounds, Parsons walks, Camby is tackled...... On a normal basis, those mistakes would have been enough to kill the Rockets ten times.

But today, the Pacers didn't take advantage of the opponent's mistake to pull the score away. Because the Pacers themselves have also fallen into a cycle of frequent mistakes.

There are several types of mistakes, mistakes formed by the oppression of the opponent's defense, and mistakes caused by the lack of tacit understanding between players. And, of course, there is the one Henson can't tolerate the most, the mistakes that players make because of their lack of concentration.

"What are you doing!? Concentrate and keep an eye on the basketball! Are the grandstand at the Toyota Center good-looking? I want to see it, sit down and watch! When Stephenson didn't receive Paul's long pass for the second time of the game, Henson exploded.

This was obviously a good opportunity to fight back, but he didn't grasp it for his own reasons, which made Henson feel unacceptable.

He threw off the tactical board in his hand, left the bench, and sat down in the audience next to the technical table.

"What is Coach Henson doing?" Naturally, the live camera would not let go of this detail, and the image of Henson leaving the bench and sitting in the audience also caught Van Gundy's attention.

"Uh...... Coach Henson, this is my position...... "When a fan who had bought popcorn came back only to find himself in his place as the Pacers coach, he was stunned.

"Let's change positions, it's more comfortable to sit here and watch the game!" Henson replied angrily, but reluctantly stood up and walked back.

The Pacers players also seemed to know that their head coach was angry, so they became a little alarmed. But even so, after halftime, the Rockets still chased the game to just 2 points.

With a two-point difference, the Pacers still lead. But how bad the team played, Henson himself knows best. If you continue to play in this state, you may be overturned in the second half.

Watching Henson walk into the tunnel with rage, Vogel shook his head. It seems that this halftime time, there is going to be a volcano eruption in the locker room.

Well, that's right. Wasn't Henson at the Toyota Center last season and broke a locker because he was angry......

Fate is a wonderful thing sometimes. Hopefully, today, Henson won't damage the Toyota Center's property again.