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In the multimedia theater of the Rockets History Museum, two-time champion Sam Cassel's impassioned speech continues.

The Houston Rockets' journey to win the championship with the sixth seed in the West, the lowest overall pick in history, undoubtedly touched every Rockets player on the scene from the mouth of Kassel.

It seems that everyone can see their own shadow in the Rockets team that was not favored but eventually won the championship.

For example, Olajuwon in the Western Conference Finals, and the performance against Spurs center David Robinson, who stole his MVP trophy that year, was naturally shared with James Harden:

"What happened next? By the way I say, everything happened. As soon as the game against the Spurs started, from the first minute, Olajuwon chased David Robinson, the regular season MVP of the year, to ask for the ball in the penalty area. All the offensive tactics you've seen and haven't seen, fantasy footwork, back-to-back jumpers, hook shots, tentative steps, Olajuwon has all used. And all the defensive methods you've seen and haven't seen, the Spurs have used them all. If you can't prevent it alone, you'll be sandwiched by two, three, or even four people... If it weren't for that series, David Robinson's place in history would probably be much higher. ”

In that series, Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He also had 4.2 blocks and a 56% shooting percentage, and single-handedly defeated the Spurs as a team.

Even today, even for James Harden, who is often hailed as a monster, this kind of data is quite exaggerated. So who said that there is no data maniac in the history of the Rockets, Olajuwon will be the first to jump out to express his dissatisfaction! What's more, his set of data was played on the Spurs, who were known as the best defensive system in the league in the era of saber rattling and constant strength on the inside!

Kassel's stimulus to Harden was immediate. Harden, who was blowing his beard and staring at the time in the video and video hall, immediately went out of his way against the Utah Jazz, who is known as the strongest defense in the league, the next day, and slashed 41 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal.

He made 7 of 12 shots from beyond the three-point line, which simply swept away the fluctuating feeling after the start of the playoffs.

Harden's awesomeness is similar to that of Olajuwon. Olajuwon picked David Robinson on the shot, and the rest of the Spurs were in charge of the flanking but were also blown up; Harden doesn't pick anyone, but no one can defend him on the court!

Whether it is a small fight after the switch, or a strong guard line against the Jazz, or a dozen or more full-court advancements, Harden opens with three points, opens with three-point breakthroughs, and when the three-point breakthrough is opened, his assists become unstoppable. 20 points at halftime to help the Rockets build a 25-point lead; In the third quarter, almost the whole stroke and the court were cool, but when the Jazz stubbornly chased the score back to about 10 points in the fourth quarter, Harden scored two three-pointers again: one ball in the face of Mitchell's signature step-back jumper, and one ball ran and then received the ball and shot directly. In addition, he actually grabbed a frontcourt rebound, wiped the board and scored, killing the suspense!

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After Olajuwon, Kassel also talked about the second leader of the rocket at that time, "Glider" Drexler. This time he was blunt about what he was referring to:

"Chris (Paul), Clyde (Drexler) and you have so much in common: you're both humble gentlemen off the pitch, but you don't give up an inch on the pitch; Comprehensive, intelligent, one person carries a team, you are all the best players of that era in your respective positions; In the years before coming to the Rockets, there was an infinite possibility of leading the team to win the championship... You may be saddled with the infamy of the fans in your respective cities, and the jokes of non-fans around the world waiting to see the calculation fail. The 'glider' slapped them in the face. In the first round of the knockout round, he put on an attitude, and he was also the Jazz - your same opponent tomorrow - except that there was a double attack on Malone and Stockton at that time. The Rockets were tied 2-2 at the time, and we were still 75-82 down in the final five minutes of Game 5. ”

Then Drexler did something. He began to frantically, non-stop, almost mindlessly pound the Jazz inside, again and again, taking the ball and stabbing inside. Even the 'postman' Malone was stupid, no one had ever dealt with him like this, and he was not afraid of his mace-like arm and slammed it upward. In the end, thanks to a full-court layup and free throws from Clyde, we took the lead for the first time in the game. We kept the advantage until the end and eliminated the Jazz. ”

"Before the playoffs began, we were all depressed and no one believed that there was a chance of defending the title. But Drexler woke us up. When you win the first series, the rest of the hope is limitless! ”

When Sam Cassel said these words, his eyes stayed on Chris Paul from time to time. And Paul's earnest eyes have been staring at the chattering Cassel in the center. Of course he knew Drexler's story, but he heard from the people involved that if there was no 'glider' in the first round of the decisive game, there would be no entire playoffs of the Rockets and the championship that year.

In the first game with the Jazz, Paul played the cold-blooded second leader who delivered the fatal blow.

With 17 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists, as well as a fatal 4 steals and a 50% shooting rate, Paul is the killer hiding behind the main player Harden, the little Lee flying knife behind the siege hammer. Once the team is in a scoring drought, Paul will show up. He smashed into the Jazz restricted area, stirring up a bunch of iron-blooded interior lines. Gobert, Favors, Ingalls, Claude. Paul walked around these people like butterflies and needles, and with a shake of the opponent's eyes, he could drop back and shoot a jumper or throw to finish. Paul's belief in scoring is so strong, I don't know if it has anything to do with Cassel's narration that day, but in addition to his determination, his movements are so weighty, and the Jazz team on the hard bridge and hard horse can't keep up with the rhythm at all.

And Paul's defense and assists are more terrifying weapons than his score.

In the fourth quarter, the Jazz closed in on the score, and the ball was handed over to their rookie star Donovan Mitchell to handle. Mitchell in 191 looks like Paul in 183, and the odds are stacked, but how can Paul be timid? Mitchell first took a big disguise, which made it difficult for the more flexible Paul; Mitchell took two more steps back, ready to rely on speed to make a strong breakthrough, Paul judged the direction of the attack in advance and moved sideways in advance; Mitchell was going to make a blocking foul, but Paul just wrapped his arm around Mitchell and dropped the basketball while his body stepped away; Take a step back, tap your toes, and immediately get up to speed, steal the basketball you pulled from Mitchell's hand, and push the counterattack!

But on his way, there is Gobert, the big center who retreats, and Mitchell, who just made a mistake and caught up!

Paul burst into the box in the gap between the two!

The siege of the Jazz has been set up in advance!

Paul slows down, Paul is still dribbling! He stopped at the free-throw line, he made a shot feint, but he didn't fool anyone. Looks like a good time for bag clips! He has no room to shoot, he is leaning on the pivot foot, turning around and looking for a second chance!

But maybe...

Paul's intention wasn't to shoot?

I saw him with his back to the basket, and his hand was like a magic spell to divide the ball in the direction of the bottom corner. In that corner, his teammate Yang Yiming has already taken his position!

It turned out that Paul had been waiting for his teammates to plug in, and his solo attack was just a cover to attract defenders!

The knife fell, and Yang Yiming shot three points.

Does this calm running and handling of the ball have the style of the rookie of the year, Sam Cassel himself?

Yang Yiming's first playoff game - will it be a Kassel-like championship journey?

Naturally, in order to inspire young people, Kassel also spoke of himself that year...