Not long after the Rockets took over the Spurs, another key battle in the Eastern Conference had just been played.

The Magic unexpectedly beat the Cavaliers 112-89, much to the surprise of the experts.

After a two-day break, the second game of the Rockets and Spurs series continues at the Toyota Center.

Tang Tian put Artest directly into the starter, and the Rockets also played an infinite air-cut tactic at the beginning.

With Artest on the floor, the Spurs didn't dare to play dirty, and Popovich didn't have much to do with this trick.

The Rockets had the advantage in the opening game.

The Spurs struggled to catch up in the rest of the game, but it was somewhat the same as in the first game, and they couldn't catch up in the end.

At 102-91, the Rockets scored another game to take a 2-0 lead.

After this game, Rockets fans were excited, the Rockets fell behind 0-2 two years ago, and now they are leading 2-0, and the promotion situation is very good.

"It's a championship year for the Rockets." In the TNT program after the game, Barkley also commented on it.

The roster, the coach, the experience, this Rockets team really looks flawless.

Good things come in pairs.

Just the day after the series ended, the league also announced some important honors.

The NBA All-NBA Team is out.

First line guards: Kobe, Maddy; Forwards: Garnett, James; Center: Yao Ming.

Second team defenders: Paul, Wade; Forwards: Nowitzki, Duncan; Center: Howard.

Three guards: Roy, Parker; Forwards: Pierce, Anthony; Center: O'Neill.

Yao Ming beat Howard and was selected to the first team for the second year in a row!

Not only the best team, Yao Ming was also selected for the best defensive team, and Artest was selected for the best defensive second team.

At the same time, the league's MVP was also released.

With 30% of the votes, Yao Ming beat James (23.25%), Kobe (20.16%), Garnett (16.21%), and Howard (10.21%), and was elected the regular season MVP for the second consecutive year, and he is also the first person after Nash!

Yao Ming's form has continued to be hot since returning from the Olympics, and although the Rockets have experienced a lot of turmoil this season, his various statistics have reached career highs.

He averaged 34.5 minutes per game, contributing 26.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.1 blocks, shooting 61% from the field and 92.6% from the free throw line.

It was also with his outstanding performance that the Rockets ranked first in the league for the second consecutive year, and the MVP name was well deserved.

Regular season MVP, All-Star Game MVP, best team, best defensive team, and now only one Finals MVP, this year is an absolute consummation for Yao Ming, a real year of Yao.

The situation was very good.

On May 9, U.S. time, after a two-day break, the Rockets flew to San Antonio for the third game of the series against the Spurs.

The Rockets players are full of confidence and morale.

Tang Tian is also in a good mood, and Popovich's coaching level is excellent, but this move is his dead knot.

If the Rockets can strike while the iron is hot and sweep the opponent 4-0, it will definitely blow up in momentum.

Wrapped in this momentum, if you beat the Lakers again, it is really possible to win the championship with a sweep.

The AT@T Center Arena was packed that night, and despite the team's big deficit, the San Antonio fans did not give up on the home team, believing in Duncan and Popovich to turn the tide.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups of both sides were released one after another.

The Rockets started the same as they played, with Billups and Maddy on the outside, Artest and Yi Jianlian on the front, and Yao Ming on the center.

However, there was a big change on the Spurs' side, Ginobili was mentioned to the starting lineup, but instead of Bowen or Finley, it was McDyes.

The Spurs are playing a big four lineup.

Tang Tian was also slightly stunned when he saw this lineup, this is obviously not Popovich's style.

The game started quickly, and Duncan gave the Spurs the first chance to attack.

Parker dribbled to the frontcourt and hit the hammer tactics directly, and after the front line was blocked by the Rockets, the ball went to Duncan, who misplaced Artest and caused the latter's beater to foul after a hand-to-hand fight.

Artest can carry it, but after all, he is a small forward, and he still suffers from a player of Duncan's level.

Duncan made both free throws to give the Spurs the lead.

The Rockets went to the frontcourt, Yao Ming held the ball at the three-point line, and the Rockets continued to play unlimited air cutting tactics.

It was also at this moment that Tang Tian understood Popovich's intention to make a substitution.

The Spurs made substitutions every time they blocked and dismantled, although they were still a little slower on their feet, but because the other four people didn't have a real inside line, the speed of changing defenses was timely enough to prevent it.

Billups reacted quickly, saw that the infinite air cut could not be played, and after getting the ball to the top of the circle, he saw that there was a mismatch and went straight into the ball.

Artest hit Ginobili and turned to the basket, but Bowen's help defense was fast, Artest's layup was missed, and Duncan collected the defensive rebound.

The Spurs attacked, and when they got to the frontcourt, Duncan and Parker played a small match, and the latter caught the ball and hit a small throw.

Looking back, it was still the same defensive tactic, Billups gave the ball to Yi Jianlian to play Bowen in the low post, and Bowen made various small moves.

Yi Jianlian squeezed Bowen away to the basket, but Duncan's defensive area was huge, and he directly stood in advance and successfully interfered with the shot.

"Bang!"

Yi Jianlian's shot was off, and Duncan turned to collect the defensive rebound.

The Rockets didn't score for two rounds in a row!

The cheers at the scene shook the sky.

Tang Tian also understood at this time.

Infinite Shifts!

This is the defensive tactic used by the Warriors team in the previous life, but I didn't expect Popovich to use it in advance at this time!

Popovich is a direct upgrade in the face of adversity, from version 1.0 to version 2.0.

The Rockets couldn't play the infinite air cut, so they could only play a positional battle with the Spurs.

The situation is also scorching again.

Duncan also thrives in the new system, dominating on both ends of the floor.

In the end, with Duncan's dominant statistics of 36 points, 21 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks, the Spurs defeated the Rockets 103-98 at home, won the game, and won the game by a big score.

The competition seems to be far from being as simple as it seems.

After the game, Tang Tian also had no sleep.

The coaching industry, directing a group of billionaires to play, holding the power of life and death, looks like a beautiful place, but the pressure is also unprecedented.

Otherwise, his predecessor Van Gundy would not have been so shiny.

"Ding! Publish a system mission to defeat the Spurs and advance to the Western Conference Finals, reward: 3 honor points. ”

After staying up all night until dawn, Tang Tian heard a cold prompt sound in his mind.

3 honor points, the system is a big deal!

However, he probably knew that the Rocket team was in a predicament, which was to give Tang Tian motivation.

"There it is!" I don't know if this time he stinged him sleepy, he patted his head, and he already had an idea.