Houston Rockets or Roy?

This problem, which Chinese fans are so entangled with, is not a problem in the United States at all.

The hot-hot Houston Rockets vs the New York Knicks, who have lost two in a row, and James Harden at the quasi-MVP level vs Roy who has encountered the rookie wall, it is clear who is strong and who is weak.

The new local leader of the United States VS China's rookie of Tanhua, the bearded man who likes to be funny and caters to American values VS the rule breaker, and the arrogant rookie who claims to challenge the whole league, it is also clear who American fans should support.

Coupled with Roy's full of hatred before, most of the NBA players are now looking forward to the Rockets beating the Knicks, and Harden beating Roy.

Beating up reservoir dogs is also something that Western society likes to do.

But did the Rockets really win? D'Antoni didn't dare to be careless.

Speaking of which, the good-looking head coach is also an old acquaintance of the New York Knicks. During his three-and-a-half-season at the helm of the Knicks (2008-2012), he also tried to implant his run-and-gun tactics into this noble big-city team. But it's a pity that neither the lazy Zach Randolph nor the extremely egoistic Cameron Anthony have carried forward D'Anthony's style of play, they don't like running at all, and that's what they say, I came to New York to make a lot of money and enjoy life, so why let me run?

In the end, D'Antoni was forced out of power by Anthony and had to leave New York in disgrace.

So, if it weren't for this unhappy memory, D'Antoni might have considered saving a little face for the Knicks, but now as long as he doesn't get angry when he sees the New York Knicks' team logo, how can you let him not be ruthless, he is determined to fight with all his strength in this game.

"Listen, although the outside world is optimistic about us and says that we have a slight advantage in terms of strength, the truth should be clear to everyone, Patrick (Beverley) and Clint [Capela] will not be able to play in this game, and the rest of us will have to work harder to make up for their absence. As long as the game is not over, there can be no relaxation, and no one on the field can tell what will happen, so you have to give it your all, understand? ”

Probably worried that the players would underestimate the enemy, D'Antoni specially told the players before the game. However, his worries are obviously unnecessary, you know, among the many stars who have choked against Roy before, there are Harden, Ariza, and Nene shadows, especially Harden, he just signed a 13-year 200 million huge sneaker endorsement contract with Adidas, I thought I could sit firmly on the position of Adidas' number one star, but I didn't expect that only a few months later, Roy was born and signed a lifetime sneaker endorsement contract with Adidas at a record price (not yet announced), which made Harden look gloomy, Fall into the shade.

Who is Harden, how can he allow a rookie like Roy to ride on his head, the arrogant Harden didn't even pay attention to Durant and Howard back then, let alone Roy.

Harden and Roy had a war of words before the game, and although Adidas' publicists kept reminding the two to maintain harmony in public and create an atmosphere of fun for Adidas' players, it couldn't stop these two stubborn stars who both wanted to win to the ceiling.

James Harden was the first to attack, and his jealousy of Roy was endless, so he questioned it in a tweet, "I heard that during the Christmas game, some New York fans shouted MVP at Roy, I think these New York fans must be a little hot-headed, how can a team that is lucky to get 19-13 have an MVP, how can a rookie who averages just over 25 points per game be qualified to compete for MVP." ”

Harden's words were very aggressive, scolding the Knicks, New York fans, and Roy all over again.

And Roy did not show weakness, he originally hated the old hatred of Harden in the first round and relying on the "porcelain Dafa" to get himself off the court. This time Harden fired, and his counterattack was more direct, "I'm curious about how Harden's data is brushed out, if you just look at the data, then Harden may be one of the strong contenders for MVP, but I mean the MVP of the iron class, his shooting percentage is really miserable (shooting rate of 44.82%, three-point shooting rate of 35.07%), not what I say, give me these shots, then I can throw Harden two streets." ”

The two sides will start a war, and the media and fans who support the two will naturally not be left behind.

Since Harden and Roy are comparing data, the focus of the quarrel between the two sides is naturally data. Almost every statistic and detail of Harden and Roy is the focus of debate among fans on both sides.

For example, Harden's average of 27.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 1.44 steals and 0.38 blocks per game and Roy's 25.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.54 steals and 1.27 blocks per game is more impressive, and who is closer to the MVP title.

For example, the comparison between Harden's low shooting percentage (44.82% shooting, 35.07% three-point shooting, and 84.30% free throw shooting rate) and Roy's reliable and better shooting percentage data (50.00% shooting, 44.44% three-point shooting, and 84.85% free throw shooting) does it mean that Harden is really a data brush?

For example, if Roy is given the same playing time as Harden (36.3 minutes per game, Roy averages 28.3 minutes per game), will his stats be seconds off Harden (according to the fans' algorithm, Roy can increase his efficiency by 28.27% year-on-year if he increases his playing time by 8 minutes, then Roy's stats can reach an astonishing 32.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.97 steals and 1.63 blocks).

For example, is Harden's average of 10.1 free throws per game too much, and is he the most referee-cared for player in the league? In comparison, Roy made half as many free throws as Harden (5.1 per game), so could that difference in treatment make a difference?

All the hype, all the arguments, all the firefights make up the most exquisite appetizer of this game.

It's going to be a good game, it's going to be a New Year's meal, and almost all fans are sure that the Rockets and Knicks, Harden and Roy will team up to deliver a game of a lifetime.

But what is the result?

Except for the extremely gorgeous New Year's celebration ceremony at the beginning, except for the super commentary lineup of Brin, Fraser, Van Gundy, Yao Ming, and excluding the-for-tat between Roy and Harden before the game, this high-profile New Year's battle doesn't seem to have sparked on the court, at least certainly in the first quarter.

According to Coach D'Antoni's idea, the Rockets should run with all their might from the first second, strive to be the first to open the situation, and consume Roy, without Roy, the Knicks will lose half, which is the current standard play for every NBA team against the Knicks, not to mention that today the Rockets lack a defensive player Beverley and Capela on the inside and outside, and the landing position will definitely be unfavorable to the Rockets.

D'Antoni thought thoughtfully, but surprisingly, Roy didn't start today, when the ten starters on both sides stood on the field, D'Antoni was dumbfounded, a large group of media reporters were dumbfounded, the audience was dumbfounded, through the big screen, they were surprised to find that Roy was actually sitting on the field with a towel and other bench players talking to each other.

Roy didn't start? What's going on? Roy wasn't injured, but he didn't start, was Roy avoiding something or did Hornacek admit it?

Seeing this situation, the media and fans must be the most frustrated, the media desperately played up the fateful showdown between Roy and Harden before the game, and the fans were looking forward to an ace battle, but all these hopes came to naught in an instant.

Seeing this first list, the live broadcast room was also dumbfounded.

"Roy didn't start? It can't be, it's a big difference from what we predicted, if it weren't for the injury, then Roy would be puzzling on the bench, and from what we know about Roy, he's definitely not the kind of guy who is willing to give in easily. ”

"Roy didn't really start, he sat on the bench since the warm-up, and there were no subtitles to indicate if Roy had any surprises, so the only explanation was that it was a tactical arrangement by Hornacek's manager."

"Hey, don't make a fuss, put the team's best players on the bench, although the NBA is not without this kind of commotion, but isn't this too risky, let's ask Jeff (Van Gundy), when you were on the Rockets, would you let Yao Ming sit on the bench for no reason and let him lead the bench players to play?"

"I said Walter, just let me go, if I had put Yao Ming on the bench, the angry Chinese fans would have flattened my house the next day."

"Hahaha, so this Jeff (Hornacek) on the field is in danger of his house?"

Is Hornacek in trouble? Is the Knicks in trouble? No one knows what is the mystery of Hornacek's starting line-up and what the significance of him hiding Roy is.

Facing the Rockets team consisting of Harden, Brewer, Ariza, Anderson, and Harrell to start, the Knicks sent Rose, Lee, Arthur, Porzingis and Noah.

Obviously, this is an offensive lineup, and the Knicks don't intend to defend either, and they're playing fast-paced bombardment tactics under Derrick Rose.

The game started and both sides started at the same time, and the scene was very lively, but for the Rockets, those tactical arrangements against Roy before the game were nullified, and it felt like a fist on a sandbag, completely meaningless.

Harden couldn't find Roy, he could only vent his strength on the basket, countless three-point rain fell from the sky, the first quarter of the Rockets felt very good, almost how to shoot, and the Knicks are not bad, a group of outside shooters still maintain shooting stability in the state of attack.

Roy didn't play, and the protagonist on the court became James Harden and Derrick Rose's guard duel.

These two core guards, one is fast and one is slow, one is good at breaking through quickly, and the other likes to slowly drill through the crowd, although it is not as good as the expected Roy vs. Harden, but at least it is a little interesting.

Harden is indeed amazing, in the first quarter of the game he shot 7 of 10, 3 of 5 three-pointers, scored 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists in a single quarter, in terms of performance is definitely worthy of the MVP call of the fans.

By the way, Houston fans also shouted "MVP" this time, and it is obvious that this is a support for their star Harden.

Compared with Harden, Roy's treatment is much worse, as long as the camera sweeps to Roy and Roy's image flashes on the big screen, it must be exchanged for the merciless boos of Houston fans.

And with only 2 minutes left in the first quarter, the Rockets replaced Harden, and then, the much-anticipated Roy finally came on the court.

Roy appeared on the stage, and he was greeted by a super high decibel boo from the audience, and the fans were emotional, but Roy was full of indifference.

He thought to himself, playing away from home is not all without benefits, at least like now, his "black mamba" can help him replenish a lot of energy, isn't this the best New Year's gift from Houston fans? ……