On May 23, the Rockets and Spurs will start their second battle at the Toyota Center. Hayes still has adhesive tape on his brow bone, but his right eye is swollen and will not affect his condition.

When Jeff Van Gundy announced his starting lineup, everyone was taken by surprise. It wasn't just Spanoulis who replaced Fisher, even Maddie was put on the bench, and the starters were replaced by Azubuuk.

"Tracy, although I don't know when you got injured and I haven't seen the team doctor's report, but since you said that you hurt your waist, you can substitute for this game and come to me when you feel fit enough to play." Van Gundy looked at Maddie and said angrily.

After reading yesterday's news, Van Gundy decided not to let Maddie start. Previously, the Rockets couldn't live without Maddie because there was no second scorer on the perimeter besides him. But right now, the Rockets have a lot of people to score. If Maddie doesn't work hard defensively, it will affect the Rockets' defensive system and, more importantly, the mentality of his teammates.

Maybe there won't be any more coaches to put MVP players on the bench, Van Gundy is not denying Maddy's ability, he just hopes that Maddie can get his attitude right, as long as he is willing to work hard, he is a great player.

Maddie's defense has been criticized. It's not a question of whether he defends well or not, it's a question of defensive attitude. He doesn't fight at all in the face of very tough cover from his opponents, and is always slow when packing. As the leader of the team, you can't be a spectator on the defensive end when your teammates are desperate.

Maybe a lot of "Maimi" don't believe that Maddie is a spectator. The reason is that Maddie is extremely talented, and his defensive ability should be good, and his ability and attitude are two different things, otherwise it will not be Kobe Bryant with normal arm span who will enter the defensive lineup, but Maddie. You don't need to watch the game, just look at Maddy's playoff stats, with an average of 36.4 minutes of playing time and 1.2 fouls. This one is still an offensive foul. People who can't even foul have defense?

The loss to the Spurs in the last game taught the Rockets a lesson, and if they left too much room for the GDP combination, they would be able to stab the Rockets a few times. While the Rockets were playing joint defense, they pointed the finger at Ginobili and Parker.

"The Spurs' offense is just a few moves, as soon as Duncan comes out as a cover today, Chuck, you and Coronna (Azubuuk) wrap Ginobili back and forth, so that he can't break in, can't pass. If Parker breaks through, Chuck and Vasiris (Spanolys) wrap up, and Sean (Battier) pays attention to Duncan's running position when packing, and switches positions with Chuck at any time to guard the inside. As for Duncan's singles, Chuck stuck him on the outside when he was single, tried to interfere with the shot, and if he could make a mid-range shot, he would admit it and protect the rebound. If the opponent uses another inside line to block and dismantle, or Chakra goes out, Yao Ming switches to defend Duncan, don't go out of the line. "Van Gundy has a tactical set-up, which is a change of formation in a joint defence, characterized by a shift between Yao Ming, Hayes and Battier. The key to defense is Hayes, and it is difficult to effectively execute this tactic with other power forwards, but Hayes can defend players in five positions.

"If the opponent defends the joint defense, and the offensive side hangs to Yao Ming for a single, the attraction bag will be separated, and Chuck will play. If they keep man to man, Chuck blocks and Vasrith breaks through the attack. Do you understand? Van Gundy gestured on the tactical board and said.

"Understood!" The team members said in unison.

"Cheer up and show the Spurs our defense! Don't let them score more than 80 points! Van Gundy said.

"Victory!" Fisher took the lead and shouted.

"Victory!" The Rockettes collectively shouted. Hayes's eyebrow bone injury is not yet healed, and it can only symbolize the surname Ying.

Maddie just moved her lips, her face ugly. He didn't play well and wanted to get back face today, but he didn't expect Van Gundy to put him on the bench. It just drove him crazy. Is he not as good as Azubuk?

Fight, without me, I'm going to see what you can do. Come and beg me to play when you're down by the big score. Maddie thought to herself.

Drexler saw the Rockets' starting lineup and said: "Maddie didn't enter the starting lineup today, it seems that his waist is really a bit of a problem, his hand is very poor on the court, the person who replaced him today is Azubuike, this player is not strong in scoring, but the defense left a deep impression on us, Hayes continues to appear in the big forward position, Battier small forward, the point guard has become Spanollis, the center is still Yao Ming, this is a targeted layout, the Rockets are going to fight defense." ”

'Hayes doesn't look like he's having a problem with his eyes anymore and hopefully he'll do well. He was too fierce on the court, with a few assists and violent dunks occupying the top five balls, and Duncan couldn't hold him down. Matt Bullard laughed.

After coming on the court, Duncan walked up to Hayes with a blank face, didn't look at him, and asked softly: "Maddie didn't play today, is it really injured?" ”

"I didn't expect the stone Buddha to be so gossipy? I think he's hurt. Hayes smiled.

Duncan didn't speak again, and stood in the middle circle ready to jump the ball with Yao Ming. The Spurs' starting line also changed a little from the previous game, with tall center Elson replacing Oberto and Yao Ming in charge.

Yao Ming lost to Duncan on a jumper, and the Spurs attacked first. As usual, the players pulled away, and Duncan asked for the ball at 45 degrees on the left side. Hayes was close to Duncan.

"Tim, I warn you, don't give me another elbow." Hayes said as he stood up to Duncan.

"You're scared too?" Duncan rarely answered.

"I'll suspect you on purpose again, I'm afraid that I can't help but play you, my elbows are thicker than yours." Hayes laughed.

Duncan didn't reply, he received the ball, dribbled a few times, and turned around for a jumper. Hayes had expected him to make this move, jumped up the block, and covered Duncan's eyes in the form of claws. Plug-in defense, "Stone Buddha" can't be indifferent.

Duncan shot wide and Battier grabbed the rebound.

The rocket landed in the battle, and the Shaolin abbot after the 80s was spann, and Yao Ming showed a good feel in the first shot. 2 to 0.

"Beautiful, it's all up to you to attack today." Hayes laughed.

"Pass it all on. Defend well! As long as you guard against Duncan, we're going to win. Yao Ming said loudly.

In this round, Duncan pulled out to block the pick-and-roll, and Ginobili bypassed Azubuuk. Hayes immediately stood in front of Ginobili, and Azubuuk also Duncan bypassed, one after the other, giving Ginobili a close door. Ginobili couldn't break through, and quickly passed the ball out, and Spanoris appeared in time for Ginobili's passing route, broke the ball, and launched a single fast attack.

Parker chased the defense, and Spanoulis was half a step faster and scored on the basketball. 4 to 0.

"Beautiful!" Hayes gave Spanoulis a few hard clappings, and Spanollis gave a thumbs up.

Duncan pulled up to the high post again, and this time it was Parker who got the ball.

"Ahh Hayes yelled and lunged at Parker in a murderous rage. Parker was startled and was caught between Hayes and Spanoulis on the perimeter before he could bypass Duncan. Duncan turned and ran inside, Parker struggled to find a gap and passed through Duncan, and Battier came out from the side to break the basketball.

This move is changed by the joint defense into a pinch, which can be called a "guard trap". The Spurs were extremely uncomfortable, Ginobili and Parker couldn't break through, and two consecutive passes were caught by players rushing out from behind the Rockets, and the ball was broken to counterattack.

Rockets hit 2 3 in the frontcourt. Finley and Ginobili went back to defend, Battier passed the ball to Spanolys, who passed the ball to Hayes at the base. Hayes rushed to the basket from the left, and Finley took a position to try to make Hayes hit the ball with him.

Hayes jumped up and threw the ball with both hands to Battier in the bottom corner on the other side. Ginobili was on the defensive side of Spanolys, Battier was in an empty position, and he didn't disappoint his teammates in the most accurate position, hitting a three-point shot. 7 to 0.

The Spurs got off to a bad start and someone had to open the game, Parker took the ball to Duncan, who stood still and handed the ball to Parker again. Parker was at full speed and passed Hayes. Hayes was immediately fouled, Parker missed the throw and was sent to the free throw line.

"Tony, you're getting married to Eva, aren't you? Take a look at the gifts that the fans have prepared for you. ”

As Parker was about to make a free throw, Hayes stood up to him and said, then pointed to the fan zone in front of him. Parker glanced at it, his head thumped, and his jaw almost hit the top of his foot...... The fans under the basket neatly held up a life-size Eva Longoria bikini photo and dangled it under the basket.

A lewd bearded fan wearing the No. 44 jersey of the Rockets was stabbing his tongue at Eva's face on the screen, looking very intoxicated.

Parker misses the first free throw, and the second free throw bounces off the basket and finally lands in the basket. 7 to 1.

"Who came up with this idea? The paintings in the hands of the fans must be uniformly distributed. Parker was destined to play in depression this game. Drexler laughed as he looked at the scene on the screen.

It was Hayes who came up with the idea, and the Rockets staff were of course in charge of making the posters and sending pictures to the fans.

The rocket position attacked, played to Yao Ming again, Elson failed to defend in front of him, Yao Ming received the ball and turned to break through, and dunked the basketball with both hands under the basket. 9 to 1.

The Spurs had one purpose, to foul out. Hayes has already been fouled once, and if he could have been fouled a second time in the opening game, it would have been much easier. Duncan blocked, and Ginobili broke through and rushed towards Hayes. In the last game, he deceived the referee with a fake fall. This time he was ready to repeat his old tricks, just waiting for Hayes to come up.

As a result, Hayes stood still, ignoring Ginobili. Hayes likes to think from his opponent's point of view. If he was on the Spurs, he would have come to foul him now, and it was Ginobili who was the best at making fouls to break through, which was too risky. He has to be steady, not to mention, there are people behind him who can also make fouls.

Ginobili was a little surprised to pass Hayes with ease. Battier, who switched to the power forward position, was already standing on the three-second line with his hands on his crotch, and with a slight touch from Ginobili, Battier fell backwards.

Honk! The referee's whistle blew - Ginobili hit man with the ball.

Spurs opened with three turnovers. The Rockets' defense is back!

(To be continued)