Houston.

Toyota Center.

This game still attracted a lot of attention.

After all, this game is a battle between the second and third in the West, and there is still a lot of topicality.

This season is considered to be Harden's official peak season, and by getting up at 3 a.m. to memorize and understand the rules, Harden is like a fish in water under the new rules.

While improving his ability to touch porcelain under the basket, Harden has also increased the production of three-point shots, and his shooting percentage has also steadily improved.

This season's Harden is actually on Su Chen's plan list.

At the beginning of Paul's trade, Su Chen gave priority to Paul to ask Harden for the price, and the priority was before Lillard.

After all, Harden is also the MVP no matter how he says, and now is Harden's peak time, and his three-point production is enough to match Jokic.

Even if Harden comes to the Clippers, Su Chen may not be so decisive to make sure that Jokic is the core first, and it is also an option to let Harden occupy a certain dominance.

But it can't be changed, the Rockets are not stupid, they have already seen Harden's current ability and directly plan to be a cornerstone player to cultivate.

Although Paul is also at his peak, Paul is not a young player after all, even if Su Chen is willing to add some chips, the Rockets don't want to make this deal.

The game was supposed to attract a lot of attention, but before the game, the Clippers' official website updated the players' status.

Clarkson and Lillard were rested at the same time!

It actually makes sense to let them take turns to rest, because the team has been going through a wave of consecutive away trips recently, and Su Chen seems to be protecting the players as if there is nothing to do.

It's just that the collision between the second and third in the west, one side is not at full strength, and it looks a little boring.

Of course, Su Chen didn't care about the outcome of this game, in fact, Su Chen was quite concerned about this game.

Even a few days ago, Su Chen was already playing the idea of this game.

Of course, winning still has to win, but the more important purpose is that Su Chen is going to plan to let new players take the position.

This newcomer is naturally Dinwiddie.

In the past games, Dinwiddie looked at Clarkson, who was about the same level as him, and he had become famous overnight.

Both popularity and value are rising rapidly, which makes Dinwiddie very anxious.

During the team's training matches, he often had direct confrontation with Clarkson, and in fact Clarkson was not much better than him.

Although Clarkson's scoring ability is indeed much stronger, Clarkson's organizational ability is much worse than him.

This has made Dinwiddie very anxious lately, and he needs a chance.

After learning that both Clarkson and Lillard were on the rest, Dinwiddie knew his chance had come.

Especially before the game, when the coach arranged the tactical arrangement, it turned out to be a point guard as the core tactic.

And it's not Jokic who cooperates with him, Jokic also rotates tonight, and it is Capela who cooperates with him!

In training matches, Clarkson and Jokic worked better together, but with Capela they were average.

He, on the other hand, works better with Capela than with Jokic.

Because Capela is a standard pie-eating center, whether he blocks Clarkson Lillard or other guards, the guards are in charge of their offense and don't care about him at all.

They're both scoring guards, and he's not only scoring but also feeding Capela.

In fact, Capela doesn't like to work with other defenders very much, because when he is paired with them, he is basically a tool man.

And when working with Anderson and Dinwiddie, the two of them can find him and feed him the cake.

Soon the game is about to begin.

Although the Clippers have three starting shifts, after all, this is the battle for second and third in the West, and if the Rockets win, they will be one step closer to the second place.

Winning one game is winning two games, and Rockets fans are still excited.

The opponent didn't pay attention to the game, but they were even happier.

Both sides started and walked into the field.

Rockets starting lineup: Donatas Motaiyunas (C), Tariq Black (PF), Trevor Ariza (SF), James Harden (SG), Isaiah Kannan (PG)

Clippers starting lineup: Clint Capela (C), Nicholas Batum (PF), Matt Barnes (SF), Paul George (SG), Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)

In this game, Su Chen came up with a three-front lineup, which can trigger the fetters of the forwards, so that the three forwards can increase their ability to a certain extent.

This Rocket team is actually quite easy to deal with.

Although the Clippers have ceded Jokic, Lillard, and Clarkson, the Rockets' roster has not actually been traded, and the Happybeast is out before the season.

The Rockets have achieved good results this season with Harden's single core, which is actually the standard ball-handling core style of play, and the league's defense of the magic ball is not deep enough.

For this kind of team with a big core with the ball, it is enough to deal directly with the core with the ball.

Although Harden is starting to enter the peak, there are still a lot of technical shortcomings in Harden now.

First of all, Harden in this time period is a standard left-sided attacker, which makes Harden's right hand, not so skilled, allow defenders to defend Harden's left side and put it on the right.

As for the defense after Harden's breakout, there are two options.

One is that the center is determined to make up for the interior line, and the defender who is passed is more likely to cut off Harden's passing route, and completely hand over the basket to the center who makes up the defense.

The other is to firmly let Harden go to singles.

The difference between a ball-handling core and a tackler is that the playmaking ability of the ball-handling core is usually top-notch, and the ball-handling core likes you to wrap him up.

The organizational ability of the attacker usually only fluctuates above and below the passing line, but the attacking ability is very strong.

Dealing with a tackler can't make him infinite singles, but dealing with a ball-holding core can make him fall into infinite singles.

Speaking of which, Dinwiddie actually plays in a similar way.

But Dinwiddie's ability is limited, and it can't be called a big core with the ball, but only a small core with the ball.

After the start of the game.

Donatas Motaiyunas jumped to the ball for the Rockets.

Obviously, Capela has a lot better jumping ability than Donatas Motaiyunas, but perhaps it is a lack of experience, after all, Capela is a starter for the first time this season.

Happy Beast hasn't played yet, and Donatas Motaiyunas is naturally experienced as a starter for the Rockets.

The ball was naturally in Harden's hands.

Originally, Harden planned to dribble leisurely through the half court as usual, and then slowly organize the offense.

But just in the middle line, George had already rushed over and pressed at him.

Harden was slightly surprised, but immediately dismissed.

He is not only great at scoring and passing, but also his ball handling skills, which are also stepping into the top ranks of the league day by day.

George wants to make mistakes with physical pressing, and he just wants to deal with some other small guards, and he thinks too much about him.

His body is still relatively strong, and he will not be deformed by George's oppression.

But just as Harden wanted to change direction and accelerate, he found that George was defending him sideways, which made his smoothest left-handed dribble change of direction unable to do it.

Instead, he could only rely on his unskilled right hand to protect the ball.

It made Harden look a little embarrassed.

But once it got to the three-point line, it made Harden relax a little.

Harden, who was targeted by George for defense, also got a little angry.

Originally, Donatas Motaiyunas wanted to be brought up and give Harden a pick-and-roll, but Harden directly let Donatas Motaiyunas pull away.

He was going to single George one.

George was still guarding his left hand, and Harden cursed in his heart and forcibly hit him with his right hand.

Although Harden's right hand is not very skilled, George put a certain amount of space on his right after all, so he still let Harden break through.

After breaking through, Harden directly wanted to make George a foul, and his arms leaned towards George.

George is uncomfortable defending him, so he has to build George.

However, George already knew Harden's offensive habits before the game, especially the point of touching porcelain, and George directly chose to back down.

even gave up half of his body directly to Harden.

Seeing this, Harden did not hesitate and chose to go to the basket directly.

But at this time, Capela moved at high speed and directly stood at the point where Harden broke through.

Harden wanted to pass the ball, but found Donatas Motaiyunas in the passing lane, and George behind him had given up on that route.

After all, George has been in the defense and has a good reputation, and Harden feels that if the ball is passed to Donatas Motaiyunas, it is likely that George will steal it.

In particular, now he is dribbling with his right hand again.

Not only is the dribbling unskillful, but if you want to pass the ball with your right hand, the accuracy will also be biased.

This ball, Harden opted for a layup.

Originally, Harden thought that building a center is also building, and he will teach this rookie center a small lesson.

But Capela also listened to Su Chen's instructions, and after standing on Harden's breakthrough route, he directly covered his crotch and didn't move.

Harden originally wanted to lean his arm against Capela's arm, but Capela stood with one hand on his crotch to make Harden's movements look like a clown.

As a result of the collision, Capela was knocked to the ground.

Honk!

Although the penalty will not be blown immediately at the beginning, the referee will also feel the intensity of the game first, and then set the scale of the penalty for this game.

But the ball was a standard foul and had to be blown.

Honk!

Offensive fouls.

Harden didn't make a foul for the first ball, not to mention that he also paid a foul, which made Harden so angry that he blew his beard.

However, he also knew that his behavior just now was not good to argue, and after Harden got up from the ground, he went straight back to defense.

Capela was pulled up by his teammates.

At this time, Capela was also very excited, and on his first start, he made a foul on the boss of the opposing team.

Su Chen, who was on the sidelines, couldn't help but laugh in his heart when he watched the competition between Capela and Harden.

Speaking of which, Capela and Harden are mutually accomplished.

Whether it's for Capela or for Harden, it's a strong presence in each other's careers.

Even when Harden and Embiid partnered, many fans ridiculed Embiid to dye a handful of yellow hair.

However, Capela was still a rookie at this time, and he didn't dye that little yellow hair.

In fact, that handful of little yellow hair still has a lot to say, it looks like marking the existence of an aiming point for Harden, so that Harden can find him as soon as possible.

Clippers ball possession.

Dinwiddie holds the ball and pushes across half court.

At this time, George made a move to catch the ball.

Capela, meanwhile, also gave George an off-ball screen.

Suddenly, Ariza and Kannan next to him both noticed George, after all, the Clippers had a bunch of offensive points, and the coach also said that George might become the Clippers' first offensive point.

So for George's defense, it's all more focused.

Ariza even gestured to Donatas Motaiyunas, signaling that he should be optimistic about George's inward cut, which can be a three-pointer off the ball or an inward cut.

But at this time, George suddenly ran back and turned into a pull-away.

Instead, Dinwiddie suddenly accelerated and walked past Capela's pick-and-roll.

Because Cannan's attention was on George just now, he was a little ignorant of his defender Dinwiddie.

When he wanted to keep up again, he collided directly with Capella.

Donatas Motaiyunas saw Dinwiddie come out with a mid-range opening.

Although I don't know who the opposing Dinwiddie is, as a professional player, it is still quite a threat to have an open opportunity to shoot in the middle distance.

Of course, Donatas Motaiyunas didn't dare to really defend, so he could only play a delaying role, and the defense of Dinwiddie still had to let Cannan go around.

Donatas Motaiunas' delay still played a role, as Dinwiddie didn't get a good shot the first time and Cannan rushed over.

When Kannan rushed over, Donatas Motaiyunas hurriedly retreated.

But at this time, it was already too slow, Capella was called the king of cakes at his peak, and he was almost full of cake attributes to be able to give this nickname.

Running fast and jumping high are basic.

In the same position, Capella's athleticism is very fast.

Not to mention that Donatas Motaiyunas is delayed, with Donatas Motaiyunas's athleticism, he can get into it even if he doesn't hold his position even a little.

Dinwiddie showed his playmaking power with the ball at this time.

This game naturally gave him the [Ability Value Fixed] skill, and Dinwiddie, who has 80% of his peak ability, can also be regarded as a ball-holding nucleus.

Donatas Motaiunas was left far behind, and could only watch Capela jump high.

Bang!

Catch and dunk in one go.

Rockets 0:2 Clippers.

This opening, Dinwiddie is useful.

The Rockets' lack of understanding of Dinwiddie also allowed Dinwiddie to better play his abilities.

How did the Rockets know that as the only All-Star player on the Clippers court, George is still playing a supporting role.

This George is a supporting role, right?

Donatas Motaiyunas patted himself and signaled that it was his problem.

But when Harden looked at Capela, he suddenly had a strange feeling.

Especially when Capella jumped so high and ran so fast just now, it seems that this guy named Capella is quite suitable to play with him?

(End of chapter)