One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven: A Superstar with Almost No Shortcomings

Most teams are helpless against James Harden's offense. Harden averaged an astonishing 36.1 points per game last season, and it wasn't just luck.

Some people even believed last season that no player in the league could defend James Harden alone. No team's system can stop Harden's scoring momentum.

As long as he wants, he can score 40 or 50 points in every game.

Last season, his 32 consecutive games with 30+ points and 5 consecutive games with 40+ points seemed to support this statement.

However, today, the Memphis Grizzlies and Link ended Harden's scoring myth.

Facts have proved that there are still people in this league who can contain Harden.

Harden had just controlled the ball beyond the three-point line, and Conley couldn't help but shrink a few steps, ready to double-team at any time.

Jokic also moved forward silently, preparing to seal the breakthrough route.

And Link pressed hard on Harden, not giving him an easy chance to shoot.

The Grizzlies defense remains superb.

If anyone else dared to stick to Harden like this, Harden would have committed a foul long ago.

However, it has never been an easy matter to draw a foul on Link. He can always see the opponent's intentions and react immediately.

Moreover, the referee's standard for calling fouls has also changed this season. It is not as easy to call a foul as it was in previous seasons.

Therefore, drawing a foul will definitely not work.

Harden had no choice. He gritted his teeth and decided to break through directly!

However, Harden had just taken a few steps when he was stopped by Conley who was double-teamed.

At the same time, Jokic moved to a high position, blocking Harden's route to Capela.

Harden has no room to take action at all, the Rockets' space is too small!

Yes, the Rockets, who have always relied heavily on three-pointers and averaged 44 three-pointers per game, are actually very average in their ability to open up space this season.

There is no way, neither Westbrook nor Capela can shoot, so as long as the Grizzlies are willing to double attack, even Harden is helpless.

If it was last season, Paul would still be a three-point threat. The Grizzlies would never dare to let Paul go so easily to double-team Harden.

But it's different now. Westbrook's three-pointer can really be ignored.

Therefore, trading Paul for Westbrook may not necessarily be a good move.

In the end, Harden still chose to give the ball to Westbrook.

To be precise, this is a choice without a choice.

Westbrook did not hesitate after receiving the ball and shot another three-pointer.

But it is a pity that even this open three-pointer, Westbrook failed to make it.

The basketball hit the front edge of the basket hard and then bounced out. It was a long backboard.

Westbrook immediately entered the penalty area, preparing to shoot and steal.

In this regard, Westbrook's explosive physical fitness often gives him an advantage.

But just as he was about to take off, he found Link "flying" over from the side and scooping the ball into his arms with one hand.

Link never gives up long rebounds to others.

This time Westbrook met an opponent who was more physically capable than himself.

This time Westbrook missed again, and Mike D'Antoni no longer shouted passionately.

Because at this time, the game has entered the last four minutes of the fourth quarter, and the Houston Rockets trail the Grizzlies by 22 points!

Every time the Rockets fail to attack now, it is equivalent to taking another step towards the edge of the cliff.

So far in today's game, Harden and Westbrook have not scored high.

Harden has only scored 18 points so far, shooting only 40.2% from the field.

You know, Harden is a master who can average more than ten points per game by relying on free throws. But so far today, only 18 points have been scored.

Westbrook is even worse. He has only scored 14 points so far. The key is that his shooting rate is only a disastrous 29.4%.

He was so iron, Link felt that the basket seemed to be a little crooked.

The combined scoring averages of him and Harden are so explosive, it seems that the two are quite suitable.

However, the basketball game is not a simple 1+1=2 formula.

As it turns out, Westbrook is completely ineffective in helping Harden open up the floor.

And in the Houston Rockets, he can't dominate the ball as unscrupulously as he did in the Thunder. As a result, Westbrook cannot exert his greatest power.

The Houston Rockets successfully dealt with Paul, but they are likely to be further away from the championship.

After the Grizzlies attacked again, Link assisted Dillon Brooks, who was quickly in the corner, and hit a three-pointer, widening the point difference to 25 points.

Mike D'Antoni must be extremely envious now, even though the Rockets are a completely "Money Ball" team. However, their ability to space the floor is not as good as the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies starting five all have three-point threats, and the threats are not small.

At this point, the game has basically lost its suspense.

Harden and Westbrook accounted for more than half of the Rockets' scoring. They can't play well, which means the Rockets can't play well either.

Link didn't score much today, only 23 points so far.

As Hubie Brown analyzed before the game, the two sides are unlikely to score points against each other today.

But if the Rockets don't score points, it's basically nothing.

The Grizzlies don't score so much, but they can still guarantee victory.

"Today's game completely exposed the problems of the Houston Rockets. Their defensive ability on the front line and their ability to open up space will be a stumbling block that hinders them from going further in the playoffs."

At this point, Hubie Brown no longer thinks this game is a preview of the Western Conference Finals.

Because the Rockets are in this state, they will definitely not make it to the Western Conference Finals.

Take a look at the strong teams in the Western Conference, the Lakers, Clippers and Grizzlies. Which one doesn't have a strong front line?

The Rockets' defense can only be beaten.

And in the playoffs, each team's defense will only be more meticulous than the Grizzlies today.

The Rockets' offense has a "habit" of steep declines in the playoffs.

Don’t the fans often tease you? When the Rockets can't hit three-pointers, you know they're in the playoffs.

In fact, this is the impact that playoff-level defense has on the Rockets' offense.

Facts have proved that even in this era when offense is king, defense still plays an irreplaceable and important role.

A team that only attacks is destined to be short-lived. There is a reason why the Rockets have been disappointed in the playoffs for so many consecutive years.

If the Rockets want to change the status quo, the only solution is to seek transactions.

Looking at it now, the only Rockets player with trade value is Capela.

Westbrook? Not every team dares to ask for that guy. It is really difficult to find a suitable partner for him.

But if Capela is traded, the Rockets will have no frame-protecting center at all.

Hubie Brown shook his head. The Rockets' road this season is still not easy.

Now with so many points difference, the Rockets' only option is to gamble on three points.

As a result, Mike D'Antoni once again paused the game and adjusted his tactics.

He pushed Tucker to the five position, let House play the four position, and McLemore played the small forward.

As a result, except for Westbrook, the Rockets have four players on the court who have the ability to shoot three-pointers.

This can also help Westbrook open up space and make it easier for him to attack the basket.

But the Grizzlies are not stupid. After returning from the timeout, Iguodala, whose presence has gradually declined in recent seasons, took the field.

He replaced Conley and came on specifically to deal with Westbrook.

On the first attack after the Rockets' lineup came back, Westbrook's impact was resolved by Iguodala.

Iguodala's current speed is indeed unable to compete with Westbrook, but his confrontation ability is still there.

Westbrook relied on Iguodala's forced layup, but due to the fierce confrontation, he finally missed the frame.

Mike D'Antoni's heart was shocked. The Rockets took another step towards the cliff and were about to be shattered to pieces!

Subsequently, Link controlled the ball for half the period as the No. 1 position. He did not rush to counterattack, but slowly waited for Jokic to get into position.

Since the Rockets let Tucker play center, Jokic will get an opportunity in the low post that is almost equivalent to a misplaced singles!

Although Tucker is short, his lower body is stable and powerful. It is indeed no problem to carry some blue-collar rough guys.

But Jokic happens to be one of the most skilled centers in the league. After receiving the basketball while relying on Tucker, Jokic used an old man hook with almost no jumping and successfully scored in the low post.

D'Antoni looked at the situation on the court, and the corners of his mouth couldn't stop twitching.

This guy is too bullying!

Putting a center less than 2 meters tall in front of the Grizzlies is simply asking for death.

In the end, the Rockets still failed to hit a three-pointer, and Jokic played a good game in the low post.

When there was only the last minute left in the game, the score difference had become 30 points.

The Grizzlies sentenced the Rockets to death in advance.

112 to 82, FedEx Arena is indeed not a good place to play the All-Star Game.

Harden played to the end and only scored 22 points. This is very different from his previous performance of nearly 40 points per game.

Where's Link? He had 6 steals and 3 blocks in the game, completely defeating Harden on the defensive end.

Harden made 8 turnovers today, 3 of which were caused by Link directly stealing the ball.

This time, the Grizzlies did not force a 50-50 split with the Rockets.

The 30-point difference is enough to illustrate the Grizzlies' competitiveness this season.

The label of the Grizzlies as a "pseudo-strong team" has still not been attached after seven games.

Instead, they took the lead in branding the Rockets as a pseudo-strong team.

Are the Houston Rockets a championship contender?

After this game, no more.

After one minute of garbage time, the score was fixed at 118-84. The Houston Rockets, who averaged 121 points per game this season, did not even score 90 points at FedEx Arena.

Harden and Westbrook both overturned. Their losses officially exceeded their wins, and their record became 3 wins and 4 losses.

The Grizzlies started with a strong team and achieved a good result of 5 wins and 1 loss.

In today's game, Link only scored 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. His statistics were extremely ordinary.

But today's Link is even more terrifying.

First, he scored 61 points on James, and then he defended Harden, the strongest second position in the 10s, and his shooting percentage and scoring plummeted.

Link proved that he is a true combination of offense and defense.

In both offense and defense, Link is not only good at both, but both have reached the top level!

An all-around superstar with almost no shortcomings...

Those who ridiculed four consecutive championships as idiotic dreams probably don’t laugh much now.