Six Hundred and Sixty-One: This Is the Real Superstar

After starting a 14-game winning streak and continuing last season with 70 wins for the first time since the 21st century, the Grizzlies are on their way to another league record.

Great teams are always accompanied by records of all kinds, and the Memphis Grizzlies have left their name on multiple league records, and they are already a pivotal team in the league.

But no one will think that they have broken too many records. After the Grizzlies won 14 consecutive victories, another all-time No. 1 is approaching them.

Now, the eyes of fans around the world are on the Grizzlies. Their winning streak has become much-anticipated.

When people know they are witnessing history, they are extremely focused. Therefore, since the end of the game with the Celtics, the Grizzlies players' every move is under the attention of fans.

The Houston Rockets are undoubtedly the second most-watched team. As the creator of the first 15-game winning streak in history, the Rockets met the Grizzlies at this juncture, which made this already distinctive regular season even more dramatic.

Since Yao Ming retired, the attention of the Aerospace City team has plummeted. Although Jeremy Lin and Harden joined last season, the attention is still only second-rate.

It wasn't until this summer, when Dwight Howard chose to settle in Space City, that the team came into view again.

And this game is undoubtedly the most high-profile game the Rockets have played in recent years.

As soon as the Rockets got off the plane, they encountered a crowd of reporters. Some of these reporters are local reporters in Memphis, and some are foreign reporters who came to report the game.

Far from being a war between Space City and Memphis, this is the focus of the world's attention.

Dwight Howard is facing the camera, showing his mouth full of white teeth. Few stars can laugh so much in Memphis, and Howard is an outlier.

I don't know if he wants to keep his sunny boy character, or if he is really full of confidence.

In comparison, James Harden's expression is much heavier. Harden has played against Link and the Grizzlies regularly since the Thunder days. There is no doubt that he is the player who knows the Grizzlies best in the Rockets.

He knows everything about Grizzlies, including the horror of playing against a Grizzly! The experience of being overwhelmed by Link last season and even the previous Western Conference finals is still vivid in his mind.

therefore,

Harden is not in the same good mood as Howard. He knew very well that even if he stood up from the FedEx Arena, he would have to shed a layer of skin!

That guy Dwight, it's not good to provoke anyone, but he's going to provoke the worst person...

The top ten players in the league are not easy to mess with. You think it's a joke.

"Hey, James, do you have the confidence to win the game today? We have been in good shape recently. We must do our best on the court!"

After getting on the team bus, Howard patted Harden on the back like a team leader.

Harden nods on the surface, but is actually MMP inside.

Why did you put on a face that taught me? Do I need your teaching? And against the Grizzlies, even if you try your best, you won't necessarily win. That's not as good, think about which nightclub to go to after going back to relax...

Howard could never have imagined that his strongest partner was actually not too eager to win.

They are all players who like to go out at four in the morning, but now Harden and Kobe are two completely different concepts.

It's not without reason that Howard is so confident. After a brief struggle early in the season, Howard is in pretty good shape.

In the past three games, Howard averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. The data is quite beautiful. He must have thought that he had returned to the top, and changed back to the "Warcraft" who could bring magic to the finals.

However, this is Howard's second year in the West, and he is a newcomer. He still doesn't know what magnitude the words Memphis Grizzlies mean.

Until the evening, the two sides had warmed up on the court, and Howard still grinned from time to time.

Randolph looked at Howard and shook his head secretly, "That kid is stupid."

Link didn't care much about Howard's state, he just wanted to take care of himself. The 15-game winning streak has been maintained for nearly 20 years. Now, it's time for Rocket to move his ass off the throne.

As for Howard? Don't worry, the guy won't be able to laugh any time soon.

Before the game, Howard, with a superhuman smile, was interviewed by the famous journalist David Aldridge.

"We were full of power today, and we played pretty well in the past three games. Don't worry, after tonight, the longest winning streak in the league will still belong to the Houston Rockets. Link is a superstar, and so am I! So, Don't think about passing the border easily!"

"Oh, then good luck, superstar Dwight." Aldridge patted Howard's shoulder with a smile. Many people thought it was an encouragement, but in fact, Aldridge was regretting it.

Good boy, will be cleaned up by Link again.

As the starters of both teams stepped onto the court, Link only hugged Jeremy Lin once, and then didn't say hello to anyone else on the Rockets.

It can be seen that the smell of gunpowder is still quite strong.

Howard looked at Link with a playful smile, but Link responded with a foolish look.

Howard suddenly became angry, he felt insulted!

When I play the finals, you don't even know where you are! Pull a ghost! In the face of the league's first center, you have this attitude! ?

Of course, Howard just complained secretly in his heart, without a spout. Later, after the game starts, he will have time to grumble with Link.

"The starting lineup of both sides is already in place. The Rockets have sent a starting lineup of Jeremy Lin, Harden, Parsons, Terrence Jones and Howard. At present, this starting lineup has won 9 wins and 5 losses for the Rockets. Although the record is not ideal, it is generally getting better. Especially in the past three games, the Rockets have performed quite well.”

Hubby Brown probably took a look at the Rockets' starting lineup. To be honest, it is indeed much stronger than last season.

The Rockets' starting center last season was Asik, who was basically a burden on both ends of the offense and defense, incomparable to Howard. Although Howard has passed his peak, he is still one of the top centers in the league.

Terrence Jones played in only 19 games last season, and the Rockets' picks at the 4 were erratic, but they weren't basically high-level players. But this season, Jones has averaged 12 points per game as a starting player, and his performance is quite outstanding.

Chandler Parsons' numbers are better than last season, and he's now a near-All-Star.

Coupled with Jeremy Lin and Harden who still maintain their standards, the Rockets' strength has risen not small.

But even so, the rocket still has various problems. Their 9-5 record now speaks volumes.

Every season, there are teams that perform well early in the season but fail in the middle and late stages.

However, the performance at the beginning of the season was not good, and there were very few teams that made great progress in the middle and late stages.

Hubie Brown doesn't know if the Rockets will become one of those few, but at least today, the Rockets can't suddenly rise to a new level.

Dwight Howard has been in his own world for too long, and it's time for him to see reality.

Still a superstar? joke!

As soon as the referee threw the basketball, Howard jumped up and showed off his jumping ability in front of Pau Gasol.

He was very excited today, he felt that as long as he won this game again, he could regain the recognition of the world.

Harden held the ball and called the pick-and-roll from beyond the arc, but Howard was unmoved in the low post.

He leaned on Gasol, raised his hand for the ball, and signaled that he was going to play in the low post!

I'm a superstar, the league's first center, pick and roll for you? What are you thinking!

The Lakers left because they didn’t want to do this, and it’s even more impossible for the Rockets to do it.

Seeing Howard unmoved, Harden felt extremely embarrassed.

The guard raises his hand to pick and roll, but the center doesn't beat you. In the first round of the Rockets, the offense diverged.

No way, Howard's resume is deeper than Harden's after all. In the end, Beard relented and handed the basketball to Howard.

Howard held the ball low and faced last season's best defensive player Gasol, but was not afraid.

Once upon a time, he was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner. Winning the award for three consecutive years, this record cannot be broken so far.

A Defensive Player of the Year who couldn't even make it to the All-Defensive First Team, Howard didn't care at all.

Rocket No. 12 leaned on Gasol and accelerated sharply, trying to turn around and break in for a dunk!

However, to Howard's surprise, Gasol was pressing step by step, and he was stuck in his position! The Spaniard's footsteps are indeed not fast, but not to the point where he will be passed by casually.

Howard can't get to Riza, and can only move laterally near the basket, leaning on Gasol.

Howard is not reconciled, the first attack has to play the momentum of the league's first center!

So, he hooked on the move. However, this kind of technical work is not what Howard is good at.

Under the blockade of Gasol's long arm, Howard's "zombie hook" kowtowed out of the frame, and he didn't have the right head at all.

This retro hook technique, Howard's two rocket predecessors Yao Ming and Olajuwon played very smoothly. But it is clear that Howard failed to carry on their mantle.

On the first attack, Howard slapped himself.

"Dwight missed the first attack, Randolph took the rebound, now watch the Grizzlies counterattack!"

The Rockets' defense is, in general, the level of the middle and lower reaches of the league. Howard's protection of the restricted area is indeed much stronger than last season's Asik, and Parsons' defense is not bad, but Harden and Jeremy Lin's defense is not enough.

Jeremy Lin is limited by his physical condition, and his defense can only be said to be quite satisfactory. As for Harden, he is a "ruthless man" who often gets into the top five because of his defensive eyes.

Conley slowly threw the ball to Link after halftime.

Link faced Parsons, who has the height of a power forward, but he was not in a hurry. His tentative steps beyond the three-point line put "Gao Fushuai" in a dilemma. Just the tentative step made Parsons very nervous.

Parsons finally decided to take a step back, beware of Link breaking through. Link seized the space and decisively made a jump shot!

Parsons didn't expect Link to be so confident, he only gave Link a little space.

However, the higher the level of players, the less space they need. Kobe Bryant can withstand two or three double-team shots, and James can withstand two or three blocking breakthroughs. Superstar players can score goals without space.

Link completed the shot before Parsons blocked it. Link's shot was so fast that Parsons didn't have time to block it.

In this way, the basketball accurately drilled into the net and made a three-pointer! From catching the ball to scoring, Link did not move a single step, but only made a few tentative steps to win a scoring opportunity for himself.

The goal was in stark contrast to Howard's just clumsy hook. What else can I say? This is the real superstar!

"Haha, an understatement goal, Parsons had to defend harder today. The Grizzlies easily took the lead and the game continued."

After Link scored, he looked past Parsons, looked at Howard, and shrugged at "Warcraft".

Super star? You don't deserve it now.