Chapitre 16: Chapter 16: The Rise of the Powerhouse
Panagio jumped up from his seat, frantically motioning for Rodriguez and Roy to push the pace and catch the Rockets off guard with a fast break.
Meanwhile, Millsap was leaning into Temple, muscling his way down low, and suddenly made his move. The ball had already been set in motion. Andrew, during their private sessions, had drilled Millsap, drawing from the techniques of David West, Paul Pierce, and even Aldridge himself. Millsap had absorbed it all.
Temple, despite his speed, was no match for Millsap's strength. The moment Millsap planted his hips, Temple lost his position in an instant.
With one swift dribble and a powerful pivot, Millsap charged towards the hoop, bodying Temple like he was pushing through an open door. Panagio's eyes widened in disbelief on the sideline. Is Millsap really going to overpower him like that?
Millsap's second shove left Temple off-balance, stumbling. With his opponent effectively neutralized, Millsap spun smoothly towards the rim and banked the ball in off the glass.
Boom! The ball hit the backboard and sank smoothly into the net.
Millsap's first post-up play was a success! The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement growing as they realized the change in the game.
Scouts in the audience perked up, their eyes glowing with interest. Millsap was already seen as a valuable blue-collar player, capable of averaging 25+ points in the summer league. But now, with a new weapon in his arsenal, they were practically drooling at the prospect of what he could bring to the court.
Among the loudest in the arena were Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier, grinning from ear to ear. Millsap's new post-up game was a huge asset for the Rockets heading into the season.
"I heard it was Andrew who insisted on Millsap," Shane said, turning to McGrady.
"Yup, that's my guy. His eye for talent is spot on," McGrady responded with a proud grin.
Shane Battier, hearing McGrady refer to Andrew as "my guy," understood just how much respect Andrew had earned among the Rockets. Even as an assistant coach, his influence was undeniable.
On the Blazers' next possession, Aldridge took another shot from outside, using his height to get a clean look, but as Andrew predicted, it wasn't going to last. The shot rimmed out, and Millsap grabbed the rebound, ripping it away with authority.
The Rockets returned to their offense, and once again, they fed Millsap in the post. As he backed Temple down, the fans started to cheer. They could sense it—Millsap was about to dominate.
This time, Temple tried to hold his ground, but Millsap spun on a dime, using Temple's own weight against him. With two long strides, Millsap soared toward the rim and threw down a vicious two-handed slam.
Boom! The backboard shook, and the fans went wild. Millsap was unstoppable.
Andrew clapped from the sidelines, a proud smile on his face. Is this the beginning of the "Millsap God" we'd see in the future? he mused.
Back on defense, Aldridge's shooting touch had clearly cooled off, and Roy stepped up to carry the offensive load for the Blazers. But the Rockets' defense was relentless, forcing Rodriguez into a desperate three-point attempt. The shot missed everything—a complete airball.
The crowd continued to cheer, clearly recognizing the Rockets' dominance in the finals.
The game was quickly losing any sense of suspense. Millsap, in a breakout performance, posted a monstrous stat line: 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. His efforts led the Rockets to a decisive 100-81 victory over the Trail Blazers, securing the Summer League Championship.
Panagio had boldly predicted a Blazers win, and the media had eagerly prepared their stories of a revenge victory. But in the end, all their preparations fell flat.
Once again, Andrew's timely adjustments and keen strategy had been the key to victory.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for leading the team to win the Summer League Championship. Reward: 1 Honor Point," a familiar voice echoed in Andrew's mind as the game came to an end.
The fans roared in celebration, and the Rockets players stormed the court, lost in the euphoria of their victory. Confetti rained down from the rafters as the players danced in jubilation.
Thibodeau, now sober and ecstatic, ran to Andrew, hugging him with unbridled joy.
As the celebration wound down, it was time for the awards. Millsap, with his incredible performance in the finals, not only claimed the Finals MVP but also earned the Summer League MVP, beating out Brandon Roy and Randy Foye for the honor.
Though it was just the summer league, Millsap's double MVP win sent a strong message—he was no ordinary rookie. He had been flying under the radar, but not anymore.
Holding two trophies in his hands, Millsap's face lit up as if a thousand spotlights shone just for him. During his acceptance speech, he turned toward the bench and looked directly at Andrew.
"Winning these two MVPs, I owe it all to Coach Andrew. Thank you, Coach, for believing in me, for guiding me. This championship is for you."
The arena exploded with cheers, the crowd acknowledging Andrew's pivotal role in the Rockets' triumph.
The media had often been skeptical and dismissive of Andrew, but tonight, as the MVP himself praised him before a roaring crowd, they couldn't deny the truth—Andrew was the driving force behind the Rockets' success.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone