Chương 46: Chapter 46 - Just Under the Rain
Davis saw the Rockets' defensive adjustments and immediately attacked, driving hard to the basket. Facing Yao Ming, he opted for a quick acceleration, going for the layup.
Though he's known for his three-point shot, Davis's explosive speed and ability to finish at the rim make him one of the league's best.
Yao Ming, despite his towering presence, couldn't keep pace. Davis appeared to have an easy shot, but just as the ball left his hand, a shadow loomed.
SMACK!
Millsap, coming from the weak side, swatted the ball out of the air with a ferocious block, sending it careening off the backboard. Yao Ming swiftly grabbed the rebound.
The Rockets wasted no time, surging down the court in transition. McGrady, streaking ahead, pulled up for a sudden three-pointer over Richardson.
SWISH!
Three points! The crowd erupted, their cheers creating a deafening roar inside the arena. The Rockets had hit three straight from beyond the arc, and the Toyota Center was ablaze with energy.
Davis, visibly frustrated, pushed the ball up for the Warriors. The Rockets were still employing a tight 3-2 zone defense, daring the Warriors to keep shooting from long distance.
Before the game, Davis had boldly claimed that the Warriors would outgun the Rockets with their three-point shooting. Now, with his pride on the line, he attacked once again, determined to break through the defense.
This time, he tried a finesse move, using a quick hesitation to fake out Millsap and go for a tricky underhanded layup. It seemed perfect—except Yao Ming wasn't fooled. As Davis let the ball fly, Yao's long arm swatted it out of the air like a fly.
The Rockets regained possession, and once again, they were off to the races.
Alston sprinted down the court, saw Davis in front of him, and gave him a quick jab step. Davis bit, and in an instant, Alston stepped back and launched a high-arching three-pointer.
Brin, the commentator, started to question the shot's logic, but before he could finish his thought, the ball sailed smoothly through the net.
SWISH!
"Four in a row! The Rockets can't miss!" Brin shouted, his excitement barely contained.
Even Reggie Miller, sitting next to him, was wide-eyed in disbelief. "This is insane! They're raining threes from everywhere!"
The Rockets had made four consecutive three-pointers, each from a different player. The fans were losing their minds, chanting and cheering with a fervor that echoed throughout the stadium.
Old Nelson, the Warriors' head coach, couldn't take it anymore. He called a timeout, storming onto the court, waving his hands in frustration. But the Rockets were already fired up. The atmosphere in the Toyota Center was electric.
Before the game, Davis had been cocky, talking about how the Warriors would beat the Rockets with their long-range shooting. Now, the Rockets were handing them a taste of their own medicine.
As the Rockets' players came off the court, Cole stood, grinning from ear to ear, offering high-fives. "That's how you do it, fellas! Keep it going!"
Andrew, sitting on the bench, leaned forward with a slight smirk. "Good job, guys," he said, his voice calm and controlled.
The training, the discipline, everything he had instilled in this team—it was all paying off right now. They weren't just playing; they were executing the strategy to perfection.
When the game resumed after the timeout, the Warriors tried adjusting by incorporating more off-ball movement and screens to free up their shooters. They hit a few threes, but the Rockets' defense was relentless, and every shot was contested.
In contrast, the Rockets continued to rain down threes, but they weren't just haphazardly launching them. They were calculated, using Yao Ming's presence inside to draw defenders and create open looks for their shooters.
Even Novak, a bench player known for his sharpshooting, got in on the action, hitting two long-range bombs in quick succession. The Warriors, desperate to stop the barrage, shifted to a 2-3 zone defense.
But that just played into the Rockets' hands. With the Warriors' defense stretched thin on the perimeter, Yao Ming took full advantage inside. He went to work, scoring with hook shots, drop steps, and even a rare display of footwork that left Biedrins scrambling to keep up.
By the end of the first quarter, the Rockets were up by 14 points, leading 30-16.
Andrew leaned back on the bench, chewing gum nonchalantly, his eyes sharp as he scanned the court. The Warriors had come into this game thinking they could outshoot the Rockets, but Andrew knew better. He had anticipated this, countering their fast-paced style with his own brand of controlled chaos.
Unlike other coaches like Nelson, Cole, or D'Antoni, who relied solely on high-speed offense, Andrew believed in balance. He used Yao Ming's dominance in the paint to create space for the shooters, knowing full well that once the threes started falling, the Warriors would be forced to adjust.
And when they did, Yao would be unstoppable.
As the game wore on, the Rockets' lead only grew. The Warriors were lost—they couldn't score from outside, and their defense was collapsing under Yao's pressure. By the end of the third quarter, the Rockets were up by 20 points, 81-61, and the game was all but over.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Rockets had won 123-108, setting a new season-high for points. But what truly stood out was their three-point shooting.
They attempted 34 three-pointers, making an incredible 20 of them. A staggering 60 points came from beyond the arc, nearly half of their total score.
The fans left the Toyota Center buzzing, their minds blown by what they had just witnessed. This wasn't just basketball—it was an offensive masterpiece, orchestrated by Andrew.
After the game, Thibodeau approached Andrew, his earlier doubts completely erased.
"I've got to hand it to you," Thibodeau said, still a little awestruck. "You've really built something special here. The Rockets look unstoppable."
Andrew smiled, but his response was measured. "There's still a lot of work to be done. This is just the beginning."
Thibodeau nodded, his admiration for Andrew growing. His calm confidence, even after a dominant victory, was something to be respected.
The Rockets were now 18-6, sitting third in the league standings. The future looked bright, but Andrew knew the road ahead was long. The playoffs were where legends were made, and they still had much to prove.
As Christmas approached, Andrew was preparing for his first holiday season in the U.S. But just before the festive cheer could settle in, the NBA was rocked by a blockbuster trade. The Denver Nuggets had acquired superstar Allen Iverson, forming a deadly duo with Carmelo Anthony.
The NBA world buzzed with excitement. Some even compared it to Jordan and Kobe teaming up. But Andrew? He was already thinking about how the Rockets would face this new challenge.
For now, though, he savored the win and the progress his team was making. The journey was just beginning.
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