章節 43: Chapter 43: Stunned
Previously, Smith had donned a pair of ludicrous underwear for a dunk, all in the name of entertainment for the TNT broadcast. Though it was meant to be lighthearted, he couldn't shake off the embarrassment. But since then, he had closely monitored the Rockets, quickly realizing the remarkable transformation that Andrew had brought to the team.
This impressive turnaround drew Smith's attention even further, and the more he observed, the more he recognized Andrew's extraordinary coaching abilities. This was a man who, despite just beginning his journey, already exuded charisma and confidence.
"That just gives you a break," Smith said with a cheeky grin.
"Let's see," Barkley replied, eyeing the arena as the atmosphere crackled with anticipation.
As the players from both teams finished their warm-ups, the starters emerged one by one. The Rockets' lineup remained consistent, with Millsap continuing as the starting power forward. Meanwhile, for the Mavericks, the starting center was Eric Dampier, who swaggered in claiming to be the "best center in the West." The frontcourt was anchored by team core members Nowitzki and Josh Howard, while the backcourt featured Jason Terry and the German sharpshooter, Vin Harris.
The crowd was already buzzing with excitement. With the banter from Barkley and Smith escalating, the moment the whistle blew, the tension was palpable.
At the start of the game, Yao Ming, the genuine star center, decisively outjumped the so-called "first center," securing the first possession for the Rockets.
Although the Rockets had recently undergone a coaching change, Andrew's temporary guidance had prepared them for this moment. As the attack commenced, they fell back into their familiar rhythm.
Yao Ming positioned himself at the free-throw line, while McGrady weaved through traffic, assisted by Millsap. Battier and Alston darted around the three-point arc on opposite sides.
Except for Dampier, the Mavericks quickly adapted, but the Rockets struggled to find good scoring opportunities. Finally, Yao Ming chose to dominate Dampier, powering his way to the basket with his trademark footwork and finesse.
And just like that, the Rockets were on the board first.
For the Mavericks, Nowitzki posted up low, but the Rockets switched defenses, allowing Yao to guard him. Nowitzki attempted his signature fadeaway jumper, but Andrew had foreseen this play. Yao Ming leaned forward, using his considerable height and weight to obstruct Nowitzki's line of sight completely.
The shot clanged off the rim, allowing Millsap to grab the rebound.
In an instant, the Rockets launched a fast break. McGrady, holding the ball in one hand, elegantly maneuvered past Howard and finished with a spectacular layup, drawing a foul in the process.
The crowd erupted in cheers, excitement reverberating through the arena as McGrady shook off any lingering effects from his back injury.
With the free throw completed, the Rockets had jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
"Wow…" Barkley exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. The Mavericks were clearly taken aback from the start.
As the game progressed, Nowitzki pulled to the outside. This time, the Rockets held their ground, refusing to change their defensive strategy. Nowitzki and Howard executed a pick-and-roll, and Nowitzki drained a three-pointer over McGrady's outstretched arm, showcasing his MVP-caliber talent.
Barkley let out a sigh of relief; after all, the Mavericks were no slouches.
Yet when he turned to Smith, he found his partner still radiating confidence.
The game continued, and once again, Yao Ming overpowered Dampier, drawing a foul and sinking two free throws from the line.
The Rockets surged forward, engaging in a titanic clash with the Mavericks.
Terry launched a flurry of three-pointers, but McGrady orchestrated the offense, finding Yao for yet another assist. Harris attempted a layup but missed, only for Millsap to clean up with a smooth jumper.
As both teams traded baskets, the Rockets quickly built an impressive 11-point lead, up 26-15.
The audience was awestruck!
Even Barkley, who had been brimming with bravado, found himself speechless.
"Charles, are you starting to believe me now?" Smith teased, nudging his partner.
"No, it's too early to say. We've only just begun," Barkley countered, observing the indifference on Andrew's face as he commanded the sidelines.
In the NBA, the dynamics of power don't simply revolve around strength; style plays a crucial role too. The previous Rockets had relied heavily on pure defense, achieving a 2-0 lead in the series. But the Mavericks were a fierce team; one could defend against them for a game or two, but over an entire series? It was nearly impossible. Their defensive strategy had been counterproductive against the Mavericks.
Now, Andrew had flipped the script, introducing a new approach tailored to exploit the Mavericks' weaknesses. After meticulously studying past games, the team's offensive system had been steadily honed, proving far less vulnerable than that of the Spurs and Pistons.
Andrew's strategy wasn't merely about offense; it was about counteracting the Mavericks' penchant for single-player isolation in fast breaks with a more calculated, targeted defense—an area he and his coaching staff had been diligently analyzing.
As a savvy strategist, Andrew had the upper hand. He understood the Mavericks' offensive tactics and the tendencies of each player, allowing him to tailor the team's defense to disrupt their flow. The Mavericks were caught off guard, unable to keep up with the Rockets' aggressive gameplay.
The game wore on, with the Rockets' bench responding to a counterattack led by Stankhaus and Devon George. However, the Rockets' reserves unleashed an even more intense offensive barrage.
Fans, accustomed to defensive battles, reveled in the spectacle, their cheers swelling with every basket.
In the end, the Rockets erupted for a staggering 121 points, defeating the Mavericks by a decisive ten-point margin.
Yao Ming obliterated Dampier in this game, racking up an astonishing 32 points, along with 12 rebounds and 8 assists—a performance that would be remembered for ages.
Alongside Yao, McGrady contributed 28 points, Shane put up 18, Millsap added 16, and both Novak and Alston chimed in with 12 points each. The team truly blossomed, celebrating a glorious victory.
As the final whistle blew, Barkley buried his face in his hands, knowing he was facing a month of abstinence.
Smith chuckled, giving his partner an encouraging pat on the back, before turning his attention to Andrew, who was surrounded by enthusiastic Rockets players.
It was clear that in the coming days, other head coaches around the league would be losing sleep over this remarkable victory.
The Rockets' overwhelming success silenced all the pre-game media negativity, igniting excitement among the team's upper management.
To have taken down the Mavericks with such ease hinted at a bright future for the Rockets.
As the players celebrated raucously in the locker room, Andrew remained undisturbed, sitting face-to-face with Thibodeau in his office.
Shortly after the game, Thibodeau received a call, and anticipation filled the air.
The third key member of the Rockets coaching staff had finally arrived.
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