Harden led the Rockets to defeat the Thunder with a four-point buzzer beater, which shocked the entire NBA. When Harden teamed up with Howard, this was the first time such a good result was achieved. The Rockets defeated the Thunder and became
Ranked first in the Western Conference, Big Beard proved his ability to shoot key shots at critical moments with this four-pointer.
But while most people were shocked by Harden's buzzer-beater, some people noticed that it was precisely because of Wen Hao's key assist at the critical moment, and it was a volleyball-style pass, that it was possible
Harden's four-point buzzer beater. If Wen Hao had not passed the ball in a volleyball style at that time, but had caught the ball and passed it, he would have been strictly guarded by Wei Shao. Then there would have been no Harden's three-pointer.
It's a dead end.
So at this time, in the eyes of many experts and scouts, Wen Hao is already at least one of the top ten point guards in the league.
At this time, Thunder team sideline reporter Leslie was not interviewing Wen Hao, but Harden, who hit a four-pointer. After all, Harden scored 41 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists tonight.
Hit the key to the final shot.
Leslie raised her head and asked Harden: "James, you performed so well tonight, what was the reason for your performance?"
"Obviously, we are No. 1 in the Western Conference. Our whole Rockets team wants to be No. 1 in the Western Conference and maintain the home court advantage over all the teams in the Western Conference. Of course I have to work hard to help them achieve that." Harden replied.
Leslie continued to ask: "So did you think of that shot in advance?"
"Oh," Harden shrugged, "unless I'm God."
"That assist was passed to you by Wen Hao. Can you comment on Wen Hao's performance?" Leslie also knew that the Rockets had previously reported that Wen Hao and Harden were not on good terms, so now they have begun to stir up trouble.
The Rockets are very likely to meet the Thunder in the playoffs, and Wen Hao and Harden are two very important players for the Rockets. If they can be provoked into internal strife, it will be of great benefit to the Thunder.
Although Harden didn't want to say good things about Wen Hao, but now that the playoffs are approaching, he naturally knows which end is more important. So he scratched his head, thought for a while and said: "Wen Hao's pass is very beautiful and very timely.
, if he didn't pass the ball so timely, I wouldn't have hit the three-pointer. I think about the playoffs, we will definitely cooperate very well."
Morey and Alexander, who were far away in Houston, immediately breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Harden's answer. Although they understood that Harden was just talking and he definitely didn't think so in his heart, at least Harden did a good job in front of the outside world.
.This is very important for the Rockets' playoff journey.
Leslie made some mistakes, smiled bitterly, and said, "I believe you will go further in the playoffs. Thank you for accepting my interview."
"You're welcome." Harden replied, then lowered his head and walked towards the tunnel.
At the same time, Wen Hao had returned to the physical therapy room next to the locker room for physical therapy. He closed his eyes, enjoying the short relaxing time after the hard game, while recalling the game just now. The second young player from the Thunder
In front of them, the entire Rockets team did almost everything they could to narrowly defeat the Thunder in the end. In this way, the Thunder's second young man obviously has not yet fully exerted his strength to preserve his strength. If the bayonet is red in the playoffs, it is conceivable that
You know how crazy the Thunder are.
However, thinking about such a game makes people feel excited. Men have to fight, and for n**a players, the best battlefield is the playoffs. Only in the playoffs can we test whether a player is good or not.
If you are really capable, you are really a superstar.
Although he has never had playoff experience before, Wen Hao believes that with the addition of those abilities as a point guard and his calm mind, he will definitely perform in the playoffs.
The physical therapist next to him saw that Wen Hao was clenching his fists more and more tightly while doing physical therapy, and asked nervously: "What's wrong? What's wrong?"
Only then did Wen Hao come back to his senses, smiled and said, "It's okay, you can continue."
"Oh." The physical therapist glanced at Wen Hao doubtfully and continued his work.
At the same time, far away in Houston, an article had flowed out from the fingers of reporter Harper. Since Harden reported on Wen Hao, his status, like his salary, has been rising steadily. Before, he was just a solid reporter.
He might be fired. But since his articles reporting on Wen Hao were published,
, received the attention of the editor-in-chief. In less than half a year, he has been promoted from a trainee reporter to the leader of the sports team. And the editor-in-chief secretly reminded him: Their deputy editor is leaving. If Harper's article reporting on Wen Hao continues
If he is sought after, then maybe he can become the deputy editor this year.
This kind of promotion speed is really unacceptable to ordinary people. But Harden reported on Wen Hao, and Wen Hao's progress was so fast, so his articles attracted more and more people's attention. Moreover, his respect for Wen Hao
Each analysis article is written very profoundly, praising Wen Hao's strengths and pointing out Wen Hao's shortcomings, so it is reasonable for him to be promoted quickly.
His latest article is called "Chinese Point Guard's Playoff Debut". In the article, he first praised Wen Hao's outstanding performance in the game just now. (15 assists, this is definitely
All-star level. With such an outstanding performance in such an important game, it seems that Wenhao's road to the playoffs does not necessarily have to be difficult.
But next, he analyzed Wen Hao's shortcomings: In the playoffs, it was a real sword and bayonet game, and the target was extremely strong. Wen Hao's current offense has no big problem, but his defense has become
There is a big loophole. Everyone knows that a team without defense in the playoffs is equivalent to being eliminated early. For example, the Suns led by Nash had such a bad offensive performance.
Like this, but without defense he was still eliminated miserably and didn't even make it to the finals. Similarly, in the playoffs, players without defense are destined to sit on the bench. Although Wen Hao's defense worked hard, he
His physical fitness is only slightly above average. If he encounters players with outstanding physical fitness like Paul and Westbrook in the playoffs, he will not be able to guard them at all.
Therefore, Rockets players must be prepared. Wen Hao may not play a lot of playing time in the playoffs. If he wants more playing time, then he must play in the three days before the playoffs.
Practice his defense well. But is this possible? Improve his defense in three days? And also improve it to the level of the playoffs? This is simply impossible.
Therefore, Harper concluded that although Wen Hao performed well in the regular season and will definitely perform even better in the future, in the playoffs, especially this year's playoffs, Wen Hao's defense determines that he will not be too outstanding.
performance.
After Harden's article was published, although it aroused dissatisfaction and even abuse from some hard-core fans, those rational fans all understood that Harper was right, and Wen Hao was likely to be given the cold shoulder in the playoffs.
The bench, in that case, the Rockets will have a strong offensive force, and the Rockets' playoff journey will be even more difficult.
In fact, Wen Hao is also a little troubled by this matter. Now his total assists have reached 437, but he has not activated new skills. And his physical fitness is like this. Although he works hard to defend, he is still a little poor. If
If this continues, let alone his performance in the playoffs, it's not even certain whether he will be able to establish himself. Maybe the coach will let him play at certain times, but under normal circumstances, he will not let him, a player who is not very good at defending.
appeared.
In distress, after Wen Hao flew to Houston with the Rockets players that night, he didn't go back to sleep at all. Instead, he went directly to the Toyota Center training hall to practice defense. He slid sideways, blocked shots, defended, and even flopped.
I practiced. I practiced for more than four hours before going back to sleep.
Before eleven o'clock the next morning, he came to the training hall again. Although the coach announced a day off today, he did not rest. He must practice his defense. But practicing defense is not a matter of one or two days.
This is easier said than done.
"Hoo-ho-ho-"
Wen Hao fell to the ground, gasping for air, his chest heaving violently like a bellows, and his whole body was already soaked. But he could feel that his defense was still the same. Due to his physical fitness, his defense had not improved at all. He
He lay on the ground unwillingly, feeling heavy in his chest and unable to breathe.
No, he can't fall in the playoffs just because of defense, he must stand up!
Wen Hao thought like this, and a force seemed to rise from the bottom of his heart. However, the cruel reality that his physical fitness was only 68 made him fall down again.
After lying like this for a long time, Wen Hao seemed to slowly calm down, and his mind began to think slowly. The thing that hinders his defensive progress now is his physical fitness. If his physical fitness can be improved, his defense will naturally improve. And now that the physical fitness is enhanced,
There is only one way, and that is to complete the task given by the Heart of the Point Guard. Although the task can only be completed every three days and the physical fitness will increase by 1 point, making progress is better than standing still.
Thinking of this, Wen Hao finally woke up. He stood up with his hands on the ground and looked at the tasks given by the point guard's heart today: 300 push-ups, 300 sit-ups, 300 frog jumps, and 10 kilogram bench presses...
…There are still three minutes of 300, two minutes of 500, and half an hour of sideways sliding...
All these tasks combined would take three days to complete. But Wen Hao had already made up his mind and started doing it without any hesitation. Because he knew that after completing these tasks, his physical fitness would increase by 1 point.
Just as Wen Hao was panting and doing push-ups, suddenly, the door of the training hall slowly opened, and a figure appeared at the door.
Wen Hao stopped and turned his head, only to see that this man had dark skin, about fifty years old, about two meters tall, with a very strong body, and the light of the training hall reflected on his bald head. He used a very casual expression
He said in a tone: "I heard Morey said that if someone can't defend well, let me coach him. Is that you?" (To be continued.)
