841: Refreshed strong cognition
The Toyota Center's highest personal scoring record belongs to Harden, who has just joined the Rockets for a few years.
On February 20, 2020, in the Rockets' home game against the Thunder, Harden made 14 of 19 shots and 11 of 12 free throws, scoring 46 points. These 46 points are the highest personal scoring record of Toyota Center.
Many people may be surprised, after all, Harden has only been with the Rockets for a few years. When it comes to the Toyota Center's highest scoring record, people can easily think of Yao Ming and McGrady, or the major veteran superstars who come to the Toyota Center to play away.
However, when McGrady played for the Rockets, he scored 48 points in a single game, but that was in the away game. Yao Ming's highest score in a single game at Toyota Center was 41 points, and it was still a bit far from the first place.
In fact, it was not Yao Ming or McGrath behind Harden, but Scola. The Argentinian once scored 44 points at the Toyota Center, which is the second highest individual score in a single game.
"Big Dream" Olajuwon scored 52 points at the Rockets' home court that year, but the Rockets' home court was not yet Toyota Center.
So, a magical fact is that the young Harden is indeed the player with the most points in a single game in Toyota Center.
But today, this record is likely to be rewritten.
Because the half-time game is about to end, Link has scored 28 points!
"Link, it's Link again! God, how many goals did he score in the second quarter? The Rockets changed many people to defend him, but none of them worked!"
When Link scored a goal on Motiejunas with a throw, Jeff Van Gundy's mood was out of control.
28 points in a single game, which is already a very high score. But Link now scored 28 points in half and is quite efficient!
Next to Van Gundy, his partner who had been arguing with him could no longer speak. He once said that Link could not support a team alone, but Link did it.
In the entire second quarter, almost Link's personal performances were performed by him. When the Grizzlies pulled the space apart and increased the pace, Link was doing whatever he wanted.
The Rockets also wanted to double-team, but Carter and Gasol's three-pointers were ruthless. If you dare to let him go, you really dare to enter, forcing the Rockets to fall into a passive position.
If the Rockets hadn't played very well today, they would have been in garbage time now.
After being scored by Link again, Motieyunas felt more uncomfortable than anyone else. Until now, the Lithuanian scored zero! Link did what he said, which really made Motieyunas not score a single point.
On the defensive end, Motiejunas was almost autistic by Link. He felt that he was not useless than Link's 10 cm tall. No matter how he interfered, Link could score a goal in another way.
Lithuanians also became angry from the beginning, and gradually became scared.
Now, as soon as you face Link, Motiejunas is extremely nervous. When he is nervous, his performance will be even worse. The defense is also timid and his shooting is not accurate.
With 30 seconds left in the second quarter, the Rockets have the ball to the last attack.
At this time, the Rockets were already 3 points behind the Grizzlies. Although they were not much behind, when the Grizzlies were troubled by injuries and fouls, and the Rockets' own shooting rate was not bad, even if the Rockets were 1 point behind, they would be very failure.
Harden held the ball on the outside, waiting for the time to pass to the last few seconds. When the time on the timer becomes "8", he called Howard to cover it and immediately break through!
Harden's score in the second quarter became much weaker than in the first quarter. Tony Allen's defense has made Harden not fully find the rhythm yet. Whether it is shooting percentage or clashing efficiency, it is much lower than in the first quarter.
So Harden did not show off his power. Seeing that Tony Allen was still guarding himself, Harden made a pass to the ground as soon as Howard cut in after the pick-and-roll, and sent the ball to Howard!
The inward cutting of the attack box after pick-and-roll is one of Howard's favorite offensive methods. After rushing, Howard's offense will become more deterrent.
But when Howard saw Gasol, who was tall and long, standing at the basket with his arms raised and waiting, he hesitated a little.
If it explodes directly, it will be difficult for him to put the ball through Gasol. If Gasol makes an offensive foul, it will be even more costly.
At this moment, Howard glanced at Motiejunas who cut at the basket. So, as the 24-second offensive time was about to end, Howard chose to pass the ball!
"Passing again, this time it was Motieyunas, and he walked to the basket after receiving the ball!"
This time, all Rockets fans felt that the ball should be entered. In the second quarter, Motieyunas was indeed tortured by Link. But even if he couldn't make a shot, he should always make a layup and dunk.
Motiejunas made all his energy and was ready to rage the basket. Link said he could not get a single point? Now let him regret saying that!
Because Gasol was blocking Howard, he was unable to interfere with Motiejunas as soon as possible.
Motieyunas took the ball and took two steps and reached out to jump. As long as he could dial the ball into it, the Rockets were only one point behind. And he also broke Link's curse.
But just as Motieyunas was about to push the ball into the basket, Link came from the side and instantly jumped to the same height as Motieyunas.
"You can't get a point after saying it."
Link muttered in a low voice, then exerted his arm and slapped the basketball directly!
Motiejunas felt his heart petrified in an instant, and he gave up!
Motiejunas won the main position in Serie A giants Benetton before he became an adult. His experience in participating in professional competitions is more abundant than Link, a senior undraft.
But today, in just one quarter of the game, Link refreshed Motiejunas' understanding of the concept of "strong". He has never been tortured by any opponent so much. Link allowed Lithuanians to experience what real despair is.
Link opened his arms to balance and landed heavily. This time, when he looked at Motiejunas again, the other party was no longer angry.
At this moment, in his eyes, Link could only see fear.
The 24-second offensive time is up, the ball rights exchanges, and the Grizzlies still have 5 seconds of offensive opportunity.
"Link blocked Motiejunas's dunk almost certainly. It's not that easy to score points on Link's head. The Rockets shouldn't think it's safe. 5 seconds is enough for Link to do a lot of things!"
McHale on the sidelines shook his head, very helpless.
It seems that this goal was a failure caused by Motiejunas' offensive miss.
But in fact, this goal was doomed to fail since Harden and Howard played the pick-and-roll.
When Harden and Howard dare not take the initiative to attack without restraint, when they were shocked by the Grizzlies' defense, it means that the Rockets have lost control of the initiative in the game.
They were suppressed unknowingly.
In the last 5 seconds, the Grizzlies got the last offensive ball before the end of the half. The Rockets were under great pressure, and they had no choice but to use Link in the entire second quarter. In the last round, he also knew that the miracle would not happen.
As long as Link receives the ball, they will have no choice.
Gasol made a long pass and sent the baseline ball, and the target was Link. Although Ariza pressed tightly to stop Link from receiving the ball, Link got rid of him after just one cover.
Link just got the ball near the center line, and Ariza and Beverly came up. At this time, Link was not even close to the three-point line. But even so, the Rockets still used the double-team strategy early.
They were already hurt by Link. In the last 5 seconds, the Rockets must be careful of one even if they die!
Without thinking, Link immediately handed the ball to Conley who was released. Beverly had to retreat. Conley might not have scored so much, but it was not enough to let it go. Today, the Grizzlies' first and fourth-sized shooting percentage on the outside was very impressive, and they could really make it as long as they were released.
Conley did not panic because there was little time left in the game. After sending Beverly away, he handed the ball to Link!
Today, Link undoubtedly has unlimited fire rights!
When Link received the basketball, he just cut into the position outside the free throw line, so he immediately stopped shooting.
At this time, except Ariza, Howard followed and saved up, interfering with Link's shot.
At this time, it was equivalent to two people blocking Link!
Ordinary players were seriously disturbed by one person and their shooting rate was very low. However, when Link encountered two people, Rocket fans were still unable to let go.
They all prayed in their hearts, hoping that Link would miss the ball.
But unfortunately, Link has never known what kind of kindness to his enemies is.
Under the interference of Ariza and Howard's two big hands, Link leaned back slightly in the air and quickly took action to avoid the blocking.
After landing, Howard immediately turned his head and saw the basketball hit the front of the basket. At the same time, the red light on the rebound flashed, and the second quarter ended!
Howard let out a big sigh and finally defended Link down! But before he could even laugh, the basketball that fell twice passed through the net!
He and Ariza have nothing changed, and Link seemed to have ignored their defense and still shot the ball beautifully.
"I got in, a buzzer-beating emergency stop jump shot! In this way, Link has scored 30 points in the half game! The 30 points in the half game, gentlemen, ladies, this is the highest personal half-time scoring record since the start of the season! The Memphis Grizzlies were in trouble for a while today, but Link, he turned the situation around with his own strength!"
After Harden saw Link score, he stood there for a long time without any reaction. He scored 30 points in the half, and most goals were made by individual singles, and the number of free throws was not large.
Under such circumstances, Harden thought it was incredible that he could score 30 points in the first half.
Link did not celebrate the goal in a high profile. He just clenched his fists and waved it hard, and walked into the player channel with his teammates.
Randolph and Iguodala's injuries did greatly reduce the Grizzlies' strength.
But if the Rockets think that they can subvert the Grizzlies' rule in this way, it would be a big mistake!
Link promised that as long as he was still there, the Grizzlies' rule would not be interrupted this year.
Jeff Van Gundy looked at Link's 30 points in the half, and then looked at the highest Toyota Center 46 points.
Today, he has always felt a strong feeling.
He always felt that a new record would be born. He felt this way as early as when Link first led the Grizzlies to equalize the score in the second quarter.
Chapter completed!