Chapter 379: Chapter 291, 15 Consecutive Wins, Showdown with the Rockets!
"The Nuggets continue their winning streak, easily crushing the Celtics. Who can stop them?"
"The Warriors suffer their first loss, making the Nuggets the only undefeated team in the league."
"Zeng Xingyang dominates Little Thomas, scoring 60+ in three quarters and shocking the league!"
"Zeng Xingyang achieves his first 60+ game of the season. Is this the start of his madness?"
Zeng Xingyang, the soul of the Nuggets, is leading the team to navigate through challenges. In the following series of battles, the Nuggets continue to triumph, playing to the joyous sound of victory.
On November 24th, when they stepped onto the battlefield against the Rockets, they had already secured a 15-game winning streak.
During this winning streak, Zeng Xingyang’s performance was very steady. Averaging 28 points, 14 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game, these statistics shine brightly, showcasing his absolute dominance on the court.
Jokic also stood out, averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Although the stats for both players have slightly less impact compared to last season’s playoffs, those with insight understand that it’s not due to a decline in their abilities.
The current Nuggets team is full of talent, with many players stepping up to share the team’s burdens.
Under coach Mike Malone’s meticulous planning, the average playing time for Zeng Xingyang and Jokic is cleverly controlled at about 33 minutes. Even when the game reaches its heated critical moments, the coach flexibly extends their playing time.
Because of this, both players have ample physical reserves, and whenever the game reaches the decisive stage, they can rely on their rich experience and excellent skills to lead the team to secure victory.
....
At the Toyota Center in Houston, the spotlights on the dome shine like the midday sun, lighting up the entire court as if it were daylight.
Cheers rise and fall, converging from every corner like a surging ocean.
The giant electronic screen hanging above the stadium is repeatedly playing adrenaline-pumping highlights.
...
Meanwhile, the Rockets are also in hot form, successfully securing a 5-game winning streak.
James Harden is at the peak of his career, delivering terrifying stats with an average of 30 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds per game this season. In one-on-one situations, he is nearly unbeatable, and his versatile play makes him hard to defend.
Under Harden’s leadership, the Rockets are fully utilizing their "Moreyball" style.
It’s either a three-pointer or an attack under the basket; their efficiency is frighteningly high.
James Harden reaches his personal best state on the court, and the Rockets rain down three-pointers almost every game, collapsing opponents’ perimeter defenses.
The night before the game, coach Mike Malone already activated the preparation mode early.
He organized the players to watch analysis videos of Harden’s offensive techniques repeatedly and custom-crafted defensive strategies against Harden based on each player’s characteristics.
After all, for the Nuggets, successfully limiting Harden means taking control of the game.
However, judging from past games, it’s almost as hard as reaching the sky to stop Harden.
The Rockets’ starting lineup consists of Lawson, Harden, Ariza, Harrell, and Howard.
Early this season, Howard actively cooperated with Harden in pick-and-rolls, significantly improving the team’s offensive efficiency. As their record steadily climbed, the conflicts between the two gradually eased.
The Nuggets coaching staff has made detailed and meticulous arrangements against the Rockets’ lineup: Zeng Xingyang is responsible for marking Lawson, Butler keeps a close eye on Ariza, Pope primarily defends Harden, and Jokic faces Howard head-on.
The Nuggets boast a strong perimeter defensive lineup. If Pope fails to limit Harden, Butler will immediately step up; if Butler also struggles, Zeng Xingyang will promptly fill in.
If all three cannot stop Harden, the team will decisively adopt a double-team strategy.
Currently, Harden cannot be limited by one person alone, and team cooperation is often needed.
The Rockets also set a series of screens and picks for him.
The Nuggets’ starting lineup consists of Zeng Xingyang, Butler, Pope, Grant, and Jokic.
Zeng Xingyang stands on the court, his gaze firmly set on Harden.
He watched tape and discovered that although Harden’s average scoring hasn’t changed much compared to last season, his ball-handling on both ends of the court has become more adept, with significant improvements in his raw power.
This improvement in power has brought progress to the Rockets as a whole.
Coach Mike Malone gathers the players together, raising his hands high and shouting in a ringing voice: "Keep the winning streak!!"
"Winning streak!!"
"Winning streak!!"
The players’ shouts shake the air in the arena. Zeng Xingyang also shouts loudly, with a determined look in his eyes. He knows that even though the current Nuggets team is strong, facing a tough opponent like the Rockets requires utmost diligence and preparation for a tough battle.
In the CCTV studio, Zhang Weiping says to the camera: "Good evening viewers, today we are broadcasting the NBA regular season game where the Nuggets are playing against the Rockets in Houston."
Yu Jia follows up excitedly, saying: "The Nuggets have started the new season with an impressive winning streak, showcasing the dominance of a championship team. Today, the showdown between Zeng Xingyang and Harden is sure to be explosive and spectacular."
As the commentators enthusiastically discuss, the game officially begins.
Jokic and Howard stand at mid-court, their bodies tense, eyes filled with a desire for victory, ready for the tip-off.
Howard reacts quickly, first tipping the ball precisely to Lawson.
Lawson, the former Nuggets point guard, looks at the now-thriving Nuggets with a trace of envy in his eyes.
However, facing Zeng Xingyang’s impenetrable defense, he finds himself at an impasse.
Helplessly, Lawson quickly passes the ball to Harden.
Harden, upon receiving the ball, finds himself in a one-on-one situation with Pope, while his teammates instinctively clear out the space.
Harden makes a series of crossover moves, his footwork agile like a graceful dancer, breaking through Pope’s right side.
Pope’s defensive rhythm is instantly disrupted. Despite his desperate attempts to adjust his stance and lean forward to keep up with Harden’s steps, he struggles to stop Harden’s fierce offensive.
Harden breaks into the paint, successfully drawing a double-team from Grant and Jokic.
At this critical moment, Harden makes a floater, sending the basketball in a beautiful arc—not towards the hoop but precisely into the key area.
Howard, understanding the play, leaps like an arrow shot from a bow, firmly grasping the basketball with both hands. He follows up with great force, slamming it hard into the basket.
"Boom!"
The alley-oop connection between Harden and Howard instantly ignites the atmosphere of the entire arena.
"This is the art of passing!" Zhang Weiping shouts loudly, "The timing of Harden’s pass to Howard was perfect, and the angle was spotlessly accurate, making it easy for Howard to score."