In the second half of the regular season, the Jazz played with great intensity in every game.

They want to overtake the Trail Blazers and finish seventh in the West so they can avoid facing the Rockets.

Of the top four teams—the Rockets, Spurs, Kings, and Mavericks—the Jazz fear the Rockets the most. If it were any of the other three teams, they might have a fighting chance.

But...

The Trail Blazers don't want to face the Rockets, and neither do the Timberwolves.

To avoid the Western Conference leaders, the Rockets, the three teams ranked sixth, seventh, and eighth put in a lot of effort at the end of the season. In the end... the Jazz were slightly inferior and finished eighth in the West.

........

The Rockets' home locker room must be the most unique home locker room in the league.

Media reporters are not allowed to enter.

Since the new owner took over, he has agreed to all the players' and coaches' requests, as long as they are not excessive.

Gentry requested that the locker room be expanded, and a kitchen be built inside, complete with a refrigerator, integrated stove, and range hood—a request that was not unreasonable at all.

The second half of the regular season schedule is relatively easy.

Gentry often takes advantage of halftime to cook a few simple dishes to replenish the players' nutrition.

In the refrigerator...

Besides drinks, there's also ice-cold beer, but the Rockets are a disciplined team, and not every player will have an ice-cold beer during halftime.

"We cannot let our guard down in the second half."

Gentry cautioned, "No team in the league should be underestimated."

......

At the start of the second half, the Jazz failed to mount a tenacious defense.

Wei Guo scores after a series of breakthroughs into the penalty area!

soon...

The point difference was then widened.

Stockton and Malone were both substituted before the end of the third quarter, after which Wei Guo played the entire third quarter.

The fourth quarter completely became garbage time.

Warrick put down the statistics sheet, stretched his wrists and ankles, and prepared to go on the court to rack up points.

"Beep!!!"

With the whistle blowing, the game came to an end.

109:71!!

The Rockets defeated the Jazz by 38 points at home, winning the first game of the first round of the playoffs.

Match statistics:

Wei Guo: 36 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks

Yao Ming: 21 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Stockton: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks

Malone: ​​13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks

........

The Jazz cannot win a game relying on Harpring or the young Kirilenko.

Stockton and Malone are experiencing a brief resurgence, and perhaps they can return to their peak form!

But...

With the current stamina of these two veterans, if they play all three quarters, their offensive efficiency will definitely decrease in the fourth quarter. Sloan has been thinking of countermeasures for the past two days.

Two days have passed, and Sloan has lost a lot of hair, but he still can't come up with a good solution.

There's a gap in strength, and the two teams have a history of rivalry. The Rockets play with incredible energy when facing the Jazz.

Jazz players have privately complained that Wei Guo is too petty.

Malone elbowed Yao Ming, but he didn't do it on purpose. He should just apologize and pay for the medical expenses. Why keep harping on the Jazz?

........

Two days later, the Rockets and Jazz played their second game.

Before the match...

Sloan reminded the players that whoever gets the chance should take the shot boldly, and it's okay if they miss. Malone and Ostertag should protect the rebounds.

The Jazz will only have a chance to beat the Rockets if every player on the team performs to their potential.

"Beep!!!"

The game began with the sound of the whistle.

Francis gets the ball, dribbles it to the frontcourt and passes it to Wei Guo, who backs down Malone and shoots a fadeaway jumper!

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball went through the net cleanly.

2-0!!!

Unless there's a perfect opportunity, the Rockets usually let Wei Guo take the first shot, because Wei Guo is the most reliable player, and scoring at the start can boost morale.

The Jazz are on offense.

Stockton passed the ball to Ostertag while moving, but Ostertag was defended by Yao Ming and then passed the ball to Harprin outside the three-point line.

Mobley was a step too slow in his defensive effort, and Harprin had already launched a three-pointer.

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball went through the net cleanly.

2:3!!!

This was Sloan's tactic: any player on the court should take a shot whenever they had an opportunity.

......

Yao Ming missed a shot under the basket, and Malone stole the defensive rebound.

The Jazz are on a fast break...

Harpring, hiding in the three-point corner, received a pass from Stockton and launched another three-pointer.

"Whoosh!!!"

The basketball swished through the net again.

2:6!!

The Jazz took an early lead.

Cummings scratched his face and muttered, "When did Harprin's three-pointers become so accurate?"

Harpring and Cummings were teammates on the 76ers. Harpring is over two meters tall, has good skills under the basket, and also has a decent mid-range shot, but he is not very good at three-pointers.

Harpring is the Jazz's second-leading scorer after Malone, which is good, but he rarely attempts three-pointers when playing against the Rockets.

He was teammates with Wei Guo...

Harprin wasn't very confident in his three-point shooting, especially when facing Wei Guo. He usually wouldn't shoot threes because he felt that if he missed, Wei Guo would laugh at him.

Sloan muttered, "If Harprin had played like this earlier, we wouldn't have been getting thrashed by the Rockets in every game!"

The Jazz were on the back foot because Wei Guo shut down Malone, their scoring threat.

Stockton has top-tier playmaking ability in the league and a decent shot, but scoring isn't his forte. With no other players stepping up to score and the Rockets' defense being so aggressive, the Jazz were slaughtered by the Rockets in every game.

Wei Guo saw through the Jazz's tactics and reminded his teammates, "Don't leave anyone open on defense. Any of their players will be very decisive when they take a shot tonight!"

"Understood, Brother Wei."

Francis and the others nodded.

Wei Guo dribbled the ball to the frontcourt and passed it to Mobley, who then took a three-point shot.

"Whoosh!!!"

Mobley responded with a three-pointer.

5:6!!!

......

"three~~~~"

The DJ's voice echoed throughout the stadium.

......

The Jazz players were decisive in their shots, and Stockton wasn't always setting up Malone.

Stockton can get the ball to his teammates whenever they have a shooting opportunity, which shows his passing ability. His number one ranking in total assists is well-deserved.

But...

The Rockets' offensive efficiency was also very high, and even with everyone contributing, the Jazz were unable to widen the score gap.

The first quarter has ended.

27:25!!

The Jazz are still down by 2 points.