November 26th, Beijing time, the saying "no冤家no聚首" can be aptly applied to the situation between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. Today, these two powerhouses from Texas met again on the court.
Compared to previous encounters between the Mavericks and the Rockets, today's biggest difference was the absence of Erick Dampier in the Mavericks' frontcourt. This change gave the Rockets an opportunity. At least, the Rockets wouldn't be overpowered by their opponent's height and weight in the paint. The Rockets' performance on the court at the start of the game clearly demonstrated this point.
Before today's game, the Rockets reviewed the lessons learned from their earlier loss to the Mavericks this season, which was attributed to relaxing too early due to easy scoring opportunities, leading to a lack of effort and intensity during the game. Eventually, they were overturned by the Mavericks. Although the Rockets experienced another 26-0 run by the Mavericks towards the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter, a look at the shooting percentage reveals that the Mavericks were simply on fire today, not because the Rockets weren't putting in the effort. By the end of the third quarter, the Mavericks' shooting accuracy had reached an astonishing 64.4%. Facing such a hot-shooting team, any team in the league would have faced significant difficulties.
However, the Mavericks' excellent shooting couldn't overshadow the Rockets' aggressiveness on the boards. Perhaps from the following scenes, we can see the progress the Rockets have made in this area.
In the opening possession, with 11:41 remaining in the first quarter, Chuck Hayes drove to the basket. Though everyone knows how Hayes' shooting is, his relentless spirit is well-understood. Missing the shot, he grabbed the offensive rebound and attempted another shot, getting blocked by the rim, but grabbing the rebound again. On his third jump, it still didn't go in, yet the rebound remained in Hayes' hands. It wasn't until the fourth attempt that Hayes finally scored and drew a foul. Apparently, with Dampier absent today, the Rockets clarified at least one tactical point: to strengthen their efforts in securing rebounds and fight fiercely under the basket.
The Rockets' performance in the paint did not stop there. With 11:08 left in the first quarter, after missing a shot, it was Shane Battier who grabbed the offensive rebound. Battier then converted a second-chance basket, adding two points for the Rockets.
Throughout the game, before it entered garbage time, the Rockets secured a total of 12 offensive rebounds, while the Mavericks managed only four. In this statistic, the Rockets held a decisive advantage.
Outstanding performances under the basket on offense were matched by equally strong defensive efforts. At the 10:26 mark of the first quarter, Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks' star player, drove into the paint for a layup. However, instead of an easy score, he found several Rockets players waiting under the basket. Even though Nowitzki could evade one defender, he couldn't escape multiple defenders. As Nowitzki attempted a shot mid-air, Trevor Ariza leaped up and blocked his shot. Regardless of the final outcome, at least the Rockets' improvements under the basket today showed signs of a maturing team.
Of course, we must admit that there is still a gap in strength between the Rockets and the Mavericks. Even though the Rockets dominated in offensive rebounds, the Mavericks still won with more consistent play and an exceptionally high shooting percentage, sealing their victory early in the fourth quarter. If the Rockets had been so suppressed in offensive rebounds, they might have surrendered much earlier.
Previously, many people said that controlling the rebounds means controlling the entire game. At least now, the Rockets know what they need to improve. Even if they play fast-paced basketball, rebounds, as a lifeline on the court, are absolutely indispensable. A single game's loss may lead to more victories in future games.
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