Chapter 38 - A Master Cook

The Nets were on the attack. This time, House easily broke through Spanoulis' defense, driving straight to the basket and scoring with ease.

Thibodeau, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but shake his head in frustration.

"Novak and Spanoulis," he muttered, "these two are like walking defensive black holes!"

He glanced over at Andrew, expecting some reaction, but Andrew's attention was elsewhere. His eyes were glued to the Nets' half of the court, as if completely unconcerned with the Rockets' defense.

On the Rockets' next possession, Spanoulis ran a smooth pick-and-roll with Novak. Novak slipped to the perimeter, received the pass, and fired off a clean three-pointer.

"Swish!"

Robinson, a step too slow to contest, could only watch helplessly as Novak drained the shot.

The first quarter ended with the Rockets leading the Nets by 12 points, 36-24.

Despite their defensive shortcomings, the Rockets' bench had opened up the game!

Dawson, watching from the stands, exhaled deeply. A smile played on his lips as he realized how foolish he had been, letting the commentators' criticism get to him. This was basketball — and Andrew knew what he was doing.

As the quarter ended, Thibodeau glanced up at the scoreboard, his expression unreadable. He had been in the NBA for over a decade, but this game? It was like nothing he'd ever seen before.

Andrew's face remained calm and composed. He knew Novak and Spanoulis weren't defensive specialists — that much was obvious to anyone who'd seen them play. But the key to basketball wasn't just defense; it was about outscoring your opponent. As long as Novak and Spanoulis could keep putting points on the board, Andrew didn't mind keeping them in the game.

In just two minutes, the Rockets had outscored the Nets 8 to 4, increasing their lead. Andrew's gamble was paying off.

Of course, if their offense started to falter, he'd have no hesitation pulling them out. He was giving them a chance, but whether they stayed on the court was up to them.

Tonight, both Novak and Spanoulis were making the most of that opportunity.

The Rockets' starters had performed admirably, with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady commanding attention on the court. Millsap also stepped up, capitalizing on the defense's focus on Yao and McGrady. Novak and Spanoulis, coming off the bench, had both delivered, showing flashes of brilliance when it mattered most.

By the end of the game, the Rockets had comfortably defeated the Nets, 115-98, in what was their most dominant win of the season.

Yao Ming finished with a near triple-double, scoring 19 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists. McGrady, in true superstar form, racked up 38 points. Millsap, with his aggressive play, became the second-highest scorer, shooting 10-for-14 and ending with 20 points and 6 rebounds.

Novak, the sharpshooter, chipped in 15 points from the bench, and Spanoulis added 6 points and 6 assists, proving he could contribute when given the chance.

At the post-game press conference, reporters swarmed the room, eager to get answers. This was Andrew's first game as interim head coach, and his team had just dismantled the Nets. Everyone had questions.

Alongside Andrew and Thibodeau, McGrady and Millsap were present, ready to share their thoughts.

"Paul, you scored a career-high 20 points tonight. How does that feel?" a reporter asked Millsap, whose breakout performance had been the talk of the night.

"I'm excited, no doubt," Millsap responded with a grin. "Playing with Hall of Famers like Yao and Tracy, they create so many opportunities. Without them drawing so much attention, I wouldn't have gotten half the looks I did."

McGrady, seated beside him, chuckled, nodding in agreement. Millsap knew how to give credit where it was due.

"But honestly, the biggest reason we won tonight was because of Coach Andrew. He's a genius when it comes to understanding this team. He knows exactly where to put each of us to play our best. It's incredible."

Andrew couldn't help but smile. Millsap had not only a high basketball IQ, but he clearly knew how to handle the media, too.

Next, a reporter turned to Thibodeau. "Tom, what's your take on the game? The Rockets won, but the team still gave up 98 points, which is pretty high."

Thibodeau, known for his defensive philosophy, surprised everyone by smiling before answering. "Yeah, our defense wasn't perfect, especially with our bench guys. But as Andrew proved tonight, while defense can win games, the team that scores the most points is the one that takes home the win."

The room buzzed with murmurs. Thibodeau, the same man who had built his career on defensive discipline, was now talking about outscoring opponents. It was a shock to the system.

All eyes turned to Andrew. He was the mastermind behind these changes, and everyone wanted to hear what he had to say.

"Andrew, this was your first time coaching as head coach. How does it feel?" another reporter asked.

Andrew leaned back in his chair, smiling. "It's great, but let's not forget, this isn't my first time coaching. I did lead the team to the Summer League championship."

The room filled with laughter, Andrew's self-deprecating humor lightening the mood.

"But you were pretty bold with your rotations," the reporter pressed on. "You used 14 players, with a rotation of nine. Novak only played six seconds last game, and Spanoulis didn't play at all. What made you decide to trust them tonight?"

Andrew nodded, appreciating the thoughtful question. "Coaching is like being a chef," he began, his tone metaphorical. "A good chef knows all his ingredients. He knows how to bring out the best in them, even if they aren't the finest cuts. Every ingredient has its place, and when combined in the right way, you create the perfect dish."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"Novak and Spanoulis, they're the ingredients people might overlook. But tonight, they were exactly what we needed."

The room buzzed with admiration for Andrew's approach. He wasn't just a coach — he was an artist, creating something special with the players most had written off.

And that night, under Andrew's guidance, the Rockets had cooked up a victory worth savoring.