Chapter 465: The Last Dignity
"The Trail Blazers' talent in athletics is something that the Celtics cannot envy. But athletics are not the whole of basketball. If the Celtics' subsequent tactics can be successfully implemented, I think the suspense of this game will be left to the end."
Soon, people were pulled out of Lillard's amazing performance. Before the game was over, the Trail Blazers were only leading by three points. If the tactics had not hit Garnett, they would have suddenly stopped. Now the leading people might have been the Celtics.
Spike Lee was so excited that he threw the documentary behind his mind. Think about those damn shots and editing back. Now, let this director, who is obsessed with basketball, enjoy this wonderful battle.
"I just took a nap, don't be proud." Seeing that An Jie finally responded to himself, Garnett's words couldn't be stopped. God knows whether this man will be more talkative than a woman when he gets old...
In the Celtics' second attempt, Garnett did not take the risk to mention the high position, but instead carried the basket and asked for the ball at a deep low position.
In the first half, Garnett scored a lot of points through a melee battle with Angel at the low post. In the second half, Garnett decided to use the same trick again.
Just as Terry was about to hang the ball into the inside, Anjie suddenly walked around and sealed Garnett's entire body tightly! Now, let alone catch the ball, Terry couldn't even see Garnett people anywhere! Anjie's coverage is too large, and Garnett seemed to be blocked by a large wall, and he didn't get any chance to attack.
Garnett has been in the nBa for so many years, and it is not uncommon for him to defend the front. But Angel's superb steps and great defensive range have made Garnett unable to get out of the predicament.
After Garnett tried to run out and catch the ball but failed, Jason Terry gave the ball to Barbosa, which also means that the Celtics' offensive strategy has changed again.
After running for a long time and conducting several times, the Celtics did not get a good chance to make a phone call. In the end, Pierce forced his move against Iguodala's defense before the 24-second offensive time was exhausted. Of course, the basketball also undoubtedly hit the box.
"The Trail Blazers' defense is very good, and their defense has become a 24-second one. But the Celtics' troubles are not over because they have to face the Trail Blazers' counterattack immediately!"
That's right, Garnett had recovered from the failed offense, and Lillard had already passed the half. The fast pace, the "just right" fast pace of the Trail Blazers will not make them lose their composure, but can also make the Celtics breathless.
Pick-and-roll, breakout, take-off, fake shot and real pass. Lillard and his teammates are very skilled in cooperation. Those who don’t know think this O number has been playing NBA for several years.
Lillard's fake shot and real pass attracted the defense of the Celtics, and because of this, Aldridge will get an opportunity to take an open position.
For Aldridge, who relies on shooting, this kind of opportunity is not much different from directly sending the Trail Blazers to two points. Aldridge didn't even jump much, and when he hit the empty basket, he scored the ball.
Five points, unknowingly, the Trail Blazers were lifting the score difference up again!
The third time, Garnett was already struggling whether to continue the attack. The failures of the first two times forced kg to reassess his situation. Jason Terry was also hesitating about how to use tactics? Rondo was not here, all this is really a problem.
"Three, three, play three!" Rivers' hoarse voice resounded throughout the audience, and the confused Celtics finally had a goal. Playing three, this represents the team's tactics to play Pierce in the Celtics' tactics. Although he was a little unwilling to give up, Garnett knew that he had squandered his chances.
In the end, Anjie finally saw Garnett compromise. He mentioned the high position again, but not to attack with the ball, but to do an off-ball pick-and-roll for his teammates.
Pierce scored the ball on Iguodala's head with his excellent touch. But the Celtics fans did not become optimistic because of this. After all, how many more can the Celtics score in one game?
Ti, resolutely Ti Ricard knew that Angel and Aldridge were not suitable for playing fast pace, but more importantly, the Celtics were even less suitable!
In order to win, Angel and Aldridge, two long men, also ran after Lillard's butt. They were still young and had a fast-paced game and then they gritted their teeth. But for Garnett and Pierce, this was not as simple as gritting their teeth.
As expected, less than half of the third quarter game, these two old guys had already run away. As long as they get a little chance, out-of-bounds balls, free throws, and dead balls, no matter what chance they will, Garnett and Pierce will hurry up and support their knees and breathe.
It is precisely for this reason that Pierce and Garnett's efficiency continues to decline. Garnett's unsuccessful score in the third quarter was the best interpretation of their performance in the third quarter. Although the Celtics need them to be present very much, the fact is that for the sake of the fourth quarter, Rivers had to replace these two Celtic souls.
In the first round after Pierce and Garnett left the court, the Trail Blazers immediately started their familiar positional battle. Either play in their own comfortable way or in the uncomfortable way of the opponent. This is Ricard's tactical framework today.
Although Jeff Green and Barbosa resisted desperately, these two guys were always qualified players of this level. Facing Angel and Aldridge's left and right shots, the Celtics' defense was shaking. Garnett, Pierce and Rivers were stomping their feet off the court, but they had no choice but tolerate it.
78 to 65, in a blink of an eye, the Celtics went from being one point behind to being thirteen points behind. And Anjie was getting closer and closer to his goal. Half past 24 minutes, Garnett didn't even get a single point.
"There's nothing. We can be replaced in the middle of the fourth quarter. But at the beginning, we must play on the court to stabilize the situation!" Garnett exchanged opinions with Rivers anxiously. If Rivers had just let them play in the fourth quarter, then, there were too many issues to consider.
Rivers thought for a long time, but there was no better solution. If Garnett and Pierce were to rest at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the gap would only be wider. First, withstand the Trail Blazers' attack at the beginning and lay the foundation for the final battle in the last moment. This is what the Celtics should do now!
However, Rivers really thought that after Garnett and Pierce came on the court, the Celtics could approach the score...
"Big hat! The protection of the no-fly zone has made Garnett suffer all the humiliation!" Mike Bryn's passionate shout made everyone except the Celtics fans excited. Garnett turned his head in disbelief, but the Trail Blazers have been invested in the conversion offense.
Just now, Garnett took advantage of the fact that he was still physically strong at the beginning and planned to re-use his old tricks with Brandon Bass. Inside and inside, Garnett had the chance to hit the basket again. But this time, what greeted Garnett was no longer a dunk, but a humiliation of being nailed to the big hat by Angel.
"It's impossible." Fischer, sitting on the bench, looked at Anjie's actions on the court in disbelief. At first, Anjie said that he would not allow Garnett to score five points in the second half, and Fischer still thought it was an impossible task. But until now, Garnett's score in the second half was still zero.
On the defensive end, Garnett, who is not energetic enough, is defeating Anjie steadily. You say that Anjie is bullying the old man or not winning. In short, the Trail Blazers' leading advantage has been effectively expanded. As long as this goal can be achieved, Anjie doesn't care what means he uses.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, Rivers took Pierce and Garnett as planned. However, the score was not as close as it was to the plan.
Ricard also replaced all three main players except Iguodala and Lillard. When these three players play again, it is the time for the Celtics to completely defeat!
Lillard and Iguodala faced the Celtics who were missing Garnett and Pierce, which was so easy that they could not be easier.
These two guys knocked the inside guard of Bass and Salinger to pieces, and Anjie sipped the drinks off the court and chatted with his teammates. The fans of Td North Shore Garden secretly cursed in their hearts, hoping that the Blazers would pay the price for their contempt. However, until the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, the curse was not fulfilled.
Pierce and Garnett have appeared again, and now there are only a small group of loyal Celtic fans who still have the belief to win.
"kg, you haven't scored a point in the second half." This time, it was Anjie's turn to take the initiative to talk to Garnett. This time, Garnett did not respond. Because he found out, he was speechless...
Back-playing, superb turnover, aiming at the basket, and jumping. In any case, Garnett and Pierce have no choice now, and they must shoulder the heavy responsibility of offense. Therefore, as soon as Garnett came on the court, he turned over and jumped in front of Anjie. Unfortunately, this move only added an extra block to Anjie's data.
Pierce also hopes to defeat the young Trail Blazers with rhythm, but Nicholas Batum's entanglement makes Pierce unable to find his own rhythm, so how can he disrupt the opponent's rhythm? His offensive momentum was exhausted from the moment Anjie took the ball away from his hand.
Garnett ignored time because time is too cruel for him and the Celtics now. He only wanted to score but never fulfilled his long-cherished wish.
"I made an O-shot in 4 shots. Kevin has made four shots since he was on the court, but his score in the second half is still zero. The unlucky kg, he met the most difficult Angel at his worst age." The last sentence Mike Bryn said was undoubtedly the best interpretation of Garnett's inner unwillingness.
If he and Anjie were about the same age, these two would definitely present a duel like Mars hitting the earth for the fans. Unfortunately, such a duel can only appear in the fantasy of Garnett and the fans...
Once again, Garnett no longer remembered how many times he did this, nor did he remembered that he had failed like this several times. But this stubborn veteran was still trying to score.
Garnett carried the basket and tried backwards, but found that Anjie was a little far behind. Do you want to be wary of his breakthrough? There is no reason, Anjie didn't have to worry about Garnett's breakthrough at all.
So Garnett decided to take a step back and try it out. To his surprise, he actually successfully advanced!
"Young people just love to relax!" Garnett's mouth curled slightly, and he turned around suddenly, not forgetting to push Anjie with his shoulders while turning around, winning more space for himself. He hooked his hands without any interference. The basketball bounced to the front of the basket, but the second time he bounced in.
"The goal is scored!" Garnett shouted in his heart, he was finally able to start scoring!
Just before Garnett was excited, he heard the beeps from the timer and the red light from the rebound at the end of the game.
"What!?" Garnett did not pay attention to the game time because he had to devote himself to it. But he did not expect that the game time would be zero at this time...
Garnett suddenly realized, and he looked at Anjie. Anjie just spread his hands and smiled disapprovingly.
The goal just now was just the last dignity that Angel left to Garnett, the Celtic Soul...
Garnett quickly looked up at the big screen, then shook his head helplessly.
"Okay, this is the dilemma that players of our age must face. Look at that guy Ray, he has avoided this experience very smartly." Pierce hugged Garnett's shoulder. Ray Allen probably knew their fate this season, so he resolutely joined the Heat. In fact, how could Garnett and Pierce not guess their difficulties this season? But the two old boys still have a small part of beautiful fantasy that is free from reality in their hearts...
Chapter completed!