Basketball miracles

Chapter 112 [Bord Turns into a Scoundrel]

湖人队单节打出40比22，三节109比76领先33分，把凯尔特人队摁在地上摩擦。

The Celtics lost their morale and their offense became chaotic.

Heinson commented, "With both teams down to ten men, it didn't feel like a matchup between two championship contenders at all. Today, the Celtics looked no different from those weak teams that lost to the Lakers."

Stockton said, "Shaw's performance was incredible. He looks like the best big man this season, and he still dominated Bird. If he hadn't been ejected, he would have put up a huge double-double."

Heinson sighed, "I really didn't expect this to happen during the game. I hope Bird is okay."

Hoping Bird is alright is the only blessing the legend can offer to the Celtics' younger generation; saying too much about it would cause controversy.

Viewers watching the live broadcast on television saw the slow-motion replay, which showed that Bird was targeting Xiao Tu and intentionally causing injury. Most viewers felt that Xiao Tu's physical altercation was just a fit of rage, and that Bird deserved it.

Only some Celtics fans felt sorry for Bird, saying that as the league's best player, he didn't receive the respect he deserved.

Bird has been beaten up twice this season alone; when he was guarding Dr. J and Irving, it was because he was verbally abusive, and this time it was because he was physically abusive.

After the last conflict, the majority of fans sided with the 76ers, rendering Bird's two-time MVP status largely irrelevant. He seemed like a villain, and his popularity in the All-Star voting was minimal.

Back then, Bird dominated Dr. J by exploiting his height and weight disadvantage, forcing his teammates to defend power forwards like Barkley. He was in his prime, toying with veterans nearing retirement, and he was constantly rambling and arrogant.

Now, Xiao Tu is using his physical advantage to bully Bird. Before he even said anything trash to provoke him, Bird got furious, as if the other party had committed a serious and unforgivable crime.

Double standards are ingrained in the American psyche, so it's understandable that fans dislike Bird. After all, his playing style isn't appealing, and his looks aren't exactly attractive either.

The Celtics couldn't come back to win, and KC Jones still fielded three starters in the final quarter.

He hoped the team could score more points and avoid a humiliating defeat. A crushing defeat against the Lakers in the regular season would affect morale in the playoffs, putting the Celtics at a psychological disadvantage when facing the Lakers again.

Pat Riley showed no mercy to the Celtics, fielding the same three starters. Kupchak partnered with veteran Bob McAdu in the paint, continuing their offensive onslaught.

If a substitute needs to be brought on, everyone should make the substitution together; otherwise, it will be considered that we are not giving up on the game.

To prevent the Celtics from scoring over 50 points in a single quarter and pulling off a comeback victory, Riley must field a starter for a while to ensure a safe outcome.

Riley was furious after losing the championship last season, and the media said his tactical arrangements were flawed. Was that really his problem? No one on the team was good at rebounding; could he conjure one up out of thin air?

The Lakers have to go all out against the Celtics, especially since Xiao Tu beat up Bird and has already flipped the table. The Lakers' goal this season is to win the championship, and everyone has always considered the Celtics as their hypothetical opponent in the Finals.

Four more minutes passed, and the score difference between the two sides not only failed to narrow but widened to 37 points.

KC Jones seemed a bit panicked, substituting all his starters, leaving only McHale on the court. He had to keep one player on the offense because the Celtics' bench lacked scoring options, and the point difference could continue to widen.

Riley also substituted his starters, leaving only Byron Scott to lead the bench attack. He and Mike McGee were still able to maintain the team's offensive firepower.

The Lakers crushed the Celtics 141-103, a 38-point victory.

肖途仅出战了23分钟，10投8中，三分球1中1，罚球6中5，砍下22分12篮板3助攻1盖帽。

贾巴尔出战28分钟，13投10中，罚球5中5，得到25分5篮板2助攻，命中率高达76.9%。

约翰逊出战32分钟，16投11中，罚球2中2，得到24分4篮板15助攻。

迈克尔-库珀只出战19分钟，6投5中，三分球3中2，罚球2中2，得到14分2篮板6助攻2抢断。

詹姆斯-沃西出战28分钟，13投7中，罚球6中6，得到20分4篮板1助攻。他的命中率53.8%，竟然是湖人本场首发五人中最低的。

The Lakers' starting lineup had a collective breakout performance, with four players scoring 20+ points.

Scott, coming off the bench, also contributed 16 points and 3 assists, but his field goal percentage was only 42.9%. He gave the Celtics some face in the final quarter by missing the shot; otherwise, the Lakers would have definitely won by more than 40 points.

凯尔特人队一边，表现最好的是麦克海尔。他12投7中，罚球7中5，得到19分8篮板，只是有4次失误。    伯德打出了本赛季个人最差的一场比赛，16投4中，三分球2中0，罚球2中1，得到9分5篮板6助攻1抢断1盖帽。

Bird didn't score in double digits, his field goal percentage was only 25%, and his block on defense wasn't against Xiao Tu. He took 6 more shots than Xiao Tu but scored 13 fewer points, leaving the impression of only taking wasteful shots.

Xiao Tu finally got to experience Bird's trash talk firsthand today. It wasn't classic at all, just a string of profanities. He'd swear whenever he had a spare moment, giving the impression of being a person of poor character and low manners, nothing more.

Back in the locker room, Riley suggested, "Seb, why don't you go to the hospital for a check-up? And maybe skip the press conference. Your actions today have caused quite a stir, and the reporters' questions will be very pointed."

"I'm fine, I don't need a checkup." Xiao Tu sneered. "The reporters can ask whatever they want, but I need to maintain my tough guy image and can't miss the press conference."

Riley asked, "Are you really okay?"

"Are you kidding? With Bird's strength, how could he hurt me? If I were to fake an injury, it would have to be after a confrontation with a powerful inside player. I'd be too ashamed to pretend I was injured by Bird." Xiao Tu shrugged, his thoughts were genuine.

If Xiao Tu hadn't jumped up, Bird's sneak attack wouldn't have been able to take him down; this guy has no upper body strength.

So Xiao Tu went to the post-match press conference to share his thoughts.

"I didn't get enough of facing Bird in the All-Star game, so I was very happy that the coach assigned me to guard him today. Unfortunately, he resorted to dirty tricks when he wasn't playing well, which changed the nature of the game."

The reporter asked, "You punched Bird unconscious for four minutes today. What do you have to say about that?"

"His signature clothesline foul was clearly an attempt to cripple me. I was so angry that I couldn't help but get up and punch him."

Xiao Tu snorted coldly and continued, "I was sent off by the referee and sent back to the locker room. Did he actually faint? I didn't expect him to be so weak. He's not even as good as that little thug who used to provoke me outside of school, who was a head shorter than me." Since they had already broken off relations, Xiao Tu started mocking him directly.

He remembered that the original owner of this body had indeed fought with people. The community he lived in was too poor, and it was inevitable that there would be some friction with thugs. There was nothing wrong with saying that; he was much better than those drug addicts in the NBA.

A female reporter asked, "What's your opinion on the Celtics?"

Xiao Tu thought for a moment and said calmly, "I think the Celtics are a very strong team overall. Today, the players were not in good form and did not perform at their normal level, so they suffered a crushing defeat."

The reporter asked, "Is this what you really think?"

Xiao Tu immediately shook his head and said loudly, "No, I don't think the Celtics are anything special. With their abilities, the chances of them successfully defending their title this season are zero. Unless this bunch of trash keeps injuring people and ruins me, Irwin, and Kareem."

The reporters were all delighted, and Xiao Tu immediately launched into a tirade, creating a major news story.

Xiao Tu knocked out Bird with one punch and then mocked the defending champion afterwards, saying it was much more explosive than Barkley's "mediation" of Bird.

What rookie has ever dared to beat up an MVP before? This is unprecedented.

Reporters felt that Xiao Tu was definitely the most arrogant rookie in NBA history, even more arrogant than Chamberlain. Chamberlain and Russell also had a conflict in the 60s, which only involved pushing and shoving each other a couple of times.

A female reporter asked, "What would you like to say to Bird?"

"I want to ask you something, Bird, where's your trash talk?" Xiao Tu sneered. "Bird just keeps using the same few swear words, cursing my deceased mother. I hope he says something classic next time. Trash talk shouldn't be about becoming trash yourself and then constantly cursing people."

The reporters all gasped in unison, thinking that Bird was sure to be bombarded with criticism from fans. They all felt that Bird deserved a beating.

Major media outlets have long reported that Xiao Tu's parents have passed away, and he single-handedly fought his way into the NBA; his path to success is truly inspiring. Bird's use of profanity to insult his deceased mother is utterly despicable!

A Boston reporter said, "I don't think you're being respectful enough to Bird. Rookies shouldn't treat an MVP like that."

Xiao Tu countered, "Then how do you think I should respect Bird? By not fighting back when he hits or talking back when he curses, by deliberately losing to him and then cheering for his foul language?"

"..." The reporter was speechless.

(End of this chapter)