The Way of the Center

Chapter 465: The Last Dignity

"The Trail Blazers' talent in athletic ability is beyond the envy of the Celtics. But athletic ability is not the whole of basketball. If the Celtics' subsequent tactics can be successfully implemented, I think this game The suspense will be saved until the end."

It didn't take long for people to pull away from Lillard's stunning performance. The game is not over yet, and the Trail Blazers are only leading by three points. If the strategy hadn't been interrupted when it hit Garnett just now, the Celtics might be leading now.

Spike Lee enjoyed watching it so much that he forgot about the documentary. Let's think about those damn shots and editing later. Now, let this director who is obsessed with basketball enjoy this wonderful battle.

"I just took a nap, kid, don't be proud." Seeing that An Jie finally responded to himself, Garnett couldn't keep his mouth shut. God knows if this man will talk more than women when he gets old...

In the second attempt of the Celtics, Garnett did not take the risk to mention the high post again, but asked for the ball with his back to the basket in a deep low post.

Many of Garnett's points in the first half were obtained through hand-to-hand combat with Anjie in the low post. In the second half, Garnett decided to repeat the same trick.

Just when Terry was about to throw the ball inside, An Jie suddenly stepped forward and sealed Garnett tightly! Now don't talk about catching the ball, Terry can't even see Garnett anywhere! Anjie's coverage area is too large, Garnett seems to be blocked by a big wall, and there is no chance to attack at all.

Garnett has been in the NBA for so many years, and it is not unusual for him to defend around the front. But Anjie's superb forward footsteps and great defensive range kept Garnett from getting out of the predicament.

After Garnett tried to run out to catch the ball several times to no avail, Jason Terry gave the ball to Barbosa, which also represented another change in the Celtics' offensive strategy.

After running for a long time and conducting several times, the Celtics did not get a good chance to make a move. In the end, Pierce forced a shot against Iguodala's defense before the 24 seconds of offensive time ran out. Of course, the basketball also went out of the box without a doubt.

"The Blazers' defense is very good. They defended for 24 seconds. But the troubles of the Celtics are not over, because they have to face the Blazers' counterattack immediately!"

That's right, Lillard has already overwhelmed the half court before Garnett has recovered from the failed offense. Fast pace, the "just right" fast pace of the Trail Blazers will neither let them confuse themselves, but also force the Celtics to breathe.

Pick-and-roll, breakthrough, take-off, false shots and true passes. Lillard and his teammates are very skilled in cooperating. Those who don't know think that this No. 0 has played in the NBA for several years.

Lillard's fake shot and true pass attracted the defense of the Celtics. Because of this, Aldridge got an open shot.

For Aldridge, who lives by shooting, this kind of opportunity is not much different from directly sending the Trail Blazers two points. Aldridge didn't even jump much, just made a random shot against an empty basket, and the ball went in.

Five points, unknowingly, the Blazers are raising the point difference again!

For the third time, Garnett has already begun to struggle with whether to continue to attack. The first two failures forced KG to reevaluate his situation. Jason Terry is also hesitating,

How to initiate tactics? Rondo is not here, all this is really a problem.

"Three three three, hit three!" Rivers' hoarse voice resounded throughout the audience, and the bewildered Celtics finally had a goal. Play three, which in the Celtics' tactics represents the team's set of tactics to play Pierce. Although a little reconciled, Garnett knew that he had squandered his chances.

In the end, Anjie finally saw Garnett make a compromise. He mentioned the high post again, but not for offense with the ball, but for off-ball pick-and-rolls for his teammates.

Pierce relied on his excellent touch to score the ball over Iguodala's head. But the fans of the Celtics did not become optimistic because of this. After all, how many goals can the Celtics score in one game?

Speed ​​up, speed up resolutely. Ricard knew that Anjie and Aldridge were not suitable for playing fast, but more importantly, the Celtics were even less suitable!

In order to win, the two elders, Anjie and Aldridge, also ran desperately behind Lillard's buttocks. They were still young, and the fast-paced game passed by gritting their teeth. But for Garnett and Pierce, it's not as simple as gritting their teeth.

Sure enough, less than halfway through the third quarter, the two old buddies had already died. Given the slightest chance, foul play, free throw, dead ball, whatever the chance, Garnett and Pierce would take the time to put their knees up and catch their breath.

It is precisely for this reason that the efficiency of Pierce and Garnett has continued to decline. Among them, Garnett did not score a point in the third quarter, which is the best interpretation of their performance in the third quarter. Although the Celtics need the two of them on the court very much now, the fact is that for the sake of the fourth quarter, Rivers had to replace the two souls of the Celtics.

Just after Pierce and Garnett left the first round, the Blazers immediately played their familiar positional battle. Either play in a way that is comfortable for oneself, or play in a way that is uncomfortable for the opponent. This is Ricard's tactical framework today.

Although Jeff Green and Barbosa resisted desperately, these two guys are still only qualified starters. In the face of Anjie and Aldridge's left and right, the Celtics' defense is precarious. The three of Garnett, Pierce and Rivers stomped their feet off the court, but they had no choice but to endure.

78 to 65, in a blink of an eye, the Celtics went from one point behind to 13 points behind. And An Jie is getting closer and closer to his goal. Halfway through 24 minutes, Garnett didn't even get a point.

"There's no other way, we can be replaced in the middle of the fourth quarter. But at the beginning, we have to play to stabilize the situation!" Garnett anxiously exchanged views with Rivers. If it was back then, Rivers would directly let them Just play the fourth quarter. But now, there are too many issues to consider.

Rivers thought for a long time, and there was no better solution. If Garnett and Pierce continue to rest at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the point difference will only be widened. Withstood the onslaught of the Blazers at the beginning and laid the foundation for the decisive battle at the last moment. This is what the Celtics should do now!

However, does Rivers really think that with Garnett and Pierce on the court, the Celtics will be able to close the score...

"Nail the big hat! The guardian of the no-fly zone made Garnett suffer humiliation!" Mike Brin's passionate shout made everyone except the Celtics fans excited. Garnett couldn't believe it. Turning around, only to find that the Trail Blazers have invested in the conversion offense.

Just now, Garnett planned to repeat the old trick with Brandon Bass, taking advantage of his strength at the beginning of the game. Inside and inside the pick-and-roll, Garnett once again had the opportunity to attack the basket. But this time, what greeted Garnett was no longer a good show of dunks, but the humiliation of being nailed by Anjie.

"Impossible." Fisher, who was sitting on the bench, watched Anjie's actions on the court in disbelief. At the beginning, Anjie said that he would not let Garnett score more than five points in the second half. I also thought it was an impossible task. But so far in the game, Garnett's score in the second half is still zero.

On the defensive end, Garnett, who was already lacking in energy, retreated steadily due to Anjie's tough back. You say that it doesn't matter if An Jie is bullying the elderly, or if he wins without fighting. In short, the Trail Blazers' lead has actually been expanded. As long as this goal can be achieved, An Jie doesn't care what method he uses.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, Rivers took Pierce and Garnett down as planned. But the score was not as close as planned.

Ricard also replaced all three main players except Iguodala and Lillard, and when these three people played again, it was the moment when the Celtics were completely defeated!

Lillard and Iguodala against the Celtics without Garnett and Pierce, it couldn't be easier.

These two guys smashed the inside line guarded by Bass and Salinger, and Anjie was drinking drinks and chatting with his teammates relaxedly off the court. TD North Shore Gardens fans cursed inwardly, hoping the Blazers would pay for their slight. However, until the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, the curse was not fulfilled.

Pierce and Garnett played again, and now, only a small group of diehard Celtics fans still have the belief of winning.

"KG, you didn't score a single point in the second half." This time, it was Anjie's turn to talk to Garnett. This time, Garnett didn't respond. Because he found that he was speechless...

Post-up, superb turnaround footwork, aiming for the rim, jump shot. In any case, Garnett and Pierce now have no choice but to carry the burden of offense. Therefore, Garnett turned over and shot a jumper in front of Anjie as soon as he came on the court. Unfortunately, this move only added one more block to Anjie's data.

Pierce still hopes to use rhythm to beat the young Blazers, but because of Nicolas Batum's entanglement, Pierce can't even 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 out of his hands.

Garnett ignored the time, because time is too cruel for him and the Celtics now. He only thought about scoring, but he has been unable to fulfill this long-cherished wish.

"He made 0 of 4 shots. Kevin has shot 4 balls since he played, but he still scored zero in the second half. Unlucky KG, at his worst age, he met the most difficult Anjie .” Mike Breen’s last words are undoubtedly the best interpretation of Garnett’s unwillingness.

If he and Anjie were of the same age, the two would definitely present a matchup like sparks hitting the earth for the fans. It's a pity that such a duel can only appear in the fantasy of Garnett and the fans...

Leaning on Anjie again, Garnett can't remember how many times he did this, nor how many times he has failed like this. But this stubborn veteran is still trying to score.

Garnett tried back with the ball behind the basket, but found that Anjie was a little far away. Are you trying to guard against your own breakthrough? There's no reason, Anjie doesn't need to worry about Garnett's breakthrough at all.

So Garnett decided to take a step back and try. To his surprise, he succeeded in advancing!

"Young people just like to relax!" Garnett's lips curled up slightly, and he turned around abruptly, not forgetting to push An Jie with his shoulders during the turn to gain more space for himself. Hooked, without any interference. The basketball bounced to the front of the basket, but on the second hit, it still bounced in.

"Goal!" Garnett secretly shouted in his heart, he was finally able to start scoring!

Just before Garnett was excited, he heard the beeping of the timer and the red light on the backboard at the end of the game.

"What!?" Garnett didn't pay attention to the game time, because he had to devote himself wholeheartedly to it. But he didn't expect that the game time would be reset to zero at this time...

Garnett suddenly realized, he looked at An Jie, An Jie just spread his hands and smiled disapprovingly.

That ball just now was just the last dignity left by An Jie to Garnett, the soul of the Green Army...

Garnett quickly looked up at the big screen, then shook his head helplessly.

"Okay, this is the dilemma that players of our age have to face. Look at Ray, he is very smart to avoid this experience." Pierce put his arm around Garnett's shoulders, Ray Allen may Knowing their fate this season, they will resolutely join the Heat. In fact, how could Garnett and Pierce fail to guess their difficulties this season? It's just that in the hearts of these two old boys, there are still a small part of beautiful fantasies that stray away from reality...

108 to 90, that's the number Garnett just looked up. A huge difference of 18 points, this is why Garnett is heartbroken...  

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