Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 585 422: Luck Balloon

The agitated Garnett was not overwhelmed by excess emotion as he was in the first two games. It was evident that he was in good form tonight, particularly with his shooting touch.

In the next possession, he no longer sought out Brown actively, instead focusing on attacking the interior.

For three consecutive possessions, the Celtics' offense was initiated from the inside. Apart from the previous possession when Fei stole the ball with a sneak attack, Garnett successfully shot over Marion on the other two.

6-4

The Celtics were trailing by 2 points, but then, Fei drove to the basket, drawing a foul from David Lee, and made both free throws.

8-4

Just when the Supersonics thought the Celtics would play a classic Rivers game—if the routine works, keep hammering away—they saw their opponents proactively changing their approach.

Moreover, this was not Rivers' arrangement, it was the Celtics players' spontaneous action.

This is the advantage of having a bunch of veterans in the starting lineup; they don't play stubbornly.

Garnett moved from the low post to the high post, set a screen, and after cutting, Red received the ball and shot a three-pointer.

8-7

Up to now, neither side had missed a single shot.

If they shot, it would go in.

This high shooting efficiency was not the Celtics' main theme because they were not an offensive team with strong continuity to begin with.

Garnett, in good form on the offensive end, then showed his unbelievable energy and mobility on defense.

Even after transferring to the Celtics and putting on weight, losing some speed and agility, Garnett could still manage to patrol the high post and then return to the basket in time to protect the boards or the rim.

In the league, there were other interior defenders like Garnett who could exert pressure, but to do so in such an extreme way for the Celtics, while also contributing an average of 19 points and 3 assists on offense, he was truly one of a kind.

Just as defensive prowess is essential, Garnett's role in the Celtics' defense was different from the rest.

For instance, Marion, who was also a pillar of the Supersonics' defense, could be claimed as one of the top five defenders in the entire league, but Garnett was the player with the best defensive influence, flexibility, and versatility at the moment.

And this soon became apparent tonight.

The three possessions on the offensive end were just his warm-up; his main battleground was defense. Roy called for a pick-and-roll, but after encountering Garnett's high post patrol, he made a passing error.

The Celtics launched a counterattack.

8-9

The Celtics took the lead.

Afterwards, not to be outdone, Roy called for another pick-and-roll.

Under the watch of head referee Steve Javie, Garnett's wild defensive energy fully erupted, and Roy, attempting to challenge him, saw the pick-and-roll turn into a one-on-one between the two at the high post.

It was a mismatch.

But Garnett might be the best big man in history at defending against smaller players. Where most big men struggle with lateral movement and can be easily shaken or blown by guards or forwards, Garnett's lateral speed not only keeps up with guards and forwards but also leverages his formidable physicality to impose disturbances.

Even for a guard with well-rounded skills like Roy, his jump shot, created after a fake that bought him some time, was still heavily contested by Garnett and it missed.

The Celtics were about to counterattack when Durant, quick on his feet, deliberately fouled Pierce, who had secured the rebound.

"Tough game," Roy said to Fei. "KG's like a beast tonight."

"Scared?"

"Bullshit!"

But it was admittedly difficult for Roy, lacking in raw explosive power and instead reliant on skill to set the pace, to handle someone like Garnett.

From now on, give me the ball," Fei stated.

Roy had no objection. His style was in fact countered by the Celtics' defense, which relied on the talent of their players to apply high post pressure. His best game so far had been Game 3, where he acted as the secondary offensive option.

In the subsequent possession, Red wanted to shoot another three, but Fei blocked his reception line.

However, if Fei focused on Red, Pierce would be set free.

Cassell decisively passed the ball to Pierce.

Pierce took Durant one-on-one with the ball. He seemed slow in both hands and feet, but it was this slow pace that caused Durant to jump recklessly, drawing a foul, and giving his opponent a 2+1.

Yo, you're no good without Big Fei, huh?" Pierce sneered mockingly. "You call yourself a first pick with this kind of play?"

Durant's first breakdown in the regular season came at the hands of Pierce.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Now in a disadvantaged position again, Durant was growing increasingly anxious.

Pierce made the bonus free throw.

8-12

Seeing this, Rivers sat down.

This was the rhythm the Celtics liked best: Garnett backing them up on the defensive end, and everyone being able to stand out on offense. Although each play seemed a bit forced, relying on individual talent, as long as the other stars could bring their individual abilities to the fore, they could play team basketball centered around the stars.

In Thibodeau's words: "Offense is such an inconsequential thing; defense is the only thing that matters."

Above the arc, Fei came to take the ball after Roy dribbled past half court.

The start of his move was almost identical to Roy's as Fei called for the power forward to set a screen for him.

Garnett, having defended several possessions in a row, was even more excited to see that the Supersonics had switched the ball handler to Fei. If he could limit Fei, what could the Supersonics do on offense?

In Garnett's eyes, league number one, four championships in five years—everyone was the same. Put Fei on the Timberwolves, he too would be stuck in the first round, he too wouldn't make the playoffs, and on the Bucks... he would have a championship.

Success, other than personal struggle, shouldn't one consider external factors and historical processes?

Why is Big Fei ordained the chosen one?

It's nonsense!

Garnett, with fire in his eyes, approached Fei and roared, "You can't play against me!"

But Fei had no superfluous movements at all; his ball handling in offense had already merged with his skills and rhythm, free from excessive show-off moves and never losing control.

It was a simple crossover followed by a step-back jumper. Though Garnett managed to keep up with the defense, he didn't influence Fei's shot.

The ball flew.

Almost without touching the net, it silently cut through the hoop.

This was a shot of perfect rhythm and touch.

"What did you say?"

Fei's face, calm and imposing, showed no emotion, and his tone was extremely flat.

Garnett felt a chill down his spine; Fei's retort was like a slap in the face. They weren't enemies; off the court, they would even chat and laugh, but this was the NBA Finals, where only one could emerge victorious, and he couldn't back down now.

"You can't play against me!" Garnett, no different from others in the past five years, would not shrink back since he stood there, "That was just a lucky shot!"

Fei was all too familiar with this.

Duncan in 2003, Shaquille O'Neal in 2004, Wade and Nowitzki in 2006, all of them had strong abilities and aspired to be number one.

But Fei crushed their dreams because, in the end, only one could succeed.

This glory couldn't be shared.

Fei had the mission of shattering the Celtics' defensive system. Since Garnett had come forth to provoke, he might as well show him how he differed from Duncan and Nowitzki.

Then, another Celtics starter exerted pressure.

David Lee caught the ball outside the paint and went one-on-one against Brown. His glory was overshadowed by The Big Three, yet he still had an average of 9 points, 7 rebounds per game, and being incredibly efficient, he was the king of efficiency within the Celtics.

Brown regarded him as a regular opponent, but didn't expect Lee to have excellent footwork and a great finishing touch under the rim; he scored in spite of Brown's defense.

10 to 14

Indeed, this was the best start the Celtics had in the three away games.

Fei received the ball, advanced to the frontcourt, and as he saw his teammates setting up, Garnett unexpectedly came up to guard him directly, eliminating the need to call for a pick-and-roll.

Was this a sign of utmost confidence in his own defense? No one knew, but Fei was not intimidated at all, driving hard with the ball. Garnett had enough speed to follow but couldn't handle the sudden stop.

Fei abruptly stopped inside the free-throw line, dribbling the ball behind him, with a slight turn of the dribbling hand suggesting he might pull up for a shot. Against a different class of opponent, even the most experienced defender's pressure and defensive IQ would differ.

The considerable offensive threat Fei posed made Garnett instinctively react to the deceptive move, jumping to block.

The moment he jumped, he knew it was a fake, but it was already too late to correct.

Fei collected the ball and, utilizing the timing, leaped for a shot in front of Garnett.

Another hit!

Yet another one-on-one!

"Was that shot luck too?" Fei taunted, "KG, why is my luck so good? Is it possible that you simply can't defend against me?"

Garnett yelled, "There's no one I can't guard!"

"Ignore him, Big Fei," Brown sneered as they jogged back, "All he has left is tough talk."

Garnett roared, "You're just Fei's dog; you don't have a say here!"

"How dare you!" Brown truly believed he was the top big man, "You dare talk to me like that?!"

The players bickered as they moved towards the frontcourt, and the Celtics' offense started to fall apart. In that round, Garnett neither received the ball nor set a screen; he and Brown were stuck together.

Cassell decided to make a sudden move, but due to poor touch, he missed.

Fei grabbed the rebound and initiated a quick counterattack on defense. Garnett pursued at full speed; for a big man, his stamina was terrifying. If Yao or Shaquille O'Neal were to chase back at such speed, they probably wouldn't last a few minutes.

"That's it, KG, take him down! Nothing to fear!" Bill Simmons, sitting in the front row, saw Garnett become more tenacious with each setback and couldn't help but feel his blood boil, "Boston stands with you!"

Fei came to a sudden stop at the top of the arc, his body beginning to lower, and that dribbling hand hinted at another turnover. Garnett widened his eyes, instantly remembering the previous play; the same trick couldn't fool him twice!

In less than a second, Fei leapt in front of him.

Garnett froze, completely unable to move.

In his mind, there was only one voice.

This time it's for real!

Fei pulled up for a forceful jump shot right in Garnett's face.

"Swish!!!!!"

"!#@￥￥#"

The cheers in Key Arena were unceasing, and Bill Simmons's face turned ashen.

The Celtics called for a timeout.

Garnett was flustered; he couldn't discern which of Fei's moves were real and which were feints.

"Speak up, you idiot!"

Garnett's mouth shape said "what," but he couldn't utter a word.

Fei, staring down at him like he was sentencing a convicted man, said, "Keep talking, say it's a lucky shot."