Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 587 424 Boston Sucks
When Kevin Garnett took the court in the final five minutes of the first half, The Celtics returned to their strongest lineup.
This was their finest moment.
Pierce could even take on Yu Fei one-on-one, Red's three-point shooting from the outside was god-like, and Garnett dominated the paint, scoring over Marion right away and drawing Brown's third foul through an offensive rebound.
The veteran's collaborative ability and momentum almost overwhelmed the Supersonics, and then, Yu Fei connected all his teammates in the paint, using his personal influence to help Roy score consecutively, making Childress, who almost has zero offensive ability on the front line, eat several times and further activating Marion's finishing ability.
George Karl had seen the myth of one man against a team before.
But this usually happened when a superhero-like superstar took down a team that was averagely stronger by relying on his own power. However, if there's a gap in experience and intensity, even God wearing No. 23, Jordan's Bulls, would lose to Bird's Celtics.
The gap between the Supersonics and The Celtics wasn't as big as the old Bulls and Celtics, but when The Celtics could play to their strengths at their own pace, the Supersonics were at a clear disadvantage.
The second quarter should have belonged to The Celtics.
But Yu Fei's seven assists in a single quarter changed the game.
The fully powered Celtics entered the second half with a score of 57 to 56.
The Supersonics still led by one point.
Yu Fei had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists at halftime.
"We're not going to lose all our away games," said Rivers during the ABC half-time interview. "I have confidence in my players, and I assure you, we will return to Boston with a 3-2 lead."
Always fond of cold humor at the commentary desk, Jeff Van Gundy joked about Rivers' words: "You know, Doug, no matter who wins tonight, you guys are going home with a 3-2 score."
"Jeff, Mark, do you guys see any variables in the second half?" asked Mike Breen. "Will they compete as intensely as they did in the first half?"
Van Gundy chuckled evilly: "Mike, all I can say is, it all depends on 'Mr. T'."
Mark Jackson followed up: "Yes. I have tremendous respect for Steve, he's one of my favorite referees. He respects tradition, and that's not good for Seattle because Frye has been playing unconventional basketball. He and George have brought the unconventional carnival basketball to Seattle, which is exactly what 'Mr. T' detests."
"So, The Celtics have a greater chance of winning?" asked Breen.
Jackson replied: "That's what I think."
"It's not entirely true. I think Boston still has a chance to finish this game by the end of the third quarter," Van Gundy, as a disciple of Pat Riley's iron-fisted basketball, knew the pros and cons of tight defense. "Whether its the Supersonics or The Celtics, they are the most outstanding basketball players on Earth. There's no essential difference between them, it's just a difference in style. The Celtics tend to emphasize defense and enjoy physical play, and with a moderate foul calling, they're nearly invincible. But the Supersonics held up in the second quarter. If The Celtics fail to end the game by the third quarter, things will start getting interesting."
"Both confrontation and defense are adaptable. Once the Supersonics get used to it," Van Gundy presented the biggest conundrum in basketball today, "who can stop Frye Yu?"
Van Gundy's remark became prophetic.
Because the ultimate problem he pointed out didn't appear in the last quarter.
It appeared at the start of the second half.
Yu Fei couldn't wait for his teammates to adapt to The Celtics' game before making his move; that would be too late.
At the start of the third quarter, it was Yu Fei again with threes and breakthroughs, scoring 5 points in a row, expanding the lead to 6 points, and then, Red's three-pointer and Garnett's offensive rebound narrowed the difference back to 1 point.
Van Gundy still had the qualities of a top coach, and when he wasn't on the front lines, as a bystander, his predictions were nearly always right.
After probing the referee's limits in the first half, The Celtics began the second half by applying a nearly terrifying defensive intensity to the Supersonics.
Under such pressure, let alone third or fourth-year newcomers like Roy, even an experienced player like Yu Fei couldn't stabilize his shooting.
The score of 62 to 61 froze for a full three and a half minutes.
It wasn't until Durant, who was 1 for 8 from the field for the whole game, recklessly drove to the basket, drawing Kendrick Perkins' fourth foul, that the stalemate where neither side scored was broken.
At that moment, it was as if Emerald City had erupted into chaos.
The roar within Key Arena seemed to reach for the skies.
"Boston sucks!"
"Boston sucks!!"
"Boston sucks!!!"
The taunts that once resounded in the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles transcended time and space to make an appearance in Key Arena.
Bill Simmons felt as if he had returned to his youth, with the calls here too loud and the hostility too strong.
Durant made one of two free throws, breaking the scoring dry spell, 63 to 61.
The Celtics substituted PJ Brown for Perkins, but soon it was the Supersonics' turn to worry.
Pierce missed a jumper against Yu Fei's defense, and Garnett fiercely pushed Brown aside, jumped with full force, grabbed the offensive rebound with one hand, and scored the putback while off-balance, also drawing Brown's fourth foul.
In such a situation, Karl didn't dare to take a risk and had to substitute Collison, who also had four fouls, to hold the position.
The game was getting more intense by the minute, not just in the situation but also in the physicality of the play, with collisions occurring at every post fight, and players having to use all their strength to ward off the opposition during every screen set. Every offensive move faced harassment reminiscent of a bygone era, with all rules seeming to vanish. For Steve Javie's referee crew, except for contact that completely invaded the offensive player's cylinder, every other action was acceptable.
The two teams that had each scored almost 60 points in the first half combined for only 29 points in the third quarter.
This was an iron-clanking feast, but the outcome wasn't as beautiful as the Bostonians had imagined.
They had envisioned a scenario where the Supersonics would crumble under the pressure, then collapse during the game. No, that didn't happen.
Even though the Celtics scored one more point than the Supersonics in the quarter, that only brought them to a tie.
71 to 71
Both teams were about to enter the fourth quarter's decisive battle.
The Key Arena was incredibly tense during the interval.
Even Hollywood stars like Lee and Winslet could sense the tension hanging in the air.
Clay Bennett, the owner of the Supersonics, stood up from his box for the tenth time, pacing back and forth at the window.
General Manager Sam Presti sat by his side.
"Sam, can we win?" Bennett truly felt he was on the verge of a heart attack. "Can we actually win?"
Even Presti found the game unpredictable.
"The referees are against us," Presti said, "Mr. T is known for his conservative officiating, and his style favors the Celtics."
"Damn it, this is our home court, why appoint a referee who is against us?!" Bennett stormed, "Don't they want us to win?!"
Presti remained silent, although the right thing to do was to agree with his boss, he wouldn't do so.
In his view, this was the League's skillful control of the game.
The referees for the third and fourth games were extremely strict with defensive moves, preventing the Celtics from performing at their best, leading to two crushing defeats. But then they appointed someone like Steve Javie for the fifth game. Did that mean they didn't want the Supersonics to win? No, that was the most superficial view.
If the League really had any agenda, they would send Dick Bavetta in.
To Presti, this was the League making preparations on both fronts. They didn't want the Celtics to lose all away games because if the Celtics eventually won the championship, a complete loss in away games would cast doubt on the League. Now, the list of referees for the sixth game in Boston had been announced, and it was the same crew from the third game in Seattle.
As long as the Supersonics won tonight's game, the sixth game in Boston would be their reward.
They would break the Boston home-court myth, hoist the trophy away, thus changing the fate of a city, making Seattle's professional basketball great again—the entire Pacific Northwest would take pride in it.
All of this was predicated on passing tonight's test.
Otherwise, for the League, a Celtics revival would also be a very good script.
Follow current novels on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.
"Boss, there's one more quarter, don't worry," Presti said, "Trust Frye."
"Yes, trust Frye!" Bennett latched onto that hope as if his life depended on it, "He is the pride of the Pacific Northwest! He is Seattle's Chosen One and the savior of American basketball, I absolutely believe in him!"
It all sounded great, but a lifelong Oklahoman talking about "our Pacific Northwest pride" couldn't help but make Presti crack a smile.
At this moment, outside the Key Arena, countless fans used the same chant to cheer for the Supersonics.
The voices of tens of thousands converged, penetrating the walls, and reached the arena.
"Boston sucks~~~!!!"
So, the on-site audience spontaneously stood up and began to shout loudly.
The regional cursing, filled with both encouragement and hatred, had never been so united, so inspiring.
When Yu Fei and his teammates stepped onto the court, with the fourth quarter about to start, this curse carrying the city's hopes sounded through heaven and earth.
This was the sound of a city on fire.
Bennett, who had just settled down, leapt up again, opened the window, and roared along with the fans.
Boston sucks
Boston sucks
Boston sucks
No matter who you were, no matter your social status, at this moment, if you supported the Supersonics, you would spontaneously do the same.
The mayor stood up.
The tycoons of Seattle stood up.
The celebrities who were there for the excitement also stood up.
"Boston sucks! Boston sucks! Boston sucks!"
"Come on!" Yu Fei clapped his hands and said, "Boston sucks!!!"
⑴ Geographically, Oklahoma City is situated between the southwestern and midwestern United States. (If this is wrong, don't question my geography teacher, it's chat that told me. It's all chat's fault.)
PS: There's one chapter left in this game, expected to be a long one, definitely can't finish it today.
