Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 589 425: It’s Always_2

"Big Fei, don't be too arrogant!" Pierce stood out, "The game isn't over yet!"

If one side broke the scoring drought but the other couldn't catch up quickly, the suspense of the game would vanish.

Pierce was well aware of this.

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As The Celtics' veteran out of the Big Three, and also the player with the strongest individual offensive capability in the team, he had to take responsibility.

Pierce's offense could hardly be described as elegant.

He took the ball at the top of the arc, leaned against Fei, then pulled up to stop sharply to the right, shooting with a bit of a fadeaway before the block arrived.

"Swish!"

His offense looked difficult, but it always went in.

Pierce roared, he had scored an important answering basket, and his confidence surged.

However, on defense, he still had to face Fei.

In the past four games, Fei had been averaging close to 40 points, which was solid proof of Pierce's defensive failure.

Facing Fei's attack, he could feel his heartbeat accelerating. Unlike him, Fei's offense was fast and fierce.

Fei went one-on-one against Pierce, a crossover from left to right, then darted to the right side and pulled up for a quick shot.

76-73

For the following five minutes, the game was a pure one-on-one duel.

Neither side was double-teaming anymore, not even calling for screens, because they would switch defenders immediately.

Pierce, in the midst of a Celtic revival, might see the honor turn to shame with a road loss record, exactly as the Bostonians had hoped, stood out.

The Celtics attacked inside, Pierce got an open shot from the perimeter.

Garnett passed the ball out.

Pierce hit a three-pointer.

"How about that?!" Pierce yelled loudly at Fei.

In this league, many harbored this dream: to defeat Frye one day for total success, to stand above all others.

James had failed, Kobe's dream had been shattered, Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Nowitzki had all become legends but footnotes.

Now launching this challenge was Paul Pierce, a star who had never garnered much attention.

Fei's success had changed all the narratives surrounding him.

As sports writers tried to uncover the secret to his success, they started from the beginning. There they found factors that proved why Fei was so special.

Never having received systematic basketball training before high school, he transformed from a novice to a top national high school player in one summer and entered the league as a lottery pick in less than two years—his story was even more miraculous than that of Hakeem Olajuwon.

Then, the writers discovered the moment Fei was selected in the draft, line by line naming those players drafted before him, like unraveling a thread. Sports writers were convinced that the character that would lead to Fei's greatness had been exhibited before he even entered the league.

But what they did not know was that before Fei, it was Pierce who first faced an unexpected draft ranking, told the media about players who were ranked higher than him.

Very few knew this story, because Pierce was such an inconspicuous presence before this year.

Everything in his career was not as infamous as the time he was stabbed eleven times.

Now, he was making those who ignored him pay the price.

Yet, Fei would not allow Pierce to enjoy his moment alone in Seattle.

After Pierce tied the game, within half a minute, both sides had a quick back and forth without scoring. Then, Fei called for a pick and roll on the perimeter, and amidst the Celtics' switching defense, he stepped back sharply and answered with a three-pointer.

"This guy is simply unstoppable!"

Bill Simmons was nearly dying watching this.

Every time The Celtics were about to get a run, Fei would start to exert force.

Since the second quarter, The Celtics had countless opportunities to extend the lead, but Fei blocked them all.

This was a terrifying pressure.

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It made one doubt oneself.

Can I defeat this person?

Simmons, completely on The Celtics' side, was sweating profusely. What about Pierce in the middle of it all? He had never felt such pressure, the kind that made him want to vomit,

The offensive was so difficult; the Supersonics' defense was impervious under Fei's lead.

The Celtics were futile within the 24-second shot clock, while Fei single-handedly brought the ball to the frontcourt. In just an encounter, Pierce's defense failed.

Fei split Pierce's defense like a sword and stepped into the paint for a floater.

"If this is all you've got," Fei glanced coldly at Pierce, "then perish."

In Pierce's world, it seemed like the oxygen had disappeared.

For a moment, he felt as if he was suffocating.

"I've died once!!!" Pierce roared, his face trembling, "No one has the right to say that to me!"

81-76

"Since the beginning of the fourth quarter, Frye has taken care of all the scoring for the Supersonics!" Mike Breen said, "It looks like it's not over yet!"

The pressure from Fei was real, and these intangible presences wouldn't dissipate just because of Pierce's courage.

Under the heavy pressure, Pierce missed his shot.

PJ Brown grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it out to Michael Redd, who hit a three-pointer.

Instantly, Pierce roared.

It felt so good to have support, to feel alive.

Nine years!

For nine long years he had waited, alone. Now, he finally had a chance to defend The Celtics' honor like his predecessors. He did not want to fall here.

The relief only lasted a few seconds.