When pride still matters

Chapter 424 Boston sucks
The Celtics returned to their best lineup when Kevin Garnett came on for the final five minutes of the first half.

This is their best time.

Pierce can even challenge Yu Fei in a one-on-one game. Reed is accurate with three-pointers from outside. Garnett dominates the penalty area and scores on Marion's head. He also caused Brown's third foul through a second attack.

The veteran's collaboration ability and momentum almost overwhelmed the Sonics. Then, Yu Fei connected all his teammates in the penalty area and relied on his personal influence to allow Roy to score consecutively, making Childress' independent offensive ability almost zero. The striker Rough Brother took advantage of the situation several times, which fully activated Marion's finishing ability.

The myth of one man against one team is not something George Karl has never seen before.

But this usually happens when a superhuman superstar single-handedly destroys a team whose average strength is stronger than his own. However, if there is a gap in experience and intensity between the two sides, then even if God wears No. 23, Jordan's Bulls will lose to Bird's Celtics.

The gap between the SuperSonics and the Celtics is not as big as that of Niu Kai in the past. However, when the Celtics can show their strength under the standards they are accustomed to, the SuperSonics are obviously at a disadvantage.

The second quarter should have belonged to the Celtics.

But Yu Fei's 7 assists in a single quarter changed the situation.

The Celtics, who were working hard across the board, entered the second half with a score of 57 to 56 at the end of the first half.

The score of 62 to 61 was fixed for three and a half minutes.

Because the ultimate problem he raised did not appear in the last section.

"That's not entirely true. I think Boston still has a chance to end this contest in the third quarter." As the inheritor of Pat Riley's iron-blooded basketball, Van Gundy is well aware of the pros and cons of high-pressure defense. "Whether it's the Sonics or the Celtics, they are the best basketball players on the planet. There is no essential difference between them, just a slight difference in style. The Celtics tend to emphasize defense and are keen on confrontation , and with moderate penalties, they were almost invincible in the second quarter. If the Celtics can't end the game in the third quarter, things will get interesting."

"Jeff, Mark, do you think there will be any changes in the second half?" Mike Breen asked, "Will they compete as fiercely as in the first half?"

The SuperSonics still lead by 1 point.

Under this kind of pressure, not to mention Roy and other third- and fourth-grade newcomers, even the well-tested Yu Fei could not stabilize his hand.

"We're not going to lose all of our road games," Rivers said in a halftime interview with ABC. "I have confidence in my players, and I promise you, we're going to go back to Boston with a score of 3-2. "

Van Gundy still has the qualities of a first-class coach. When he is not on the front line and as a spectator, his predictions are almost always correct.

As soon as the second half started, it showed up.

"So, the Celtics have a better chance of winning?" Breen asked.

It is impossible for Yu Fei to wait until his teammates adapt to the Celtics game before exerting his strength. That would be too late.

After the Celtics tested the referee's standards in the first half, they exerted almost terrifying defensive intensity on the Sonics from the second half on.

Van Gundy smiled evilly: "Mike, all I can say is, it all depends on Mr. T."

Yu Fei scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists in the half.

Mark Jackson responded: "Yes. I have a lot of respect for Steve, he is one of my favorite referees. He is the kind of referee who respects tradition. This is not good for Seattle because Frye has always played against tradition. basketball. He and George brought an unconventional carnival style of basketball to Seattle that Mr. T rejected."

"Both confrontation and defense can be adapted, once the Sonics adapt." Van Gundy raised the number one problem in today's basketball world, "Who will stop Frye Yu?"

It wasn't until Durant, who made 8 of 1 shots from the field, desperately drove to the basket and caused Kendrick Perkins' fourth foul that the dilemma of neither team scoring was broken.

At the beginning of the third quarter, Yu Fei made another three-pointer and a breakthrough, scoring 5 points in a row, opening the point difference to 6 points. Then, Reed's three-pointer and Garnett's second offense narrowed the point difference. to 1 point.

Jeff Van Gundy, who always likes to play dry humor in the commentary box, joked about Rivers' words: "You know, Doug, no matter who wins tonight, you will go home with a score of 3 to 2."

Van Gundy's words came true.

"That's what I think," Jackson said.

At that moment, chaos seemed to break out in Emerald City. ,

The roar in the Key Arena reached into the sky.

“Boston sucks!”

“Boston sucks!!”

“Boston sucks!!!”

The shouts and curses that once resounded passionately in the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles traveled through time and space and appeared in the Key Arena.

Bill Simmons felt like he was back in his youth, the place was too loud and the hostility too strong.

Durant made one of two free throws, breaking the scoring drought at the scene, 63 to 61.

The Celtics replaced Perkins with PJ Brown, but soon it was the Sonics' turn to be troubled.

Pierce missed a jump shot under Yu Fei's defense. Garnett suddenly pushed away from Brown, jumped up with all his strength, grabbed the offensive rebound with one hand, completed the tip-in while out of balance, and caused Brown's fourth foul.

In this case, Karl did not dare to take risks and could only replace Collison, who also had four fouls.

The competition is becoming more and more intense. This is not only the fierceness of the situation, but also the fierceness of the physical confrontation. There are collisions in every important position. Every time you get stuck, you have to use all your strength to push the opponent away. Every offense is subject to the harassment of the hands-on era, all rules have disappeared, and for Steve Jarvey's officiating staff, other actions are acceptable except for outright violation of contact on the offensive side of the cylinder. The teams, which each scored nearly 60 points in the first half, combined for 29 points in the third quarter.

It was a blacksmithing event, but it didn't turn out as well as the Bostonians had imagined.

The result they imagined was that the Sonics could not withstand this confrontation and then collapsed during the game. No, such a situation did not happen.

Although the Celtics ultimately scored 1 point more than the Sonics in a single quarter, this only allowed them to equalize the score.

71 is better than 71
The two sides will face a decisive battle in the fourth quarter.

During the break, the Key Arena was extremely depressing.

Even Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Winslet can smell the tension in the air.

Sonics owner Clay Bennett stood up from his box for the tenth time and walked around the window.

General manager Sam Presti sat off to the side.

"Sam, can you win?" Bennett really felt like he might have a heart attack at any time. "Can we win?"

Even Presti found the game confusing.

"The referee went against us," Presti said. "Mr. T is a well-known conservative referee, and his style is beneficial to the Celtics."

"Damn, this is our home court, why do we have to arrange referees that are unfavorable to us?!" Bennett was furious, "Don't they want us to win?!"

Presti said nothing. Although the right thing to do was to conform to his boss, he would not do that.

In his opinion, this is the league's superb field control skills.

The referees in the third and fourth games were extremely strict on defensive actions, so the Celtics were unable to display their abilities and suffered two fragile defeats. Game 5 featured someone like Steve Jarvie. Does this mean they don't want the Sonics to win? No, this is the most superficial view.

If the league was serious about it, they would use Dick Bavetta.

In Presti's view, this is a two-pronged preparation by the league. They don't want the Celtics to lose all away games, because if the Celtics eventually win the championship, the record of all away defeats will put the league into question. Now, the list of referees for Game 6 in Boston has come out, and it is the referee team that officiated Game 3 in Seattle.

As long as the Sonics win tonight's game, Game 6 in Boston will be their bonus game.

They will break Boston's home court myth and win the trophy on the road, thereby changing the fate of a city and making Seattle's professional basketball great again. The entire Northwest will be proud of this.

The premise of all this is that they must pass tonight's test.

Otherwise, it would be a very good script for the league to revive the Celtics.

"Boss, there is still one game left, don't worry." Presti said, "Believe in Frye."

"Yes, believe in Frye!" Bennett seemed to be grasping hope. "He is the pride of our Northwest! He is Seattle's chosen son and the savior of American basketball. I absolutely believe in him!"

It was a good point, but Preston couldn't help laughing when a lifelong Oklahoman said "the pride of our Northwest."

At this moment, outside Key Arena, countless fans cheered for the SuperSonics with the same slogan.

The voices of tens of thousands of people gathered in one place, penetrated the walls, and came to the competition site.

“Boston sucks~~~!!!”

The audience spontaneously stood up and started shouting.

Regional invectives laced with inspiration and hatred have never been so consistent and inspiring at the same time.

When Yu Fei and the others walked onto the field and the fourth quarter was about to begin, the curse that carried the city's hope echoed through the sky and the earth.

This is the sound of a city burning.

Bennett, who had been sitting for a while, jumped up again, opened the window and roared with the audience.

Boston sucks
Boston sucks
Boston sucks
No matter who you are, no matter your social status, at this moment, as long as you support the Sonics, you will automatically do so.

The mayor stood up.

Seattle's wealthy people stood up.

The celebrities who were joining in the fun also stood up.

"Boston sucks! Boston sucks! Boston sucks!"

"Come on!" Yu Fei clapped his hands and said, "Boston sucks!!!"

⑴Geographically, Oklahoma City is located between the Southwest and Midwest of the United States. (If I make a mistake, don’t question my geography teacher. Chat told me. The entire responsibility lies with Chat.)
PS: There is still one chapter left in this game, and it is expected to be a big chapter. I will definitely not be able to finish it today.

(End of this chapter)