The Whip of the God of Basketball

Indianapolis in the sunset looks old and old. This city that flourished in the 1950s has been in irreversible decline since the 1970s, like most old industrial cities in the central region. The Consecco Arena in the city center is surrounded by gray-black skyscrapers. This arena is a building composed of red brick exterior walls and large transparent glass, and those new **** full of modern atmosphere. Compared with the museum, it is full of retro flavor.

This is not the first time Fox Leon has played here. He still remembers when he came to Indiana as a team scout three years ago and saw this arena and thought it was an old arena that has been in use since the 1970s. Later, he learned that Conseco had just been completed in 1999, and it was a brand new arena that had just been put into use.

After getting off the bus and entering the locker room, many reporters have been waiting here for a long time. There is no doubt that this is an eye-catching game, because the Indiana Pacers currently have the highest record in the East, and the Boston Celtics Because of the fluctuating record at the end of January, it fell from second in the east to fourth in the east. But from a ranking point of view, if the playoffs start at this time, the two teams are likely to meet in the brutal semifinals, so naturally they have received a lot of attention.

"I heard that the Celtics bus was late last night, and the hotel stay was not very good. Will this affect the team's state?" A reporter caught Leon in the passage and asked a question. It seems that yesterday that the Celtic bus was late has been known to many people, and these pervasive reporters must have eyeliners in the hotel.

Leon walked quickly to the locker room. He replied: "Yes, we were blocked by the bad weather, but this did not affect the rest of the players, they will have an outstanding performance tonight. "Leon is not willing to entangle with reporters in the passage for too long. Because later he will participate in the pre-match press conference to be "interrogated" by reporters.

One hour before the game started, Leon packed his things in the locker room and went to the press conference hall to participate in an interview. This was a link he had always hated in the past. He ran here when the game was about to kick off. Faced with some weird and tricky questions from reporters, he prefers to stay with the players in the locker room. Talk about the tactics of the night game and understand the players' status.

Fortunately, Indiana media reporters are as straightforward as the farmers in this state. They did not ask embarrassing and difficult questions. They only asked about the Celtics' injuries, team status and some tactical questions. , Leon quickly dealt with the past and was ready to leave the media room and return to the locker room to prepare for the game. At this time he saw the Pacers coaching staff coming in from the entrance of the media room. Leading the way is Pacers' head coach, Isiah Thomas.

The superstar who used to play for the Detroit Pistons is now playing for the Pacers, a rival in the same district in the past, and his immediate boss is Larry Bird, an enemy who used to compete on the court. Life is such a wonderful thing. In the NBA, big or small, everything can happen.

And then Leon felt it. I don’t seem to belong to this circle yet. Isiah Thomas saw that the Celtics’ coaching staff was about to leave. He enthusiastically shook hands with Celtics’ assistant coach Dick Hart. The two are old acquaintances, Hart. His first job in the NBA was as an assistant coach for the Pistons. Thomas was still a fledgling rookie. It was from Dick Hart that Thomas learned the meaning of defense.

Then Thomas shook hands and hugged Cowens. This is due respect to the former famous person, and Leon was left aside. Thomas's face was always with a signature smile, showing white teeth, but his smile and eyes did not turn towards Leon for a moment. Dick Hart felt a little embarrassed. He glanced at what Leon wanted to say between the two, but Thomas had already stepped onto the podium at the press conference, and Leon stepped forward and left the media room.

"Don't care about Leon, he did it on purpose, don't get angry..." Hart explained after Leon on the way back to the locker room.

"I know, I know, rest assured, I won't have any extra thoughts. My only idea now is to flip his team during the game." Leon turned back and patted Hart's arm with his hands, his eyes firm. To say.

……………………

At 7 o'clock in mountain time, the Celtics vs. Pacers game at Conseco Arena officially began. The arena, which was still sparse 20 minutes ago, was full at 7 o'clock. Indiana is the most famous in the United States. In this state of sports, this central state dominated by agriculture and heavy industry, the people love those exciting and confrontational sports, so whether it is highly confrontational rugby, fast and fierce basketball or dangerous and exciting racing, they are all Indians. Favorite.

Leon stood on the sidelines with a serious face. He knew it would be a hard fight. The Pacers were super strong. After losing in the 2000 finals, they began to enter the replacement. In the summer of 2000, Jermaine O’Neal was the ball. The first step in the team's revival, and then the Pacers picked Jamal Tinsley in the 2001 draft. Before the closing of the trading market in the 2002 season, Jaylen Rose, Richardson, Best and others were exchanged for Ron Artest and Brady Miller from the Bulls, and the team's strength greatly increased.

Finally in this season, with the sudden retreat of the 76ers and Bucks, the Pacers, along with the Celtics and Pistons, began to enter the first group in the East, and they were so young that they came out of Reggie Miller. In addition to the aging stone, the main players are all under 30, and the starting players are all under 26. They are in the rising period of their careers, and their future is bright.

In a game between the two teams at North Shore Garden not long ago, Jermaine O’Neal scored 33 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks in Boston. Even PJ-Brown could not stop O’Neal from doing what he wanted in the paint. The Tran Trail Blazers wasted too much youth, and finally ushered in a rebirth in Indiana. Before the start of the game, Leon was thinking about how to curb O'Neal's play. He didn't want PJ-Brown to face Oscar directly. If that's the case, Walker would have to confront Brad Miller. Miller is not a point to give up casually.

Leon thought again and again. Decided to use the most common way to deal with the opponent's super inside line-let him sit back on the bench, use outside breakthroughs to cause damage, and let O'Neal get off the court due to too many fouls as soon as possible.

The game opened just a minute and a half. In the Celtics' third offense, Paul Pierce and Walker completed a pick-and-roll. Pierce broke through with the ball from the left. Squeezing in against O'Neal's body, O'Neal is physically strong, but Pierce seems to be stronger, and the two people fell to the ground next to each other near the three-second zone.

The referee's whistle seemed to hesitate, so when the players from both sides rolled to the ground to grab the ball, the whistle sounded. Because the Celtics first half offensive half is near the Pacers bench. His sight was blocked by Arenas and Tinsley, so he didn't see the referee's gestures clearly, but judging from the reaction of the fans on site, the result seemed to be unfavorable for the Celtics.

Sure enough, the announcement of "Paul Pierce hitting a man with the ball" came out in the live broadcast. The fans cheered and Isiah Thomas, who was standing on the sidelines, showed an imperceptible smile. Then he sat back on the bench, and it seemed that the penalty was satisfactory. Paul Pierce tried to argue with the referee, but the referee was indifferent. The referee tonight is Greg Willard, a veteran referee with 15 years of whistling experience. Obviously, in a confrontation where both sides have actions, he chose a little bit. Favor the home team.

When the Pacers were about to serve, Willard walked near the midfield. At this time Leon walked to a distance where he could talk to Willard, and said loudly: "This is not a good penalty. The attacker was blocked, but he fouled! There won't even be a free throw for this ball, just once. Confrontation, serve again!"

Willard glanced at Leon, and the whistle in his mouth replied: "Everything is under my control!" Then he ignored Leon and continued to enter the game.

Leon did not answer. He was not prepared to yell at the referee at the beginning. It would only arouse the referee's disgust and even invite a technical foul. The game has just begun and he has to gradually put pressure on the referee.

This is not the first time Willard whistled against the Celtics this season. In the previous few games, he had the impression that the Celtics coach was a good deal guy, and he often said nothing. Standing on the sidelines to watch the game, occasionally calling time-outs, never yelling wildly, and never complaining endlessly to the referee. So in Willard's opinion, this is a good persimmon. After all, this guy is not a superstar or a champion coach, just a rookie coach who doesn't know where he came from.

But tonight Willard felt the pressure. As the first quarter began, the Celtics and the Pacers' physical confrontation became more and more intense. No matter how Willard whistled, Leon will be at Willard. I said a few words in my ear. Unlike the pure complaints and vents of other coaches, Leon’s words are full of pertinence and professionalism. He will tell Willard what is wrong with his sentence, where he can blow it or not, is it a Good judgment.

He wanted to comment on Willard's sentence like a professional referee. The key is that Willard thinks what he said seems to make sense! Finally, in the ninth minute of the first quarter, in the same scene as in the opening game, Paul Pierce made a pick-and-roll with Antoine Walker again. This time he broke through from the mid lane and once again stuck to Jermaine O’Neal. Did not fall, but Willard's whistle rang.

"Beep, beep!" Willard stepped forward and made a gesture of akimbo to Jermaine O'Neal, "Block the foul, No. 7 Jermaine O'Neal", and Willard reported the foul to the technical station. , The tone is firm and unquestionable. Because Leon repeatedly said to Willard before, "The inside cut is too intense, you need to whistle and control their movements."

Maybe Willard will not admit that he has been influenced by a coach, but in fact he was hinted, and the confrontation between the two sides is indeed fierce. PJ Brown and Ron Artest have already begun to be a little angry and are present. There was a scolding, he needed a few whistles to control the situation on the court and prevent the outbreak of conflict.

In addition to the previous rebound foul, UU reading www. uukanshu.com Jermaine O'Neal fouled twice in the first quarter. Thomas had to replace O'Neal. At this time, the score between the two sides was 17:18, and the Celtics were 1 point behind the Pacers. Leon's plan to play O'Neal was finally realized. O'Neal scored 8 points and 4 rebounds in the first quarter. His end undoubtedly caused the Pacers to suffer a great loss.

Towards the end of the first quarter, Antoine Walker beat Jerry Foster, who was on the bench in the middle, and made a mid-range backward jumper, turning the score into 26:24, leading by two points, and then The Pacers made a mistake in the backcourt, Arenas made a steal and took two steps from the three-point line. A three-pointer at the buzzer, 29:24. The Celtics, who was suppressed by the Pacers, turned over. Got up.

"Nice work!" When Arenas left the field, Leon gave him a big hug. Walker also gave him a high-five. In the first quarter, Leon did not even call a timeout or direct the players. He let the players Feel free to use what you learned in training before the game.

Dick Hart watched the Celtics' players chatting with Leon during the break and discussing the situation and feelings on the court. He thought that Fox Leon was finally on the road, a bit of a real head coach. But this game has just begun, and the Pacers and Isiah Thomas at home will not easily let the victory slip away. (To be continued.)