thefictionvixens Chapter 246 The First Fierce and Powerful Point Guard in History!
Chapter 246 The First Fierce and Powerful Point Guard in History!
Chapter 246 The First Fierce Point Guard in History!
While Bird was pulling his hair out in frustration, unable to sleep and afraid to sleep, hoping to find a way to defeat the Knicks and regain the moral high ground, Lin Tian slipped out of his room again and went to the hotel's rooftop.
Lin Tian still strictly adheres to the team discipline stipulated by Bird.
He did not leave the hotel, did not bring anyone into his room, and did not drink alcohol.
Mr. Lin is here to meet his business partner and financial backer!
As usual, he walked into the familiar round room, and as soon as he pushed open the door, Lin Tian gasped.
It was a completely new way of playing that he had never seen before!
A soft, ambiguous purple light; a black mask; a pink tail; white ears; a whip…
Lin Tian also saw sets of clothing for JK (high school girl), OL (office lady), flight attendant, nurse, etc.
Then, Lin Tian saw Hilton.
This Hilton is a completely new version that Lin Tian has never seen before!
……
At 8:30 a.m. the next morning, Lin Tian left the messy room, whistling and feeling refreshed, and went to the conference room that the team had rented in the hotel. Bird was going to hold one last pre-game tactical meeting for everyone there.
Lin Tian arrived very early, 30 minutes earlier than the agreed-upon 9 o'clock. Only Bird was in the conference room at that moment. He looked at Lin Tian and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very good." Lin Tian wasn't lying. Although he didn't fall asleep until 2 or 3 a.m. last night, Lin Tian was indeed in very good condition! He hadn't taken the media's slander, ridicule, and doubts to heart, but Hilton thought he had. So last night, Hilton really went to great lengths to make Lin Tian happy... how should I put it?
The only way to describe it is: a completely new version that I've never seen before!
Anyway, when Lin Tian woke up this morning, even the slight depression he had felt because Miller was almost out for the season had completely disappeared.
As for the opinions of the media, commentators, and TV stations? Who cares!
If Lin Tian cared about that, he shouldn't be acting like a transmigrator; that's shameful enough!
But Lin Tian felt that if he let others think he cared, especially if the girls thought he cared a lot...
That might mean we'll see a lot of brand new versions that we've never seen before!
Next time I see Theron and the others, I need to act a little more melancholic!
That's settled! Plan goes smoothly!
Compared to Lin Tian's genuine indifference, Bird cared a lot about these evaluations and discussions. After all, he couldn't play on the court himself anymore; he could only sit on the sidelines. Sometimes, even if the tactics were laid out and executed, the players just couldn't make the shots. What could he do?
Bird genuinely felt that being a coach was far more difficult than being a player!
No, I need to find a replacement right away. Once I do, I'll quit this lousy head coaching job immediately. It's exhausting, doesn't pay much, and I'm losing clumps of hair! Bird felt that if he stayed as head coach for another five years, he'd be bald like Magic Johnson!
Touching his prized golden hair, Bird suddenly made a decision.
I'll work for another two years at most!
Then, no matter what, we have to contract out the coaching job and let someone else do it!
That's settled! Plan goes smoothly!
Lin Tian and Bird didn't say much, but their faces were filled with happy, confident, and genuine smiles.
The result of their warm and innocent smiles was that every Pacers player who walked into the meeting room was more or less infected by them!
With the team's two most important leaders so confident and smiling so smugly, is there any doubt that the team will overcome its difficulties and defeat the Knicks?
Absolutely not!
There's absolutely no suspense!
Tonight, Bird and Lin Tian must have prepared a killer move to completely wipe out the Knicks!
For a moment, even though no one spoke or communicated in the entire conference room, and Bird's tactical analysis meeting had not yet started, everyone inexplicably became confident!
After everyone had entered the room, Bird cleared his throat and turned on the TV and DVD that had been prepared beforehand. He wanted to analyze the Knicks' tactical changes in the last four games and then determine the team's focus on both offense and defense tonight based on those changes.
But to Bird's surprise, the TV was on, but the DVD player just wouldn't work, no matter how much he tried to figure it out.
After fiddling around for a good 5-6 minutes, Bird finally called over the staff, hoping they could fix it or bring a new one.
Just as the staff took away the old DVDs and the team was waiting for the new machine to arrive, Lin Tian suddenly said, "Actually, there's no need to do any tactical analysis! In the last game, we were able to beat them by 20 points in the second half."
"We can win this game too!"
Lin Tian looked at everyone with complete confidence and said, "Tonight's offensive strategy has only one thing: give me all those damn balls! I'll lead you to victory and back to Indiana!"
"What about the defense?" Ben Wallace, who has improved a lot this season, with his playing time increasing to 20 minutes and his average stats of 3 points, 8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, asked with a clear face. He has never cared about the offense; he only cares about defense!
"On the defensive end, you'll have to ask Larry." Fortunately, Lin Tian had thick skin and remained calm, saying, "I can handle the offense, but on the defense, we all need to pool our wisdom and work together, giving it our all!"
At this moment, the same staff member came in again, and after replacing the DVD player with a brand new one, Bird's prepared tactical analysis and game footage could finally be played.
"The Knicks' offense has clearly changed a lot in these few games! In their previous 30 games, although Jordan and Ewing played very well, there was almost no coordination or connection between them."
"They don't set screens, they don't use handoffs, and they don't do high-post playmaking or off-ball cuts! These two are very strong, but they are strong in their own ways. Simply put, their combination is just 1+1+2! It's that simple, there's no chemistry!"
"But after losing to us, their tactical system suddenly became more sophisticated! Come on, take a look at these offensive plays! Jordan has the ball, he is clearly waiting for Ewing's screen, and then the two of them split up and cut to the basket. Both of them have top-notch mid-range shooting ability and are lethal in the paint."
"Their pick-and-roll is incredibly powerful!"
"And these plays, look! Ewing gets the ball at the free-throw line, Jordan circles around him, looking for an opportunity, then hands off the ball, Jordan goes around the screen and pulls up for a shot! And if the opponent's defense is in place, Ewing will quickly cut to the basket, waiting to receive Jordan's pass and finish the attack!"
……
For the next two hours, Bird analyzed the Knicks' new tactics in these four games.
Simply put, this team plays with more chemistry, more teamwork, and is more like a cohesive unit rather than a few exceptionally talented players. Lin Tian immediately noticed something from their skillful teamwork and understanding of each other.
"This new system of theirs was clearly not something they came up with suddenly after losing to us and learning from their mistakes," Lin Tian said. "I suspect they've been practicing this all season, and most likely they were saving it for the playoffs."
"But after losing to us, the pressure they face from public opinion and their performance is no less than ours. Plus, they have to fight us again tonight, so they were forced to pull out their trump card ahead of time!"
"They were really badly beaten by us in the last match!"
Carter immediately shouted, "Then let's beat them again this time! Smash them!"
"I'll give Ewing a good fight!" Ben Affleck, who was increasingly resembling a villain, was also full of confidence.
Mullin rubbed his red nose and said, "If we win tonight's game, let's see who still calls us a fake powerhouse!"
Seeing everyone brimming with confidence, Bird, also brimming with pride, slammed his hand on the table and declared, "Tonight, we'll teach the New Yorkers a lesson, let them know that whether they're number one or number two in the East, beating them is like beating our own son!"
"Dry them to death!"
"Beat them to the ground!"
"Crush them!"
……
After a group of players roared with excitement, Bird clapped his hands, then started the DVD player again and continued, "Now, let me tell you how we're going to play tonight!"
The training session lasted from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. Except for a two-hour break for the players to eat and rest, Bird spent the rest of the time analyzing the Knicks' new tactics and more comprehensive tactical system.
However, the more Bird analyzed it, the less confident he became. He felt that without Miller, the Pacers would have a hard time competing with the Knicks!
After thoroughly studying the Knicks' system, Bird, who favored offense, discovered that the best way to break the Knicks' tactics was not to defend them, but to engage in a back-and-forth offensive battle with them!
Bird didn't think his team could defend both Ewing and Jordan, two of the top 50 players, for the entire game. He was more confident that they could overwhelm the Knicks with their firepower!
But now, the team lacks a second most important scorer. Of the current players, Carter is too inexperienced, Mullin is too old, Christie is not the type to provide timely help, and Schmitz can only have intermittent bursts of brilliance.
As for the others...
After looking around, Bird realized that the only person he could rely on tonight might still be Lin Tian!
Of course, a seasoned veteran like Bird didn't reveal his worries or uncertainties. What he showed the players was still his calm and confident demeanor, as if he had everything under control!
With the tactical meeting officially ending at 5 o'clock, the entire Pacers team headed straight for the bus outside the hotel.
They're heading straight to Madison Square Garden to prepare for tonight's game.
Lin Tian deliberately lagged behind, waiting until everyone had left before turning to Bird and asking, "What's wrong? Feeling uncertain?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you." Bird gave a wry smile and voiced his concerns.
"What's so strange about that?" Lin Tian said with a smile. "Didn't I already explain the solution before the meeting started this morning?"
"Give me that damn ball, and I'll take you guys and victory home!"
After Lin Tian finished speaking, he patted Bird on the shoulder to tell him to relax, and then followed the group toward the bus.
Bird stared blankly at Lin Tian's back, momentarily stunned.
Because he had just discovered something—
That is: he finally met someone who was even more confident and narcissistic than himself!
At 7 p.m., Madison Square Garden, known as the mecca of basketball in the United States, was undoubtedly packed to capacity! From the moment the Pacers entered the arena, the enthusiastic fans relentlessly booed them!
This game is both a revenge match for the Knicks in last season's playoffs and a revenge match for the game they played two weeks ago!
They were determined to win this game, to prove their strength, and to prove that they were the strongest team in the Eastern Conference and even the entire league this year!
"Look, both teams' players have finished warming up and returned to their benches for final preparations! They're about to take to the field and start this big game!" Kenny said enthusiastically. "Charles, what do you think of this game?"
"Since that game on April 1st, the Pacers have had a terrible record, going 1-4, while the Knicks have been undefeated since that loss!"
「乔丹和尤因的状态也都已经来到了整个赛季最好的状况！4月以来，尤因场均拿下21分14个篮板4次盖帽！乔丹则能轰下30分5篮板6助攻！他们两个，绝对是当今联盟最强最恐怖的内外双人组合！」
"As for the Pacers, although Lin averaged 30 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in April, the rest of the team was out of form. Without Miller, the Pacers' offense encountered considerable trouble!"
Listening to Barkley's analysis and lengthy explanation, Kenny asked in surprise, "So, Charles, you support the Knicks?"
"Of course not!" Barkley immediately laughed and said, "I said those things just to prove to everyone that although the Knicks seem to have the upper hand and are the better team at this stage, I still have faith in my old guys!"
"Lin is a born big-game player! The more adversity he faces, the more unexpected energy and form he can unleash!"
With Barkley and Kenny's analysis, the Pacers and Knicks completed their final preparations, and the players from both sides took to the court simultaneously.
For the Pacers, Bird continued to start with Mullin instead of Miller, with Carter playing as the sixth man. The Knicks, on the other hand, did not change their starting lineup, which remained Ewing, Oakley, Jordan, Houston, and Ward.
Before the match began, both sides knew how important and crucial this match was for them, so neither of them chatted with their friends in the other's lineup. Instead, they stood separately on their own sides.
The players were ready, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.
As for Lin Tian, the first thing he did after stepping onto the court was to open his system, find the trial card, and use it on himself!
"16-17 Season Russell Westbrook Trial Card (Monthly Subscription)!"
In such an important match and at the team's most difficult moment, Lin Tian did not hesitate to take out the card that was most suitable for the current situation and could help the team the most!
With about 20 days left in the regular season, using this card now will not only allow its power to cover the entire regular season, but also allow Lin Tian to still enjoy the card's bonus in the first round of the playoffs!
With Miller definitely out of the first round of the playoffs, Lin Tian's actions can be seen as an extra layer of insurance for the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs!
Lin Tian doesn't need to elaborate on how powerful this card is. Westbrook averaged 30+10+10 that year, single-handedly leading the Thunder to the playoffs, while also winning his first MVP and second scoring title!
This season, Westbrook has dominated almost every advanced statistic. He ranks first in scoring and second in assists, carrying the hopes of the entire Oklahoma City team after Durant's departure!
Of course, Westbrook also conveniently pushed Oscar Robertson from the top ten of all time to the top twenty, effectively demoting "Big O" to a lower tier.
The statistics and games Westbrook put up this year are absolutely unprecedented and shocking to the world!
With the team currently short-handed, lacking in rebounding ability in the paint and declining outside shooting ability, and in need of a true superstar to lead the team forward, Lin Tian did not wait any longer and used this trial card directly!
Then, the referee blew the whistle to start the game. Ewing once again defeated Schmitz and won the first possession for his team. He slapped the ball directly to Ward.
Before Ward could even get a firm grip on the basketball, he suddenly felt a figure appear in front of him, and then his hand went empty—the basketball had vanished!
When he quickly turned around to look, he could only see a back view of a player wearing a yellow number 7 jersey, running wildly with the ball, then jumping up with tremendous force and slamming the ball into the basket with one hand!
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Lin Tian immediately made a steal and a dunk!
"Hooray! I told you so! I told you so! The stronger Lin's presence is in these kinds of games! His performance tonight will definitely not disappoint us!" Barkley was excitedly waving his arms. Lin Tian made a steal and delivered a thunderous dunk in the very first second of the game, which was definitely something Barkley was excited about!
"I agree with Charles again," Kenny added. "Lin is clearly different tonight! His dunks are more powerful, his body is more fluid, and his momentum is much stronger than before! I think Lin is planning something big tonight!"
Yes, Lin Tian's dunk just now was completely different from his previous style of elegance, gliding and grace!
His dunk was full of violent aesthetics and extreme power. His whole body was as tense as steel bars. At this moment, Lin Tian felt that he had inexhaustible strength and energy!
This is Westbrook's signature: inexhaustible energy, always playing with 100% passion, fearless and giving it his all, plus the most insane, beastly, and fierce point guard style and physical attributes in the entire history of the league!
Although Russell Westbrook often disappoints his fans with some poor performances, on most nights he is the invincible "Master Westbrook"!
"Stay calm, Charlie! Stay calm, they're definitely going to fight us to the death tonight." Jordan reached out and touched the somewhat frustrated Ward's hand, reassuring him, "Be careful, you can do it!"
Jordan encouraging his teammates is something that rarely happens throughout his entire career!
But now he's starting to encourage Ward!
This includes the changes that occurred in him after playing on the same team as Lin Tian for two years, as well as the fact that Jordan himself became more mature and more peaceful.
Of course, the bigger reason was: Jordan didn't want to lose that night! He didn't want to be swept by Lin Tian and his team in the regular season!
On the Knicks' offense, Ward, flattered by Jordan's words of comfort, didn't attack himself. Instead, he cautiously made his way to the frontcourt and immediately passed the ball to Ewing at the free-throw line.
Ewing immediately raised the ball high with one hand, and then Jordan circled around Ewing's body for a full circle before finally shaking off Christie. He then took the basketball from Ewing's hand and threw it!
"Whoosh!"
With a crisp sound, the Knicks opened the scoring!
Jordan then wanted to high-five Ewing to celebrate, but realized it was too late!
As the Pacers quickly inbounded the ball from the baseline, Lin Tian, with his head down, charged towards the Knicks' frontcourt with the ball in hand!
It was incredibly fast, as if I had a W12 supercar engine under my feet!
Lin Tian's driving and offensive capabilities are absolutely the best in the league today!
Although Van Gundy had repeatedly instructed his players before the game to pay attention to defending against fast breaks and to retreat in time.
Although the Knicks players had already started their rapid defensive retreat after Jordan scored, Ward immediately matched up against Lin Tian.
But it didn't work!
It's completely useless; no one can stop Lin Tian's attack!
He swept through the defenses almost unimpeded, like a bison on a great migration, breaking through all the opponents in his way, and then once again, at a 45-degree angle to the left of the basket, he took the ball with one hand and soared into the air!
Oakley, who had returned to his defensive position with all his might, tried to jump up and stop Lin Tian's charge, but he clearly underestimated how terrifying Lin Tian was when he was running at full speed!
"Bang!"
After the two collided head-on in mid-air, Oakley felt as if he had been hit in the chest by a bison. In the blink of an eye, he lost all his balance and was sent hurtling towards the group of photographers at the baseline like a kite with a broken string.
"boom!"
Then, it was the moment when Lin Tian single-handedly smashed the basketball into the hoop again!
"Oh my God! A poster dunk! No, not just a poster dunk! It was a funeral!" Barkley roared. "Lin sent Oakley on his way! Poor Charles, let's wish him a good enough place in heaven!"
Barkley's commentary perfectly captured the explosiveness of Lin Tian's dunk!
This kind of dunk that sends people flying through the air is absolutely top-tier in terms of both visual appeal and difficulty!
Two rounds, two terrifying dunks!
The fans at Madison Square Garden are getting restless.
They began to worry that Lin Tian might do something tonight that they would never forget, leaving them with indelible pain.
Fortunately, although Lin Tian's two dunks were impressive, the Knicks players were all seasoned veterans who were not intimidated by Lin Tian. Ewing once again received the ball at the free-throw line, looked around, and then passed the ball to Houston, who was coming out on the wing.
Houston got the ball and jumped, making his signature mid-range catch-and-shoot jumper!
After making the shot, Jordan immediately shouted for a return to defense. At the same time, he personally rushed in front of Lin Tian to hinder Lin Tian's advance and prevent him from launching a fast break.
Kenny couldn't help but praise the Knicks' quick changes in defense.
But before he could finish praising her, he was stunned.
Although Lin Tian failed to launch a fast break, and although all four Knicks players returned to the three-point line, only Jordan was still in front of Lin Tian.
But Lin Tian actually attacked again. He once again blew past Jordan in one step and then charged into the paint with unstoppable force!
The Knicks' defense immediately went into a panic and quickly collapsed!
They couldn't accept being dunked on by Lin Tian three times in a row! They couldn't bear the humiliation!
But just as Ewing, Oakley, and Ward finished double-teaming Lin Tian...
Lin Tian had already jumped up and passed the ball to the middle with both hands!
There came Davis, who was catching up at lightning speed!
Davis took the pass from Lin Tian, took a step, and then resolutely spun up and slammed the ball into the basket with both hands!
"boom!"
After another loud bang, the Pacers have now scored three dunks in a row tonight!
Van Gundy's face was ashen on the sidelines!
If there's one way to score that the head coach can't accept, it's definitely dunking!
No coach likes to have their team dunked on, especially three times in a row!
So even though Van Gundy has never been good at adapting to changing situations and doesn't like making too many substitutions, he still called a timeout after being slammed three times in a row.
During the timeout, there wasn't much he could do. This hot-tempered bald guy, besides hurling insults and profanities at the players, only made one change.
He replaced Oakley with last year's block leader Marcus Camby to increase the team's interior defense against open shots!
Do you love dunking?
Then I'll be the shot-blocking king!
As for the Pacers, Bird's approach was much simpler. He didn't even bother to get up from the bench; instead, he simply waved his hand, indicating that everyone should sit down, as if they were going home.
He didn't lay out any tactics or remind the team what to pay attention to next; he just played it cool and carefree, which was in stark contrast to the anxious Van Gundy on the other side!
After the timeout, the Knicks continued their offense, with Ewing continuing to receive the ball near the free-throw line.
He and Jordan continued their handoff play, but because the two were so offensively powerful, Davis had no choice but to come out from the paint, leaving Camby behind, to double-team Ewing.
Ewing's vision is still very good. As soon as he saw Camby open, he immediately passed the ball to him.
Camby, who had just come on the court, was not very good at offense, and his shooting form was extremely strange, making him one of the top three oddballs of the 90s.
But his crooked, machine-gun-like shooting style was surprisingly accurate! After receiving the pass from Ewing, he immediately tilted his head and angled his arm to throw the ball into the basket!
"Outrageous! How did his high school and college coaches put up with him and not correct his shooting form?" Barkley said, adding that he really couldn't appreciate his shooting form.
After making the shot, Camby reacted incredibly quickly. He immediately went to the baseline and, as instructed by Van Gundy, spread his arms and jumped up and down like a big bird to disrupt the Pacers' baseline play.
His interference was effective. Out of caution, Christie did not rush to pass the ball, but instead carefully avoided Camby's interference before passing the ball to Lin Tian.
After getting the basketball this time, Lin Tian did not force a speed attack again. Instead, he slowly dribbled to the frontcourt, then waved his hand, signaling Schmitz to come up and run a pick-and-roll with him.
"Bang!"
After a muffled thud, Ward collided with Schmitz, while Lin Tian dribbled and sped towards the inside. Ewing, as one of the league's top defenders, had a perfect grasp of positioning and defensive standards, keeping Lin Tian covered and preventing him from shaking off!
Just after crossing the free throw line, Lin Tian suddenly gathered the ball with both hands, glanced in Schmitz's direction, and just when everyone thought he was going to pass the ball to Schmitz who was cutting down for a shot, Lin Tian passed the ball to Mullin in the opposite direction!
Mullin was even more determined after receiving the basketball! He knew exactly what he could and should do on the court, and the three-pointer flew towards the basket!
"Rebound!"
But after shooting, Mullin didn't feel good. He used too much force and knew that the ball would probably not go into the basket.
"Bang!"
Sure enough, the top shooter's intuition was always accurate, and the basketball bounced off the rim.
Ewing and Camby, both over 210 cm tall, were on high alert, completely blocking the space under the basket!
Just when they both thought the rebound was a sure thing and would definitely fall into their hands, Jordan suddenly roared.
"Marcus, watch out!"
But even though Jordan shouted loudly, it was too late!
Lin Tian suddenly appeared behind Camby, then leaped up, his long arms shooting out over Camby's head before quickly retracting!
The basketball was just pulled off Camby's head by Lin Tian!
Lin Tian, who had just pulled the backboard away, passed the basketball out again without even touching the ground!
It's still the 30-degree angle on the left, and it's still Chris Mullin!
This time, Mulin received the basketball and did not disappoint Lin Tian. With a swift stroke, he finally made a three-pointer!
Top shooters never miss the same spot twice in a row!
After that basket, the Pacers' morale was completely boosted! Lin Tian's drive and the momentum of that offensive rebound were just too much!
In the next two consecutive possessions, the Pacers played a united defense, stopping the Knicks' offense twice. Then, Lin Tian drove to the mid-range and pulled up for a shot, and once drove to the basket, drawing all the defense before passing the ball to Schmitz, who was left open, and assisted him to make a jump shot!
Just as the Pacers were about to widen the gap, Jordan finally stepped up, no longer trying to coordinate with Ewing, but instead scoring twice in a row by outplaying his opponent in the low post!
The Pacers' defensive focus then had to shift towards Jordan, who once again used his vision to pass the ball to Houston, Ewing, and others, assisting them in scoring!
The Pacers were in a slump again, missing several shots in a row, and even Lin Tian's crazy drives to the basket encountered some problems.
Lin Tian seemed to be affected by Westbrook's layup touch, as he drove to the basket twice in a row, but missed one dunk and then went straight over the bar for a layup.
His ability to finish layups is exactly the same as Westbrook's!
Fortunately, after the Knicks made a few consecutive shots, their shooting touch began to wane, and they missed several shots in a row. The two sides once again entered a balanced state, with the score slowly rising and remaining locked in a close contest!
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 26-23.
The Pacers are currently leading by 3 points!
In the first quarter, Lin Tian played the entire quarter, scoring 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. He was the best player on the court, and his presence was almost everywhere! Rebounding, passing, scoring, and defense—he single-handedly carried the entire system!
Lin Tian today is better than Westbrook was in the 16-17 season!
After all, Westbrook that season, although his impact was unparalleled and his stamina and energy were unmatched in history, was still a bit rough around the edges. Although his shooting ability was not a weakness, his zombie jump shot was only at an above-average level in the league.
Of course, there's also Westbrook's much-criticized playmaking ability. Many people say that Westbrook can pass and assist, but he lacks playmaking ability. He can rely on his individual skills to break through the opponent's defense and then find his teammates to get assists.
However, Westbrook is not good at truly organizing the team and playing a proper, well-organized game.
But Lin Tian is completely different. First of all, he is a true playmaker. Whether it is positional play, offensive and defensive transition, or breakthrough and passing, Lin Tian's passing is top-notch in the league. In addition, even if Lin Tian is not the best shooter in the league today, he is definitely a top-five shooter!
His unparalleled shooting range is something Westbrook can't match.
Lin Tian will become the nightmare of the entire alliance in the next month!
At the start of the second quarter, Lin Tian did not choose to rest. A 3-point lead was not enough for Lin Tian to sit on the bench with peace of mind. This game was too important!
We must take it!
Lin Tian, Carter, Christie, Davis, and Ben Wallace!
During the rotation phase, the Pacers fielded a lineup with three players on the perimeter for offense and two players on the inside for defense.
For the Knicks, Jeff Van Gundy also didn't let Jordan and Ewing rest. This game was very important for the Knicks, and no one on the team wanted to lose!
Ewing, Camby, Jordan, Starks, Houston!
The Knicks, on the other hand, have the same idea as the Pacers, also fielding a lineup with three players on the perimeter for offense and two players on the inside for defense!
Of course, Ewing is only good at defense, but his offense is something that Ben Wallace or Davis can't compare to!
Back on the court, the first wave of attack came from the Pacers. When Lin Tian brought the ball to the frontcourt, the person standing in front of him was the old and short Starks. Facing this guard who used to make Jordan very uncomfortable but was no longer in his prime, Lin Tian was not going to be polite to him.
After turning sideways and ramming Starks twice, almost breaking his bones, Lin Tian suddenly pulled back, then accelerated again, rushing towards the inside!
Starks was so angry he almost cursed!
Why don't you just use your speed to beat me instantly?
What the hell was the point of hitting me twice and then accelerating? Was it for fun?
Lin Tian, of course, had no idea what Starks was thinking. He accelerated and charged into the paint once again!
Ewing and Camby firmly occupied the three-second zone, completely squeezing out Davis and Ben Wallace! This prevented Lin Tian from passing the ball.
After all, once these two leave the three-second zone, they're useless, with no offensive capabilities whatsoever.
Then the New York Twin Towers, one on the left and one on the right, spread their arms wide, completely blocking all of Lin Tian's routes to the basket!
But Lin Tian seemed completely blind to them, as if the two people blocking his way were not the league's top shot blockers and giants over 210 cm tall, but rather two 160 cm tall high schoolers.
Charge forward fearlessly and break through enemy lines!
"court death!"
With a roar, Ewing calculated the angle and timing and jumped towards Lin Tian. Camby, standing beside him, moved half a step without making a sound, blocking Lin Tian's other offensive angle and leaving him with only one path: to drive straight to the basket!
But Lin Tian remained oblivious, already leaping high into the air with the ball in one arm!
With Ewing and Camby on his back, he raised his hand to slam the ball into the basket!
"He's insane! Lin's gone mad!" Kenny exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What's the difference between him fighting like this and courting death?"
"Bang!"
No sooner had Kenny finished speaking than Lin Tian's shot slammed heavily against the rim, and it missed!
After all, they are Camby and Ewing, both of whom were formidable players who could deliver 4 blocks per game in their prime. It's really too difficult to dunk over both of them at the same time!
The basketball flew high into the air, then fell almost straight down again.
"Lin is too overconfident! Fighting like this won't be very efficient, and it's very easy to get injured!" Kenny said again with some concern, and then Lin Tian jumped up again!
He was clearly the shortest of the three, more than 20 centimeters shorter than the other two, yet Lin Tian could jump higher and reach farther than them!
After leaping high into the air, Lin Tian, relying on his terrifying jumping ability, actually managed to snatch the offensive rebound over Camby and Ewing's heads!
Because he jumped too high, Lin Tian managed to grab the rebound, but he needed to catch his breath after landing. The experienced Ewing and Camby immediately rushed up, spreading their arms to completely surround Lin Tian!
"Great rebound, but Lin should just pass the ball out!" Kenny said again. "I think Lin needs to think about how to play this game. This kind of aggressive play is inefficient, high-risk for injury, and... f***ing!"
Kenny couldn't help but blurt out profanities halfway through his commentary.
Because Lin Tian, who was right under the basket, was already surrounded by the two big men, no matter what, he would have to pass the ball out or dribble it out himself to shoot. It was impossible for him to shoot directly under the basket.
But Lin Tian insisted on forcing it!
He slammed the ball heavily onto the floor, then took a powerful little hop towards Camby.
A tremendous force erupted in the blink of an eye. Camby, who was 211 centimeters tall but not particularly strong, lost his balance and was pushed back two steps by Lin Tian. Camby lost his perfect defensive position!
Ewing yelled "Oh no!" but it was too late! In the blink of an eye, Lin Tian had already jumped again!
With a sudden, vertical leap, like a helicopter, Lin Tian seemed completely unaffected by the previous confrontation, his leg strength rising high and fast, reaching the highest point in the blink of an eye.
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Lin Tian was swinging back and forth with his hands hanging on the rim!
The entire Madison Square Garden fell silent after that goal!
(End of this chapter)