Chapter 311: The last game of the regular season

"A good night, a good spring, this is Boston, I am Dick Stockton, I am bringing you the last game of the 2003-2004 NBA regular season at North Shore Garden Arena, the Boston Celtics At home against the Detroit Pistons. Today is April 17, the last game day of the regular season, and we ushered in this strong dialogue. The Detroit Pistons’ performance at the end of the season was shocking. They beat their opponents in 5 consecutive games. The scoring is suppressed to less than 70 points, and steel-like defensive ability is unparalleled."
On the evening of April 17, on the sidelines of the North Shore Garden Arena, T-NT's commentator Dick Stockton became the -by-narrator of the game. This may be the most famous TV in NBA history. The voice is still active on the front line of the commentary. Compared with his peak period in the past, his hair is visibly thinner and his wrinkles are more, but his spirit still looks good.
The guest commentator with him is the legendary Celtic superstar Bill Russell. The creator of the Celtic First Empire, came here today to watch and explain the Celtics' final battle.
"It will be Bill Russell who will be with me to offer a wonderful game for everyone tonight. You are Bill. Tell us about your views on the current two teams, especially the recent shocking performance of the Pistons."
Bill Russell has been a guest commentator at ABC and CBS after retiring from the game. He retired from the world of understanding when he was old, but occasionally he was invited to participate in the commentary work of some important games, especially the important Celtics games. , Such as last year's finals.
Facing Stockton’s problem, Russell said in a slow but powerful voice:
The Detroit Pistons have achieved the ultimate in collective defense. I can feel the Pistons’ players enjoy it. Many times players will be on defense. Hastily, just waiting to show off when attacking with the ball, but the Pistons are different. They don't seem to like attacking, but waiting for the opponent to attack."
Russell’s description was interesting and apt, and it also resonated with Stockton. The two began to talk about the changes in defensive tactics in the 70s and 80s, and the iron-blooded ones in the 90s. They agreed that the current Detroit Pistons have the same New York Nick The demeanor of the Bad Boys in Detroit, Miami Heat and Detroit.
"Rashid Wallace's deal has acted as a catalyst and brought about a total change." Stockton said at last.
When mentioning the Celtics, Russell hesitated for a few seconds before saying: "I think they are excellent... But, uh, but I must admit that I can't see them completely. You know I have been following NBA games. I will watch many games and compare them. Now the Celtics’ excellence is beyond doubt. They have won 65 games and are already one A historic team. However, I think they still haven't really shown their strength."
Russell used three in a passage, but he had expectations for this Celtic and a little worried.
What is expected is that this Celtics indeed looks to be the best Celtics since 1986. They have a record in the regular season and lead the league. They have already put the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the season. Left behind, their lineup looked flawless.
The worry is that the Celtics have been worrying about their changing styles since the All-Star Game. Their head coach Fox Leon has constantly switched various lineups and experimented with various tactics, which can not help but dazzle. And before the trade deadline, he participated in the three-way transaction between the Eagles and the Pistons and sent Daniels to get the Pistons to Wallace. Many people have also criticized them, thinking that they are creating their biggest opponent.
Not only that, the conflict between Garnett and Daniels in training was also revealed soon after the trade. Many people believed that this was because the Celtics were in the team to appease Garnett. When the atmosphere is very good, trade Daniels, a rookie with no power and power, in exchange for Garnett's favor.
In short, the Celtics continue to win after the transaction, but the media and public opinion continue to create negative news about the Celtics, as if all of them are just illusions. Under the overall weak strength of the east, they have accumulated with talent. Illusion.
Therefore, Russell showed a trace of worry. He did not know whether the Celtics were an iceberg floating on the sea or the plastic foam in the bath.
"Okay, the game is about to begin. Let's take a look at the final matchup of this regular season. It is likely to be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals..."
………………
The game was about to begin. Leon sat on the sidelines and shook his fingers. There was some tension in his heart and some relaxation. The nervousness is because the confidence of the team in this game is very important. The final game of the regular season against the full piston, the pressure of public opinion is quite heavy. Many media even pointed out that this game may determine the situation of the two sides in the playoffs.
Of course Leon knows that this is completely nonsense. The playoffs and the regular season are two different battles, and even if they meet, the two teams will encounter in the Eastern Conference finals. Then they will grow into what they will be like. People will know.
The relaxation is because the long regular season is finally coming to an end. Since the end of the All-Star Game, for the Celtics as a whole, the subsequent games are simply suffering. Especially for Pierce, Reed, Arenas and other players who have experienced the finals, they can't wait to start the playoffs, start to reach the finals in one breath, and get back what they lost.
This mentality makes it difficult for Leon. He spent a lot of time to maintain the players' competitive mentality through line-up and tactical adjustments, and tried his best to eliminate the impact of Daniels’ departure and create a cheerful but upward Atmosphere. This is even more tiring than letting Leon recite Pi, and now such days are finally over. And the Detroit Pistons, the darling of the basketball media recently, the defensive monster, the iron and blood team, the steel machine, will become the sacrifice of Leon before the playoffs!
The game began, PJ-Brown and Ben Wallace jumped the ball, Wallace's bounce gave him the opportunity, the Detroit Pistons' first offense.
Billups got the ball and started organizing the Pistons' first positional battle.
The Pistons' positional warfare attack was as mediocre as ever, but with Rasheed Wallace, their original monotonous attack strategy undoubtedly had more options and routines.
Double Wallace stepped forward to make a double pick-and-roll. Billups rushed in rhythmically from the right. At this time, PJ-Brown stepped forward and blocked. He let go of Ben Wallace, and Hamilton swam to the left looking for opportunity. Ben Wallace cut inside very smartly, but Billups didn't risk passing the ball. He could feel that Wallace had been targeted.
Rashid cut outside, trying to find opportunities outside the three-point line, but Garnett did not follow Rashid, but settled in the horns, Billups felt a bit wrong. As an experienced point guard who has gotten a qualitative improvement this season~EbookFREE.me~ Billups is keenly aware that the Celtics’ defense hides a murderous opportunity, and they are not defending against the current Pistons’ positions, Tactics, but the tactics and opportunities the Pistons may run away after a few seconds of defense.
This idea just flashed through Billups' mind. He chose to shoot by himself. At a distance of 21 feet from the basket at 45 degrees, he stepped back and took a long shot. The ball flew in a straight but powerful arc. Line, the ball hits hollow.
The strong core strength and upper limb strength give Billups a stable and strong shooting ability, and the Pistons lead 2:0.
Then it's the Pistons' turn to defend, which is their strength. However, Arenas did not give the Pistons a chance to show their strong overall defense, and went straight through a pick-and-roll with Garnett, forced a shot outside the three-point line, and the ball was also scored. A strong shot on both sides, 3:2, the Celtics lead by one point.
"You won't score again in the first quarter." After making a three-pointer, Arenas turned and said to Billups.
"Really? Just wait and see." Billups smiled, curled his lips and said.
"This is not what I said, it was what our coach said. You can only score one goal in the first quarter. It is already on the line." (To be continued.)