Chapter 334: Above the dome

On June 6th, the rain that had been raining in Boston for a week gradually stopped. By 7 o'clock in the evening, the rain cloud had completely disappeared over Boston, which made the enthusiasm of Boston fans even more intense.
The square outside the North Shore Garden Arena was full of fans and spectators who gathered from all over the Boston city area and had no way to buy tickets but had to watch the game on the big screen in the square.
"Through the lens, we can see that the Garden Square is crowded with Celtic fans in green jerseys. It has been a long time since we have seen such a grand occasion. Even when Boston reached the finals last year, this square was not there. With such a large number of fans, it is simply a grand gathering. Because their opponent tonight is the Los Angeles Lakers." espn finals anchor Mike Brin narrated the frenetic and grand scene in Boston through television footage.
Countless green fans crowded in the square, and the local police department in Boston had to send a large number of police to maintain order. But for those police officers, tonight was a good opportunity to watch the football. Everyone scrambled for this spot. , Who couldn’t get it, had to drive the car to patrol other places and listen to the radio in the police car.
In the North Shore Garden Arena, there is still more than half an hour before the start of the game, when the fans all began to sing the American national anthem. The opening of the national anthem hasn't started yet, and the Stars and Stripes will never fall and echo on the floor and dome of the Garden Arena.
On the brightly lit parquet floor, Lakers players in blue and purple jerseys are working hard to get rid of interference and warm-up shots. However, the faces of several players are obviously a little tired, because they didn't sleep well until after three o'clock in the middle of the night last night. A while ago, the fire brigade said that it had received an alarm, and then the police ran up and said that there were people dealing in drugs. Then there was a ping-pong noise downstairs. The hotel owner said that the water pipe in one room was broken.
In short, it was noisy for most of the night. Although you can sleep late in the morning, the irregular sleep makes the players a little uncomfortable. After arriving at the North Shore Garden Arena, they discovered that their locker room was not the one used during the regular season, but a smaller and more aggrieved one. O'Neill's head almost touched the ceiling.
Of course, the Lakers players don't know that this is not a locker room at all, but a locker room temporarily modified with a cleaning appliance room. The staff removes all the mops and vacuum cleaners, puts some lockers and stools, and it's done. Jackson was angrily trying to complain to the arena property before the game started, but he couldn't find anyone at all, and the league couldn't manage this matter. Even if he wanted to change, he would have to wait until the next game.
Such a terrible environment naturally reminded Jackson of his experience as a player. He had been mentally prepared for this, but he had forgotten one thing, not that no one has this precious experience. Obviously, the Lakers players are inevitably affected, although before the start of the love game, Jackson requires everyone to treat all of this calmly, as an ascetic as a kind of experience.
Shaquille O’Neal is the one who complained the most, because his huge body was really frustrated in that small locker room. When interviewed by reporters before the game, O’Neal said directly to reporters, "We seem to be thrown into After the washing machine, I was small and dizzy."
But Big Mouth Payton mocked, "Before I came to Boston, I didn't expect it would be so poor here, there is no decent dressing room."
In contrast, the Celtics side is very calm, the players have expressed that they will focus on the court, and there is no war of words between the two sides. This is the principle that Auerbach has always adhered to. No matter how he uses off-board moves or attacks each other in public opinion, he will try to prevent players from participating as much as possible, but ask them to focus on the court. on.
Auerbach’s tradition is correct and effective. Leon has inherited this tradition. Celtic players have not been affected by much public opinion. They focus on the basketball court. They are all spirited until the game begins. Full and full of fighting spirit.
When American pop singer Jason Mayez sang the national anthem in the center of the North Shore Garden Arena, the atmosphere of the audience reached its peak. More than 20,000 spectators sang together, plus tens of thousands of fans outside the stadium, singing for a time. Shocked the night sky of Boston. This is not an important holiday in the United States. At this time, the national anthem is not to express American patriotism. The Stars and Stripes never fall. At this time, it is like the battle anthem of the Boston Celtics. The championship flags and retired jerseys floating in the sky.
At this time, Fox Leon looked up at the flags densely in the sky, including not only the Celtics championship flag and retired jerseys, but also the championship flag and retired jerseys of the NHL team Boston Bruins. Leon heard that when Larry Bird looked up at the opening, it was not the jersey or championship flag of any Celtics player, but the Bruins ice hockey legend Bobby Orr.
The second greatest ice hockey player in nhl history symbolizes the inheritance of sports in Boston. Leon has also noticed that this retired jersey, which is not so prominent among many flags, is a No. 4. Today, he looked up at it again and could feel that not only the Celtics' spirits survive here, but also the tradition and spirit of sports in the entire Boston area.
"The game is about to begin. The starting players of both sides are standing on the court. Sixteen years have passed. The Purple and Golden Corps once again stood on the wooden floor of Boston in the finals. The sea is flowing, things are different, two great The teams competed again for the highest honor in this basketball temple. The scene has already sounded a loud slogan! "Although Brin is an out-and-out Knicks fan, once hated the Celtics, but at the scene Feeling the deafening slogan, he couldn't restrain his inner excitement.
Because the audience began to chant the "beat-la" slogan.
"Beat-la!"
"Beat-la!"
"Beat-la!"
The ancient slogan seems to convey the battle hymn from the golden age of the 1980s, and no stadium is more suitable to make this slogan sound than the North Shore Garden. The Celtics player's enthusiasm began to flank, and Kevin Garnett was beating his chest frantically. Even Fox Leon, who has always been calm, can feel the uncontrollable heartbeat in his chest. He clenched his fists and waited for the start of the game.
"Are you all ready? The game is about to begin. I hope you can play well and obey my command. I presided over more finals than you participated in combined." Before the game, referee Bavi The tower said to the players of both sides warningly, and at the same time began to prepare to throw the ball in the middle circle.
Pj-Brown contracted the muscles of his whole body, facing Shaquille O’Neal, he had no fear~EbookFREE.me~ He was ready to hinder this behemoth to the greatest extent even at the expense of himself. Forward.
The ball flew into the air, Brown felt the pressure from the opposite side, and O'Neal, like a killer whale leaping from the water, touched the ball first. Gary Payton got the ball, the Lakers launched their first offense, and the first game of the 2004 Finals finally began!
The atmosphere of the finals is different from that of any regular season or other playoffs. Here everyone will be frank with each other and all the past will be left behind. Historical battle records, playoff records, player remarks or tactical characteristics, etc., are nothing but talk of boring predictions by the media. If any player or coach is obsessed with these superficial things, they will pay a heavy price.
In the Lakers' first offense, Gary Payton unexpectedly took the ball on his own. From outside the three-point line, he turned his back against Arenas, then with the help of Karl Malone’s screen, he cut into the penalty area from a 45-degree round and faced the two King Kongs of Kevin Garnett and Pj-Brown. He unhurriedly threw a toss, the ball wiped the board into the basket.
Payton got the first point of this finals, which many people did not expect, including Leon. This is obviously a dangerous signal. Throughout the season, Payton has not found a suitable position and comfortable offensive feeling in the Lakers' triangle offense, including after the start of the playoffs.
However, if he can play 70% of the past peak in the finals, it will cause huge trouble for the Celtics.
There is no doubt that this will be a life-and-death battle, a key battle that determines the trend of the series. Leon's mind immediately calmed down in the hustle and bustle of the North Shore Garden Arena. He squatted on one knee and started to fight Phil Jackson. Wit and courage. (To be continued.)