I'm not really a role player

Chapter 206 Anxious G5
"ESPN": "Crazy G4, the Bobcats beat the Green Kai in a whirlwind!"

"Yahoo Sports": "A 22-point victory at home, the Bobcats took the match point, and the upset is close at hand!"

《露天看台》：“G4山猫取胜，系列赛3比1领先，凯尔特人还有机会吗？细数NBA历史8次1比3落后翻盘……”

……

Almost overnight, the public opinion reversed, and no media, no reporters, and no bricklayers were optimistic about the Celtics.

"Who would have thought that in G4, the Celtics would lose by 22 points?"

Skip Bayless was so surprised that he didn't know what to say. In the programs of TNT and ESPN, he waved his hands and gradually lost his voice.

Kenny Smith, who jumped repeatedly, jumped to the side of the Bobcats again: "The difference of 22 points is too big. This defeat has exposed too many problems of the Celtics."

"Although they have the Big Three, their offense is extremely bad. There is no cooperation between the Big Three. It is like three individuals. None of them can completely take over the game. After four games, everything has proved that if the Celtics want to win, they can only rely on defense."

Speaking of it, Rivers is a very metaphysical coach.

His coaching career started from the Magic, to the Celtics now, and then to the Clippers and the 76ers. Every coaching experience has surprising successes and unexpected failures.

No one knows what Rivers is good at, let's just talk about the Celtics. Before the grouping era has come, it is absolutely no problem for the Celtics Big Three to sweep the NBA invincibles.

But in the regular season, the Celtics' weapon for sweeping the league was defense, which was credited to Tom Thibodo.

The offense that requires Rivers' personal training is unimaginably bad.

Pierce, Ray Allen, and Garnett, the three superstars whose styles do not conflict, did not bond together, which is one of the reasons why the Celtics' offense is so bad.

Barkley interjected, and he believed that the more important reason was: "Obviously, the Celtics ignored the importance of shooters. Look at their main lineup. Kendrick Perkins, a pure blue-collar center, is not easy to eat cakes. Lagalondo, although a breakthrough threat, but he has no long-range shots at all, has become a hidden danger in the Celtics main lineup."

"Tony Allen, who is often used to replace him, does not have a long-range shot."

"So, we can see that in G4, the AI's defense is very bold, always emptying Ragalondo and Tony Allen, and rushing to the other side to help defend the pincer attack."

"Without addressing that, the Celtics offense will never get better."

In this way, Kenny Smith and Barkley, a pair of partners, directly demoted the Celtics, who were blown to the sky before the start of the Eastern Conference semifinals, to the ground.

Zaklowy finally took over the microphone and checked his presence: "Data is always the most correct. When the Celtics fell behind 0-2, the data showed that they had little hope of making a comeback. Now, they are 1-3 behind. There are only 8 times in NBA history to come back from 1-3. Their hope is even slimmer."

Finally, here's Mark Stein's conclusion:
"If the series reaches Game 5, the Celtics still have a chance, but I don't think the Bobcats will give the Celtics too many opportunities. G[-], the series will end."

Why G5, Mark Stein did not give a reason, but the moment he gave the conclusion, his mind was full of Li Ke's words: he will not lose at the North Shore Garden.

……

The night after Game 4 ended, the Celtics returned to Boston.

On the plane, Rivers really wanted to shout: We still have a chance!

But these words can't be said, Rivers knows very well that when he returns to Boston, the first thing he needs to face is not the group of players in front of him, but him, the head coach of this team.

Sure enough, he flew to Boston, got off the plane, and in the airport terminal, Rivers met Danny Ainge.

Seeing the players leaving the airport silently and one after another, Danny Angel opened the door of a Lincoln coupe, followed by Rivers and sat in the co-pilot.

"Doug, you're running out of time."

"Was it yours, or Vic's."

"Both, if we go home this round of the series, you will immediately dismiss get out of class."

Rivers shook his head: "I knew it was."

Having already started the car, Danny Ainge, who was driving, couldn't help but take off his hands and spread his hands: "We have an unprecedented Big Three in this league. It shouldn't be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. At least, we should reach the finals."

"It's not over yet, Danny."

Rivers seemed to be furious, and after leaving this sentence, he didn't say any more, but asked: "Let me go down at the intersection ahead."

Angie glanced at the road sign, lightly stepped on the brake: "Are you sure?"

Rivers also glanced at the street signs, and when he regained his senses, he shook his head: "No, let's pass this block."

Looking at the White Dog neighborhood going away from the window, Rivers thought: Maybe, he should leave this ghost place in Boston.

It's just that the way of leaving needs to be changed. He doesn't want to leave in despair as a loser.

A plan has emerged.

……

In the second round of the playoffs, there are only two days left between the two games.

No different from the Bobcats vs. Celtics series, the Pistons went very smoothly in the first four games, leading the Magic with a score of 3-1.

In front of the experienced gods Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess, Howard lost his bravery of Warcraft. He only recorded 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in the four games.

"The dominance of the Sparks in 08 is still weak, and the opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals is probably the Pistons."

Li Ke only felt that it was a pity that he lost four times to the Magic in the regular season, and he still wanted to get revenge in the playoffs. Looking at it now, revenge is impossible.

In the West, in the first four games, the Lakers and Jazz tied 2-2.

In the four games, the Jazz played very tenaciously, just like the first round of the playoffs. This result seems to have given some comfort to the Rockets fans on the other side of the ocean.

The Jazz are very strong, and it seems that it is not unacceptable for the Rockets to lose to this Jazz team.

Another set of duels, facing the floor of the Western Conference Finals, Brother Pao also desperately.

Two games in a row at home and two losses in a row in an away game. The series is tied 2-2. Seeing this, the series is going to the seventh game.

The East is one-sided, but the West is very anxious. This situation, where the West is strong and the East is weak, has been reflected even in the playoffs.

After watching the other three matchups, predicting the trend of the playoffs, and considering the opponents in the next round, the Bobcats set off for Boston.

At the gate of Boston Airport, facing reporters chasing him, Li Ke stopped in his tracks:
"There's no Game 5 or Game [-] anymore, we'll end the series in G[-]."

"Why are you so sure? Because I said before, I won't lose at North Shore Garden, not even a game!"

……

"This is Sheldon Lee. He doesn't want to lose at North Shore Garden, but is he in charge of winning or losing basketball?"

On the outskirts of Boston, at the Celtics' training facility, Rivers already had a very complete plan. He first released the content of Li Ke's interview.

"Looking at these reports again, there are no media, no brick reporters who are optimistic about us. Everyone thinks that we are going to die!"

"But the series isn't over yet, are we really doomed?"

"No, absolutely nothing, we only need three victories, and we can get out of the immediate crisis!"

"Of course, we shouldn't look too far away, just look at the present, we need a victory, tell Sheldon Lee, what he says doesn't matter!"

"We need a victory to tell the group of journalists that we are not finished yet!"

The chicken soup was spilled, and the effect was not obvious.

But Rivers still has a backhand: "It is undeniable that after the four games in the series, we have many problems, but we have a deep lineup and are fully capable of solving these problems."

In this way, Rivers first boosted a wave of morale, then substantiated the problem, solved it, and put the hope of reversal in front of the players.

After all, this game still requires the players to play on their own.

Unlike Rivers, who has complicated operations, Sam Vincent's operations are much simpler.

In the words of Kenny Smith and Barkley, in G4, the Celtics' problems were exposed too much.

It doesn't take much, the Bobcats just need to grab one or two of them, it's enough to help them win G5.

Therefore, the Bobcats are extremely optimistic. From the head coach Sam Vincent to the top and bottom of the team, they are all ready to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals within two games.

……

In this way, on May 5, Boston, the empty North Shore Garden Arena.

The game is about to start, there are no fans, only commentators, and Green Kai owner Vic Grosbeck and Michael Jordan sitting in a private room in the stands.

Vic Grosbeck didn't want to watch the game, but he was helpless. Joe boss approached him and offered to watch the game live.

He wanted to refuse, but he knew that the NBA was a network of relationships, and he couldn't refuse Jordan's request.

In fact, Jordan is the same, he doesn't like Vic Grosbeck.

But in order to witness the team overthrow the Celtics of the Big Three, he endured.

In addition to the boss of Green Kai and Joe, Danny Angie, Bobcats vice president of operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Joe were also sitting in the private room.

The few people sitting here directly turned this game into a party between the Bobcats and the Celtics management.

It's just that everyone knows that it is the performance and performance of the players of the two teams on the court that determines who is smiling and who is dignified in the private room of the stands.

On the court, the main players are ready to play.

For the Bobcats, Lao Sha, Lao Ai, Hua Laoer, Li Ke and Dai Quinn Cook took off their training coats and stood in the center of the court step by step.

"Lynx hasn't made any changes, it's still one big and four small..."

"As a side that has already won three games, they really don't need to change."

Then came the Celtics, and there was a surprising scene.

"Kendrick Perkins, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen... Finally, the point guard is... Eddie House?"

"That's right, it's Eddie House!"

Eddie House, a shooting point guard, averaged 1.5 three-pointers per game in the regular season this season, and his shooting percentage was as high as 39.3%.

But it was such a top pitcher who was abandoned by Rivers in the playoffs.

Barkley's speeches on TNT and ESPN's post-match programs reminded Rivers that although there is no conflict between the Big Three, Rondo and Perkins do.

Perkins is a defensive shield and cannot be replaced, so the only one who can be replaced is Rondo.

"Eddie House replaced Lagalondo, what about the Celtics' defense?"

When Rondo is on the court, he not only plays the role of a card dealer, but also plays a greater role in defense.

House replaced Rondo, the offensive problem was solved, and the defense was exposed again.

Li Ke watched the good show, and the game started soon.

The old shark won the jump ball, and the bobcats made the first attack. When Li Ke turned his attention to old Aina, he knew what the Celtics had to choose.

"Ray Allen played against AI, Pierce's opponent was Sheldon, and Eddie House's opponent was Daequan Cook."

Can Ray Allen guard against Lao Ai?The answer is, yes.

As long as Gentleman Lei attacks less and defends more, it is no problem to defend Lao Ai.

"The Celtics came prepared..."

Lao Ai's breakthrough was blocked, and there was no open space on the flanks. He made a shot himself, and with a bang, he didn't go in.

"KG's rebound, the ball has changed hands, look at the Celtics' offense..."

Eddie House certainly cannot let go of the Celtics' offense.

The Bobcats could no longer restrict Pierce with area flanking. On the field, Li Ke commanded and resumed the regular defensive matchup.

The Celtics were also very straightforward. Li Ke stared at Pierce, Hua's second stared at KG, and it was Ray Allen who leaked out.

The Celtics began to look for Ray Allen. The gentleman Ray has long since lost the ability to blow up the offense with his own strength, but at least, a regular level of offensive efficiency can be guaranteed.

After a few rounds, the Celtics took the lead.

An Eddie House, so that the Bobcats' defense is no longer blocked, the conventional defensive matchup, and the Bobcats' offense is not as good as G4.

Faced with the anxiety of the situation, the Bobcats quickly adjusted.

Replacing Dai Quinn Cook, who was regarded as a breakthrough on the offensive end, replaced the taller Jared Dudley, forcing the Celtics to make a new choice.

To choose again, the Celtics still did not let go of the Bobcats' quad-core, and Eddie House faced Dudley, who was not as threatening.

"In this game, Rivers will not give a chance."

Rivers didn't give a chance, and the Celtics' lineup is still very capable.

As a result, the game became difficult, the score was tight, and it was difficult to tell the winner for a while.

"The Celtics are still too tenacious. It is not easy for the Bobcats to end this series directly."

22 to 24 in the first quarter, 46 to 47 in the half, and 70 to 73 in the third quarter. Although trailing by three points, the Bobcats have never lost the chance to win.

This game dragged on to the final quarter of the final match.

(End of this chapter)