Basketball Terminal

Chapter 100 Greed
After tying the score, Li Wei didn't leave the court to rest; he knew he would have to play for at least another two minutes. Ideally, he wanted to force the Celtics to call a timeout midway through the second quarter so he could finally get some rest.

With his team anchored under the basket, the Celtics launched another fast break, with Tatum driving towards the rim. The Nets employed man-to-man defense, while the Celtics spread their defense wide, creating opportunities for the ball handler to drive to the basket in disarray. Tatum easily blew past and guarded Harris, but was disrupted by Levi's help defense, and his layup missed. Levi didn't use his special ability on this play; relying on visual anticipation and a block, he then tipped the ball twice, finally passing it to Joe Harris.

"Well done, buddy."

“Well done!” Harris responded.

This play was a defensive combination between the two players. Harris knew he couldn't guard Tatum one-on-one, and he also knew that Levi was inside, so he deliberately let Tatum in, followed closely, and compressed his jumping space. Then he and Levi did a double-team to disrupt Tatum's layup.

Defense is never a one-man job. With Tatum's ability, he could easily take on Harris one-on-one or attack a Levi who wasn't using his abilities. But when the two cooperated, one letting the ball go while the other guarded it, one following and disrupting the other, they completed a successful defensive play.

Harris had always been a defensive liability on the team, easily exploited. His performance at the three-position after Durant's injury was even more disastrous; against tall, strong Black small forwards, he was practically a sitting duck. If the Nets hadn't been shorthanded, and if his catch-and-shoot three-point shooting hadn't been so incredibly accurate, Nash would never have kept him on the court.

With Levi on the team, Harris has found he doesn't need to constantly help defend the basket. By forcing his man towards the basket, disrupting the defense, and coordinating with Levi, he can achieve a much better defensive effect. Compared to DeAndre Jordan's lackluster defensive efforts and tendency to run to the perimeter, leaving Harris and Harden to defend the rim, having Levi is a huge relief.

On the Nets' fast break, Li Wei set a screen for Harden from a very high position, with players on both sides of the three-point line, and then cut to the basket. The Celtics opted to double-team Harden, who passed the ball to Li Wei in the middle. Li Wei received the ball near the free-throw line, and Ge Wei came over to help. Li Wei made a no-look pass to Harris at the right 45-degree angle, and Harris caught the ball and shot, sinking the three-pointer!

39:36, the Nets have successfully taken the lead! Li Wei glanced at Stevens on the sidelines. Celtics, shouldn't you call a timeout? You've already taken the lead, aren't you worried? But Stevens didn't move an inch, and neither did Nash. The two watched the game continue.

"Damn! I'm so exhausted."

Despite his tired legs, Li Wei continued to focus on defense. Jeff Teague took a step back at the top of the arc and drained a three-pointer, tying the game. Li Wei then set a screen for Harden, using the same tactic. This time, the Celtics didn't double-team Harden, and Li Wei received the ball at the top of the arc to facilitate. Harris ran over, and Li Wei passed the ball off, pushing past his defender. Harris then launched a three-pointer from the top of the arc, and it went in!

"Damn! Your three-pointers are so accurate! That was a beautiful shot!" Li Wei never hesitates to praise his teammates.

"Thanks for your cover, buddy." Li Wei's cover was indeed very solid.

In the ensuing defense, Li Wei was truly exhausted. Facing Ge Wei's breakthrough and pull-up jump shot, he could only try his best to keep up and interfere, while silently chanting, "Don't go in, don't go in, don't go in!" Unexpectedly, Ge Wei, intimidated by Li Wei's defensive prowess, dodged when he made the jump shot, and didn't exert enough force. The ball hit the front edge of the rim and didn't go in! Harden grabbed the rebound and drove to the basket on the fast break, drawing a defensive foul from Teague.

Good bro, finally a foul and a dead ball. Nash knew Levi was at his limit, so he made a substitution, and DeAndre Jordan, Kyrie Irving, and others returned to the court.

"Coach, I am truly moved by your guidance and support. Thank you for your trust in keeping me on the court for so long. I'm glad I didn't let you down," Li Wei said to Nash back on the bench, already out of breath.

“Victor, you’re far from your limit.” Nash had always wanted to see just how deep Levi’s stamina really was. Don’t be fooled by his panting; the panting he is, the more he can fight, and whenever he feels his stamina is low, he actually performs brilliantly. Nash believed this was a sign that he was getting into his rhythm.

Li Wei thought to himself, "I haven't reached my limit yet. I've already surpassed it. I'm almost too weak." Besides, the Celtics' pace was really bad. Anyone who's run a long distance knows that a steady pace allows you to run very far, and it gets easier as you go. But with variable-speed running, suddenly fast and suddenly slow, plus obstacles, the energy expenditure increases exponentially, and you can't run very far.

The Celtics employ a typical tempo-changing style, starting with a steady pace in half-court sets, then suddenly accelerating into chaotic battles, interspersed with more half-court offense, which poses a significant challenge to the defenders. Li Wei withstood the test, while the Nets' offense was also incredibly potent. Once they found their rhythm, it was the Celtics who couldn't keep up.

Harden made both free throws, Jaylen Brown hit a mid-range jumper on the fast break, Irving made a left-handed floater after a drive in the half-court, and Tatum hit a mid-range jumper, leading to a close game. However, the Nets took the lead; once their three-point shooting found its rhythm, the Celtics' defense began to show weaknesses. Their two big men, Thompson and Theis, were simply not good enough individually.

In the 17-18 and 18-19 seasons, the Celtics' interior defense was consistently anchored by veteran Al Horford, resulting in a stable interior offense and defense. However, in the 19-20 season and this season, Horford moved to the 76ers and Thunder, leaving the Celtics with only third- or fourth-tier centers like Thompson and Theis. While they had some standout moments, such as in the first quarter of this game, their consistency was lacking. As the game progressed and everyone found their rhythm, the Nets' offense became increasingly potent, and the two players' performances on both ends of the court became less impactful. Although they played well, able to penetrate and score, and contributing in rebounding and rim protection, they couldn't establish a decisive advantage inside against the Nets, making it very difficult to compete on the perimeter.

The Nets staged a remarkable 38-24 comeback in the second quarter, outscoring the Celtics by 14 points. Stevens made a mistake; in an attempt to test Levi's abilities, he deliberately steered the game into a chaotic frenzy. Ironically, this chaos allowed the Nets to find their rhythm.

Harris, Irving, and Shamet all hit their three-pointers with incredible accuracy, giving the Nets an 11-point lead over the Celtics at halftime and keeping the advantage firmly in their hands. Li Wei came on in the final stages of the second quarter but seemed to be coasting, showing little effort on defense once, putting his hands on his hips once, and only getting one easy layup opportunity under the basket. He received a long pass from his teammate and scored easily, ending the first half.

During halftime in the Celtics' locker room, Stevens proactively admitted his mistakes, saying that his poor decision-making led to the team being blown out by the Nets in the second quarter. Against the Nets, trying to compete on offensive efficiency and speed is futile; their three-point shooting is simply too potent.

General Manager Danny Ainge pulled Stevens aside for a moment and said, "We played too casually, this isn't like you."

“I know, I want to see Viktor’s level, what kind of ability he has in high-speed offensive and defensive confrontations.”

"Number 0, Victor, is a hot commodity right now."

"I have high hopes for him. Is there any way to trade for him?"

"The Nets definitely won't let him go now, but there's a possibility during the offseason if they can't re-sign him. But they still need to be cautious with such a rookie."

"clear."

Danny Ainge patted Brad Stevens on the shoulder. The Celtics' management wasn't prioritizing results this season; developing their two young stars was enough. Ainge had already considered leaving. After the failure of the Irving-Hayward-the two young stars-Horford lineup, Ainge knew that his rebuilding strategy after the Big Three was temporarily over. His ideal peak never materialized, ruined by injuries and locker room issues.

The saying goes, "Once, twice, but not a third time." For a manager in a team, creating one peak is already remarkable; creating two peaks over a decade is great; and being able to rise and fall three times makes you a totem-like figure.

Looking across the NBA, only Auerbach of the Celtics has achieved three rises and three falls, contending for a championship for thirty years, making him the league's red card. Jerry West built two Lakers dynasties and is already one of the most legendary general managers in NBA history. Gregg Popovich, after Duncan's decline, endured seven years of hardship and won another championship in 2014. The same group of players, two different styles, multiple victories, a story that fans love to talk about.

Danny Ainge built the classic Celtics Big Three era, and then started the rebuilding process with the Nets' foolishness. Everything went smoothly, but he lost the support of the fans and the support of his teammates in dealing with Isaiah Thomas. As expected, he suffered the backlash from the Kyrie Irving drama and the sudden injury. His second peak had passed, and it was extremely difficult for him to rise again. The spirit in his heart was dissipated.

Stevens is Ainge's designated successor, and Stevens is well aware of this. Therefore, in matches, victory is no longer the sole objective. Developing the team, evaluating players, and analyzing tactics are Stevens' primary concerns.

The Nets' ferocity has put Stevens on high alert. He knows that if the Big Three remain stable, the Nets will be a dominant force in the Eastern Conference for many years to come. Fortunately, Durant, Irving, and Harden are all formidable players who can fall apart at any time, unlike the stable and harmonious Celtics Big Three of the past.

Nash is a great player, but too young to be a coach. The Nets are also plagued by internal conflicts, like a pressure cooker that could explode at any moment, and are far less stable than the Celtics.

But Levi's emergence made Stevens realize that he was an unpredictable piece for the Nets. If he could stabilize, he might be able to integrate the functions of the Big Three, which would make the Celtics' future in the Eastern Conference difficult. The absolute talent of the two young stars cannot compare to that of the Big Three.

Through the games, Stevens broadened his horizons, beginning to consider trades and offseason moves. Meanwhile, Levi's emergence is slowly reshaping the league landscape. This unexpected low-salary undrafted player is igniting the greed of various teams, as such a sudden appearance of a high-quality player is rare in NBA history.

(End of this chapter)