basketball player

Chapter 85 084: Old Guys
The Celtics are old. This is not Henson comforting himself, but the real status quo.

Paul Pierce, who entered the league in 98, has been with the Celtics for 13 seasons.Pierce is still the small forward with comprehensive offensive skills, and he can still cut explosive data from time to time.The performance of averaging 18 points per game in the past two seasons is still very good, but it is indeed a new low in Pierce's career since his rookie season.The title of super scorer is obviously no longer suitable for Pierce.

Kevin Garnett, who entered the league in 95, was once a well-known high school genius and is considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.However, Garnett's average contribution of 14 points per game in the past two seasons is also his lowest data since his rookie season.Whether the fans are willing to admit it or not, the "Wolf King" who used to average 20+10 per game every season no longer exists.

Ray Allen, one of the greatest shooters in the league, a member of the 96 golden generation, was once a scorer who gave Kobe even a headache.However, at the age of 35 and a half, he will inevitably encounter the same problems as Garnett and Pierce.That is, the overall decline in the data in the past two seasons is only better than the rookie season.

As for "Shark" O'Neal, the scariest behemoth in NBA history, he lost his dominance in Cleveland last season.To be precise, since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, this terrifying behemoth has shown its old age.In Boston this season, he averaged only 20 minutes per game, and only 9 points and 4 rebounds per game.If someone still thinks that the current O'Neal can blow up the Pacers inside like the "black and white bears", then this person is either too romantic or too stupid.

Is such a Celtics team strong?Of course, they are still strong. The impressive record of 23 wins and 5 losses is proof.But the Celtics are no longer the invincible Galacticos a few years ago.

They are still strong, but they have lost their iron body, they will be injured, they will bleed, and they will be crushed!

After Holiday scored a goal, the Celtics' counterattack was not particularly fast, and the Pacers had plenty of time to set up a defensive formation.

Nate Robinson does not raise the team's offense to a level like Rondo, he does not have too good organizational skills.So just after halftime, "Little Potato" handed the ball to Ray Allen.

Ray Allen knew that Matthews was difficult to deal with. In the last match between the two sides, Matthews made Ray Allen's three-point shooting percentage only a disgraceful 16.7%.Although Ray Allen still scored 17 points in the last game, Matthews undoubtedly left a deep impression on Ray Allen.

This time, Matthews' defense was still tight, and Allen didn't have any shot space at all.At the same time, Pierce has already borrowed Garnett's off-the-ball running to the right wing of the court. Allen did not hesitate and immediately played the ball!
Dunleavy is the defensive weakness of the Pacers, so Rivers arranged a lot of singles Dunleavy tactics for Pierce today.

When Pierce received the basketball, Dunleavy hadn't caught up with him, so he pulled it up and shot.But Dunleavy's height of 2 meters is actually there.He raised his arms to make up for it and interfered with Pierce's shot.

The difference between the basketball and the basket was a hair's breadth, and the Celtics' first attack ended in failure!When Horford blocked O'Neal and protected the rebound, the cheers in the Conseco Arena broke out again!
The fans are very happy to see the proud Rivers pay the price in Indianapolis!

As soon as Horford grabbed the rebound, the Pacers' offensive and defensive transition immediately ran away.Horford handed the ball to Holiday, and Holiday started running wildly with Matthews and Granger.Behind them, there are two three-pointers Horford and Dunleavy who can ambush at any time.Whether it's driving to the rim or driving to score, the Pacers get their chances.

On the Celtics side, O'Neal and Garnett were left far behind.After crossing the halftime line, Pierce and Ray Allen were also overtaken.Facing Ray Allen's defense, Holiday passed the ball to Matthews who advanced in the middle.Matthews was immediately entangled by Pierce, so he handed the ball to Granger on the wing.

Facing Nate Robinson, who was only 1 meters tall, guarding the basket, Granger did not hesitate and dunked!Although Robinson has strong athletic ability, he even blocked Yao Ming with a small gain!
But facing the sudden impact, Nate Robinson still had no time to react, so he could only raise his arms high, becoming the foil for Granger's dunk.

Maybe it's a bit bullying to dunk a 1 meter player, but this is competitive sports!On the court, put on the jersey and no one will treat you politely!

"Beautiful dunk! The Pacers' counterattack is as fast as lightning! It seems that the Celtics can't keep up with the Pacers' counterattack speed. Granger has already finished the attack, O'Neal and Garnett just passed halftime! The Pacers are very energetic today, maybe they don't want to continue to lose like this. Or can you say that Coach Henson's party worked?" Kenny Smith looked proudly at Barkley, who frowned and pouted.

"It's only 4-0, 4-0 means nothing!"

But within 20 seconds after Barkley finished speaking, the score became 6-0.

Kevin Garnett played against Granger in the low post. If it was played in the past, this would be a crushing matchup.But now, the result is that Garnett turned over and hit the iron with a jumper under great pressure.

Garnett is the one with the most obvious decline in the status of the Big Three. In the last five games, Garnett averaged only 12.3 points per game.Among them, in the last game against the Trail Blazers, KG only scored 9 points in the game.

Maybe you can think that Garnett is saving energy for himself, maybe KG wants to put all his energy on the playoffs and the six-hour Heat.But it is also true that he cannot bring a substantial threat to the Pacers' defense.

After KG hit the iron, Granger took off the rebound himself, and then pushed it himself.

Another quick attack, the Celtics were a little powerless in the face of the Pacers' quick counterattack.After all, four of the Celtics' starting five tigers have passed the peak age of physical condition.The only "little potato" who can keep up with the speed, but has no ability to block the Pacers' fast break.

Granger assisted Holiday, who was riding a thousand horses, to complete a one-handed dunk, 6-0, and the game fell into Henson's rhythm from the beginning.

The last time the Pacers lost to the Celtics, one was because the Pacers themselves were plagued by injuries, and the other was because the Celtics played smoothly on the offensive end. Except for Ray Allen, almost no shots were made.

But with the same good luck, it is impossible for Rivers to meet twice in a row!
Garnett is 34 and a half years old, Pierce is 33 years old, Ray Allen is 35 and a half years old, and O'Neal is 39 years old in three months. When they encounter a group of energetic lunatics, the defense seems to collapse instantly.

Fortunately, then Pierce and Ray Allen found their touch on the offensive end, and the Celtics gradually began to score by virtue of their positional offense and their steady shooting.

But on the defensive end, the Celtics still have no good way to take the Pacers.Garnett and O'Neal almost only have to run back and forth, which makes the consumption of these two great insiders very huge.

So after only five and a half minutes into the game, the sweaty KG and "Big Shark" were replaced by Rivers, and the young "Big Baby" Glenn Davis and O'Neal took their place.At this time, the Celtics trailed by 8 points.

Seeing this situation, Henson waved his hand and decided to slow down temporarily, letting Horford torture O'Neal's nerves in the low post.

O'Neal has had brilliance, and this brilliance was achieved with the Pacers, but those are past tense after all.Facing the young All-Star center, Jermaine O'Neal was losing ground in the paint. The "Sharks" can also rely on tonnage to stop Horford's offense in the interior, while Jr. O'Neal doesn't even have the advantage of tonnage.

Horford has been used by Henson as a long-range turret and high-post support point this season, but today when he returned to the low post, people discovered how comprehensive this young All-Star center is.

Turning around to attack the frame, jumping back, and even turning back and forth with a small hook, Horford showed off his superb skills in front of O'Neal. It can be seen that the Dominican center is feeling hot today!
Henson couldn't help smiling, maybe when the young players let go of all distracting thoughts, their performance will be even better.Now Horford doesn't have to worry about not having a girlfriend, so he puts all his thoughts on basketball.

Seeing that O'Neal was almost overwhelmed by Horford in a one-on-one, Rivers let the chubby "big baby" start double-teaming.The price was that Granger scored two consecutive three-pointers, fixing the point difference at 12 points.Horford's precise pass without fear of double-teaming completely penetrated the Celtics' defense.

Only 8 minutes into the first quarter, the Celtics fell behind by 12 points.Doug Rivers had to stop the game again. Of course, at this time, the champion coach's face no longer had the proud look at the beginning of the game.

Henson high-fives every player on the break and compliments them.Then, he squeezed the shoulders of Paul George and Danny Green tightly.

"Don't give the old guys any chance to breathe! After playing, let me continue to attack their defense line! We will start from the first quarter and choke the Celtics!"

On the basketball court, there is no such thing as respecting the old and loving the young.

(End of this chapter)