basketball kingdom

Chapter 188
The Celtics are no longer in the same league as the Lakers who compete for the championship level, but this has not affected the enthusiasm of Boston fans in the slightest.The ticket price of this focus game has risen even higher, with an average ticket price of $540, setting a record for the team's highest ticket price this season.

Xu Tian didn't care about off-court factors. He came to the Celtics' TD North Shore Garden Arena three hours before the game to prepare for the evening game in advance.

The Celtics fans spontaneously put on the previously purchased team cultural shirts, hoping to use the united and enthusiastic home atmosphere to help the home team gain a psychological advantage.

Although everyone is unwilling to mention it, basically every Celtics fan has a spectrum in their hearts. They know that the Zijin Lakers who have accompanied them in decline in the past few years have risen again this season after a series of operations.If you want to beat this powerful Lakers team, you must unite as one.

Coach Stevens attached great importance to this game. Last night, he prepared multiple sets of offensive and defensive tactics. He made a detailed plan for each player's playing time and role, and came to North Shore Garden with confidence.

Although Scott's work attitude is not very good, and his coaching level is not very high, he is a famous Los Angeles Lakers after all, and he also attaches great importance to this game, and has prepared several rotation plans for the first time.

Maples still had a simple and honest smile on his face, prepared the sneakers and jerseys that the players would wear in advance, and waited quietly for Xu Tian, ​​who had been in the locker room for a long time, to speak.

Xu Tian had changed into a full set of equipment long ago, silently doing some stretching movements, moving his slightly stiff body in advance.

Kobe and George soon came to the locker room. Seeing Xu Tian in the middle of the locker room, they said in unison, "Xu, you came here quite early!"

Maples was thankful that there was finally some sound in the locker room, and with a smile on his lips, he stood up to watch the three star players talking.

After finishing the warm-up, Xu Tian replied to Kobe and George, "It's too boring in the hotel, so I came to the arena early."

George patted Xu Tian on the shoulder, walked to his locker, and began to change his jersey and equipment.

Kobe said: "Xu, you should be aware of the grievances between the Lakers and the Celtics. You can lose any game, but you can't lose this one, understand?"

"It's natural." Xu Tian knew very well that the hostile atmosphere between the two wealthy teams was strong, "You don't need to say, I will try my best to win this game."

Kobe originally wanted to say a few more words, but then realized that Xu Tian was very assertive, so he didn't say anything more, walked up to George, and began to change his No. 24 jersey.

When the Lakers locker room had only three big shots, all the players in the Celtics locker room had arrived and gathered around the head coach to listen to the tactical arrangements.

Thomas Jr. is currently the best player on the Celtics team. Although he can't contribute much on the defensive end, his strong offensive ability is fully valued by Coach Stevens, and he is assigned the task of breaking through Xu Tian.

The analysis team of the Celtics has given Coach Stevens the conclusion drawn from the data that Xu Tian is the Lakers' second-best perimeter defensive player, second only to George, who is outstanding on the defensive end.But Coach Stevens still wanted Thomas Jr. to challenge Xu Tian's defense, using him on the offensive end to gradually consume Xu Tian's physical strength.

Avery Bradley is a short shooting guard, and his playing style is good at defense. The task he received was to mark Xu Tian without hesitation of fouls, and let him see the iron-blooded defense of the Celtics.

Avery Bradley relies on defense to make a living, so naturally he would not refuse to implement the head coach's arrangement, and silently planned the defense against Xu Tian in his heart.

Smart has become a backup option to defend Xu Tian. Once Avery Bradley gets into foul trouble, he will fill the void and continue to put pressure on Xu Tian on the defensive end.

Coach Stevens' arrangement was detailed and precise, and he made the most important defense against Xu Tian, ​​trying to stop the Lakers' smooth and gorgeous offense from the source.

The sky in Boston gradually darkened, and the fiery red sunset in the sky reminded the fans outside the stadium and in front of the TV that the game between the Lakers and the Celtics was getting closer.

Scott and Madsen walked into the locker room with a tactical board, and also called the players who had changed their jerseys to explain in detail the tactics at the beginning of the game and the adjustments in offensive and defensive tactics.

Josh didn't speak during the whole process.He hadn't been able to integrate into the tactical system in the first place, and now that he temporarily changed his tactics, it caused him even more trouble.

Xu Tian saw the confusion in Josh's eyes, and said, "After the coach's arrangement is over, I will explain the tactics to you alone."

Josh looked at Xu Tian as if he had met a savior, and readily accepted his proposal.

Kobe and George had privately discussed the candidate for the Lakers' head coach. George had already seen that Scott had no real talents, and bluntly stated that he should find a way to change the head coach.

Kobe considered Xu Tian's character more, and used the excuse that the real control was in Xu Tian's hands, so that the conversation ended up with no further details.

The tactical system that Scott said now has finally changed George's view of him, so that he did not speak during the entire process of arranging the tactics, quietly rehearsing the tactics proposed by Scott in his mind, and it seems to work. How likely is it.

Mike Breen and Reggie Miller came to the scene, sat behind the arranged commentary seats, and chatted about topics other than the progress of the game in advance.

Danny Ainge attaches great importance to this game, and has sat down in a conspicuous position in the auditorium, quietly waiting for the official start of the game.

Coach Stevens listened to the increasingly loud noise in the arena, and said: "Guys! Don't have any psychological baggage in this game. Even if you take open shots that lead to opportunities, it doesn't matter if you don't score. The big deal is that the defensive end will get the ball again." Take it back."

"Don't be timid, that way you can't beat the mighty Lakers. Only when we unite together and do a good job in the details of each offense and defense, can we truly grasp the initiative on the court and repel the invading Lakers."

The head coach's impassioned speech inspired the players.

Before entering the arena, Thomas put his right hand in the middle of the circle formed by the players and said, "Guys, what the coach said is right! The Lakers have three stars on the outside, and Tyson Chandler, who has a good defense inside. It’s true with Josh Smith, but we are no worse than them, and we can compete with this Lakers for real.”

The rest of the Celtics responded to Thomas Jr.'s call, put their hands on his outstretched hands, and shouted for cheer three times in a row before they began to organize their equipment that was not particularly docile.

The Lakers didn't say that much, but they also cheered in a circle, and then under the leadership of Xu Tian, ​​they trotted into the much-anticipated North Shore Garden Arena to prepare for this fateful battle between the teams.

(End of this chapter)