NBA: Start by torturing Jordan and add points to upgrade

"The Lakers really showed what it means to be a defending champion in those last two possessions!" Miller commented on the Lakers immediately after the first half ended: "The Celtics set a trap and thought the Lakers would fall into it."

"But in the end, the Lakers used the Celtics' trap to set another trap, which the Celtics fell into."

"In the last two possessions, the Lakers used psychological tactics to allow Durant and Lin Tian to get huge open shots and make them one after another."

"The person who has improved the most is actually Kobe!" Jackson added. "Back then, he was known for being the type who would explode at the slightest provocation. If you angered him, he would definitely teach his opponent a lesson in various ways and make them regret it."

"To be honest, I really like that kind of Kobe. It's so exciting and thrilling! That's the feeling of being able to fight back and play basketball with passion. I think that's why Kobe is so popular. That's what fans love most."

"But coaches will definitely find it hard to like, because getting carried away means being out of control, getting carried away means losing your mind. Maybe Kobe, with his terrifying ability, can always score even when he's on fire or when he's double-teamed."

"But there are also many times when Kobe's ego can destroy his team and put them on the back foot. Missing shots, turnovers, and irrational shots can lead to fast breaks by the opponent. Because he keeps shooting, his teammates lose motivation and become less involved, which can cause the team to collapse."

"But Kobe didn't do that tonight. When the Celtics provoked him, hoping he would take a one-on-one shot, he used his huge threat to draw the opponent's defensive attention to himself and then created an open shot for Durant."

"Then he selflessly passed the ball, and the Lakers team executed a brilliant play, culminating in Lin's open shot."

"Kobe's maturity, selflessness, and lack of impulsiveness may not be good news for fans, as it means there will be fewer incredibly exciting moments."

"But for the Lakers and Kobe himself, this is definitely good news. It's a huge improvement for Kobe! And an essential evolution for the Lakers' title defense."

"I'm quite curious to see what Karl will do in the second half. Although the Lakers are only leading by 3 points, the Celtics are actually being outmaneuvered in the starting lineup matchup."

"Bradley's defense is good, but ultimately he can only guard the point guard position. He's too short, and Kobe will target him. But if you put him on guard Lin at point guard, then what about putting Parker on guard Kobe?"

"That was practically handing Kobe a superhuman performance, giving him a chance to pad his stats."

"So I think maybe the Celtics could consider changing their lineup and letting Danny Green play more time. He could guard the 2-3 positions, and Bradley could guard the 1 position. This kind of change would maximize the Celtics' defensive energy."

The commentators discussed the performance of both sides and the strategies that might be used in the second half, while in the two locker rooms, the coaches and players of both sides were also having tense and rapid exchanges.

"Kobe played brilliantly! Especially the last two possessions." When needed, Jackson didn't hold back his praise for his players. He gave Kobe a thumbs up and said, "Keep it up! We're going to win tonight."

"Although we were only up by 3 points in the first half, I think we had complete control of the game's pace and situation! The reason we were only up by 3 points was not because the Celtics played so well."

"It's because we're playing more easily; we haven't even exerted our full strength yet!"

"Duncan played 18 minutes in the first half, James played 20 minutes, and Parker played 19 minutes. Their three main players will probably all play 40 minutes tonight. What about us?"

"Lin played 15 minutes, Andrew 16 minutes, and Kobe and Durant both played 17 minutes. In the second half, when our starters played more minutes and when we played tougher, the Celtics absolutely couldn't withstand our firepower!"

Are you confident?

"We have confidence!" The Lakers players shouted in unison, echoing their head coach's roar.

“Of course, we have another way to go.” Jackson nodded in satisfaction, then squinted and said, “We can keep the playing time of our key players from increasing, or even reduce it a little.”

"As long as the substitutes can play better, as long as you can perform at a higher level, I'm happy to allocate more playing time to more people!"

"For example, Isaiah, you will definitely have a lot of playing time in the second half, and I hope you can get a double-digit score."

"And Earl, you didn't score a single point in the first half, but I really hope you can bring out the firepower and confidence you had in the preseason!"

"And all of you, don't you want more playing time so your next contract will be more lucrative?"

"Although it's only the first game of the season, I can reveal my real goal for this season: Lin and Kobe are both old men with one foot in the grave, and I hope their playing time will decrease."

"At least during the regular season, I hope to keep both of their playing time under 30 minutes! That way, these two guys can be healthier in the playoffs. But how long they actually play, and whether I can actually accomplish my plan, isn't really up to me."

"It's up to you guys! It's up to you to see if you can carry the team when they're not on the court, and if you can withstand the opponent's attacks when they're both out. If you can do that, then I think everyone on our team will get satisfactory playing time this year!"

"Understood!" Upon hearing this, the Lakers' role players' eyes truly lit up.

Which of these role players doesn't crave more playing time and a more important role on the team?
Of course, there are even more lucrative contracts and higher annual salaries!

Now that Jackson has presented them with this opportunity, it would be a miracle if these young people didn't fight tooth and nail for it!
Fuck the Celtics!

For a bigger contract!
"Tony, you need to step up!" George Karl glanced at the stats in the locker room and then said to Parker, "You can't just sit there, you have to fight back! You're one of the best point guards in the league, and the first half didn't really reflect your true level."

"I think you can go toe-to-toe with Lin and have a fair fight! When you break through, you can be more decisive. Just make sure to observe your surroundings to see if anyone is there to help defend you before you make your move."

Carl's words made Parker want to open his mouth and complain, "What the hell do you mean by being more resolute while observing more?"
So, should we be decisive or observe? Can these two approaches coexist?

However, considering that Karl was a new head coach who needed to establish his authority, and that Parker himself wasn't the type to cause trouble, he held back his complaints and nodded without arguing.

Okay, let's observe more when it's time to be decisive.

After Karl finished speaking, he looked at the others and said, "Everyone else played very well. Avery, it's not your fault for conceding the last two goals in the first half. You did your best. I didn't guess the Lakers' tactical intentions. Who knew that Kobe, that hot-blooded idiot, would actually calm down."

"However, in the second half, we can still try to provoke Kobe. If he gets carried away, our defense will be simpler; we can just double-team him! But we still need to observe him first in the second half."

"Let's see how they play, Tim. You're good at defense. On the court, you're responsible for calling out defensive tactics and adapting to the situation. You're the real core and most important member of our defense. With you there, everyone can confidently rush out and fight the opponent's perimeter."

"LeBron, you can be a bit more aggressive in the second half. Don't be too polite or too selfless. When it's time to charge, I hope you can lead the team to charge!"

"Understood." James nodded, his voice remaining calm.

During halftime, both coaches employed almost identical strategies to motivate their teams and devise tactics.

Furthermore, their strategy remained the same as in the first half: to continue playing the same style as in the first half and keep battling with their opponents.

Ultimately, a 3-point difference, with 24 minutes left in the second half, is practically nothing. What kind of difference is it if it can be overcome in a single possession?

The 20 minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and after the halftime break and the coaches' motivational speeches, the players on both sides returned to the field.

Both sides fielded the same ten players from the first half, with neither making any changes to their starting lineups.

In the early stages of the second half, both sides played fairly conventionally.

They are still using the tactics and playing styles they are most familiar with.

With LeBron James as the core of the Celtics, he constantly energizes the entire team with pick-and-rolls and drives to the basket. Even without direct baskets or assists, he can create openings during his drives to initiate a whole offensive cycle, thereby breaking down the Lakers' defense.

Parker finally warmed up in the second half and gradually regained his form. In the third quarter, he scored 4 points with a mid-range shot and a layup, finally no longer being completely helpless.

The Lakers, on the other hand, continued to rely on their strong individual abilities to constantly seek one-on-one opportunities and advantages, repeatedly attacking the Celtics' defense.

The most vicious killer was Kobe.

This guy seemed to be a beat slow to react, as if he only suddenly remembered that Bradley had provoked him at the end of the second quarter in the third quarter. He took a series of shots in the third quarter, constantly pressuring Bradley with his back to the basket and scoring points.

In the third quarter, Kobe scored another 13 points, bringing his game-high 33 points to 33 before the third quarter was even over.

From any perspective, Bradley was completely outplayed by Kobe.

In the final minutes of the third quarter, both coaches began to make substitutions and entered a rotation phase.

"Remember what I said at halftime," Jackson said, squinting as he brought Isaiah Thomas and the others onto the court, offering another reminder.

Play well, you'll get a lot of opportunities this season, and you can get big contracts next season!

Jackson's words were like a ray of light for Thomas and others, illuminating their path forward.

It's easy to imagine that Jackson would bring up this matter again and again throughout the year, until it was completely imprinted on their minds.

In this situation, these role players will inevitably be in a state of frenzied, high-energy activity throughout the entire season.

For the team, for themselves, for big contracts.

This year, the Lakers' bench will surely become a nightmare for the entire league!

Before both sides started rotating players in the third quarter, the game was still a back-and-forth affair.

68: 69!

With four minutes remaining in the game, the Lakers still held a one-point lead.

The Celtics were up by 2 points in the first 8 minutes.

But in the next four minutes, the game took a dramatic turn.

At this time, Kobe and Lin Tian went to rest for the Lakers, leaving Bynum, Barnes and Durant as the three starters, along with two substitutes, Thomas and Clark.

As for the Celtics, considering Parker's return to form and Lin Tian's absence at this stage, they kept the golden duo of Parker and Duncan on the court, letting James and others rest.

Then, the game completely fell into the Lakers' control!

Isaiah Thomas started by using Clark's screen to create space, then stepped back and hit a three-pointer, extending the team's lead to four points. Less than 15 seconds later, Thomas made a swift one-on-one steal while guarding Parker.

He maximized his speed and agility, stealing the ball from Parker when he tried to use his height and weight to one-on-one against him, then quickly drove to the frontcourt and scored a layup, giving the Celtics a 5-0 run in the blink of an eye.

However, Parker is an All-Star level guard after all. He was completely outmatched by Lin Tian, ​​which is a real difference from Lin Tian. But what about Isaiah Thomas?
Stealing one now and then is fine, but if you expect Isaiah Thomas to completely dominate Parker, then you're underestimating Parker.

In the next possession, Parker and Duncan executed their signature pass-and-cut play. After passing the ball to Duncan, Parker quickly cut to the basket, shaking off Thomas's defense, and then made a floater.

That wasn't all. Next, Thomas's pull-up jumper was disrupted by Parker, and the ball bounced off the rim and missed. The Celtics deliberately slowed down the pace and gradually advanced into the frontcourt. Then, through a series of passes and runs, they successfully created a mismatch.

When Bass received the ball in the mid-range, he was being guarded by Isaiah Thomas.

When a power forward faces a 175cm short player, the result is obvious. Bass cleanly pulled up for a jump shot and scored 2 points. After the Celtics were outscored 5-0 by Thomas, they quickly capitalized on his defensive weaknesses and responded with a 4-0 run.

72: 74!

There are 2 minutes and 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

Miller said with some regret, "Isaiah played well. He has already scored 12 points. His energy and shooting range on offense are impressive. But unfortunately, he is too short. His height of 175 cm makes him too easy to target, especially against a top team in the league like the Celtics. His weaknesses are exposed completely."

"If I were Jackson, I would remove him, because even if he can score 10 points on offense, he could very well give up 15 points on defense! This kind of unpredictable double-edged sword must be used with caution and careful consideration."

"Otherwise, the blade might very well stab yourself!"

"So, Reggie, you can't be a head coach. Even if you were, you'd definitely be mediocre," Van Gundy immediately mocked without hesitation. "Because you don't understand what it means to manage people!"

“It’s one thing for others to talk about me, Jeff, but what gives you the right? Is it because of your stubbornness in hiring people that the whole world mocks, or the little notes hidden in your suit pocket?” Miller retorted, not to be outdone.

"Because I'm a championship-winning coach," Van Gundy scoffed. "I won two championships when I was a coach! So what? Can't I mock you?"

Jackson shouted, "Anyway, Jackson didn't make any substitutions! The game is still going on! It's Isaiah Thomas dribbling again. He's on offense again! This time it's a pick-and-roll."

Isaiah Thomas's offense continues! Otherwise, how could the final moments of the third quarter have been so dramatic? (End of Chapter)