Garnett's eyes turned fierce as he finished speaking.
In this moment, he truly displayed the capability of a leader.
The ball crossed half court. Garnett was at the free-throw line. Varejão came up to defend. He received the ball with his back to the basket and went one-on-one against Varejão.
Varejão's defense was already excellent. He was hunched low with a steady stance, one hand blocking Garnett, preventing him from overpowering his way inside, and the other hand disrupting his shot!
Despite this, Garnett still managed to push Varejão back a step before jumping up for the shot. The movement was fluid and seamless!
2-2.
Seeing Garnett score on a one-on-one play, James naturally had to respond in kind.
Pierce followed with a drive to the basket. Perkins screened Tang Long's defensive space. Pierce easily dunked at the rim.
"Paul."
The away fans rose to cheer for Pierce.
Pierce also let out a roar of exhilaration.
Ever since the playoff series against the Cavaliers, a team that had frustrated him, he hadn't felt this unburdened in a long time.
After consecutive losses to the Cavaliers, Pierce had even begun to doubt himself, questioning if he was still an excellent player.
Now, he finally had a chance to let out his frustrations.
Just then, the home fans erupted in cheers.
Tang Long ignited the entire arena. After Pierce's dunk, Tang Long was not standing at the free-throw line this time.
Varejão inbounded the ball. Larry Hughes brought it up to the basket. James received the ball and ran, successfully drawing the attention of the defenders. At this moment, Larry Hughes lobbed the ball high towards the basket.
Tang Long soared to catch the ball, his outstretched arms like a roc spreading its wings, clutching the basketball tightly before slamming it through the hoop. The entire offensive sequence took only six seconds!
It was so fast it was dazzling.
"That dunk was spectacular, and Larry Hughes' pass was beautiful."
"James' off-ball movement was also crucial. If James hadn't drawn Garnett and Pierce, with only Perkins in the paint, this play might not have gone so well."
In the broadcast booth, Zhang Zhi and Yang Yi couldn't help but applaud the Cavaliers' offensive play.
"This game is truly exciting. We can see that all the players are giving their all, especially Garnett, who is playing with exceptional determination today."
Yang Yi chimed in, "To be honest, if Garnett had played like this in the previous games, the score difference might not be what it is now. It can only be said that Mike Brown's tactical arrangements in this year's playoffs were better than Doc Rivers'."
"Before the game, everyone predicted a Finals matchup between the Celtics and the Lakers. Who could have imagined the emergence of Tang Long this season..."
"Look at this play, it's Tang Long again. After drawing Garnett to the paint, the ball was passed back to James, who delivered a powerful slam for another two points."
James retreated quickly on defense after his dunk.
Before the game, Mike Brown had emphasized the importance of defense. Tang Long would handle the interior, while everyone else needed to defend the opponent's shooting well, especially Ray Allen.
This was also why Mike Brown sent West into the game.
Besides needing West to address offensive issues, his greater speed was required to defend Ray Allen's three-point shots.
Mike Brown's lineup in the first quarter yielded excellent results. Within the three-point line, apart from the scoring by Garnett and Pierce, only Rajon Rondo's speed could create disruption.
On the perimeter, Ray Allen, defended by West, had a cold hand, going 0-for-3 from three-point range in the first quarter.
The Cavaliers' perimeter shooting was slightly better. Combined with the play of James and Tang Long, the Cavaliers established a five-point lead of 23-18 by the end of the first quarter.
"Guys, you're doing great. Keep it up."
The players' performance was also affirmed by the coach.
"In the second quarter, the opponent will definitely think we're changing our tactics and will strengthen their interior defense. So, in the second quarter, everyone needs to stick to our established game plan."
Mike Brown was meticulously laying out his strategy.
Soon, the second quarter began.
As Mike Brown had predicted, the Celtics immediately increased their outside shooting at the start of the quarter. Unfortunately, their shooting touch remained as cold as in the first quarter, with both Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo clanging shots off the rim.
However, players like Garnett and Pierce were called stars not just for their talent, but also for their superior basketball IQ.
Upon seeing their outside shots miss, they directly changed their strategy and attacked the inside.
Garnett's mid-range jumpers were frequently successful. At this point, Tang Long had to step out to defend Garnett.
This created opportunities for Pierce and Rajon Rondo, who drove to the basket, causing chaos among the Cavaliers' defense.
Seeing this, Mike Brown had no choice but to change his defensive formation, adopting a zone defense.
This gave the Celtics' perimeter players an opportunity. Ray Allen got an open look and decisively took the shot.
His shooting touch gradually returned. In the second quarter, he made 3 out of 4 three-point attempts, and Rajon Rondo made 4 out of 5. Both players were on fire in the latter half of the second quarter.
Thanks to the performance of Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics outscored the Cavaliers 25-23 in the second quarter.
At halftime, the Cavaliers led 45-43, with their advantage reduced to three points.
"Everyone did a good job. After all, the Celtics were favored by all the media before the game, and we've gained an advantage."
"We're still leading. In the second half, let's raise the defensive intensity a notch. As long as we can limit the performance of one of their Big Three, we can win this game. Let's go, everyone!!"
Mike Brown didn't criticize his players for allowing the Celtics to score too many points in the second quarter; their defense had been solid.
It was truly difficult to defend a team with so many superstars.
Meanwhile, the Celtics were also analyzing their tactical arrangements in the first half.
Doc Rivers used the whiteboard to explain to the players the reasons for falling behind in the first quarter and why the Celtics gained an advantage in the second.
Both sides were tense, making arrangements for the third quarter's strategy.
...
While the players were tense, there was someone at the Quicken Loans Arena who was even more nervous than the players.
It was Scarlett!
Sometimes, opportunities are right in front of you. If you don't seize them, they won't come to you.
You might make a fool of yourself, but you still have to try!
In a place like Hollywood, if you miss out on a great opportunity due to pride, then not many actresses would get to be in major productions!
After much internal struggle, Scarlett exchanged seats with a spectator in front of her and moved to sit behind Fitch.
"Hello."
Fitch glanced back at Scarlett and politely shook her hand before they began to chat happily.
He had seen many beautiful actresses. While Scarlett was indeed eye-catching, being too enthusiastic with her in public was clearly not the behavior of a rational CEO!
Scarlett felt a bit awkward, her face flushing slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she leaned forward and said, "Mr. Fitch, I would like to recommend myself. I believe I can play Natasha in that superhero movie!"