Chapter 15 How about scoring thirty-five points at the Garden tonight?
Hearing the Boston fans' words, Tang Long couldn't help but smile.
They say the NBA is full of violent aesthetics. Besides spectacular dunks, there's also a lot of trash talk.
Before his transmigration, he only heard about it secondhand. He watched for fun and didn't understand it too well.
Now, after transmigrating back to 2007 and personally playing in the NBA, Tang Long found the atmosphere here to be even more outrageous than the rumors suggested.
"Tang... you need to be careful tonight. They're threatening to kick your ass!"
Larry Hughes said, joking with Tang Long.
"We'll see who kicks whose ass. KG and Perkins, you leave them to me. Tonight, we'll take down the Celtics' Big Three!"
Tang Long said nonchalantly, showing no fear or timidity at the prospect of facing the Celtics' Big Three.
"That's the spirit Tang should have! Everyone, let's work hard tonight and try to take down the Celtics!"
James chimed in.
The team went to the locker room, put on their jerseys, and prepared to face the Celtics.
Boston time, 10 PM, the game officially began.
In the player tunnel, the Cavaliers wore their black uniforms, while the Celtics were in white.
When paths cross, the brave prevail!
The Cavaliers had a decent record in the new season, but the Celtics were even more formidable. After an initial period of adjustment where they lost one game, they had defeated all their opponents since.
At the TD Garden, the DJ announced the starting lineups loudly.
Meanwhile, on the giant screen above the arena, each player's individual statistics were displayed.
First, let's talk about the Cavaliers' starting lineup, which remained largely unchanged, just like in the previous two games.
The Celtics' starting lineup was as follows:
Point guard, Rajon Rondo, possessed a pair of large, fan-like hands that allowed him to dribble more smoothly.
It was said that Rondo's hands were comparable to those of that old rogue Jordan; catching the ball with one hand was effortless for Rondo.
In later NBA years, Tang Long knew Rondo very well. He was affectionately called "Coach Rondo" by countless Chinese fans.
In one game, he even got into a boxing match with CP3 Paul, turning the court into a boxing ring. Coach Rondo and CP3 were truly brawlers!
To some extent, Rondo wasn't a top-tier point guard because his shooting was always criticized and very inconsistent.
What Rondo excelled at was orchestrating the team's offense. He was the veritable brain of the team, with exceptionally high basketball IQ, a rare coaching talent.
In later years, Coach Rondo had another famous moment where he instructed DeMarcus Cousins to guard "air." Slow-motion replays showed Cousins looking utterly bewildered.
Given Cousins's intelligence, he couldn't possibly understand why Coach Rondo was telling him to stand in the corner.
However, as it turned out, Coach Rondo lived up to his name, his basketball IQ surpassing everyone's expectations.
Cousins guarding air was truly classic, disrupting the Hawks' game-winning play, and the Kings won that game.
Tang Long watched the live broadcast at the time, so he vividly remembered Coach Rondo instructing Cousins to guard air.
Now, facing Coach Rondo in person, Tang Long couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at him.
In 2007, Rondo wasn't yet "Coach Rondo." In front of the Celtics' Big Three, he was just a little brother tasked with orchestrating the offense.
Shooting guard, sharpshooter Ray Allen.
In the offseason, Ray Allen left the Seattle SuperSonics and joined the Celtics with Kevin Garnett, forming a super Big Three!
On the Celtics, Ray Allen's main role was to stand behind the three-point line and rain down threes.
He didn't need to handle the ball for isolation plays; Paul Pierce was more than capable of that.
As for Garnett and Rondo, they enjoyed pick-and-roll plays at the high and low post.
Typically, Garnett would set a screen, Rondo would drive to the basket, and if he had an opening, he'd lay it up himself. If not, he'd pass to Garnett.
Garnett would then take a tough mid-range shot, which he often made. Garnett's mid-range game was solid. Read 138
Small forward, "The Truth" Paul Pierce, was hailed as the pinnacle of the "floor game" in the league.
His floor game skills could be ranked among the top three in the league!
He had no offensive blind spots, similar to McGrady and Kobe.
Whether it was three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, drives to the basket, or drawing fouls, Pierce was adept at it all.
Power forward, "The Big Ticket" Kevin Garnett.
On defense, The Big Ticket was top-tier, similar to Tang Long's fused Murasakibara Atsushi, capable of defending from the one to the five, with quick lateral movement and extensive defensive coverage!
Whether it was perimeter players or interior players, guarding them one-on-one against Garnett, coaches and teammates were all at ease.
Center, "Big Fat" Perkins.
Perkins was also known for his defense, anchoring the paint and providing significant deterrence.
Tonight, Tang Long's primary opponent would be "Big Fat." If he could dominate him, it would draw double-teams from Garnett, forcing Tang Long to find opportunities to pass to Drew Gooden for the finish.
If Garnett didn't double-team him, Tang Long, relying on his own abilities, could dominate Perkins in the paint.
The game began.
The first tip-off was between Garnett and Tang Long.
Looking at the tough-as-nails Big Ticket opposite him, Tang Long didn't hold back. He slightly bent his body, ready to jump and contest for the first possession.
"Hey! Kid, I recognize you. You've played well in the last two games. I hope you can perform just as well tonight in our Garden!"
Garnett suddenly spoke, his words clearly provocative towards Tang Long.
Seasoned fans knew that Garnett was good in every aspect except for his foul mouth.
He was the one who talked the most trash on the court. In one game, he said Carmelo Anthony's wife tasted like a donut.
This remark infuriated Carmelo, who cornered Garnett and threatened to have him dealt with by the mafia.
After the game, they surrounded the Celtics' team bus. Garnett got off the bus that night, but he must have been terrified.
As the saying goes: If you want to mess around in New York, Melo calls the shots!
Angering Melo in New York City led to no good consequences!
This conflict was eventually resolved with the arrival of reporters and the intervention of coaches and teammates.
It also proved that Garnett was a man who couldn't keep his mouth shut; he enjoyed trash-talking, considering it part of the game's excitement.
Tang Long, being from the future, naturally knew what Garnett was like. He rolled his eyes and said, "Hey, KG, let's wait and see. My performance tonight will definitely not disappoint you. How about scoring thirty-five points at the Garden tonight?"
"Kid, what did you say? Thirty-five points on our home court?"
Garnett froze for a moment, then broke into a grin.
This kid was something else, with a lot of nerve. He's a rookie starting for the first time at the Garden and already talking about scoring thirty-five points.
If a rookie could score thirty-five points at the Garden, where would the Big Three's pride go?
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