One Guard

Chapter 93 : The Unyielding Soul of the Green Army

Yiyang’s strength on the offensive end, the Celtics, after the Big Three played at the same time, had no choice but to accept the fact that they were behind at halftime.

Everyone thinks that the strength of the Celtics should be even better, even Rivers himself thinks so. But at this moment, they seem to have forgotten that the Mavericks have never given up their pursuit of a championship. The team led by the Germans will not easily let go of any victory.

“In the second half of the game, Rondo continued to adopt the defensive principle of putting shots and not letting go. Even if he scores, don’t jump forward. I would rather bet on Rondo’s shots than see him break through.” Carlisle was in the locker room. Rondo’s name was drawn with a heavy red circle.

“As for the others, give me all of your matchups! Defending close to the body, letting them catch the ball has to pay the price. Defense! In the second half of the game, we have to start with defense!”

During the intermission, players and coaches are busy in the locker room. The American Airlines Center Arena set up a lot of midfield performances for fans in the stands. There are wonderful dances of cheerleaders, fancy dunks of street basketball teams, and free jerseys for mascots.

But no matter which project it was, the applause from the audience to the performers was sparse. Although it was an intermission, all the fans on the scene were focused on the game. The anxious battle between the Mavericks and the Celtics made people uninterested in other things.

When the players performing fancy dunks leave the field and the Mavericks players step onto the court wearing training uniforms. The cheers in the American Airlines Center Arena finally came together neatly.

Today, the Celtics realized that the low-key Mavericks in the weekdays are really not a persimmon! To fight them, one must put in a 120% effort.

Soon, the lights in the American Airlines Center Arena became normal, and all the fans who left their seats to go to the toilet or buy food were also in place. The first half of the game was difficult enough for both sides, but the battle is far from over!

As soon as the game started, Rondo approached Yiyang with steady control of the ball. Yiyang continued to implement Carlisle’s arrangement, Rondo took one step further, and Yiyang took a step back.

From the commentary, this scene is extremely exaggerated. Rondo was alone in possession of the ball from the three-point line, and there was no one around him! The Green Army No. 9 seems to have been isolated by nine other people on the field, and it looks really sad.

Kenny Smith shook his head, the NBA is such a cruel place. Your shortcomings, others will not help you cover up, but will infinitely magnify for you!

Rondo was also a little angry. Yiyang gave his own shooting space and made it clear that he was saying “I look down on your shots.”

So Rondo didn’t be polite with Yiyang either. He started shooting from one step within the three-point line. Yiyang, who was afraid of eating, just pounced forward slightly, Rondo almost got an empty chance.

However, Rondo’s big hand is very detrimental to his shooting control. The basketball flies very straight, but the arc is a bit smaller. Rondo’s shot knocked on the neck of the basket and missed.

As soon as the third quarter opened, Rondo hit the iron again. His hit rate has already started to go all the way down.

The Greens could not score on the 9th. Yiyang, who carried the banner of the Mavericks offensive outside, would not follow Rondo’s old road.

Near the three-second zone of the Celtics, Nowitzki and Garnett’s melee combat has already begun. But because Marion didn’t feel good today, Pierce had to stand a little bit in the past and drift away from Nowitzki.

Yiyang knew that Pierce’s old fritters were waiting for an opportunity to steal. As a defender with a great view of the overall situation, Yiyang was naturally not fooled. He raised his hand and beckoned, Nowitzki immediately got rid of the entanglement with Garnett and ran towards the high position.

A rookie directs the team star to pick and roll himself. This kind of picture may be difficult to see in other teams. But in the Mavericks, everything is subject to victory!

As soon as the Nowitzki pick-and-roll was in place, Yiyang started to accelerate. When he was about to bypass Nowitzki’s “wall”, Yiyang suddenly changed his direction and jumped to the side where there was no pick-and-roll.

Garnett didn’t make up the defense, because he estimated that Yiyang’s breakthrough was just a feint. This guy will definitely return Nowitzki after the breakthrough, allowing the latter to get a three-point shot!

However, Garnett, who was in front of Nowitzki, did not wait for Yiyang to pass the ball, but waited for the referee’s hasty whistle.

Without Garnett’s delay, Yiyang easily entered the penalty area. In the face of O’Neal, who was already “sunset”, Yiyang did not fear and went straight to the basket. Sure enough, O’Neal’s blocking only increased the number of fouls for himself.

This time on the free throw line, Yiyang made only one of his rare two free throws. Although the Mavericks only scored one point this round, it still made Garnett and others scrupulous.

A few dozen seconds later, the Mavericks who grabbed a defensive rebound made a comeback. It was Yiyang still holding the ball, and it was still beckoning Nowitzki to pick and roll. This time, after hesitating for a while, Garnett decided to go back to chase Yiyang towards the basket!

Yiyang jumped sharply in the three-second zone and raised the basketball high. With O’Neal stuck by “Boxing King” Tyson, Yiyang’s layup seemed inevitable. However, Garnett, who was following Yiyang, straightened his long arms. The fingers of “Wolf King” were only a few cents away from the basketball held by Yiyang!

Just when Garnett was about to complete a block against Yiyang, Yiyang flying in the air looked like eyes growing on the back of his head, and suddenly pulled down the basketball he held high, avoiding Garnett’s ” Claws”.

After dodge the cover, Yiyang took the basketball to the right again, and gently handed it to the net. The Mavericks’ offense was once again ended by Yiyang! Moreover, it is still a very ornamental way through the lever.

“Damn it!” Garnett picked up the basketball on the ground angrily after landing. This is the second time he has picked up the basketball from the floor this round. He was regretting the moment when Yiyang broke through, why he hesitated. If the ball is more timely, Yiyang will definitely swallow the big risk!

So, when Nowitzki and Yiyang played a pick and roll again. Garnett did not hesitate anymore, he almost accelerated at the same time as Yiyang and ran towards the basket.

Yiyang didn’t turn his head, but directly tossed the basketball behind his head as he marched.

The trajectory of the basketball is very high. Rondo, who was guarding Nowitzki, jumped up, but did not touch the basketball.

Facing Rondo, the Germans don’t have to be afraid. Nowitzki is good at scoring a goal on the head of a defender!

In the end, Nowitzki’s basketball shot bumped but it still fell into the basket. Not long after the start of the third quarter, Rivers called a timeout. If you continue to let it go, the Celtics will sooner or later become a stepping stone for the name Yiyang to ring through the alliance.

After 　　 came back from a timeout, Yiyang felt that the Celtics’ defense against him was significantly strengthened. There are more defenses, and the passing lanes are blocked more timely.

Although Yiyang’s scoring momentum was temporarily curbed, his passing still led the Mavericks to keep scoring.

Fortunately, Paul Pierce, the soul of the Green Army wearing the No. 34 jersey, awakened completely in the second half of the third quarter. This 33-year-old “advanced” guy, but still able to score 18 points per game, started the crazy scoring mode.

Pierce suddenly feels terrible, he is like no one, even if he is defensively, he can make a strong shot.

Finally, Pierce made 5 of 6 shots in a single quarter, including 2 of 2 three-pointers and scored 12 points in a single quarter. After the Mavericks replaced the tired Yiyang in the last few minutes of the third quarter, the offensive firepower was greatly reduced.

69 to 70. At the end of the third quarter, the Celtics were only one point behind on the road. The Mavericks, who had been playing smoothly, were dragged into the quagmire by Pierce’s outstanding performance. Perhaps this is the role of stars.

Yiyang has played this game for 30 minutes and has 16 points and 9 assists. But Carlisle obviously wouldn’t let Yiyang rest like this. In the fourth quarter of the decisive battle, Yiyang is likely to continue to replace Kidd, who is unwell, and carry on with heavy responsibilities!

With enough playing time, can Yiyang be worthy of Carlisle’s trust? Can the gritty Celtics win another victory in Dallas?

Suspense and ups and downs of the basketball game, who is right?