One Guard

The situation of the Boston Celtics this season is not very good. With the departure of Ray Allen and the increasing age of Garnett and Pierce, this ancient giant has begun to lose its dominance.

At the beginning of this season, people still expected Rajon Rondo to be the leader and bring this team back to its former glory. After all, in the first nine games of the season, Rondo had 20 assists in two games, and the number of consecutive double-digit assists tied Stockton's 37 games for second place in history.

Rondo's outstanding performance will inevitably make people think about it. But on January 28, 2013, due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, Rondo was retired for the season after playing only 38 games. With that, the Celtics lost their best hope. In the following season, we can only rely on a group of old guys to slowly survive.

So far, the Celtics are temporarily ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference. But compared with the 76ers, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics only have four more wins. In other words, if the traditional giant Celtics does not want to fall behind, it must do its best in the second half of the season and win as many games as possible.

Such teams are often the most effective. They cannot let go, because once they let go, they are likely to fall into the abyss. They can't give up because there are still people behind them who are eyeing their position.

So today, even when facing the surging Dallas Mavericks, Coach Rivers still has only one goal for his players. "Let's win at home!"

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Led by the Boston Mounted Police, the Mavericks team bus was driving slowly on the snowy streets. The passers-by didn't seem to care much about the Mavericks' bus. Firstly, the Mavericks were not the mortal enemy of the Celtics. Secondly, the Celtics' poor record this season also made the citizens here less enthusiastic about basketball. So high again.

Yiyang looked out the window at the white streets and couldn't help but think of every winter he had spent since entering the professional basketball field. He and his mother finally no longer had to suffer from cold and hunger in a dirty and dilapidated rental house, nor did they have to wear cheap jackets and shiver in the cold winter wind. The winter in professional basketball is warm, but the only regret is that the people who spend the winter with Yiyang seem to be different every year.

After a while, the team bus drove to the TD North Shore Garden Arena in downtown Boston. This huge building is different from the retro style of the Mavericks' American Airlines Center. The huge cement board and square design give this arena a strong modern atmosphere. The all-glass dome makes this arena look like a big thermostat.

The Celtics' shamrock logo is painted on the right side of the arena wall, and the left wall depicts the Boston Bruins' logo of the Hockey League team.

TD North Shore Garden Arena is the home stadium shared by the Celtics and Bruins.

So you can see the logos of two teams from different leagues on the walls of an arena. But since today is an NBA game day, there are huge posters of Celtics players hanging out in front of the arena.

Yiyang stared at the posters of Celtics players through the car window, fascinated. Rondo, who has been out for the season, is still placed in the middle, with Garnett and Pierce on both sides of him. In the end, Yiyang found a photo of Terry holding the ball in both hands at the very edge.

"Miss him?" Nowitzki asked casually when he saw Yiyang staring at Terry's poster for a long time.

"Who would miss this bastard?" Yiyang shook his head and looked away. I really can't get used to the way you look in the white Celtics home jersey...

This game is not a focus game, so it is not particularly lively outside the arena. Players from both sides have already started to warm up, and less than half of the fans have come to the arena.

But for Yiyang and Terry, this game is the most important game of the regular season this season!

The two teams went on the field to warm up, and as expected, both Yiyang and Terry glanced at the other side's half. The two defenders moved towards the center circle at the same time in perfect coordination. The closer they got, the harder it was to hide the smiles on their faces.

"You brat, you're so good this season! You're second in the MVP candidate rankings. It really doesn't blind you to the education that Jason and I have given you over the past two years!" Terry said, opening his arms, and the two big men hugged each other tightly. together.

Finally we meet again, brother.

"You're not bad either. In the last game, you actually beat the Jazz with a three-pointer. Hayward told me that I would avenge him today."

Neither of them praised the other directly, but immediately poured cold water on the other after complimenting the other. However, isn't this the way Yiyang and Terry communicate?

"Killing Jazz is just a warm-up, too. Today, you have to be extra careful." After Terry finished speaking, he smiled crookedly.

"How are you doing in Boston?" After the greetings, Yiyang suddenly lowered his head. He really couldn't believe that he was standing on the wooden floor of the North Shore Garden Arena, facing Terry, who had been the closest to him.

"As you can see, it's neither good nor bad. This team is great, but we also lost too many games. But I have to remind you, today, we will fight to the end."

"Hey, Jeter, are you ready to warm up yet?" Celtics coach Doc Rivers interrupted the conversation between Yiyang and Terry with his duck voice. No matter how close you were once, you are now enemies!

"I have to go back, and you should also warm up. But don't underestimate my old guys." Terry blinked and trotted towards his home half.

Looking at Terry's retreating back, Yiyang also turned around. Sorry Jett, we can't both be winners today.

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Due to Rondo's injury, the Celtics had to use Avery Bradley, the 19th overall pick in 2010, as the starting point guard. Bradley and Yiyang are also old rivals. They had direct conversations in college. The person who won the competition at that time was naturally Yiyang.

Bradley's offense is actually not outstanding. Although he averages nearly 30 minutes per game this season, he still averages less than double digits in points per game. But in the eyes of the outside world, the showdown between Bradley and Yiyang is still full of excitement. Because of Bradley's tough style on the defensive end, many defenders were frustrated in North Shore Garden.

"People seem to think that this game will undoubtedly result in a high score, but I have to remind you that Avery Bradley is definitely a top perimeter defender! He is willing to fight hard. The combination of spirit and strong body makes many defenders in the league frightened. Four days ago, the Nuggets visited North Shore Garden. As a result, Ty Lawson, who was full of confidence, only scored 8 points under Bradley's defense. Of course I know. Yi's scoring ability is much better than Lawson. I just want to emphasize that Bradley is by no means a soft persimmon! If you want to crush him, Yi must put in more effort."

"Avery Bradley, one of the best defensive guards in the league! In college, he already had the ability to defend NBA-level players. After several years of training, Bradley's His defensive skills have also improved greatly. If he expects to score 30+ points in the North Shore Garden, then he may be disappointed."

"Let me put it bluntly, if you can score more than 20 points on Bradley, it will be considered a great success. The Mavericks think they can easily win in Boston? It is simply wishful thinking!"

Before the game started, the local commentators in Boston were trying hard to let the fans accept the fact that the game was still in suspense. They constantly praised Bradley, and the young guard who was in the same class as Yiyang seemed to be the only spiritual support for the Celtics fans. I don’t know if they think too highly of Bradley, or if they think too little of Yiyang?

However, in the first attack after taking the field, Yiyang made the fans and commentators who were taking chances realize the reality.

"It's too fast. Yi's breakthrough speed is really terrifying. Bradley does have a strong body, but if he can't keep up with the opponent at all, what's the use of having a strong body?" Reggie. Miller looked at the desperate expressions of the local Boston commentators at the table next to him and shook his head helplessly.

Yiyang and Bradley were still rivals in college, but now, they are no longer players of the same level.

Yiyang easily broke through the defense. Facing Garnett's "slow-motion" defense, Yiyang easily succeeded in a layup. In just 8 seconds of the game, the Mavericks scored. The Celtics' defense is like a piece of tissue paper that will break when the wind blows!

Fortunately, the 35-year-old Paul Pierce is still young. After receiving a pass from Garnett, he hit a mid-range shot from a zero-degree angle on the right side. The two old guys, Marion and Pierce, are completely half-matched, and neither one has a good way to defeat the other.

But just relying on Pierce, how can the Celtics compete with Yiyang, a terrifying scorer? Garnett's scoring ability is no longer what it was back then. Unless one more person steps up to score, the Celtics will still be in trouble.

Pierce had just scored, and before he had time to reflect on it, Yiyang used a ground-breaking pass to assist Old Carter to complete a flying dunk. The Celtics just feel like they are slow!

Whether they are attacking or defending, they are always slow and leisurely. This slow defensive rhythm is just right for Yiyang. His ground-breaking passes had already been delivered to Carter, and only then did others react to protect the frame.

The Celtics are still waiting for Pierce to perform, but the 35-year-old "Truth" cannot score every time he attacks. This time, Pierce's breakthrough layup was interfered by Kaman. He bounced on the rim a few times and finally fell off.

Kaman handed the ball to Yiyang. Yiyang took one look at the Celtics' slow retreat and then decided to speed up!

With a "swish", the Celtics fans only saw a flash of yellow lightning, and then Yiyang rode like a thousand, throwing away most of the chasing players!

Bradley was the only one who was not overtaken by Yiyang. His early retreat made him the team's last barrier at this time.

This strong man with small eyes and big brain opened his arms, waiting for Yiyang to come to his door!

After Yiyang stepped into the three-second zone, his eyes suddenly widened! He exerted force on his calves, sending his entire body into the air.

Bradley is not afraid of aerial work. Although this guard is not a shot-blocking expert, he believes that his strong body will definitely make Yiyang at a loss in the air! If a person is blocked in the air, it is difficult to control the ball. Don't even think about scoring on my head consecutively, old rival!

The two defenders rose parallel in the air, Bradley raised his arms high, and even had a confident smile on his face.

The next second, Yiyang rushed up suddenly, and the two collided violently in the air! That moment! Bradley's expression froze. He didn't know why, but he felt that the impact of Yiyang was too much for him to withstand!

Yiyang gritted his teeth and continued to increase his strength! Although Bradley still raised his arms high, his body had begun to fall and he was destined to be unable to touch the basketball.

Yiyang dunked the ball and swung the ball into the frame with one hand! After Bradley landed, he lost all his center of gravity and fell down next to the basketball hoop in embarrassment!

When Yiyang landed, his knees were slightly bent and he opened his arms to maintain his balance. His movements were like Superman who had just landed from a height of tens of thousands of feet.

"Everyone dunked! The game has just started, and Yi gave everyone a surprise! Haha, poor Bradley, he thought Yi was too simple!"

The two defenders inadvertently looked at each other. The one sitting on the ground had a frightened expression, while the one standing on the wooden floor had a relaxed expression.

Yiyang and Bradley looked at each other for a second, then turned around and began to retreat. When passing by the Celtics bench, Yiyang even raised his finger there.

Do you still want to win the game? OK, bring Jeter on!

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