The rest is just noise

The atmosphere of the game has changed significantly.

The 76ers' momentum has visibly faded, while the Celtics have gained momentum.

Their high-post screen-cutting tactics still worked in the second quarter. Starting from the second half, Louis asked his players to actively switch defenses. Without the Celtics' agility, the 76ers were unable to open up space through outside three-pointers.

Number of people who can fill up the paint.

Dr. J tries to use a screen to get rid of Bird's defense.

He was disappointed, he couldn't do it at all.

Because even if you get rid of Bird, there will still be Karl, Long, Maxwell or Sampson to switch defenses.

Once caught by a mangy dog ​​like Karl, the doctor will be even more uncomfortable than Bird.

For example, at this moment, Karl switched to defend against Dr. J and followed him all the way. He never stopped talking: "Doctor, wouldn't you be embarrassed to see Larry perform like this? You are a superstar, and everyone wants to see your graceful takeoff.

, how can you behave so mediocre, Doctor? Speak up, Doctor, isn’t a small character like me not worthy of your speaking?”

Louis discovered something.

Dr. J, who has a reputation as a gentleman, is not as elegant and easy-going as he seems on the surface.

He is easily irritated, but he has a natural superior temperament developed during his ABA period, which makes him know how to restrain himself.

He is really a very typical player who is swallowed up by his personality and image.

In the future, more superstars will be trapped in personas, but one of the biggest benefits of the social media era is that it is difficult for stars to have much personal privacy. Moreover, the bigger the players, the more attention they will receive, so many stars will not be able to stand it.

People set limitations on themselves, and some are able to rebuild their own image, while others are immersed in it and cannot extricate themselves.

I’m talking about you, Xiaoshuai.

With unlimited defense changes, the 76ers' offense was unsustainable and seemed stiff and disjointed. They could only rely on Malone's offensive rebounds to survive.

I saw Malone using his signature butt-sticking technique under the basket to push Sampson into the air, grabbing the rebound and scoring a second attack.

"Don't underestimate the way he lifts his butt. The power behind it is not something that Ralph can bear at this stage." Cowens has faced off against Malone, and he knows how powerful the latter is.

Louis asked: "In your opinion, when will Ralph be able to withstand his hip lift?"

"Ah," Cowens pondered for a few seconds, considering Sampson's long legs and lack of strength in the hips, "don't even think about it in your life."

"Damn it, Dahong, can't you tell a lie to make me happy?" Louis was filled with regret.

44 to 61

The Celtics have a big lead, and the 76ers are in a very delicate situation.

"If it were another team, I might decide that Boston has already scheduled the victory, but if the opponent is Philadelphia, you have to be more cautious." Heinsohn said with a smile, "They have probably won 99% of the time."

Cousy couldn't help but joke: "Tom, you are really 'cautious'."

In the frontcourt, Bird drove the second system and acted as a pivot in the high post. He first pretended to cover Thomas. Suddenly, the smiling assassin detoured from him and cut into the 76ers' basket. He made a lob and guided the ball in place.

63 to 44

The wonderful tactical attack was so intoxicating that Louis nodded with satisfaction: "Larry is the only one who can master the L tactic."

Next, Sampson showed his defensive presence.

Louie is turning him into a taller, less athletic, and emotionally tepid version of Kevin Garnett.

His switch caused the 76ers' passing errors.

The Celtics' unlimited defense can have this effect, and Sampson's influence is immeasurable. He is long enough, fast enough, and talented enough to radiate his defense to areas within the free throw line.

In this case, he looks like Garnett.

And once he was at the forefront of the defensive counterattack, Louis gave him an additional tactical status.

As a result, he changed from Garnett to the seemingly uncoordinated Antetokounmpo.

Although Sampson has not developed into an epoch-making dominant center as Louis originally lobbied him to do, he is indeed a unique inside man in the modern era.

Sampson made a solo fast break and dunked in the frontcourt.

"Beautiful! Ralph is great. His shot reminds me of Russell's fast break layup with long strides from beyond the three-point line." Heinsohn said with emotion, "This young man

He is much taller than Russell!"

65 to 44

This is an alert.

The 76ers called a timeout.

Billy Cunningham knew that his team was being defeated. He saw Louis smiling proudly not far away.

"That bastard!" Cunningham waited for the players to return to the court and shouted loudly, "They can switch defenses, and we can switch defenses! They can double-team the ball-carrier, and we can also double-check the ball-carrier! We have to use their methods to defeat them.

!”

Cunningham's assistant coach Matt Guokas' lips trembled. The question came. There are at least two people on the Celtics who can shoot three-pointers (Bird/Long). Who on the 76ers is at the three-point line?

Is it possible to attract the opponent's attention outside?

I'm afraid that if Andrew Toney stands outside the three-point line and takes the ball, he might be left open, right?

Whether it is a high-position pass and cut, or to break the unlimited defense, or to use a high-position pass and cut with hard steel to unlimited defense, there is only one answer, which is to create space.

In 2018, the great Western Conference Finals between the Rockets and the Warriors reached the tiebreaker. The Rockets' five small players used unlimited defense changes to force the Warriors' five small players to play superstar ball. Cole gave up passing and cutting, so the space opened up, Durant, Curry

You and I, one by one, drowned the rocket that was unable to support itself.

The same problem is put before the 76ers. First of all, they have no space. Even if they have space, Andrew Tony can only dream of returning to the era of Bill Fitch if he wants to kill the Celtics with singles.

Guokas knew there was a problem, but he didn't say anything.

Because he has no other way, if he gives negative suggestions and cannot come up with other plans, it will dampen the morale of the team.

When the timeout ended, Louis simply replaced Isiah Thomas to rest.

"I originally wanted you to play a little longer, but your three-pointers tonight were really eye-catching, so I decided to give it a try as a rookie. Do you have any opinions?" Louis smiled sincerely, but his twisted eyebrows said "You

It’s best not to have any opinion”.

Thomas smiled sadly and said, "I dare not have any objection."

"You can really have an opinion, you have the right, I am an open-minded coach."

Louis' soft and watery look reminded Thomas of the fallen man who rode on him last night, but he believed that if he didn't give enough benefits, just as he dared to have any opinions at this moment, whether it was his appearance last night or his

This cousin in front of me will turn against you and be merciless.

"I don't have a problem with that," Thomas said.

"Thank you, Isiah," Louis smiled. "You are truly the most selfless, considerate coach and the most worry-free player I have ever seen."

Thomas walked off the field numbly, and Cowens threw the towel to him: "Don't be too carried away, he said that to everyone."

After Louis and Thomas communicated, they hooked up with John Paxson and said, "John, listen carefully, I have won a rare opportunity for you. Isiah is very dissatisfied with the outcome at this time. Look at his expression

.”

"He's laughing."

"You have been in the team for so long and you don't know that he is a man who hides his secret in his smile? Can't you read the meaning in his smile?"

"What's the meaning?"

"Can't you see 'CNMLGBD John Paxson' written on his smiling face?" Louis said disappointedly, "You are so blind. No wonder Bill likes to bully you."

Paxson asked fearfully, "What should I do?"

"What you have to do is very simple. Use your long-range shot threat to create space for Larry. You must know how to cooperate with him and pay attention to his gestures and commands." Louis reminded, "If you don't understand anything, then stand in front of him."

It’s better to not move your best shot than to run around, do you understand?”

"clear!"

"Okay!" Louis slapped his butt hard, "Come on with full enthusiasm!"

Louis still has confidence in Paxson, who is a typical big-game player.

No matter how scared he is off the court, as long as he steps on the court, he will press the switch in his body to get himself into the state. There are high-quality white shooters in the two dynasties of the Bulls. Although Cole has a better reputation, Paxson is better.

players.

Louis didn't know that the 76ers wanted to imitate their unlimited switching defense. He let Paxson come up just to let Bird have more fun, but he indirectly hit the point.

The 76ers have the ability to switch defenses indefinitely. They have two athletic wings and Cheeks is also an elite defensive player.

However, the golf intelligence of the five of them together is not even half of Bird's.

Bird used the same L strategy and the same angle to play with their defense for three consecutive rounds.

In the most embarrassing round for Dr. J, Bird's pass fake caused Dr. J to make a misjudgment. He actually chased Maxwell, and then Bird, who was unguarded, made a shot like an open shot practice.

Then, K.C. Jones, the good guy reminded Bird: "Come on, Larry, if you score 4 more points, you will score 5 times as many points as the Doctor."

When Bird scored those 4 points and Dr. J didn't score any, he started his infamous trash talk: "30 to 6, Julie, this is not just a difference in scoring between you and me, but also a difference in strength. This is all you have."

It’s up to standard.”

For the next 5 minutes, Bird continued a "XX to 6" mental attack.

In the last minute of the third quarter, the number had become "42 to 6".

When Dr. J knocked Bird down, Louis noticed something was wrong.

Fortunately, the referee separated the two sides in time and the conflict did not escalate.

Louis took this opportunity to replace Maxwell and John Long, and replaced them with two hitters, Laimbeer and rookie Guy Williams.

Louis warned Williams: "After I finish speaking, just blink if you understand. You are not here to play, you are here to protect people. If there is a conflict later, I want you to protect Larry as soon as possible."

, if he gets beaten, especially under my eyes, in front of you, I will dig a hole in the garden, bury you, and blink your eyes if you understand."

Williams blinked in horror.

"Be smart and come on!" Louis caressed his butt habitually!

Cowens said nonchalantly: "You take things too seriously. With Larry's virtue, he won't suffer any loss in a fight."

"Imagine a scene, Big Red," Louis described. "Larry beat the Doctor tonight and trash-talked him until he lost control. Then he gained the upper hand in the conflict, even if he was ejected by the referee.

Larry was beaten up by him. If you were Larry, would you be happy? Yes, the hillbilly is not a good bird. He may have the upper hand, but I don't want to give the doctor any chance to fight back, even if it is 1

% possible.”

Bird's "42 to 6" was not the trigger that angered the doctor, but after he scored his 44th point, he said to the doctor: "Retire, Julie, there is no place for you in the league anymore, you

He's just a cripple who managed to score 6 points by relying on a lot of playing time."

Dr. J, who had been frustrated all night, was no longer in the mood to play. In a rage, he rushed in front of Bird and pushed him down.

However, before he could step forward to punch, Ranbir clamped his body behind him: "Don't fight!"

Guy Williams, like a protective family dog, threw the doctor and Ranbir to the ground.

After Bird got up, he saw Dr. J's limbs being restrained. He was so angry that he rushed forward and threw a few heavy punches before the teams from both sides and the referee arrived.

Thus, this regular season, destined to leave its name in history, reached its climax.

Louis saw Billy Cunningham going crazy, saw the 76ers players being furious, saw the doctor being beaten until the corners of his mouth bleed, saw Laimbeer's innocent look, and saw Guy Williams taking the initiative to take over everything

, he tried to make people believe that the punches Bird punched the doctor were violent acts carried out by him controlling the opponent's arms remotely.

"I heard tonight is a national broadcast?" Louis didn't seem to know, "Ah, the 76ers are really unlucky today."

K.C smiled bitterly: "If I were the president, I wouldn't think so."

Damn, the two best teams in the Eastern Conference fought seven or eight times in three quarters. The referee was fucked by one team's head coach before the game and was sent to the hospital. This is the image of the league.

It has never been Louis' job to maintain the image of the league. He only wants to win, be comfortable with himself, and not let the players suffer on the court. The rest is none of his business.