The Whip of the God of Basketball

Antoine Walker played so hard for the first time in this year's playoffs, scoring 24 points in three quarters, grabbing 7 rebounds and blocking 2 shots. Although the shooting rate was not particularly high, 7 of 17 shots, including only two three-pointers, he got 10 free throw opportunities and caused three fouls by Ben Wallace. In last year's playoffs, when facing the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference finals, in the crucial Battle of Tianwang Mountain and the sixth game on the edge of elimination, Walker scored 13 points on 5-of-20 shots and 16 points on 7-of-20 shots. Not bad at all.

Especially his embarrassing performance against Kenyon Martin made Dennis Rodman look down on him after the game and was unwilling to say goodbye to him in retirement, because Rodman never looked down on weak players.

Under the pressure of Leon tonight, Walker burst out with powerful energy. Leon could have used the situation to change his tactics, but he still insisted on forcing Walker to bite the bullet and attack. This is both strategy and gambling. Leon knows that at the end of a basketball game, it is often about the will and momentum of the players, and blindly pursuing tactical ingenuity will be counterproductive. At the same time, Leon also bet on Walker's status. Walker did not perform at his full strength in the first round. Facing the 76ers' greatly weakened inside line, Walker did not perform superbly, which is enough to show that he has not yet entered the playoffs.

If the Celtics want to go further in the playoffs, it will not work if the highest-paid player on the team does not fully perform. Leon must stimulate Antoine Walker's state. Since Carlisle asked Wallace to defend Walker, let Walker find himself in the confrontation with Wallace.

If Walker is guarded by Wallace, the Celtics will be in danger tonight. Losing this game and returning to Boston with a 0:2 disadvantage is really a disaster. Fortunately, Leon won the bet. Faced with the motivation and constant encouragement from the head coach, Walker was not a vegetarian. He slowly found a way to deal with Wallace, and aroused his bloody spirit in the constant confrontation.

By the fourth quarter, Walker continued to output steadily, and Carlisle had to start double-teaming Walker. Once he started double-teaming Walker, it meant that the Pistons' defense began to loosen. In the middle of the fourth quarter, the Celtics scored three three-pointers in a row in the position battle. Reed, Pierce and Arenas each scored one, two of which came from Walker's assists, and the other was initiated by Walker and him. related.

When in the final stage of the game, Walker received a pass from Pierce during a counterattack and scored his 35th point of the game with a one-handed dunk, he finally couldn't restrain the surging passion in his heart. At the Palace of Auburn Hills, The blue floor roared to the sky! At this time, the Celtics already led the Pistons by 14 points. With less than two minutes to go before the end of the game, Carlisle reluctantly called a timeout.

Many loyal Pistons fans continued to cheer for the home team on the sidelines, but 14 points in two minutes was too difficult for the Pistons. They were not good at offense and allowed the Celtics to widen the gap in the fourth quarter. To reach more than 10 points is their biggest failure.

Pierce didn't have a super performance in this game, but he did a good job in organizing and sent 7 assists. The Gemini teamed up again on the court. The two were also happy off the court. After the last game, The atmosphere of haze.

When the buzzer sounded to end the game, Leon hugged Walker on the sidelines. 99:85, the Celtics stole a valuable victory in Detroit and regained their home court advantage!

"Congratulations Antoine, you have won a valuable victory. Compared with the last game, what improvements have you made?" In the best player interview on the sidelines after the game, Walker was asked by Sagel asked.

"Improvement? I played more resolutely. The coach told me to bravely get inside and fight the opponent. This is how he guided me. I feel that I have regained a long-lost feeling. This feeling is great." Walker said on the side Panting heavily, he said that he was really fighting for his life tonight.

After finishing the interview, Walker rushed back to the locker room. The entire Celtics team wanted to celebrate tonight's victory. Of course, the more important time was that after three days of competition, they could go home. Back at North Shore Gardens, ready for a new start.

……………………

When Rick Carlisle arrived in Boston with the Pistons, it was the morning of May 9th. Their plane was very punctual. This was the playoffs, and all work was rigorous and meticulous, including the team's trip to the hotel. The route is planned in advance.

After losing the crucial second game, the Pistons had to face the loss of home court advantage and had to go to Boston to play Xiaotianwangshan. Last year, the Pistons also met the Celtics in the semifinals. They also won one game first, but were eliminated by the Celtics in four consecutive games. It was Carlisle's first season coaching the Pistons, and Carroll was still the head coach of the Celtics.

But Carlisle knew that the Celtics' tactics came from Leon, who was still an assistant coach at the time. I thought that Leon would continue their offensive basketball from last year in the playoffs, but somehow after becoming the head coach, Leon also started to play slow-paced defensive basketball in the playoffs, and their quick counterattack skills Unrelenting, they suddenly exerted their offensive power when necessary. This was how the Pistons were taken away in the second game.

After arriving at the hotel, Carlisle turned off his mobile phone. He knew that old friends would inevitably come to see him when he arrived in Boston. He had such a deep fate and friendship with this city. But he is unwilling to affect the game or his coaching because of his personal feelings.

But the whole team trained during the day, and at night he still received a call in the hotel. It was from Leon, inviting him to have dinner at his home.

Of course Carlisle refused. The two armies were facing each other, and tomorrow was the very crucial third game. At this time, as the head coach of the Pistons, it was really inconvenient for him to go to the home of the Celtic head coach for dinner. Moreover, Carlisle knew that this guy Leon was very cunning and good at playing psychological tactics. He didn't know what kind of hole he had dug for himself at his family's Hongmen Banquet.

But Carlisle was a stubborn person, but he was willing to accept soft words rather than hard words. Leon repeatedly pestered him and made it clear that he would not talk about any topics related to basketball and only wanted to drink and chat with him. Moreover, Leon also said that by the end of the series, one of the two will be eliminated and go home to fish. By then, no matter who loses or wins, they will no longer be in the mood to sit together for a cup of coffee and chat. Instead of doing this, it is better to get together now that the two sides are tied with a big score, the series has just begun, and the result is confusing.

Carlisle was finally persuaded by Leon. In fact, he himself had some small thoughts, wondering if he could find some flaws in the Celtics from Leon.

After Carlisle agreed, Leon drove to the hotel where the Pistons were staying to pick up Carlisle and took him to his home, where Leon and Khomeinis had prepared a sumptuous dinner of beef, potatoes, vegetable salads and fragrant... An Irish-style dish based on fine wheat bread, paired with warm black tea and a little gin, it is really a wonderful dinner on a cool summer night.

Carlisle and Leon were both cautious at first. After all, they were still rivals. Afterwards, they let go and started chatting wildly. Leon kept his promise and did not talk about any basketball-related topics. However, Carlisle finally couldn't help it and said: "You have changed a lot compared to last year. The Celtics' style in the game seems to have changed." A look, especially in the playoffs.”

Leon scratched his head and glanced at Carlisle, which seemed to mean, "You talked about basketball first, I didn't break the rules." Then he said: "The head coach and the assistant coach are different after all. I think you are here." It definitely feels different between the Pacers and the Pistons."

Carlisle nodded. He followed Bird in the Pacers and concentrated on tactical training. He did not need to worry about the relationship between players or other matters within the team. Bird was blocking him in front, which made him very happy. a period of time. Later, Bird also invited Carlisle to be the head coach of the Pacers, but the Pacers' management was more inclined to Thomas. As a result, Thomas, who came from the Pistons, went to the Pacers where Carlisle wanted to go, and Carlisle had no choice but to go to Thomas' hometown Pistons.

"I bet the Pistons will fire you this summer." Leon suddenly said seriously to Carlisle. Carlisle didn't react and almost spat out the black tea he drank.

"If we don't talk about basketball, don't tell me. You will beat me in the series, and then the Pistons will fire me. Save it, kid." Carlisle wiped his mouth and responded.

Leon smiled and lowered his voice and said to Carlisle: "I know that Davidson and the management executives don't like you!"

After saying that, Leon continued to lie on the chair and drink tea, while Carlisle put down the tea cup in his hand and said goodbye to Leon. Leon didn't try to stay, but drove Carlisle back, but Carlisle refused. But after all, it was not convenient for him to take a taxi back, so Leon asked Khomeinis to drive Carlisle back to the hotel.

"Are you going back so early?" Khomeinis asked Carlisle. Carlisle nodded and said, "I regret coming here... Of course, tonight's dinner was perfect."