svetikya Chapter 277: A Battle of Attacks! The Highest Level of Offense in History!
Chapter 277: A Battle of Attacks! The Highest Level of Offense in History!
Chapter 277: A Battle of Attacks! The Highest Level of Offense in History!
That night, it didn't matter how Lin Tian arranged things with those bastards from the Trailblazers, how he found happiness with money, or how he had a proper philosophical conversation with a girl about the soul and desire.
This part will be left aside for now.
Before we knew it, it was Christmas Day. Conseco Arena was packed with people as usual, with fans filling the arena to capacity and once again selling out Pacers tickets!
Before the game started, Bird clapped his hands excitedly in the locker room, shouting, "Alright, guys! Ready? Let's crush those bastards, let's blow the game out of control, and then go home early!"
"Tonight is Christmas! There are people at your homes waiting for you to come back and have turkey together! It's a big holiday, you can't let your families down!"
After saying his last few words, Bird waved, signaling everyone to follow him out of the player tunnel, ready for the highly anticipated Christmas Day game!
The league's top-ranked Pacers vs. the Western Conference's second-ranked Trail Blazers!
In this game, the Pacers did not underestimate their opponents. They still fielded their most frequently used and comfortable starting lineup this season: Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Christie, Vince Carter, and Lin Tian!
The Trail Blazers' starting five was equally consistent: center Sabonis, power forward Rasheed, small forward Pippen, shooting guard Smith, and point guard Stoudemire!
The most notable feature of these five players is that they all possess near-All-Star level skills. All five of them have the ability to lead a weak team and put up impressive stats, and they can also excel in team basketball on a team like the Trail Blazers!
And that's actually the biggest reason why the Trail Blazers' roster is so successful! These five players are all about the same level, with almost no one being particularly strong and no one holding the team back!
This very situation allowed the Trail Blazers to find a wonderful balance! Everyone miraculously united to fight the enemy together!
This team doesn't have a team leader, but everyone is a team leader!
What they're playing is about balance and teamwork.
Lin Tian actually admires Trail Blazers head coach Mike Dunleavy.
Although this old man's coaching career isn't exactly illustrious, his ability to bring together such a group of birds, beasts, and strange creatures and still generate such impressive fighting power demonstrates that Dunleavy's coaching skills and personal charisma are truly extraordinary.
However, while he admires him, when it comes to beating someone to death, Lin Tian will absolutely not hold back!
The referee blew his whistle, and the basketball was thrown into the air!
Despite his short stature, Ben Wallace surprisingly won the jump ball against Sabonis, whose jumping height was so great that he couldn't even jump over a matchbox, and then passed the ball to Lin Tian.
After receiving the ball, Lin Tian was looking for an opportunity to make a quick pass or fast break, but he found that the entire Trail Blazers team, except for Sabosny who was still running slowly, had already reached their defensive positions.
This is also one of the Trail Blazers' greatest strengths: their exceptional mobility! From starters to substitutes, almost everyone on the team, except for Sabonis who is slow and not very fast, possesses top-tier speed and athleticism for their positions.
In addition to Stoudemire, the other four players have top-tier heights for their positions in the league! For example, Smith, who plays shooting guard, is over 2 meters tall, Pippen is a well-known talent monster, and there's Rasheed at 211 cm and Sabonis at 221 cm.
These four players are all among the tallest in their positions, and even with Stoudemire at 178 cm "dragging down" the team, the average height of the starting lineup still ranks among the top three in the league!
Height and agility, the Trail Blazers have it all.
This is also a key factor in their success as the second-best team in the West and a top team in the league.
But...
For other teams, the Trail Blazers are tall and fast, but for Lin Tian, they are short and slow!
If Iverson's 183cm height is inflated, then this guy is at most 178cm.
Nastadamar's 178 cm height is obviously exaggerated. Lin Tian estimated that this guy is at most 173 cm tall!
But it doesn't matter.
He landed on the position, turned around, and stuck his butt out.
'Bang! Bang! Bang!'
Three consecutive impacts sent Stoudemire's blood surging, almost causing him to lose his breath. Then, Lin Tian took the opportunity to step back, turn around, and launch a jump shot!
"Whoosh!"
Lin Tian stopped faking it on the very first ball!
Tonight, I'm going to bully you, 'Little Flying Squirrel'!
"Boss, isn't this a bit unnecessary?" Stoudemire said with a pained expression as he tried to cross the baseline and start advancing towards the attacking third. "Didn't you say last night that we were good brothers and you'd definitely protect me?"
"Didn't you look so arrogant in your rookie year, Damon, saying you were going to beat me?" Lin Tian said with a sneer. "I still prefer your unruly self."
"Back then, I didn't know you could fight, drink, have fun, and take such good care of your brothers," Stoudemire said bluntly. "If I had known, I would have called you 'Boss' back then."
As Stoudemire spoke, he quickly passed the ball. Having faced off against Lin Tian for several years, he had almost never gained the upper hand and was well aware of the gap in their abilities.
His experience over the years has taught him that the best way to deal with Lin Tian is not to take the initiative to attack!
If you don't attack, you won't lose face!
Wait for an opportunity, and when you do, rack up a few easy points to make your stats look a little better!
Rasheed took the basketball from Stoudemire. He glanced at it from the 45-degree angle on the wing and, after realizing that Webber was a full 2 meters away, he raised his hands and launched his signature straight-arm shot!
"brush!"
After a crisp click, the sharpshooting-talented center arrogantly shook his head and said, "Let Lin handle this! You can't stop my Chris!"
"This bastard's on drugs, hasn't he?" Webber scoffed. "If I can't guard you, then other big men will deal with you. What does it have to do with Lin?"
Rashid, still swaying his head, said smugly, "Anyway, I'm going to completely crush you tonight!"
On the Pacers' offense, Webber, who had been provoked by Rasheed, unusually took the initiative to drop to the low post and reach for the ball. Then, the moment he got the ball, he suddenly made a no-look bounce pass, throwing the basketball towards his side!
Carter, cutting to the basket, grabbed the ball and jumped up in front of Sabonis, smashing the ball into the hoop with a one-handed tomahawk dunk!
As for Sabonis, whose knees were already worn out, he wisely stepped aside to avoid becoming Carter's backdrop.
He knew his physical abilities all too well. Against a small, aggressive guard like Sabonis, he could hold his own, but a beast like Carter…
There's no need for that. It's only the first quarter. Let's talk about going all out in the fourth quarter.
However, although Sabonis is old and frail and his athletic ability is almost zero, his advantages will not diminish with age.
Brain and feet!
After Sabonis received the ball in the low post, he faced Ben Wallace, who was 20 centimeters shorter than him, and played with ease. No matter how strong or aggressive Wallace was on defense, Sabonis used a few light fakes to create a comfortable shooting space, and then easily made a bank shot to score 2 points!
After Sabonis scored, Benitez cursed, "Fuck! This old man is like an eel! I couldn't get any power in him!"
Lin Tian couldn't do anything about Da Ben's complaints.
Sabonis's style of play is unstoppable anywhere. It's the classic "eel-like old man" style of play, where his feet never leave the ground and he doesn't exert much force. It's purely a display of experience and basic skills, which creates space for him to put the ball in the basket.
"I hate this greasy style of play too," Lin Tian cursed, dribbling the ball. "It's so unwatchable!"
After Lin Tian finished criticizing Sabonis, he turned to face Stoudemire and made the same unappealing move.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
He pushed Stoudemire aside.
Then he turned and jumped, but this time Lin Tian didn't shoot. He saw Webber under the basket who had turned and gained some space, so he immediately changed his shot to a pass. The basketball, like a bomb, passed through the entire Trail Blazers defense and then crashed into the paint, ending up in Webber's hands.
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Webber, with both hands on the rim, arrogantly looked at Rasheed and said, "Where are you? Go defend!"
"If it weren't for the fact that Lin is the older brother I respect most, I would have punched you until you saw stars!" Rasheed grinned fiercely at Webber, "But now, I've decided to teach you a lesson with basketball."
How incredibly childish!
Lin Tian felt extremely ashamed upon hearing Rashid's words.
But at the same time, it's shameful...
It's kind of satisfying to have such a large group of scoundrels idolizing you.
When the Trail Blazers were on offense, it was Rasheed's turn to box out for the ball.
His position for calling the ball is different from other inside players. It's not in the low post, nor is it at the free-throw line to facilitate, but rather he reaches out for the ball from the waist position on the wing.
This position is generally the favorite spot for perimeter stars at positions 2 and 3 to receive the ball and attempt isolation plays. For interior players, receiving the ball from here is somewhat too far from the basket.
This is the spot that Korashid likes the most!
After receiving the ball, he immediately turned from back to face the basket, then took two probing steps to shift Webber's weight before suddenly pulling up and shooting!
"Whoosh!"
Another crisp sound, and Rasheed's mid-range jump shot went in again!
"This is how men play basketball! Head-to-head! 1v1! Not your sneaky passes and shameless positioning! If you've got the guts, take the ball and beat me!"
"Fine, I'll fight you! I'll beat you to death!" Webber's eyes were wide open. How could the number one draft pick tolerate this? He quickly went to the inside to demand the ball, and then, with all his might, pushed hard against Rasheed towards the inside!
"Bang! Bang!"
With two consecutive passes, Webber's strength, while not outstanding, was above average. Combined with his skillful footwork, he easily pushed Rasheed to the edge of the three-second zone. Just when Rasheed thought Webber would push him to the basket again to complete the attack, Webber passed the ball again!
This time, the basketball flew straight over Rashid's head and landed right above the basket!
"boom!"
Another loud bang! This time, it was Lin Tian who cut to the basket. He caught the ball with both hands in mid-air, then put all his strength into slamming it into the hoop!
"Still petty theft!" Rashid looked at Weber with disdainful mockery.
"Another two points that could make the top ten plays." Webber retorted without backing down.
While the two were still bickering, the old monster Sabonis found an opportunity. He quickly went to the baseline, picked up the ball, and threw it towards the frontcourt!
Pippen, who was already close to the basket, grabbed the ball and started his run. Just as he was about to collide head-on with Lin Tian, who had returned to defense, Pippen threw the ball to the other side of the rim.
"boom!"
A loud bang came from behind Lin Tian!
Tall guard Steve Smith slams home an alley-oop dunk!
In this kind of 2-on-1 situation in the frontcourt, Lin Tian alone is definitely not enough to defend!
However, this 2-on-1 situation means the Pacers have a numerical advantage in the frontcourt! Lin Tian also quickly arrived at the basket, picked up the basketball, made a shot put stance, and threw the ball towards the frontcourt with all his might!
The basketball transformed into an orange lightning bolt, traversing the entire court and arriving directly inside the Trail Blazers' three-second zone!
Even someone as unpredictable as Sabonis didn't expect the basketball to fly over his head so quickly. He was completely unprepared and could only hear a loud slam dunk coming from behind him!
This time, it was Ben Affleck who completed the alley-oop!
And the entire Conseco Centre was instantly thrown into a frenzy by this truly long-range assist that spanned the entire field!
"Roar! Roar!"
"My God! A perfect quarterback pass!"
"If Lin played football, he would definitely become a top quarterback!"
"This is absolutely the longest pass in NBA history, and the fastest alley-oop ever!"
"That was so exciting! Lin, one more time!"
"Dry up the Portlanders!"
After this goal, the two sides officially ended their probing exchanges and began a head-to-head confrontation, giving it their all!
Both sides have noticeably increased their defensive intensity and physical confrontation on offense!
The scores of both teams are increasing rapidly!
The Trail Blazers' starting lineup demonstrated a well-balanced combination of abilities.
In the first quarter, Rasheed scored a team-high 7 points, Sabonis had 4 points, Pippen had 6 points, Smith had 4 points, Stoudemire had 2 points, and the bench players added 6 points, bringing the Trail Blazers' total to 29 points in the first quarter!
For the Pacers, Lin Tian scored 8 points, Webber 6 points, Carter 4 points, and no one else scored more than 2 points. They scored 31 points in the first quarter!
The first quarter of this Christmas game will definitely satisfy all fans!
The game featured a mix of trash talk between star players and exciting back-and-forth attacks, with both sides delivering incredibly spectacular moments worthy of being selected as one of the top ten plays!
The opening rounds, especially the duel between Sabonis and Lin Tian with two incredibly long passes, were absolutely spectacular. The two players showcased their passion and ability with two passes that were almost ridiculously long!
During the first quarter break, in the TNT studio broadcasting the game, Barkley couldn't help but exclaim, "What an absolutely fantastic quarter! Both teams clearly knew what kind of performance the fans wanted for Christmas, and they were both playing at their absolute best!"
Kenny added, "Great! This game was truly spectacular! And most importantly, the Trail Blazers managed to hold off the Pacers' firepower! At least in the first quarter, they kept pace with the Pacers on offense, holding their own! Their team firepower is truly second to none!"
「也许开拓者确实是没有林、雷吉、克里斯、文斯这样能动辄拿下3-40分的顶级球星，但他们有7-8个人都具备随时拿下25分的水平！我想，这也是另一种思路！另一种和步行者队作战的思路！」
"Use your team, use a balanced and unstoppable team offense, to distract the Pacers' defense, and then go head-to-head with them! Now, let's see how the second quarter goes!"
In the second quarter, the Trail Blazers brought out several offensive threats from their bench: Bonzi Wells, Detlef Schrempf, Brian Grant, Greg Anthony, and veteran Scottie Pippen.
Looking at this lineup, you'll understand what makes the Trail Blazers truly terrifying!
Their roster depth is just amazing!
Among the players on the court, Schrempf is a three-time All-Star who put up 15+7 stats last season, Grant had a 12+9 average with the Trail Blazers last season, and Bonzi Wells is getting better and better and has shown some All-Star potential.
Although guard Carmelo Anthony doesn't have any particularly outstanding achievements or potential, he has averaged 10+ points per game for several seasons and is the team's primary three-point shooter off the bench!
These four players could be starters on many teams! But with the Trail Blazers, they can only play as substitutes.
All I can say is that the Trail Blazers' roster is truly extravagant!
For the Pacers, Lin Tian went to rest, Buckner and Miller partnered in the backcourt, Chris Mullin and Rashard Lewis partnered in the forward line, and the center was the team's starting center from last season, Dale Davis.
The Pacers' roster, well, it's the same, it's incredibly luxurious!
With two top-tier shooters and a veteran, a quality role player who could easily secure a starting position on most teams, plus a talented high school player and a renowned point guard from the NCAA, the Pacers' roster depth is undoubtedly a major factor in their current league-leading ranking!
The two teams' rotation lineups were evenly matched on the court, and neither side was able to gain any advantage in the first three minutes of the second quarter!
Wells could always bully the Pacers' two veterans with his physique and strength, but the Pacers' two top shooters could also find shooting opportunities with their experience and positioning. Pippen on the wing also had some advantages, but Lewis could also stretch the floor and use mid-range and long-range shots to wreak havoc on the Trail Blazers' defense.
In the first three minutes of the second quarter, both sides were very efficient and focused on offense rather than defense, resulting in a score of 11-12!
The Trail Blazers narrowly pulled away by one point thanks to their bench players.
They are still trailing the Pacers by 1 point!
Then both teams' starting lineups returned to the court. For the Pacers, Lin Tian and Webber replaced Buckner and Davis, while the Trail Blazers replaced Anthony and Wells with Stoudemire and Smith.
After this substitution, both sides have become more offensively potent! And their defenses have also deteriorated.
As soon as Lin Tian returned to the court, he quickly called for the ball at the top of the arc. After backing down Stoudemire twice, he quickly turned and stepped back, but still did not shoot. Instead, he bounced the ball to Webber, who caught it with one hand and, without pausing, slapped it back. The ball went back the same way it came!
The only difference is that Lin Tian has already left Stoudemire behind with his off-ball skills, and Webber has also used his acting skills to draw Schrempf's attention to his side.
"boom!"
Then, Lin Tian easily jumped up and slammed the ball down with one arm, widening the gap slightly again!
But just 10 seconds later, Stoudemire finally showed his strength. He used a teammate's screen to create space and then decisively pulled up for a three-pointer, which went in! The two sides were back on equal footing!
Just as Stoudemire was about to pat his chest to show his toughness, Webber in the paint once again quickly inbounded the ball from the baseline to Lin Tian, who had already started his fast break.
Lin Tian received the ball without hesitation and advanced all the way to the frontcourt. Then, he made his signature no-look pass, looking at Miller on the left and passing the ball to Mullin on the right.
"Whoosh!"
After a crisp sound, Mullin followed up with a three-pointer without hesitation, helping the team regain the lead!
After that three-pointer, the Trail Blazers made another substitution, with Sabonis and Rasheed coming on side by side, bringing the Trail Blazers back to their starting five!
The Pacers replaced Mullin, who had just hit a 3-pointer, and Lewis, who had performed well this season, with Carter and Christie, continuing their strategy of one big man and four small men!
"They're here!" Upon seeing the Pacers' lineup, Kenny exclaimed excitedly, "The Pacers' strongest five, known as the 'Death Five' by fans, are here!"
"Not the strongest five, but the five with the strongest offensive capabilities!" Barkley impatiently corrected Kenny, adding, "And what's this 'death five'? That sounds awful. This is the 'all-conquering five' or the 'world's best five'!"
"You have the nerve to talk to me like that? My grandma's naming skills are ten times better than yours!" Kenny rolled his eyes, clearly disdainful of the names Barkley had given the Pacers' five players: "But whatever they're called, the Pacers outscored their opponents by 29.7 points per 36 minutes this season when all five were on the court!"
"They score 131.1 points per 100 possessions with a true shooting percentage of 68%!"
"These numbers are all number one among all five-man combinations in NBA history with over 300 minutes of playing time! Number one in history!"
"Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that their defensive efficiency is very low; their lineup's defensive efficiency is at best average or even below average! And with such a low level of defense, the reason they achieved such a terrifying net point differential is because of their offense! Pure, unadulterated offense!"
"In other words, if they can maintain their current level until the end of the season, then these five players will become the most dominant offensive quartet in NBA history!"
"Without exception!"
With Kenny's passionate introduction, the competition has resumed!
The Trail Blazers passed the ball to Sabonis again. The Pacers were playing with one big man and four small men, with only Webber, who was neither good at nor fond of defense, guarding the paint. After receiving the ball, Sabonis first took a look as usual, then quickly turned around and pushed Webber aside, followed by a small bank shot with his feet barely leaving the ground.
It's still the old man's style of play, simple and effortless, with absolutely no jumping!
Strangely enough, Sabonis is so old that he looks like he's walking on tiptoe, but when he turns around under the basket, he's still incredibly fast!
It's even ridiculously fast!
He is almost another form of Barkley.
Barkley was fat and fast, while Sabonis was old and fast.
It doesn't make any sense.
But after that quick turn and score, Sabonis showed his age again. He slowly turned around and started running back to his own half of the court, but Webber had already reached the baseline with the basketball, quickly passed the ball, and then used his long legs to quickly overtake Sabonis!
Lin Tian was the one who brought the ball up the court. He sprinted all the way to the Trail Blazers' basket, leaped up in front of Rasheed, and after the two collided, he quickly made another behind-the-back pass in mid-air, passing the ball to Webber who was quickly following up in the middle, assisting Webber to dunk once again!
The Trail Blazers were hit by a fast break from the Pacers, and Stoudemire tried to do the same, but his finishing ability and vision were clearly inferior to Lin Tian's. He also charged to the basket, but he got surrounded by Lin Tian and Christie.
Stoudemire jumped towards Christie, only to find he had no space to shoot. He tried to pass like Lin Tian, but as soon as his basketball was exposed, before he could even find the right direction to pass, he felt his hand go lightly... the basketball was gone!
Lin Tian snatched the basketball from his hands and then turned around to launch another counterattack towards the frontcourt!
This time, Lin Tian once again rushed to the frontcourt at lightning speed. The only player on the Trail Blazers who could barely keep up with Lin Tian's speed, Stoudemire, was blocked by Christie and was unable to chase him, falling far behind.
After Lin Tian rushed to the frontcourt, he hesitated for a moment while dribbling beyond the three-point line, and then quickly accelerated to complete the breakthrough while Smith was distracted!
When he drove into the paint, Sabonis, who hadn't even run halfway before turning back to defend, was guarding the paint. He opened his arms, waiting for Lin Tian's challenge.
Lin Tian suddenly gathered the ball with both hands and sent it to his left, making everyone think he was going to pass the ball to Carter, who was coming from the left.
But to everyone's surprise, Lin Tian took a step forward and pulled the ball back at the same time. After shaking off everyone, he jumped up and slammed the ball towards the basket with one arm!
"boom!"
After a loud bang, Lin Tian slammed home a dunk, adding another 2 points for the team!
"Damn it! Lin, your feint was so realistic, you even fooled me!" Carter rushed up and excitedly gave Lin a high five, celebrating the beautiful fake layup.
"Then it's your fault, Vince," Lin Tian said with a smile. "When have I ever used a two-handed chest pass? You should know from this stance that no matter what I do, you'll never get the basketball from me!"
"Seriously, who passes the ball with both hands across their chest?"
Lin Tian was talking as he quickly returned to defense. Sabonis came to the baseline. At his age and with his mentality, he wouldn't get upset even if someone dunked on him twice or even shoved him around. He was definitely the calmest player on the entire Trail Blazers team at that moment!
He reached the baseline, intending to quickly inbound the ball and continue the fast-paced game, but he changed his mind as soon as he raised the basketball. He calculated that even if he passed the ball to Stoudemire again, it would most likely just result in the guy getting another defeat.
So Sabonis passed the ball to Smith, yelling, "No rush! They want to play fast-paced with us! We'll press them, one by one! As for fast breaks, I'll get everyone moving when we get the chance!"
Dunleavy, sitting on the sidelines, nodded in satisfaction. Everyone could see that if the team really played with full speed and freedom, the Trail Blazers would be no match for the Pacers.
Now that Sabonis can step up and stabilize the situation for the team, it saves him a timeout!
This is truly a case of "having an elder in the family is like having a treasure"!
Smith slowly brought the ball up the court, gestured to his teammates to move, and then, after observing for a moment, passed the ball to Pippen.
Pippen is currently facing Miller, which is a huge advantage for the Trail Blazers!
Pippen didn't hesitate after getting the ball. He turned around and, relying on his all-around advantage in height, weight, and strength, squeezed into the paint. Then, over Webber, he made a high-arcing bank shot and sent the ball into the basket.
After being hit again, even though Webber disliked defense, he was now completely enraged!
He moved to the low post, backed down Sabonis, and then resolutely demanded the ball for a one-on-one attack!
After getting the ball, this guy quickly switched to face-up offense, then slammed the basketball hard on the floor with both hands, and then took a step over Sabonis and slammed the ball into the basket with one hand!
……
Throughout the second quarter, both sides displayed an almost terrifying level of performance and offensive prowess, hitting shots with near perfection and seemingly effortless success!
Miller's three-pointer, Carter's drives, Christie's versatile play, coupled with Lin Tian and Webber's powerful attacks, made the Pacers' five players virtually flawless on offense!
From the paint to the three-point line, from one-on-one plays to team plays, from passing and cutting, pick and roll to off-ball cuts, they executed everything related to offense almost perfectly!
The Trail Blazers also displayed terrifying strength, managing to hold off the Pacers, who were playing at their peak, once again with their starting five!
Rasheed's shooting, Sabonis' experience, Smith's height advantage and all-around offensive skills, Pippen's versatility, and even Stoudemire found opportunities, forcing his way to the basket and scoring several times!
Throughout the first half, both teams displayed the highest level of offense in the NBA this season. These two teams truly deserve their rankings as the first and fourth in the league; their strength is indeed formidable!
69: 70!
At the end of the first half, the Trail Blazers were still down by only one point!
In the second quarter, the score was an unbelievable 40-39!
"This offensive efficiency is practically All-Star level! Both teams are incredibly efficient on offense! They have so many options on offense!" Kenny summarized after the first half. "Their offensive resources are just too abundant!"
"Excellent!" Barkley affirmed. "Both head coaches are completely unafraid of having a player on their team who is off-target or in poor form. If such a player is found, they can simply be substituted! Both teams have incredibly deep offensive depth, almost extravagantly so. The coaches of both teams are truly blessed!"
"No coach could resist coaching such a perfect team! It's so easy, effortless, and a pleasure to watch!"
While the two commentators analyzed the first half of the game, the players returned to their locker rooms to prepare for the second half.
In the first two quarters, Lin Tian had already racked up a well-rounded stat line of 17 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Webber added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Additionally, Carter scored 10 points, Miller 8, Mullin 5, and Christie 5. The Pacers continued their strategy of pairing three top-tier players with a host of strong offensive options.
The Trail Blazers' scoring was more distributed, with Rasheed leading the way with 14 points, followed by Pippen with 11, Smith with 10, Stoudemire and Sabonis with 9, and Wells with 8 and Schrempf with 7 off the bench!
With such a diverse scoring pool and all-around offensive firepower, the Trail Blazers could have 7-8 players scoring in double figures tonight!
During halftime, neither coach made many instructions or emphasized the defense that both teams currently lack.
They know what they're here for tonight, they know what day it is, and they know what the league and the fans want to see tonight.
That's a thoroughly enjoyable attack!
An exhilarating showdown and a battle of ultimate talent!
Should we play defense at this point? Fans and the league will be unhappy! Even the players themselves will be unhappy.
Even coaches Bird and Dunleavy felt something was missing.
Since it's a rare Christmas holiday, let the players have as much fun as they want!
The two of them also opened their eyes to see just how many points their team could score!
With the two coaches' ideas in mind, the third quarter was almost no different from the second quarter, with both sides still going all out and launching a frenzied attack.
If you score a three-pointer, I'll definitely respond with a fast break and a fierce drive to the basket. If you deliver a spectacular high-flying dunk, I'll respond with an exquisite team play!
You, Lin Tian, are bullying him because he's short?
Rashid would immediately go and lecture Weber from a low position, then glare at Weber and ask him who the father was.
Carter aggressively attacked, disregarding the aging and injured Sabonis, but Sabonis outsmarted him, using his footwork to outmaneuver the not-yet-fully-formed Ben Wallace and easily sinking a 2-pointer!
开拓者队在这一节拿下了43分，3分球6投6中，罚球5罚全中，投篮命中率高达恐怖的67%！
As for the Pacers, their three-point shooting and free throws weren't 100% in this quarter, but they weren't perfect either; their shooting percentage was still terrifying!
他们轰下44分，3分球9投7中，罚球5罚4中，总体命中率高达65%！
The intense and frenetic attacking battle between the two sides captivated the fans, who wished the game had lasted only 48 minutes instead of 60. No one would ever tire of such a thrilling match!
Unfortunately, this exciting duel ended in the blink of an eye, with only the last quarter left to watch!
The Indiana home fans were even considering switching sides at this point; they really hoped the game would go to 3-5 overtimes! That would be much more exciting! That would be truly thrilling!
After a short two-minute break, both teams quickly returned to the court, ready to begin their final showdown in the fourth quarter!
Bird wasn't in a hurry at all, even though the team was only leading by 2 points and the Trail Blazers could catch up in one possession.
But given the Pacers' offensive capabilities and their performance tonight, even if they fall behind by 10 points, Bird believes his players can catch up within two minutes, let alone if they are tied in the end!
Not to mention, Bird still had some killer moves up his sleeve!
So at this stage, he once again boldly let Webber and Lin Tian rest on the sidelines, while letting Buckner, Miller, Carter, Ben Wallace, and Davis play on the court.
This much more normal lineup is obviously a strong offensive trio on the perimeter, with two blue-collar players in the paint responsible for defense and rebounding. It's no longer an extreme offensive lineup, but with Miller and Carter on the court, the Pacers' offense won't be bad!
On the Trail Blazers' side, Dunleavy didn't have such high hopes. After all, they were the challengers. For the Trail Blazers, defeating the Pacers, especially on a Christmas Day game, would be a huge boost to the players' confidence!
So, apart from Schrempf replacing the older and less energetic Sabonis, and Wells, who performed well tonight, coming on to target the skinny Miller, the other three players on the Trail Blazers' side were all starters!
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers' lineup was clearly more aggressive!
As Stoudemire received the ball and advanced it up the court, the fourth quarter officially began!
Score: 122:124!
(End of this chapter)