As soon as the second quarter started, Michael Pietrus, the Boston Celtics' backup swingman who had just come off the bench, hit five points from inside and outside to help the Boston Celtics at home win by 26. :24 led the Indiana Pacers by two points, instantly igniting the passion of the fans in the North Shore Garden Plaza Arena.
"I hope the Boston Celtics can take the initiative in the game and suppress the Indiana Pacers." Jeff Van Gundy, an ESPN TV commentator who serves as a live commentator at the North Shore Garden Plaza Arena, said, "If Boston Kyle If the Special Team can win this game and tie the score, then the Boston Celtics still have the possibility of being crowned Eastern Conference champions"[]
However, before Jeff Van Gundy could finish his words, Indiana Pacers substitute center JJ Hickson hit a mid-range shot under the defense of Boston Celtics bench inside man Greg Stimesma. The team is once again back on the same starting line.
¡°If we play as a substitute, we will definitely win!¡± Xu Nuo, who was sitting on the bench under the court, folded his hands and said with a sneer.
"However, we can't underestimate their substitute players!" Danny Granger, who was sitting next to Xu Nuo, said, "Whether it's Michael Pietrus or Avery Bradley, they all They are players who cannot be underestimated, and it¡¯s hard to say when they will suddenly break out and catch us off guard.¡±
"But I think Coach Larry Brown will definitely consider this and will definitely have corresponding solutions." Xu Nuo said, and Danny Granger nodded silently.
They were promised to be relaxed and contented on the bench, but Rajon Rondo and the others sitting on the other end of the court were sitting on pins and needles. The Boston Celtics now urgently need to widen the point difference, so as to ensure that the team can take the initiative in the game and ultimately win the game. However, after about three minutes of the second quarter, the two teams on the court remained on the same level, and neither team could take the lead.
In desperation, Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers had to make early substitutions. The one who reappeared on the court was still point guard Rajon Rondo.
"Coach Doc Rivers can be so out of control." Xu Nuo frowned slightly and muttered to himself in a low voice.
Even though Rajon Rondo returned to the court early, coach Larry Brown did not immediately commit to playing. On the court, Indiana Pacers point guard Darren Collison bent down and tensed almost every nerve in his body, carefully facing Rajon Rondo.
¡°Rajon Rondo was not in very good condition tonight, and it shouldn¡¯t be difficult for Darren Collison to deal with it¡± Coach Larry Brown, who was sitting on the coaching bench, thought to himself.
However, at this moment, Rajon Rondo suddenly started on the court and broke through Darren Collison's defense with a cross-step in an instant. Although Darren Collison's reaction speed and movement speed are slightly worse, he can still barely keep up with Rajon Rondo. However, Rajon Rondo seemed to regard Darren Collison next to him as nothing at all. He directly threw away his opponent and entered the Indiana Pacers penalty area, facing the defense of substitute power forward Tyler Hansbrough and scoring a layup.
¡°Finally taking the lead again!¡± Jeff Van Gundy said while sitting in the commentary box.
Coach Larry Brown couldn¡¯t help but frowned slightly.
And Xu Nuo, who was sitting on the bench, frowned.
"Maybe that guy is slowly starting to regain his form" Xu Nuo thought in his mind.
In the next attack, Tyler Hansbrough missed the basket attack, and Boston Celtics blue-collar center Greg Stimesma grabbed the defensive rebound. After getting the ball, Rajon Rondo immediately launched a quick counterattack and assisted teammate Michael Pietrus in the fast break to once again hit a long outside three-pointer. At 35:30, the home team Boston Celtics has led the visiting team Indiana Pacers by five points!
The North Shore Garden Plaza Arena is boiling!
¡°I think we should call for a timeout!¡± Indiana Pacers head assistant coach Brian Shaw said in the ear of coach Larry Brown. Coach Larry Brown frowned but said nothing. However, after Darren Collison quickly dribbled into the frontcourt, coach Larry Brown stood up and requested a timeout.
"It looks like I will be back on the court" Xu Nuo thought in his mind and couldn't help but look up at coach Larry Brown.
However, it seems that coach Larry Brown has no intention of sending Xu onto the field. "Our defense is actually doing okay, but we have problems on the offensive end. I?There is no way to put the ball into the basket! "Coach Larry Brown said.
After returning from the timeout, the Indiana Pacers' lineup became point guard O.J. Mayo, shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, small forward Danny Granger, power forward David West and center Ronaldo. E. Hibbert. At the other end of the court, the home team Boston Celtics fielded four main players, with only one substitute player, Michael Pietrus, remaining on the court. However, Xu Nuo still has not returned to the court.
¡°I don¡¯t know what coach Larry Brown is planning¡± Xu Nuo clasped his hands, thinking in confusion.
"Does Coach Larry Brown really plan to use a wheel-and-wheel battle to deal with Rajon Rondo?" Xu Nuo kept thinking to himself, "Why bother"
When Xu Nuo returned to the court, nearly seven minutes had passed in the second quarter. At this time, Rajon Rondo had been fighting with O.J. Mayo for almost four minutes, and his physical strength had begun to decline. However, Xu Nuo was full of physical strength at this time. After promising to play again, Rajon Rondo suddenly found that he was almost unable to stop this lightning-fast kid!
"Damn guy!" Rajon Rondo cursed in a low voice.
"It turns out that coach Larry Brown had this plan in mind!" Xu Nuo said in his heart. "With Irvington's impressive strength, it will be difficult for Rajon Rondo to deal with him. This is not a round-robin battle, it looks more It's like a war of attrition, consuming Rajon Rondo's physical strength. After all, the Boston Celtics have no point guard who can do anything except Rajon Rondo"
On the sidelines of the court, Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers touched his chin helplessly, "He is truly worthy of being coach Larry Brown, knowing that our point guard is a substitute. The personnel are weak and the tactics are very targeted" Coach Doc Rivers thought helplessly.
Relying on continuous scoring in the last few minutes of the second quarter, the away team Indiana Pacers once again opened the score. At the end of the first half, the visiting team Indiana Pacers led the home team Boston Celtics by five points 46:41.
¡°Fortunately, the point difference is only five points, and the Boston Celtics have every chance to reverse the game in the second half!¡± On-site commentator Coach Jeff Van Gundy said.
However, Jeff Van Gundy thought wrong. The development of the game in the second half was completely beyond Jeff Van Gundy's expectations.
Originally, the Boston Celtics could have caught up and taken the lead at the beginning of the third quarter, but the Boston Celtics failed to seize the opportunity. After taking a breath, the Indiana Pacers began to counterattack, establishing a seven-point lead with a score of 50:43.
"It was the Indiana Pacers who were the first to attack in the second half, hey" the on-site commentator Jeff Van Gundy said with some self-deprecation.
The Indiana Pacers accelerated their offensive pace in the second half, with the obvious intention of wearing down the physical strength of the Boston Celtics veterans. In the second half of the third quarter, both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce showed obvious physical decline, and their shooting percentages also began to decline.
¡°The situation is precarious!¡± the on-site commentator Jeff Van Gundy sighed.
At the end of the third quarter, the Boston Celtics' disadvantage had reached double digits.
Although the Boston Celtics launched a crazy counterattack in the fourth quarter and once narrowed the point difference to only four points, the Boston Celtics still failed to win the game. The Indiana Pacers won 89:83 at the home court of the Boston Celtics, rewriting the series score to 3:1 and having one foot on the road to the Finals.
"The next game will be played at the home court of the Indiana Pacers, and now that the Indiana Pacers have a match point, the Boston Celtics' hope of advancing to the finals can be said to be slim!" On-site commentator Jay Jeff Van Gundy sighed and said this.
Although full of reluctance, the Boston Celtics players were still dejected when they left the game. Not being able to tie the series in front of their home fans was a huge disappointment for the Boston Celtics players. Rajon Rondo gave the Indiana Pacers players a hard look and swallowed. Xunuo saw Rajon Rondo's eyes and couldn't help but smile.
¡°The next game will be your last game of this season!¡± Xu Nuo said in his heart.