Jordan was right, the Glory team can also play both fast and slow, but the Celtics are better at a fast pace because they are younger, and Nash’s ability to organize and advance quickly is stronger.
The Glory team clearly thrives in a slow pace, and once they play fast, they tend to fall behind.
Subsequently, Old Tang made a series of adjustments, from offensive focus to defensive strategy arrangements, and many details, all needed to change.
Change is necessary; any team in the playoffs must undergo a transformation to achieve true growth and evolution, reaching the team’s best state.
The Glory team played too smoothly before, but until the Eastern Conference Finals, their point of evolution came, and whether they can get through it will determine the fate’s outcome.
Finally, Tomjanovich clicked the remote control, switched to a data table, and said, "We are comprehensively behind in all aspects of the data, but I believe this does not mean we are weaker than them. It’s just that we haven’t exploited our strengths. Our resilience, our experience, and our heart."
Tomjanovich still sat there, his voice growing weaker, the meeting room quiet to the point of fear, only the sound of machines buzzing and Old Tang’s words could be heard.
Usually, Gan Guoyang and Jordan can’t help but argue a bit during tactical meetings, but not this time. They listened earnestly and seriously expressed their opinions, exchanging solemnly.
"We are a new team, like a cactus just growing out of the desert; the environment is harsh, but we are growing well. I believe Las Vegas is a great city, and here we must bloom beautifully in the wasteland like this city. I believe in you, believe in Michael, believe in Sonny, believe in Yao; you can do better, win the series victory."
Tomjanovich coughed, as if these words took all his strength, he finally gently said, "Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
-----------------
May 22nd, the third game of the Eastern Conference Finals, Las Vegas MGM Hotel Arena.
Before the game, in the Glory team’s locker room, trailing 0-2 pushed the team to the brink.
But the experienced Radiant Players’ mindset was still positive, especially after a thorough pre-game meeting and preparation; everyone adjusted their state well.
Gan Guoyang sat in front of the locker, carefully tidying his jersey, while Porter paced nearby, complaining to Gan Guoyang: "I told you not to talk nonsense before the game, don’t talk nonsense. You said, ’I hope someone comes to defeat me.’ Well, now we really lost, and you’re not happy about it, are you?"
Gan Guoyang smiled and said, "I’m not unhappy, a loss is a loss, win it back tonight."
"You’re making it sound too easy, Sonny!" Porter sighed, because tonight Tomjanovich is unable to be on site to command due to health reasons.
So the temporary coaching duty fell on Porter, with two assistants covering him; orders were to be issued by Porter.
Porter verbally expressed reluctance, fearing fines, but when push comes to shove, he did not back down and still took on the tough task.
Once a person assumes responsibility, anxiety naturally arises. Given the urgency of the situation, Porter was worried.
Gan Guoyang and Jordan were fine, though; in the first two games, they played decently, their data was okay, but they were indeed suppressed by the young Celtics during the game.
"Your target is Pierce, deal with him, don’t let him score over 20 points." Before their entrance, Gan Guoyang reminded Jordan.
"Rest assured, buddy, you guard the inside line. And we need to start attacking in the first quarter, don’t wait anymore."
"Is your stamina okay?"
"No problem, I’m in full Jordan mode now."
"Me too, giving it my all."
The two calmly motivated each other, bumped fists, and headed into the court quickly with their heads held high.
The lights shone brilliantly in the darkness; the Las Vegas home pre-game performance was always the most dazzling and rich, much more spectacular than Boston.
The whole Celtics team, dressed in green sportswear, appeared out of place in the colorful MGM Hotel Arena.
Duncan, Nash, and Pierce all wore serious expressions; they knew that in this battle, the Glory team would certainly launch a strong counterattack.
They also knew, if they could bite through this game, the series would be over, marking the end of Ah Gan and Jordan’s era.
Let the dual gods enjoy the last rays of the night’s glow in the Las Vegas desert, let the sun set down the hill, nothing could inspire the young players’ glory more than this.
Thus, the Celtics’ morale did not slack, wholeheartedly aiming to continue advancing, end an era, and start a new Chapter.
Bobby Berman thought the same, two victories let him feel his players were truly outstanding; they could execute, had ideas, were smart and resilient players. As a coach, he couldn’t hold them back.
Moreover, this game, Tomjanovich was absent due to health issues, coaching against non-coaching; losing this isn’t reasonable.
Fifteen minutes later, the main players took the stage, neither team’s starting lineup changed, which surprised Berman somewhat.
He thought Yao Ming performed generally in the first two games, in the third game, Glory would put in Ewing or use Ross, letting Ah Gan take the five position.
Unexpectedly, the Glory team insisted on their starting lineup, without adjusting the two or three positions, maintaining stability.
Yao Ming stood in the center circle for the jump ball with Big Z; this Eastern Conference Finals, Yao Ming was at a disadvantage against Big Z, who after all had years more experience and a championship, not acquired for nothing.
Yao Ming relied on his height advantage, first tipped the ball; the ball flew far, Andre Miller ran all the way to chase it.
At the start, Miller held the ball on the outside, Gan Guoyang came to the high position, took the ball to assist, Jordan came out from the baseline, took the ball for a mid-range shot but missed.
However, Jordan immediately said to Gan Guoyang, "Don’t worry, my shooting feels fine, just testing."
"I just allow you to test one!"
"I’ll definitely score the next one!"
Celtics’ offensive possession, Gerald Wallace’s defense on Bowen was exceptionally tight; Bowen had caused trouble for the Glory in the previous two games as an unexpected player.
In the pre-game plan, Bowen was a point that could be appropriately abandoned, Wallace could leave Bowen open when rotating, but who knew this guy was so accurate.
First game 6 out of 4, second game 5 out of 3, a frighteningly high shooting percentage, absolutely cannot let him off easily again.
Gan Guoyang no longer went to the low position to guard Duncan, but followed Big Z, roaming near the free-throw line while watching over the Celtics’ perimeter.
The Celtics immediately sensed the Glory’s defensive change; they still need to play from the inside with Duncan, to see if Duncan can penetrate Yao Ming’s spot.
This is a huge test for Yao Ming – if Duncan penetrates him, then the Glory’s entire arrangement must be redone. This game will be dangerous.
Yao Ming fully covered Duncan; in terms of low post defense, Yao Ming’s weight was there, only lacking experience. Facing him directly, he wasn’t afraid.
Sure enough, Duncan’s turnaround shot, under Yao Ming’s interference, resulted in an airball, a complete miss, Gerald Wallace pushed Bowen aside to grab the defensive rebound.
Glory’s offensive round, right side cleared out, Andre Miller posted up on Nash, which is a Glory’s advantageous point.
The Celtics could only double-team, Miller passed the ball, continuously transferred, finally Jordan broke through, high passed to Yao Ming, Yao Ming took the ball and scored high, dunking successfully, scoring the first point!
And Nash attempted to get through after a pick and roll, but was blocked by Gan Guoyang coming in, teaming up with Miller for a double-team confrontation, snatched the ball away!
Gan Guoyang’s delay near the arc was indeed effective; he had much more experience than Yao Ming. Glory team counterattacked, Jordan was ahead.
Receiving Andre Miller’s pass, Jordan easily outpaced Paul Pierce; like when he was young, he leapt high, opened his mouth, stuck out his tongue, glided for a dunk!
The trademark air flying man, Jordan briskly ran back to defend.
Gan Guoyang patted Jordan’s butt and said, "You said the shooting feels good, turns out it’s the dunk; how could this not go in?"
"Don’t worry buddy, just tell me if it went in or not."
"Defense!"