"It’s just a tie, we have a chance to finish off the game."
Indeed, the Celtics haven’t come back from the brink of death, it’s only a tie.
Glory has the best two clutch players in the history of the league, who should they focus on defending?
It should be Ah Gan, Jordan is in average shape tonight, but do you dare leave Jordan open?
No, no one dares leave Jordan open in the final moments, even if his feeling isn’t great tonight, missing many shots.
Porter immediately called a timeout to prepare a tactic that could kill the game.
Porter had no expression on his face, during the timeout he pondered for a while and said to Miller, "Andre, you’ll come off, I’m going on."
Everyone looked at Porter, thinking is the coach starting to warm up?
Gan Guoyang said, "Terry, can you do it?"
"Can’t or can, I have to do it, give it a shot, I think I can."
Porter showed strong confidence at this moment, the rings on his hands are as many as Ah Gan’s.
He’s faced tough battles, vicious battles, not any less than Ah Gan, you could say he has followed all of Gan’s battles.
He’s not coming on in the last moment to play a hero, but he’s considering two issues.
Just now on offense, because the intentions of Ah Gan + Jordan’s pick-and-roll were too obvious, it had already been intercepted once.
If they continue with this move next time, it will definitely be targeted at key moments, greatly increasing the difficulty of scoring.
Secondly, Miller’s outside shooting ability is nonexistent, unfavorable for creating space.
Porter going on at this time will definitely make the Celtics apprehensive.
Moreover, Porter was sure that once they got on court, the Celtics would definitely call another timeout.
Sure enough, when Porter replaced Miller, Rajah Bell replaced Wallace, preparing for the sideline ball, Beelman saw Porter and Bell going in and immediately called another timeout.
Continuous timeouts made the atmosphere on site more suffocating, at this time both coaches still had one timeout left, making these last 15 seconds unusually long.
After Beelman called the timeout, Porter didn’t use his, both holding onto a timeout in case of emergencies.
In 15 seconds, a lot can happen.
Some fans on site were almost passing out, Auerbach began to use oxygen, lest something actually happened later.
At this time, Porter made another unusual choice, he chose to inbound at the backcourt instead of the frontcourt.
The referee blew the whistle, the game continued.
Gan Guoyang inbounded from the sideline, passing to Jordan, the two immediately did a pick-and-roll at the mid-line, pulling the Celtics’ defense formation wide open.
Jordan broke through directly down the middle, Gan Guoyang followed to roll down, both instantly attracted all of the Celtics’ defensive attention.
"Michael, Michael breaks through at the arc, passes to Ah Gan, Ah Gan charges into the basket... but he doesn’t shoot, instead he passes to Terry Porter in the right corner! Porter! Porter catches and shoots a three!"
ABC TV Station’s commentator screamed and shouted, Porter made his only three-point attempt of the game, without warming up or adjusting his condition, he took the ball and shot decisively.
The ball, spinning fiercely, carried Porter’s 20 years of experience and confidence towards the basket, towards the center.
"It’s good! Porter, Terry Porter made the three! Woh!"
The precise three-pointer pierced the hearts of nearly twenty thousand fans at the Fleet Center.
Auerbach felt a pain in his chest, taking deep breaths, he recovered and said, "There’s still time, still time."
Indeed there’s still time, Porter’s three left the Celtics 3.7 seconds, enough for them to complete an attack.
However, the offense Porter planned this time was truly brilliant, in every aspect.
Firstly, inbounding at the backcourt was meant to create enough space, increasing the Celtics’ defensive difficulty.
Ah Gan and Jordan were certainly the core of the offense, their pick-and-roll would definitely attract enough defensive focus.
The first choice for this ball was Porter, during the tactical setup Porter’s intention was very clear, he said, "We strive for a three, don’t give the Celtics a chance to tie."
If they made a two, the Celtics might make a two to tie, or shoot a three to finish off the game.
Both scenarios were what Glory didn’t want to see, tying for overtime, Glory doesn’t have a physical advantage.
Not to mention a three-pointer to finish off the game.
Therefore, Porter decided to take the risk, he knew that Ah Gan cutting into the basket would definitely attract defense.
If it didn’t attract attention? Then Ah Gan was the second choice, letting him hook shoot or layup himself.
This bold decision by Porter brought excess returns, the season-long mediocre three-point shooting Glory almost won the game with two three-pointers.
After scoring, Gan Guoyang tightly hugged Porter, Porter preemptively said, "I can’t play anymore, can’t play anymore!"
Last season he made a game-winner, leading Porter to play another season, this time he really didn’t want to play anymore.
"It’s okay, you’re a good coach Porter!"
"..."
The game wasn’t completely over yet, the Celtics still had a chance.
But 72:75, down by three, the situation was really different compared to trailing by two.
When Beelman saw Porter’s three-pointer make it, his heartbeat skipped a beat.
This old fox Porter actually planned such a tactic, truly impressive.
A good teacher produces good students, Beelman could only think so.
The older, the wiser, Porter indeed became a sage, this three-pointer forced the Celtics to choose a three-point tactic.
So, later Glory will definitely fully defend against three-pointers, let you play inside, absolutely no fouls.
Bostonians can only pray to God, only believe in the birth of miracles.
The timeout ended, Porter didn’t use up the final timeout, it’s as if he still had ideas.
The game being delayed and delayed, let despair fill the Fleet Center, 3.7 seconds.
The Celtics inbound from the sideline, giving it to Steve Nash, Duncan came out for the pick-and-roll.
During the pick-and-roll, Gan Guoyang suddenly made a move, fouling Nash and sending Nash to the free-throw line.
Glory wanted to give Celtic no chance at all, free throws are only two points, Nash made both, they’re still trailing by 1 point.
At this point, Porter still held a timeout, called a timeout, frontcourt inbound, the Celtics would lose for sure.
So, all Nash had left was one way, to miss the second free throw, grab the offensive rebound, and score to tie the game.
But would Ah Gan give you this opportunity? He is the best backcourt rebounder in history.
Ross, Gerald Wallace were both subbed in to grab the rebound.
Nash made the first free throw, intentionally slammed the second towards the front of the rim, completely predicted by Ah Gan.
Gan Guoyang tightly controlled the rebound among a crowd, Celtics were too late to foul.
Game over! 75:73, Glory in Boston, won this extremely tough game!
At the moment the buzzer sounded, Gan Guoyang felt almost emptied.
Jordan bent over, hands on knees, after breathing for a while he came over, put his arm around Ah Gan’s shoulder and said, "After this season I definitely want to retire, I won’t continue anymore, won’t continue anymore."
This series is really hellish torture, both sides suffered, fortunately Glory won the key battle.
After the game, Beelman hugged Gan Guoyang and said, "See you next time."
He hasn’t given up yet.
However, Auerbach was sent to the hospital after the game, too much stimulation.
Porter’s near game-winning three-pointer added another important page to his rich resume.
Also, as a coach, his calm setup in the final moments, strong execution, were key to Glory’s victory.
After the game in the locker room, Yao Ming asked Porter, "What if the three didn’t go in?"
"What if, just retire and go home!"
Porter, with this indifferent, it’s fine to lose attitude, actually took the victory.
This match was indeed the decisive battle of the series, two days later, back in Las Vegas, Glory didn’t give the Celtics another chance.
100:87, having seized the match point, Glory didn’t waste the opportunity, pressing the exhausted Celtics, Jordan scored 38 points.
Glory Team 4:2 narrowly eliminated the Celtics, winning the Eastern championship, advancing to the finals!
At the end of the game, Gan Guoyang certainly didn’t forget to comfort Duncan, patting his head and telling him, "The future really belongs to you."