basketball player

Chapter 109 107: Only an idiot will believe him (16)
March 3, Indianapolis, Conseco Arena.

The Celtics VS Pacers game has finished the first 12 minutes, and the Celtics ended the first quarter 33 to 27.

"Coach Henson said yesterday that he would rest the team. I don't think he was joking. Because in the first quarter, starters such as Horford and Holiday were replaced after playing less than 4 minutes. And this is why the Pacers are now behind by 6 points."

On the commentary stand, Reggie Miller looked curiously at the Pacers bench.At the beginning, everyone thought that Henson said he was going to take a rotation to deceive others, but they didn't expect that Henson actually greatly reduced the playing time of the main players.

"That guy, what kind of trick is he playing?" Rivers turned his head to look at the other half in surprise. The Pacers' starting five were still wearing training uniforms, and it seemed that they really didn't intend to play.

After the start of the second quarter, Henson still used the so-called rotation lineup.Point guard Hinrich, shooting guard George, small forward Green, power forward Mike Roberts, only Horford continued to play as a starter.

It's normal that Horford is still on the court, because even Popovich, who likes to take turns, rarely lets GDP take turns at the same time.Usually, his approach is to let three people take turns to rest.Maybe, Henson is also the strategy.

And what about the Celtics players?The old guys are also very tired at this stage, and they can't wait to meet this kind of easy game.

Yesterday Rivers emphasized more than once not to believe that the Pacers will take turns. In fact, this has deepened the impression of the players: Are the Pacers going to take turns?
In the first quarter of the game, they were still conscientious.In the second quarter, the Pacers were still like this, and the old Celtics did start to relax a little bit.

Rondo easily broke through the basket and scored an easy layup, allowing the Celtics to expand the point difference to 8 points.It seemed that Henson really didn't intend to fight anymore today.

"Hmph, coward." Rivers simply sat back and crossed his legs, maybe he was worrying too much.Henson Joe didn't dare to confront the Celtics head-on!
After Rondo scored another goal, Henson made a few gestures to Hinrich.Then, in order not to attract attention, he also sat back on the bench.

"Henson, you are so crazy to do this, maybe we will play with fire and set ourselves on fire!" Vogel was still a little worried. He knew a lot of Henson's tricks, but today's move was too risky.

"Did you see the Celtics' offense just now? Except for Rondo and Garnett who was picking and rolling, the running of the others was far less active than in the first quarter. It can even be said that they almost didn't run. These big stars have begun to relax!" Henson was not in a hurry, as if Doc Rivers was 8 points behind.

If the Celtics are 100% invested, it will not be Rondo's turn to score with the ball.

In the next attack, the Celtics still focused on defending the Pacers' outside scoring.However, this time the Pacers did not look for opportunities on the outside, but hit the ball to Horford, who was sitting inside.

Horford easily turned over and scored a jumper. The Celtics started as the center. The Serbian Nenad Kostic, who had just transferred from the Thunder, was 2 meters tall, but his confrontation and reaction were not outstanding. Horford scored on him with ease.

The reason why the Celtics traded to Krstic is also because Rivers really has no center available.Perkins, O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal were all injured, and the Celtics' fifth position seemed to be cursed. No one could finish a season healthy.

However, Horford's goal did not attract the attention of the Celtics, because the Pacers would hardly sit inside to score before.In Rivers' view, the Pacers did this only because Horford was the only star on the court, so they gave him the ball.

With the next goal, Ray Allen hit the iron with a long shot, and Horford actively grabbed the rebound.But the Pacers did not push quickly, and Hinrich took his time to organize the attack, continuing to hang the Celtics in a relaxed mood.

Then, Hinrich once again handed the ball to Horford.Horford succeeded in low singles for the second time, Krstic is not Horford's opponent at all!

"Success rate, success rate, don't give me that kind of personal heroism!" Rivers clapped his hands vigorously and shouted. He believed that as long as the Celtics seriously attacked, the Pacers would have no chance.

This guy didn't expect the team's low-post defense problem, because the Pacers' offensive focus has never been in the low post, so Rivers believes that Horford's two consecutive singles are just a flash in the pan.

The idea that just containing their quick offense and [-]-point shooting can win the game has been deeply rooted in Rivers' bones.

After that, Rondo once again chose to break through by himself.But unlike the first quarter, the stroll-like breakthrough score no longer existed.The Pacers seemed to be getting more confrontational. After he hit the basket, he was blocked tightly, and the basketball failed to make progress!
This time Horford didn't play singles with the ball in the low post. Hinrich made his own shot, but his shot knocked out of the box.

But the Celtics obviously didn't expect that Horford would suddenly rush in and make a tip-up from the 2-meter Krstic.

Garnett and Krstic looked at me and I looked at you, and then spread their hands, as if to say: Dude, why don't you get stuck?

Henson smiled, it seems that the Celtics haven't slowed down yet!

The Celtics knew they had to hold on to the offense, so they handed the ball to Pierce, who had the highest grip.

Pierce singled out George with his back, but George's focused defensive attitude and his huge height and wingspan advantage interfered with Pierce's shooting!
This time, Hinrich didn't wait for Horford to take his position, but directly made a long pass!

By the time Pierce reacted, Paul George, who was still defending himself just now, had already run past halftime!

"The Pacers' quick offense and Hinrich's sudden change made the Celtics hard to defend!"

Under Reggie Miller's shouts, George crossed the court, and the Celtics had no time to react.

Subsequently, George scored with a one-handed dunk, completely igniting the lifeless Conseco!
"Paul George! He led the Pacers' first quick counterattack in this game! After the start of the second quarter, the Pacers played an 8-2 spurt and evened the score in one fell swoop!" Miller couldn't help looking at Henson. Is this offensive climax a coincidence, or did you do it on purpose?
The same problem also plagued Rivers. If you say that Henson did it on purpose, why didn't he play the main force?
You can say that Henson did it unintentionally, but the Pacers' offensive is too fierce!

Before Rivers decided to call a timeout, the Pacers' offensive climax has become 12 to 2.At this time, the Celtics, who were not focused enough, were already behind by 4 points, and Rivers had to stop the game!

"What did I tell you? Don't be fooled, don't be fooled! Damn, you don't really believe Henson's nonsense, do you? Seriously, that guy's purpose is not to take a rest!" Rivers' voice was so loud that the fans in the stands could hear him, but in fact he just believed that Henson would have a rest, otherwise he would have called a timeout without hesitation.

By the way, what did Rivers say yesterday?Only an idiot would believe Henson's nonsense, but today he...
By the time the Celtics were about to get back to the situation, the Pacers had already started.And Rivers' strategy of focusing on perimeter defense is useless at all, because before the start of today's game, Henson indicated that the Pacers will focus on Horford.

Horford changed his usual role of anti-aircraft turret and command tower, and transformed into a low-post scorer in the Eagles period.

Henson is well aware that the Celtics' reserve at the fifth position is stretched, which is a disadvantage that Rivers cannot change with tactics.You don't even have available players, so how do you formulate tactics?

In fact, this is why Henson doesn't "rest" Horford.The three substitute outsiders replaced by Henson have excellent defensive capabilities, which is enough!Although they are substitutes, their defensive ability is enough to support the Pacers to play a wave of offensive climax when the opponent is slack.

In the second quarter of the game, the Celtics' inside line was completely penetrated by Horford.After that, Rivers started double-teaming.

As a result, the Pacers' three-pointers blossomed!Horford isn't afraid to double-team, and he's an underrated passer.The three-pointers of Green, George and Mike Roberts cost the Celtics a painful price!
After halftime, the Pacers, who were originally on a "rotation" and lagging behind, took a 12-point lead!Their wave after wave of offensive climaxes made it difficult for the Celtics to parry!

In the second half of the game, Henson started to use the main players and increased their playing time.

Holiday and Granger held back for half the game, full of energy, and they were extremely active on both offense and defense.

The Celtics followed the Pacers for a half, and were already a little tired.The situation became clear in an instant. At the end of the third quarter, when Granger hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, the entire Conseco Arena was completely set on fire.

"22 to 6! The Pacers played a wave of 22 to 6 offensive climax! It's over, the game is over! God, you never know when the Pacers' tide-like offensive will come!"

Reggie Miller has also changed from lifeless at the beginning to full of passion, taking turns?He takes a break!

That guy Henson planned to win against the mighty Celtics from the very beginning!
In the fourth quarter, the demoralized Celtics did not make any more waves.But the main force of the Pacers, who had been holding back for half a game, was so excited that he couldn't stop.

The on-site photographer's lens was aimed at Rivers more than once, only to see the champion coach with black lines all over his face and an expression of lovelessness.

At the end of the game, 117 to 89, the mighty Celtics, the fearless Big Three, and the wise champion coach lost to the Pacers who claimed to be taking a break in this game by a huge difference of 28 points in the Conseco Arena!
"That bastard, that bastard!" Rivers cursed in his heart, and Henson let Rivers lose face again!
Amidst the cheers of the Pacers fans, Coach Henson accepted the sideline interview with a look of surprise.

"Oh, this is really amazing. I didn't expect the team to win the Celtics during the rotation. All I can say is that Coach Rivers is out of luck."

The reporters shook their heads. This is a typical example of being good-looking when you get cheap.To be Henson's opponent, the lungs will probably be blown.
(End of this chapter)