in2ebook Chapter 578 Just as annoying as Chang Wei: Come and cover me!
Chapter 578 Just as annoying as Chang Wei: Come and cover me!
I glanced at the time; there were still 55 seconds left.
Wang Xiucheng, under Sharp's cover, went to the frontcourt, looking for an opportunity to draw a foul, but the Celtics did not fall for it.
Sharp had already entered the paint, and Holiday stood half a meter away from Wang Xiucheng, constantly reaching out to interfere, but absolutely not giving Wang Xiucheng a chance to draw fouls.
With little time left on the shot clock, Wang Xiucheng made his third three-pointer of the first quarter.
Swish!
Three-pointer goes in.
"Guaranteed Three-Point Shot Card" activated!
The Nets lead by one point, 33-32.
Fans at the Barclays Center cheered and chanted Wang Xiucheng's name.
For the fans of this stadium, the first 11 minutes of each quarter are all preparation, all leading up to this final minute.
Even if you leave late or can't find parking outside the stadium, don't worry. As long as you enter the stadium before the last minute, your ticket won't be a waste.
As the basketball hit the floor, Wang Xiucheng instantly saw Holiday, who had been guarding him, and suddenly sped up and ran forward.
Wang Xiucheng immediately turned around and followed Holiday to prevent him from launching a fast break.
Wang Xiucheng and Holiday, the two fastest players, left, and the Celtics easily served the ball out.
Holliday led Wang Xiucheng to the corner and stood there, seemingly trying to distance themselves from the battlefield.
This is somewhat similar to the way Wang Xiucheng slacks off when playing basketball now.
Wang Xiucheng tilted his head and looked at the field, while Tatum dribbled the ball to the frontcourt.
Without asking for any screens or picks, Tatum used his body and footwork to get into the paint when the shot clock was almost over, scoring over Royce O'Neal and drawing a foul on him.
Despite being very careful, Royce O'Neal still managed to get his arm caught by Tatum, who successfully drew a foul.
Wang Xiucheng looked at Celtics head coach Mazura standing on the sidelines.
That’s what happened!
The Celtics' strategy in the final minute was to let themselves score.
Then they rely on star players like Tatum to score.
If we can get the whistle, at least we can maintain the score for both sides.
Holiday's purpose in keeping himself away from the battlefield was to prevent himself from having any contact with Tatum.
This way, you won't be able to steal the ball, and you won't have the opportunity to launch a fast break.
The Celtics must have watched a lot of their own game footage and analyzed their performance in the final minute. In addition to their impressive 66% three-point shooting percentage, they also had another high statistic.
That's a steal!
If Wang Xiucheng manages to steal the ball in the final minute, he has almost a 100% chance of scoring.
What the Celtics did was cut off their own chances of stealing the ball.
Without a steal, the Celtics can simply run out of offensive time.
This effectively reduces the Nets' offensive possessions.
It must be said that the Celtics' tactics were quite successful.
Especially since there are star players who can receive star refereeing during offensive plays.
Swish!
Tatum makes the free throw.
Three points scored successfully.
The score became 33-34, with the Celtics taking the lead again by one point.
After the Celtics used up 24 seconds in the first quarter, the Nets only had 9 seconds left.
The timing is a bit awkward; it allows the Nets another offensive opportunity, but it's not a very good time.
During Wang Xiucheng's first attack, he wasted time in his attempt to find an opportunity to feign an injury.
Then the Celtics used up another 24 seconds.
The Nets now have less than 10 seconds left.
Wang Xiucheng stopped thinking about the Celtics' tactic and quickly dribbled the ball to the frontcourt.
Without any hesitation, Wang Xiucheng faced the championship guard Holiday, used Iverson's step into the paint, and then threw the ball over with 4 seconds left on the clock.
Holiday remembered Mazura's words, which were to never foul Wang Xiucheng in the last minute and let him score.
However, watching Wang Xiucheng almost jump and throw the ball up in front of him, Holiday really couldn't help himself.
It's like Chang Wei standing in front of you, taunting you: Come and block me!
Holiday couldn't hold back any longer, jumped up, and reached out to cover it.
There was no time left for Wang Xiucheng to pass the ball again or make a feint.
Holliday knew that Wang Xiucheng would definitely throw the ball himself.
Moreover, perhaps to save time, Wang Xiucheng barely jumped.
This was something that Huo Ledi, who was only five or six centimeters shorter than Wang Xiucheng, couldn't stand!
If this ball is blocked, the Celtics will end the first quarter with a lead.
The temptation is still very strong.
So he jumped up without hesitation.
"No!"
Mazura, who had been standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed, shouted something, but it was clearly too late.
Wang Xiucheng's feet hadn't even left the ground, yet Holiday dared to jump up to block him.
Has he never played ball with Wang Xiucheng?
Just as Mazura was thinking this, Wang Xiucheng indeed caught the ball.
Then Holiday, from her elevated position, crashed directly into Wang Xiucheng.
Wang Xiucheng jumped to the side, seemingly wanting to shoot again.
Fortunately, Holiday was experienced enough to grab Wang Xiucheng's arm and prevent him from throwing the ball.
With a beep, the loudspeaker announced the end of the first quarter.
With another "beep," the referee blew his whistle.
Then he pointed at Holiday and made a foul gesture.
Wang Xiucheng needs to take two penalty kicks.
Holiday raised his hand and looked at Mazura.
Mazura nodded to him, showing no sign of complaint.
At least in the end, Holiday hugged Wang Xiucheng, preventing him from having a chance to score a three-pointer.
Udoka, standing on the other side, frowned as he watched everything unfold on the field.
Udoka knows the Celtics, and Mazura, all too well.
But the Celtics' response to "King Time" tonight was so impressive that even Udoka wanted to applaud them.
Let Wang Xiucheng shoot, but don't give him a chance to steal the ball!
That's definitely a good solution!
Sure enough, there will be more and more tactics targeting "King's Time" in the new season!
Sharp, Royce, O'Neal, and the others stood on either side of the free-throw line early on, waiting for Wang Xiucheng to come over and take the free throws.
Wang Xiucheng straightened his jersey, which had been grabbed by Holiday, before standing at the free-throw line.
Wang Xiucheng took the ball from the referee, spun it around, patted it, and spun it again.
Mazura, standing nearby, shrugged at the referee, seemingly protesting that Wang Xiucheng's free throw time had long exceeded 10 seconds.
The referee simply ignored him.
Finally, Wang Xiucheng threw the ball.
Bang!
It didn't go in!
Mazura clapped her hands, clearly pleased.
The fact that the ball didn't go in means that Holiday's foul was worthwhile.
Holiday, standing in the center circle, also looked very happy.
Wang Xiucheng's face darkened at this moment.
He wiped his hands on his clothes, took the ball from the referee again, spun it around, patted it, spun it around again...
Swish!
The ball went in.
One of two free throws made!
The timer reset to 0.3 seconds.
The Celtics only had time to inbound the ball before the referee blew the whistle to end the first quarter.
The first quarter ended in a 34-34 tie between the Nets and the Celtics.
Uduka and his henchmen stood in the arena, discussing their strategy.
Wang Xiucheng plopped down on a chair on the bench, took a sip of his drink, and then covered his head with a towel.
"This match is interesting!"