On Wednesday, May 14, 2008, Boston fans poured into the TD Garden early, as they were going to make their final effort tonight!
Over 18,000 fans erupted in a huge roar, trying to cheer on the home team in this way.
At the TNT broadcast booth, Marv Albert and Reggie Miller had already discussed the starting lineups for both sides.
Neither team changed their formation, seemingly intending to stick with their main players.
The roaring TD Garden made Reggie Miller instinctively raise his voice.
Before the game started, he once again commented on the Boston Celtics' tactical issues from the past four games:
"Kevin Garnett has performed exceptionally well on both offense and Defense, but he needs help now. Others must step up in time."
"The Boston Celtics are actually a team that relies on three-pointers. Marbury's abnormal performance has caused them to lose some easy scoring opportunities."
"If this is the last game, I hope Marbury can find his form in time, and Pierce is the same. He must carry the team, and he needs to solve problems one-on-one."
"As for Ray Allen, I am not worried about his performance. No matter how he plays tonight, the Cavaliers will strictly guard his three-point shot. As long as he is on the court, he can ensure excellent offensive space."
As the game was about to begin, the roar grew louder and louder.
Before stepping to the center circle, Garnett repeatedly pounded his chest and roared loudly in front of his teammates again, boosting morale!
Infected by the core player's emotions, the roar almost broke through the TD Garden for a moment.
Marv Albert watched Van Gundy repeatedly and loudly reminding his players on the sidelines, and then added:
"This is a game that will determine the Boston Celtics' fate. Many people did not anticipate such a result. The Cavaliers' young men have performed too well!"
"But I believe the Old players will show better form, and both teams' benches look a bit nervous."
In the center of the court, Dwight Howard, ready for the jump ball, was already grinning.
Seeing Garnett's tough guy "performance," he couldn't help but smile, and even jokingly shouted to the referee preparing to start the game:
"If I do this during the game, will I get a technical foul? Hey, guys, you're going to lose. I like this atmosphere!"
Marbury's face was filled with anger.
He hadn't expected the series to turn out this way, and his continuous slump in several games had already gotten him "kicked off the team" by fans.
If they lost again tonight, everything would be over:
"Rookie, shut your stinking mouth! Who do you think you are?"
Vaguely hearing the retort, Howard smiled even more happily, staring at Marbury and shaking his head as he loudly said:
"My salary is three times yours. You're just a clown!"
These words made Marbury explode with anger.
Although he did get a mid-level contract, he considered his status on the team to be very high, so upon hearing the rookie's taunt, he simply turned his head and started shouting back.
The two argued in front of the referee, but fortunately, they were only exchanging insults, and the argument ended after the referee's warning.
At the other end of the court, LeBron James put on his red headband again, ignoring the boos from the crowd, pursing his lips and clapping repeatedly.
Tonight, he was going to send the old guys home!
Pierce, near the center circle, leaned on his knees, staring intently at James.
He didn't want to lose like this.
He didn't want to become a joke.
"Oh!!"
The roar seemed to intensify a few points.
Ray Allen, wearing the home white jersey, couldn't help but quickly make the sign of the cross and pray to God.
The pressure of this game was simply too great.
As the basketball was tossed up, Howard, relying on his exceptional jumping ability, once again got the tip-off, and the Defensive cheers quickly resounded throughout the TD Garden.
After the first four games, both sides were more familiar with each other, but James's good form at the start still surprised the Boston Celtics.
In the first possession, a screen at the top of the arc, James, with the ball in his left hand, drove hard from the left wing to the basket.
Facing the switching Garnett, he immediately spun into the paint.
Seeing his opponent leaning his body and forcing a right-handed floater, the Boston fans couldn't help but gasp, and as the basketball hit the backboard and went in, the gasps quickly turned into boos.
2:0, the Cavaliers scored first.
James, retreating on Defense, also repeatedly patted his chest, indicating that he was in excellent form!
In a do-or-die game, Perkins was also a bit nervous.
Marbury broke through the middle and dished the ball, immediately finding his teammate near the bottom right of the basket.
Unfortunately, Perkins couldn't seize the opportunity.
The basketball hit the rim and bounced out.
After strenuously grabbing the offensive rebound, the big man jumped again, only to be met with a block by Howard!
"Woah!"
The overwhelming talent made the Boston fans present feel a chill down their spines.
Howard seemed to have springs on his feet, bouncing around after landing, and provocatively yelling at Garnett.
Not getting entangled with his opponent, after the inbound pass, Garnett received the ball in the right elbow area.
Facing Howard's Defense, after a cross-over dribble, he suddenly changed direction with his left hand in front of his body, then immediately gathered the ball.
Creating a bit of space, Garnett ignored the close-out Defense and decisively pulled up for a jump shot, giving a response!
Watching Garnett shout passionately, the TD Garden erupted in cheers once again.
This was the performance everyone expected from a core player.
The first quarter quickly turned into a duel between LeBron James and Paul Pierce.
Showing a form not seen in the previous games, James's jump shot percentage started to rise, and Pierce also changed his slump, frequently responding on the offensive end.
Szczerbiak's three-pointer had the Cavaliers' bench celebrating wildly, and Marbury's drives also had the Boston atmosphere group cheering continuously.
As time passed, physical contact increased again, and after their shooting percentage dropped, the Boston Celtics once again fell behind.
Head Coach Rivers on the sidelines was so anxious that he kept roaring, constantly complaining loudly to the referees whenever he got a chance.
His whole face was flushed dark red, as he couldn't accept the result of stopping at the semifinals.
When Howard missed both free throws, Rivers even shouted loudly from the sidelines, clapping his hands repeatedly at his opponent with a hoarse voice:
"You can't make it, good job, kid!"
Compared to the fully invested Rivers, Jeff Van Gundy, at this moment, maintained the demeanor of a Champion Coach.
Seeing James display excellent game form, he merely smiled and applauded.
The TNT broadcast camera also captured the reactions of the two teams' Head Coachs.
At this moment, many fans and commentators in front of their televisions had the same feeling:
"He truly lives up to his reputation as the youngest four-time Champion Coach in history."
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 24:20, with the Boston Celtics trailing by 4 points, which made the fans present even more anxious.
They seemed to be falling behind again.
5-of-8 from the field, 0-of-2 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, James scored 12 points, accounting for half of the team's total score.
Such a performance also drew continuous praise from Reggie Miller at the commentary desk:
"LeBron James's performance is too outstanding! After several seasons of refinement, he has completely fulfilled his potential."
"His strong body allows him to tear apart the opponent's Defense, and his soft finishes at the rim can ignore interference. The Boston Celtics must find a solution quickly. They are currently very passive."
When the visiting team's Coach was interviewed before the quarter, Jeff Van Gundy had a reserved smile on his face and spoke very modestly to the camera:
"Tonight, all I have to do is trust the young men. LeBron has a big heart, and he is ready for the future."
"..."
Not discussing his tactics, Van Gundy simply trusted his players.
Upon hearing the interview live, Marv Albert also smiled and commented:
"Entrusting the game to the players, that's the demeanor of a Champion Coach! The Boston Celtics need to be careful."
Both teams, by unspoken agreement, reduced the playing time for their rotation players.
In this crucial game, everyone was sticking with their main players, and James seemed intent on completely taking over the game, continuing his scoring spree in the second quarter.
Every scramble for a rebound made the Boston Celtics fans present hold their breath.
Howard was charging too fiercely, and the Boston Celtics even found it difficult to launch an effective fast break.
By halftime, the score was 50:45, with the Cavaliers still firmly suppressing their opponents, and the TD Garden grew quiet.
Perhaps Rivers' halftime pep talk worked, as at the start of the third quarter, the The Big Four suddenly erupted in turns, driving and shooting, scoring continuously!
At a critical moment, Howard committed a turnover, and James missed shot after shot.
In less than two minutes, the deficit was erased.
As game time elapsed, the Cavaliers failed to respond in time.
After half a quarter, they suddenly fell behind by 6 points.
Van Gundy also lost his composure for a moment, constantly giving pep talks during the timeout:
"Steady the game pace, continue to attack the basket, trust each other, LeBron, pay attention to sharing the ball!"
James also hadn't expected the old guys on the other side to explode.
Hearing the Coach's instructions at this moment, he felt a bit annoyed but still nodded in agreement.
In the first possession after the timeout, Howard attempted a post-up in the left low block, but Garnett seized the opportunity and delivered a solid block.
"Oh!"
When Perkins controlled the ball, the Boston Celtics fans present cheered frantically.
Everyone was in an excited state.
Garnett, fully engaged in the game, faked after a screen in the left restricted area, making Howard jump.
With the ball in his left hand, he drove hard to the basket, attempting a one-handed dunk!
Howard, having lost face, was furious and pulled his opponent down, causing Garnett to fall heavily onto the floor.
"Fuck you!"
The front-row fans behind the basket were furious, standing up and shouting insults.
Perkins and Pierce immediately rushed onto the court, and when James also joined the fray, both sides erupted into a brawl.
Marbury and Delonte West exchanged punches, while Ray Allen tried to mediate, tightly holding onto Pierce.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas also stopped James.
With the help of the referees, the struggling sides were difficultly separated.
Garnett, who had fallen to the floor, refused the team doctors and atmosphere team who rushed over.
After sitting up, he flipped over and did two continuous push-ups.
When Garnett stood up and pounded his chest, roaring at the front-row fans, the TD Garden was completely engulfed in a crazy atmosphere.
"Ah!!!"
Tilting his head back and shouting at the top of his lungs, Garnett displayed his tough-guy nature, a 'ferocious' expression appearing on his dark face.
For a moment, the Boston Celtics' morale soared.
When Garnett served, the shouts grew louder and louder, and the Boston fans at the scene were greatly stimulated:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Seemingly intimidated by the opponent's momentum, the Cavaliers' offense gradually fizzled out, and James, who was frequently shooting, failed to respond in time.
By the end of the 3rd quarter, the Boston Celtics had overtaken their opponent and led by 6 points.
The Cavaliers' bench began to quiet down, and the game's momentum shifted.
Stimulated by the 'Iron-Blooded Push-ups,' the Boston Celtics finally erupted, firmly maintaining their lead.
When Howard received the ball in the low post, it was either a foul or a double-team.
The 'Dual Cores' fell behind, and the 'The Big Four' ultimately protected their home court.
When the buzzer sounded, the Boston fans at the scene were jumping and cheering, celebrating to their heart's content!
92:98, the series score came to 3:2, the Boston Celtics still had a chance.
At the end of the game, Head Coach Rivers rushed onto the court almost immediately, his face even redder with excitement, repeatedly punching the air to vent his exhilaration.
When he hugged Garnett, Rivers even shouted excitedly:
"Kevin, you are our hero! That was awesome! This is the greatest game I've ever experienced!"
12 of 20 from the field, 4 of 6 from the free-throw line, 28 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers.
Garnett, who scored the team's highest points, now put his arm around Head Coach and repeatedly punched the air towards the camera:
"Anything is possible!!"
Marbury and the others quickly gathered around.
Having 'escaped death,' everyone was incredibly excited at this moment.
They had not become the league's laughingstock.
LeBron James walked towards the tunnel in a less-than-beautiful mood.
He shot 12 of 26 from the field, 1 of 6 from beyond the arc, and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line, scoring a game-high 35 points, but he still lost the game.
Having missed a victory that was within reach, Dwight Howard also looked dejected.
He was somewhat displeased with his partner's offensive choices.
He only took 12 shots tonight.
At the post-game press conference, most sports reporters still favored the Cavaliers.
It was simply too difficult to come back from a 1:3 deficit, and Van Gundy, after all, was a Champion Coach who would not make mistakes.
The press conference was very harmonious, with both sides boasting.
When Van Gundy returned to the locker room, he sensed a somewhat subdued atmosphere, revealing a confident expression, and loudly encouraged them:
"We played very well tonight. Maintain this confidence, and we will end the series suspense in front of our home fans!"
"..."
Assistant Coach Thibodeau showed a hint of worry on his face.
He felt that the Boston Celtics were playing better than before, but at this moment, he could only trust his players:
"We must win the game at home."
On Thursday, May 15th, Boston newspapers were wildly praising Kevin Garnett's performance.
The 'Comeback Push-up' successfully broke through, and even casual fans began to participate in the topic.
While the neighboring city was celebrating, New York was full of sarcastic ridicule.
In several mainstream newspapers, column articles were filled with data analysis, showing New York fans how bad their opponents were!
It was difficult for the series to even reach 100 points, a situation that was hard to imagine for the current New York Knicks.
Looking at the Boston Celtics, who were still behind despite winning a game, New York fans felt a sense of superiority:
"The New York Knicks will only sweep their opponents in the semifinals!"
Traffic on Reddit had surged since last night.
Garnett's push-ups were made into a GIF by New York 'fun-seekers,' which perfectly contrasted with his GIF of fighting and retreating at Madison Square Garden.
Due to geographical proximity, the Boston Celtics also had many young fans.
No one wanted to be ridiculed when they were excited, and the two sides battled remotely, almost crashing the servers.
The New York Knicks coaching staff was also paying attention to their opponents, but Lee was still on vacation.
After an overnight training session last night, Lee, who woke up early, was in a 'harmonious' state.
The private and quiet environment of Peninsula Manor allowed him to put all trivial matters out of his mind.
When Scarlett, with her pregnant belly, appeared in the first-floor restaurant, she somewhat irritably handed over a copy of
The New Yorker magazine, squeezing next to Lee and saying dejectedly:
"Those damn film critics, even this box office can't shut their stinking mouths!"
Looking at the succubus with her golden hair tied up, Lee had her sit on his lap, then flipped through the magazine.
After seeing David Denby's article, he chuckled lightly and quipped:
"Maybe David Maisel forgot to pay his bill. These boring film reviews are just for show. Iron man is very successful. Our stock will appreciate very soon!"
Scarlett, blinking her big eyes, remembered the more than forty million dollars, and her mood immediately improved.
She wiggled in his arms and whispered into his ear:
"If the box office can exceed 300 million, can I play a role in the next one? I haven't filmed such a commercial movie before."
If Iron man had flopped, Scarlett would certainly not have been interested.
Now that the movie was a big hit, with excellent first-week box office results and still climbing in the second week, a sequel would most likely also be successful.
"I remember you liked those art films, didn't you? Iron can fighting..."
The succubus quickly kissed Lee, squeezing into his arms, and interrupted him in a soft, sweet voice:
"Getting a higher box office means making more money. Aren't you thinking of buying a ranch? I can make money to buy land..."
Hollywood is sometimes that realistic.
The box office determines everything.
As for those awards, they are only useful for top stars.
Downey, the drug addict, made a comeback this time, but he will still be exploited by Marvel later.
Lee never refused the girls' intention to make money to support him.
When Melinda appeared in the restaurant, still sleepy, she saw the succubus kissing him non-stop and also teased:
"I still remember at the premiere of 'The Horse Whisperer,' that little girl said she wouldn't consider commercial films in the future. Our little darling has really grown up!"
Mentioning past 'embarrassing incidents,' Scarlett was also a bit shy.
At that time, she was still underage, and now she had become a dairy succubus.
"Perlmutter is truly the stingiest CEO I've ever met! The premiere was terrible. He didn't even want to provide paper cups!"
Melinda pulled Scarlett to sit down, then turned to Lee to complain about the recent bad experiences at Marvel.
The premiere was ridiculed, and if not for the good box office results, it would likely have been laughed at for a year.
"An additional 6 million budget beyond the plan? We need to audit that. Revenue settlement is also a troublesome matter, and Merrill Lynch is probably not in the mood to focus on these."
Lee also saw the email content and casually asked.
Reshooting some segments had driven Perlmutter somewhat crazy.
Before the movie's release, he even had an argument with David Maisel and others.
"Making money is always better than losing money. I have the patience to follow up on this matter, and we can also increase investment in the second part. We can't let Scarlett's first commercial film fail."
Melinda, hugging the succubus, blinked her eyes, a smile revealing itself in her gaze.
Then she reached out and held the large, fair skin, causing the other to giggle.
She kneaded it and teased again:
"Being this big, will it really not be a problem for filming?"
On Friday, May 16th, the Boston Celtics visited Cleveland again, and that night's game attracted massive attention.
The Cavaliers fans showed their desire for victory, constantly cheering for their home team from the start of the game.
They firmly believed that Van Gundy and the The Chosen One could secure the win.
The game, which started at 7:30 PM, became exceptionally long, filled with muscle collisions, free throws, alternating leads, and several conflicts on the court.
When they took the lead at halftime, Quicken Loans Arena was filled with cheers, but after the second half began, as the 'The Big Four' erupted in turns in the 3rd quarter, the game was reversed again.
It was hard to imagine that the Cavaliers would face foul trouble at home, which made Van Gundy furious, and he received a technical foul shortly after the 4th quarter began.
Howard's early fouls became the turning point of the game.
In the following few minutes, James failed to respond in time, and the Boston Celtics' unity successfully stabilized the lead at 6 points.
"Referee suck!"
When the game ended, the broken Cavaliers fans collectively cursed the referees.
They were going to a Game 7 on the road!
88:82, the series score came to 3:3, and the Boston Celtics escaped a disaster.
In the buzzing Quicken Loans Arena, Van Gundy's face was flushed with anger.
After the game, he was still complaining to the scorer's table, a bad premonition forming in his heart:
"I'm going to appeal to the league! Damn it, you ruined the game!"
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)