Chapter 181 Unstoppable
The New Jersey Nets' opponents in the Atlantic Division, from the day they rose, only the 76ers led by Iverson can compete with them. The rest, like New York and the Raptors, do not pose a threat to them.
Especially in the past four or five seasons, with Kidd as the leader, the New Jersey Nets have completely overwhelmed the New York team on this acre of three-point land in New York, and have become the boss of this land.
Although they have been trying to squeeze into the metropolis of New York and want to gain a foothold in Brooklyn, the new stadium has been hanging, and the Nets are now a New York suburban team at most.
However, with Kidd in charge and Frank in charge, these guys from New Jersey have always been able to steadily occupy the vanguard in the Atlantic region and rarely have any fluctuations in their performance.
Even if their strength is not as fierce as in the previous two seasons, in the Atlantic Division, when Iverson is there, he can lead the team to attack them, and the remaining opponents are not afraid.
At least in Frank's mind, before the new season begins, especially when the Sixers knocks down and rebuilds, he has not yet regarded other opponents in the region as a potential threat.
This is a kind of confidence. Frank doesn't think there are any teams in this area that can knock down the Nets. His mind is more focused on those opponents in the playoffs.
But when the Celtics completed the transaction, the original order was instantly changed. The New Jersey, who had always thought he could continue to control the position of the leader of the Atlantic Division, hit a piece of iron this time.
Frank actually had been careful before coming to Boston. After all, this was related to the battle for the top spot in this region. Although many people still believe that Boston does not have the ability to overturn the Nets for the time being.
But with Frank's cautious personality, he didn't think he had much advantage.
But defense is always passive, and Frank still can't figure out how fierce the Celtics can play.
But just in front of his tactic of being stable, at the beginning of the game, the bandits wearing green uniforms had already shown their bayonets. The attitude of trying hard to get up was really a bit unbearable.
Regardless of it, the Celtics came up to attack the Nets and were beaten up, inside and outside. Wherever they could see a living person, these guys would play extremely fiercely.
Especially the bald wild boy, Frank was so angry that he rubbed his hands on the sidelines. He really had no choice but to take advantage of the animal, so he could only watch him as he was overturned under the basket.
Although Collins is more than two meters tall and ten meters tall, his large size is a barrier in the Nets, but in front of Chen Feng's impact, he is like a sand dam facing the surging tide.
It was really hard to stop him. It was not that Collins didn't work hard, but that he really couldn't stand Chen Feng's fierce charge. Every impact made his rib bones ached faintly.
It was completely head-on, there was no need to retreat, there was no need to pretend to be a fake move, just let you watch me jump and look up. Whether you were jumping and blocking the cover or holding it on, Chen Feng had a way to push the basketball into the basket.
When the first quarter ended, Frank already knew that things were not good, although the score was only 29:27, the Celtics led by two points to end the fight in the first quarter.
But a coach like Frank, who has been with the NBA for several years, can still smell the danger from it. The inside line only scored 4 points and 5 rebounds for the Nets. This is the full contribution of Kelstic and Collins.
The inside offense was not smooth, which Frank had already estimated before the game. After all, the Nets' inside offense was never strong. Even in the two years since entering the finals, their inside offense was not very strong.
But at this moment, Frank missed the stubborn man Kenyon Martin who had already left Denver. Although that guy's offensive skills were extremely rough, the beast could still grab rebounds.
Think about it, although Martin was ineffective in offense, this guy was able to control rebounds well every game, at least he would not let his opponents rage in the inside line.
However, this kind of thought with a little complaint would be at most a twitch in Frank's head.
No one can change the opinions of the team management, and Frank is just a good coach.
Even if he is unhappy, he has to endure it. Whether he is willing or not, the Nets' inside lineup is just like this. Want to trade? Then wait, the boss has no plans yet.
No points, no rebounds, no blocks, this is the Nets' inside line, and they are completely a group of three-no people.
So, Frank didn't expect these guys to lock out the fierce offensive firepower of the Celtics, but he really didn't expect that those green-clothed bandits could play so well in the inside.
Especially the bald animal at No. 99, with 11 points, which may be acceptable to Frank, but looking at the rebounding statistics, Frank was a little bit trying to swear and scold the street.
Damn! In the first quarter! Even if this guy has been jumping on the court for the whole 12 minutes, he can't just let him get 10 rebounds in one go! And there are 3 other ones with frontcourt rebounds!
What is this situation? Frank really wants to pull the two big guys in his inside line over and ask, is he letting go, or is he really working hard to play basketball?
Although the kid had two fouls in the first quarter, who can explain those 3 blocks? Carter, Richard Jefferson, these two unlucky guys became the souls of the bald wild boy slap them.
Especially Carter, he was covered in the first breakthrough, but before the end of the first quarter, he broke through to the basket again. This time he learned to learn, first with a fake move, and then with a basket picking.
Carter had no intention of dunking at that time. He just wanted to score safely and tie the score in the last attack, so after he faked his move, he then took a light basket pick.
This is a very wise choice no matter who you look at it, but in the eyes of the more than 10,000 fans at the scene, no matter who they are or what method they use, they cannot escape the fate of being blocked.
As it turned out, these Boston supporters were too prescient. As soon as Carter's movement came out, the basketball even broke out from his fingertips, and a wind came from behind him.
There was no time to hide, and this accurate attack seemed to be just not planning to make any changes in Carter's attack. As soon as the basketball left his fingertips, he slapped him horizontally.
"Bang!", the crisp sound exploded in Carter's ears. Even though Carter reacted quickly, he was scraped by the scalp by the fierce thrust, causing a terrifying feeling.
Originally, the Nets had such a chance to tie the score, but with just a slap, he slapped Carter's basket away, and by the way, Frank's face was so gloomy.
Jefferson was not so fierce, with only 4 points and 4 rebounds. The mutual cover and cooperation between him and Chen Feng made the Nets unable to resist.
The Nets relied on Kidd's three-pointers to catch up in the first quarter. Apart from the first attack at the beginning, they never took the lead, just chasing behind the opponent's butt.
This is what Frank is most worried about. Kidd has never been a standard three-pointer, but this time it doesn't seem so easy whether he wants to hold the ball and cut in or thread a needle.
No one in the inside could provide him with pick-and-roll cover. Collins tried twice, but they were all squeezed away by the extremely strong animal behind him, and Kidd's breakthrough was also stopped by the opponent.
This forced Kidd to no avail and fired outside the three-point line. It was too difficult for the old guy who had never hit 40% of the three-point shooting percentage.
Fortunately, God favored Kidd on this damn night. He made three shots four times and made them. This fierce three-pointer was also the only way for the Nets to hold the Celtics back.
This is not only Kidd, but also Richard Jefferson, who was restricted in the breakthrough. This guy could only run to medium and long distance to open fire. His three-pointer and three jump shots were also the motivation for the Nets to keep up with the points. In addition to the two of them, Eddie House, who stood up from the bench, was also the same.
But this unreliable super high hit rate has made Frank frown. He would not naively think that Kidd can always maintain such tough accuracy.
When your team is limited by the opponent and can only shoot on the periphery and score on jump shots, that is a very big trouble, and the Nets are already in this trouble.
This is a completely alternative replica of the first match between the Nets and the Celtics in the new season. The New Jerseys were at home and led the way since the start. By the fourth quarter, the game was already garbage time.
Frank's deployment of troops and tactical adjustments in the second and third quarters seemed to be struggling. Rivers was there just to deal with the moves and continue to consolidate his advantages.
Chen Feng, Jefferson, Perkins, and the three of them firmly controlled the rebound. Outside were Novak, Pierce, Szebiac and Rondo, plus Spreville and Tony Allen.
Especially when Spreville was on the sidelines for more than a quarter and didn't play, Rivers suddenly replaced him, and Richard Jefferson hit such a rock-solid old guy there.
As soon as Tony Allen left, he changed to such a more livestock person. Richard Jefferson almost beat the floor and cried bitterly, "Damn it! After all, do you still let people live!"
The Nets' offense was not smooth, but the shooting feel of Szebiak and Pierce was already hot and boiling. Whether it was mid-range or three-pointer, they all shot like a divine help.
Just like this, the bombardment took turns, and in the last two or three minutes of the third quarter, the Nets' enthusiasm was completely wiped out.
At the end of the second quarter, they were only five points behind, but by the end of the third quarter, the gap had widened to fifteen points.
In just one quarter, or in the last three minutes, the Nets seemed to have completely lost their sight.
Whether it was Kidd's shooting or Richard Jefferson's jump shot, including Carter and House, all these guys who could score were shut down almost at the same time, just like an appointment.
This made Frank helpless. He didn't roar or roar, but this voice was simply weak among the shouts of more than 10,000 fans.
Boston fans went completely crazy in the last few minutes of the third quarter. All of these loyal supporters stood up and stood up like this, watching Pierce and Chen Feng succeeded again and again.
"celtics!celtics!celtics!", this sound that was completely roaring and echoed throughout the North Shore Garden Stadium!
With these guys roaring, do you still expect these guys who have been crazy to stop? Frank called for a pause in the last few minutes, but he didn't hold back the feeling of these animals.
Pierce and Chen Feng joined forces to score 11 points in less than three minutes. This is not a great achievement, but these guys forced the Nets to score only 1 point, which is the most deadly thing.
11:1, it was just such a wave of attack that completely defeated the confidence of the boss of the Atlantic Division. As soon as the fourth quarter came up, it started 5:0. After continuing to persist for less than 5 minutes, Frank completely gave up.
Rivers didn't beat the fallen dog, but he could make the team beat the opponent completely when both sides were the main players, which was already the goal.
This chubby guy didn't ask for much, he just needed to use his record to justify himself. His Celtics are no longer the gangsters of last season!
100:82, not a crazy victory, but the 18-point gap is enough to erase their away defeat. Although the season is not over yet, Rivers has already pulled the initiative back into his hands.
"I hope we will be winners next time we meet." This is the answer Rivers answered the reporter's question after the game. At this time, he doesn't need to be very humble. If he wins, he will win.
As for what Frank's expression was, Rivers had no obligation to care about it. All he needed to do was to overturn the other party so fiercely when he met next time!
Who is the boss? Have you seen it clearly? The boss is here! You New Jerseys have been sitting in the position of the boss of the Atlantic Division for a long time! Now, it’s time to change people!
Although the Nets are still ahead of the Celtics in rankings, for Rivers and his gang of animals, the opponent who has already killed once will be easier next time.
Originally, after killing the Grizzlies, Rivers wanted to win at least four of the six games before Christmas. When they have completed the mission ahead of schedule, this bandits are extremely fierce.
Who can stop them? There are two opponents before Christmas. Can they? Now no one dares to draw a conclusion, because no one knows how fierce these Boston bandits can be.
If you get angry, you will definitely not have any good results...
Chapter completed!