Chapter 1 After a Day of Rest

After a day of rest, the Lakers and Celtics continued their fourth game of the Finals at the Boston Garden.

As a result, Su Feng felt this game was just like playing 2K on Hall of Fame difficulty against the computer.

In short:

The Celtics players on the other side couldn't miss, while his own teammates would hit the backboard even if there was no one within five meters.

Previously, at the end of the first two games, Su Feng had publicly praised the Lakers' bench in a post-game interview.

He claimed that the current Lakers could win the championship even without him.

But after these two games played at the Boston Garden...

The more effort Su Feng put into praising his teammates before, the more he wanted to find a piece of tofu to smash these disappointing guys to death one by one.

Because after defeating the Warriors, most Lakers players believed that the championship was a certainty. Therefore, everyone inevitably developed a sense of pride and complacency.

In addition, in the first two games of the Finals, although the Celtics players put up a tenacious resistance in the game, most Lakers players didn't feel the tension they had felt when playing the Warriors...

Therefore, the Lakers' rollercoaster performance in this year's Finals undoubtedly reaffirmed the famous saying:

Weakness and ignorance have never been obstacles to human survival.

Arrogance is.

In short, after the Celtics tied the series by winning two consecutive games at home, the situation of this Finals became unpredictable in an instant.

The only good news for the Lakers was that this year's Finals format was changed to 2-2-1-1-1.

So even if they lost two games in a row in Boston, they could return to Los Angeles to play a crucial Game 5 against the Celtics.

On the 16th, before Game 5 between the Lakers and Celtics began, ESPN specifically launched an online discussion about "Which team do you prefer to win Game 5?"

And the result was once again beyond people's expectations.

Because the Lakers, who had the two popular superstars Su Feng and Kobe, only received 35% of the votes.

In his previous life, when Su Feng was young and ignorant, he often saw people online saying that the Eagles were strong because the Eagle people worshiped the strong, and only the Rabbits sympathized with the weak.

But in fact...

As long as you know something about the NBA, you will know that this statement is completely mindless.

Because for basketball, a sport where the "heroic historical view" has almost permeated the entire history of the sport, foreigners will also sympathize more with "tragic heroes."

For example, Allen Iverson in Su Feng's memory.

In this life, from the bottom to the peak, and then from the peak to the bottom, although Duncan has never been elected as the vote leader in the All-Star voting session, but when he led the Celtics to appear on the stage of the Finals again at the age of 38, who wouldn't want to see Duncan lead the Celtics to end Su Feng's domination of the NBA and stage the fairy tale of the "ageless legend"?

Especially after the first two games of the Finals, when the entire North America no longer had hope for the Celtics.

Because the Celtics, returning to their home court, pulled off something that was almost impossible...

Therefore, this also made most neutral fans more inclined to the Celtics emotionally when making choices.

Just like the entire North America was cheering for Su Feng to overthrow Jordan's rule back then.

You know, people are happy to drag gods from their supreme seats and beat them up, which is not uncommon in sports.

Before the start of Game 5 of the Finals, the Lakers began to feel the pressure from the outside world.

At this time, Su Feng became the most relaxed person in the team.

Because if the Lakers players lacked pressure in Games 3 and 4.

Then at this moment, the Lakers must reduce pressure.

For a team that has won countless honors, Su Feng knows that these old problems in the Lakers are not only difficult to change, but also basically impossible to change.

In fact, if it weren't for his two lives, it would be difficult for Su Feng to maintain a normal heart at this moment.

Because the reason why there is no eternal king in competitive sports is precisely because no matter how great a team or individual is, they cannot guarantee that they can maintain their original intention after continuously achieving success.

Su Feng knew that this summer, it was time for the Lakers to rebuild.

Otherwise, once he and Kobe retire, even if the Lakers can recruit a group of young talents, they are likely to start a life of doing nothing because they have already achieved success.

In Su Feng's previous life, the 2018 World Cup was the best example.

Because a group of young talents from the Gallic Roosters made it all the way to the end, before Su Feng's rebirth, apart from some highly professional and highly motivated players, many of the French team's championship members later became world-renowned "garbage contracts."

On the evening of the 16th, after seeing off Kobe, who came to freeload for dinner, Su Feng specifically invited Kupchak to his home.

"You mean, apart from you, Kobe, and Marc, the players in this Lakers team are all chips we can use for trades?" Looking at Su Feng, Kupchak asked with a curious expression.

"Yes, because I promised Marc before that the Lakers wouldn't trade him before establishing a second dynasty, so apart from me, Kobe, and Marc, Mitch, as long as there's a suitable offer, we can trade with them," Su Feng said after nodding.

Hearing this, Kupchak was immediately shocked.

Seeing this, Su Feng smiled and said, "What's wrong, Mitch? Do you think I'm being a little too heartless?"

Kupchak shook his head and said, "No, I just think it's a pity that you don't become a general manager after you retire in the future."

As the saying goes, kindness does not control soldiers.

For the Lakers, retaining Su Feng, Kobe, and Gasol is enough to show the Lakers' human touch in the NBA, a commercial league.

Therefore, even if Su Feng didn't mention this matter to him tonight, Kupchak was planning to carefully discuss the Lakers' future rebuilding plan with Su Feng after the Finals.

On the evening of the 17th, Game 5 between the Lakers and Celtics was held at Staples Center.

Before the game, Su Feng specifically relieved the pressure on his teammates, saying, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in military affairs. You don't need to blame yourselves for the previous two losses.

I believe that as long as we can perform normally, we will definitely be able to laugh to the end in this Finals."

On the side, because Kobe was dissatisfied with Su Feng's pre-game speech not being passionate enough, after everyone dispersed, Kobe asked with a puzzled expression, "Why were you pinching me the whole time to stop me from speaking?"

Patting Kobe on the shoulder, Su Feng sighed and said, "Kobe, people's ability to withstand pressure is not the same.

For example, you, I wouldn't use this method to motivate you."

Kobe smiled and said, "Then how are you going to motivate me?"

Leaning close to Kobe's ear, Su Feng said this and that, and that and this.

Then, Kobe immediately exploded.

On the court, in this crucial Game 5, both the Lakers and Celtics continued their starting lineups from Game 4.

For the Celtics, Duncan led four small players, with Tony Allen continuing to start.

For the Lakers, Gasol, Garnett, Su Feng, Kobe, and Rondo lined up in a row.

In the center of the court, after the jump ball, the Lakers attacked first.

Su Feng received a pass from Rondo on the left wing and raised his hand to shoot.

Swish!

The basketball went into the net cleanly.

At the scene, the Lakers fans, who were originally worried about the Lakers' form in the past two games, immediately relaxed after Su Feng scored the first point for the Lakers.

Back on the other end, it was the Celtics' turn to attack.

Parker beat Rondo in a one-on-one situation, hitting a floater in front of the three-second area.

2 to 2.

The Lakers' offensive possession.

Kobe and Gasol ran a high pick-and-roll, forcing Duncan to switch onto him.

As Su Feng's most trusted teammate in this Lakers team whenever there was a crucial battle, Kobe did not disappoint Su Feng.

On the court, Kobe used a series of crossover dribbles to shake Duncan's center of gravity, then cleanly shot a three-pointer from the outside.

Swish!

2 to 5!

In his previous life, there was a joke in the underworld that Kobe could play balls that ordinary people couldn't play, and Kobe dared to play balls that ordinary people didn't dare to play.

Iron King's patent, iron first, then play.

Although this remark had the suspicion of criticizing Kobe.

But from a certain point of view, it also proved that Kobe has always had absolute confidence in himself.

Immediately afterwards, the Celtics' offensive possession.

At the moment when Duncan received the ball and was about to take off, Su Feng suddenly rushed out from the side and rear, forcing Duncan to switch to his left hand to complete the shot.

To be reasonable, this ball also means that Duncan knows Su Feng's chasing and blocking ability inside and out.

Otherwise, if you change to a reckless young man, you will definitely get blocked.

It's a pity that after Duncan switched hands, Duncan couldn't find the right point to hit the backboard.

After the basketball bounced off the rim, it was obtained by Garnett.

On the court, the Lakers immediately seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

Rondo leaned against Parker and scored a layup, successfully drawing Parker's foul and getting the opportunity to add a free throw.

In front of the free throw line, Rondo steadily put the ball in.

3 to 8.

On CCTV, seeing this scene, Director Zhang smiled and said, "This is the Lakers we are familiar with! Integrated offense and defense!"

On the side, Yu Jia also echoed, "It seems that after returning to Los Angeles, Su Feng and the Lakers' coaching staff have done a lot of ideological work for the Lakers players.

Judging from their mental outlook, the Lakers are obviously different from before in this game."

On the court, in the first quarter, the Celtics' offense encountered trouble.

Because the outside line could not be opened, Duncan and Parker's offensive space was also getting smaller and smaller.

After being one hundred and twenty percent focused, the Lakers always put pressure on the Celtics' outside players.

Staples Center, at the end of the first quarter, the score between the Lakers and Celtics was 21 to 34.

Su Feng and Kobe had 10 points and 9 points respectively in the first quarter, and both showed good form.

In the second quarter, Middleton played, and as a result, the century-old problem that had not appeared in this series appeared in front of Karl and Bird.

That is, if two of the three of Su, Kobe, and Middleton break out, the Lakers will become indestructible. What if these three break out together in a game?

On the court, during the halftime break, the ice-cold score on the on-site timer almost instantly plunged the Celtics fans into despair.

At the end of the first half, 44 to 71.

Faced with the Lakers' best first half of the season...

To quote the TNT TV crosstalk quartet, it is...

Compared to continuing to fight in this crucial Game 5, the Celtics now clearly need to prepare in advance for Game 6 to be moved to Boston.

After the halftime break, Karl withdrew the three veterans Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker after only half a quarter of the third quarter.

In his previous life, it was not uncommon for two teams, which were originally evenly matched before the series, to play a one-sided game in the game.

Because this is the most unique charm of basketball.

But different from those games...

This game, without the Lakers hardly changing their tactical strategy, Karl and Bird knew very well...

Although this Lakers team has a lower limit that far exceeds expectations due to some special reasons.

However, their upper limit is also far beyond imagination.

In the final quarter, after the Celtics replaced all the substitute lineups, this crucial Game 5 officially declared that it had entered "garbage time".

In the end, the score of the crucial Game 5 between the two teams was 94 to 123.

The Lakers, sitting at home, took the lead in getting the match point of this year's Finals with a 29-point victory.

Throughout the game, Su and Kobe joined forces to contribute 74 points, 19 rebounds, 17 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks.

Middleton also had 26 points.

After the game, when evaluating this game, Karl bluntly said, "With the opponent's three players joining forces to get 100 points, I believe that no team can beat this Lakers team tonight."

According to the schedule, Game 6 between the Lakers and Celtics will start on the 20th.

After Game 5, Celtics fans had another bout of PTSD when facing Su Feng. (Note 1)

Online, some pessimistic Celtics fans even said that they would not watch Game 6 between the Celtics and the Lakers.

Because they were really afraid of being beaten by Su Feng.

However, in Su Feng's view, people who can say this kind of thing cannot be considered true Celtics fans at all.

Because the game hasn't been played yet, who knows who will win in the end?

And if you really want to compare who is more miserable...

Where can the Celtics fans of this period compare to Arsenal, who will soon not even be able to compete for the top four?

"After the first five games, I believe you all, like me, hope to end this Finals as soon as possible to avoid any unexpected changes.

Therefore, before we leave, I just want to tell you one sentence...

Before the final victory comes, don't repeat AC Milan's mistakes from back then!" Early in the morning of the 18th, Su Feng gave a speech at the team meeting before the team set off for Boston.

Although in the NBA, not every player likes football like Kobe, but in the past two years, because Su Feng often uses "Istanbul Night" as an example, most Lakers players know what Emperor Feng wants to express at this moment.

In competitive sports, there are too many variables and uncertainties in away games.

Therefore, although the Lakers defeated the Celtics in a crushing manner in the crucial Game 5, Su Feng did not think that the Lakers could easily win in the next Game 6.

Admittedly, the Lakers are far superior to the Celtics in terms of absolute strength.

But, since the Celtics were able to win twice in Boston before.

Naturally, it is also possible to win for the third time.

On the 18th, just after arriving in Boston and checking into the hotel, the Lakers players fully felt the hospitality of the local people in Boston.

Before the game, Coach Lue only arranged for the team to have shooting training and recovery training.

In addition, Little Buss and Kupchak also flew to Boston in advance.

Because in a series, Game 7 means anything can happen, so it is obvious that the entire Lakers team is prepared to lift the trophy on the road.

On the evening of the 19th, because the Lakers had already gotten the match point, the NBA staff also conducted a rehearsal for the championship celebration in advance at the Boston Garden.

Moreover, the O'Brien Cup, which symbolizes the highest honor of the NBA team, was also transported to Boston that night.

On the evening of the 20th, don't look at the fact that a feeling of "pessimism" has enveloped the entire Boston before the game, but when the players of the two teams were warming up before the game, the Celtics fans at the scene still rendered the atmosphere of the Boston Garden to the extreme.

True die-hard fans will never surrender before the game is over.

As a team that has won the championship eighteen times in NBA history, this is the foundation of the Boston Celtics!

In the stands, looking at the players of the two teams who were about to appear on the stage, Stern, who also came to the scene tonight, couldn't help but sigh: "When I first took charge of the NBA, it was the peak of the Lakers and Celtics rivalry.

But I didn't expect that before I retire, the league would return to the era of the Lakers and Celtics rivalry again."

On the side, Marc smiled and said, "Maybe this is the so-called fate and reincarnation!"

At the scene, when the players of the two teams were performing the appearance ceremony, the close-up shots also specifically gave the Celtics celebrities who were sitting side by side on the sidelines tonight.

On TNT TV, seeing this, O'Neal said with a look of gloating: "It would be fun if the Lakers win the championship in the Celtics' home tonight."

In the studio, looking at O'Neal, who was obviously more biased towards the Lakers, the other three immediately laughed.

Because even if the grievances between him and the Lakers back then were inextricable.

The fact proves that O'Neal obviously still deeply loves this Lakers team.

On the court, after warming up, the big screen immediately gave the starting lineups of the two teams tonight.

Lakers: Gasol, Garnett, Su Feng, Kobe, Rondo.

Celtics: Duncan, Leonard, Ariza, Tony Allen, Parker.

In the center of the court, Gasol and Duncan were responsible for the jump ball to start the game.

Duncan jumped off the opening attack for the Celtics.

Ariza, who had his right to breathe taken away by the Celtics fans because he was 0 for 9 in the previous Game 5, came up and hit a three-pointer for the Celtics in the left corner.

0 to 3.

Because this loss of points was caused by Kobe encountering Duncan's pick-and-roll delay in defense.

So, as soon as he came back, Kobe, who has always liked to return the opponent's "Answer.Ball", took the initiative to ask for the ball at the top arc, trying to return the color.

And about two seconds later...

In the restricted area, Duncan also laughed at the rebound sent by Kobe, his old iron.

In the low post, the thin Ariza is difficult to stop Kobe's inside attack.

So after G1, once Kobe falls into the low post, Tony Teacher, who plays as a starting shooting guard for the Celtics after changing to a four-small lineup, will switch defenses with him.

But on the perimeter, it is not easy for Kobe to penetrate Ariza, who is tall and has long arms.

On the court, it was the Celtics' turn to attack.

Leonard, who had difficulty moving under Su Feng's defense, turned around and gave the ball to Parker, who came to meet him.

Seeing that the offensive time had been consumed by seven or eight eighths, Parker resolutely completed the shot after holding the ball and breaking into the top arc.

Bang, swish!

This is a front-on bank shot two-pointer that is somewhat lucky.

Parker is lucky tonight.

0 to 5.

Lakers ball.

After crossing with Kobe, Su Feng sank into the low post.

Gasol passed the ball in time, and Su Feng pretended to smear it inside to trick Leonard, then turned over and leaned back in the opposite direction and hit the shot.

2 to 5.

On CCTV, seeing this, Director Zhang shook his head repeatedly and said: "I can fully understand Leonard's mood at this moment.

Because matching up with Su Feng...

If you are not careful, you will be played so that you will be furious."

On the court, it was the Celtics' turn to attack.

Gasol withstood Duncan and forced him to almost lose his center of gravity when he turned around and hooked.

But after the basketball touched the backboard, Duncan's hook somehow drilled into the net.

Absolutely!

For Duncan's kind of metaphysical bank shot...

Besides being absolute, at this moment, you can't think of any other adjectives at all.

The Lakers' offensive possession.

After Su Feng was double-teamed in the low post, he transferred the ball to the outside.

After Rondo's tossing, the basketball came into Kobe's hands.

Boston Garden, tremble!

Before the shot, Kobe's murderous aura tonight can be described as soaring into the sky.

That is...

Dang!

Su Feng, Kobe: "......"

"Kobe's touch tonight seems to be a little bit off." On CCTV, Director Zhang said with a pity.

And on the side, after pondering for a few seconds, Yu Jia finally chose to give Director Zhang some face.

Because can Kobe's touch tonight be called not so good?

Kobe, who was 0 for 7 in the first quarter, is clearly a spy sent by the Celtics to the Lakers tonight!

Boston Garden, at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers were 25 to 27 behind.

During the intermission, Yu Jia said: "If it weren't for the Lakers' good defense tonight, I'm afraid they would have been behind by double digits after the first quarter."

And on the Lakers' bench, Kobe, who has always been extremely confident in himself, began to doubt his life at this time.

Because tonight, apart from the first ball, which was questionable in terms of shooting choice, Kobe's other 6 shots were basically open shots, or one-on-one opportunities that his teammates pulled out for him.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Su Feng's big hand successfully "comforted" Kobe.

On the bench, pressing on the smooth head that only he could press in the Lakers team, Su Feng said to Kobe: "You wouldn't be feeling guilty because you didn't score a goal in the first quarter, would you?"

"This doesn't look like the Kobe Bryant I remember at all." After a pause, Su Feng continued to say to Kobe.

Hearing this, after hesitating to smack his tongue, Kobe held his collar in his mouth and said: "Actually, before this game started, I did think about competing with you for the Finals

……

ps: 8.6k big chapter is here! Well, to express my apology for the previous "one million promise", continue with 8k tomorrow!

Note 1: PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Fa Biao De Wo Niu