Jordan: I thought he was there to help me!

Chapter 1140 Parker Destroyed! French Sports Car Seriously Out of Control!

After Duncan scored this basket, the Lakers still had a 2-point advantage. Of course, Lin Tian wouldn't panic or lose his composure just because Duncan scored this basket. On the contrary, Lin Tian became happy.

If even Parker didn't realize that Lin Tian's trash talk had affected his mood and caused him not to pass the ball directly to Duncan, then Lin Tian noticed it immediately.

He's always been very confident about when his trash talk will take effect and what kind of results it will produce.

After all, this is what I do, right?

If you don't even know or realize whether your trash talk was effective or whether your opponent fell for it after you've finished trash-talking, then all those trash talk was for nothing.

But now, Parker has unknowingly fallen into the trap, which makes the Lakers' next game much easier!

After arriving at the frontcourt, Lin Tian once again turned sideways to block Parker, observing the situation on the court, and casually said, "Don't you know how to feed the ball to the inside players?"

"I'll teach you! As the older brother, I'll give you a free lesson."

After Lin Tian finished speaking, he grabbed the basketball with one hand and threw it towards the basket.

Bynum caught the ball under the basket and unleashed his signature move, a series of quick footwork changes, before suddenly turning and hooking the ball.

However, Duncan is a seasoned veteran. He jumped up to contest the shot, successfully causing Bynum's isolation play to bounce off the rim.

Then Duncan reached out and passed the ball to Green on the other side. Green dribbled forward and then quickly stopped in the frontcourt before passing the ball to Parker again.

As Parker received the ball, Lin Tian blocked his way once again, laughing and saying, "Tony, hurry up and give the ball to Tim. Didn't you notice that if you had given the ball to Tim just now, he could have scored immediately?"

"Stop wasting time here, hurry up and pass the ball to help the team."

Parker was feeling quite frustrated. He knew he should pass the ball to Duncan, but he didn't want to just do it like that. He suddenly hated the feeling of being completely predicted.

Then, Parker turned the ball to one side, and after a series of passes on the Celtics' perimeter, the ball finally came into Duncan's hands again.

Just like before, Duncan still didn't get the basketball when he was in the most comfortable position.

The Lakers' defensive rotations were very fast. When Duncan got the ball, Lin Tian had already crept over from the weak side, appeared in Duncan's blind spot, and suddenly reached out to steal the ball, hitting Duncan before he could even get a firm grip on it.

The basketball flew out, and Lin Tian sprinted forward, rushing to catch it and launching another counterattack.

Lin Tian's first step forward was a behind-the-back dribble followed by a side step, which shook off Parker, who was trying to block him. Lin Tian then continued his charge forward without slowing down.

The Celtics' collective defense was quite good. After Duncan made a mistake, the players all retreated quickly. Although Parker was easily outmaneuvered by Lin Tian, ​​the others quickly surrounded Lin Tian.

Green and Bradley double-teamed Lin Tian in front of their own three-point line.

However, it is well known that the benefits of ganking Lin Tian have always been extremely low.

Unless his teammates are all in terrible form and can't even make an open shot, Lin Tian's vision and passing skills can instantly break through any double team.

For example, in this play, while Lin Tian was being double-teamed, he had already found an open teammate. With a one-handed bounce, the basketball passed between Green's legs and flew directly to the cutting Thomas.

Isaiah Thomas suddenly stopped with the basketball, then pulled up and launched a mid-range jump shot.

"Whoosh!"

With a crisp sound, the basketball obediently went into the basket once again.

After coming on in the second quarter, Isaiah Thomas scored 4 points in a row.

"Tony, what are you doing?" After Thomas scored, Duncan didn't rush to inbound the ball for a counterattack. Instead, he slapped Parker's head and ruffled his hair for a while before saying, "Were you affected by that bastard's trash talk?"

"I..." Parker tried to explain, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he couldn't say anything and couldn't explain at all.

Because he was indeed influenced by Lin Tian's trash talk!

"It's alright." Duncan and Parker had been partners for many years, and he could tell from Parker's expression that he had regained consciousness. He didn't say anything more, but instead patted Parker's head again before leaving satisfied.

Parker was touched by his older brother's understanding and insight. He had made a series of mistakes, but Duncan hadn't shown a single hint of complaint. This made Parker determined to play better from now on!

He had absolutely no idea that Duncan was actually thinking, "Without Manu's roundness, it's not as satisfying to knead."

In the frontcourt, Parker once again faced Lin Tian at the top of the arc, but this time he didn't fight against himself. He seized the opportunity when Duncan was positioning himself and passed the ball in the instant before Lin Tian had settled down and Bynum hadn't gotten into position.

Duncan was very comfortable after getting the ball. He didn't need to put the basketball below his chest. He just turned halfway and did a quick hook shot to put the basketball into the basket steadily.

As Duncan gets older, he can no longer engage in the kind of hard-fought one-on-one battles in the low post.

His current playing style is better suited to receiving the ball in the low post and then quickly and concisely taking a shot after one or two confrontations or a fake move.

With so much competition and such aggressive playing, Duncan is now prone to fatigue.

After Duncan's successful basket, the Celtics' morale was noticeably boosted, and they withstood the Lakers' attack, successfully completing the defensive play.

Turning back to the frontcourt, Duncan moved to the top post this time. After a pick-and-roll with Parker at the top of the key, Parker passed the ball back to Duncan. Duncan held the ball high at the high post, observed for a moment, and then suddenly passed the ball to the baseline.

Danny Green!

Green, who is nicknamed "Zhang Tielin" and doesn't have an infallible shooting touch yet, is currently in his best form.

"Whoosh!"

With a crisp sound, Green's three-pointer swished through the net.

The Celtics went on a 5-0 run.

However, the Lakers quickly regained their rhythm, and Lin Tian stabilized the situation for the team with his layup. The two teams then went back and forth on the court and entered a stalemate again.

With 7 minutes and 20 seconds left in the second quarter, Celtics' Paul George called a timeout after a Lakers turnover that went out of bounds.

It's time to take a break!

"After this timeout, I think both sides will get their starting lineups back!" Miller said confidently. "The probing phase is almost over, and now it's time for a real battle."

"Let's see if the Celtics can cause the Lakers any trouble without Garnett."

Van Gundy said, "Duncan and Bass were actually in pretty good form tonight, and they can largely fill the void left by Garnett's absence, especially Bass's playing style, which is very similar to Garnett's."

"Both of them are very good at catch-and-shoot after pick-and-rolls. Bass hit two mid-range shots in the first quarter, both of which were catch-and-shoot after pick-and-rolls with James. It's conceivable that when Garnett comes back, he will provide James with more solid screens and more consistent shooting."

"Not to mention Garnett's defensive influence was something Bass could never match!"

"When Garnett returns, the Celtics will definitely be stronger. A fully-fledged Celtics team like that will be even more formidable."

Jackson said, "It's too early to talk about that now. The game isn't even halfway through yet. Maybe we should focus more on the rest of the game. Look, both teams' players have already taken the field. Hahaha, hahaha, Reggie, how about you introduce the players for both teams?"

Van Gundy glanced at the players coming on the field and immediately burst into laughter: "Hahaha, it seems neither of the two head coaches wants to adopt Reggie's plan."

The reason the two were laughing so happily was clearly not just because neither side had managed to get back their starting lineup as Miller had suggested, but also because both coaches had actually made large-scale rotations at this point.

The Lakers acquired Lin Tian and Bynum in exchange for Kobe and Durant, while the Celtics rested Parker and Duncan in exchange for James and others.

"They're both being quite cautious." Miller decisively ignored his two friends' teasing and said to himself, "At this point, both coaches have chosen to let their core players who have played a lot of time rest. It seems that their goal is to conserve their strength and then go all out to push for the end of the second quarter."

"They'll definitely want to take the lead before halftime! So they'll focus on the last five minutes of the first half; that period will definitely be the first highlight of the night!"

After saying all that, Miller glanced at the two people next to him with a smug look. They were both veteran commentators who had been doing this for many years. Did they really think they could break his spirit with such a small challenge?

What are you thinking about!

On the court, after Parker went to rest, James naturally took on the responsibility of being the team's point guard, fully assuming the duties of the point guard position.

It must be said that although some people always say that James is overstepping his bounds and will marginalize and reduce the function of his team's point guard.

But James' vision and passing skills are truly exceptional. His massive 2-meter frame allows him to overlook almost the entire court and spot his teammates' positions immediately.

For example, in this play, James ran a pick-and-roll as usual. When Bass split up to receive the ball and shoot, drawing a lot of the Lakers' defensive attention, James was looking at Bass, but the ball flew towards the other corner.

A no-look pass almost shook off the entire Lakers defense, and the ball came to Green in the corner. Green, who had just hit a three-pointer, caught the ball and launched another three-pointer!

"Whoosh!"

Another hit!

This striker, who just joined the Celtics this summer, will definitely satisfy all Celtics fans with his performance tonight.

What pleases Celtics fans is clearly not just his accurate three-point shooting.

In the next possession, when Kobe was in the low post against Green, Green used his height and wingspan to successfully disrupt Kobe's shot, causing Kobe's jump shot to bounce off the rim.

In the following possessions, Green continued to match up against Kobe. Whether Kobe chose to drive to the basket or back down to attack, Green's defense was always there for him.

Although he didn't get any steals or blocks, Kobe didn't suffer any ridiculous streaks of missed shots because of his defense.

However, Kobe, who performed brilliantly in the first quarter, did show a noticeable decline in form under Green's defense and was unable to maintain his excellent shooting touch.

"Green's defense is even better than I expected!" Miller said. "His defense is excellent, and combined with his great wingspan and strength, Green held his own against Kobe. If Green can maintain his shooting touch, he will definitely be the most important piece of the Celtics' championship puzzle!"

Van Gundy said, "But I think the bigger problem is obviously with Kobe himself. Kobe's age and injuries have had a significant impact on him, especially the knee injuries that have plagued him for many years, which have greatly reduced his explosiveness."

"Kobe can maintain his offensive threat in the low post with his experience and skills, but when facing the basket, his explosiveness is not enough. At the very least, Green is not a defender known for his lateral quickness and agility."

"But even so, Kobe couldn't shake off Green's defense at the high post."

"Speaking of age and injuries," Jackson continued, "the Lakers have a monster like this. He's older than Kobe, but he doesn't seem to have any injuries, and his speed hasn't declined at all despite his age."

"Even after an offseason, he hasn't shown any signs of decline or getting worse. He's still incredibly strong. At the very least, a point guard like Parker, who's already a top-tier player in the league, is no match for him!"

Although Jackson didn't say the name, everyone knew who he was talking about.

In this league, who else can defy time and compete with 20-somethings in terms of physical strength and speed at the age of 40?

Only Lin Tian is left!

It was at this moment, when James of the Celtics drove into the basket and slammed home a one-handed dunk, that Jackson calmly made a substitution, bringing on Lin Tian and Bynum to replace McRoberts and Thomas.

The current score is 46-40, with the Celtics leading by 6 points and 4 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Lakers were the first to bring back their full starting lineup!

"Isaiah Thomas was another role player who performed well tonight!" Miller immediately praised Thomas as he left the court, saying, "He's already scored 6 points, which means he's continued his preseason firepower and form."

"If Isaiah Thomas can maintain his scoring efficiency, he will definitely be able to break into the Lakers' rotation and become the team's most important scoring weapon on the bench."

"The vacancy left by Terry can now be filled."

As he spoke, Lin Tian had already dribbled the ball to the frontcourt. The six-point deficit did not cause Lin Tian any anxiety or worry, and even the fans in the arena did not feel anxious because of the team's temporary deficit.

Especially after Lin Tian entered the game, the Lakers fans cheered even louder, shouting and encouraging the players on the court.

The atmosphere is heating up again!

"Come on, boss!" Parker clapped his hands, lowered his center of gravity, and stared intently at Lin Tian. His performance today was quite terrible. He had only scored 3 points so far in the game, and he had only made 1 of 2 free throws.

He only managed one rebound and two assists. Although he didn't make any outrageous mistakes, his performance tonight was unacceptable by any measure.

Now that Lin Tian has returned to the court, Parker knows that if he wants to save face tonight, the most important thing is the last four minutes of the first half.

He needs to make a few impressive plays and prove that he is still a top-tier point guard in the league.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Lin Tian!

Trying to regain face against Lin Tian, ​​or to unleash one's full potential against him, is an incredibly difficult task, practically hellish.

Lin Tian certainly wouldn't let Parker use him to regain his form; on the contrary, Lin Tian was the type to take advantage of someone's weakness to his advantage.

If Parker is in bad form, then we have to keep chasing and beating you!

Lin Tian turned his back again, used his shoulder to push, and drove all the way to the inside.

Then, Lin Tian noticed out of the corner of his eye that Bradley was chasing after him from the other side. Lin Tian immediately turned around and, in the instant he completed the turn, he simply pulled up and took a mid-range jump shot.

"Whoosh!"

A crisp sound, and it's in!

After scoring, Lin Tian looked at Parker, who was standing still without reaching out or jumping, and said, "Want me to use a feint? Don't worry, there's no need. I don't need to use feints against you, I can just shoot directly."

"Especially if I fake you out or trick you into committing a foul, what if your coach substitutes you out? Hitting someone else isn't as easy as beating you up!"

FUXX!

Even though he had a very good relationship with Lin Tian, ​​and even though they hadn't been teammates for almost 10 years, he still regarded Lin Tian as his older brother, Parker was still furious in this situation.

He's an All-Star, and he's been selected to the All-NBA Team multiple times. Doesn't he care about his reputation?

Upon reaching the frontcourt, Parker did not pass the ball to James to organize the offense this time. Instead, he dribbled the ball himself to look for an opportunity. Then, he suddenly made a crossover and accelerated, trying to force his way past Lin Tian's defense. At the same time as he accelerated, Duncan's figure also appeared beside Lin Tian.

The chemistry between the two was unparalleled. Without Parker needing to make any gestures, Duncan knew what Parker wanted to do and would appear directly in the spot where Parker needed him most.

Even Lin Tian couldn't easily bypass this wall that the league excels at providing cover. He was completely blocked by Duncan, and then Parker accelerated and finally broke through Lin Tian's defense, reaching the inside.

Facing Bynum's help defense, Parker once again used his signature move, a big spin to create space, and then took a step forward to shoot a layup.

"Snapped!"

But this time, what awaited him was yet another crisp sound.

Durant!

The player who made that timely defensive run to the basket and delivered a block to Parker was Durant!

After Durant swatted away Parker's shot, Bynum, who had just been shaken off by Parker, grabbed the basketball and threw it towards the frontcourt with both hands!

Bynum's passing accuracy may be so-so, but his strength is absolutely unquestionable.

The basketball flew towards the Celtics' half of the court with a loud whooshing sound.

Lin Tian, ​​who had just been blocked by Duncan and unable to keep up with Parker, now showed a huge advantage.

Because he was closest to the frontcourt, and the person closest to him was Duncan.

Even if Duncan had four legs, he still couldn't catch up with Lin Tian.

He could only watch helplessly as Lin Tian and the basketball rushed past him one after the other, and then Lin Tian grabbed the basketball and completed a powerful dunk!

"Basketball is a team sport." After scoring, Lin Tian didn't forget to continue mocking Parker during his follow-up visit. (End of Chapter)