On Monday, April 28, 2008, Head Coach Doug Rivers faced an awkward moment.
The home-court advantage had been overhyped, and now reporters were looking at him with a different kind of gaze.
Losing was understandable, but losing two games in the same manner, that shouldn't happen to a championship-contending team.
Perhaps sports reporters didn't feel it as deeply before, but the New York Knicks' dominant run in the Eastern Conference, repeatedly achieving 12-0 records in the playoffs, led more and more people to accept a concept:
"Crushing weaker teams is a prerequisite for winning a championship."
It was almost 11 PM, but the sports reporters' enthusiasm hadn't waned.
Seeing Rivers make all sorts of excuses, they found it even more entertaining than winning!
No one believed the Atlanta Hawks could advance.
If the Celtics unexpectedly lost and were eliminated in the first round, then Rivers, standing before the public, would be directly fired.
If a configuration like the "The Big Four" couldn't win, then he shouldn't be coaching an NBA team!
The Fox Sports reporter was a young white man, perhaps new to the industry, as the questions he posed were somewhat "fan-like":
"I've noticed that Paul Pierce has had a field goal percentage of less than 40% for two consecutive games. Does this mean there's a problem with the team's tactics?"
If a player performs poorly, it must be the coach's fault!
The NBA had a "fan-like" trend early on, with most fans firmly believing their idols were the best, and any poor stats must be due to other reasons.
As for "lack of ability," fans wouldn't even consider that.
In Game 3, Paul Pierce shot 5-of-13.
After the loss, Game 4 came, and Pierce again went 5-of-14.
His scoring in both games didn't exceed 20 points, a surprisingly poor performance.
Not just Pierce, Ray Allen also performed mediocrely.
Coupled with a defensive loophole from Marbury, the opponent ultimately completed a comeback, bringing both teams back to the starting line.
Rivers, sitting on the stage, was silent for a moment after hearing the question.
Ever since he announced 100 tactical plays, bored commentators had started counting.
After two consecutive losses, more people were now beginning to doubt his tactical system.
In the two road playoff games, "give the ball to Kevin Garnett" seemed to be the tactical "core," which was completely different from what was hyped.
"I must take my hat off to the opponent. They are very energetic. Josh Smith's physical talent is outstanding, and Joe Johnson and Al Horford also caused us a lot of trouble."
"Players are not robots. When playing on the road, their physical condition can fluctuate. I believe everyone will adjust very soon."
"Maybe you all forgot, many people on this team haven't played in the playoffs in recent years, and even veterans get nervous. Winning tests team talent, and that's the charm of basketball!"
Rivers was very good at persuasion.
After giving a serious explanation in his deep, hoarse voice, many reporters below the stage actually nodded in agreement.
But some still weren't convinced, as the last two losses were too ugly, not conforming to the public's impression of the "The Big Four."
"I don't know if the Celtics are paying attention to their opponent's situation. The New York Knicks have already advanced. What adjustments will the team make for the upcoming Game 5?"
The TNT reporter didn't finish his sentence.
Not only the New York Knicks, but the in-form Cavaliers also swept the Toronto Raptors 4-0.
Shaquille O'Neal dominated the paint, completely overwhelming Andrea Bargnani.
So much so that after the Toronto Raptors' loss, Chris Bosh publicly stated after the game that "Andrea needs to play better."
Thinking about facing the Cavaliers, who had perfected zone Defense, in the next round, Rivers also had a headache.
He hadn't even considered the New York Knicks' situation.
After years of hard knocks, LeBron James had also grown.
"Rebounding, tonight we lost to the opponent by 8 rebounds again, and they also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. This shows that our game energy is not enough!"
"The playoffs are a battle of will, and in this regard, we don't lose to anyone. No one desires victory more than us!"
No longer talking about tactical plays, Rivers started rambling about "basketball will."
This kind of double-standard talk made some reporters secretly curl their lips, but others showed approving glances.
They might not understand specific tactics, but when it came to talking about these "intangibles," no one was better at it than them, and fans loved such reports.
Time seemed to stretch out.
After the press conference ended, Rivers finally let out a long breath.
Two consecutive losses were truly embarrassing, especially since their opponent didn't even get 40 wins in the regular season.
As he hurried towards the locker room, the assistant coach stopped Rivers, leaning in to whisper a reminder:
"Kevin is organizing a team meeting. We can wait a bit. The next home game is too important."
Rivers felt relieved again and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
He had already grasped the essence of a "hands-off" Head Coach.
Once Kevin Garnett finished the meeting, he only needed to offer some motivational words.
Losing two consecutive road games brought extra attention to the Celtics.
Even the Atlanta Hawks' former owner, CNN founder Ted Turner, joked during an interview with his own TV station:
"I don't really understand the current situation in the NBA, but the young men seem to have defeated a strong opponent."
"If I were still the team owner, I would give them a big contract. These young players are the future of the Atlanta Hawks."
The old man was very popular in Atlanta, having once turned the Atlanta Braves baseball team into a nationally popular team.
For local sports fans, he was an excellent owner.
No one would argue with a billionaire.
Instead, more and more people started to mock the "The Big Four."
If they lost Game 5, they would likely become the next Dallas Mavericks.
"Paul, I need you to show your energy. Don't tell me you're scared of the rookie on the other side!"
"He does jump very high, but this is fucking basketball. You should have 100 ways to deal with him."
Kevin Garnett, standing in front of everyone, was the first to criticize Pierce.
In fact, his own performance tonight wasn't great either, shooting 9-of-21 for only 20 points.
The reason he mentioned Josh Smith was mainly because the opponent had made him lose face.
Shooting 8-of-16, 0-of-6 from three, and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line, Josh Smith had 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 7 blocks, and 1 turnover, turning the Atlanta Hawks' paint into a no-fly zone.
Pierce's scoring mostly came from beyond the three-point line.
After the "Moreyball" era, he relied heavily on finishing near the rim in the paint.
Tonight, he shot a dismal 1-of-7 inside the arc.
Watching the incessant Kevin Garnett, a frustrated Pierce could only pat his chest, indicating that tonight's struggles were his fault.
Soon, Marbury also heard his old teammate's criticism, his face growing even uglier:
"Mike Bibby is a softy who only knows how to shoot jumpers! Stephen, you only got 4 free throws in a game. Damn it, you should be attacking him!"
"You're not too old to drive. This is the playoffs. Opponents won't easily give up rebounds. You need to stop the game at appropriate times."
"10 free throws, attack the basket, leave the rebounds to me and Kendrick."
Although Marbury felt he had lost face, the loss was a fact, and he ultimately agreed, indicating his approval of the remarks.
After a few meaningless insults directed at the opponent, Kevin Garnett calmed his emotions.
Looking at Ray Allen, who was quietly watching him, he forced a smile and initiated a fist bump, saying:
"Ray, as long as you can maintain this offensive efficiency, we're sure to win when we get back home! We'll end this series as soon as possible."
Among the Celtics, Ray Allen had the best performance tonight, shooting 8-of-14, 5-of-8 from three, and scoring a team-high 21 points.
Although he allowed his matchup, Joe Johnson, to score a whopping 35 points, Ray Allen strictly followed the tactical requirements, and his attitude was fine.
He performed better than the other two who were just throwing up shots randomly.
"Don't worry, we're still adapting to the playoffs. Actually, many of us haven't experienced this kind of atmosphere in years. Maybe losing isn't such a bad thing."
Ray Allen's face showed a relaxed expression as he actively comforted his agitated teammates.
Everyone was under too much pressure, and they missed several opportunities to take the lead during the game.
Tonight's game actually saw a 7-man rotation.
Rivers also stopped pretending, and sticking with the starters put a considerable psychological burden on the role players.
The ripple effect was that everyone's shooting became worse and worse.
Sam Cassell nodded in agreement, looked at Kevin Garnett, then surveyed the quiet role players, and finally suggested:
"You can give everyone more playing time. I believe everyone will find their rhythm when we return home."
Although the "Alien" was ugly, having been in the NBA for so many years, he clearly understood the psychology of role players.
At that time, the Timberwolves' locker room had some minor issues.
Kevin Garnett looked down on teammates who were teaching "championship experience," which was the reason for the collapse after the second season.
Realizing he should encourage everyone, Kevin Garnett quickly smiled, actively bumping fists with James Posey, Lyonell Powel, and Eddie House.
Glen Davis, the rookie, didn't notice the problem in Kevin Garnett's words.
Seeing his boss kindly encourage everyone, the chubby guy was incredibly excited and finally declared:
"I swear, as long as you give me 10 minutes of playing time, I can grab 5 rebounds!"
Noticing the chubby face in front of him, Kevin Garnett nodded, actively patted the other person's chest, showed his white teeth, and said confidently with a smile:
"Well done, Bro! The team needs this kind of fighting spirit. I guarantee you'll get more opportunities."
By the time Head Coach Rivers entered the locker room, everyone had regained their vitality.
He was very satisfied with the players' current state and immediately offered some motivational words:
"Hey! Hey! Very good! Forget these two games. We have two home games coming up, but I don't want the series to go to G7."
"Remember, believe in yourselves, believe in your teammates. We are a 63-win team. In the game the day after tomorrow, I hope you can make your opponents feel despair!"
"..."
On tuesday, April 29th, New York newspapers reported on the conflict that occurred in last night's game, where New York fans and 76ers fans engaged in a large-scale brawl outside the Wachovia Center after the game.
This boxing match almost escalated into a brawl.
The New York fans, who were outnumbered, suffered greatly, and sports reporters were particularly angry about it.
Several columnists criticized Philadelphia's basketball environment, and some even attributed the team's 12-year losing streak to the "irascible" Philadelphia fans.
"Unbelievable, two neighboring cities can have such vastly different basketball environments. Philadelphia fans should reflect on why the 76ers keep losing!"
New York fans who read the newspaper were in a good mood.
Madison Square Garden was a basketball mecca, while Philadelphia was a "basketball graveyard."
They hit people when they lost, what would happen if they won?
In Saturday's game, 132:79, the 76ers were crushed.
Core player Andre Iguodala shot 4 for 17 in three quarters, 0 for 5 from beyond the arc, and 2 for 6 from the free-throw line, contributing 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
On Monday night, 124:86, the 76ers were swept decisively.
Andre Iguodala shot 7 for 23 in three quarters, 1 for 6 from beyond the arc, and 4 for 8 from the free-throw line, scoring 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 5 turnovers.
The Wachovia Center had extremely poor attendance last night, with only 10,000 fans choosing to watch the game live, including nearly 2,000 New York fans.
Clay Lee crushed the basketball market next door, and eventually, the angry Philadelphia fans chose to resort to violence.
After the first round of the playoffs, young fans who enjoyed watching the spectacle began promoting a "pecking order" on Reddit, with Philadelphia basketball at the very bottom of the chain.
Dallas, who lost disgracefully and stole honors, ranked second to last.
San Antonio, who made it to the Finals for many years and set multiple embarrassing records, ranked third to last.
Boston and Los Angeles, who formed super teams, did not rank high either.
Only New York had the best basketball atmosphere, where everyone could enjoy the purest basketball games in the world:
Championships, records, the One-Person-One-City Award, and so on.
Social media has been developing faster and faster in recent years, with online contempt leading to real-life physical confrontations.
Young people have endless energy and can discuss "who plays better basketball" for years.
This morning, the NBA announced this season's Coach of the Year (COY):
Bynum Scott of the Hornets successfully won this award.
The rise of this team this year exceeded everyone's expectations, and Scott also proved himself again.
In addition, the Hornets have already secured the match point, a double blessing.
Bynum Scott, who accepted the award, beamed with joy, feeling a sense of relief seeing Kidd's misfortune.
This afternoon, on ESPN's radio program in New York, Stephen A. Smith, in addition to congratulating Head Coach Scott on his award, also invited Andre Iguodala through his many years of connections in Philadelphia.
Although the influence of print media and radio has been gradually declining over the years, there are still many regular listeners who have the habit of tuning in to radio broadcasts.
Due to ESPN's reforms this year, Stephen A. Smith's on-screen appearances have decreased, so his big-mouthed talent can only be showcased on radio programs.
The first question at the beginning of the show made many drivers listening to the program laugh so hard they almost collapsed onto their steering wheels.
Stephen A. Smith obviously had inside information and directly asked:
"How about the title 'Philadelphia Mamba'? Clay Lee praised your Defense ability after the game. You know, Mamba isn't just about offense!"
Although prepared, Andre Iguodala was still a bit annoyed when he heard this title.
He now completely understood that "Mamba" sometimes meant a loser.
But players who hadn't faced Lee didn't know this and thought it was a "compliment."
"Looking at my stats, it's hard for me to live up to such a title. You know, Lee completely schooled me this year, which was actually a rare experience."
"I promised the coach in the locker room that I would guard Lee, but I overestimated myself. I agree with Shaquille O'Neal, in the playoffs, Clay Lee is in a different state!"
Wearing headphones and speaking into the microphone about his feelings, Andre Iguodala vividly described a Lee different from the regular season, which also refreshed the impression of some new fans.
Not everyone started watching basketball in 1996.
For fans, Clay Lee's early confrontations with Michael Jordan could only be understood from "ancient" documentaries.
Stephen A. Smith was very satisfied with this answer.
When his little brother had said enough, he again pointedly asked:
"We all know the Celtics seem to be in trouble. Of course, I believe they can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals!"
"You've played against them, and I believe the 76ers' coaching staff also showed you a lot of game footage of Boston. What are your thoughts on the conference finals?"
Although he didn't say who the Celtics' opponent was, everyone knew that the Detroit Pistons couldn't stop the Knicks.
Andre Iguodala didn't want to offend the old guys, so he answered more subtly:
"I think the key to the playoffs is matchups. No one in the NBA can limit Clay Lee, even though he's 30 years old."
"In the past, there was a view that time would take away a player's physical talent, but Lee is different. I think his strength has increased, and his experience, skills, and physique are all on another level."
"Basketball games are sometimes very simple. Give the ball to a superstar, and they can solve the problem. No one can compare to Clay Lee in this regard."
"..."
The show was very friendly.
Although it was a pity that Andre Iguodala didn't accept the title of "Philadelphia Mamba," fans could gain a deeper understanding of Lee on the court from the young player's mouth.
"If you have the chance in the future, would you come to New York to play? You know, this is a basketball mecca, and fans all over the world are watching us."
Stephen A. Smith's proud expression made Andre Iguodala feel a bit uncomfortable, but he also had to strengthen his own image, so he answered without hesitation:
"I want to end my career in one city, like Lee. In this matter, I am very old-fashioned."
On Wednesday, April 30th, the Tarrytown Training Center became lively again.
MSG was going to start filming a documentary again, starting from Clay Lee once again lifting the MVP trophy this year.
The Eastern Conference Semifinals were also a "grudge match."
Returning to Auburn Hills Palace, the Detroit Pistons had already secured the match point, and they wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
In the morning, they deliberately filmed some training and speaking shots.
For a fringe player like Gary Neal, this experience was very novel.
Lee was an "old actor."
At the end of the training session, the camera recorded his championship declaration:
"I respect every opponent, but facing a team with less than 40 wins and still losing, honestly, I'm a bit disappointed."
"But we still need to be serious. We need to make them understand what a true championship team is!"
"I don't like Paul Pierce's big mouth."
Ron Artest, hearing his old opponent's name, immediately stole the camera and said fiercely:
"I promise, I'm going to beat the crap out of him this year!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)