The Whip of the God of Basketball

On the evening of March 9, Boston’s North Shore Garden ushered in another regular season game. The Boston Celtics faced the San Antonio Spurs at home. The biggest gimmick before the game was Fox Leon's return to the ring after being suspended for fighting. Although the Spurs are the leader in the Western Conference and the Celtics are also among the top three in the Eastern Conference, the dialogue between the two teams is a highlight. However, there really is no grudge between the two teams in history. If I insist on saying that there is, it is probably It’s a little story about Locomotive Gilmore going to the Celtics after leaving the Spurs, and people said, “It would be great if he could come to Boston sooner.”

"Hello, Kenny, today let us guess whether the Spurs and Celtics can score more than 150 points in total. These two teams have been crazy on the defensive end recently, constantly suppressing their opponents' scores. Below 70 points, I suspect if this continues, Stern will expel these two teams from the NBA!" T-NT commentator Charles Barkley made a bet with his partner Kenny Smith before the start of the game.

Barkley always likes to say some exaggerated words, just like his big mouth, he will never stop saying things that are not shocking. This year, his most famous big mouth incident was his bet that Yao Ming would not score more than 19 points, and if he did, he would kiss Kenny - Smith's ass. As a result, Yao Ming turned around and scored 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting against the Lakers. Barkley had to fulfill his promise and kiss the butt of a donkey that Kenny Smith hired to replace him.

Despite such a blood-and-tear lesson, Barkley still showed no restraint. It is not illegal to brag and bet anyway, and he often made wild remarks in commentary. However, as a former MVP, he also has many unique and subtle insights.

So when Kenny Smith said, "With the return of Fox Leon, the Celtics will restart their offensive style of play," Barkley retorted, "No Kenny, no one can believe you when you say this." Having played in the NBA, it took Cowens five games to adjust the Celtics' tactical focus when Leon was suspended. Now that Leon is back, it's not that easy to leave and change back. Easy, not to mention they are facing the Spurs, which will definitely be a defensive battle! "

"Well, maybe you have a point, but even if you are right, I won't kiss your ass." Kenny Smith would not swear casually, let alone the Big-ass who kissed Barkley. , might as well die.

While the two were chatting endlessly, Leon was doing pre-game preparations in the locker room. Leon has not been here for a month, and Leon is not used to it at all. He also arranged tactics for the players before the game as he did in the past, explaining the points of attention and details in the game.

When the players were about to take the field to warm up, Leon turned on the TV screen in the locker room and prepared to play a video.

"Look at this video. This is a little collection I asked Young to make. This is a clip of us playing the Spurs in the past few years. Everyone, take a look. You know, when was the last time we beat the Spurs? ? In 1997, January 8th, how many of your guys were not with the Celtics at that time, or had not even entered the NBA? Should we let the next victory come today, or postpone it to next season? You are watching Let’s do it.” After saying that, Leon pressed the remote control, and the previous scene was played on the TV.

This video is only five minutes long. It is all about the Celtics' miserable situation when facing the Spurs. Tim Duncan blocked Antoine Walker, David Robinson made an alley-oop, Avery Johnson broke through and scored, Bruce - Bowen made a three-pointer from the corner, Celtics fans lamented, and Popovich was triumphant.

It can be said that from the 1996-1997 season when the two teams began to compete for Tim Duncan, and then the Spurs won the battle to obtain Duncan, the Celtics have never defeated the Spurs again. You know, even when facing the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won three consecutive championships, the Celtics have been able to score 50-50 in the past few seasons, but they just can't beat the Spurs and cannot beat the Spurs.

Watching the five-minute video, the Celtics players seemed to have a big stone in their hearts, especially in the game against the Spurs at the beginning of this year. They went around in Texas, were brutally beaten by the Dallas Mavericks, and were beaten again in San Antonio. During that period, the team was plagued by trade rumors. It can be said that the Celtics were in the worst period of the season.

"I will not let the losing streak continue today." Paul Pierce stood up and said after watching the video. After that, he was the first to leave the locker room. He appeared the most times in the video, all of which were defeated by Bowen. Anti-iron shot.

"Me too." Reid stood up for the second time, and then the players stood up and left the locker room. Only the old guys like Cole and Brown still tied bandages on their feet and put them on. Good shoes ready to get up and leave.

"I was still playing for the Spurs last year, and I want to say that this team can't be defeated by just beating them. They may not be the strongest, but they are the most stable." Steve Kerr walked over before leaving. Leon reminded him in front of him.

Leon nodded, knowing that if the players' vows would work, then Charles Barkley would have won the championship long ago. Facing the powerful Spurs this season and the even more powerful Tim Duncan, Leon has already been prepared. He has been preparing for a month for this comeback battle.

……………………

The momentum of the San Antonio Spurs this season is not bad. After experiencing some ups and downs in the first half of the season, the Spurs suddenly showed strength at the end of 2002, winning consecutive games. Tim Duncan even showed his prowess, with consecutive wins in December. He won two Best of the Week awards and one Best of the Week award in January. His data reached a terrifying 28 points and 16 rebounds, and he firmly ranked first in the MVP ranking.

"This Spurs is now the team with the most championship potential. Although other players are still a little immature, Duncan has reached his peak. He is the person who can change everything." Kenny Smith said of the Spurs. It seems that the Spurs have matured this season. Tony Parker has grown rapidly, Manu Ginobili is extremely talented, Stephen Jackson and Bruce Bowen are both tough guys with both literary and military skills, and there are even more dedicated assistants inside. Guard Robinson and Duncan have reached their peak, and they look like champions.

"People were so optimistic about the Spurs in 1995. What was the result? I think you must know it, Kenny." Barkley, who always sang the opposite, gave Kenny Smith an unanswerable response this time. Kenny Smith himself They couldn't help but laugh, shook their heads and said, "That's different, the Lakers don't have me..."

At this time, the DJ in the North Shore Garden was introducing the players and coaches of both sides. When the lights and camera footage showed Celtic head coach Fox Leon, Charles Barkley shouted as if he had discovered a new world: " Oh! Is this Fox-Leon? That guy who looks like an Italian opera singer is now acting like Nicolas Cage! Has he been suspended or imprisoned for this month?"

Obviously, it was difficult for everyone to adapt to the look of Leon with a beard and longer hair. Although the audience in front of the TV did not know what the difference between Leon's appearance and Nicolas Cage was, Leon's new appearance The look will undoubtedly trigger a flurry of media commentary in the next two days. At the pre-game press conference, some reporters had already asked Leon about this look, and Leon's answer was "Too busy, no time to take care of it."

The audience at the scene liked this look very much, because as early as last night at the press conference held by the Celtics, Leon's new look was exposed, so some fans at the scene began to wear fake beards to cheer for Kevin on the sidelines. The Celtics cheered, and some fans held up signs saying "Welcome back, boxing champion."

After the fight, Leon often appeared on some talk shows. The jokes about him were topics such as "Can Leon beat Tyson and can he beat Lewis?" Commentators such as Charles Barkley also used this topic. Things are funny. In short, Leon can no longer enjoy the tranquility of basketball as before. He has been involuntarily involved in the numerous topic circles and has begun to rise and fall in the waves of public opinion.

However, Leon was in it, no matter how the outside world changed, how his appearance changed, how his behavior changed, his heart remained as peaceful and calm as ever. When the players came on the field, Leon called Arenas over, pulled his jersey and asked him to lower his head, and said to him: "Listen clearly Gilbert, I remind you again, you have to remember that after playing , what you are holding is no longer a basketball, but a bomb, do you hear me clearly? Bomb!"