"Think back to how you played when you first got out there, tearing into them like mad dogs. Bring that same energy and tear into them with me. Make them realize you're no benchwarmers—you're every bit as formidable as they are!"
"Now get out there with me and teach these arrogant Celtics stars a lesson!"
The players' spirits, which had already started to flag, were fired up again by Wang Yi.
They raised their fists and roared.
Meanwhile, the Celtics fans on the sidelines, who had fallen quiet, had started to get some of their energy back.
The cries of "Fuck King" rang out again.
Pierce, standing on the sidelines, had also recovered somewhat.
He said:
"The Celtics have finally woken up. They had three days off and got too relaxed. But after that first half, they've finally come to their senses."
"The sleeping hunter has awoken. Now the game has really begun!"
With the game tilting slightly against his team, Reggie Miller couldn't very well argue back. But he had learned a trick from Pierce.
"The game isn't over yet. When it is, I hope you'll still be smiling."
After the timeout, both teams returned to the court.
The Raptors opened the possession with Wang Yi initiating the offense.
The Celtics continued using their light-push defense.
As Wang Yi took a three, they gave him a gentle shove.
It threw off his shot once again.
There was no denying that this defensive approach was highly effective.
Even Wang Yi's shooting percentage had fallen against the Celtics' defense—not plummeting, but at least dropping somewhat.
At that moment, Wang Yi made up his mind: the Raptors players would have to practice this defensive approach.
Other teams had used it before, but their players clearly hadn't mastered it. Sometimes, they were called