"Defence! Defence! Defence!" Under the noise from the fans in the arena, the Boston Celtics began their first possession.
Mike James dribbled over half court.
As soon as he crossed half court, Mike James started looking for Goodwin.
Before the game, Doc Rivers had instructed them to watch who Artest, the Indiana Pacers' defensive stopper on the perimeter, guarded: Paul Pierce or Goodwin?
The situation on the court was obvious. The Indiana Pacers had chosen Paul Pierce, assigning their defensive stopper, Artest, to guard him. As for Goodwin, the aging Reggie Miller had drawn that assignment.
As soon as Goodwin took his position, he started moving nonstop. He cut into the paint, circled around Mark Blount, then ran toward the three-point line on the left wing.
Reggie Miller wasn't shaken off at all. He stayed right behind him.
Mike James noticed Reggie Miller chasing Goodwin, but chose to pass to Goodwin anyway.
Goodwin had barely reached the three-point line when the ball came flying toward him.
He caught it cleanly with both hands and turned. From the corner of his eye, he could already see Reggie Miller closing in, but Goodwin didn't stop his motion. He sank into a crouch, drove hard off both feet, and launched himself into the air.
"Ah..." Reggie Miller picked up speed and rushed over. He jumped, stretching his hand as high as he could in an attempt to bother Goodwin.
As a fellow shooter, Reggie Miller knew exactly how dangerous Goodwin was.
He couldn't let him get hot. Once he did, he'd become a nightmare for the Indiana Pacers!
Reggie Miller could still vividly remember the regular-season game where Goodwin had hit the game-winner.
Just a rookie, and already in his first season he'd hit game-winners against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Eastern